Well, he’s been a sideman for Gary Burton, and this solo recording is produced by Fred Hersch, so he’s got the ears of some guys who know what to listen for. Pianist Vadim Neselovsky puts together an impressive session here.…
Author: George W. Harris
Oli Rockberger: Old Habits
Having worked with the likes of Randy Brecker, Les McCann and Charlie Hunter as well as more pop oriented artists like Levon Helm and John Mayer, singer-songwriter Oli Rockberger brings all of those sounds to the table on this self …
Luke Celenza: Back & Forth
Here’s a debut disc by a guy who shows lots of promise. Pianist Luke Celenza is a Michel Camilo-influenced artist, which is hard to gripe about, and this disc has him in a trio and quartet context with Joshua Crumbly/b,…
Marcus Miller’s Tribute To Miles Davis with Wayne Shorter & Herbie Hancock@Disney Hall 04.22.13
Bassist Marcus Miller pointed out how quickly time marches on when he told the packed house at Disney Hall that the impetus for his concert tribute to Miles Davis was realizing that it’s been 20 years that his former boss…
SARAH GAZAREK BLOSSOMS DEARLY
In the arts and entertainment field, possibly the biggest career killer is to have your name out of circulation for any amount of time. If a teacher’s creed is “publish or perish,” a musician must live by “record or retire.”…
JOE JACKSON: BEGINNING TO SEE ELLINGTON’S LIGHT
Standing in line at for a rockabilly show McCabe’s the other day, the person behind me asked a simple question, “Who’s your all time favorite jazz artist?” Without a nanosecond of hesitation, I blurted “Duke Ellington.” Immediately, the surrounding crowd…
Jimmy Cobb’s “So What” Band@CSUN 04.20.13
If jazz is “America’s Classical Music,” then Miles Davis’ 1959 album Kind of Blue has to be considered his 9th Symphony. As the only living member of that iconic session, 80 year old drummer Jimmy Cobb has been touring the…
BENSON’S FAVORITE GUITARIST-Grant Green: The Holy Barbarian St. Louis 1959
Uptown Records has unearthed another great treasure here. Guitarist Grant Green, who has been sighted many times by George Benson as one of the first guitarists that inspired him, is caught here in his hometown in 1959 and 1960, just…
Shuggie Otis: Inspiration Information & Wings of Love
Son of famed R&B star Johnny Otis, Shuggie Otis had, and actually still has, an impressive career on his own. This 2 cd set includes the classic 1974 psychedelic soul album Inspiration Information as well as a previously unreleased and…
Gerald Clayton: Life Forum
Best known for his own working trio with Joe Sanders and Justin Brown, as well as his work with The Clayton Brothers Band, pianist Gerald Clayton expands his borders a bit here with some ambitious and experimental sounds as well…