If you think the fusion infested 70s (when everyone from Hancock to Miles to Corea was plugging in) was a tough time for acoustic jazz musicians to make a living, think how tough it was in the UK where the…
Author: George W. Harris
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Joanie Sommers: Positively The Most!
If you’ve ever even HEARD of vocalist Joanie Sommers, it’s because of that stupid pop song from the 60s she did, and I even hate to prejudice you by telling you what it was…”Johnny Get Angry” !! Please hear me…
NO CREAM IN THE BE-BOP COFFEE Benny Green: Magic Beans
It’s as rare these days as Catholic Priests with beards, but once in a great while, if you look carefully, you can actually spot a pianist that is a dyed in the wool bebopper. Benny Green, who’s always on the…
Josh Redman: Walking Shadows
The time has come in Joshua Redman’s career to release the required “with strings” or “ballad” album, and it’s quite an ambitious effort. He’s joined by Brad Mehldau along with buddies Larry Grenadier/b and Brian Blade/dr who are augmented much…
Charles “CD” Davis: 24 Hour Blues
Here’s a guy that’s got the boogie blues in his blood. Guitarist Charles “CD” Davis brings his Strat right out front and gets the joint jumping with a collection of tunes that will get your blue suede shoes stepped on…
Jeffrey Gimble: Beyond Up High
Here’s a hip vocalist that delivers like a closing reliever-lots of variety and keeps you guessing with his changes of speed. Tenor-toned vocalist Jeffrey Gimble has a with-it attitude here on this release of ten tunes ranging from standards to sixties soul.…
Geof Bradfield: Melba!
Here’s a great concept for an album, and it’s done just right. Reedman Geof Bradfield puts together a musical suite that is a tribute to Melba Liston, who made her mark as a section trombonist, but more importantly as an…
Pamela Sklar: A Native American-Jazz Tribute
Subtitled “A Tune For America” flutist Pamela Sklar brings together various woodwinds along with guest percussionists and strings to weave together a meditative tapestry of sounds. At times alone with her meditative flute, and other times bringing together altos, basses…
Stan Killian: Evoke
Tenor Saxist and composer Stan Killian fronts a well rounded post bop quintet with Mike Moreno/g, Benito Gonzalez/p, Corcoran Holt and McClenty Hunter on this collection of well constructed and arranged originals. Arrangement is an important thing here, as the…
Ron Oswanski: December’s Moon
Ron Oswanski takes the Hammond B3 in some intriguing directions on this multi-faceted release. Also on piano and accordion, he brings together s team of ClarencePenn-Ian Froman/dr, Jay Azzolina-John Abercrombie/g, John Patitucci/b and Tim Ries/ts-ss for a dozen originals that…