Because Concord Music Group swallowed up a ton of small labels, they are able to put out nice little samplers like these for the uninitiated. Let’s face it; if you know nothing about Adderley, Monk, etc, choosing a starting disc…
Category: Reviews
Elio VillaFranca/Arturo Stable: Dos Y Mas
Here’s an idea that could have been an absolute disaster, but ends up smelling like a rose. Percussionist Arturo Stable, who plays on this disc everything from Cajon, Conga’s and Djembe to a myriad of other things that go bump…
Frank Macchia: Swamp Thang
Tenor saxist/composer/arranger Frank Macchia has been one of my favorite jazz artists. Throughout the years, he’s put out material that is fresh, creative, orginal and, most importantly, enjoyable on a plethora of levels. His humor is exem plified by his…
THE 70s RETURN! Bill Nelson and the Gentlemen : Recorded Live In Concert At Metropolis Studios, London, Van Der Graaf Generator: Recorded Live In Concert At Metropolis Studios, London, The Zombies featuring Colin Blunstone & Rod Argent: Recorded Live In Concert At Metropolis Studios, London
So, did the 70s sound as good or as bad as you remember? Here are three sets of cd/dvd compilations of artists from that era who gave some intimate concerts to appreciative audiences. Some of those there grew up to…
BIG NAMES IN JAZZ-The Cookers: Believe, Curtis Fuller: Down Home, Branford Marsalis Quartet: Four MFs Playin’ Tunes
All three of these releases are by artists that have been, or are, on the forefront of jazz. What do their most recent products reveal? 1) The conglomerate The Cookers is comprised of some of the best of the…
Graham Dechter@Vitellos 09.13.12
Like the title of his latest release, Calabasas’ gift to the guitar Graham Dechter is Takin’ it There, which means like so many other Angelenos, he’s moving to NYC where his chances of paying back his tuition seem the best.…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Donald Vega: Spiritual Nature
I just can’t figure out if I like Resonance Records more for their wonderful archival discs like the recent classic sessions by Bill Evans, Wes Montgomery and Freddie Hubbard, or for their forward looking original material by the likes of…
CLASSIC REISSUES FROM AVID! Louis Bellson: Four Classic Albums Plus, Grant Green: Four Classic Albums, Shelly Manne: Three Classic Albums Plus
For the either the budget conscious jazz fan, or the one who has to have “EVERYTHING,” you can’t get much better than this UK-based label. Here are their latest trio of 2cd releases, and if you don’t find something in…
Matthew Silberman: Questionable Creatures
Tenor saxist/composer Matthew Silberman leads a quartet with guitar (Ryan Ferreira/Greg Ruggiero), bass (Christopher Tordini) and drums (Tommy Crane). His sound leans toward the thick and edgy, sometimes going on the outer fringe as on “ Gohost of the Prairie”…
Michael Pedicin: Live@The Loft, Bruce Cox: Status Cymbals
THE OTTO LINK MOUTHPIECE LIVES! Here are two releases that have tenor sax players; one as a leader, and one as a sideman. Both guys show a sonic debt to John Coltrane’s “middle” period from ’58-62 when he was literally…