Ablaye Cissoko and Volker Goetze “Sira”
Sira is a cross-cultural collaboration between German-born jazz trumpeter Volker Goetze and Senegalese Griot singer and kora player Ablaye Cissoko. A Griot is a traditional West African storyteller. A kora is a West African string instrument that is similar to a lute and sounds a bit like a harp. The album’s title, Sira, means mermaid [...]
Charlie Hunter “Baboon Strength”
Baboon Strength is the latest release from Charlie Hunter. He recorded it with drummer Tony Mason, and keyboardist Erik Deutsch. This album, released on Hunter’s label, is a departure from what we’re used to hearing from him.
When I heard the first track, Athens, I started laughing. I just couldn’t contain myself. Baboon Strength isn’t what [...]
Gilfema “Gilfema + 2″
Gilfema + 2 is the follow up to Gilfema’s self-titled debut that was released in 2005. The diversity of the trio is reflected in the music. Guitarist/vocalist Lionel Loueke is from Benin. Bassist Massimo Biolcati is Italian, but grew up in Sweden. Drummer Ferenc Nemeth is Hungarian. Gilfema + 2 includes two guest clarinetists, Anat [...]
The Half of It “The Half of It”
The Half of It’s newly released self-titled CD has recently found its way into my CD collection. This Philadelphia based quartet’s brand of jazz fusion makes you sit up and take notice.
I’m a writer and I usually listen to music while writing. Some music is good for that. This CD isn’t and that’s a good [...]
Soul Cycle “Urban Organics”
I recently got a new CD and was playing it while writing one of my blogs. “What’s this?” my husband asked when he came into the room. “This is good. What is it?” he asked again.
I didn’t want to tell him. It is rare that I find music that he can’t identify, but thinks is [...]
Andy Hamill “Bee for Bass”
When my husband came home from a trip to London last February, he packed his keys in his suitcase–but that’s a different story–and he brought back some CD’s recorded by people he knew. It took a while before we listened to any of them. They sat in a stack behind the speaker on the [...]
Patrick Bettison “Walkin’ All Around”
Patrick Bettison’s Walkin’ All Around is a unique blend of jazz improvisation and world beats. I might be a bit biased, but I think it’s a great CD. Patrick Bettison is my husband, and he recorded Walkin’ All Around in our small two bedroom apartment. I’d hunker down in the bedroom while he recorded himself [...]
