Anyone up for The Great Stratford-Upon-Avon Songbook? You might be after giving a listen to this brilliant album by vocalist Deborah, as she takes lines from Shakespeare plays such as Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s…
Category: Ringer of the Week
JAZZ DEAD SEA SCROLLS…Wes Montgomery: Back On Indiana Avenue-The Carroll DeCamp Recordings
In the liner notes of the 44 page booklet, producer and musical sleuth Zev Feldman correctly calls this 2 disc cache of previously unreleased vintage Wes Montgomery recordings the “Dead Sea Scrolls of Jazz” and he’s pretty spot on. There…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Pacific Harp Project: Play
You don’t often get a jazz album led by a harp this side of Alice Coltrane, so Megan Bledsoe Ward shows some moxie by bringing her heavenly instrument to the fore along with a jazz team of Noel Okimoto/vib, Todd…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****THIS IS A PIANO TRIO…Michel Petrucciani Trio: One Night in Karlsruhe
Sometimes you forget how much you miss someone. German based label Jazzhaus recently released this concert recording from July 7, 1998 of Michel Petrucianni’s piano trio with Gary Peacock/b and Roy Haynes/dr. Petrucianni is dearly departed, Haynes rarely performs anymore…
JUST BEFORE HIS GIANT STEPS…John Coltrane: Coltrane ’58-The Prestige Recordings
Just on the cusp of breaking out into his own solo career on the major label Atlantic Records with albums like Giant Steps and My Favorite Things, John Coltrane was honing his skills and reigning in his unique personal sound…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Catherine Russell: Alone Together
Sometimes pedigrees and gene pools help. Catherine Russell’s dad, Luis, was the musical director for Louis Armstrong and lead his own bad with Red Allen back in the day, so she’s got the relaxes swing feel in her marrow. It…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****A FUNK BROTHER RETURNS…Dennis Coffey: Live at Baker’s
Back in the day, every major label had a studio band to support either a vocalist or group. For Motown, it was the Funk Brothers, with Dennis Coffey being the guitarist on hits like “Cloud Nine” and “Just My Imagination”…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****VAN’S ASCENT…Van Morrison: The Healing Game (Deluxe Edition)
This is a great time to be a fan of Van Morrison. His recent albums that focus on jumping the blues reveal a renewed musical enthusiasm. His live shows are swinging affairs with Morrison in not only wonderful voice, but…
Cyrille Aimee’: Move On-A Sondheim Adventure
For her first few albums, optimistic sounding vocalist Cyrille Aimee’ has been part of a bohemian gypsy swing team with a wholistic sound. She has recently had a good terms departure with her longtime friends and bandmates, testing new worlds…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Alfred Rodriguez & Pedrito Martinez: Duologue
Throughout his career, Quincy Jones discovery Alfredo Rodriguez has refused to stay still, releasing a catalogue of albums that are as varied as they are interesting. This time, the Cuban pianist teams up with percussionist/vocalist Pedrito Martinez for 11 concise…