Liz McComb - Spirit of New Orleans
Thursday, May 1, 2008
If the south had a soundtrack it would be a mix of jazz, blues and holy rolling church music. Both “Devil’s Music” and “God’s Music,” as some called it, and the twain should never meet. Of course what was played on Saturday night would oftimes spill over into the pews on Sunday morning.
Miguel Zenon - AwakeTuesday, April 8, 2008
I didn’t know what to think about alto saxophonist Miguel Zenon’s new CD, “Awake” after my first listen. It didn’t strike me as indistinguishable in any way. And it seemingly had no rhyme, reason or direction. Zenon himself sounded like yet another Sonny Rollins impersonator. And his band mates, Luis Perdomo on piano, Hans Glawischnig on bass and drummer Henry Cole were unknown, at least to me.
The Sound of PhiladelphiaMonday, March 24, 2008
The O’Jays. MFSB. Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. Teddy Pendergrass. Bill Paul. The Three Degrees. These are some of the names of the artists who typified the Philly Soul sound. A sound that was more polished than Stax Records and more sophisticated than Motown. Philly Soul producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff created a lush sweetly soulful sound with lush string arrangements that combined elements of pop, jazz, world music and disco.
True North - Live At The CafeTuesday, March 11, 2008
It’s a hoot listening to True North. Their music is fun, clever and feel good nostalgic in a 1970s sort of way. It’s the kind of stuff you listen to in a 1969 Camaro on a hot summer night cruising the main drag.
Stanley Clarke - The Toys of MenTuesday, March 11, 2008
After much too many years of scoring movies and making lame smooth jazz albums, premier jazz bassist Stanley Clarke returns to his 1970s jazz fusion roots with “Toys of Men.”
Jazz All StarsTuesday, March 4, 2008
Every jazz listener has his or her favorite musician on each instrument. Some think Stanley Clarke is the best bass player ever. Others are partial to Jaco Pastorious. If you could assemble a jazz band of your choice and money or whether the musicians were alive or dead didn’t matter, who would you choose?
Michael Jackson’s Thriller - 25th Anniversary Edition (Legacy)Friday, Feb. 22, 2008
Right after Michael Jackson did his now famous moonwalk on the Motown 25th anniversary TV special my phone rang. “You see that? What was that?” asked a friend, all out of breath.
Miles Davis - The Complete on the Corner SessionsFriday, Feb. 15, 2008
Just a little over a week after the 1972 release of “On the Corner,” Miles Davis crashed his sleek Lamborghini on Manhattan’s West Side Highway. Miles totaled his car and landed himself in the hospital for two months.
Herbie Hancock - River: The Joni LettersFriday, Feb. 15, 2008
Well before “River:The Joni Letters” won Grammy Album of the year I knew it was something special. Since December it rarely been far from my CD player.
Lionel Loueke: KaribuWednesday, Jan. 23, 2008
I first heard Lionel Loueke on Herbie Hancock’s 2005 album “Possibilities” and was blown away by his approach to the guitar. In his hands the instrument takes on a drum-like, percussive quality.
Jazz for the holidaysWednesday, Dec. 12, 2007
I usually never like Christmas jazz CDs. They seem like too much novelty and they don’t often do justice to artist’s talent or the familiar traditional songs. And let’s face it, not many artists can pull off a Christmas album like say a Tony Bennett that has the potential to become a yearly standard. It’s usually a one season wonder.
Snowfall: The Tony Bennet Christmas AlbumFriday, Dec. 7, 2007
There are some people who just seem like logical choices to make a Christmas CD. Artists whose voices are such a part of the American fabric makes it almost a requirement.
The essential Teddy Pendergrass (Legacy)Friday, Nov. 23, 2007
Teddy Pendergrass is a man’s soul singer in the same vein as the late Otis Redding. No lilting falsetto or sugary pleadings here. Teddy just grabs a song and takes control.
There’s no innuendo or sly suggestions either.
Friday, Nov. 16, 2007
To say that the late Luther Vandross is the most beloved R & B male vocalist of this generation is a gross understatement. For many, the silky smooth balladeer is the quintessence of love-making soul music.
An intro to Street BeatsFriday, Nov. 16, 2007
We listened to everything from Sam Cooke to Al Green to Jimmy Smith to the Beatles while growing up.
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