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George Benson: Body Talk
by Dan Bilawsky
With a title like Body Talk, and a lead-off track called “Dance," George Benson--a guitar-god-on-the-rise when this album originally hit shelves in 1973--makes it clear that this music is all about feeling the groove. While a good number of Benson projects on CTI benefited from Don Sebesky's arrangements, the guitarist needed a funkier feeling for this ...
Freddie Hubbard: Straight Life
by Dan Bilawsky
On the surface, Freddie Hubbard's Straight Life doesn't seem like a record that should have ever found much success on the CTI label. This record lacks any grandiose arrangements or classical-jazz crossovers, two of the three tracks are far too long to garner much airplay, and those same two tracks--"Straight Life" and “Mr. Clean"--are far rawer ...
Hubert Laws: In The Beginning
by Dan Bilawsky
Hubert LawsIn The BeginningCTI Masterworks2011 (1974) The release of a double album during the LP-era could be a double-edged sword. This format provided a platform for artists to elaborate on their ideas and serve a hefty portion of music to their fans and potential followers, but a ...
Kayo: I Wish You Love
by Dan Bilawsky
Should jazz challenge conventions or uphold traditions? While opinions vary on this matter, pianist Kayo Hiraki leans toward the latter school of thought on this all-standards affair. As the daughter of a classical pianist, Hiraki had music flowing through her veins at birth and proved to be a child piano prodigy. She honed her craft at ...
Alex Sipiagin: Destinations Unknown
by Dan Bilawsky
Life on the road can often wear musicians down, but it can also inspire them to great heights. Trumpeter Alex Sipiagin's travels took him to Taiwan, Spain, Italy, France, Japan and Holland in the months preceding the recording session for this album in January, 2011 and each one of those locales helped to stir his creative ...
Silvano Monasterios: Unconditional
by Dan Bilawsky
The word “unconditional" is often associated with love, referencing the feeling that parents have for their children and pets have for their owners, but the word itself isn't limited to use on this topic. In fact, the very meaning of “unconditional" actually addresses a lack of limitations or constraints, as does the music on pianist Silvano ...
Swingadelic: The Other Duke: Tribute To Duke Pearson
by Dan Bilawsky
Most four-letter words come with a negative connotation attached, but that's not always the case. When big band fans hear the word “Duke" uttered aloud, positive thoughts tend to take over and Duke Ellington immediately comes to mind. His legendary compositions and historic recordings elevated him to the very top of the jazz world, and one ...
Hammer Klavier Trio: New York, NY, June 10, 2011
by Dan Bilawsky
Hammer Klavier TrioMiles' CafeNew York, NYJune 10, 2011 While the exchange rate between Euros and dollars fluctuates, the exchange rate between American jazz acts and European jazz acts has always favored the Stars and Stripes. Although it might be a bit of a generalization, it wouldn't be unfair to say ...
Tom McMahon: Spring 2011
by Dan Bilawsky
Instruments often tell stories through music, but it's rare that a story can spawn an actual instrument. When author Frank Herbert's Dune hit book store shelves in the '60s, he probably never imagined that his book would become a movie or a television mini-series, but that's not the only thing that came to life from the ...
Dida Pelled: Plays And Sings
by Dan Bilawsky
While no “one size fits all" prescription exists for molding and educating unique artists, some schools seem to have an exceptional track record. A large segment of the who's who of jazz greats from Detroit went through Cass Technical High School and more than a few Texas jazz titans received their education at Booker T. Washington ...
