Saturday, 19 September 2026
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Tuesday, 1 September 2026
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Thursday, 8 January 2026
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Thursday, 31 July 2025
Thursday, 3 July 2025
Wednesday, 2 July 2025
Tuesday, 18 June 2024
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Wednesday, 29 May 2024
Saturday, 25 May 2024
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Saturday, 18 May 2024
Monday, 18 September 2023
Wednesday, 6 September 2023
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Tuesday, 25 July 2023
Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Sunday, 16 August 2020
Monday, 6 July 2020
Monday, 15 June 2020
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Saturday, 13 June 2020
Wednesday, 10 June 2020
Tuesday, 2 June 2020
Saturday, 30 May 2020
Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Monday, 17 February 2020
En Memoria de Lyle Mays 1953-2020
Lyle Mays, el tecladista que pasó una parte importante de su carrera grabando y actuando como miembro del Grupo Pat Metheny, murió el 10 de febrero en el Hospital Adventista de Simi Valley, California. Tenía 66 años.
Si bien la causa específica de la muerte no se hizo pública en el momento de la publicación, la sobrina de Mays, el vocalista de jazz Aubrey Johnson, dijo en una publicación en las redes sociales que se produjo "después de una larga batalla contra una enfermedad recurrente".
"Lyle era un músico y una persona brillante, y un genio en todos los sentidos", escribió. "Era mi querido tío, mentor y amigo, y las palabras no pueden expresar la profundidad de mi dolor".
Después de que se informara la noticia de la muerte de Mays durante la segunda semana completa de febrero, Metheny publicó el siguiente mensaje en su sitio web: “Lyle fue uno de los mejores músicos que he conocido. A lo largo de más de 30 años, cada momento que compartimos en música fue especial. Desde las primeras notas que tocamos juntos, tuvimos un vínculo inmediato. Su amplia inteligencia y sabiduría musical informaron cada aspecto de quién era en todos los sentidos. Lo extrañaré con todo mi corazón ".
Mays nació en Wausaukee, Wisconsin, el 27 de noviembre de 1953, en una familia musical. Mientras que sus padres tenían trabajos constantes, ambos albergaban un profundo amor por la música y tocaban instrumentos: su padre era un guitarrista autodidacta y su madre tocaba el piano y el órgano, principalmente en la iglesia. Mays hizo lo mismo, tomó lecciones de piano de un maestro local y, finalmente, comenzó a tocar órgano en la iglesia de su ciudad cuando era un adolescente.
Casi al mismo tiempo, se convirtió en un entusiasta fanático del jazz después de encontrarse con el Festival de Jazz de The Montreux Jazz de Bill Evans , un álbum de trío en vivo con el sello Verve que contó con el bajista Eddie Gómez y el baterista Jack DeJohnette. Según Steven Cantor, el coproductor de los dos primeros álbumes en solitario de Mays (un LP homónimo de 1986 y Street Dreams de 1988 ), “estaba completamente desconcertado por [la grabación en vivo de Evans]. No podía entenderlo en absoluto. Pero dado su interés en la música y que estaba tocando el piano en ese momento, se convirtió en algo que tenía que descubrir ".
Los estudios de jazz de Mays lo llevaron a la North Texas State University (ahora la University of North Texas), donde estudió bajo la dirección de Leon Breeden y se unió a la prestigiosa One O'Clock Lab Band de la escuela, junto con el bajista y futuro colaborador Marc Johnson y el futuro El baterista de Freddie Hubbard Steve Houghton. Mays se convirtió en el arreglista principal del grupo, con su toque distintivo y solos de piano impresionistas escuchados en el álbum nominado al Grammy de la banda, Lab '75.
Si bien el primer concierto profesional de Mays fuera de la universidad fue tocar con la banda de Woody Herman, fue su trabajo con Metheny lo que definió los próximos 30 años de su carrera. Los dos se conocieron en un festival de jazz en Wichita, Kansas, en 1974. Pero pasarían varios años antes de que comenzaran a actuar y grabar juntos, comenzando con el álbum Watercolors de Metheny en 1977 . A partir de ahí, Mays se convirtió en el miembro más antiguo del Grupo Pat Metheny, coescribiendo gran parte del material de la banda y combinando el piano acústico con una gama cada vez mayor de sintetizadores para agregar texturas confusas y fantasiosas a sus sesiones.
La asociación creativa de Mays y Metheny también se extendió fuera de la banda. 1981 vio el lanzamiento de su álbum dúo, As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls , y Metheny contribuyeron a la producción de algunas grabaciones en las que Mays obtuvo la mayor facturación: Fictionary de 1993 (con el bajista Johnson y el baterista DeJohnette) y Solo de 2000 (Improvisations For Extended piano) . Se puede encontrar una idea de lo que hizo que su relación fuera tan fructífera en una entrevista que Mays le dio a DownBeat para la edición de marzo de 1993, cuando se lanzó Fictionary .
“Acabábamos de terminar una gira, cuando Pat se me acercó y me dijo: 'Deberías ir al estudio. Realmente creo que tu forma de tocar es la mejor que te he escuchado tocar '”, le dijo Mays al escritor Martin Johnson. “Estaba como ... gracias [se encoge de hombros ]. Sin embargo, casi me resistí a la idea. No había preparado un registro.
“En los dos primeros discos que hice [ Lyle Mays y Street Dreams ], pasé mucho tiempo en la preproducción orquestando cosas. Ni siquiera estaba en mi mente hacer un disco acústico. Tengo que darle crédito a Pat; me convenció para que lo hiciera ".
