This was a near-total crapshoot. I’ve never heard of guitarist Pierre Dorge, but the names Billy Hart (drums) and John Tchicai (soprano and alto sax) were familiar. What I ended up with was something that is mostly straight-ahead jazz, with a fair bit of angularity. Dorge’s playing goes from theRead More

If you’ve ever been interested in Ornette’s Free Jazz, but thought that it might be “too much,” then this album might be worth a listen. The first track, “First Take”, is literally a shorter version (17 minutes) of the Coleman classic. The double quartet lineup is impressive, too: Don Cherry,Read More

For many years now, I’ve gone out and purchased one new CD of Christmas music. The idea has always been to get something in a genre that I don’t already own. You May Also Like: Tori Freestone Trio – ‘El Mar de Nubes’ (2019)

All of the Internet chatter this past week about this year’s Rock Hall of Fame nominations has been great fun. It’s great fun every year. You May Also Like: No related posts.

Diana Krall … Harry Connick Jr. … Josh Groban … Norah Jones … Michael Bublé. What to make of young, attractive musicians who seem rooted in the past? You May Also Like: No related posts.

For some reason, this tune has launched many over-the-top moments for me at E Street shows. There’s just something about the energy profile early in the song that creates the perfect channel You May Also Like: Reevaluating Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle’

It’s amazing to look back at the Golden Age of Spain (9th to 15th century) with modern eyes. In this era, the idea of multiculturalism has become loaded with political import (both good and bad) You May Also Like: Lara Bello, “Sola” from Sikame (2017): One Track Mind Dálava –Read More

On the way to work, I indulged in a little college-era nostalgia: Give The People What They Want by The Kinks. You May Also Like: In Defense of the Kinks’ Often-Overlooked Sophomore Album, ‘Kinda Kinks’

You could make an argument that words have been maxed out for “Born To Run,” that everything has been said and there’s nothing new to be gleaned. Yeah well, people have notoriously small imaginations too You May Also Like: Reevaluating Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The Wild, the Innocent and the E StreetRead More

Here are a couple of stories. One is amazing and funny. The other is just amazing. You May Also Like: Wes Montgomery – ‘The Complete Full House Recordings’ (2023) Wes Montgomery with the Wynton Kelly Trio – Smokin’ in Seattle: Live at the Penthouse (1966) (2017)