If you appreciate great pop music from the 1960’s and 1970’s, you know the work of guitarist-songwriter Steve Katz. After studying with Dave Van Ronk and Reverend Gary Davis, he became a key player in two major groups: The Blues Project, for which he wrote “Steve’s Song,” and Blood, Sweat & Tears (he penned “Sometimes […]
RON NETSKY
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Album Review: ‘In Paris: The ORTF Recordings’
Larry Young “In Paris: The ORTF Recordings” Resonance Records resonancerecords.org If you have not heard of the great jazz organist Larry Young, it may be because he died at the age of 38 in 1978, and he has been overshadowed by other keyboard artists of his generation. But Young was a force, playing with Miles […]
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Album Review: ‘Plays Ballads & Love Songs’
Richie Cole “Plays Ballads & Love Songs” RCP richiecole.com There’s a tradition among jazz saxophonists: in the midst of a career of furious soloing, slow down and release an album of ballads. John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and many others have set the pace; now Richie Cole has joined them with “Plays Ballads & Love Songs.” […]
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Album review: “1954”
Ricardo Grilli Tone Rogue Records ricardogrilli.com The title of guitarist Ricardo Grilli’s new album, “1954,” may cause you to anticipate a tribute to the greatest generation of jazz players. While some measure of that is inevitable on a CD by an excellent musician and his supporting players — Aaron Parks on piano; Joe Martin, bass; […]
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ALBUM REVIEW: “art & soul”
Kirsten Edkins “art & soul” Equipoise Records kirstenedkins.com If you’ve ever wondered where all of those great musicians in Eastman School of Music jazz ensembles go, saxophonist Kirsten Edkins can serve as one answer. After studying with Walt Weiskopf, Ray Ricker, Bill Dobbins and others at Eastman, she’s played with jazz greats like Arturo Sandoval […]
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ALBUM REVIEW: “Offering: The Music of Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson”
Charenee Wade “Offering: The Music of Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson” Motema Music chareneewade.com In his prime, Gil Scott-Heron was a truly unique artist, a rapper before rap, a hip-hopper before hip-hop. Plagued by addictions, he died at the age of 62 in 2011. Since then, there have been several tribute albums, but Charenee Wade’s […]
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ALBUM REVIEW: “Volcan”
“Volcan” Volcan 5PASION g-rubalcaba.com/blog/ The latest supergroup to emerge from the Latin jazz scene has taken an appropriate name. “Volcan” is short for volcano, which as the album points out, embodies the essential elements: earth, air, wind, and fire. Executive Producer Gary Galimidi writes in his notes that volcanoes loom large over otherwise unremarkable landscapes. […]
