Recording News

CD: Wadada Leo Smith

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
December 12, 2008

Wadada Leo Smith's Golden Quartet, Tabligh, (Cuneiform). A stalwart of the avant garde for nearly four decades, Smith continues at the head of the pack in free jazz. In this set of four moody, barely-structured pieces, the trumpeter frequently evokes late-period Miles Davis. He sometimes takes the horn below its natural range to explore pedal-tone territory that Davis never visited. Pianist Vijay Iyer, bassist John Lindberg and drummer Shannon Jackson have developed an uncanny ability to react to Smith's flights ...

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CD: Ernestine Anderson

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
December 12, 2008

Ernestine Anderson, Hot Cargo (Fresh Sound).

In these 1956 sessions, Anderson's early singing has lost none of its naturalness, musicality or appeal. Her accompaniments by Harry Arnold's big band and Duke Jordan's trio sound equally fresh. I wrote earlier that this was one of the best vocal albums of the 1950s. I am revising that assessment. It is one of the best vocal recordings of the last half of the twentieth century. Sweden's Metronome label originally released this perennially new ...

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Getting to Know the Brazilian Jazz Album of the Year Nominees

Source: The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz
December 12, 2008

Brazilian samba and bossa nova exploded onto the jazz world in the 1960s and soon became a major influence. During this time, guitarist Charlie Byrd and saxophonist Stan Getz gathered together to create a jazz album based around Brazilian rhythms, the 1962 release Jazz Samba. The album hit a gold spot in the American consciousness, and it soon moved up the popular music charts. Getz returned to the bossa nova format in 1964, this time gathering with Joao Gilberto to ...

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Morrissey Unveils New Album in London

Source: Billboard Magazine
December 12, 2008

Morrissey was on hand tonight (Dec. 11) in London to introduce a playback of his new Polydor/Decca album, Years of Refusal, but he made no comment on recent reports of a Smiths reunion. A spokesman later declined to comment on a story in the Daily Mirror claiming Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr had agreed to tour. It follows a tabloid report, swiftly denied, in October that the band would reform for the Coachella festival. In 2006, Morrissey revealed he was ...

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Heating up the Winter Season

Source: All About Jazz
December 11, 2008

J-Mood Jazz Band takes these holiday classics for a fresh spin through the winter snow. These superstar musicians have a warm, inviting vibe that is irresistible. The interplay between the piano sax and vocals is remarkable. Note the opening track, “Jingle Bells". This standard melody jumps to life as the conversation between Mr. Carrozza's piano and Mrs. Carrozza's vocals commences. The listener is eventually carried away when guest saxophonist Sam Skelton chimes in with his smooth, rich solo response.

“Let ...

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B.J. Jansen Reaches the Top in AAJ's "Free Download of All Time" Chart

Source: JM Creative
December 11, 2008

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Marc Bonilla, Toy Matinee and 3rd Matinee Reissued on Noble Rot (Division of Collectors' Choice)

Source: conqueroo
December 11, 2008

Modern-day guitar hero Bonilla recorded two solo albums with guests Keith Emerson, Ronnie Montrose and Glenn Hughes before joining the live incarnation of Patrick Leonard and Kevin Gilbert’s prog-pop band Toy Matinee, which in turn evolved into 3rd Matinee

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Noble Rot, the division of Collectors’ Choice Music whose mission is to reissue forgotten gems from the ‘80s and ‘90s, will release four albums by three West Coast artists — Marc Bonilla, Toy Matinee and 3rd Matinee ...

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Akron/Family's World Domination

Source: JamBase
December 11, 2008

Akron/Family and Dead Oceans Plot World Domination for 2009

Akron/Family Dead Oceans will be teaming up with Akron/Family in 2009 for their first release since their epic 2007 album Love is Simple. Following two albums, a collaborative work with jazz masters Hamid Drake and William Parker (Meek Warrior) and a split EP on the venerable Young God label, Akron/Family will be joining the Dead Oceans roster.

Akron/Family is Seth Olinsky, Dana Janssen and Miles Seaton and is currently in the ...

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