Edgy and inspiring, cerebral and hip, this brilliant music from jazz fusionists Azure sounds as purposely constructed as a symphony piece.
Category: Jazz
First Steps: Grover Washington Jr. ‘Inner City Blues’ Album Review
The first soul-jazz album ever is one of the best, both for Grover Washington Jr.’s superb playing and the direction of famed producer Creed Taylor.
Nina Simone “I Put A Spell On You”
“I Put A Spell on You” – she sings the song Jalacy Hawkins wrote, not the one that Screaming Jay murdered.
Wes Montgomery ‘Movin’, The Complete Verve Recordings’ Album Review
Wes Montgomery practically invented jazz-pop, and had more swing in him than any other ten guitarists put together. This album set amply demonstrates how it all came to be and why Montgomery is considered a monster talent.
Gil Scott-Heron ‘The Revolution Begins – The Flying Dutchman Masters’ Album Review
Every current hip-hop artist should be listening to this material: ‘The Revolution Begins’ sets the bar far higher than any current performer dares to reach.
Live in Music City – Jimmie Smith plays Jimmy Smith
The Reverend Jimmie Smith publicly pays tribute to the late Jimmy Smith, one of his biggest influencers on the Hammond Organ, on his new album.
Nina Simone ‘At The Village Gate’
One of the greatest live recordings of all time, by the incomparable Nina Simone. She is, without any doubt, the one other great singers idolize.
The Bad Plus ‘The Rite of Spring’
This is a recording of exceptional merit that hits the jazz and classical scenes with all of the impact of its original notorious performance.
Essentials: The Ebene Quartet ‘Fiction’
There’s a brilliant new answer to the old question: can classical players swing, rock and let loose? The Ebene Quartet proves decisively that they can and with ‘ Fiction’ they created an irresistibly seductive listening experience.
Melody Gardot ‘Currency of Man’ Album Review
What distinguished Melody Gardot’s ‘Currency of Man’ both from her earlier outings is the beauty and power of the arrangements.