Billboard Album Review - Colin Linden - From The Water
June 15, 2009 by Willis
Filed under New Album - Other
Billboard Album Review - Colin Linden - From The Water
Billboard.com Album Review - Colin Linden - From The Water
Billboard Album Review - Joe Lovano Us Five - Folk Art
June 15, 2009 by Willis
Filed under New Album - Other
Billboard Album Review - Joe Lovano Us Five - Folk Art
Billboard.com Album Review - Joe Lovano Us Five - Folk Art
Billboard Album Review - Vieux Farka Toure - Fondo
June 15, 2009 by Willis
Filed under New Album - Other
Billboard Album Review - Vieux Farka Toure - Fondo
Billboard.com Album Review - Vieux Farka Toure - Fondo
Billboard Album Review - Kronos Quartet - Floodplain
June 15, 2009 by Willis
Filed under New Album - Other
Billboard Album Review - Kronos Quartet - Floodplain
Billboard.com Album Review - Kronos Quartet - Floodplain
Billboard Album Review - Emery - … In Shallow Seas We Sail
June 15, 2009 by Willis
Filed under New Album - Other
Billboard Album Review - Emery - … In Shallow Seas We Sail
Billboard.com Album Review - Emery - … In Shallow Seas We Sail
Billboard Album Review - Freddie Hubbard - Without A Song: Live In Europe 1969
June 15, 2009 by Willis
Filed under New Album - Other
Billboard Album Review - Freddie Hubbard - Without A Song: Live In Europe 1969
Billboard.com Album Review - Freddie Hubbard - Without A Song: Live In Europe 1969
Billboard Album Review - Tito Puente - Dance Mania
June 15, 2009 by Willis
Filed under New Album - Other
Billboard Album Review - Tito Puente - Dance Mania
Billboard.com Album Review - Tito Puente - Dance Mania
James Luther Dickinson - Dinosaurs Run In Circles
May 31, 2009 by Willis
Filed under New Album - Other
James Luther Dickinson - Dinosaurs Run In Circles - Album Review
“The notion of Jim Dickinson—sideman extraordinaire (Stones, Dylan); iconoclastic producer (Big Star, the Replacements); Memphis raconteur—cutting an album of jazz/R&B standards and obscurities may seem odd to anyone familiar with his rock-oriented projects like his 1972 solo album “Dixie Fried” or anarchic combo Mudboy & the Neutrons. But Dickinson’s nothing if not steeped in the lure and lore of the likes of Louis Jordan, Jimmy Dorsey, Johnny Mercer and Ray Charles, whose songs (or songs identified with them) are among those covered here by the Dickinson trio. The Jordan number, “Early in the Morning,” sets the tone, Dickinson unfurling lazy-hazy rolls of boogie-woogie piano and warbling in a charmingly offhand rasp. From there the listener’s transported to New Orleans, St. Louis, Seattle and other ports of musical call, ultimately winding up at, of all places, Disneyland: Try listening to the gentle take on “When You Wish Upon a Star” without misting up.”
Stanley Clarke Trio - Jazz In The Garden
May 26, 2009 by Willis
Filed under New Album - Other
Stanley Clarke Trio - Jazz In The Garden - Album Review
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Stanley Clarke Trio - Jazz In The Garden
“Given bassist Stanley Clarke’s prowess in ensembles with Chick Corea (Return to Forever) and George Duke (Clarke/Duke Project), it’s surprising that he had never recorded an all-acoustic album in his nearly four-decade career. He makes up for that on his captivating sophomore Heads Up album, “Jazz in the Garden.” On his label debut, the 2007 “The Toys of Men,” Clarke delivered foot-tapping solo acoustic bass interludes, presaging this trio setting with longtime collaborator drummer Lenny White and newfound friend Hiromi, a simpatico pianist. What’s particularly impressive is how lyrical, funky, bluesy and swinging Clarke plays on originals, standards and improvised pieces, taking liberty to spotlight his instrument as the lead voice, whether soloing, crafting rhythmic grooves or building melody lines. Highlights: the impromptu Hiromi duet (”Global Tweak”), the bopping take on Duke Ellington’s “Take the Coltrane” and Clarke’s spirited/ reflective “Paradigm Shift (Election Day 2008).””
Ben Harper & Relentless7 - White Lies for Dark Times
May 26, 2009 by Willis
Filed under New Album - Other, New Album - Rock
Ben Harper & Relentless7 - White Lies for Dark Times - Album Review
“Ben Harper is that rare talent able to not only vacation in the worlds of gospel, soul, folk and even reggae, but meld them gracefully together on both album and stage. But sometimes you just want him to rock, like he did on 1995’s “Ground on Down.” And, at long last, he’s assembled a new band that seems dedicated to just that, and it’s a beautiful thing. The bare-knuckled “Lay There and Hate Me” is a head-on collision between soul and rock, a grittier, angrier “Gimme Shelter.” “Keep It Together” is a worthy tribute to Led Zeppelin, proudly bearing the influence of Harper’s 2007 Bonnaroo jam with John Paul Jones. The eyes-closed, fist-shaking, prayer-through-song side of Harper often comes through, most effectively on “It’s Up to You,” a slow-building tsunami of sound. The band quiets later in the disc, which might have been a buzz kill if the songs weren’t so damn good.”
