Archive for September, 2018

Vinyl

Max Moran, jazz bassist: Something Else! Interview

Max Moran joins Preston Frazier to discuss his new studio project ‘Neospectric,’ the close-knit musical culture of New Orleans, and his favorite albums.

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Brass Magic, “Journey Around the Lake” from ‘Fanfare’ (2018): Something Else! video premiere

Here is the video premiere of Brass Magic’s “Journey Around the Lake.”

Chicago, "Greatest Love on Earth" from 'Hot Streets' (1978): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago, “Greatest Love on Earth” from ‘Hot Streets’ (1978): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago’s wonderfully produced love song “The Greatest Love on Earth” is a hidden gem on an underrated album.

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Robert Walter’s 20th Congress – ‘Spacesuit’ (2018)

Robert Walter’s 20th Congress was always about making fun party music out of jazz; ‘Spacesuit’ just takes it out to the final frontier.

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Wayne Shorter – ‘Emanon’ (2018)

Wayne Shorter has delivered a late-period masterpiece: The music on ‘Emanon’ is wonderful, the expectation delivered.

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Hue Gower – ‘Guitarophilia’ (1984; 2018 reissue)

Huw Gower’s commitment to the sound and style of his former band the Records rings loud and clear on the newly reissued ‘Guitarophilia.’

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Devin Gray – ‘Dirigo Rataplan II’ (2018)

The big accomplishment of the first ‘Dirigo Rataplan’ was in Devin Gray’s insight in conceptualizing ways to get the most out of his fellow musicians and himself. That’s the same kind of brilliance found on ‘Dirigo Rataplan II.’

Vinyl

Cuong Vu 4-Tet, featuring Bill Frisell – ‘Change In the Air’ (2018)

‘Change In The Air’ is the same sort of capacious, thoughtful and lyrical sound from Cuong Vu’s 4-Tet as it’s always been but now it feels more of four major voices than ever before.

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Anders Aarum – ‘Shakin’ Our Souls’ (2018)

Oslo’s Anders Aarum is a jazz pianist capable of tackling just about any style of jazz, from his membership in the New Orleans jazz troupe Funky Butt to the downtempo soul of Beady Belle to free jazz with You May Also Like: How Anders Osborne Came Into His Own WithRead More

Toto, "Drag Him to the Roof" from 'Tambu' (1995): Toto Tuesdays

Toto, “Drag Him to the Roof” from ‘Tambu’ (1995): Toto Tuesdays

When I consider my Top 5 list of Toto songs, “Drag Him To The Roof” is usually included.