14 Sep
In the Wee, Small Hours by Ruby Braff and Strings
Tuesday, 14 September 1999
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Like Gabriel over clouds,Braff and his cornet soar over two string sections- two decades apart. The earlier tracks on this Arbors release , songs associated with Bing Crosb…
13 Sep
URBAN GROOVES ALBUM II by Down to the Bone
Monday, 13 September 1999
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Down To The Bone is not your ordinary UK group, that migrated to the US, and now call Brooklyn or Staten Island their home. They brought their instruments and actually know…
This CD gives a most interesting view of Richard Elliot's versatility and diverse expression of soul with a special touch. In addition, his approach to each song was calcul…
Bobby "G" Summers is a new, unsigned artist who is the Jazz Industries Best Kept Secret. I heard this independent CD at a friend's house over the holidays and I was blown a…
I recently heard a CD by Richard Dedeaux of the Watts Prophets and it was the bomb! Acid Jazz meets Gil Scott-Heron! It is available at MP3.com (www.mp3.com/dedeaux). Check…
Roger Smith is one of the smoothest keyboardists I have ever heard. He does an incredible job on every cut, but my favorite is "Overjoyed" followed closely by "Change the W…
This self-produced project is full of excitement. All 13 tracks offer oringionallity that is very unique.CAPTAIN PJ, is a moving track with lots of busy stuff.You can feel …
I first heard "The Dance" on my favorite radio station WQCD 101.9FM. I waited patiently until the CD was released and was I satisfied! I enjoyed the entire CD from beginnin…
This DRG release is a tribute album on many levels. To Duke ,obviously ; to Strayhorn - inseparable from Duke; to the lyricists - Carol Sloane is grown-up enough to appreci…
09 Sep
Big City Rhythms by Michael Feinstein (with the Maynard Ferguson Orche
Thursday, 09 September 1999
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This is more Michael than Maynard , so don't expect a lot of Maynard flying high above Big Bop Nouveau. The little/big BBN -which always sounded big - was augmented to actu…
09 Sep
Woody Herman At Carnegie Hall (1946) by Woody Herman & The Herd
Thursday, 09 September 1999
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Being a Woody Herman fan I eagerly awaited my copy of this two CD set from Verve. IT'S A DISASTER.If there is an award for the worst re-mastering job on CD then this…
08 Sep
The Waters Rising/ENJA (9116-2) by Dan Rose
Wednesday, 08 September 1999
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This CD features Dan Rose on guitar, Peter Madsen, Piano, Peter Warren, Bass and Victor Lewis, Drums. All songs are original compositions by Rose, (this is his second relea…
Dave's band GOOSE released its first CD on December 9 1999 at The Planet, Pirie Street, Adelaide, South Australia, capital city of South Australia, population 1 million plu…
It is uncommon for a "jazz" album to come from a label like the U.K's Ninja Tune, but times are changing: enter the Cinematic Orchestra. The album, "Motion" written and pro…
This quintessential jazzy vocal/instrumental group swings better with every new CD. The easily recognized Four Freshmen style of vocal harmony as displayed here along with …
06 Sep
A Mid-Somers Night Dream by Somers Dream Orchestra
Monday, 06 September 1999
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I recently bought this CD at amazon.com.I was surprised to see that 2 of the cuts were trombone features - since I am also a trombonist. The features, played by Philip Jone…
These two trombonists are absolutely fantastic!! They are the Contemporary version of "Jay and Kai". I had the opportunity to play trombone with Bill Reichenbach when he wa…
Jazz, with a taste of Texas. This offering from Austin-based guitarist (and former Marilyn Scott sideman) Ray MacCarty delivers the goods: versatility, solid chops, and an …
Kim Waters....One Special Moment,....Where do i begin. Well, if you are a Kim fan, you are probably used to his mellow seductive soprano sax, that is famous for making many…
When you think of jazz guitar players,.....Norman Brown, George Benson, Paul Jackson, Jr. etc....normally pop up first. In most cases, they are the standard. However, Dwigh…
Everytime i listen to this CD,...i can just picture Bob saying to Fourplay, "Alright....i'll take it from here". Have it? This whole CD is the beast!!!! We are talking vint…
Chuck Loeb has done it again.If you haven't heard this Cd, make it top on your list to do so. Chuck provides us with that funkiness (I do believe it's called "CHICKEN GREAS…
03 Sep
Somethin Bout Love by Brian Culbertson
Friday, 03 September 1999
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Brian is the man. He has done it again, with his smooth, yet very upbeat cool sound. This is a cd you could just put in the player, and leave it. Just leave it.…
I was so very happy to see that Marion Meadows is finally, finally getting his long overdue props!!!! I have been a fan of his for quite some time, and he was never played …
Everyone knows what a class act Ron Carter is,but in this album his main objective is to get across his love for Brazilian music. Well he accomplished that very nicely. He …
