Think all solo piano records sound the same? Here is a trio of new releases in this genre that you’ll compare and contrast for quite some time. I’ve never heard of any of the artists before, but am impressed by each one…
Author: George W. Harris
OUTSIDE TENORS-Ivo Perelman/Matthew Shipp: The Art of The Duet, Perelman/Shipp/Parker/Cleaver: Serendipity, Perelman/Shipp/Bisio/Dickey: The Edge, Rich Halley 4: Crossing The Passes
What actually IS “Avant Garde”? What is “Free Jazz?” Are there variations of them? Styles of them? Is there a “Neo Avant Garde” as opposed to “Classic Avant Garde”? When does advanced hard bop transition into free? Here are a…
VOICE AND ACCOMPANIMENT-Jan Shapiro: Piano Bar After Hours, Iva Bittova’: Iva Bittova’
Just a voice and Spartan accompaniment. Two completely different means to the end here. Vocalist Jan Shapiro goes the route of standards with a rotating team of pianists. Danela Schachter, Bob Winter, Tim Ray, Russell Hoffman and John Harrison III…
POST-BOP HEAVEN-Will Calhoun: Life In This World, Chris Massey & The NJP: Whosoever
If you like your jazz straight down the line, but not predictable and still looking forward, here are a couple discs lead by a pair of drummers that should be in your sights. Will Calhoun, better known as the drummer…
JOYFUL CLASSIC JAZZ FROM AVID: Tal Farlow: Three Classic Albums Plus, Dave Pell: Four Classic Albums, Charlie Shavers featuring Maxine Sullivan: Four Classic Albums Plus
Nothing like the simple pleasure of hearing jazz before the influence of rock and funk ripped a good chunk of the celebratory joy from it. Here are three artists that are mostly overlooked these days, and it’s to our detriment…
TRUE AMERICANA…The Beach Boys: Good Vibrations Tour
I was in college back in 1976 when The Beach Boys regrouped with their brother Brian and went on tour to celebrate America’s Bicentennial. I felt their simple rhythms and attitude were beneath my recently developed jazz tastes, so I…
Matuto: The Devil and The Diamond
Consisting of Clay Ross/g-v, Rob Curto/acc-v, Rob Hecht/fid, Skip Ward/b, Richie Barshay/dr and Ze’ Mauricio/perc, the band Matuto delivers festive music that is part Mardi Gras, part Cajun and even a part South American with dashes of Brasilia. The music…
LIKE A FINE WINE…Eliane Elias: I Thought About You, Steve Tyrell: It’s Magic
This is what I love about jazz-in all other forms of music, the singers reach a peak and end their careers at the end of a slow descent. Contrariwise, in jazz, the vocalists age unbelievably well, with many of the…
LAST OF THE GREAT SINGER/SONGWRITERS? Harry Nilsson: The RCA Albums Collection
When I was just a young whippersnapper, you could throw a rock in any direction at the street corner of Main & 1st in Dodge City and it would hit a singer/songwriter. Now, they’re just about as extinct as the…
YOU CAN GET IT…Jimmy Cliff: The KCRW Session
This disc is Exhibit A on why there is hope for radio. Last year, radio station KCRW’s famed program “Morning Becomes Eclectic” had Jimmy Cliff delivering an intimate “live” that focused on the legend’s most recent album (Rebirth) and included…