This 4 cd set (also available in vinyl) comprises the last concert recordings of Miles Davis’ “First Classic Quintet” with John Coltrane, Jimmy Cobb/b, Wynton Kelly/p and Paul Chambers/b. These concerts from Paris, Stockholm and Copenhagen, while most having been…
Category: Ringer of the Week
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Omar Sosa & NDR Big Band: ES: Sensual
All that is right about Afro-Cuban music is delivered here as Oma Sosa brings his piano, vibes and various sorts of percussion into the fold of the NDR Big Band under the direction of Jaques Morelenbaum. The 13 piece horn…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Leslie Pintchik: You Eat My Food, You Drink My Wine, You Steal My Girl
Pianist and composer Leslie Pintchik has been slowly amassing an impressive catalog which showcases her compositional and technical acuity. This most recent album teams her in a mix and match situation with Satoshi Takeishi/perc, Michael Sarin/dr, Scott hardy/b-g, Ron Horton/tp-fh,…
WERE THINGS REALLY THAT MUCH BETTER? James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke,etc: The 1962 R&B Hits Collection
When you hear some old curmudgeon say, “Today’s music stinks compared to when I was a kid,” it’s probably because they grew up listening to music like what you’re hearing on this 103 song, 4 cd collection. This box set…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****A FRESH VOICE…Jeff Baker: Phrases
There aren’t a lot of male vocalists who stray form the same old Great American Songbook, so a guy like Jeff Baker immediately grabs my attention, and should yours. He’s got a low tenor-high baritone sound, and his style is…
IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR…Elvis Presley and His Competitors: The Heartbreak Hotel Top 100
On May 5th, 1956, Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” went to Number 1 on the Billboard top 100 chart. So, what was the competition that he was dealing with? Many times, people denigrate the popular music of the mid-50s claiming that…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Robert Hurst: Black Currant Jam
Robert Hurst plays both acoustic and electric bass while leading a flexible team of musicians and vocalists through his creative originals. The core unit of Nate Winn/dr, Ian Finkelstein/p-key, Rafael Statin/sax-woodwinds and Pepe Espinosa/perc are augmented by a rotating team…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Nick Maclean Quartet: Rites of Ascension
Pianist Nick Maclean delivers a tribute to Herbie Hancock’s 60s Blue Note with a collection of interpretations and originals. His team of Brownman Ali/tp, Jesse Dietschi/b and Tyler Goertzen/dr is up for the task, with Ali tapping into his inner…
OH YEAH! Charles Mingus: Live at Montreux 1975
Whether or not you have any previous experience with the music of Charles Mingus, this two cd set is a great addition to your music collection. Caught in concert at Montreux in 1975, it finds the legendary bassist with his…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Hristo Vitchev Quartet: Of Light and Shadows
Guitarist Hristo Vitchev continues to create an impressive and wide ranging catalogue with this latest album. He’s with his regular quartet of Jasnam Daya Singh/p, Dan Robbins/b and Mike Shannon/dr and they work together like the Houston Astro’s infield; perfectly…