Otra salida para Mays llegó a través de encargos de Rabbit Ears, una productora que contrató a actores famosos para leer historias infantiles y músicos modernos para proporcionar las bandas sonoras. Mays creó dos obras para la compañía que le permitieron aprovechar sus influencias clásicas a fuego lento.
"Si escuchas la partitura de The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher ", dijo Cantor, quien produjo las sesiones, "es Stravinsky. Es la instrumentación de L'histoire Du Soldat . Un conjunto de seis o siete piezas con muchos instrumentos de viento de madera. Y el otro que hizo, al este del sol, al oeste de la luna , fue cinematográfico. Escribió una media hora de música que era tan hermosa y expansiva y funcionó muy bien con la historia ".
Después del lanzamiento del álbum final de Pat Metheny Group, This Way Up de 2005 , Mays comenzó su lenta retirada del mundo de la música.
Como Metheny lo puso en su página de Facebook recientemente, la rutina de giras que se esperaba de cualquier músico de jazz que trabajara en Mays.
"El estilo de vida de salir a la carretera noche tras noche", escribió Metheny, "a veces cientos de noches a la vez, no es para todos y tiene desafíos reales ...". Hicimos una breve ronda de conciertos hace un tiempo, y estaba claro en todos los sentidos que ya había tenido suficientes hoteles, autobuses, etc. ”.
Mays vivió en silencio el resto de sus días en California, trabajando en la industria informática y alentando los esfuerzos creativos de su sobrina. Pero lo que el mundo perdió con su fallecimiento es, como lo expresó Cantor, “un intelecto asombroso. Increíble enfoque y sorprendente claridad. Y gran arte ".
Wednesday, 8 March 2017
In Memoriam:Larry Coryell
(Galveston,Texas,2 de abril de 1943-Nueva York,19 de febrero de 2017).
En 1950 se instaló junto con su familia en Richmond (Nueva York), donde comenzó a tocar rock y country, hasta que a los quince años comenzó a recibir clases de jazz. En Nueva York, tocó con Charles Lloyd y, después, con la banda de Chico Hamilton (1966), sustituyendo a Gabor Szabo. Entre 1967 y 1968,permaneció en el cuarteto del vibrafonista Gary Burton,pasando después por las formaciones de Herbie Mann,Steve Marcus y Mitch Mitchell. Después se incorporó a la Jazz Composer's Orchestra,hasta formar su propio grupo de jazz rock, The Eleventh House,en 1973.
Más tarde se incorporó a una serie de exitosos conciertos en trío con John McLaughlin y Paco de Lucía. El grupo realizó diversas giras por Europa y publicó un DVD de su actuación en el Royal Albert Hall de Londres, titulado Meeting of Spirits. A comienzos de 1980,su adicción a las drogas motivó su sustitución por Al Di Meola.Después,Coryell mantuvo este tipo de formato con otros guitarristas,como Philip Catherine o Christian Escudé. En 2007, publicó una autobiografía titulada Improvising:My Life in Music.
Fue un guitarrista virtuoso, con un estilo conformado como un «cocktail sabroso y explosivo de country, western, blues,bop y hallazgos de Sonny Sharrock y Jimi Hendrix»
Etiquetas:
fusion,
guitar,
Larry Coryell
Zafhfaroni - 48 Horas 1988
01- P´al galleguito (Firpo)
02- Rhodes (Firpo)
03- Zafhfarrancho (Sadi)
04- Hot Club (Firpo)
05- Microtema II (Firpo)
06- F M D (Sadi)
07- Vada (Firpo)
08- Viento de vientre (Firpo)
09- Costa Azul (Notaro)
10- Por el caño (Firpo)
11- Fhfranz II (Schimid)
12- 64 Y 1/2 (Firpo).
Luis Firpo – Guitarra
Fernando Notaro – Teclados
Jorge Sadi – Bajo
Jose Schimid – Bateria.
Zafhfaroni fue una banda de jazz-rock fusión uruguaya fundada a fines del año 1982.
Historia:
La banda fue creada en 1982 por Luis Firpo en guitarra,José Schmid en batería,Arturo Meneses en bajo, Ricardo León en piano y Luis Alderotti en teclados.Con esa integración editaron el disco "Bala Cósmica", lanzado por el sello Orfeo en 1985.Tiempo después la banda cambió su formación incorporándose Jorge Sadi en bajo y Fernando Notaro en teclados, sustituyendo a Arturo Meneses y Luis Alderotti respectivamente. Con esta integración editan su segundo álbum titulado "48 horas".En este álbum también participa Ricardo Nole en teclados.
Su último álbum fue editado en el año 1990 bajo el nombre "Matafuego".4 En el mismo participa Daniel Jacques en bajo y voz ingresando a la banda en lugar de Jorge Sadi. En esta obra contaron con la participación en teclados de Hugo Fattoruso el cual intervino en dos de los temas del álbum. La banda se separó en 1992.
Discografía:
Bala Cósmica (Orfeo.1985)
48 horas (Orfeo.1988)
Matafuego (Orfeo.1990)
Etiquetas:
fusion,
rock,
Uruguay,
Zafhfaroni
Tuesday, 7 March 2017
Candeias – Sambaiana 1976
Thursday, 6 December 2012
Dave Brubeck (December 6, 1920 – December 5, 2012)
"Thanks for all the music you gave to our souls"
Dave Brubeck Quartet - Blue Rondo A La Turk Carnagie Hall 1963.
