Given the masterful composing and arranging talents clarinetist-composer-arranger Byron has given us with both the tributes to Mickey Katz and infectious dates under his ow…
20 Jul
Ultimate Oscar Peterson by Oscar Peterson
Monday, 20 July 1998
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This is a fabulous selection of Peterson`s best as selected by long-time friend and bassist Ray Brown. It features Peterson classics such as Clark Terry`s "Mumbles," and Mi…
This is an era of many wonderful new female jazz singers. Besides the Cassandra Wilsons, the Vanessa Rubins, the Diana Kralls, and such, we also have had four wonderful deb…
I was watching Black Entertainment Television and briefly heard the first song of this CD and said to myself, "That's very nice, smooth, and I've got to have it. So, the ve…
German bassman Dieter Ilg has always surprised me not only with incredible technique, but also as a tasteful player - for example when he toured with Randy Brecker's acoust…
This record smokes from beginning to end Dave Weckl, Jay Oliver, Tom Kennedy, Buzz Feiten, Frank Gambale, Bob Malach and Steve Tavaglione. I have all of Dave's previous rel…
I picked this up from the band themselves, while they were playing at a hotel in Diamond Bar, CA. I haven't been able to stop listening to it since. It's a great mix of jaz…
14 Jul
In The World From Natchez to New York by Olu Dara
Tuesday, 14 July 1998
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Olu Dara, a cornetist and guitarist, has put together a varied, adventuresome album. There are blues influenced songs, African and Caribbean influences, urban influences, a…
Armacost presents an incredibly smooth, warm, almost lush sound. In addition to his beautiful mellow tone, he certainly seems able to climb the scales on both the tenor and…
Last month, my sister and I celebrated our birthday. We went to see Boney James at the Blue Note. We then saw him two weeks later at IMAC on Long Island. The following nigh…
10 Jul
Return of the Candyman by Charlie Hunter & Pound for Pound
Friday, 10 July 1998
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Incredible playing from this young pioneer. Shades of Wes Montgomery mixed with Hip-Hop. This cat plays bass and guitar at the same time and neither is sacrificed. Hunter c…
Abdullah’s Ibrahim’s African Symphony as performed by the Munich Radio Symphony along with Ibrahim on piano, Marcus McLaurine on bass and George Gray on drums presen…
J. E. R. M., an acronym containing the initial of the first name of each of the members of this quartet, is a Boston-based band that sounds like they have a real ECM jones.…
06 Jan
The tenors of our time by Roy Hargrove
Wednesday, 06 January 1993
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The biggest trumpet name of our time, Roy Hargrove: lyrical and aggressive when its necessary. And always perfect to our ears. Five Stars!…
Secret Story represents one of the most ambitious projects in the Metheny catalog. Not only does it employ past and present members of the Pat Metheny Group, but also it is…
Najee is the quintessential American jazz artist of the 20th century. Thirteen beautiful songs are featured on this album, and a great guest list is available for your list…
07 Jan
Life On Planet Groove by Maceo Parker
Tuesday, 07 January 1992
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Ex-James Brown alto saxophonist Maceo Parker, along w/ fellow ex JB's: trombonist Fred Wesley, and tenor saxophonist Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis bring us a hot, funky live date …
Stanley Jordan is a truly remarkable artist. His "hammering" technique,(tapping the fretboard to produce lead lines, chords and bass simultaneously) has put him into a cate…
06 Jan
Capital Collectors Series by Louis Prima
Sunday, 06 January 1991
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This is one of my favorite albums that I have ever bought. It is very good in scat improvising and trumpet playing. I bought this after my "History of Jazz" instructor at c…
This is one of seven CD's in my collection from the multi talented Lonnie Liston Smith (yes he is of Expansions fame). This album demonstrates the perfect blend of jazz ins…
If you enjoy Joe Henderson and appreciate a superb piano technician, this is the recording for you. Walter Norris, who I stumbled upon while searching out Joe Henderson mat…
Recorded in New York on December 19 and 20, 1989, this cd contains some of Toots Thielemans' finest harmonica work accompanied by such musicians as Mulgrew Miller on piano,…
Well this is not really Charles Mingus. It is Gunther Schuller conducting a large orchestra performing some of Charles Mingus's music. Although there are some very fine mus…
11 Jan
All Day Long by Kenny Burrell/Donald Byrd
Thursday, 11 January 1990
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The title track, "All Day Long" is Kenny Burrell’s composition previously performed with The Master, Jimmy Smith. The rhythm and sentiment is livelier than aforementioned o…
This is a CD issue of an informal blowing date recorded live at Smalls Paradise in New York on April 7, 1958. Organist Jimmy Smith is featured with alto saxist Lou Donaldso…
