A new album from veteran jazz flautist Tom Reese's quartet, The Reese Project, continues down the same road traveled in the group's previous effort, 2008's This Just In. Which is to say that Eastern Standard Time, now out on the In The Groove label, is another nice collection of traditional jazz standards interspersed with some … Continue reading REVIEW: The Reese Project – Eastern Standard Time
Category: Jazz
Ouch!
Hurt my thumb... Difficult to use keyboard... Short post today... Bigger and better next time... Enjoy the music... Duke Ellington & Orchestra - "Mooche"
Are The Resolution Blues Headed Your Way?
I have to be honest about it. I've never been particularly inclined toward making New Year's resolutions. That's not to say I haven't tried from time to time, but not so much lately. And it's certainly not because I lack faults to correct. I have a whole lot more than my share -- just ask … Continue reading Are The Resolution Blues Headed Your Way?
Album Of The Year
Here's the thing. I'm pretty sure that the way I go about picking an Album of the Year is different from that of most music bloggers -- or publications of any kind, for that matter. For one thing, I just pick from among those I've actually reviewed over the course of the year. I don't … Continue reading Album Of The Year
Maxine Sullivan – Swingin’ To Loch Lomond
A while back I wrote about bandleader Claude Thornhill, who is unfortunately less remembered than many of his contemporaries from that era, but was nevertheless a very important part of jazz history. He was an outstanding instrumentalist, composer, and arranger, but in addition to all that he was a shrewd judge of musical talent -- … Continue reading Maxine Sullivan – Swingin’ To Loch Lomond
REVIEW: Pablo Menendez & Mezcla – I’ll See You In Cuba
As someone who has reviewed his share of Cuban music, I have to confess that I jumped to a premature conclusion when I received my review copy of the latest album from Pablo (Paul) Menéndez. I pretty much expected I'll See You In Cuba, coming out in early January on the Zoho label, to be … Continue reading REVIEW: Pablo Menendez & Mezcla – I’ll See You In Cuba
Tony Martin — Crooner Or Cowboy?
I love to watch old Western movies on TV, but I have admit that I caught one the other day that affected me in a way the director probably didn't intend -- it made me laugh. It was a hokey film from 1956 called Quincannon, Frontier Scout, and the star was crooner Tony Martin. Martin … Continue reading Tony Martin — Crooner Or Cowboy?
Chattanooga Has Inspired Classic Songs
I've always been a train buff, and since I'm also a fan of big-band music it stands to reason that one of my favorite songs of all time would be Glenn Miller's "Chattanooga Choo-Choo." I especially like the long version, which includes a 'jive' reprise. That performance, which features an 18 year-old Dorothy Dandridge and … Continue reading Chattanooga Has Inspired Classic Songs
Laura Lives On – Musically
Sometimes movies -- even classics -- end up being less remembered than the music contained within. A good example is the 1944 film, Laura, which is considered one of the best cinematic mysteries ever made and still has many fans, but probably isn't remembered as much as its timeless theme song. When producer/director Otto Preminger … Continue reading Laura Lives On – Musically
Jack Jones – Son To The Father
If you read my stuff with any regularity, you had to know this one was coming. After all, it was just last week that I generated a piece called Alan Jones - Father To The Son, and I even mentioned the possibility, so no surprise here. But that doesn't mean Jack's story is any less … Continue reading Jack Jones – Son To The Father