Great Dave Brubeck Quartet 12 long performance of the famous jazz standart.
It was recorded at the famed Carnegie Hall in New York City on February 21, 1963. It was described by critic Richard Palmer as "arguably Dave Brubeck's greatest concert" and a "truly majestic record that should be in every serious collection"; for Don Mather it is "one of the all time great live jazz performances". * Dave Brubeck - Piano * Paul Desmond - Alto saxophone * Eugene Wright - Double bass * Joe Morello - drums.
Monday, 26 November 2012
Poncho Sanchez - Raise Your Hand (2007)
01. Raise Your Hand
02. Tropi Blue
03. Shotgun
04. El Agua De Belen
05. Rosarito
06. Maceo's House
07. ¿Dónde Va Chichi?
08. Gestation
10. Knock On Wood.
02. Tropi Blue
03. Shotgun
04. El Agua De Belen
05. Rosarito
06. Maceo's House
07. ¿Dónde Va Chichi?
08. Gestation
10. Knock On Wood.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Hancock - M.Brecker - Hargrove - Directions in Music:Live at Jazz Baltica (2002) DvD
02.Misstery
03.Naima
04.So What/ Impressions
06.Transition
07.My Ship
08.Pinocchio
Herbie Hancock (Piano)
Michael Brecker (Tenor sax)
Roy Hargrove (Trumpet)
George Mraz (Bass)
Willie Jones III (Drums).
Format: MPEG-4 at 898 Kbps
Format: MPEG-4 at 898 Kbps
Length: 668 MiB for 1h 44mn 1s 800ms
Aspect: 640 x 480.
Aspect: 640 x 480.
Etiquetas:
DVD,
Herbie Hancock,
Michael Brecker,
Roy Hargrove
Monday, 24 September 2012
Chick Corea - Early Days (1969)
01.The Brain 7:24
02.Converge 8:00
03.Waltz For Bill Evans 6:42
04.Sundance 11:46
05.Dave 8:55
06.Vamp 9:55
07.Jamala 14:08.
Recorded In New York, 1969.
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Michael Franks - Time Together (2011)
01.Now That The Summer's Here (ft. Eric Marienthal)
02.One Day In St. Tropez
03.Summer in New York
04.Mice
05.Charlie Chan In Egypt
06.I'd Rather Be Happy Than Right
07.Time Together
08.Samba Blue
09.My Heart Said Wow
10.If I Could Make September Stay
11.Feathers From An Angel's Wing.
Michael Franks - vocals
Chuck Loeb - guitars,keyboards,drum and percussion programming
Mike Mainieri - vibraphone
Mark Egan - bass
Will Lee - bass,background vocals
Wolfgang Haffner - drums
Eric Marienthal - alto sax
Till Bronner - trumpet
Carmen Cuesta - background vocals
Gil Goldstein - piano
Romero Lubambo - guitar
Shawn Pelton - drums,percussion
Rogerio Boccato - percussion
Lizzy Loeb - background vocals
Veronica Nunn - lead and background vocals
Scott Petito - bass
Jerry Marotta - drums
David Spinoza - guitar
Beth Nielsen Chapman - background vocals
Charles Blenzig - piano,keyboards
Jay Anderson - bass
Billy Kilson - drums
David Mann - sax
Alex Sipiagin - trumpet
Tim LeFebvre - bass
Greg Cohen - bass
Joe Banadio - drums,percussion
Clifford Carter - keyboards.
SOURCE:
SOMETHING ELSE!
You don't see me cover a lot of jazz vocalist or smooth jazz records, so you may wonder what is up with this piece about a record from smooth jazz's premier vocalist, Michael Franks? When I informed our own Mark Saleski my intention to cover Franks his reaction was to disgusted “ewwwww!" but that didn't faze me one bit. I've already long ago admitted that Franks' music was a guilty pleasure of mine, so it's not like I'm going to back down, now.
I guess the appeal is due in part to the fact that I've I go back a long ways with Mr. Franks. First catching the Art Of Tea tune “Mr. Blue" on a college radio around 1980, the soft crooning of clever lyrics mated to above-par sideman work got me hooked. With his tales of whirlwind, wit-filled romances usually at some of the world's most exotic getaway destinations, Franks could be thought of as crossover jazz's own Jimmy Buffet. But with his unhurried, breathy delivery, I find him to be more like a modern-day Chet Baker (Baker the vocalist, not when he's playing trumpet). By the middle of the '80s, he became a favorite among the college set who found R.E.M. too harsh, and he was even a semi-fixture on VH-1. The music also got more pop-oriented and, I dare say, louder. As the 90s wore on, he slowed down his pace and the tempo of music. Time Together is his first one since Rendezvous in Rio five years ago.
Time finds Franks still decelerating, with production even lighter than Rio even though five different producers were used on this record. Perhaps ironically, he's slowed down to the gentle tempos of his 70s music, but with arrangements about as lean and feathery as its ever been...and a better fit for him, I might add. Franks doesn't resort to the sly double-entendre's or outright silliness of “Popsicle Toes" or “Baseball," but many other hallmarks of his classic style are firmly in place. He still writes all the songs, and keeps to romantic/escapist themes and even on the one serious-minded song, “Charlie Chan In Egypt," he avoids the heavy-handed lectures, always finding a way to make his message easier to accept.
