Guitarists Dewa Budjana and Tohpati meld acoustic guitars with a dash of electric as they team up with a core rhythm section of drummer Demas Narawangsa and bassist Adhitya Pratama and then mix and match with either the Czech Symphon…
Category: Ringer of the Week
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Jim Snidero: Project-K
Alto saxist has carved out an impressive career since his early days with the formidable Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band back in the 80s. He’s always been a solid post bopper, but this album takes him to an impressive new…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Roger Kellaway: The Many Minds of Roger Kellaway
It’s albums like this that break my heart. Back in 2010 when it was recorded, The Jazz Bakery was the place in LA to hear jazz. I have a box full of their calendars, and just to torture myself, I…
COMEBACK, BABY, COMEBACK…Elvis Presley: Elvis Live 1969
For many music fans, as well as Elvis fans (is there a difference?!?), The 1969 four week residency of Elvis Presley at the brand spanking new International Hotel in Viva Las Vegas (where he played 2 shows a night EVERY…
DYLAN AND CASH! Bob Dylan: Travelin’ Through-The Bootleg Series Vol. 15 1967-69
Each Volume of Bob Dylan’s Bootleg Series has its own unique charms, but this 3 disc set from Sony Legacy may be the most important and intimate. It finds Mr. Zimmerman at one of his creative peaks, featuring outtakes from…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****SO, EIGHT BEATS GO INTO THIS BAR…Champion Jack Dupree: Champion Jack Dupree
New Orleans barrelhouse piano master Champion Jack Dupree (1909-1992) was one of the bona-fide champion of the blues, blessed with a full life, living and playing his music. This three disc one dvd box set from Storyville Records finds him…
*****RINGER OF THE WEEK****THE STRATFORD – UPON -AVON SONGBOOK? John Allee: Bardfly
Vocalist John Allee came up with a brilliant idea: bring the lyrics from the plays of William Shakespeare, and put them in a bohemian jazz milieu. John’s tenor of a voice is tamed with the hep cats of Mahesh Balasooriya/p,…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Rez Abbasi: A Throw of Dice by the Silent Ensemble
Guitarist Rez Abassi has put together an expansive catalog over the years, but his release may be his most ambitious. He puts music to a silent film, the 1929 silver screener A Throw Of Dice and breaks the music into…
THIS IS A TENOR SAX 101…Johnny Griffin & Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis: Live At The Penthouse
There’s something almost uniquely special about two tenor summit meetings. Guitar duos come close, but after that, who REALLY wants to hear a pair of trombones, cluttery pianos, or heaven forbid, basses forming a two man front line? Nope, it’s…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Will Boyd: Freedom, Soul, Jazz
More than one jazz artist has told me that his goal on stage is to recreate the joy and intensity of church music. Saxist and flute player Will Boyd does that in spades as he takes on the Great American…