Yeah, yeah. I know what your first question is…WHO’S THE SAX PLAYER? Fair enough. Trumpeter Randy Brecker reunites with alumni Will Lee/b, Mike Stern/g, George Whitty/key and Dave Weckl/dr. The tenor and soprano sax is handled well enough by Ada…
Author: George W. Harris
MUSICAL BASICS…Voice: Killer Technique, Collin Bay: Glossary of Guitar Terms, Mel Bay’s Guitar Tab Book: With Tear Out Sheets, Steve Lyman: A New Approach to Odd-Times for Drum Set, Drum and Bass Synchronicity: The Ultimate Rhythm Section Workout
Just starting out on your musical trek? Here are a handful of items from the faithful people at Mel Bay to get you on your way for a firm foundation. Michaela Anne Neller has put together a concise and highly…
The Depue Brothers Band: When It’s Christmas Time
Wallace, Jason, Alex and Zach are the three brothers who play (usually) violin with ensembles such as the Philadelphia Orchestra. This Christmas album has them going a bit more folksy and bluegrassy with the company of Don Liuzzi/perc, Mark Cosgrove/g,…
WHEN THE BEST WAS ALSO THE MOST POPULAR…Various Artists: Verve, the Sound of America-The Singles Edition
Now, my grandson, put down your ipod and come sit on my lap as I tell you about the good old days. Once upon a time, we used to listen to a thing called the “radio” in order to know…
The Band: Live at the Academy of Music 1971
If you want to go back to a time when popular music was truly universal, just give a listen to this wonderful 4 cd & dvd of the Band in concert, which includes their end of the year gigs as…
Kathleen Grace: No Place to Fall
Kathleen Grace’s albums and shows have shown a variety ranging from pop to jazz and even lately towards the country side of life. Her latest release retains her jazz sensibilities in terms of her phrasing and delivery, but she mixes…
Harold Lopez-Nussa: New Day
If Cuba could find a way to get reimbursed for their exports of Cuban musicians, their financial problems would disappear overnight. Here, we’ve got pianist Harold Lopez-Nussa from the country of Montecristos, leading a (mostly) trio with Gaston Joya/b, Ruy…
Bill Cunliffe Quintet & Big Band w/ Harry Allen @ Vitellos 12.07.13
Grammy award winning pianist/composer Bill Cunliffe decked the halls of Vitellos with some swinging Christmas small group jazz and a stocking stuffer followup of big band Brazilian sounds that warmed up a cold winter night for a packed house of…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Sachal Studios Orchestra: Jazz and All That
Remember those great CTI albums with strings and arrangements by Claus Oberman back in the 60s and 70s? Imagine if Henri Mancini wrote and arranged for Bollywood, and Oberman did the final touches, and you get a hint of how…
Jonny Lang: Fight For My Soul
A number of years ago, guitarist Jonny Lang hit the scene and caught everyone’s attention because this young Christian kid was playing his Fender like he was raised in the Mississippi Delta and sang like he grew up in the…