Jazz Articles about Various Artists

Various Artists: Texas Tenors

by AAJ Staff
October 1, 1997

Like Chicago, Texas is well known for its tenors--big-toned, fat, soulful, hard-blowing, gutsy tenors. This CD reminds us that Prestige did its part to document Texas-style tenors; even if a particular player on this CD didn't live in Texas his entire life, the Lone Starr connection was there. Texas tenors loved the blues, and we hear just how much thanks to Buddy Tate on “The Salt Mines," King Curtis on “Jeep's Blues," David “Fathead" Newman & James Clay on “Wide ...

Various Artists: That Old Black Magic - The Harold Arlen Songbook

by AAJ Staff
August 1, 1997

The latest homage in Verve's outstanding songwriter's songbook series is paid To Harold Arlen. Not as well known, even among musicians and singers, as Gershwin, Porter, and Kern, Harold Arlen nevertheless produced a body of work that is as ingrained in American musical culture as any of his better know piers.

Born into a Jewish family in Buffalo, NY in 1905, Hyman Arluck (Arlen later changed his name to a less ethnic moniker upon attempting a musical career) was first ...

Various Artists: Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool

by Chris M. Slawecki
August 1, 1997

People continue to argue about what is and is not “jazz." One of the more consistent topics in the contemporary extension of this age-old argument is “acid-jazz" – is “acid jazz" jazz, or not? This gets even more frustrating when it seems that there’s no consensus as to what “acid jazz" means, either.

Since these apparently simple, general terms seem so elusive, it might seem foolhardy to declare any one single release the definitive “acid ...

Various Artists: Blues In the Night - The Johnny Mercer Songbook

by AAJ Staff
July 1, 1997

What is it about the jazz standard that makes it so affecting? Jazz fans can be moved to tears, shouts, and everything in-between by exceptional renditions of their favorite “classics." Generations of people have attached memories and significance to songs such as “Autumn Leaves" and “Mood Indigo." The ability to produce such a song, one that lends itself to endless reinterpretation without becoming stale or trite, is a rare talent indeed. Verve, that champion of the reissue, has ...

Various Artists: Jazz Fusions 4

by AAJ Staff
May 1, 1997

Once again those nice Fusion people have put together a set of stunning collection of contemporary and fusion jazz cuts. Included on this 14-track collection is music from Doc Powell, Norman Brown, Quincy Jones, Art Porter, Nelson Rangell and Fourplay to name but a few.

The selections are a wonderful balance of the fresh and new, from the Daryle Chinn's opening version of Earth, Wind & Fire's “Fantasy," spoiled only by the rather off key vocals. “Whisk Away" from Tony ...