The breezy, Brazilian feel found on pretty much every album since 1977's Sleeping Gypsy pervades this one, too. So are the references to the straight jazzers or Brazilian jazzers—on this album, he's named checked Ahmad Jamal, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Astrud Gilberto—even when the music is often only tangentially jazz. Other times, he does cross right into piano bar chanteuse territory ("One Day In St. Tropez," “Charlie Chan," “My Hear Said Wow"), something he's quite comfortable doing, with all-acoustic (or nearly so) instrumentation.
Session player obsessives can always find plenty of top drawer names credited on a Michael Franks album and this one is no exception. There's a nice mix of old-school studio hands (Jerry Marotta, Gil Goldstein, David Spinozza, Will Lee, Mike Mainieri) with the next generation (Eric Marienthal, Tim Lefebvre, Till Brönner). Chuck Loeb, probably the current generation's Larry Carlton (and, naturally, Carlton's replacement on that smooth jazz supergroup Fourplay), makes the biggest footprint with contributions on five of the eleven tracks and producing four of them. Whenever he's around, the songs sound more contemporary and polished, but thankfully, he took care not to push it too far into generic snooze jazz. The opener “Now That The Summer's Here" (video above) is the best of Loeb-produced tracks, the synths staying safely in the back, Franks voice up front, and Loeb's damned tasty guitar licks providing most of the best accents.
Pianist Goldstein's production kept things stripped nearly bare, preferring a piano/acoustic guitar/bass/percussion formats. Bassist Scott Petito produced the charming “Mice," well played by him, Marotta on drums, Spinozza on guitar and Mainieri on vibraphone, a real throwback to the vintage Franks. Keyboard player Charles Blenzig was behind the boards for the best of the “straight" jazz cuts, “Charlie Chan In Egypt," with a premier rhythm section of Jay Anderson (bass) and Billy Kilson (drums). Original Pat Metheny Group bassist Mark Egan produced the final track “Feathers From An Angel's Wing," playing both a lead fretless bass and a conventional fretted bass, and giving Frank's ethereal melody an appropriately delicate treatment.
A mellow voice and mellow music, Time Together requires a relaxed, content mood to fully enjoy. But isn't that the mood we wish to be in, anyway? Maybe this is the real reason for my strange attraction to the music of Michael Franks; he's always exuding that chilled-out state of mind. I wanna be that way all the time, too.
SOMETHING ELSE!
You don't see me cover a lot of jazz vocalist or smooth jazz records, so you may wonder what is up with this piece about a record from smooth jazz's premier vocalist, Michael Franks? When I informed our own Mark Saleski my intention to cover Franks his reaction was to disgusted “ewwwww!" but that didn't faze me one bit. I've already long ago admitted that Franks' music was a guilty pleasure of mine, so it's not like I'm going to back down, now.
I guess the appeal is due in part to the fact that I've I go back a long ways with Mr. Franks. First catching the Art Of Tea tune “Mr. Blue" on a college radio around 1980, the soft crooning of clever lyrics mated to above-par sideman work got me hooked. With his tales of whirlwind, wit-filled romances usually at some of the world's most exotic getaway destinations, Franks could be thought of as crossover jazz's own Jimmy Buffet. But with his unhurried, breathy delivery, I find him to be more like a modern-day Chet Baker (Baker the vocalist, not when he's playing trumpet). By the middle of the '80s, he became a favorite among the college set who found R.E.M. too harsh, and he was even a semi-fixture on VH-1. The music also got more pop-oriented and, I dare say, louder. As the 90s wore on, he slowed down his pace and the tempo of music. Time Together is his first one since Rendezvous in Rio five years ago.
Time finds Franks still decelerating, with production even lighter than Rio even though five different producers were used on this record. Perhaps ironically, he's slowed down to the gentle tempos of his 70s music, but with arrangements about as lean and feathery as its ever been...and a better fit for him, I might add. Franks doesn't resort to the sly double-entendre's or outright silliness of “Popsicle Toes" or “Baseball," but many other hallmarks of his classic style are firmly in place. He still writes all the songs, and keeps to romantic/escapist themes and even on the one serious-minded song, “Charlie Chan In Egypt," he avoids the heavy-handed lectures, always finding a way to make his message easier to accept.
The breezy, Brazilian feel found on pretty much every album since 1977's Sleeping Gypsy pervades this one, too. So are the references to the straight jazzers or Brazilian jazzers—on this album, he's named checked Ahmad Jamal, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Astrud Gilberto—even when the music is often only tangentially jazz. Other times, he does cross right into piano bar chanteuse territory ("One Day In St. Tropez," “Charlie Chan," “My Hear Said Wow"), something he's quite comfortable doing, with all-acoustic (or nearly so) instrumentation.
Session player obsessives can always find plenty of top drawer names credited on a Michael Franks album and this one is no exception. There's a nice mix of old-school studio hands (Jerry Marotta, Gil Goldstein, David Spinozza, Will Lee, Mike Mainieri) with the next generation (Eric Marienthal, Tim Lefebvre, Till Brönner). Chuck Loeb, probably the current generation's Larry Carlton (and, naturally, Carlton's replacement on that smooth jazz supergroup Fourplay), makes the biggest footprint with contributions on five of the eleven tracks and producing four of them. Whenever he's around, the songs sound more contemporary and polished, but thankfully, he took care not to push it too far into generic snooze jazz. The opener “Now That The Summer's Here" (video above) is the best of Loeb-produced tracks, the synths staying safely in the back, Franks voice up front, and Loeb's damned tasty guitar licks providing most of the best accents.
