Almost all rock guitarists of the 1960s cut their teeth listening to Barney Kessel, who’s bopping single note runs were the clarion tones for young Americans and Brits trying to figure out how to create a guitar solo. This two…
Author: George W. Harris
Syndone: Dirty Thirty 1992-2022
The Italian progressive rock/fusion group Syndone puts together a 12 song anthology, essentially an introduction for most of us plugged in fans. The core team of Nik Comoglio/key, Riccardo Ruggeri/voc, Marta Caldara-perc-key, Gigi Rivetti/p-key, Simone Rubinato/b and Ciro Iavarone/dr specializes…
Emanuel Casablanca: Strung Out On Thrills
Playing guitar and singing with a honeyed yet traveled voice, Emanuel Casablanca delivers modern blues with a core team of Julian Chobot-Sam Lazarev/b, Donal Sturge Anthony McKenzie II-Max Freeberg/dr and a slew of guests on some gritty originals. There’s a…
Vanessa Perea: This Is The Moment
Vocalist Vanessa Perea joins together with Adam Birnbaump, Neal Miner/b and Aaron Kimmel/dr for some rich reads of standards. She has a tone and delivery hinting at Carmen McRae, suave on “This Is The Moment” and able to bop as…
COOL STRINGS…Jean-Pierre Sasson: Portrait of an Unsung Jazz Guitarist
Just when you thought that you’ve heard every jazz guitarist… I can honestly say I have never even heard of French guitarist Jean-Pierre Sasson, but this 2 dusc album makes me wonder what I was missing. He comes right out…
VINYL REVIVAL…Cannonball Adderley: Know What I Mean?, Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: Caravan
Just to give evidence on how the standards of excellence in jazz have changed… When these two albums came out, respectively, in 1961 and 1962, Cannonball Adderley’s Know What I Mean and Art Blakey’s Caravan received 3 ½ and 4…
DOO WOP AND HARD BOP PIANO FROM AVID…Classic Doo-Wop: Five Classic Albums Plus, Mal Waldron: Four Classic Albums
Wonderful R&B vocals and adventurous jazz piano are the latest releases by UK based Avid Group Records. Consisting of Jake Carey, Zeke Carey, Paul Wilson, Johnny Carter and Earl Lewis, the Flamingos were one of the premier vocal groups, with…
STEVE DAVIS: SLIDING ON THE PATHS WITH HANK JONES
IT’S A RARE FEAT FOR A MUSICIAN TO COMPETE WITH HIS PAST, BUT THAT’S WHAT ALL STAR TROMBONIST STEVE DAVIS HAS RECENTLY ACCOMPLISHED. KNOWN AS ONE OF THE PREMIER MODERN TROMBONISTS, DAVIS HAS GRACED THE ALBUMS AS A SIDEMAN TO…
DELFEAYO MARSALIS: THE FUTURE AND MUSIC IS BRIGHT
IT SEEMS THAT MOST OF THE TIMES ONE ATTENDS A JAZZ CONCERT, IT FEELS MORE LIKE A CLASSICAL PERFORMANCE. JUST SIT DOWN, BE QUIET AND LET THE MUSICIANS DO THEIR THING. TROMBONIST DELFEAYO MARSALIS WILL HAVE NONE OF THAT. OH,…
WHY I GET EXCITED OVER LENT, PURIM, SPRING AND EASTER
March is a great month as we celebrate Lent, Purim and the first day of spring. We’ve got a lot to celebrate this year! And, while I’m not of the Jewish faith (although there is rumored to be Tribal blood…