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Spyro Gyra: Good to Go-Go
by Woodrow Wilkins
In a way, Spyro Gyra is the Steely Dan of jazz. For most of their years, The Dan was Donald Fagen, Walter Becker and an ever-changing lineup of session musicians. Spyro Gyra started in similar fashion, with saxophonist Jay Beckenstein and keyboardist Jeremy Wall fronting a band they called Tuesday Night Jams. The duo performed on ...
Tierney Sutton Band: On the Other Side
by Woodrow Wilkins
At a glance, Tierney Sutton's new album is all about being happy. However, as the singer explains in the liner notes, it's more about life's experiences in the “pursuit of happiness." A ride that includes the thrill of the chase, the heartache that comes with failing to achieve happiness or losing it, and the joy of ...
Kurt Elling: Nightmoves
by Woodrow Wilkins
To say that vocalist Kurt Elling has tremendous range only reveals part of the picture. Listening to Live at MCG with Kurt Elling (MCG Jazz, 2004), which he recorded with the Bob Mintzer Big Band, Elling's seemingly effortless move from low to high and back, whether singing lyrics or scatting, is a jaw-dropping experience. The seven-time ...
Times 4: Relations
by Woodrow Wilkins
Math made simple. Put two and two together, and you get Times 4, a San Francisco-based jazz group that mixes the old with the new, and lots of stuff in between. Drummer Maurice Miles and bassist Kevin Lofton were friends and musical collaborators in high school. Likewise, saxophonist Lincoln Adler and keyboardist Greg Sankovich were musical ...
Andy Narell: Tatoom: Music for Steel Orchestra
by Woodrow Wilkins
The steel pan, sometimes referred to as the steel drum or oil drum, is almost synonymous with Latin music. However, one artist has taken the instrument into another realm. For almost thirty years, Andy Narell has been a world force, not only playing jazz with the pans but also writing jazz for this instrument.
Joe Zawinul: Brown Street
by Woodrow Wilkins
If you're looking to relax and maybe have a little background music to help you snooze, don't go near Brown Street, the new release by Austrian-born Joe Zawinul. If, on the other hand, you need a pick-me-up, this is it. Revisiting some of his past hits and backed by the WDR Big Band, Zawinul reiterates that ...
Chris Botti: December Songs
by Woodrow Wilkins
Since his debut solo release in 1995, trumpeter Chris Botti is a musician who has gained widespread appeal, presenting many sides of jazz as well as delving subtly into pop and classical genres. His collaborations have included such artists as Spyro Gyra, Renee Olstead, Sting, Michael Bublé and Jill Scott. And his live shows have melded ...
Geri Allen: Timeless Portraits and Dreams
by Woodrow Wilkins
There's a certain purity, perhaps innocence, about jazz that's played without the bells and whistles of modern technology and untainted by commercial trappings. When that purity is combined with superb songwriting, you have the makings of a recording that will never sound old. So it is with Timeless Portraits and Dreams. A native ...
Various Artists: The Royal Dan: A Tribute
by Woodrow Wilkins
Steely Dan, a rock band with jazz and blues influences in its music, has stood the test of time. The group's original albums from the 1970s are as good today as they were when they were new. Some of their classic songs have been covered by a number of pop and jazz acts, including “Josie, “FM ...
The Rippingtons: 20th Anniversary
by Woodrow Wilkins
In 1986, the term “smooth jazz had not made its way into the vernacular. However, the groundwork for what would become a radio format and, to some degree, a genre of music, had been laid. Among those paving the way was Russ Freeman, founder and principal songwriter for the Rippingtons. In the early years, the Rippingtons ...
