Joshua takes a mature look at his chain of inspiration from Sonny Rollins and Dexter Gordon to his father Dewey. A fine set of performances in the mainstream setting with the embroidery of his post modern outlook.
Ian Carr had by 1976 fully established his jazz rock adventure with Nucleus and Alleycat is a great example of the concept. Subtle, ingenious, with an ever flowing funk underfloor, the multi layered structure of solos and conversations from the instrumentalists make this a real Amazon. Direct Hits presents the history of the group from 1970 in an ever sliding perspective of gold glimpsed in that exotic jungle.
Love and blues, the chameleon folks it on the road to rock, some unique writing and production alongside those adhoc off the cuff laughing rockabilly moments. Maps the music of a vast territory and comes out singing.
The jewels from Miles fusion experiments arranged for ten great guests guitarists including Mike Stern, Bill Frisell, Bill Connors, and Pat Martin. Soaring solos on the fretboard of jazzy dreams.
The flame burns bright, the spirits are alight for this groundbreaking fusion feast. Universal magic!
Joe leads a stellar group of weather report alumni into the cauldron of new arrangments of WR classics with the WDR Big Band. The music sparkles with fresh inspiration, delicate thunder and moving rain. Goes down a storm.
A trio of delights with those rich fusion riffs exchanging between Allan on guitar and Jens keyboards with Anders the key sonic beat keeper. Fine machinery indeed.
Jack explores the rythms of jazz and beyond with Bill Frissell on guitar. The drums and percussion up front, angular, powerful and intelligent, the pulse of truth is out here.
Randy and brother Michael breathe with the fire of the WDR Big Band and relive their funk years in this live extravaganza from 2003.
Bob leads a stellar group of Greenwich village refugees across New England and beyond. The circus rolls into town, sets up in small town theatres, produces live mercury music captured on tape which is stored for years then eventually released. Live magic, the age of folk rock spins on.
This poet of the tenor sax walks tall with this late 1950's collection of exquisite small group settings of standards. The sound is tough, rigorous with a touch of romance.
On this jazz touchstone from the studio, the instruments sing modern and timeless, strenghth and culture, the colour of this music is not just blue but rainbow.
Skip's falsetto delivery and sharp lyrics provide a unique flavour of southern blues.
This jazz rock soup is magic, exotic, eclectic, a cut through the layers to the dream music.
The composer inspires the violinist to stretch across a string of genres from rock to jazz, classical to country and he delivers bowing furiously on his electric strings. Magnificent.
The poet of British pub rock, a hard edge of soulful R&B, gutsy and flavoured with a touch of sinewy rock and roll romance. Rough diamond.
The genius of the drums leads an enticing band of fusion brothers into the balanced terrain of funk. Brilliant solos on the cans and ensemble playing par excellence.
John plays around these great R&B themes from Charles with that funky intelligence that can produce delicate as well as thump on the bone. Ever changing flow of musical partners ensures variety and surprise. Elegant and rocking, he says it well !
Acoustic Jazz plus electronics add fusion to the recipe and a very orignal approach and the meal is wholesome. This rich and sensitive record has a sense of place in the titles and always rewards the replay as this has fine melodic patterns set alongside the challenging instrumentation.
The landscape of the live jazz guitar player with two different trios playing in NewYork and California respectively exploring jazz, pop and folk tunes with exquisite taste and intricate group understanding. It captures the essence of why live jazz can reveal and inspire and feed the audience and players in quitessential ways.
The lady sings modern, her sultry jazz inclination locks into a more open set which includes some emotionally wired songs penned by herself and Elvis Costelloe. Inspired, romantic and honest as ever the production values and musicianship enhance the charms of this seductive voice.
The songstress weaves a tapestry of meaning and emotion into a fine selection of Bob Dylan songs. Her Jazz and Cabaret interpretations lead the listener into the unexpected corners and little known vegetation contained in the work, her enhancements endowed with deeper meanings, the arrangments revealing and true. The circus is in town......go play.
Chick gathers a stellar band to sail the mysterious seas of fantasy in this tribute to a fictional world of myths and tales. His electric piano fizzes and twists inside of complex melodic structures. The arrangments contain scents from Arabia, California, Spain and everywhere and the flute , drums, percussion intertwine in a fine display of complexity and discovery.
Intricate Jazz symphony that continually unfolds its surprises and treasures in measured mazes of harmony and interplay. The guitar leads into that new but oh so poignant and beautiful country. Exquisite, intelligent and dramatic...don't miss this journey into the mystic.
Pared down to the bones of creativity and experience. Enter in the magic of this groove free and strong but always in the small group groove as the trio listen and remark, sketch and colour with expression and truth.
The interplay of the guitar and piano masters in tune on the same stream of harmonic and melodic exploration. Both powerful and sensitive and so real. Modern with that ancient spirituality, fine music for contemplation and inspiration. Genius from 2006.
