You get the hint that something special is in the air at Catalina’s when a) the show starts RIGHT ON TIME (this is a jazz club?!?) and b) the set begins with a guy having his back facing you (no,…
Author: George W. Harris
****RINGERS OF THE WEEK****HELLENIC SOUNDS-Eleni Karaindrou: Concert in Athens, Stephan Micus: Panagia
If your only exposure to Greek music is the background music to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, then this pair of music from the cradle of Western Civilization will open your ears to some wondrous sounds and moods. Give me…
A FORGOTTEN LINK IN THE CHAIN…Woody Shaw: The Complete Muse Sessions
Here’s what Mosaic Records does better than anyone else; they focus on an artist that is either undeservedly overlooked, or they laser beam onto an era of someone that deserves re-assessing. In this case, it’s a little bit of both.…
Paris Combo: 5
They’ve gone through a couple changes since they’ve last recorded over 6 years ago, but the Paris Combo finally got around to releasing their 5th album. The glorious mix of gypsy, jazz, cabaret and pop provided by Belle du Berry/voc,…
Monty Alexander: Uplift2 Higher
If you’ve ever been to a Monty Alexander gig, you don’t need to be convinced twice to grab a disc of live shows. This is the follow-up to the highly successful Uplift of a couple years ago. It’s just as…
Hot Club of Cowtown: Rendevous In Rhythm
The enticing trio of Elena James/fid-voc, Whit Smith/g-voc and Jake Orwin/b delivers gypsy rhythms and themes on this tribute to Django Reinhard’s Hot Club of France. Outsized 3:5 in number of musicians in comparing the two bands, this delightful trio…
Eric Le Lann: I Remember Chet
Like those of us who have just returned from a trip to Disneyland, what we remember about our time there are the good rides, not the crowds and waiting in line. Likewise, trumpeter Eric Le Lann provides a moving tribute…
Stefano Battaglia Trio: Songways
Pianist Stefano Battaglia fronts a trio with Salvatore Maiore/b and Roberto Dani/dr through a collection of songs that come across as almost mystical chants. A brooding “Euphonia Elegy” slowly builds up for 12 minutes like a prayer that stacks one…
Festival Au Desert: Live From Timbuktu
I spent some time in Mali back in the 80s, and back then, there was only one reason to go to Timbuktu; to get your passport stamped so you could have bragging rights once you got back home. There really…
LESSONS! Grappelli Licks: The Vocabulary of Gypsy Jazz Violin by Tim Kliphuis, Upright Bass: Killer Technique by Chris Tordini
Here are a couple of educational books that will get your chops up a couple notches Tim Kliphuis, considered the heir to violinist Stephane Grappelli’s throne, has put together a healthy collection of melodies and licks that are associated with…