Category: Ringer of the Week

There are just some artists that no matter how much you have, a newly “ undiscovered” recording is still welcome. Let’s be honest for a moment-how excited do you get about a new finding of late period John Coltrane tapes?…

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Just when you started losing hope in the new generation of jazz artists… Larry Wilson plays drums, percussion, B3, keyboards, bass, sings and I think he swept up the studio after all of the recording was done as well. He…

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In tribute to the 50th Anniversary of the seminal Miles Smiles album, Sony Legacy is bringing out 3 cds worth of unreleased material that later appeared on Miles Smiles, Nefertiti and Waterbabies. The “Second Classic Quintet” of Miles Davis with…

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Violinist Scott Tixier strikes an ingeniously perfect balance between complexity and simple on this collection of (mostly) originals that are both modern and timeless. He matches his warm violin with a harmonica in the hands of Yvonnick Prene, creating at…

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Lots of artists attempt to mix the enchanting harmonies and rhythms of the Middle East with jazz sensibilities, but they usually fall short in that they either sound too mystical or too kitschy. This one has Mehmet Ali Sanlikol leading…

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One of my weak spots is an album that keeps the same mood all the way through. Paolo Fresu uses his trumpet and flugelhorn to team up with Omar Sosa’s touch on the piano and keyboards to weave a glorious…

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I realize that “the best” is always a subjective thing, but the fact is that I return to Fred Hersch’s music more often than any other trio around. This team of Hersch with John Hebert/b and Eric McPherson/dr have been…

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Nothing like a voice from the past to make you  realize how far you’ve strayed. This collection of previously unreleased studio recordings from the legendary Erroll Garner during the years 1967-71 reveal to us not only the artistic style of…

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There used to be a time when I winced at the news of some “new” Hendrix album. Since James Hendrix founded Experience Hendrix and put some love into the management, I now salivate. This latest release is a perfect example……

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All I know about Senri Oe is that he’s a Japanese American who lives in New York, plays piano, and is unbelievably adept at composing wonderful music.  There are only eight songs on this release, and as soon as each…

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