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MARK PUCCI MEDIA
NEW GUITAR SUMMIT/Shivers: Actually the second face off between these New England rockers that love jazz and Randy Bachman, this is what it sounds like when cats with nothing to prove just want to kick back and have fun, but want to do it right as well. Playing old jazz and hokum, these three cats know how to play and don’t feel a need to hide their light, even if there’s nothing at stake. A solid set if you want to have something that’s comfortable with flair in easy reach.
(Stony Plain)
RESONANCE
GENE HARRIS/Live in London: It’s really frustrating to be walking around Borders with a 40% off coupon and suddenly having a jones for some old Three Sounds albums only to find that you can’t even come up with a Phillip Morris Superband set. Nada, no Harris in Borders. Resonance must have been feeling my pain to come out with this 1996 live date right after that coupon boondoggle. Showing Harris in prime form, meaning a load of tracks where he gets to stretch out conformably and let his soul/jazz fly, this is a fine late look at the master at work before he left us. Certainly an example of the kind of set only a loving widow could sheppard to market successfully, the next time you’re hit with a pre-Butler era Bluenote jones, make your way over to the Harris bin and hope your retailer is as hip as you are. Don’t go thinking the unlimited shelf space of your fave e-tailer will help you if you wait, Amazon is currently sold out and waiting for more. By all means, check it out.
JOHN BEASLEY/Letter to Herbie: So what happens when a keyboard player for Miles Davis rounds up Chris McBride, Jeff Watts and Roy Hargrove to pay tribute to Herbie Hancock from before he got soft? What happens is you get a mother of a session, even if there are no nods to tent poles like “Watermelon Man” or “Rockit”. The kind of mind blowing date contemporary jazzbos are always on the lookout for, this set is also a sly tour de force of Beasley’s own talents as you can hear the echoes of the piano players that shaped him along the way as well. Certainly, a welcome ear opening set that can be enjoyed by all.
ANDREAS OBERG/My Favorite Guitars: A young guitar lion with a lot of miles under his belt already and looking for that break out, this set lets his fingers fly in all the amazing directions he can take them. Not locking itself into a sound, you get a nice range of the panoply of great sound Oberg can coax from the strings. If there is a focus here, it’s that he draws down on his Wes Montgomery influences and let’s that be a spiritual guide to the date. A solid bet for jazz guitar lovers.
MIKE GARSON/Conversations With My Family: A solid solo turn from the aging piano jazzbo that knows how to rock, ostensibly this is an introspective date but it’s just further proof he can play anything. A highly original session for those fearless enough to plunk down their money and let a real pro lead the way. A sure bet if you’re looking for something different that won’t let you down.
Volume 31/Number 228
June 15, 2008
MIDWEST RECORD
830 W. Route 22 #144
Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
©2008 Midwest Record
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