Album Picks
David’s July Music Pick: Jeff Sanford’s Jazz Orchestra, Nothing Wrong. The Music of Lenny Carlson
Jun 28, 2019
Jeff Sanford’s Jazz Orchestra
Nothing Wrong
The Music of Lenny Carlson
This CD’s happy brilliance is the result of a group of local world-class musicians who play together regularly and who have bribed,
The Vinyl Detective, by David Hicks
May 31, 2019
This is the first of four books in The Vinyl Detective series, and as it’s the only one in the series I’ve read, it is my “music pick” for this month’s Muse. “Written in Dead Wax” may be a recommendation that would interest you if you like mystery stories in general, or cats (?), but particularly if you like vinyl records and stories about the birth of Jazz and the music industry, albeit with some literary license applied to the tale. And there are actual references to recordings that you could listen to while reading this novel. Hence, I think this qualifies as a music pick, sort of.
Hugh Masekela, “Hope”, by Alon Sagee
May 28, 2019
Hope is a 1994 live album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela. Although it’s over 20 years old, it’s a great introduction to the powerful, soulful and poignant genre of South African music. It is re-issued by Analogue Productions and available as a heavy weight 200g 2 X 45rpm vinyl pressing by Quality Records. It’s a classic.
Jack DeJohnette – “Rypdal, Vitous, DeJohnette” by Grant Stoner
May 16, 2019
My album pick for this month is untitled with just the musician’s names. Jack DeJohnette, Miroslav Vitous and Terje Rypdal ECM records 1979 vinyl.
David’s- May album Pick
May 01, 2019
David’s Pick
For The Throne
Are you having any anxiety about the way things will turn out when the end of Season 8 of GoT rolls around in a few weeks?
Luluc, “Dear Hamilton” by Dennis
Apr 14, 2019
My favorite part of the newsletter is the music recommendation section. Numerous lovely suggestions have been made, and I would like to contribute.
Essentially my only noteworthy music discovery via Qobuz,
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, “Like Someone in Love”, by Larry Deniston
Mar 31, 2019
My pick this month is Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers’ Like Someone in Love, Blue Note vinyl ST 84245 (thanks Bruce!).
Tierra Whack- Whack World, by David Hicks
Mar 29, 2019
David’s April 1st Music Pick-
Tierra Whack, Whack World
While looking for a new version of Pink Floyd’s song Echoes as performed by Rodrigo Y Gabriela,
Nina Simone – “Little Girl Blue”, by Larry Deniston
Feb 26, 2019
My pick this month is Nina Simone’s Little Girl Blue, Jazz Images 37010. Originally issued by Bethlehem Records in late 1957, there are many,
Enoch Light and the Light Brigade – “Dimension 3”, by Grant Stoner
Feb 25, 2019
My music pic for the month is Dimension 3 by Enoch Light and the Light Brigade, Command Records, 1964, vinyl. This LP features, and I quote, “An Astonishing New Achievement in Stereo Recording, The Incredible Miracle of “3-Speaker Presence”,”. As audiophiles we are used to such things, but maybe back in ’64? The music is pure cocktail, lounge. It has Instrumental renditions of standards such as “All I do is Dream of You”, “Love and Marriage” and “It’s only a Paper Moon”. Featuring lots of bongos, percussion, organs and brass, some nice jazz guitar etc., the performance is quite tight and pleasing.
But does the sound live up to the hype? Well, Yes! It’s really a masterful recording. Every instrument has a punchy percussive quality rarely heard. Excellent stereo spread and front to back imaging make it a great test record. It goes really well with martinis as well. Actually, all the albums on the “Command” label are like this. All fantastic. Leslie and I each have a growing collection of them. Available at estate sales and thrift stores everywhere!
Also notable labels in the same genre with nearly as excellent sound include Stereo Fidelity records, and the “Phase 4 Stereo” series from London Records. Cheers!