Category: Ringer of the Week

Was popular music actually once this good? Like the greatest of musical artists, Otis Redding was at his absolute best when performing in concert. Yes, his studio albums like Otis Blue or The Soul Album are exciting in their own…

Read more →

And you thought Jackie Paris was obscure!!! After listening to this unbelievable reissue of the most obscure of the obscure male vocalists, I did a major Google search on Jules Farmer. All I came up with was references to these…

Read more →

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?…

Read more →

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…

Read more →

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…

Read more →

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…

Read more →

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…

Read more →

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…

Read more →

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…

Read more →

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…

Read more →