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ARBORS JAZZ
AARON WEINSTEIN-JOHN PIZZARELLI/Blue Too: A great fiddle/guitar duet in the hands of a legacy that’s proved his own and a young lion that’s proving his own. The two of them fill the whole sound on their own. With a set card aimed at older jazzbos, there’s nothing on here that requires you to be a moldy fig to like it. Tasty throughout, this is exactly the kind of set you pull out and turn your friend onto when you all need something that just provides a break from where ever it is you need a break from. Hot stuff.
SCOTT ROBINSON PLAYS THAD JONES/Forever Lasting: Jones labored solidly in the vineyards his whole career, and even though he’s one of the greats, you don’t think of him much today in the same breath as the veritable Mount Rushmore faces of jazz. This set keeps the memory alive and rights any old wrongs. Leading a crew that loves the music and knows it well, Robinson has a great multi wind attack to memorialize the great blower and gives this the bold, brassy power it deserves. Solid stuff and a must hear for straight ahead jazzbos.
COLLECTORS CHOICE
NAT KING COLE/10TH Anniversary; A Mis Amigos; The Very Thought of You; This Is; To Whom it May Concern; Unforgettable; Top Pops; Everytime I Feel the Spirit; L-O-V-E; Sings My Fair Lady; Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer; Wild Is Love: The first batch of Cole reissues from Collectors Choice was a hands down batch of undisputable winners. These 12 albums are no less substantial but they are actually somewhat controversial with Cole fans. He ended his career with some signature pop hits that were all his as opposed to covers like on his earlier work. Purists kind of look down their noses at his pop hits, and it seems without good reason. Hell, who doesn’t like “Lazy Hazy Crazy Days” and “L-O-V-E”? From there you get a gospel album that was a real passion for him as it really went to his roots, some Broadway interpretations that were staple in the 50s, another Latin album, a singles collection and other cool stuff for people that want the real deal. A true American original and classic, a well rounded Cole library seems like a must for any real music fan. Once again, it was really tough looking at the Bear Family Cole collections that were 40% off when Tower was going out of business and passing them by hoping they and you would be there at the same time when the next mark down rolled around and these individually available titles are a wonder for the fan that wants to pick and choose. If you can afford the down stroke all at once, the only discernment you should have to make is whether to eat Ramen that night or not. Overall, indispensable American pop that is in a class with Sinatra et al. This is a load of great songs done right sure to sound great forever.
ZEPHER/Sunset Ride: One of those albums that should have happened by didn’t. Jock Bartley stepped in to replace Tommy Bolin as his stop before Firefall and Candy Givens was in top form on her way to obscurity. Bartley turned the blues to jazz and fired up some serious guitar work. If you were a die hard fan, this is a must have find; if you weren’t, this is one of those tasty morsels you’re glad to see escape from the vaults. A nice showcase by some young pros that were on their way to where.
PERSUADERS/Thin Line Between Love and Hate-Persuaders: The first two albums from this early 70’s Harlem vocal group show that when you come out of the box too strong, there’s almost no place to go. “Thin Line” has to be one of the great soul songs of the era and it’s finally gotten the due it deserves on cd. The crew looks cleaned up but you can still hear and feel the Harlem street grit they were trying so hard to get away from. Damn fine soul from the angry era that still pops like nobodies business.
Volume 31/Number 126
March 5, 2008
MIDWEST RECORD
830 W. Route 22 #144
Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
©2008 Midwest Record
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