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William Bell: This Is Where I Live
by James Nadal
Stax Records was recently revived under the umbrella of the Concord Music Group, in a commendable gesture to acknowledge the southern soul artists on the legendary label. When Stax (formerly Satellite Records) originated in 1961, one of the first artists signed was a young singer/songwriter named William Bell, who hit the charts that same year with ...
Little Charlie and Organ Grinder Swing: Skronky Tonk
by James Nadal
The organist/guitarist combination was popularized by the legendary Jimmy Smith in 1957. Grant Green and Larry Young took it a step further in 1964, but Smith and Wes Montgomery on their 1966 “Dynamic Duo," album, arguably defined the format. Smith also catapulted the jazz organ trio into another dimension, and set the standard for that ensemble ...
Tyler Greenfield: Sunday Bolero
by James Nadal
With the current resurgence in appreciation for Cuba and vinyl records, it is a pleasant occasion to write an article combining both. Pianist Tyler Greenfield's admiration for the Cuban bolero form created Sunday Bolero, a cultural realization produced on pristine 180 gram vinyl, yielding an intimate aural and sentimental experience. Greenfield hails from New ...
Siama: Rivers
by James Nadal
The Congo is located at the very heart of Africa, and has played the major contributory role of influencing musical trends throughout the region. Soukous originated in the 1950's when the impact of the Cuban rumba blended with traditional Congolese music. Incorporating the 3/2 clave rhythm, and adapting the piano montuno into guitar; it has two ...
John Blues Boyd: The Real Deal
by James Nadal
For those who love the blues, the thrill of discovering a new artist is still special. Blues singer John “Blues" Boyd just released The Real Deal--at 71 years young--as a testament that the blues continues to be a vital American art form that will never die. Born in Greenwood, Mississippi, Boyd picked cotton as a youngster, ...
Abrazo: The Havana Sessions
by James Nadal
It what might be considered a historic occasion, in November of 2015, PARMA producer Bob Lord conceptualized Abrazo: The Havana Sessions; the music of composers Bunny Beck, Roger Bourland, Donald Bowyer, Margaret Brandman, John Carollo, Timothy Miller, and Michael Murray, performed by classical musicians, and chorales of Cuba. In an expansive undertaking encompassing works for big ...
Janiva Magness: Love Wins Again
by James Nadal
There are those whose course in life was altered as music intervened, taking them in another direction. Janiva Magness was headed down a long hard road, when, as a desolate teenager, snuck into a nightclub, and got blinded by the blues. There were the obligatory lean years of paying dues before releasing, “More Than Live" in ...
Aireene Espiritu: Back Where I Belong
by James Nadal
How can someone go back to where they have never been? How can a ukulele playing folk singer accomplish searing blues and soul vocals with such sincere expression and emotion? These are just two of the mysteries surrounding Aireene Espiritu. Her release Back Where I Belong, reveals the answers, and much more. Though Espiritu ...
Conjunto Sabrosura: Hecho En Puerto Rico
by James Nadal
Salsa music is intended for dancing. Long before festivals and concerts became the norm, this music was spawned in nightclubs where people went to dance. The virtuosity of the musicians was taken for granted, and they were expected to deliver an established set of no-nonsense entertainment for the paying customers. Conjunto Sabrosura is an intense salsa ...
Miramar: Dedication To Sylvia Rexach
by James Nadal
The modern Latin-American bolero (romantic ballad) of Spanish heritage, originated from the Cuban trova. Mexico influenced the genre with numerous prolific trios recording boleros, gaining an international audience. Its popularity spread with the development of cinema and phonograph records, reaching a zenith between the 1930's and 1960's. Puerto Rico was not immune to this musical phenomenon, ...
