Category: Ringer of the Week

Another discovery by jazz detective Zev Feldman comes to light in this two disc collection of Bill Evans material. Unlike other of the releases that usually captured a single concert or studio session, this one spans a handful of years…

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One of the most welcome events the past year has been Blue Note legendary drummer Joe Chambers returning to his 1960s home label, and he’s back with a vengeance. This time around, he’s with Andres Vial-Richard Germanson/p, Ira Coleman-Mark Leweandowski/b,…

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One of the leading voices of today’s tenor saxists, Walter Smith III makes his debut on Blue Note Records with a strong and lyrical outing with the team of Taylor Eigsti/p, Matt Stevens/g, Harish Raghavan/b, Kendrick Scott/dr and guests Ambrose…

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One of the best, and most overlooked presenters of Cuban music, Jane Bunnett, delivers another thrilling album with her band Maqueque on this latest release. -What makes this album so special is the inclusion of Zimbabean vocalist Joanna Majoko along…

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Let’s be completely honest and frank with each other, shall we? Yes, the 1969 Woodstock rock fest was impressive historically. Fine. But, truth be told, the musicianship of these (mostly) white artists is fairly shabby and a bit loose and…

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Really? A black vocal quartet in the 1950s doing jazz? You sure it’s not doo wop? I’m sure! First tenor Paul Benson, second tenor Julius Robinson, baritone John Oglesby/Conrad Moore and bass Charles “Woody” Woodford took the smooth delivery of…

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Most tributes to the legendary bassist Charles Mingus fail because they try to reproduce the feel of the tormented genius, and the fact is that most jazz artists these days are just not that tormented. Harry Skoler avoids the problem…

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Here’s an album that has truth in advertising. Muscular post boppers Mike LeDonne/p, Eric Alexander/ts, Jeremy Pelt/tp, Vincent Herring/as, Peter Washington/b, Kenny Washington/dr and guest Rale Micic/g get together for a vintage sounding blue plate special. The album has  Jazz…

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In view of the renaissance of vinyl as a viable listening option, Craft Recordings is reissuing some classic albums from when, well, vinyl was vinyl. Someone over there is doing his  homework, as this 1957 album by West Coast alto saxist Art…

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One of the more overlooked of today’s alto saxists, Jim Snidero has amassed an impressive catalogue since his days with the Akiyoshi-Tabackin Big Band. This most recent album is a brilliant affair, with Snidero bringing in the tensile guitar workings…

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