Other - CD Reviews (539)
It's rather ironic to be asked to give this review a label. Why? Because in the liner notes to the wonderful "In My Room", Larry Goldings makes a staunch defence of the music he's selected to play on this CD, describing labels as being "so 1980s." And he's absolutely right.
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Composer and pianist Michiel Braam has largely remained under the radar here, but he's a big-time figure in Europe, where he has led the notable Bik Bent Braam band and several other groups. His latest effort is the ensemble Hybrid 10tet, which makes its recording debut with On The Move,…
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This is ethereal, contemplative music played beautifully by the unusual combination of trumpet and guitar. Kris Tiner's tone is warm and full, and unusually gentle for a young brass player. He takes the lead most of the way, but Mike Baggetta's presence is continuous. Fitting the mood of the album,…
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Electronica sans the house music dance element is integrated into the ECM aesthetic on this 2-CD set, engineered by Ricardo Villalobos and Max Loderbauer. Using select and largely acoustic tracks culled from ECM Records vast catalogue, the artists re-mix, deconstruct or beautify themes and segments throughout. Atmospheric, but primarily designed…
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This historic 2005 reunion at London's fabled Royal Albert Hall and stacks up to be a classic reunion, packaged in the high definition, Blu-ray format. Featuring 19-songs culled from Cream's relatively brief tenure, the band along with the Jimi Hendrix Experience, helped define the rock power-trio format.
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Though the late 90s Exotica / Space Age Bachelor Pad Music mini-trend of the late 90s and early 2000s is long over, vibraphonist Brian O'Neill continues to make original music in this vein under the Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica moniker. Listening to the band's sophomore effort, “Third River Rangoon,” I couldn't…
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Joel Harrison is an illustrious guitarist and composer in the jazz circles and not to mention a great bandleader and he has put his many talents on his latest compilation called String Choir – The Music of Paul Motian which was released on January 23. Recapturing the music of straight-ahead…
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My local record store is selling this under the Classical Music section, so is it really jazz at all? Perhaps more importantly, does a label matter when the music is so good?The 2 CD set of "Love Songs" is very much a game of 2 halves. CD1 presents 7 original…
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This is an unusual, even strange release. The basic idea is to take an eight-note theme by Bach (from his First Invention), and play it over and over again while changing keys and keyboard tone-quality. The variations are alternated with Afro-Cuban percussion. I probably shouldn't have told you that, because…
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Jazz and Country? Billie Holiday and Dolly Parton music in the same CD? Seems like an odd combination. Billie and Dolly is the tittle of Jacqui Sutton new album, but in reality just two songs are from Lady Day and the Queen of Country, God Bless the Child and Endless…
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Jazz and Country? Billie Holiday and Dolly Parton music in the same CD? Seems like an odd combination. Billie and Dolly is the tittle of Jacqui Sutton new album, but in …
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Drummer John Densmore was an astute jazz aficionado while guitarist Robby Krieger’s penchant for flamenco guitar, and other influences helped form The Doors’ distinct ro…
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On Time Signatures, the new release from the World Stage International branch of NuGroove Records, singer/songwriter Lisa McClowry presents an emotionally charged…
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Kere Buchanan received a little help from a lot of good musicians, but Starting over is definitely his project. Kere is not only the producer, but he also wrote or co-wrote…
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As new(er) generations of jazz performers feel free to absorb non-jazz sounds, young "classical" composers have been reaching beyond the tradition of notated music. True…
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One of the most hard-to-pin-down composer/performers drawing breath on planet Earth is Elliott Sharp. Classically trained (studied some under Morton Feldman), Sharp has …
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Irish rock band Thin Lizzy were heralded as a viable live act amid their string of 1970s hits, which are still played on classic rock radio fare. Led by charismatic bass…
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Sinister Heights is the most recent collection of new sounds by the The Remote Viewers. The collection comes on two CDs each entitled Time Flats and Mirror Mean…
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Let’s face it. The bassoon has never been the glamor instrument in the band. If anything, it’s been more like a character actor, serving to make the stars look good and to …
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Critics often talk about "interesting" projects, and I certainly have heard my share. The term is sometimes loosely tossed around. However, here with this latest release…
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