Archive for July, 2014

Vinyl

One Track Mind: Nick Hempton, “Catch and Release” (2014)

Write, record and release a new jazz tune every six weeks for a year? Nick Hempton could be onto something good.

Vinyl

Something Else! sneak peek: Gerald Albright – Slam Dunk (2014)

Another well-developed mixture of smooth jazz, and adult contemporary music.

Vinyl

Dave Douglas + Uri Caine – Present Joys (2014)

A private, warmhearted meeting of minds – and we were allowed to listen in.

Vinyl

Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers – Emergency Situation (2014)

Like Piazza himself, this restless delight never stays in one place for long.

Gimme Five: Overlooked Yes Albums (And Why Some of  Them Should Be)

Gimme Five: Overlooked Yes Albums (And Why Some of Them Should Be)

For every ‘Fragile,’ Yes has several other projects that are routinely ignored.

Steely Dan Sunday, “Talkin’ ‘Bout My Home” (1980?, unreleased)

Steely Dan Sunday, “Talkin’ ‘Bout My Home” (1980?, unreleased)

Catchy, but ultimately a bit less compelling than other ‘Gaucho’ outtakes.

Vinyl

Empty Hearts [Andy Babiuk, Wally Palmar, Clem Burke + Elliot Easton] – Empty Hearts (2014)

Sturdy rock and roll that pays tribute to its influences without sounding trite.

Vinyl

The Last Hombres – Odd Fellows Rest (2014)

This album is filled with deep lyrical specifity, and musicianship that goes even deeper.

Vinyl

‘A perfect moment in time’: Five years ago, the aptly named Adrian Belew Power Trio made its studio debut

‘e’ reinvigorated Belew, even as it shepherded his new collaborators to wider notice.

Vinyl

Kali Z. Fasteau – Piano Rapture (2014)

Kali Z. Fasteau’s spontaneous composition theory might be forty years old, but it’s quite alive and well in practice today, no matter what she choose to play in carrying it out. On piano, it’s a downright rapturous.