One of the overlooked pioneers of jazz bass these days is Oscar Pettiford. Along with Jimmy Blanton, he brought the bass from out of the shadows and into the spotlight, making it an actual solo instrument as opposed to just…
Category: Ringer of the Week
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Ulf & Eric Wakenius: Father and Son
Here’s a sublime duet record by the father and son guitar team of Ulf and Eric Wakenius. They play acoustic guitars with sublime delicacy and swing, taking on material ranging from jazz standards to Baby Boomer pop. The album is…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Maureen Choi Qu4tet: Ida Y Vuelta
Violinist Maureen Choi taps into her Latin roots (just kidding) as she captures the romance of Spain, South America, Cuba and the Caribbean on this seductive album She mixes originals with Iberian covers, teaming up with Daniel Garcia Diego/p, Marlo…
WHO IS THIS GUY?!? Miles Mosley: Uprising
If this is the future direction of jazz, please count me in! This debut album by singer/bassist/composer Miles Mosley is as promising as it is exciting. He’s played with artists ranging from Jeff Beck and Mos Def, while this album…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Ted Brown Quartet: Live At Trumpets
Tenor saxist Ted Brown shows that he’s imbibed deeply from the Lester Young waters on this swinging recording from a 2006 gig at trumpets Jazz Club in Montclair, NJ. Brown’s tone is breathy, soft and serenely behind the beat, cool…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Charnett Moffett: Music From Our Soul
Bassist Charnett Moffett has had a stellar career as a sideman for the likes of Wynton Marsalis and Stanley Jordan, but on this album that he headlines, he shows a vision far beyond anything he’s previously promised. He collects a…
THIS IS A BLUES GUITAR 101: The Pee Wee Crayton Collection 1947-62
Next to T-Bone Walker, Pee Wee Crayton (1914-1985) was the most influential blues guitarists and singers mixing a suave toned tenor voice with downright nasty and aggressive guitar pickings that swung like few others. This two disc set contains a…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Dayna Stephens: Gratitude
Frequently performing in LA, tenor and bari saxist Dayna Stephens puts together a release that puts his warm horn in it’s best light. He teams up with the best of the best as well: Julian Lage/g, Brad Mehldau/p, Larry Grenadier/b…
A FORGOTTEN MINGUS SIDEMAN…Gene Shaw: Quintet & Sextet
If you’re a Charles Mingus fan (and if you aren’t, please explain yourself), you know that trumpeter Gene Shaw (1926-73) is probably his most obscure sideman. He did essentially a one-off with him, but that one session was the classic…
THIS IS A TEXAS TENOR 101….Illinois Jacquet: The Illinois Jacquet Collection 1942-56
So, I’m trying to review this 2 disc set by the prototypical Texas tenor Illinois Jacquet, but I just can’t get past the third song, as I’ve played “Flying Home” and ”Rock-A-Bye Basie” over and over for the past hour…