Download Review
NIMBY by Amanda Addleman
by Jerome Wilson
Composer and pianist Amanda Addleman spent time working as an educator in her native Marin County, California so she is familiar with the problems minority students of that area have in dealing with racism and bullying from their peers. The irony of this is adults in that community vote for progressive causes and take a not in my backyard" attitude toward the idea of such things happening where they live. She expresses all this musically through her composition NIMBY."
read moreBill Frisell: Hurricane Harvey Relief: A Compilation From His Live Download Series
by John Kelman
Bill Frisell Hurricane Harvey Relief: A Compilation From His Live Download Series BillFrisell.com 2017 Many musicians may use their celebrity to speak out about issues that matter to them, but only a relatively precious few are actually prepared to put the time, effort and money where their mouths are, creating contexts where much- needed funds can be raised to support those causes. It's even better when they do so in a way that rewards fans ...
read moreThe Monterey Jazz Festival 2008 Music Sampler
by Tod Smith
Frequently, even free music downloads can be overpriced. Of course, there are always exceptions to any rule and the Monterey Jazz Festival 2008 Music Sampler from iTunes is one fine example of how free can be worth so much more than nothing.Upon entering the Monterey Fairgrounds on a festival day, there's an assortment of people selling programs, providing security and generally just wandering around. Add to it the sounds of music emanating from the various stages and the ...
read moreOscar Peterson Tribute: Simply The Best
by Mark Sabbatini
Hearing Oscar Peterson late in life, his left hand rendered useless by a stroke and arthritis, could be a terribly sad thing, sometimes no more than a whisper of the giant that had me scouring CD bins after first listening to him.But his magnetism was never just about music, as his fellow Canadians and several jazz legends made clear during a tribute in Toronto shortly after his death.The two-hour Oscar Peterson Tribute - Simply The Best" ...
read moreChristmas Craziness: 60 Free Great, Cheesy and/or Freakish Holiday Albums on the Internet
by Mark Sabbatini
Those spending $600 and dodging gunfire to get a glitch-filled PlayStation 3 probably need all the free holiday cheer they can get.
The repeating loop of music on the store's overhead speakers is more likely to make them postal than passive. But the Web offers enough free albums that are exceptional, unique and utterly bizarre (like a rare Star Wars" holiday album supposedly selling for $130 on eBay) to occupy the ears for many Decembers to come.
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John Ellis Quartet: Live At Yoshi's - July 18, 2005
by Mark Sabbatini
Saxophonist John Ellis' new album By A Thread is an early runner for one of the best albums of 2006,"according to one AAJ review. Thanks to his free, two-set live performance available free at his Web site, he's got his hat in the download category as well.
This 2.5 hour session is first-rate in personnel, performance and audio quality, easily deserving of album status if Ellis choose to go that route. The unprotected MP3s are easily obtained--no registrations, ...
read moreBill Frisell: Further East/Further West
by Tom Greenland
Bill Frisell Further East/Further West Nonesuch Records 2005
Bill Frisell is an exceptional musician because he has the ability to mine the usual guitaristic textures without getting caught up in clichés, to unearth original ore in the same old vein. Further East/Further West (available only in download form) is a companion album to 2005's East/West, culling material from the same two gigs: four-night stands at the Village Vanguard (December, 2003) and Oakland's Yoshi's (May, ...
read moreFree "Professor of Sax" Collection Merits a Gold Star
by Mark Sabbatini
As trash-talking goes, getting schooled by the Professor Of Saxophone" is of questionable caliber. But Miles Osland is in no danger of losing face if words fail him--he wields a horn capable of bludgeoning even the most forward-thinking rebel punk in the classroom.
Some professors put students to sleep lecturing from the book, while others bring classes to their living rooms for political discussions accompanied by authentic homemade food from the region in question. Osland, in a collection ...
read moreGuitarist Tim Conley's funky standards and improvisations make for stand-out shows
by Mark Sabbatini
Funky classics. Innovative improvisations. Gritty guitars. No cover charge.
This is why I keep wading through so much muck on the Internet.
Guitarist Tim Conley joins the tiny percentage of jazz artists with a significant amount of quality work available free of charge online with several live performances between July and October of 2005 posted at the Internet Archive.A July 29 performance features eight songs (and three tuning tracks that can be ignored) in ...
read moreA Finnish Feast: Hundreds of Free Songs from Earth's Least Corrupt Country
by Mark Sabbatini
Considering its 80th birthday is next year, Finnish jazz is awfully young at heart.
Finnish-American musicians aboard the M/S Andania brought jazz to the country in 1926, according to urban myth, but a strong presence and identity didn't emerge until the 1960s. Since then versatile musicians, strong government support and high-quality education has produced a breed of original and intelligent music in traditional and modern forms.
Internationally renowned individualists aside, Finland has also produced a wide ...
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