Tired of overproduced and gimmicked-up music? Do you find yourself wanting to get back to the basics? Maybe listen to some jazz generated by talented pros getting together in a simple setting and doing their thing -- and doing it well? Do I have an album for you. Maplewood Avenue, on the Affiliated Artists label, … Continue reading REVIEW: Jimmy Bruno – Maplewood Avenue
Category: Jazz
REVIEW: Cynthia Sayer – Attractions
There are not many renowned jazz banjoists around - Béla Fleck is probably the best known - but there's little doubt that Cynthia Sayer's fame is growing. The talented instrumentalist has been a prolific recording artist too, as evidenced by the recent release of her eighth album, Attractions, now out on the Plunk label. Sayer … Continue reading REVIEW: Cynthia Sayer – Attractions
Music Works Its Magic On Stress
A recent news article was the trigger for my latest exercise in musical memories. To be more specific, reading about my former employer swallowing up a smaller company led to memories of when they did the same thing to the company I was working for. It was a time of high stress for everyone and … Continue reading Music Works Its Magic On Stress
REVIEW: William Hart Strecker – Smoke And Clouds
Although not a huge name in today's music world, singer-guitarist William Hart Strecker has spent several decades establishing himself as a solid presence in a number of different genres, including blues, jazz, and even country-rock. Along the way he had to survive a horrible accident and find a way to recover physically and rebuild his … Continue reading REVIEW: William Hart Strecker – Smoke And Clouds
A Musical Chick-Flick Is Still A Chick-Flick
I would guess that most people are familiar with the idea of "chick-flicks" but might not realize that it's not a new concept, even if the actual term wasn't used in the early days of Hollywood. But no matter what it was called, once movie-makers caught on to the fact that ladies had a big … Continue reading A Musical Chick-Flick Is Still A Chick-Flick
REVIEW: Marcus Miller – Marcus
More than three decades after first bursting onto the New York music scene, Grammy-winning bassist Marcus Miller is still a vibrant presence in R&B and jazz. At any particular point in time he might be functioning as a producer, composer, arranger, or performer -- and sometimes all at once. That's the case with his newest … Continue reading REVIEW: Marcus Miller – Marcus
Jazzin’ The Classics With Larry Clinton
As a long-time fan of big band music, I've found that even though I pretty much like it all, there are some specific types that have always held special appeal. One of my favorite is the music that results when a band plays modern arrangements of timeless classical pieces, a practice that was known in … Continue reading Jazzin’ The Classics With Larry Clinton
REVIEW: Jessy J – Tequila Moon
Latin jazz is a popular and easily defined genre, as is contemporary jazz, but you seldom see the two as skillfully combined as they are on a new release from Peak Records (Concord), Tequila Moon. It showcases the talented saxophonist Jessy J, who not only basks in the spotlight as lead instrumentalist, but also adds … Continue reading REVIEW: Jessy J – Tequila Moon
REVIEW: Piers Lawrence Quartet – Stolen Moments
There's something very satisfying about sitting down and listening to four talented jazz pros combining to provide a smooth and cohesive sound. It's a task that is far more difficult than it sounds (making the music -- not listening to it) but the Piers Lawrence Quartet has nailed it on the group's new album, Stolen … Continue reading REVIEW: Piers Lawrence Quartet – Stolen Moments
Johnny Long Tried To Straddle The Line
When I first began to get interested in big band music in the 1950's, the era was actually starting to wind down, with droves of music fans moving to rock and roll and other modern sounds. But I've always been a little bit of a contrarian, and although I wasn't immune to the attractions of … Continue reading Johnny Long Tried To Straddle The Line
Geezer Music Club 