John Hilderbrand
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Bad Knees by Ghost-Note
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Little did I know that one of my favorite contemporary jazz tracks of the year would be a harbinger! “Bad Knees” from Ghost-Note’s new recording Mustard N’Onions is a jam. The studio version is a live, funky, horn-heavy Godzilla of…
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Children read by James Earl Jones
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I was saddened by the recent death of the iconic James Earl Jones. His booming voice and presence will always be felt and remembered. When thinking about him recently I think I recalled something he did on a contemporary jazz…
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Spyro Gyra Celebrates 50th Anniversary with New Compilation “Jubilee”
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Spyro Gyra has announced the release of a special compilation, titled “Jubilee,” in celebration of their 50th anniversary. The collection, set to be released in November, highlights the band’s evolving sound from their first decade of recording (1977-87). About the…
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Warren Wolf – History of the Vibraphone
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Warren Wolf pays tribute to the jazz masters of the vibraphone including Roy Ayers, Terry Gibbs, Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson, Bobby Hutcherson, Cal Tjader, Gary Burton, Dave Samuels and Joe Locke on his new recording, appropriately titled History of the Vibraphone….
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Driving Beverly Hills – Mark Portmann goes solo in 1994
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Before he became a nine-time Grammy nominee, a baby-faced Mark Portmann was a part of the contemporary jazz scene. Here’s a review of his Driving Beverly Hills release that I originally wrote 30 years ago (with some updates). Playing with…