Posts by Doug Collette

Still in selected theatre runs, Todd Haynes' unorthodox biopic of Bob Dylan, I’m Not There, is a highly imaginative piece of work, perhaps too imaginative for its own good. A viewer somewhat knowledgeable with Dylan’s history, real or imagined, may be able to impose a sense of logic to the film, but someone only superficially familiar with the Bard’s life may see only a series of often surreal images with little or no continuity.

Charlie Hunter’s certainly been no stranger to the Green Mountains over the last few years, but he may never have enjoyed himself more than on his latest sojourn to Vermont.

Thirty-five years ago, Chick Corea and Gary Burton’s Crystal Silence began to unite the improvisational spirit of jazz with a classical formalism. The fruits of that collaboration continue with a sequel, The New Crystal Silence that is a logical extension of the original work of the duet, right down to its evocative cover art.

it’s not apparent by now, after eight official studio albums and the de rigueur double live set, Big Head Todd and the Monsters are not going to blow anyone away. But on the basis of the new All the Love You Need, they have learned how to avoid the pitfalls of the AOR subgenre in which they reside.

The first CD of the collaboration between Donna Jean Godchaux-Mackay and The Zen Tricksters is greater by far than the sum of its parts. Rather than merely an alliance of a former Grateful Dead vocalist and a once and future Grateful Dead cover band, Donna Jean & the Tricksters is a logical extension of the former's main influences and the band’s natural inclination to improvise.

Last Wednesday night The North Mississippi Allstars played like they had nothing to prove but a whole lot to say. In fact, this non-stop two-hour set suggested the trio is entering the prime of their collective career right now in the wake of their January studio release of Hernando.

Recorded comfortably in the Zebra Ranch studio operated by Luther's and brother Cody’s father Jim Dickinson, Hernando temporarily postponed the release of a documentary on NMAS. All Stars Front-man Luther Dickinson has recently joined the Black Crowes, appearing on their anticipated Warpaint release, making himself one of rock's most prolific guitarists.

Bob Marley & The Wailers’ Exodus has previously been afforded the Deluxe Edition treatment. With a previously-released two disc set including extra studio tracks and live recordings from the original release period of 1977, the real necessity of an ‘Anniversary Edition’ comes into question since this latest release adds no new music and only little except in terms of its packaging: a faux grain slip-sleeve and slightly more ornate jewel case.

Good humored, self-effacing and articulate in his music and personal demeanor, Jason Moran is one of the most challenging artists of contemporary jazz. The presentation of the concept piece co-authored with Alicia Hall Moran,  “Milestone,” on January 19th at the Flynn Mainstage wasn’t exactly a high-tech multimedia production but it was provocative nonetheless, underpinned by musicianship equally passionate and complex.

In keeping with its pre-release announcement, The North Mississippi Allstars new studio album Hernando gets off to an extremely powerful start. It’s to the credit of the self produced trio (in collaboration with Cody and Luther’s famous father Jim Dickinson) that the variety included on Hernando ultimately emphasizes the band’s forte.

David N. Meyer has such colorful characters to work with in his eloquent exhaustive biography of Gram Parsons, Twenty Thousand Roads becomes an uncanny reflection of his subject.

If you thought it extremely unlikely to see Grateful Dead merch being hawked during a public television fundraising campaign, as has happened in recent years, you probably never imagined something called “An Orchestral Tribute to The Music of The Grateful Dead.” But lo and behold here it is, in the form of Dead Symphony.

Medeski, Martin and Wood might seem one of the last viable prospects to share one of Levon Helm’s Rambles at his studio/barn in Woodstock. But it’s the joy of playing, far more than chosen musical style, the former Band drummer shares with these three contemporary jazz wizards.

The real stars of the early show this New Year’ weekend were the same as 2006 but at an even higher level. Bassist Victor Wooten and drummer Dave Weckl simply astound with the fluidity imagination and detail in their playing.

If U2’s The Joshua Tree did not represent such an artistic pinnacle for the Irish group, this Deluxe 20th Anniversary Edition might seem nothing more than another contrived piece of commercialism for the holidays.

omprised of approximately ninety minutes of rare concert recordings on two CDs, Live at The Avalon Ballroom 1969 is a formidable set of recordings documenting an ever so fleeting phase of Gram Parsons’ career.

ith its sharp replication of the original New Riders’ cover art an accurate reflection of the music itself recorded at Mexicali Blues Café (except for the often abrupt track changes), this modern-day version of the band proves itself to be not just an extension of the (seemingly) bottomless roots of The Grateful Dead, but a worthwhile endeavor its own terms.

While there have been previous, not to mention extensive, archival reissues of Elvis Costello’s discography in recent years, the third one begun earlier in 2007 may end up being the best of the lot. At least if subsequent titles demonstrate the comprehensive logic of My Aim Is True 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition.

It was just about a year ago that Los Lobos nearly tore the roof off of Higher Ground. This year’s appearance at the South Burlington venue was slightly shorter and slightly less ambitious, but no less satisfying in its own way.

The recently announced late 2007 New York appearances of Sly and the Family Stone will no doubt focus attention on the re-mastered limited-edition catalog titles released earlier in the year.