Archive for December, 2018

Beatles Gift Guide: Kit O'Toole's Top 2018 Albums, Books, Movies, Box Sets and More

Beatles Gift Guide: Kit O’Toole’s Top 2018 Albums, Books, Movies, Box Sets and More

The year 2018 proved to be a bonanza for Beatles fans. Here’s a look back at some of the best albums, books, movies, box sets and more.

Philip Glass Transcended David Bowie's Towering Influence on 'Low Symphony'

Philip Glass Transcended David Bowie’s Towering Influence on ‘Low Symphony’

Released 25 years ago, Philip Glass’ ‘Low Symphony’ wasn’t a note-for-note David Bowie redo, but a brilliant borrowing of themes for inspiration.

Chicago, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (1998): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (1998): Saturdays in the Park

This holiday update illustrates a point: Chicago is like pizza. Even when it’s not great, it’s still really good.

Spencer Davis Group - 'Gluggo' (1973): Forgotten Series

Spencer Davis Group – ‘Gluggo’ (1973): Forgotten Series

Long overlooked, the Spencer Davis Group’s ‘Gluggo’ stands as a fun and energetic collection of meat-and-potatoes rock and roll.

Ivo Perelman, Mat Maneri, Mark Feldman, Jason Hwang - 'Strings 1' (2018)

Ivo Perelman, Mat Maneri, Mark Feldman, Jason Hwang – ‘Strings 1’ (2018)

Ivo Perelman’s ‘String 1’ with Mat Maneri, Jason Hwang and Mark Feldman is a quest to fully realize the juxtaposition of wind and vibrations and take it as far as it can go.

Vinyl

Pearcy / Gratzmiller Jazz Quintet – ‘Over the Edge’ (2018)

The Pearcy / Gratzmiller Jazz Quintet created an album that has energy, soul and a slight sense of the unpredictable.

Walter 'Wolfman' Washington Got Going Again With 'Doin' the Funky Thing'

Walter ‘Wolfman’ Washington Got Going Again With ‘Doin’ the Funky Thing’

Released 10 years ago, Walter “Wolfman” Washington’s ‘Doin the Funky Thing’ embraced blues modernity, while keeping one scuffed-up toe in the past.

Vinyl

Nick Finzer’s Hear & Now, “Steps – What Was” (2018): One Track Mind

Nick Finzer’s Hear and Now celebrates the 50th anniversary of Chick Corea’s classic ‘Now He Sings, Now He Sobs,’ issued in December 1968.

Vinyl

Hearts & Minds (Jason Stein, Paul Giallorenzo, Chad Taylor) – ‘Electroradiance’ (2018)

With the unusual structure of the electro-acoustic trio Hearts & MInds come opportunities to implement ideas you couldn’t really pull off in a ‘normal’ trio setting. ‘Electroradiance’ adroitly exploits those opportunities.

Toto, "Moodido" from 'Official Music of the XXIII Olympiad Los Angeles' (1984): Toto Tuesdays

Toto, “Moodido” from ‘Official Music of the XXIII Olympiad Los Angeles’ (1984): Toto Tuesdays

Founding keyboardist Steve Porcaro discusses a hard-to-find instrumental that has never been released domestically on a proper Toto album.