One thing you can say about Monk's Music Trio, the group performing on Monk On Mondays, a new album coming out soon from CMB Records -- they don't make a secret of what they're all about. In case you haven't figured it out by now, they're proud to call themselves a Thelonious Monk repertory group. … Continue reading REVIEW: Monk’s Music Trio – Monk On Mondays
Category: Jazz
REVIEW: Curtis Stigers – Real Emotional
Although his teen years were spent in rock music and blues, Curtis Stigers seems to have found a home in jazz, judging from the string of albums he's put together during his career. The latest, Real Emotional, newly released on the Concord label, continues a trend that over the last decade and a half has … Continue reading REVIEW: Curtis Stigers – Real Emotional
The Incomparable Erroll Garner
The first time I ever listened to Erroll Garner play, I suddenly had the thought that either the burrito I'd had for lunch was making funny noises in my belly, or there was someone in the room with me. The reason? I was playing a new CD I'd brought home, and mixed in with the … Continue reading The Incomparable Erroll Garner
REVIEW: Ella Fitzgerald – Love Letters From Ella
Does the world need another Ella Fitzgerald collection? Concord certainly hopes so, since they've combined with Starbucks (bet you didn't see that coming) to produce their latest tribute to a musical legend. Love Letters From Ella, which is tagged as celebrating what would have been her 90th birthday, includes ten tracks that are described as … Continue reading REVIEW: Ella Fitzgerald – Love Letters From Ella
REVIEW: Los Angeles Jazz Ensemble – Expectation
The title says it all. Expectation, a brand new release from the Los Angeles Jazz Ensemble on the Kind Of Blue label, creates a couple of expectations of its own. First, the name of the group would suggest a claim as LA's official - or at least semi-official - jazz group, but I doubt that … Continue reading REVIEW: Los Angeles Jazz Ensemble – Expectation
REVIEW: Charlie Hunter Trio – Mistico
The Charlie Hunter Trio has been around since the 1990's, but on their new release, Mistico, (their first for Fantasy Records) they've completed a transformation that began with their last album, 2006's Copperopolis. On that effort, the talented guitarist was backed - as always - by drums and sax, but featured a little keyboard experimentation … Continue reading REVIEW: Charlie Hunter Trio – Mistico
REVIEW: Phil Woods Quintet – American Songbook II
OK, I admit that I have a built-in affinity for the older generation in jazz. Not that there's anything wrong with the newer guys, but show me someone who has lived through a couple of different eras and has more than held his own in many ways, including winning multiple Grammys, and he's more than … Continue reading REVIEW: Phil Woods Quintet – American Songbook II
REVIEW: Marc Antoine – Hi-Lo Split
I'm not much of a poker player, but I do know enough about it to recognize the term used for the name of this new album from contemporary jazz guitarist Marc Antoine, who - it turns out - is a poker fan. Hi-Lo Split, just out on the Peak Records label (his first for them), … Continue reading REVIEW: Marc Antoine – Hi-Lo Split
Pete Fountain Was Always Welcome At Our House
Pierre Dewey LaFontaine, Jr. (July 3, 1930 – August 6, 2016) I've written before about my attempts at playing the clarinet while I was growing up, and how I was never very good even though I took lessons for years and occupied a chair in various school bands. It might tell you something about my … Continue reading Pete Fountain Was Always Welcome At Our House
From Boogie-Woogie To Early Rock And Roll – Ella Mae Morse
Boogie-woogie is a type of music that's a little difficult to pin down and define with precision, mostly because it's like ice cream -- it comes in a lot of different flavors, and they're all downright tasty. But I will at least try to edge into something approaching a definition. I'm not a trained musician … Continue reading From Boogie-Woogie To Early Rock And Roll – Ella Mae Morse
Geezer Music Club 