During his long and productive career, tenor saxist Hank Mobley was termed “The Middleweight Champ: of the tenor sax, due to his “round” sound being halfway between the beefy Sonny Rollins/Dexter Gordon and the airy Lester Young/Stan Getz tones. What…
Category: Ringer of the Week
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Ralph Peterson’s Gen-Next Big Band: Listen Up!
Just when you thought that studio big bands were cerebral and sterile affairs, here comes this gem by Ralph Peterson. He conducts the large ensemble (FIVE TRUMPETS?!? TWO DRUMMERS?!?!?) while also p laying drums and cornet. A few of the…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Roberto Fonseca: Yesun
Here’s a festive collection of tunes with Roberto Fonseca playing a plethora of different keyboards, singing, hand clapping and hitting some percussion as he mixes and matches with a core of Yandy Martinez Rodriguez/b and Raul Herrera/dr and a rotating…
Eric Alexander: With Strings
If anyone deserves a “…with strings” album, it’s Eric Alexander, as he’s got possibly the warmest and breathiest tone alive. He’s with his working team of David Hazeltine/p, John Webber/b and Joe Farnsworth/dr, so the team of 9 violins, 2…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Dewa Budjana & Tohpati: Janapati
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…
****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…