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George Wallington: Trios
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
In its infancy in the mid-1940s, bebop was about speed and generating ideas on the fly. This was particularly true of the piano, the instrument that typically kicked off bebop songs, kept the rhythm going and put meat on the bone, so to speak. At first, bebop's velocity made the style a private club, since few musicians could improvise in the vernacular at such a lightning-fast tempos. Speed also limited the number of musicians who could figure out the music ...
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Levitas Bros. Release "'Round Midnight"
Source:
Eugene Levitas
The Levitas Bros. latest release 'Round Midnight (Flying Levi) explores Thelonious Monk's seminal “'Round Midnight" as classical variations where the theme is followed by three freely composed variations. Each track is focused on one particular part from Monk's classic song. Track Listing 1. 'Round Midnight (5:21) 2. Var. I (4:56) 3. Interlude (1:11) 4. Var. II (5:28) 5. Var. III (4:26) 6. Round Midnight Reprise (Vocal Version) $5.94 ...
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Al + Zoot: Happy Over Hoagy
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
One of the prettiest and least known recordings by Zoot Sims and Al Cohn is their tribute to songwriter Hoagy Carmichael. Recorded in 1957, the album was released on the Jass Twelve label only in the 1980s. I have no idea why it wasn't recorded for a mainstream label then or why its released was delayed for so many years. I also have no idea what the Jass Twelve label was or how it ended up with the masters to ...
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Pete McCann Explores The Breadth Of His Formidable Artistry As A Guitarist, Composer & Bandleader On His Fifth Recording, "Range"
Source:
Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
Featuring: Pete McCann (composer, electric & acoustic guitars), John O'Gallagher (alto saxophone), Henry Hey (piano, Rhodes and organ), Matt Clohesy (acoustic & electric bass), Mark Ferber (drums) Available on Whirlwind Records on September 18, 2015 “McCann's tunes can be both manic and vivid, even when they're in ballad mode. That gives his stuff a cinematic feel—from car chase squall to closing credits poignancy - you often feel like you're walking through a film when this quintet hits its stride." —Jim ...
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Bay Area Bassist/Composer Fred Randolph To Release 3rd CD, "Song Without Singing," August 28
Source:
Terri Hinte Publicity
One of the busiest bassists on the rich San Francisco Bay Area music scene for more than 15 years, in demand for his work on acoustic, electric, and fretless bass, Fred Randolph has been an integral part of bands led by artists from Ian Carey and Akira Tana to Dan Hicks and Maria Muldaur. For his third CD as a leader, Song Without Singing, Randolph highlights his vibrant original music performed by his own fine quintet and other longtime colleagues. ...
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Trio \ Def (Drouin/Eagles/Froman) Release Debut Album
Source:
Wayne Eagles
Groove-laden tracks, textural scenarios, and multi-hued passages are all front and center on (Drouin/Eagles/Froman)—the debut album from trio \ DEF. The cooperative threesome of bassist Marc-Andre Drouin, guitarist Wayne Eagles, and drummer Ian Froman digs deep, delivering music that’s alternately menacing and disarming, barbed and beautiful, and patient and restless. High-octane jams, earthy encounters, and airy ideals all come to the fore at one time or another as this band takes flight on this compelling date. The members of trio ...
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A New Album, "Predawn Shenanigans Club" By Wataru Uchida
Source:
Wataru Uchida
Born in Japan, tenor saxophonist Wataru Uchida was compelled by the power of swing to move to New York, only to come under the spell of Latin rhythms such as samba, Baião and Maracatu that form the core of a new release entitled Predawn Shenanigans Club. A specially recruited lineup of Brazilian jazz players bring life to his ten original compositions and give Wataru ample room to shine. Among many highlights, the title tune, “Predawn Shenanigans Club” contains alternating 3/4 ...
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Four Box-Set Discoveries
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
CD box sets remain hot for classic jazz and R&B releases, since fans of the music like to hold something—anything—even if they have to take off their glasses and peer at the tiny type in the liner notes. Here are five box sets that I've been playing in steady rotation... Bill Evans: The Complete Fantasy Recordings (Concord) Between 1973 and 1979, pianist Bill Evans recorded 11 albums for the Fantasy label. During this meticulous period, he recorded in a variety ...
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