Coming your way from Capital Records, legendary crooner Dean Martin lives again in Forever Cool, an album of mostly familiar songs. But this time around the king of cool is matched up with some of today's stars, proving once again that the technology exists to magically create unlikely duets. This isn't my first time at … Continue reading REVIEW: Dean Martin – Forever Cool
Category: Jazz
REVIEW: Dave Mullen And Butta – Mahoney’s Way
In terms of the type of music they perform, most jazz musicians can be pretty clearly labeled. Even those who sometimes blur the boundaries between genres can become known for that, and consequently become a little predictable. However, multi-talented instrumentalist Dave Mullen, on a new album called Mahoney's Way (from RMG), is anything but predictable. … Continue reading REVIEW: Dave Mullen And Butta – Mahoney’s Way
REVIEW: David Rogers Sextet – The World Is Not Your Home
I guess it might be a misnomer to call this cutting-edge music since it was actually recorded over a decade ago, but if you're interested in experiencing something a little different in jazz, you might want to sit up and take notice. A new release from Jumbie Records, The World Is Not Your Home, provides … Continue reading REVIEW: David Rogers Sextet – The World Is Not Your Home
REVIEW: The War – A Ken Burns Film (Soundtrack – Boxed Set)
I have a problem. Ken Burns' newest documentary, The War, which provides a comprehensive look at World War II and is now showing on PBS, has also generated a four CD boxed set of music. The problem is that it's so freakin' good that I'm afraid I'm in danger of overselling it, but at the … Continue reading REVIEW: The War – A Ken Burns Film (Soundtrack – Boxed Set)
Gogi Grant And Her Wayward Wind
I've written several times about so-called "one-hit wonders" and my disagreement with the label being applied too casually to performers. And although the description might technically be correct in some cases, it seems extra poignant when it's attached to a musician who had a world of talent but was just never able to repeat their … Continue reading Gogi Grant And Her Wayward Wind
REVIEW: Daniel Smith – The Swingin’ Bassoon
Admittedly, there's something about the bassoon - maybe the name - that seems to make people smirk a little. And an album titled The Swingin' Bassoon might elicit a chuckle -- after all, when I picked it up I thought it said Swingin' Baboon. But this new release from bassoonist Daniel Smith on the ZahZah … Continue reading REVIEW: Daniel Smith – The Swingin’ Bassoon
Jazz At The Junction With Erskine Hawkins
During my mid-teen years, when I was first forming my life-long appreciation for big band music (while still keeping an eye on the growth of rock and roll) one of my favorites was a tune that Glenn Miller and his orchestra had made into a big hit a number of years earlier. In fact, it … Continue reading Jazz At The Junction With Erskine Hawkins
REVIEW: Eddie Daniels – Homecoming — Live At The Iridium
Woodwind wizard Eddie Daniels is an artist who garners enormous respect from his contemporaries and from jazz aficionados, but is somewhat of a mystery to casual jazz fans. His newest release, Homecoming -- Eddie Daniels Live At The Iridium, a 2-CD set just out on the IPO label, offers listeners an opportunity to solve that … Continue reading REVIEW: Eddie Daniels – Homecoming — Live At The Iridium
The Musical Side Of Desi Arnaz
I can't imagine anyone who's been around for a while who doesn't remember - or at least know about - the hugely successful 1950's TV show, I Love Lucy. It was a true phenomenon, one of the biggest hits in the history of TV and a show that helped popularize the medium at a time … Continue reading The Musical Side Of Desi Arnaz
Command Performances – A Specialty Of Roger Williams
Command performances by musicians, whether for royalty or presidents, have always fascinated me. Obviously, centuries ago they were performed because of a ruler's actual command for the artist to appear and entertain, but I have a feeling that it didn't take long for the performers to understand and appreciate the prestige and fame that could … Continue reading Command Performances – A Specialty Of Roger Williams
Geezer Music Club 