Category: Ringer of the Week

Tommy Flanagan was one of those pianists that you just never wanted to miss when he came into town. No matter the setting, he was always classy, tasteful and never played a wrong note. Here, in this 1974 recording, you…

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It’s not well known that tenor saxist Scott Hamilton was actually the guy who refused to plug in during the “fusion 70s” and started the return to vintage acoustic jazz with his breathy blowing with mainstream old timers. Now an…

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I had to go back into my archives to confirm my suspicions, and it was true-The Baylor Project’s earlier release of The Journey also got my RINGER OF THE WEEK award. The husband and wife team of  vocalist Jean Baylor…

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Vocalist and composer Jazzmeia Horn takes a sharp upturn in her musical trajectory on this most recent, her third album. Her first was compiled of standards, the second was a bit of a more personal one, but both in small…

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After Miles Davis plugged in and released albums like In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew, jazz became divided into two groups; those like Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Chick Corea who  joined the fusion revolution, or the shrinking minority…

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The harp is probably the most ignored instrument in jazz, usually identified with the avant garde strummings of Alice Coltrane, and then forgotten for anything that swings along with Dorothy Ashby. Brandee Younger makes the harp not only swing, but…

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This debut recording by composer/conductor Fabial Mantwill boldly states that there’s a new and fresh wind blowing in the big band scene. This nine song album includes a 12 pieces string section, a seven member horn section, vibes, harp, guitar…

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Pianist Alex Conde takes up the Quixotic task of not only reminding jazz fans of the importance of bebop pioneer Bud Powell, but he does so by Latinizing the icon’s best known material, bringing a  picante’ flavor to the language.…

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This 8 disc (or 12 lp limited edition vinyl) box set is the complete collection of music that Lee Morgan recorded with his band of Bennie Maupin/ts-bcl-fl, Harold Mabern/p, Jymie Merritt/b and Mickey Roker/dr at the Lighthouse in July, 1970.…

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Pianist Nikolaj Hess adroitly walks the balance of jazz piano and modern strings on this rich and satisfying album of juxtapositions of jazz and classical. He combines his trio of Anders Ac Christensen/b and Mikkel Hess/dr with a string quartet…

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