Recorded in 1988 this project is the realization of a unique goal: an album made up entirely of song lyrics sprinkled over some of the now well known pieces that make up th…
once upon a time there was jazz lp lover me. it was nothing as go as the sound of wax. i was send off to strange world (uk) the land of mission, kef , b&w ,merdian and linn…
Does anybody talk about this guy? We spend so much time admiring artists that are dead. We take Branford Maralis for granted. Grasp him now. He is alive and with us. This a…
I have a lot of Mr. Scofields music.i just got "bump" and was goin' off listening to it. So I took all his CD's and had a little concert at work. When I heard "loud jazz" a…
19 Feb
Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers by Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers
Sunday, 19 February 1989
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This early session was a good indicator of things to come for all involved. Each member of this ensemble was great in his own right and has accomplished much over the span …
18 Feb
The Camera Never Lies by Michael Franks
Saturday, 18 February 1989
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Just recently, I purchased an album by my all time favorite male vocalist Michael Franks titled "The Camera Never Lies". I listen to it constantly, and the more I listen to…
17 Feb
The Birthday Concert by Jaco Pastorius
Friday, 17 February 1989
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The CD is something really special. I had no idea of what I was buying, just wanted something from Jaco. I don't know how to describe it, but it turned me on as jazz fan. T…
15 Feb
The Blue Note Years by Sonny Rollins
Wednesday, 15 February 1989
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Sonny always has a sound of his own. His unexpected yet touching sound really does it on this one.…
I put this CD in to my player expecting to find a typical modern/postbop/unworthy of the greats type of music, I had been decieved. What I ended up hearing were some of the…
Several years ago, I was speaking with a bassist friend about pursuing a singing career in jazz. He told me, "If you're really serious, you need to purchase Joni Mitchell's…
10 Feb
Thrust by Herbie Hancock (w/ The Headhunters)
Friday, 10 February 1989
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I played professional for 9 yrs. We were a funk/jazz band opening for the likes of Tina Turner, Tower of Power, Paliment Funkadelics, and more. Although Thrust is over 20 y…
I've only been a Kay Starr fan for a few years, but there is nothing that thrills me more these days than discovering one of her many recording gems. Kay's 1975 release ent…
This seminal fusion classic, is a mindblowing album, musically, and technically. Herbie's band on this album includes Bennie Maupin, on reeds, Paul Jackson on bass, Harvey …
This is a great CD for fusion lovers. For straight ahead guys consider it a new ingredient. It is an experimental album that Herbie scored big with.…
If you like Jazz; freeblowing, yet wildly sensuous and melodic, Tenor Saxophone, this is for you! I have been scouring the world over for two decades to get a copy of this …
I just bought her CD, Body Music and I think it is absolutely great! Haven't heard such music in a long time. This girl can PLAY (trumpet). Combining all new dance jazz sty…
For me this CD represents a closing of all the Jazz that came before it, since it was released in the era between Free Jazz and Fusion. It is post-everything music, contain…
22 Jan
The Soul Book/Mocha Motion by Freddie Roach
Sunday, 22 January 1989
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A dramatic departure from organist Freddie Roach’s Blue Note recordings, he is experimental, soulful and pensive. While the Blue Note sessions were notable and worthy, thes…
Lee Morgan - Jazz Impresario Extroadinaire!What is there left to say about Lee? All I can do is add to the legend. Professional at the age of 15. First trumpet in the Dizzi…
20 Jan
Blue Bash by Jimmy Smith / Kenny Burrell
Friday, 20 January 1989
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This reissue on Verve is quite welcome. These are good, straightforward Jimmy Smith/Kenny Burrell performances. They are supported by Milt Hinton, George Duvivier, Bill Eng…
19 Jan
Crash! by Jack McDuff featuring Kenny Burrell
Thursday, 19 January 1989
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Brother Jack McDuff had one of the hottest combos in Jazz in the early sixties, and what distinguished him from the grand master Jimmy Smith, was his great bands(he was lik…
Recorded during the rising popularity of bossa nova in the United States in 1962. Many jazz artists jumped on board incorporating songs by Jobim, Valle, Bonfa and Gilberto …
This album is one of the alltime great jazz albums in the history of jazz music. Trane really came out of his shell and let the world know that he was a force to be reckone…
The late great musician/bandleader Charles Mingus, along with his group of fine talented instrumentalists, made this hard hitting, mainstream be-bop contribution to the jaz…
What can be said about Miles the great that has not already been said. This is the most brilliant CD top to bottom that I have ever experienced. Never have I heard a person…