This was literally Ol’ Blue Eyes’ swan song. After he did this pair of unlikely hit records, he went to his eternal reward (or was it punishment, for doing it “his way”?). The mixing and matching of the Chairman was…
Author: George W. Harris
The Wee Trio: Live at the Bistro
This unorthodox trio of vibes (James Westfall) bass (Dan Loomis) and drums (Jared Schonig) works amazingly well together in this cohesive yet explorative set before an appreciative crowd at the Bistro in February of this year. The trio works as…
Ralph Towner/Wolfgang Muthspiel/Slava Grigoryan: Travel Guide
Three great masters of the frets, from three different parts of the world; US, Austria and Kazakhstan. Three different styles of playing; jazz, classical and somewhere in between. You’ve got classical guitar, 12 string guitar, baritone guitar, electric guitar and…
Ridley Scott Associates: Springsteen & I
Here’s a truly unique documentary that actually tells more about our culture than it intended. What you’ve got here is a collection of fans of Bruce Springsteen telling us what they like about him, and in usually three words, describing…
Jazz Bakery’s Moveable Feast Presents: Randy Weston & Billy Harper@Nate Holden Performing Arts Center 11.22.13
It’s shows like these that should make you contact the Jazz Bakery and make a donation to speed up the construction of the new site, as only Ruth Price could get together a show so intimate, so wondrous and so…
****ROTW****IF YOU LIKE JOE PASS…Bill Harris: Complete Mercury Recordings 1956-1959
Do you ever listen to an artist and ask yourself “Why haven’t I heard of this guy before?” That’s how I felt after just THE FIRST song on this 2 disc set that covers guitarist Bill Harris sessions with Mercury…
THIS IS A TENOR SAXOPHONE 101…Illinois Jacquet-Leo Parker: Toronto 1947
Unforgivably forgotten these days, Illinois Jacquet (1922-2004) was one of the first of what was then called “Texas Tenors,” and it didn’t matter or not if you were from the Lone Star State. Basically, if you had a big and…
Judy Wexler: What I See
What I’ve always liked about vocalist Judy Wexler is that she sounds like a working class lady. Picture if your waitress at the diner had pitch and rhythm. This is Wexler-no histrionics, no false seduction, or pizzazz. She takes your…
Travis Sullivan’s Bjorkestra: I Go Humble
You gottta admit-the idea of an orchestra being dedicated to the compositions of Bjork is a niche of it’s own. Vocalist Becca Stevens has a crystalline voice that works wonders in a variety of settings and moods, while the idea…
RANDY BRECKER LIVES…Niwa: At the End of the Day, The Matthew Finck/Jonathan Ball Project: It’s Not That Far
Here are a couple albums by artists that are putting out some impressive mainstream jazz. Thoughtful, creative and looking forward, but with feet planted on terra firma. Also, each include the trumpet or flugelhorn of Randy Brecker! Round, round, get…