Having reviewed several Time-Life boxed sets, I've learned that there are some basic truths about them. First, you can always count on these guys to have access to just about every recorded piece of music in existence. You also know that they'll work diligently to make intelligent selections from among those songs, trying their best … Continue reading REVIEW: Various Artists – Four Decades Of Folk Rock
Category: Seniors
Remembering Janis Martin – The Female Elvis
Last week, a lady passed away at age 67 in a hospital not too far from her lifelong home in Virginia. Her death, along with a little of her history, was reported in the national media but didn't make much of a ripple in the music world, and that's a cryin' shame. Her name was … Continue reading Remembering Janis Martin – The Female Elvis
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
Bobby Helms Was Something Special
While I was growing up, I often heard adults talking about some of the musicians who were popular at that time, and many of those artists are still pretty well known today. However, there were others who seemed to be huge stars in those days but are now largely forgotten, and sometimes I wonder why. … Continue reading Bobby Helms Was Something Special
REVIEW: Acadien Cajun Band – All Night Long
Although the 2nd anniversary of Katrina's slam-bang of Southern Louisiana has passed, the area is still very much in the news and in the thoughts of a lot of people -- not only those who still live there, but many others who have spent time in the area and retain fond memories. With that in … Continue reading REVIEW: Acadien Cajun Band – All Night Long
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
REVIEW: 50th Anniversary Collection – Dick Clark’s American Bandstand
If you're in the business of producing boxed sets of CDs, and your intent is to put together the Big Kahuna of oldies collections, one that includes the best from the 1950's through the 1980's, I can't imagine a more potent combination than Dick Clark and Time-Life. Think about it. A company that has corralled … Continue reading REVIEW: 50th Anniversary Collection – Dick Clark’s American Bandstand
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
REVIEW: Monk’s Music Trio – Monk On Mondays
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
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
Geezer Music Club 