This album has “Historical Album of the Year” written all over it, and for good reason. Recorded in concert during a Madison, Wisconsin gig on November 15, 1976, this 8 song collection from Bill Evans’ trio with Eddie Gomez/b and…
Category: Ringer of the Week
WHEN IT WAS HEP TO BE HIP…Bobby Darin & Johnny Mercer: Two of a Kind
One of the classic male vocal duet albums has been reissued by Omnivore Recordings, and it serves to show how style, class and swing transcend generations and genres. Back in 1961, the ultra hip Bobby Darin (who was reputed to…
****RINGERS OF THE WEEK****ELECTRONIC GUITAR IDEAS…Wingfield-Reuter-Stavi-Sirkis: The Stone House, Tohpati Ethnomission: Mata Hati
There are still plenty of ideas to explore through the electric guitar, as these recent releases from Moon June Records testify. Two better known axe players, Markus Reuter from Stick Men and Mark Wingfield team up with Yaron Stavi/b and…
FOXY! Curtis Knight (Featuring Jimi Hendrix): Live At George’s Club 20
If you’re a Jimi Hendrix fan, all you need to know is that this is the band that Chas Chandler heard when he “discovered” Hendrix (then known as “Jimmy James”)back in 1966. These “amateur live” recordings from December 1965 and…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Chano Dominguez: Over the Rainbow
Recorded at a concert on Feb 24, 2012 in Palau Falguera in Barcelona, Spain, this album captures the heart and soul of Spanish pianist Chano Dominguez at his most romantic. He takes pieces ranging from show tunes, folk tunes, bop…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Beata Pater: Fire Dance
This is the third album I’ve heard by vocalist Beata Pater, and it is a change from the Spartan “Golden Lady” or fusiony “Red,” the clever lady takes her wordless approach and delivers a mix of CTI soul jazz and…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****The Baylor Project: The Journey
Named after the husband and wife team of vocalist Jean Baylor and drummer Marcus Baylor, TBP is a rotating collaboration that takes jazz and all of its roots tributaries on this thrilling musical journey. Hymns, spirituals, standards and originals all…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****SERBIAN JAZZ? Szilard Mezei Tul A Tiszan Innen Ensemble: Nem Fustol A Zentaji Gyar Kemenye
You usually don’t think of Serbia as a hotbed for jazz, but that’s where Szilard Mezei was born. He plays viola, and uses Hungarian folk songs as the basis for the twelve pieces on this two disc set. The ensemble…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****FEVER! Peggy Lee: Swingin’ Brightly and Gently
Miss Peggy Lee is always guaranteed to stump listeners on Blindfold Tests. Depending on the record, people mistake her for a young Billie Holiday, but never a white singer, as she’s got a delivery that was years ahead of most…
WHERE’S SHE BEEN HIDING?!? Mary Ann McCall: Complete Recordings 1950-1959
Just when you think you’ve heard every jazz vocalist, Fresh Sound Records finds another mother lode. This time it’s Mary Ann McCall, who was a “canary” for Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman and Charlie Barnet before doing a few short stings…