Muddy Waters once sang, “The blues had a child and they named it rock and roll”. Well, R&B went to church on Sunday, took gospel music and gave birth to what became known in the 1960s as “Soul”. The mix…
Category: Ringer of the Week
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Tina Schlieske: The Good Life
The only thing that is inaccurate about the cover photo of vocalist Tina Schilieske on this album is that you can’t see the heart on her sleeve. Like Billie Holiday, or today’s Karrin Allyson, Schilieske doesn’t use range and chops…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****THE GREAT DAVIDIC SONGBOOK..Peter Jonatan and Metrople Orkset: Psalms Symphony
Why write your own lyrics when you can quote God? That is the conclusion that inspired composer Peter Jonatan as he found (literally) inspiration from the various Psalms from the Bible. Mixing a jazz trio of Jasper Soffers/p, Aram Kersbergen/b…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****LA LEGEND…Buddy Collette: The Classic Albums
While barely known outside of LA, multi-instrumentalist was a local legend. He was the first black to be a member of the previously white-only musicians union, he was a member of the orchestra for the famous Groucho Marx TV show,…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****John Dokes: Our Day
Here’s a guy that knocks me out every time he puts out an album. John Dokes has the classic honey’d soul voice, relaxed and suave-why isn’t he a late night deejay? Here’s he’s backed by George Gee’s orchestra, and his…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****LA’S FINEST…Gerald Wiggins: Classic Trio Sessions-Swingin’ With Wig
Because of the abundance of studio jobs for TV and movies for musicians, LA was a hotbed for musicians. How can you beat steady work, no travel and great weather? The plethora of pianists during the 50s-70s was an embarrassment…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Christoph Grab :Oneness
The beauty and genius of saxist Christoph Grab on this recent album of Thelonious Monk material is that there is not a hint of piano, thereby avoiding any haunting comparisons to the composer. Instead, Grab mixes up his sax selection…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Kevin Burt & Big Medicine: Thank You Bill-A Tribute to Bill Withers
In order to not prejudice myself one way or another in reviewing an album, I tend not to read the musicians playing or liner notes before listening; I want to take the songs in on their own merits. So, I…
*****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Andrew Hill Sextet Plus 10: A Beautiful Day, Revisited
This two disc set of previously unreleased material is special for a couple of reasons. One, it is rare glimpse of latter day sounds of piano giant Andrew Hill, and even better, it finds him in rare group forms, a…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel: A Lovesome Thing
Why this 2012 concert recording between the late pianist Geri Allen and guitar wonder Kurt Rosenwinkel has been under wraps for so long is beyond me. Both artists are caught in intriguing periods of there respective careers, with the guitarist…