05/03/08
JAZZ PROMO SERVICES
MICHAEL JEFRY STEVENS QUARTET/For the Children: If you think we aren’t moving too fast these days, think about how something from 13 years ago is now part of a label’s classic series. Downtown fave Stevens gets a look over his shoulder at a direct to DAT outing that finds him rubbing elbows with other downtown pals that have moved front and center as well in the ensuing years. A tasty workout from the downtown crew’s back pages, here’s a taste of what was for those that missed it the first time out.
1202 (Cadence)
LISA REEDY PROMOTIONS
PASCAL BOKAR/Savanna Jazz Club: Snazzy genre buster of a jazz guitarist unabashedly mixes up whatever he feels like into a stew and cooks it until it sounds good. With a gumbo of African world beat, bebop, straight ahead jazz and a few things that probably slid past us, Bokar and his pals offer up that elusive something different and make it all work whether tackling originals or Charlie Parker. A fun tour de force for left leaning contemporary jazzbos.
3000 (SJR)
www.mtkontanis-music.com
MAVROTHI KONTANIS/Sto Kafesli Sokaki; Ksylini Kardia: When we first met John Bilezikjian, he was the first and last word in oud playing and the hardest working man in show business this side of the other JB. Kontanis brings a heavy Greek ethnic side to oud and makes it sound like opium den bellydance music even though it’s deep, ethnically rooted music based in upheavals related to the community around World War I. He presents it in such a way that you don’t realize this is a pair of historically significant interpretations. Not gunning for JB’s crown but positioning himself to be there if the top gun spot opens up, this is some ear opening stuff. Very simple in it’s production and presentation, world beat ears will find it all something new even if Greek ethnic music fans might have this imprinted on their DNA. Check them out.
DVD SUPPLEMENT
PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO
DRAWN TOGETHER uncensored season three: One of the most whacked out cartoon shows winds up it’s run in grand fashion as this vamp on reality shows takes things to the illogical, over the top end you would love to see real reality shows take. Totally on the money for aggressively left leaning tastes, all the characters here go completely nuts and you can’t help but laugh in spite of yourself. A full on laugh riot that you can grab onto pretty quickly even if you missed out on the first two seasons. Prepare to bust a gut if you watch this all in one sitting.
85337
Volume 31/Number 185
May 3, 2008
MIDWEST RECORD
830 W. Route 22 #144
Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
©2008 Midwest Record