Back during the Swing Era, music fans were trying to get back to the roots of jazz and search for some of the progenitors of what became known as “traditional jazz.” Finding and finally recording the likes of Bunk Johnson,…
Author: George W. Harris
SHE’S STILL AROUND! Sue Raney: Complete Capitol Years 1956-1960
Vocalist Sue Raney is still making the rounds on the LA scene, and has bridged the gap between jazz and pop since her first recordings, which are found on this fresh 2 cd set. Her career began just as jazz…
David Ian: Valentine’s Day
Pianist/arranger David ian seems to be inspired by holidays. He’s released a couple Christmas albums, and now he’s upping the ante with a tip of the arrow to Valentine’s Day. He mixes a trio setting with guest vocals, with the…
Dave Van Ronk: Inside Dave Van Ronk
Concord Records is going deep into its vaults and bringing out some wonderful material. Case in point are two albums folk guitarist/singer Dave Van Ronk recorded back in 1962. Originally titled Folksinger and Inside Dave Van Ronk, these 25…
Bela Fleck and Brooklyn Rider@Valley Performing Arts Center 02.08.14
“What is a banjo doing with a string quartet, and vice versa?” was a question poignantly asked by violinist Jonathan Gandelsman and answered during the 2 hour concert at CSUNs Performing Arts Center with banjo extraordinaire Bela Fleck and the…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****John Stowell & Dave Liebman: Blue Rose
If you’re not a sucker for duet albums, maybe THIS one will change your mind. Acoustic guitarist John Stowell sits down by the fireplace with Dave Liebman for a collection of duets that sounds like a conversation between masters of…
WOMEN OF SONG…Clara Vuust: Here’s to Love, Suzanna Smith: Halfway Between Heaven & Love
Here are two vocalists that take the jazz feel, but combine it with more of a Broadway feel , but the marrow of the tradition is kept intact. Oakland-based vocalist Suzanna Smith puts together a release that has a heart…
Past & Present Futures: Past & Present Futures
The team of Jeff Platz/g, Daniel Carter/sax-tp-cl-fl, Francois Grillot/b and Federico Ughi/dr-perc make up the Past & Present Futures Quartet. Their kinship and association with the likes of Sun Ra, Billy Bang, Joe Morris and William Parker is palpably noticeable…
Bobby Watson & The “I Have a Dream” Project: Check Cashing Day
Alto great Bobby Watson puts together a team of musicians Hermon Mehari/tp, Richard Johnson/p, Eric Kennedy/dr and Curtis Lundy/b along with cameo appearances by Horace Washington/fl and Karita Carter for 15 musical themes. The problem is not the music, but…
Craig Yaremko Organ Trio: CYO3
This is not your “Jimmy Smith” styled organ outing; think more “Larry Young” in terms of harmonics and rhythms. Leader Craig Yarenko performs on the soprano, alto and tenor saxes as well as soprano and alto flute along with Matt…