Lyrical folk sounds from the Old World abound with Vasko Atnasovski playing alto sax, soprano sax and flute with Simone Zanchini/acc, Michel Godard/tuba, Bodek Janke/dr-tab and Ariel Vei Atanasovski/cel on nine bohemian beauties. You feel like folk dancing in a…
Category: Ringer of the Week
*****RINGER OF THE WEEK*****HOLDSWORTH MEMORIES…Soft Works: Abracadabra in Osaka
I caught legendary guitarist Alan Holdsworth just after this 2003 tour with this band of Elton Dean/saxello-as-p-rhodes, Hugh Hopper/b and John Marshall, here recorded in Osaka on August 11. It’s humbling to realize that 3/4ths of the band has gone…
CLASSY! Bill Cunliffe: Trio
It’s almost impossible to think up a stronger trio than the one Grammy winning pianist composer Bill Cunliffe has put together for this album. Always lyrical and melodic with a perfect sense of swing, he brings together two of the…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****BROTHERLY LOVE…Nicki & Patrick Adams: Lynx
Pianist Nicki Adams creates rich duets with brother and trumpeter Patrick on this rich and communicative collection of modern jazz readings. Their taste in song selection is as good as their delivery, with Nicki going full stride on an energetic…
*****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Wolfgang Lackerschmid & Chet Baker: Quintet Sessions 1979
One of my biggest musical regrets is that passed on my chances to see Chet Baker in the late 70s and early 80s. I figured, “C’mon-he’s totally fried and past his prime” as I thought his chops were long gone.…
*****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Nicolas Meier World Group: Magnificent
This is about the third album that I’ve reviewed by Jeff Beck alumnus and guitarist Nicolas Meier, and it might be his most impressive yet. It’s definitely the most ambitious, since it has 3 discs worth of music. The three…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Damia’ Timoner: Jerry’s Smilin’-A Guitar Tribute to the Grateful Dead
I’ve never been the biggest fan of the Grateful Dead (sorry, everyone!), but Spain-based guitarist Damia’ Timoner makes me want to become one. The nylon stringer takes the Dead songbook (mostly form Jerry Garcia’s pen) and gives gorgeous and personal…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****THE REAL RAINBOW BRIDGE! Jimi Hendrix Experience: Live In Maui
This two disc/Blu-Ray of Jimi Hendrix’s Experience with drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Billy Cox is part of setting the musical record straight. A handful of the tunes from Hendrix’s famous two 1970 concerts in Maui were on the posthumous…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Lee Konitz: Leewise
This release is the latest of a series from Storyville that captures jazz legends in concert from the 1990s. This one has alto saxist Lee Konitz featured in a plethora of musical settings as a result of a concert in…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Julia Karosi featuring Ben Monder: Without Dimensions
Vocalist Julia Karosi creates some other exotic sounds that range from Old World to Other World on this collection of songs that feature guitarist Ben Monder in a wide kaleidoscope of colors and sounds with Aron Talas/p, Adam Bogothy/b and…