The closest thing this ingenious idea of 6 clarinets getting together sans rhythm (and NOT a capella as the liner notes state. “A capella” means “no instruments” or literally “like church”…your lesson for the day) was back in the 80s…
Category: Ringer of the Week
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Alex Conde: Descarga For Monk
You know an album is not only creative, but brilliantly so when your first thought is “Why hadn’t anyone come up with this idea before?” Well, pianist Alex Conde did; he took the songbook of Thelonious Monk, and gave it…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Eddie Henderson: Collective Portrait****
Trumpeter Eddie Henderson has been around for decades, first making a name for himself with Herbie Hancocks Mwandishi band before putting out some hip albums of his own. Here, he makes a good case for proving the point that he’s…
OH, YEAH! The John Coltrane Quintet featuring Eric Dolphy: So Many Things-The European Tour 1961
Let’s be honest: after listening once to last year’s release of John Coltrane’s famed last recorded concert where he yells and shouts, you’re going to file the download or cd away and never listen to it again. Not so with…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Hamilton De Holanda: Caprichos
Not since violinist Niccolo Paganini woke the world up during the turn of the 19th Century has a set of Caprices been so wonderfully stimulating. This time around, it’s Hamilton De Holanda, the maestro of the 10 string mandolin who…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Johnny Summers: Piano Sessions, Vol 1
Whoa! Where’d THIS guy come from?!? FINALLY, A REPLACEMENT FOR MICHAEL BUBBLES. Not that I’m prejudiced or anything, it’s just that HE’S A POSER, and this guy, Johnny Summers, is the antithesis of the overslick overstyled and over sanitized male…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Jack Bruce: The 50th Birthday Concerts
Yes, Jack Bruce recently departed from this earth, but the decision to make this 2 dvd set a ROTW had no sentimental value to it. Filmed in two gigs on stage from November 1993 in Cologne, this is a wide…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Georg Breinschmid: Double Brein
Want to see what the bass can do? Come along with me… Bassist Georg Breinschmid mixes and matches with a rotating team of musicians in small and cozy group settings from solo to duo to trio and beyond format. Varied…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Jose’ James- Yesterday I Had the Blues: The Music of Billie Holiday
I gotta confess; when I first heard of this project by vocalist Jose’ James, I thought, “Another tribute to Billie Holiday? You’ve gotta be kidding? What more can be done.” Well, my friend, plenty. James plays it real smart here,…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Gino Sitson: VoiStrings
Vocalist Gino Sitson doesn’t release an album very often, so when he does you’d better take notice. I saw him in concert at the old Jazz Bakery a number of years ago and couldn’t believe what this guy could make…