If it is true that this concert represents John McLaughlin’s last US tour, you’ve got to admit that he went out in style, both rocking and swinging. Recorded at San Francisco’s The Warfield back in Dec 8, 2017, McLaughlin and…
Month: October 2018
SMOOTH SOUL…Brook Benton: The Singles Collection 1955-62
Brook Benton was one of the few artists that was able to fit into both the R&B as well as pop/adult departments. His voice is Nat Cole silky smooth, a touch lighter, but able to go Johnny Hartman deep when…
Tony Kofi and the Organisation: Point Blank
Even the cover of this album by baritone saxist Tony Kofi and his team of Pete Whittaker/org, Pete Cater/dr and Simon Fernsby/g looks like a vintage Blue Note album, as the UK artist revisits hard bop classics from the 50s…
Regina Bonelli: Love Letter
Earthy vocalist Bonelli busts out all over as she bares her soul with a blues rocking team of Tomas Doncker/g, Michael Hill/g, James Dellatacoma/g, Kevin Jenkins/b, Mike Griot/b, Tonhy Lewis/dr, James Coley/dr and a horn/string section arranged by Juerte Blacharach…
THIS IS A MODERN TENOR SAX 101…Dexter Gordon: Quartet Tokyo 1975, Espace Cardin 1977
The two releases from Elemental Records simply made me cry. How come no one sounds like this anymore? And what is the “this” I’m talking about? Well, how about a gigantic, room filling tone, for starters? Then, a bel canto…
The Bob Lanza Blues Band: Kids, Dogs and Krazy Women
Rich and blue jeaned blues are served up by Bob Lanza as he sings like a truck driver and plays like a juke jointer along with Anthony Krizan/g-dr-perc, John Ginty/p-B3, Dave Lockhart/b and Vin Mott/dr-harp. Lanza and Mott’s harp create…
Pat Metheny@Royce Hall 10.26.18
If you’re a fan of jazz guitar, you’ve had quite a feast the past week plus, as the three major post-bop guitars have all come to town to display their own personal reasons for being such an influence to subsequent…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****HEART FULL OF SOUL…Joey Morant: Forever Sanctified
Joey Morant is the kind of artist that embodies the soul of jazz. He sings, plays trumpet and gives commentary on life during this wonderful collection of songs, mostly self penned, by a meat and potatoes team of Mike LeDonne/B3-p,…
PLUGGED IN OUR ACOUSTIC? Hadden Sayers: Acoustic Dopamine, Dopamine Machine
Aren’t there times that you’ll listen to a blues album and ask yourself “I wonder how this would sound all acoustic”?. Guitarist/vocalist Hadden Sayers gives you a chance to experiment with that situation, as he plays the same songs (in…
Toft Olsen: Four
Vocalist Toft Olsen has a relaxed Barry Manilow-toned delivery, teaming with Heine Hansen/p, Morten Lund/dr and Thomas Vang/b for an intimate collection of standards. Many of the tunes are associated with Frank Sinatra, as Olsen does a good job describing…