Vince Guaraldi & Bola Sete’s 1965 ‘From All Sides’ Vinyl Reissue Captures Effortless West Coast Cool and Samba Fusion Collaboration (ALBUM REVIEW)
By the time From All Sides arrived in 1965, Vince Guaraldi had already scored a pop-jazz hit with “Cast Your Fate to the Wind,” and Bola Sete was gaining recognition as a singular voice in Brazilian guitar. The duo had already developed a strong musical rapport the previous year by performing together at the Trois […]
Raw, Loud, Uncompromising: Laughing Hyenas Caught in the Wild With ‘That Girl – Live Recordings 1986-1994’ (ALBUM REVIEW)
The Ann Arbor, MI-based Laughing Hyenas were heavy rockers who toured with/inspired acts like Fugazi, Mudhoney, and Nirvana, yet never received the attention those bands did. A few years ago, Third Man Records re-released their discography on vinyl, and now they add to that collection with the group’s first-ever live album, That Girl – Live Recordings 1986-1994. Presented chronologically, the collection […]
Organ Fairchild Drop BOOM! — A Jam-Ready Organ Trio Statement (ALBUM REVIEW)
The newest release from Buffalo, NY instrumental jamband, Organ Fairchild, continues their tripped-out grooves mixed with smooth flowing vibes that lovers of their live shows have come to cherish.BOOM! is a sweet collection that takes the listener on a journey with the band, knowing that the tracks will shift and morph when the group enters […]
Voxtrot Reunites With Purpose & Focus on Melodic ‘Dreamers in Exile’ (ALBUM REVIEW)
When Voxtrot reunited in 2022, it didn’t feel like a nostalgia grab. The Texas indie band, which first gained traction in the mid-2000s with a pair of self-released EPs and a strong debut album,came back with renewed purpose. Dreamers in Exile is their first full-length in nearly twenty years, and instead of trying to recreate […]
Chick Corea Displays Gifts of Intimacy, Playfulness & Virtuosity on ‘Forever Yours: The Farewell Performance’ (ALBUM REVIEW)
Chick Corea’s Forever Yours: The Farewell Performance, a 2-LP set,is a fitting finale to the iconic composer and pianist’s career, recorded just four months before his surprising passing in 2021. Perhaps it’s only coincidental, but the word ‘Forever” in the title is a clever nod to Corea’s great fusion group, Return to Forever. Also, although […]
Buck Meek Redefines His Introspective Artistry On ‘The Mirror’ (ALBUM REVIEW)
At this point, the beloved alt-folk outfit Big Thief has proven to be more than a band. They are a collection of individuals, each with their own perspectives that form into an experimental monster hellbent on honoring tradition while shaping their own. Each member of the band brings with them a singularity that forms this […]
On Sprawling ‘The Mountain,’ Gorillaz Immerse Themselves In Otherworldly Psychedelia (ALBUM REVIEW)
In this new era of Gorillaz, which ultimately began when the virtual band returned from a seven-year hiatus with the release of Humanz in 2017, the Damon Albarn-led outfit has been more prolific than ever. In the four albums they’ve released post-hiatus, they’ve tapped into the collaborative energy that defined the band while returning to […]
‘Side-Eye III’ Is Pat Metheny’s Elegant Balance Of The Past & Present Momentum (ALBUM REVIEW)
His first major studio album in six years, Pat Metheny’s Side-Eye III+, is the latest evolution of a concept he first introduced in 2021. The ongoing project is designed to focus on collaborations with younger musicians the contemporary jazz icon admires, allowing him to reimagine his past work and devote the collective talents to new […]
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Beat the Storm: Full-Band Fire & Hard Truths at Radio City Music Hall (SHOW REVIEW)
Before a blizzard shut down NYC, Jason Isbell pulled into town to play two sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall. Friday night was a solo acoustic affair, while Saturday, February 21st, found him delivering a louder set of tunes with his full backing band, the 400 Unit. The Saturday night show was opened by […]
Bill Frisell Celebrates 75th Birthday With His Go-To Musicians on Vibrant ‘In My Dreams’ (ALBUM REVIEW)
Bill Frisell is the unassuming guy in a flannel shirt, wearing Sketchers. He has this ‘everyman’ aura that one would not typically associate with one of the most inventive, fascinating guitarists of the past five decades, one who is likely to become an NEA Jazz Master at some point. He conducts himself with grace and […]