Saturday, June 28, 2008

Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson - Blue Guitars Vols I & II




Two great guitarists, the first man to transform the guitar into a jazz solo instrument, Eddie Lang (1902 - 1933) whose influence over generations of guitarists cannot be overstated meets jazz/blues legend Lonnie Johnson in this set of virtuoso recordings -- timeless and priceless...

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Ivan “Boogaloo Joe” Jones - Mindbender/My Fire (1968)



Ladies and gentlemen, pls meet Mr Ivan "Boogaloo Joe" Jones, the king of acid jazz guitar for my money - with Harold Mabern on piano and Ron Carter on bass.

Milt Jackson / Ray Brown Jam - Montreux '77



An unstoppable swinging affair organized by famous producer Norman Granz who took his Jazz At The Philharmonic troupe across the Atlantic in Montreux, Switzerland to give us this gem. With Mess Milt Jackson on vibes, Ray Brown on bass, Clark Terry on trumpet, Monty Alexander on piano and Jimmie Smith on drums.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Joe Zawinul - Faces & Places (2002)



Joe Zawinul, at the age of 70, has brought forth an album that continues to celebrate his endless delight in exploring music from around the world.

Faces & Places mixes vocalists and instrumentalists with daring grace. “Rooftops of Vienna” is a wistful ode that’s tinged with the sweetly sad backward glances of a man growing older and finding his boyhood home darting through his dreams. It uses singers as part of the musical stew, rather than as a narrative component. With its blend of exotic acoustic instruments and contemporary electronics, this set is very much in keeping with the direction of Weather Report from the time of Black Market and beyond.



Sunday, June 22, 2008

Joe Zawinul + The Zawinul Syndicate: World Tour 1997



Another tribute to this giant of contemporary music who played world music some decades before the term was even coined. An amazing and truly international band, featuring the talents of some of the world's greatest musicians in the likes of Paco Sery, Manolo Badrena, Victor Bailey, Richard Bona et al. The music is beautiful, uplifting and transcendental at times, definitely not for the faint of heart.