Not too long ago, record labels had certain identities. Blue Note was best known for hard bop, Columbia for big named mainstream, etc. After WWII, Be-bop was in the air, and a tiny label named Savoy was one of labels…
Category: Ringer of the Week
VOCAL PERFECTION REMASTERED…Ella Fitzgerald: Sings the Cole Porter Songbook
In the same vein that you cannot give informative opinion to movies if you have not seen Casablanca or Citizen Kane, or cannot discuss philosophy or religion if you haven’t read the Bible, it is impossible to give an opinion…
****RINGERS OF THE WEEK****SINGING FOR THE LONELY…Jimmy Scott: I Go Back Home, Keely Smith: The Intimate Keely Smith
Albums for when the lights are low, the room is empty and you need to think. Jimmy Scott’s life and music was put into a documentary film of the same title as this album by Ralf Kemper. I have not…
JUST KEEP ‘EM COMING; ELLINGTON IN THE LP ERA…Duke Ellington: The Duke Box 2
There is truly no better way to appreciate 20th Century music than taking in the sounds of Duke Ellington’s Orchestra. Storyville Records has done a commendable job through the years of releasing vintage material via radio broadcasts, private recordings and…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK***NHOP & Mulgrew Miller: The Duo-Live!
Neither the bassist Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson nor the pianist Mulgrew Miller are with us on earth anymore. This collection of concert recordings from July 15, 2000 shows us what we are missing. Taken from the North Sea Jazz Festival, the…
STRINGS OF JOY…Red Mitchell and Jim Hall: Rejoice!
Two of the most lyrical string artists got together at various times in their careers, and this 2 cd set captures the earliest collaboration. Cool toned Jim Hall had an off again, on again relationship with the melodious bassist &…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****TODAY’S MOST IMPORTANT VOCALIST…Gregory Porter: Live In Berlin
Just six years ago, the then 36 year old Gregory Porter was transitioning his career as a chef to a vocalist with his debut album Water. Now, this old soul of a vocalist has revived the art of storytelling through…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Tom Harrell: Something Gold, Something Blue
One attractive thing (among many) about Tom Harrell, he never sits still. Almost every album is a tweak of something he’s done and is already comfortable with. This time around, he replaces his long time pianist Danny Grisset and saxist…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Nikolett Pankovits: Magia
This album contains some of the freshest vocals you’re going to come across this year. Hungarian vocalist Nikolett Pankovits melds Old World charms with modern jazz sensibilities in an irresistible stew on these ten songs. Some are traditional Hungarian folk…
****CO-RINGERS OF THE WEEK****A PAIR OF LATIN LOVERS…Carlos Jimenez & Michel Heroux: Voices, Michel Camilo & Tomatito: Spain Forever
Both of these albums are so similar in concept, and equally enthralling that I couldn’t separate them. They are at a photo finish for essentials for the week… Guitarists Carlos Jimenez and Michel Heroux deliver a series of duets on…