A base player my husband knows died suddenly on November 2, 2009. He wasn’t answering his phone before a gig and the other musicians he was supposed to be working with that night went to his home and found him dead. I didn’t know him, but it’s such a sad story that I felt like [...]

I hadn’t heard of Natacha Atlas until recently and though I don’t usually review this type of music I have to say that I like this CD a lot. Atlas is half English and half Egyptian. She focuses on her Middle Eastern heritage in her music.
The only Atlas album I’ve heard is Ana Hina. The [...]

Okay, so this is an old album, but it only came into my possession recently so it’s new to me.
Originally released in 2001, The Things I See contains Gary Husband’s interpretations of Allan Holdsworth tunes. It’s a solo piano album and it’s so good that it was re-released in 2004.
I’ve been listening to this album [...]

I’m always interested in bringing exciting bands to your attention and this is one. Grand Pianoramax is a drum and piano duo that combines jazz, funk, and hip hop influences with spoken word. Swiss born, Leo Tardin is the mastermind behind the group. He won the first Montreux solo piano competition in 1999.
If you live [...]

Griots are traditional storytellers. Before the use of written language in West Africa, griots were the historians and genealogists of their villages. They also advised nobility and acted as messengers and entertainers. While griots still exist, their function has changed. Now they are popular singers who perform on radio and television. They reinterpret traditional songs. [...]

Musician/composer Patrick Bettison has been feverishly composing tunes for his second album. The album will feature him on chromatic harmonica. As he writes his new tunes, he’s been recording demos of them. Edible Plants reminds me of a French movie or walking through the leaves on a lovely fall day.

Since I wrote a review for Gilfema’s latest album the other day, I thought it would be good to put up a video from their self-titled first album, Gilfema. Enjoy.

Gilfema , Lionel Loueke, Ferenc Nemeth, Massimo Biolcati “Dream” (mp3) from “Gilfema” (ObliqSound) Buy at Rhapsody Buy at Napster Stream from Rhapsody Buy at Puretracks [...]

When I was little this was one of my top rollerskating songs. I loved everything on the Live At Birdland album.
This performance was recorded in 1963. Enjoy!

This is from a 1997 performance at the North Sea Jazz Festival.

This is a live performance from the North Sea Jazz Festival in 2007. I think it’s a humorous performance. It’s good but also humorous.