If you want to hear what a drummer can do for a band, just step right up. Jeff Hamilton, co-leader of his own orchestra as well as his own trio and 1st call LA sideman is up front and center…
Author: George W. Harris
Lisa Hilton: Getaway
The goal of every artist is to have a distinct voice. Why try to sound like everyone else, like Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner or even Brad Mehldau? Just get their records, for Pete’s sake! The attractive thing about pianist Lisa…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Mary Wells: Something New-Motown Lost and Found
Most of you that grew up during the 60s know of vocalist Mary Wells from her big hits “My Guy” and “Two Lovers” from the days when Motown was, well, MOTOWN! Whether that’s the limit of your exposure to her,…
DADDY, WHAT’S A TENOR SAX? Dexter Gordon: The Complete Columbia Albums Collection
When was the last time a jazz musician was actually well known enough to have a “comeback?” Well, tenor sax giant Dexter Gordon did back in the ‘70s. Can’t think of anyone since. Back in the day, he was THE…
AH…WHEN JARRETT WAS JARRETT-Keith Jarrett: Hymns, Spheres
ECM has been going through their attic lately and bringing out older materiel from their halcyon days that was either never released before, or has only been out on its original vinyl format. Sometimes the latter means that there was…
COOL SOUNDS FROM AVID JAZZ!! Gil Evans: Four Classic Albums, Urbie Green: Five Classic Albums, Dave Pell: Four Classic Albums
The UK-based label Avid Jazz continues to amaze me. They consistently reissue material that I never even knew existed, and then make me wonder how I could have ever missed it. They put out 2 cd sets of material mostly…
Ken Hatfield Sextet: For Langston
The Langston Hughes songbook?!? Hey, it works! Guitarist Ken Hatfield puts together of famed poet Langston Hughes, and uses them as a springboard for some wonderful breezily swinging jazz. He brings together a stellar cast of Jamie Baum/fl, Hans Glawischnig,…
Enrico Rava & Parco della Musica Jazz Lab: Rava on the Dance Floor-Live at the Rome Auditorium
Trumpeter Enrico Rava takes a radical departure from his normal jazz milieu and puts together a 12 piece band for a concert to focus on the music of ….Michael Jackson! The idea is actually a pretty good one, as The…
Miles Davis with Quincy Jones & The Gil Evans Orchestra: Live at Montreux 1991
During his whole creative career, there was only one time that Miles Dewey Davis looked back in musical retrospect, and it was during this concert in 1991. Put together to give tribute to his dear friend and collaborator Gil Evans,…
Angel D’Cuba: Heritage
Vocalist/percussionist Angel D’Cuba leads an energetic band that mixes celebratory grooves with some funky horn accents on this release. He sings in both English and Spanish, the former on an excitingly soulful “Can’t Hide Love” that reveals a hip horn…