It is with a profound sense of relief that this particular Grinch is happy to report that the music review you're reading is NOT about a holiday album. Not that there's anything wrong with holiday music - I'm not that much of a Grinch - but I've reviewed several recently, and it's always nice to … Continue reading REVIEW: Stacey Kent – Breakfast On The Morning Tram
Category: Jazz
REVIEW: Wendy Luck – See You In Rio
It would probably be an understatement to say that Wendy Luck is not a name that comes to mind when you think of Brazilian jazz. In fact, you probably wouldn't think first of her when considering flutists or vocalists -- but she's very good at both skills, as she proves on her new album, See … Continue reading REVIEW: Wendy Luck – See You In Rio
REVIEW: Boney James – Christmas Present
This feels a little odd -- writing a review of sax icon Boney James' new album, Christmas Present, on Halloween. But I think we all know that waiting until later in the year to think about Christmas is no longer how things are done. Besides that, I don't think Boney did a Halloween album. (Although … Continue reading REVIEW: Boney James – Christmas Present
From Alvino To Zoot – The Name’s The Thing
I was churning through my music collection recently, trying to bring order to the chaos that results from a haphazard mix of digital music files, CDs, and even a few cassettes and vinyl records. In case you're wondering (and I know you are) I got rid of my eight-track tapes a long time ago -- … Continue reading From Alvino To Zoot – The Name’s The Thing
REVIEW: Liquid Mind – Relax; A Liquid Mind Experience
Z-Z-Z-Z-Z...huh? Oh sorry, I was drifting a little while listening to this recent release from New Age music phenom Liquid Mind (aka Chuck Wild). It's a compilation of tunes titled Relax - A Liquid Mind Experience, and mostly consists of selections drawn from earlier albums in the popular Liquid Mind series. Before you take me … Continue reading REVIEW: Liquid Mind – Relax; A Liquid Mind Experience
Al Hirt – More Than Just A Cup Of Coffee
As a teenage jazz fan in the late 1950's and early 1960's, I always had my eyes - and ears - open for any piece of music that became popular enough to cross over from jazz to pop. Since not many teenagers at that time were into jazz, I think I was a little (OK, … Continue reading Al Hirt – More Than Just A Cup Of Coffee
REVIEW: Brian Setzer Orchestra – Wolfgang’s Big Night Out
I'm not going to be coy, and I'm not going to waste time making you wait to hear my opinion of Brian Setzer's newest effort, Wolfgang's Big Night Out. The album, a recent release on the Surfdogs label, is a glorious romp that suits my musical tastes in a way I've seldom encountered. It's almost … Continue reading REVIEW: Brian Setzer Orchestra – Wolfgang’s Big Night Out
Virtuoso Steel Guitarist . . . And Faux Latino – Alvino Rey
Latin jazz has been one of my listening pleasures for years, but it was popular long before I came along. By the time I was into my teens and beginning to appreciate it, Latin music had been well-established in the US for decades. Bandleaders such as Pérez Prado, Xavier Cugat, and others had been familiar … Continue reading Virtuoso Steel Guitarist . . . And Faux Latino – Alvino Rey
REVIEW: Marsha Heydt – One Night
When reviewing music it's always a kick to discover something new, and an album coming out soon on the Blue Toucan label delivers a breath of fresh air in the person of Marsha Heydt. A talented saxophonist who is equally at home with the flute, hers might be an unfamiliar name to jazz lovers but … Continue reading REVIEW: Marsha Heydt – One Night
REVIEW: Eric Marienthal – Just Around The Corner
If there exists somewhere in the world of jazz a region where smooth jazz and conventional jazz live side by side, a sort of middle kingdom (if you'll pardon the term), then Eric Marienthal might feel right at home there. On his new album from Peak Records, Just Around The Corner, the talented sax-man mostly … Continue reading REVIEW: Eric Marienthal – Just Around The Corner
Geezer Music Club 