Archive for December, 2015

Vinyl

Antonio Sanchez – Three Times Three (2015)

‘Three Times Three’ is the Antonio Sanchez showcase album that leaves no doubts as to his vast abilities as leader, composer and — not least — elite drummer.

S. Victor Aaron’s Best of 2015  (Part 1 of 4, Non-Jazz): Erykah Badu, Shemekia Copeland, Sam Butler

S. Victor Aaron’s Best of 2015 (Part 1 of 4, Non-Jazz): Erykah Badu, Shemekia Copeland, Sam Butler

S. Victor Aaron picks the best of 2015’s non-jazz albums, including Erykah Badu, Shememkia Copeland, the Blind Boys of Alabama’s Sam Butler and others.

Vinyl

Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister Was a One of a Kind Legend, Warts and All

Uncompromising, unafraid and utterly cool, the late Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister embodied the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.

Toto, “Goodbye Elenore” from Turn Back (1981): Toto Tuesdays

Toto, “Goodbye Elenore” from Turn Back (1981): Toto Tuesdays

“Goodbye Elenore,” the Side 2 opener and first single, reaches an intensity not seen again on Toto’s ‘Turn Back.’

Vinyl

Ice Cream Skyscraper – Mercury in Lemonade (2015)

Just as cutting edge as they are old school, Ice Cream Skyscraper fill ‘Mercury in Lemonade’ with soul, jazz, country, straight-up rock and psychedelia.

Vinyl

Erykah Badu – But You Caint Use My Phone (2015)

Erykah Badu’s new mixtape ‘But You Caint Use My Phone’ may or may not be a placeholder until a ‘real’ album is ready, her relentless thirst to push the edge makes it no small deal regardless.

Vinyl

Brian Landrus Trio – The Deep Below (2015)

Brian Landrus took a step back into tradition for ‘The Deep Below’ with Lonnie Plaxico and Billy Hart — albeit on his own terms — and made a reconnect with the roots that had always anchored his playing.

Vinyl

Pixel – Golden Years (2015)

Pixel had from the get-go developed their own, appealing engaging personality they’ve could have churned out forever. ‘Golden Years’ retains that spirit while reaching out a little beyond it.

Vinyl

Raoul Björkenheim / eCsTaSy – Out of the Blue (2015)

Visceral, vivid and uncompromising, ‘Out of the Blue’ picks up where Raoul Björkenheim and eCsTaSy’s first album left off.

Vinyl

Danny Elfman and ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas,’ November 1, 2015: Shows I’ll Never Forget

A spectacular live reinterpretation of ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ found composer Danny Elfman staging a partial on-stage Oingo Boingo reunion, as well.