reviews
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Liquid Soul Delivers A One-Two Punch
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It’s too bad that Liquid Soul used the title Evolution for their last recording. The band’s new CD, One-Two Punch, is more of an advancement than anything else they’ve done before. You can still expect the same high energy, groove, the fueled horns, multiple styles and compositions, and a lot of in-your-face sounds. However, it’s…
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Review: Flow by Terence Blanchard
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Flow, the new Blue Note release from Terence Blanchard, may be the best jazz release of the year. I’ve been listening to this release over and over and always find something interesting. Flow covers many musical directions, from African chants to an infusion of electronic soundscapes. Blanchard’s band, the primary musicians on the recording (no…
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Two Good Compilations: Acid Jazz The Essential Album and Chillout Jazz
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Two good compilations were released domestically in the last few weeks. Chillout Jazz comes from the Benz-Street. I’m listening to this in the middle of the night (love those three-day weekends) and I can attest that it sets a good late-night vibe. It pulls the majority of the artists from the Good Looking label so…
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Review: Verve Remixed 3
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Verve Remixed 3 came out yesterday. It sounds noticeably different from the first two. While the previous two had great diversity in the ways songs were remixed (often I would love or hate a remix), this one sounds more homogenized. There won’t be a major shock going from track to track. (which are almost all…
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Don Grusin – The Hang
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Don Grusin’s The Hang is a throwback to the good old days of the New Adult Contemporary format before the sound of contemporary jazz degraded into bland smooth jazz. The pianist rounded up a band of all-stars to jam on this live event, with much of the music originally recorded when the GRP label was…