Pianist Goldstein's production kept things stripped nearly bare, preferring a piano/acoustic guitar/bass/percussion formats. Bassist Scott Petito produced the charming “Mice," well played by him, Marotta on drums, Spinozza on guitar and Mainieri on vibraphone, a real throwback to the vintage Franks. Keyboard player Charles Blenzig was behind the boards for the best of the “straight" jazz cuts, “Charlie Chan In Egypt," with a premier rhythm section of Jay Anderson (bass) and Billy Kilson (drums). Original Pat Metheny Group bassist Mark Egan produced the final track “Feathers From An Angel's Wing," playing both a lead fretless bass and a conventional fretted bass, and giving Frank's ethereal melody an appropriately delicate treatment.
A mellow voice and mellow music, Time Together requires a relaxed, content mood to fully enjoy. But isn't that the mood we wish to be in, anyway? Maybe this is the real reason for my strange attraction to the music of Michael Franks; he's always exuding that chilled-out state of mind. I wanna be that way all the time, too.
The Crusaders - Southern Comfort (1974)
01.Stomp and Buck Dance
02.Greasy Spoon
03.Get On the Soul Ship
04.Super Stuff
05.Double Bubble
06.The Well's Gone Dry
07.Southern Comfort
08.Time Bomb
09.When There's Love Around
10.Lilies of the Nile
11.Whispering Pines
12.A Ballad for Joe (Louis).
Wayne Henderson - Trombone
Wilton Felder - Saxophone
Joe Sample - Keyboards
Nesbert "Stix" Hooper - Drums.
Review
by Jason Elias
The follow-up to 1973's Unsung Heroes was the first of the group's Blue Thumb efforts to be distributed by ABC Records. The label switch also coincided with the inclusion of lyrical guitarist Larry Carlton as a full-fledged member. Although much of Southern Comfort puts a gloss on ideas made definitive on earlier efforts, the complaints are minimal and this remains the most appealing, multi-faceted incarnation of the band. The first track, "Stomp and Buck Dance," is an offhanded and skilled approach to the group's patently earthy style. The insistent "The Well's Gone Dry" has the edginess of some of the better tracks on Unsung Heroes, and has Carlton doing great work on the bridge. Not surprisingly, it is Carlton's presence here that adjusts the band chemistry and makes the best of Southern Comfort even more so. The best track here, the poignant "When There's Love Around," has Carlton's guitar attaining the perfect sense of longing that meshes well with Joe Sample's trademark Fender Rhodes tones. The last tracks here are also in a thoughtful ballad vein: "Lilies of the Nile" has great horn work from Wilton Felder and Wayne Henderson, and the last track, "A Ballad for Joe (Louis)," is a heartfelt rumination on the death of the famed boxer, featuring Sample's inherent sense of melody. A good representation of the Crusaders' tasteful and intelligent playing, Southern Comfort is more than recommended to their fans.
by Jason Elias
The follow-up to 1973's Unsung Heroes was the first of the group's Blue Thumb efforts to be distributed by ABC Records. The label switch also coincided with the inclusion of lyrical guitarist Larry Carlton as a full-fledged member. Although much of Southern Comfort puts a gloss on ideas made definitive on earlier efforts, the complaints are minimal and this remains the most appealing, multi-faceted incarnation of the band. The first track, "Stomp and Buck Dance," is an offhanded and skilled approach to the group's patently earthy style. The insistent "The Well's Gone Dry" has the edginess of some of the better tracks on Unsung Heroes, and has Carlton doing great work on the bridge. Not surprisingly, it is Carlton's presence here that adjusts the band chemistry and makes the best of Southern Comfort even more so. The best track here, the poignant "When There's Love Around," has Carlton's guitar attaining the perfect sense of longing that meshes well with Joe Sample's trademark Fender Rhodes tones. The last tracks here are also in a thoughtful ballad vein: "Lilies of the Nile" has great horn work from Wilton Felder and Wayne Henderson, and the last track, "A Ballad for Joe (Louis)," is a heartfelt rumination on the death of the famed boxer, featuring Sample's inherent sense of melody. A good representation of the Crusaders' tasteful and intelligent playing, Southern Comfort is more than recommended to their fans.
Akiko Tsuruga - Oriental Express (2009)
01.J's Groove 04:25
02.Oriental Express 04:25
03.Teach Me Tonight 04:06
04.Frim Fram Sauce 04:55
05.Take It Easy 05:48
06.Bright Eyes 03:48
07.Killing Me Softly With His Song 05:26
08.Magic E 05:43
09.Closer I Get To You 03:20
10.Dreamsville 04:30
11.Sidewinder 06:19.
Wilson 'Chembo' Corniel - Percussion (tracks 1,5,7,9,11)
Eric Johnson - Guitar
Rudy Petschauer - Drums
Akiko Tsuruga - Hammond B-3
Jerry Weldon - Tenor sax (tracks 1,4,7,8,10).
Recording information: Showpalce Studio, Dover, NJ (04/28/2008-04/29/2008).
