A musical suite inspired by a trash barge? OK, so it’s not exactly Billy Budd or The Marriage of Figaro, but what composer/saxist John Ellis and librettist Andy Bragen have done for this 75 minutes is to create a kind…
Author: George W. Harris
Yann Tiersen: Infinity
Made up of layers of electronic and acoustic sounds, A Midsummer Evening is a collection of songs that take sounds from things as basic as toy instruments, and manipulate them electronically to create sonic soundscapes. Adding strings and voices, Tiersen…
THIS IS A GUITAR 101..Bill Jennings: The Complete Early Recordings 1951-1957
If you go to Wikipedia for more information on Bill Jennings, you’re directed to a collection of almost a dozen guys with that name: one that played ice hockey, a baseballer, and then three types of footballers-Welsh, soccer and American.…
A JAZZ NOVEL! Scott Shachter: Outside In
When you go to a jazz club, or hear an album, if you’re like I am, you’ve probably thought, “I wonder how this artists gets the ideas for his music.” This book by musician Scott Shachter tries to get into…
Duke Ellington: After Midnight-Broadway’s Cotton Club Musical
There’s a new hit play in NYC, with Duke Ellington’s music from the 30s being the background music for it. Here, you’ve got the ORIGINAL material, which is what you’d want anyway, as there isn’t today, three never has been,…
Roxanna: Exotica
Canadian vocalist Roxanna is featured here in a grandiose and pop setting. She sounds and feels like she’s custom made for the adult contemporary market, with large orchestrations on her compositions that spotlight her dynamics and delivery. Her pieces such…
Tootie Heath’s Tempo Trio @ The Blue Whale 07.12.14
So, what do you get when you mix a 79 year old hard bop drumming pioneer like Tootie Heath with Ethan Iverson of the popular trio The Bad Plus? Well, along with bassist Ben Street, you get a cooking recent…
A Midsummer Night in New Orleans@Ford Theatre 07.05.14
(Ed note-we have a new guest writer! Welcome to Joy Childs) By Joy Childs Perfect night. Perfect backdrop. Add in the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Dustbowl Revival band, the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre on Sat., July 5, and nighttime…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Thom Douvan: Brother Brother
Guitarist Thom Douvan served music well back when Nixon was in the White House by being a member of the famed Funk Brothers, who were the backup band for the Motown label. This disc, which includes Duncan McMillan/B3, Tony Malfatti/sax,…
Dick Titterington: The 3 Trumpet Band
Trumpeter/flugelhornist Dick Titterington leads a three horned front here along with a snappy rhythm team of Greg Goebel/key, Andrea Niemiec/b and Jason Palmer/dr through 5 clever pieces that mix originals and post bop pieces. Along with Paul Mazzio and Thomas…