Not since Gregory Porter have I been as excited about a new jazz singer. This guy Michael Mayo has a rich and supple voice, hinting at Stevie Wonder, but with a jazz flexibility akin to Al Jarreau that is a…
Category: Ringer of the Week
THIS IS MODERN JAZZ VOCALS…Al Jarreau: Wow! Live At The Childe Harold
To put this important album of a previously unreleased recording of Al Jarreau in context, this Washington DC gig catches the iconic star just before hitting fame, after his 1976 Glow and before his chart topping 1977 Look To The…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****WHO LET HER OFF HER LEASH?!? Gunhild Carling: Jazz Is My Lifestyle
Yeah, I had never heard of her before, either! From that hotbed of jazz, Sweden, comes Gunhild Carling, playing (take a deep breath)…trumpet, trombone, harp, flute, recorder, harmonica, ukulele and the “remin”. She fronts a big band that includes all-stars…
THE CLASSIC QUINTET…Miles Davis: The Bootleg Series Vol 8…Miles In France-Quintet 1963/64
Miles Davis’ “Classic” Quintet of Ron Carter/b, Tony Williams/dr, Wayne Shorter/ts and Herbie Hancock/p did not go under-recorded. There are a plethora of single and multi-disc sets of the band, with this collection of the team in various gigs in…
****A MISSING LINK****…Classic V-Disc Small Group Jazz Sessions
The mid 1940s were a pivotal time, not only for the world due to WWII, but also for jazz, as during these years America’s classical music was in a major transition period. The heyday of the Swing Era was (unbeknownst…
*****RINGER OF THE WEEK****BACK IN THE DAY…Kurt Rosenwinkel: The Next Step Band-Live At Smalls 1996
It’s amazing how each member of this 1996 band of leader/guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel with Mark Turner/ts, Jeff Ballard/dr and Ben Street/b is now a major name on his respective instrument. To put things in perspective, Rosenwinkel is still a few…
Samara Joy: Portrait
She’s only at the beginning of her career, but even so, Samara Joy comes across like a well seasoned vet on this latest release. She’s still retaining her youthful and church-bred charm, but she is starting to stretch her boundaries,…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****GETZ A GO GO! Jeff Rupert: It Gets Better
Ok, am I the only one who sees the punny reference to tenor sax giant Stan Getz on Jeff Rupert’s latest release. First of all, he’s got a tone and style just like The Mellifluous One. Second, he’s brought Getz…
****DISCOVERY OF THE YEAR****YOU CAN TAKE THE BIRD OUT OF KANSAS CITY…Charlie Parker: Bird In Kansas City
Get out your transcription papers, because you’re going to want to learn these recently unearthed solos from Charlie Parker. Recorded at various stages of Parker’s early career, such as Vic Damon’s studio in 1944 with the Spartan support of Edward…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK***Charlie Apicella & Iron City meet The Griots Speak: Call To Action/Call To Prayer
A meeting of minds and souls takes place with the duo of Brad Whiteley/org and Austin Walker/dr joining musical forces with Daniel Carter/wwinds-tp-p, William Parker/b-reeds-tp, Charlie Apicella/dr-perc and Juma Sultan/perc . There is a surfeit of various traditional reed, string…