I’m just a sucker for bluegrass. I think it’s because besides the fact that guys such as the ones in this band (Tim Stafford/g-voc, Wayne Taylor/b-voc, Shawn Lane/mand-fid-g-voc, Rob Ickes/dobro and Jason Burleson/ban-g-mand) are not only excellent musicians who know…
Author: George W. Harris
AVID REISSUES FROM BOP TO BEYOND…Eric Dolphy: Four Classic Albums, Terry Gibbs: Four Classic Albums, Roland Kirk: Four Classic Albums, Red Norvo featuring Helen Humes: Four Classic Albums, Oscar Peterson Second Set: Three Classic Albums Plus
Few reissue labels release jazz albums that are as diverse as the ones put out by UK based Avid Records, and NO ONE puts out so much music so often. You could EASILY only get your music from this label…
Helen Sung: Anthem For A New Day
Pianist/composer Helen Sung got my attention a couple years ago with a warm album with Marcus Strickland (Songbird), but this one is even better. She’s got a warm touch on the piano and delves here on the electric keyboard as…
Fatoumata Diawara@The Broad Stage 02.28.14
If you wanted to get a good overview of where American music’s heart and soul originated, the place to be on the rainy last day of February was at the Broad Stage, where Malian singer/songwriter Fatoumata Diawara and her band…
GEORGE BENSON: INSPIRATION
There are few artists that transcend categories and labels. George Benson is one of those elect few. He’s been on the forefront of at least 4 major eras of modern music, starting with soul jazz in the 60s, being one…
JOHNNY RIVERS: A LIFE OF DANGER
For any recording artist, the odds ARE that you won’t live to see tomorrow. Johnny Rivers is one of the few singer/songwriters still standing from the early days of rock through the Beatles through progressive rock, punk rock, disco, and…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Taylor Haskins: Fuzzy Logic
Here is an successfully adventurous session lead by Taylor Haskins that mixes a post bop quartet of himself on trumpet, melodic and flute along with Ben Monder, Kermit Driscoll/b and Jeff Hirshfield. The genius is in his adding a string…
Adam Unsworth, Byron Olson, John Vanore: Balance
Here is a collection of originals arranged in a fascinating mix of moods. The core team of Adam Unsweorth/French horn, John Vanore/tp-fh and Bob Mallach/ts lead not only a quintet with bill Mays/p, Mike Richmond/b and danny Gottlieb/dr, but are…
Robert Prester: Dogtown
This one’s going to surprise you. Pianist/composer Robert Prester fronts a flexible and Brazilian-influenced bop band with Nicky Orta/b, Ettienne Fuentes/dr, Dave Schanzer perc with cameos by Terezinha Valois/voc and Jonathen Sigel/tp-fh. The music mixes samba and post bop to…
THE ANSWER TO BUBLE’…Tony Desare: Piano
It’s guys like Tony DeSare that confirm my conviction that MICHAEL BUBLE’ IS A MAJOR POSER! There, I feel so much better now. Tony DeSare has been making an impressive catalogue that shows off his warm and rich vocals, his…