JAZZBO NOTES RECOMMENDED RECORDING
Rating:

The knock on Enigmatic Ocean, as indeed on all of Jean Luc Ponty’s fusion releases, as that they’re kind of mindless. Basically, what you have here are endless R&B vamps, connected together with catchy little through composed themes, and lots of rock based blowing, either pentatonic or scalar, from Ponty and […]

WORTH A LISTEN
Rating:

When I came across The Piano while browsing one day on Amazon.com, I was shocked to learn of it’s existence. I had no idea that Herbie Hancock had recorded a solo piano album in the late 70s. That’s because up until recently, it had only been released in Japan.
The Piano was recorded […]

JAZZBONOTES RECOMMENDED RECORDING
Rating:

It’s funny that no matter what band Charles Mingus happens to be fielding, matter what the year, the music has a similar feel. A large part of that of course is that the tunes and arrangements are written by Mingus, and the rhythm section of Mingus’ muscular bass and Dannie Richmond’s shape-shifting […]

JAZZBO NOTES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED RECORDING
Rating:

I’d love to know what was going through Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen’s head when he decided to call up guitarist John Scofield and saxophonist Dave Liebman for his date Dancing On The Tables, with drummer Billy Hart rounding out the group.
After all, there’s nothing particularly subversive about Pedersen’s tunes. In fact, […]

JAZZBO NOTES ESSENTIAL RECORDING
Rating:

Mr. Jones is yet another phenomenal Elvin Jones Blue Note recording.
Elvin called Dave Liebman’s New Breed “a cross between Duke Jordan and Monk.” I don’t hear that myself, but it’s a nicely twisted, dissonant theme, with Liebman and Steve Grossman twining around each other on the head, sometimes in very close […]

JAZZBO NOTES ESSENTIAL RECORDING
Rating:

Talk about a crime! Merry-Go-Round is a spectacular recording, with a cast of characters that would make any true jazz fan’s mouth water: Chick Corea and Jan Hammer on keys; Steve Grossman, Joe Farrell and Dave Liebman on reeds; Don Alias on percussion; Elvin Jones on drums; rounded out with Gene […]

JAZZBO NOTES ESSENTIAL RECORDING
Rating:

I Sing The Body Electric was the last hurrah for the founding edition of Weather Report before Joe Zawinul started to emphasize R&B rhythms and simpler structures, but what a way to go out!
Zawinul and company are painting on a much larger canvas than on their debut recording. The opener, Unknown […]

JAZZBO NOTES ESSENTIAL RECORDING
Rating:

How do I defend giving Offering status as an essential recording? Sure, there’s Steve Marcus’ burning Coltranesque lines on tenor sax; Larry Coryell offers a convincing blend of rock and jazz stylings on guitar, avoiding the more egregious rock cliches that he was often prone to; Mike Mandel is mostly tasteful […]

JAZZBO NOTES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED RECORDING
Rating:

One way to think of Blue Montreux is a cross between the Brecker Brothers and Steps Ahead. It’s got Michael Brecker and Randy Brecker on sax and trumpet respectively, and vibist Michael Mainieri, the impetus behind Steps Ahead. Blue Montreux is a unique fusion record: it’s got a heavy funk […]

JAZZBO NOTES RECOMMENDED RECORDING
Rating:

There’s something perversely entertaining about listening to guitarist Larry Coryell wank away at rock and roll cliches on top of Better Git Hit In Your Soul, Mingus’ umpteenth remake of his big hit, Better Get It In Your Soul.
Three Or Four Shades Of Blues is late Mingus, and admittedly not […]