04/19/08
GO MEDIA
ALBUQUERQUE-AMORIM-BARATA/Revolving Landscapes: Killer Brazilian guitarist forms a new trio with some of the genre’s hitters and delivers a first class, new sound that really opens your ears. The players have known each other for a while and something was taking root while they weren’t working together to make this gel in such a sprightly way. Easily a tasty international jazz set that open eared world beaters will love.
1036 (Adventure Music)
HEAD’S UP
ESPERANZA SPALDING: Spalding is the latest in a long but rare line of jazz bass players that have a whole lot more on the ball the just keeping time and thumping in rhythm. Easily a triple threat, Spalding serves up a full musical palette that certainly puts her in the ranks of any total musician that knows how to really grab you. You can’t compare her to Victor Wooten, but she’s the first bass player to grab us in the same kind of visceral way. A player to keep an eye on, this youngster is a young lion with nothing to prove and bark that in no way tips off how deep she can bite. Check it out.
3140
YELLOWJACKETS featuring Mike Stern/Life Cycle: Seriously, who cares that Yellowjackets haven’t had a guitarist on one of their sets in 15 years? If Robben Ford left the group last week it would still be news that Mike Stern is grabbing the guitar chair to light some sparks in each camp. With a new energy on both sides, this is the sound of someone lighting a new fuse under fusion. Every byte of the way shows you a hot, tasty date that peels back the years in all of us. Of course, uninitiated youngsters will just groove to the fire on board. Hot stuff.
3139
KARI ON PRODUCTIONS
KENNY CARR/Changing Tide: A Ray Charles sideman for 10 years, Carr hooks up with some old pals from the old neighborhood who are now downtown darlings and lets the sparks fly on a date that’s loaded with music he wants to play instead of licks he wants to play in support of the cause. A nice solid straight ahead jazz entry, this is the pure work of a bunch of smart players that love to play. Easily a set you should get to know, jazz guitar is in good hands here.
4225 (TAS)
DAVID THORNE SCOTT/Dyad: Low key date that’s a lot of fun with a piano and a voice and a whole lot of chops from each. A solid addition to the world of male jazz singers, this set and these players just step up and work it. Fun date that has all the right stuff.
3 (DTS)
Volume 31/Number 171
April 19, 2008
MIDWEST RECORD
830 W. Route 22 #144
Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
©2008 Midwest Record