With her third release as a leader, Japanese-born jazz organist Akiko Tsuruga demonstrates her growth as a player, having distilled the essence of many of the giants of the instrument, including Jimmy Smith, Charles Earland, Mel Rhyne, Brother Jack McDuff and others. One of relatively few women who has gained exposure playing jazz organ, Tsuruga shows a surprising maturity at the instrument, using a wide variety of dynamics, while her adventurous spirit shows in her improvising and choice of rhythms. Two of her sidemen on these sessions, tenor saxophonist Jerry Weldon and drummer Rudy Perschauer, were members of McDuff's final band and their presence no doubt stimulated the young organist. Also making important contributions are guitarist Eric Johnson and percussionist Wilson Chembo Corniel, both of whom appeared on her previous 18th & Vine CD SWEET AND FUNKY. Her breezy setting of "The Frim Fram Sauce" (a hit for pianist Nat King Cole during the 1940s) and funky Latin setting of Lee Morgan's "Sidewinder" are highlights. She's equally adept handling standards like "Teach Me Tonight" and Henry Mancini's lush ballad "Dreamsville," both of which prominently feature Johnson.
Akiko Tsuruga's second release on 18th & Vine couldn't be more perfectly named. Oriental Express transports the listener on an exciting journey through soul-jazz, R&B, jazz standards and originals.
Masterful B3 style that appeals to fans of Shirley Scott, Jack McDuff, Big John Patton, Dr. Lonnie Smith & Brother Jack McDuff and Jimmy Smith. Regularly performs as a key member of the Lou Donaldson Quartet. Also performs with the Jackson Brothers, Jerry Weldon Trio, and Madam Pat Tandy Group.
Featured in DownBeat's 56th Annual Critics poll as "Rising Star Organ." Author of jazz instructional book Hammond Organ Complete (Berklee Press). First jazz organist to receive the "New Star Award" by Swing Journal. Previous 18th & Vine release named Best CD of 2007 by DownBeat, and reached # 13 on the jazz radio charts.
"Akiko Tsuruga, a New Yorker who relocated there six years ago from Osaka, Japan, uses powerhouse chops, good taste, and impeccable sense of swing and extra large ears to remind us of everything we always loves about the organ-trio tradition." - DownBeat.
"Wow! New York based Hammond B3 organist and pianist Akiko Tsuruga's latest CD, Sweet and Funky, is as the kids used to say 'the bomb' ! Tsuruga has too much funkiness in her to settle for playing just a 'good' solo. Her lines pile on top of each other with the force of a tsunami until the energy has been ratcheted up to tidal wave proportions." - JazzReview.
"Akiko Tsuruga ranks as one of the top organists around today." - Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.
Akiko Tsuruga's second release on 18th & Vine couldn't be more perfectly named. Oriental Express transports the listener on an exciting journey through soul-jazz, R&B, jazz standards and originals.
Masterful B3 style that appeals to fans of Shirley Scott, Jack McDuff, Big John Patton, Dr. Lonnie Smith & Brother Jack McDuff and Jimmy Smith. Regularly performs as a key member of the Lou Donaldson Quartet. Also performs with the Jackson Brothers, Jerry Weldon Trio, and Madam Pat Tandy Group.
Featured in DownBeat's 56th Annual Critics poll as "Rising Star Organ." Author of jazz instructional book Hammond Organ Complete (Berklee Press). First jazz organist to receive the "New Star Award" by Swing Journal. Previous 18th & Vine release named Best CD of 2007 by DownBeat, and reached # 13 on the jazz radio charts.
"Akiko Tsuruga, a New Yorker who relocated there six years ago from Osaka, Japan, uses powerhouse chops, good taste, and impeccable sense of swing and extra large ears to remind us of everything we always loves about the organ-trio tradition." - DownBeat.
"Wow! New York based Hammond B3 organist and pianist Akiko Tsuruga's latest CD, Sweet and Funky, is as the kids used to say 'the bomb' ! Tsuruga has too much funkiness in her to settle for playing just a 'good' solo. Her lines pile on top of each other with the force of a tsunami until the energy has been ratcheted up to tidal wave proportions." - JazzReview.
"Akiko Tsuruga ranks as one of the top organists around today." - Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.
Ray Mantilla with Bobby Watson - Dark Powers (1988)
01.Dark Powers
02.Catch Me If You Can
03.Dialogue
04.Curveball
05.The Things You Do
06.Hostage
07.Rostro de Ti.
Ray Mantilla-Percussion
Bobby Watson-Sax (Alto)
Eddie Martinez-Piano
Viven Ara Martinez-Vocals
Dick Oatts-Flute, Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor)
Rubén Rodríguez-Bass
Steve Berrios-Percussion, Drums.
Recording information: Sound Ideas Studios, New York, NY (02/26/1988).
Recording information: Sound Ideas Studios, New York, NY (02/26/1988).
Ray Mantilla nació en 1934 en el ritmo rico, baile loco ambiente del Sur del Bronx donde rítmica afro-cubana con el jazz formas transmutó armonías y sensibilidades en las calles, los hogares y salas de baile. Por 21, Mantilla fue en el escenario tocando los tambores de conga contemporáneos junto con Eddie Palmieri y Ray Barretto, que el único juego de Neo-síntesis Nuyorican conocida como 'salsa'
Con el flautista Herbie Mann, Ray Mantilla entró en la atención internacional en 1960. Luego, Max Roach le invitó a ser parte del clásico "Libertad Ahora Suite" la grabación. Después de una temporada en Puerto Rico, donde perfeccionó sus habilidades en la trampa tendida, Ray regresó a los Estados a encontrarse de gira a nivel nacional y en Europa y Japón, con Art Blakey y los Jazz Messengers. Para los siete años Ray se ha ocupado con su Blakey fuera de horas de trabajo haciendo trabajo de estudio durante la grabación y la realización de casi todas las principales figura en el jazz incluyendo cantantes Eartha Kitt y Josephine Baker.
