“Those who are bored by virtue and excited by vice obviously have not had enough of either one” GK Chesterton That simple but poignant quote summarizes the theme of this fascinating, humorous and insightful documentary by producer/fan Stephen Kessler. What…
Author: George W. Harris
Tine Bruhn & Johnny O’Neal: Nearness
If you want your jazz vocals relaxed and intimate, Tine Bruhn’s gonna be your lady. She’s got a breathy and chesty mezzo soprano voice, and is not in a rush to deliver a lyric. Here, she teams up with pianist…
Wolff & Clark: Expedition
While not exactly commissioned by Thomas Jefferson, Wolff & Clark’s Expedition does explore a few exciting uncharted waters and come up with some clever discoveries on this trio disc that has Michael Wolff (who made his name with guys like…
HANG ON TIGHT!! Justin DeHart: Strange Paths, Mary Ellen Childs: Wreck
Minnesota-based Innova Records specializes in producing music that is original, experimental and creative. Not for the faint of heart. You’ll never get something that is tried and true from these guys. The same can be said for this latest couple…
Putumayo Presents: Vintage France
Turn your living space into the Left Bank with just one simple 35 minute disc! This dozen tunes is filled with accordions, gipsy guitars, waltzing rhythms, berets, nasal sounding chanteuses and romantic bohemian attitudes galore. Madeleine Peyroux coos convincingly on…
Various Artists: Reason to Believe-The Songs of Tim Hardin
I’m sure almost everyone that is reading this that is over 40 is familiar with at least a couple of Tim Hardin’s compositions, most notably “Reason to Believe” and “if I Were A Carpenter.” These two and eleven more are…
GOD’S GREATEST HITS
If you really want to understand the heart and (literally) the soul of jazz, you need to get some gospel discs into your collection. It’s just that simple. PC historians like to state that jazz started in the brothels and…
The Paris Combo@The Broad Stage 04.27.13
Let’s face it, most music is either about dancing or love. Returning to America after a too long hiatus, the swinging 5 piece Paris Combo mixed infectious and irresistible rhythms and melodies (guaranteed to get you to grab your partner)…
ELLINGTONIA WITHOUT ELLINGTON! Billy Strayhorn & Johnny Hodges: Juice A Plenty
One of the most symbiotic relationships in jazz was the collaboration between Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. You really cannot honestly discern where one composer/arranger begins and the other takes over on any composition from the 1940s on. Here, we’ve…
UNCOVERED TREASURES FROM AVID-Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis: Four Classic Albums Plus, Kenny Dorham: Four Classic Albums, Sammy Price: Three Classic Albums Plus
If you think that the most famous and popular albums are the only ones to own, Avid Records from the UK will shatter your preconceptions. They dig up lost sessions, obscure sessions, buried treasures and forgotten treasures from the 40s-60s and…