By all standards, the Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Orchestra was one of the most important post bop big bands around. It started because co-leader Thad Jones felt constrained under the yoke of the Count Basie Band, as the Count wanted…
Category: Ringer of the Week
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****MC Shoehorn: Wingin’ It
Here’s an exciting and in your face disc that dares you to sit still. Michael “Shoehorn” Conley plays alto, soprano and tenor sax as well as the fife and even tap dances on this wildly diverse and yet passionately rhythmic…
PROOF OF GOD’S EXISTENCE AND INTELLIGENT DESIGN…Stan Getz-Joao Gilberto: Getz/Gilberto ’76, Stan Getz: Moments In Time
When I get into debates with atheists, eventually the questions that come up are “Can you prove that God exists?” and “How can you not believe in Evolution?” Among arguments such as Joe DiMaggio’s 56 game hitting streak and Beethoven’s…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****THE FOG ROLLS IN…Ernie Krivda: Requiem For A Jazz Lady
I truly thought that God stopped the dispensation of making tenor sax players like Ernie Krivda. But, just like in the Bible, God keeps sending prophets of old to remind people of what the standard of righteousness is. What a…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****PROPHETIC VOICES FROM THE PAST…Don Byas, Thelonious Monk, Stuff Smith, Erroll Garner,etc: Timme’s Treasure
Some times, you just forget how far off the path you’ve gone and you need a voice from the past to remind you. That’s why I read the bible, and that’s why I listen to material like this whenever I…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Lenny Sendersky-Tony Romano Quartet: Intersection
There aren’t many jazz albums that feature the classical guitar, so for that feature alone this album with Tony Romano should get your attention. But, the fact that he teams with Lenny Sendursky/as-ss and the supporting cast of Steve LaLpina/b…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****JOE CASTRO: Lush Life-A Musical Journey
Here’s the kind of retrospective that I’m simply a sucker for. Joe Castro (1927-2009) was a bebop pianist who made his name in the West Coast in the 50s and 60s. He was a fixture in bands, either playing with…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Harvey Valdes: Roundabout
One thing you learn from the best cooks in the world is that they all let the basic ingredient speak for themselves. No self respecting Italian chef adds too much spice to any pasta sauce. The tomatoes are rich enough…
***RINGER OF THE WEEK****BRAZILIAN MILES…Racha Fora: Racha S’Miles
Racha Fora is the name of a quartet lead by Hiroaki Honshuku/fl-ewi, forming a core team with Mauricio Andrade/g, Rika Ikeda/v and Rafael Russi/b and along with guests Benhur Oliveira/perc and Dave Liebman/ss the whole band delivers a clever tribute to Miles…
12 STRINGS OF JOY!!! Larry Carlton & David T Walker: @Billboard Live Tokyo
Larry Carlton once told me that his dream was to play hip and casual guitar in front of small crowds. That’s all he wanted. Unfortunately for him, but beneficial for us, was that he became world famous for his work…