When you think of Scandinavian jazz, blues and gospel are not the first things that pop into your mind. Yet, Tord Gustavsen brought his Quartet to the Santa Monica Bay Women’s Club and delivered a 90 minute concert that showed…
Author: George W. Harris
Jonathan Kreisberg: One
Here’s a solo guitar release that shows the various prismatic colors that can come from six creative strings. Jonathan Kreisberg uses acoustic and electric guitars, as well as various effects, to produce a multi-hued collection of sounds. The two self-penned…
THE SECRET LIFE OF HARRIS SIMON
How many of us have had those Walter Mitty dreams: leading a big band, heading an all star group, performing with all time greats on a recording session? Well, there’s a new release out on Resonance Records titled The Mastery…
JACKIE RYAN’S LOVE SONG OF LIFE
Last years 2 disc set by vocalist Jackie Ryan (“Doozy”) was on my list of best jazz discs, and her concerts exhibit the perfect combination of swing and sensuality. Her latest release is actually a compilation of her “best” love…
Chris Potter’s Quartet@Musician’s Institute 02.28.13
Here it is, only February, and already saxist Chris Potter has been in local gigs three different times. The first two had him as a partner with Pat Metheny, and then he formed part of the front line with the…
JAZZ SUCKER PUNCHES
Fads and styles come and go. Jazz “stars” rise and fall. As the Bible says, “He brings one down, He exalts another.” 60 years ago, Benny Goodman was THE star of music. Anyone listen to him now? Right now, Michael…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Jackie Ryan: Listen Here
Vocalist Jackie Ryan is just one of the ladies that you just know is fun to be around. I’ve seen her perform, interviewed her, and have all of her material-you want her at your party! She has an infectious joy…
READ ALL ABOUT IT! Jack DeJohnette: Special Edition
ECM Records is on a reissuing ROLL! This one just might be the king of the litter. What they’ve done is put together into one multi-cd disc package the first four cooking releases by the rotating collection known as the…
DON WHO?!? Don Ellis: Essence
If you’ve even heard the name Don Ellis at all, it’s probably from the forward looking big band that the trumpeter/composer led in the late sixties with intricate time meters and boasting musicians like John Klemmer and Tom Scott. Probably…
Julian Shore: Filaments
Pianist Julian Shore has put out an intriguing album that rotates voices and guitars like spices on a Lazy Susan tray. The core team of him with Phil Donkin/b and Tommy Crane/dr supply the framework for a mix and match of…