En 1977, Ray Mantilla se convirtió en el primer músico de América del Norte América para jugar en Cuba desde la revolución cubana cuando él apareció allí como un miembro histórico de la buena voluntad dirigida por Dizzy Gillespie.
Ray Mantilla ha incluido la carrera de composición en muchos legendarios Jazz y Latin Jazz conjuntos. Una breve lista de créditos incluye la Mantilla, Max Roach, Charles Mingus, Ray Barretto, Gato Barbieri, Sonny Stitt, Bobby Watson, Herbie Mann, Tito Puente, Cedar Walton, y Freddie Hubbard. Prolífico en el estudio, Mantilla se pueden escuchar en más de 200 álbumes. Él ha aparecido en los principales clubes de la ciudad de Nueva York - Apollo Theater, Palladium, Blue Note, SOB's, Birdland, Grasa del martes, la aldea Puerta y el Village Vanguard, además de muchos de los principales festivales internacionales de jazz como San Remo, la Pori Jazz Festival, JVC Jazz Festival, Festival de Jazz de Montreaux y el Gran Desfile de Jazz.
Ray Mantilla describe su música como "Latin Jazz con ritmos latinos auténticos". Su objetivo, dice "es seguir jugando a la buena música, las personas han venido a vernos, y para preservar la tradición." En 2003 firmó con Ray Mantilla Savant Records y su primer disco para el sello, "El hombre-Ti-Ya" fue puesto en libertad (SCD 2059). Su más reciente grabación, "Buenas vibraciones" (SCD 2073) añade el sonido único de Mike Freeman vibraciones a su conjunto.
********************
Ray Mantilla was born in 1934 in the rich rhythm, dance crazy environment of the South Bronx where Afro-Cuban rhythm with jazz harmonies and sensibilities transmuted forms in the streets, homes and dance halls. For 21, Mantilla was on stage playing modern conga drums with Eddie Palmieri and Ray Barretto, the only game of Neo-Nuyorican synthesis known as 'salsa'
With flutist Herbie Mann, Ray Mantilla entered the international spotlight in 1960. Then, Max Roach invited to be part of the classic "Freedom Now Suite" recording. After a stint in Puerto Rico, where he honed his skills in the trap, Ray returned to the States to be on tour nationally and in Europe and Japan with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. For seven years Ray has been busy with his Blakey outside working hours doing studio work during recording and performing almost every major figure in jazz singers including Eartha Kitt and Josephine Baker.
In 1977, Ray Mantilla became the first musician from North America to play in Cuba since the Cuban revolution when he appeared there as a historical member of the goodwill led by Dizzy Gillespie.
Ray Mantilla's career has included many legendary jazz composition and Latin Jazz ensembles. A brief list of credits includes Mantilla, Max Roach, Charles Mingus, Ray Barretto, Gato Barbieri, Sonny Stitt, Bobby Watson, Herbie Mann, Tito Puente, Cedar Walton, and Freddie Hubbard. Prolific in the studio, Mantilla can be heard on over 200 albums. He has appeared in major clubs in the city of New York - Apollo Theater, Palladium, Blue Note, SOB's, Birdland, Fat Tuesday, the Village Gate and the Village Vanguard, and many of the major international jazz festivals such as San Remo, the Pori Jazz Festival, JVC Jazz Festival, Montreaux Jazz Festival and the Grand Parade of Jazz.
Ray Mantilla describes her music as "Latin Jazz with authentic Latin rhythms." His goal, he says "is to keep playing good music, people have come to see us, and to preserve the tradition." In 2003 he signed with Savant Records Ray Mantilla and his first album for the label, "Man-Ti-Ya" was released (SCD 2059). His most recent recording, "Good Vibrations" (SCD 2073) adds the unique sound of Mike Freeman vibrations as a whole.
Con el flautista Herbie Mann, Ray Mantilla entró en la atención internacional en 1960. Luego, Max Roach le invitó a ser parte del clásico "Libertad Ahora Suite" la grabación. Después de una temporada en Puerto Rico, donde perfeccionó sus habilidades en la trampa tendida, Ray regresó a los Estados a encontrarse de gira a nivel nacional y en Europa y Japón, con Art Blakey y los Jazz Messengers. Para los siete años Ray se ha ocupado con su Blakey fuera de horas de trabajo haciendo trabajo de estudio durante la grabación y la realización de casi todas las principales figura en el jazz incluyendo cantantes Eartha Kitt y Josephine Baker.
En 1977, Ray Mantilla se convirtió en el primer músico de América del Norte América para jugar en Cuba desde la revolución cubana cuando él apareció allí como un miembro histórico de la buena voluntad dirigida por Dizzy Gillespie.
