Here are a couple tribute releases, one to a jazz artist, and one to a borough. Tenor saxist Virginia Mayhew leads an adroit band with Dizzy alumnus Ed Cherry/g, Harvie S/b, Andy Watson/dr and Wycliffe Gordon/tb sitting in on some…
Category: Reviews
WE ARE LISTENING TO JAZZ, RIGHT? Ffear: MIrage , Troyka: Moxxy
Sometimes, you just wonder what the intended audience is for certain recordings. For instance, are these two recent releases targeting novices to the jazz field? Indie rock fans? Art majors? Who comes and listens to them? These are the thoughts…
MUSIC FOR THE WORLD–Tom Teasley: All The World’s a Stage, Samte: Trust-Music from the movie Addiction Incorporated
Here are a couple discs that mix and meld sounds from the 2nd and 3rd World. Interesting, to say the LEAST Trust incorporates music predominantly from Eastern Africa on this 10 song collection of fascinating rhythms. The thrust of…
GUNSLINGERS-Greg Skaff: 116th & Park, Dave Fields: Detonation
Here are a couple releases from guys that plug in their 6 stringers with a vengeance. Gibson guitarist Greg Skaff fronts (mostly) a trio with Pat Bianchi/B3 and Ralph Peterson/dr through some hard driving burners on this session. The band…
MOTOWN SOUND RETURNS: The Supremes: I Hear a Symphony, David Ruffin: David
Just about the only groups in the 60s that competed with the Beatles for popularity, as well as cultural and musical relevance were Dyan, the Doors, The Supremes and The Temptations. Here, we’ve got a reissue of one of The…
The Doors: Live At The Bowl ‘68
You’ve probably heard of, or even watched, bootleg versions of this historic concert delivered by the then-most popular rock group in America, The Doors. By the time they had reached this artistic and commercial peak in 1968, they’d released three…
****RINGERS OF THE WEEK****Beverly Kenney: Complete Royal Roost Recordings, Complete Decca Recordings
Attention fans of vocal jazz! This review is for YOU! What Jackie Paris is to male singers, Beverly Kinney is to females. She had an incredibly individual voice all her own, recorded some incredibly moving music, never quite got to…
Ablaye Cissoko/Volker Goetze: Amanke Dionti
About 4 years ago jazz trumpeter Volker Goetze got together with Senegalese kora player (sort of like a West African sitar) Ablaye Cissoko to put together an intriguing duet recording of African tunes. The mix of continents worked amazingly well,…
Bobby Wellins Quartet: Birds of Brazil
I don’t have the slightest idea where Hep Jazz Records finds these obscure musicians from the UK. Just when you think you know of every jazz artist, Hep Jazz owner Alastair Robertson throws some release by a ringer that gets…
BIG BAND FLAVORS! Bob Mintzer Big Band: For The Moment, Ryan Truesdell: Presents Centennial: Newly Discovered Works of Gil Evans
It’s a rare thing these days to hear modern big band music. Here are a couple ones worth seeking out that sound fresh, vibrant and modern. Saxophonist Bob Mintzer has carved out a remarkably flexible career, working with the…