Not too long ago, record labels had certain identities. Blue Note was best known for hard bop, Columbia for big named mainstream, etc. After WWII, Be-bop was in the air, and a tiny label named Savoy was one of labels…
Month: December 2016
****ROTW****TRENCH COAT NOT INCLUDED…Ralph Marterie: Music For A Private Eye
If you haven’t been collecting Fresh Sound Records’ series of soundtracks from B movies and TV shows from the 50s and 60s, you’re missing out on some of the hippest and swingingest sounds to ever filter through your malleus, incus…
Joe Bonamassa@Dolby Theatre 12.17.16
Whether you would prefer to live in a Red or Blue State, Joe Bonamassa showed that you can deliver a plethora of “Blues States” with his wide range of indigoes during his last concert of the year at Dolby Theatre.…
Tony Adamo: Sonic Henderson
I rarely review singles, but Tony Adamo is such a bowl of energy that anything he graces deserves extra attention. The single “Sonic Henderson” is from his upcoming full album due in March, but this one track is like a…
VOCAL PERFECTION REMASTERED…Ella Fitzgerald: Sings the Cole Porter Songbook
In the same vein that you cannot give informative opinion to movies if you have not seen Casablanca or Citizen Kane, or cannot discuss philosophy or religion if you haven’t read the Bible, it is impossible to give an opinion…
****RINGERS OF THE WEEK****SINGING FOR THE LONELY…Jimmy Scott: I Go Back Home, Keely Smith: The Intimate Keely Smith
Albums for when the lights are low, the room is empty and you need to think. Jimmy Scott’s life and music was put into a documentary film of the same title as this album by Ralf Kemper. I have not…
Alex LoRe Quartet: More Figs and Blue Things
Alex LoRe puts together a quartet for his (mostly) alto sax that includes the post bop team of Glenn Zaleski/[p, Desmond White/b and Colin Stranahan/dr for ten originals that give away an influence of Miles Davis circa ESP. Lore’s horn…
Tim Davies Big Band: The Expensive Train Set
Drummer Tim Davies leads two different bands here, one from Los Angeles, USA and the other from Melbourne, Australia, and they both swing with class. For the California band, the horn sections show lots of punch on “Minor Incidents” and…
A PAIR OF FOURS…Andy Adamson Quartet: A Cry For Peace, Julphan Tilapornputt’s Quartet: Regards To You II
The quartet is arguably the core of jazz. Everyone gets a chance to shine, and there’s always a lead instrument. Here are a couple fresh and modern examples. Keyboardist Andy Adamson bring together Dan Bennett/sax, Brennan Andes/b and Jonathan taylor/dr…
Alsarah and the Nubatones: Manara
Here’s a fascinating recording that mixes music from various continents. Alsarah sings with an alluring nasal quality, writing the lyrics and melodies as well, and along with a core team of Rami El Aasser/perc, Brandon Terzic/oud-ngoni, Mawuena Kodjovi/b-tp , Nahid/voc…