Alleycat / Direct Hits - Nucleus

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.

Waka/Jawaka - Frank Zappa

Frank tackles jazz fusion, wrestles with the studio, plumbs in the originality and eccentricity reaches towards those perfect stars!!

Bringing It All Back Home - Bob Dylan

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 Promise - John McLaughlin

This garden has flowers of many species from lotus to rose and then onto the real jungle growth. The vegatation is pure and diverse, the garden path an explorers dream challenge. John conducts the world with his cultural friends.

The Look of Love - Diana Krall

The arrangers art brings Miss Krall to this sweet haven, but she brings the edge, dynamic and contrasts of a true jazz addict.

Real Emotional - Curtis Stigers

This guy loves jazz and likes to get caught up in the notes and textures of the song. He plays around with the heart of the piece and hits home with a cowboy's aim.

My Flame Burns Blue - Elvis Costello

EC sings this angular jazz/blues/rock adventure in front of the power string section of a great jazz ensemble, the Metropole. Nice selection of songs, great live recording. Soulful but never abstract.