Here are a couple discs that feature two of our best artists in earlier, and more obscure, settings. Lots to like in these rabbit trail releases: Back when JFK was alive and running for president, Buddy DeFranco came up with…
Category: Ringer of the Week
***RINGER OF THE WEEK***George Martin: Produced by George Martin
Not only is this documentary on famed producer George Martin a MUST for Beatles fans, but anyone remotely interested in the history of 60s rock or how the role of a producer changed because of this lanky and understated Brit…
***ROTW***Andrea Brachfeld: Lady of the Island
Here’s a real impressive disc by a lady I’ve never heard before. Andrea Brachfeld plays an assortment of flutes here, sings on one of the tracks, and composes a few others. Meanwhile with a foundational team of Bill O’Connell-Bob Quaranta/p,…
***RINGER OF THE WEEK***James Morrison: Snappy Too
Do you want to talk about chops?!? I saw this guy with Lalo Schifrin’s quartet a number of years ago, and he played an entire song, chorus and mind blowing solo, on his trumpet, and he NEVER TOUCHED A VALVE!!…
****XMAS RINGER OF THE WEEK****Will Scruggs Jazz Fellowship: Song of Simeon; A Christmas Journey
OK, if you want Christmas music that’s going to get you into a mood of holiday cheer, Egg Nog, mistletoe and Rudolph, this is not for you. If you want some musicians that actually give some thought to the meaning…
****ROTW****Amikaeyla: Being In Love
Boy, there are just so many anonymous sounding vocalists out there, that it’s so refreshing when you come across someone like this lady. She mixes the jazz feel with the soul 60s groove, and her Marilyn McCoo voice is the…
****ROTW****Three Voices: Transitions
Back in the 70s, a label called Pablo Records came up with the novel idea of just getting a handful of musicians together, telling them to play whatever they wanted, and let the tapes (back in those days) roll to…
****ROTW****Joy Road: The Complete Works of Pepper Adams, Alexis Cole: I Carry Your Heart…Sings Pepper Adams
Baritone saxist Pepper Adams had a full career as a sideman for an innumerable collection of artists such as Charles Mingus and Herbie Hancock, as well as leading his own hot little quintet with Donald Byrd back in the 1960s.…
****ROTW****Fred Hersch Trio: Alive at the Vanguard
I know everyone talks about Brad Mehldau or Keith Jarrett being the top two honchos on jazz piano, but lemme tell ya, my money is on Fred Hersch. Like Tony Bennett, he may not put out hits, but twenty years…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Brubeck Brothers Quartet: Lifetimes
Maybe there IS something to genetic engineering. Dan/dr and Chris/b-btb Brubeck, sons of the famed Dave, have been releasing some wonderfully original and exciting music lately. This latest one, with Mike DeMicco/g and Chuck Lamb/p along side the family, does some…