This Nat King Cole tribute is complete with the same makeup asNats original trio --guitar in place of drums. This is very nice for a change. John has a very pleasant voice …
01 Sep
The Art of The Song by Charlie Haden
Wednesday, 01 September 1999
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This is a very unique album. Aside from Haden on bass (also doing one beautiful vocal), there is Alan Broadbent, Ernie Watts (playing exceptional tenor) and Larance Marable…
This release has alittle something for anyone with an interest in Contemporary Jazz. Jay Beckenstein is at his very best in "Silk and Satin" putting together an interesting…
31 Aug
Dizzys World by Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All Stars
Tuesday, 31 August 1999
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While listening to my favorite radio station WBGO from NY (Newark actually) on the net (used to listen while I lived in NY) I heard Jon Faddis talk about this album. He sai…
Carol Sloane's exquisite choice of songs and deeply personal interpretations reflect her love and respect for Ellington's music. From the haunting string opening of the fir…
30 Aug
Ellingtonat Newport 1956 (complete) by Duke Ellington
Monday, 30 August 1999
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If you have a copy of the original recording you probably assume it contains the actual sounds of the Newport concert. Wrong! Most of it was put together in the studio. "Wh…
I know that the "great debate" continues on Kenny G and his music. There are some jazz "purests" out there that feel that his music isn't really jazz at all. I've always di…
29 Aug
The Very Tall Band (Live at the Blue Note) by Oscar Peterson Ray Brown Milt Jackson
Sunday, 29 August 1999
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This was a Ray Brown week at the club in November of 1988 and he invited a couple of old friends over for a rare live appearance together. They are not just very tall .They…
Southern Jazz is a local group in Paducah Ky - first cd Swingin in Paducah has been well received--now releasing 2nd cd No Place Like Home--see web site www.southernjazz.co…
Start with the perfect match- Michel Legrand's eloquent melodies and the insightful lyrics of Alan and Marilyn Bergman . Add the silky voice of Nat's younger brother. Back …
I was visiting a friend in Mobile, Alabama. Gato's Che Corazon was playing. I asked who it was that was blowing the saxophone. My friend could not believe that I was not hi…
Dot Wilder "Live From The Warehouse"Shade Tree: Duration : 73'57" RRP: $US17 (approx) Dot Wilder, a recent Downbeat multi-award winner, is a modern vocalist w…
The first record I owned, back in 1964, was the Four Freshmen’s "The Swingers". To this day, that album has been one of my favorite records and, in my opinion, one of the b…
First View is a terrific debut release from guitarist Steve Oliver. He has assembled an all-star cast for this one, including the likes of Paul Taylor, Jeff Kashiwa, and Ro…
Keeping Cool features the irresistible combo of Joyce Cooling on guitar and Jay Wagner on keys. It's appropriately titled, too: this is one very laid-back CD, from the firs…
25 Aug
Jazz Has A Sense Of Humor by Horace Silver
Wednesday, 25 August 1999
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Horace Silver: "Jazz Has a Sense Of Humor"Verve/Impulse! (GRP): IMPD 293 Total Time: 47:35 "The Hardbop Grandpop" returned to the quintet format after some 25 y…
Guitarist Steve Laury established quite a name for himself playing (and as a songwriter) for Fattburger in the mid-to-late 80's. Following fournational solo releases, Steve…
24 Aug
the complete Lionel Hampton with Oscar Peterson by Lionel Hampton w/ Oscar Peterson
Tuesday, 24 August 1999
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What a goldmine of wonderful music! I had three of the original LPs recorded by this group, but frankly, it had been so long since I had played them I had forgotten just ho…
This is a smashing CD by the latest edition of the Four Freshmen, one of the most enduring and beloved jazz vocal and instrumental groups in the last half of this century. …
This double album CD reissue originally taken from "Living Soul" and "Spicy" (1966) reflects a more commercial side of organist master Holmes. At this point he recorded pop…
This CD is just not for nostalgic Four Freshmen Fans... butmuch much more. Yes, you will still hear THE UNIQUE SOUND thatinfluenced almost all vocal jazz groups of the past…
22 Aug
Fascinoma by Jon Hassell (with Ry Cooder)
Sunday, 22 August 1999
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I have followed Mr Hassell's work with excitement since 'way back in the days of "Earthquake Island" (on Tomato Records). This is his first album on which he plays other co…
Wow, wow, wow. Here is a group that I listened to in high school and they are better today than back then in the 50's. The old adage, "the older I get, the better I was" do…
These guys (not the same four of course) have been playing and singing jazz oriented standards for over 50 years now and their latest album on Pat Boone's The Gold Label sh…
I was really shocked when I listened to how well Michael Thomas' CD was done. After all, this guy is a local artist in Kentucky. He also is very young, I think twenty. He h…