Guitarist Lionel Loueke has had an impressive career as a sideman with the likes of Terence Blanchard and Herbie Hancock, as well as a fledging go as a solo act. Each of his own releases gets incrementally better, solid and…
Category: Ringer of the Week
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Chris Barber-with every blues artist and more that you ever wanted to hear: Memories Of MyTrip
Most of us on this side of The Pond have probably never heard of Chris Barber, and more’s the pity. The venerable trombonist and bass player is one of the big names in British Trad Jazz (is that an oxymoron,…
****ROTW****Marcus Miller: Renaissance
Bassist extraordinaire Marcus Miller may have finally put out the disc everyone’s been waiting for. It’s got the mix of Soul Train funk along with some thoughtful and consistent compositions, and some impressive chops delivered by the leader and his…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Donald Vega: Spiritual Nature
I just can’t figure out if I like Resonance Records more for their wonderful archival discs like the recent classic sessions by Bill Evans, Wes Montgomery and Freddie Hubbard, or for their forward looking original material by the likes of…
****RINGERS OF THE WEEK****Ahmad Jamal: Blue Moon, Oliver Jones: Live In Baden Switzerland
Just when you give up hope for anything fresh to come from the jazz piano tradition, here come two gents from the “Old School,” meaning: melody, rhythm, style, and above all…their own sound. AHHHH! This is why I love jazz!…
****ROTW****Mark Masters Ensemble featuring Gary Smulyan: Ellington Saxophone Encounters
One of the truly indisputable evidences for the existence of an all loving God is when he allowed Duke Ellington to form his orchestra, and let baritone saxist Harry Carney anchor the sax section for 50 years. Whether it was…
****ROTW****THE BEST SINGER IN JAZZ? Luciana Souza: Duos III,The Book of Chet
She’s been out of the music scene for a spell getting married and starting a family in LA, but vocalist Luciana Souza has come back with a vengeance, with two new releases that put her right back on the top…
****ROTW****Chris Brubeck’s Triple Play: Live At Arthur Zankel Music Center
Ok, if you really must know, the ENTIRE title of this disc, AFTER what I’ve already written, includes (take a deep breath)“with Joel Brown and Peter Madcat Ruth and Special Guests Dave Brubeck and Frank Brown.” What you’ve got here…
***ROTW***Peter Appleyard : Peter Appleyard and the Jazz Giants: The Lost 1974 Sessions
Here’s a release that is like finding a precious photo album you thought was lost for years while cleaning out your garage. Vibist Peter Appelyard made his name playing with Benny Goodman’s band in the 70s, and one evening after…
***ROTW***Peter Green Splinter Group: Blues Don’t Change
You’re going to have to trust me on this one, but long ago, on a planet far, far away, a group by the name of Fleetwood Mac was actually an obscure blues band. That was before the Dark Side took…