Author: George W. Harris

Vocalist Maria Jacobs has had a career that has emphasized the gospel side of the tracks, and has put out a respectable catalogue in that genre. Here, she’s left the church pews, crossed the street and has strolled down Tin…

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R&B crooner Will Downing has been one of the consistent vocalists for decades. Always consistent and always classy, he can go from “love ya, baby” sensuality to Coltranes’ “A Love Supreme” and not break stride. His latest one has his…

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Here’s a throwback band to the days of bluesy rock or rockin’ blues. Guitarist and vocalist Jay Willie delivers music that used to be sine qua non for bands in the 70s, but has been about as frequent as shrimp…

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What is it about Irish/Celtic music that makes it a universal attraction. Here I am, a nice Greek boy, and I just can’t get enough of it. Spent last year with the Mrs in Ireland, and if we only went…

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Trombonist/composer Samuel Blaser leads a quartet with Marc Ducret/g, Banz Oester/b and Gerald Cleaver/dr through a four piece suite of free form sounds that reflect the sea, and in these hands the waters get pretty rough. Aggressive percussion, distorted guitar…

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Jam band fans will have a whaka-whooka of a good time here with a funk filled collection of tunes by Jah Wobble/b and Bill Sharpe/key as leaders. Along with Marc Layton-Bennett/dr and Sean Corby/tp-fh, the band  goes from R&B back…

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I just voted on the Downbeat Critics Poll, and listed Fresh Sound Records as my Label Of The Year. Why, do you ask? Just look at these three latest reissues they’ve bestowed on us. If you’re a fan of the…

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“But does she know all of the State Capitals?” That was a typical father’s response when I heard this amazingly deft and prodigiously talented 11 year old girl’s debut disc. Still at the stage where boys have kooties, pianist Emily…

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