Ray Mantilla ha incluido la carrera de composición en muchos legendarios Jazz y Latin Jazz conjuntos. Una breve lista de créditos incluye la Mantilla, Max Roach, Charles Mingus, Ray Barretto, Gato Barbieri, Sonny Stitt, Bobby Watson, Herbie Mann, Tito Puente, Cedar Walton, y Freddie Hubbard. Prolífico en el estudio, Mantilla se pueden escuchar en más de 200 álbumes. Él ha aparecido en los principales clubes de la ciudad de Nueva York - Apollo Theater, Palladium, Blue Note, SOB's, Birdland, Grasa del martes, la aldea Puerta y el Village Vanguard, además de muchos de los principales festivales internacionales de jazz como San Remo, la Pori Jazz Festival, JVC Jazz Festival, Festival de Jazz de Montreaux y el Gran Desfile de Jazz.
Ray Mantilla describe su música como "Latin Jazz con ritmos latinos auténticos". Su objetivo, dice "es seguir jugando a la buena música, las personas han venido a vernos, y para preservar la tradición." En 2003 firmó con Ray Mantilla Savant Records y su primer disco para el sello, "El hombre-Ti-Ya" fue puesto en libertad (SCD 2059). Su más reciente grabación, "Buenas vibraciones" (SCD 2073) añade el sonido único de Mike Freeman vibraciones a su conjunto.
********************
Ray Mantilla was born in 1934 in the rich rhythm, dance crazy environment of the South Bronx where Afro-Cuban rhythm with jazz harmonies and sensibilities transmuted forms in the streets, homes and dance halls. For 21, Mantilla was on stage playing modern conga drums with Eddie Palmieri and Ray Barretto, the only game of Neo-Nuyorican synthesis known as 'salsa'
With flutist Herbie Mann, Ray Mantilla entered the international spotlight in 1960. Then, Max Roach invited to be part of the classic "Freedom Now Suite" recording. After a stint in Puerto Rico, where he honed his skills in the trap, Ray returned to the States to be on tour nationally and in Europe and Japan with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. For seven years Ray has been busy with his Blakey outside working hours doing studio work during recording and performing almost every major figure in jazz singers including Eartha Kitt and Josephine Baker.
In 1977, Ray Mantilla became the first musician from North America to play in Cuba since the Cuban revolution when he appeared there as a historical member of the goodwill led by Dizzy Gillespie.
Ray Mantilla's career has included many legendary jazz composition and Latin Jazz ensembles. A brief list of credits includes Mantilla, Max Roach, Charles Mingus, Ray Barretto, Gato Barbieri, Sonny Stitt, Bobby Watson, Herbie Mann, Tito Puente, Cedar Walton, and Freddie Hubbard. Prolific in the studio, Mantilla can be heard on over 200 albums. He has appeared in major clubs in the city of New York - Apollo Theater, Palladium, Blue Note, SOB's, Birdland, Fat Tuesday, the Village Gate and the Village Vanguard, and many of the major international jazz festivals such as San Remo, the Pori Jazz Festival, JVC Jazz Festival, Montreaux Jazz Festival and the Grand Parade of Jazz.
Ray Mantilla describes her music as "Latin Jazz with authentic Latin rhythms." His goal, he says "is to keep playing good music, people have come to see us, and to preserve the tradition." In 2003 he signed with Savant Records Ray Mantilla and his first album for the label, "Man-Ti-Ya" was released (SCD 2059). His most recent recording, "Good Vibrations" (SCD 2073) adds the unique sound of Mike Freeman vibrations as a whole.
Reuben Wilson - On Broadway (1968)
01.On Broadway 8:10
02.Baby I Love You 5:28
03.Ain't That Peculiar 6:42
04.Ronnie's Bonnie 9:48
05.Poinciana 9:10.
02.Baby I Love You 5:28
03.Ain't That Peculiar 6:42
04.Ronnie's Bonnie 9:48
05.Poinciana 9:10.
Drums – Tommy Derrick
Guitar – Malcolm Riddick
Organ – Reuben Wilson
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Trevor Lawrence.
Reuben Wilson's debut album for Blue Note.
Review
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
On Broadway, Reuben Wilson's debut for Blue Note, is a little undistinguished, but it remains an enjoyable exercise in late-'60s soul-jazz. Like many of his peers on Blue Note, Wilson's soul-jazz displayed a familiarity with contemporary soul and R&B styles. Not only does he cover R&B hits like "On Broadway," "Baby I Love You" and "Ain't That Peculiar," but the interplay between Wilson, guitarist Malcolm Riddick and Tommy Derrick occasionally recalls Stax, Motown and uptown soul. The combo, which also features tenor saxophonist Trevor Lawrence, remains rooted in jazz, with the organist demonstrating a Jimmy Smith influence, but the jazz feeling is tempered by a desire to work a groove instead of improvising or attempting to reach new sonic territory. And On Broadway is a successful groove record, but in comparison to the two albums that followed, it's a little uneven.
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
On Broadway, Reuben Wilson's debut for Blue Note, is a little undistinguished, but it remains an enjoyable exercise in late-'60s soul-jazz. Like many of his peers on Blue Note, Wilson's soul-jazz displayed a familiarity with contemporary soul and R&B styles. Not only does he cover R&B hits like "On Broadway," "Baby I Love You" and "Ain't That Peculiar," but the interplay between Wilson, guitarist Malcolm Riddick and Tommy Derrick occasionally recalls Stax, Motown and uptown soul. The combo, which also features tenor saxophonist Trevor Lawrence, remains rooted in jazz, with the organist demonstrating a Jimmy Smith influence, but the jazz feeling is tempered by a desire to work a groove instead of improvising or attempting to reach new sonic territory. And On Broadway is a successful groove record, but in comparison to the two albums that followed, it's a little uneven.
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