Jazz Articles about Various Artists

Various Artists: Justin Time Records 20th Anniversary Compilation

by Norman Weinstein
September 25, 2003

Jim West, the guiding force behind Justin Time, Canada's major jazz label, has demostrated a considerable degree of rich musical taste and commercial savvy over the past two decades. This two disc compilation gives a stimulating overview of his eclectism.

While offering a few samples of electric blues and black gospel, none particularly innovative, the real meat of this collection lies in mainstream and avant-garde jazz, with a strong emphasis on pianists and vocalists. Diana Krall is surprisingly and delightfully ...

Various Artists: Traveler '03: The Year's Best in Global Grooves

by Chris M. Slawecki
July 25, 2003

“The Six Degrees Travel Series is dedicated to bringing you the best in traditional and contemporary musical excursions from around the world,” read the notes to the label’s third annual overview of world electronic music. “We are particularly interested in genre-bending hybrids that include a variety of musical styles as well as a mix of the ancient and the modern.”

‘03 documents the cutting edge of ethnic electronic music from such label favorites as MIDIval PunditZ, a techno production team ...

Various Artists: Smooth Africa II: Exploring the Soul

by C. Michael Bailey
July 25, 2003

Exploring the Soul is the follow up to Smooth Africa (Heads Up, 2000) which touted the genre displayed as a journey: "The perception of dark Africa can only be overcome by visiting the wonderful continent. There is a smoothness that can only be experienced by a visit." Smooth Africa (in both incarnations) is the aural attempt to accomplish this trip. The new disc was recorded primarily in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa and focuses on the music of the ...

Various Artists: First Steps

by Jim Santella
June 25, 2003

Recorded between 1944 and 1953, First Steps traces the bebop roots of a number of jazz giants. Each of them went on from those early years to launch impressive recording careers. Savoy’s reproduction preserves the original energy while tweaking spots here and there for sonic purity. The source materials used are original acetate and tape masters. Without question, the resulting CD sound has enhanced these original sessions.

Stan Getz shows some of the smooth control that would lead, some time ...

Various Artists: It

by C. Michael Bailey
May 25, 2003

Warren Zevon, Delbert McClinton; Townes Van Zant, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Lowell George, John Hiatt—these are song writers that made many, many "lesser" talents rich with their craft. John Hiatt has been plying his trade at a consistently high level for the past 30 years over 17 record albums. In that time, Hiatt’s songs have been covered more than fifty times. That is a pretty good return for his efforts. Mr. Hiatt is long overdue for the current attention he ...

Various Artists: Flying Groove / Flying Funk

by Frank Federico
May 14, 2003

The arrival of these two compilations of 1970s jazz/funk begs one simple question: what took RCA so long?

The fact that the mini-revival known as acid jazz peaked about five years ago puts these otherwise intriguing packages in the unfortunate position of sounding outdated... a second time. But if you can get past that little detail there’s quite a bit to enjoy in these two flashbacks.

Though Flying Groove and Flying Funk draw from the RCA and Bluebird catalogues, they ...

Various Artists: VisionFest:VisionLive

by Andrey Henkin
May 5, 2003

The Vision Festival has little in common with its more visible New York City brethren. Small and independently organized, it functions as an umbrella under which progressive New York musicians can come together in front of sympathetic audiences. During the 2001 incarnation, an ambitious series of recordings was undertaken to capture some of the many memorable moments. The intitial fruits of that project have been released as part of Thirsty Ear’s Blue Series. The double disc set ...