Last year we introduced a really good avanteer to this site in Rich Halley, a lively and imaginative saxophonist and composer who would probably be more of a household name if he were in Chicago or New York instead of Portland, Oregon.

One day back in 1996, I was on my way to work and heard this terrific song … about a kid playing in the backyard? Refusing to wear a shirt? Huh?!

> *** STEELY DAN SUNDAY INDEX *** “Night By Night” falls right in the middle of the best three song sequence on any Steely Dan album. Last week we took the occasion of “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” to reflect on the genius of Jim Gordon. If Jim Gordon was the heir to Hal Blaine as the king of session [...]

by Tom Johnson As a follow-up to the more electronic, experimental, but ultimately disappointing Modulate, 2005′s Body of Song was an overwhelming success.

As the disc turns, that groove grows darker, as moist as the earth below our feet. Then White, he grunts. Uhhngh.

by Tom Johnson Spinning up Mercurial was like jumping in a time machine set for somewhere around 60-75 years ago. The Asylum Street Spankers bravely blazed their own trail far outside of mainstream music, offering pre-Charlie Parker swing jazz and jump-blues that once kept the flappers cavorting across dancefloors all night long.

by Mark Saleski No fireworks here, just some very heartfelt jazz trio music lead by Israeli pianist Ari Erev. With a mix of original compositions, Israeli songs, and selected standards (including a beautiful “Turn Out The Stars” as program closer), Erev succeeds in displaying his love of this music. ‘Half Notes’ are quick-take thoughts on music from Something Else! Reviews, [...]

Taking in the first solo steps by a budding jazz talent is usually an excursion into a fresh new discovery. Most of time, these performances are polished and if there’s originals, they can be surprisingly well developed

by Fred Phillips For a guy that once told me in an interview that he couldn’t seem to make everyone happy with his mix of blues and rock, Kenny Wayne Shepherd has done pretty well for himself.

Let’s look beyond the goofy flutes and whatnot — and the oddly aggressive nature of the song, because it’s just so out of character for the nice man. Paul McCartney screwed up “Live And Let Die” in a huge way