It’s easy to take a guy like vibist Gary Burton for granted. He’s been on the scene for decades, making gigs with Stan Getz and Chick Corea to put his name on the map. So why is he not up…
Author: George W. Harris
GOOD VIBES! Warren Wolf: Wolfgang
I saw this guy a couple years ago in Christian McBride’s Inside Straight band, and thought he stole the show with his deft treatment of the vibes. Here, on his second disc as a leader, he brings back a hip…
ZANSA: Djansa
Here’s a fun one for you West Africa fans. Zansa consists of Adama Dembele/voc-perc, Casey Dean/dr, Patrick Fitzsimons/g, Sean Mason/dr, Ryan Reardon/b and Matt Williams/vio making a mixture of sounds that will grab your attention as well as your feet.…
“WOODY” and YOU…Waclaw Zimpel Quartet: Stone Fog
The ebony clarinet rarely gets featured these days. Is it due to its difficulty in the 21st century world of jazz? Difficulty in projection? Not sure. I play one, and while I prefer the 3 octave range of the licorice…
Analog Africa: Afrobeat Airways 2
Western Africa pop music got real popular in the States back in the early 80s. This collection of 13 rare tracks from Ghana-based bands are vintage 70s material. The various and sundry singers and bands range from well known singers…
Lyn Stanley: Lost in Romance
By surrounding herself with some of LA’s best session studs, vocalist Lyn Stanley does herself a favor in presenting this collection of chestnuts/standards. Her voice is sort of a Dietrichish chanteuse, sounding like an old soul on material such as…
Marnix Busstra: Sync Dreams
Dutch guitarist Marnix Busstra makes some intriguing sounds with strings along with a simpatico team of Rembrandt (gotta love it!) Frerichs/p, Arnold Dooyeweerd/b and Pieter Bast/dr. He makes some exotic sounds with an electric sitar on a sleek and flowing…
Jeff Beck & Brian Wilson@The Greek Theatre 10.20.13
Yes, you’re reading that right. Legendary guitarist Jeff Beck and Beach Boy singer/songwriter Brian Wilson found common ground with Baby Boomers and beyond during a 2 ½ love and song fest. Incongruous? So were ice cream and waffles at one…
Wynton Marsalis: The Spiritual Side of Wynton Marsalis
I’m sure that one of the last adjectives that would come to your mind when describing trumpeting icon Wynton Marsalis would be “spiritual.” Yet, on second thought, remember that in his gigantic catalogue (he put out 11 albums ALONE in…
THIS IS A SAXOPHONE 101…Ben Webster: In Norway
In the lexicon of jazz tenor saxophonists, there are three main tributaries. Coleman Hawkins is best known for his majesterial harmonies; Lester Young for his linear swing, and Ben Webster mastered the thick, rich and at times raucous tone that…