Category Archives: Jazz
I’M NOT TALKIN’-THE SONG STYLINGS OF MOSE ALLISON 1957-1971.
I’M NOT TALKIN’-THE SONG STYLINGS OF MOSE ALLISON 1957-1971. During a career that spanned sixty years, Mose Allison influenced several generations of musicians. They were won over by Mose Allison’s unique mix of blues and modern jazz. It found favour with everyone from Van Morrison, Tom Waits, Jimi Hendrix, The Yardbirds, The Who, The Pixies, …
MILT JACKSON-SUNFLOWER AND GOODBYE.
MILT JACKSON-SUNFLOWER AND GOODBYE. By 1967, Creed Taylor was a veteran of the music industry. He had worked numerous record labels, including Bethlehem, ABC and Verve. However in 1967, Creed Taylor left Verve to join Herb Albert and Jerry Moss’ A&M Records. This was something of a coup for A&M Records, as Creed Taylor had …
LET IT BE-BLACK AMERICA SINGS LENNON, McCARTNEY AND HARRISON.
LET IT BE-BLACK AMERICA SINGS LENNON, McCARTNEY AND HARRISON. In America, The Beatles are the best selling artists in the history of popular music. They sold an incredible, 178 million albums in America alone. What makes this all the more remarkable, was that America were latecomers to The Beatles. The first Beatles album to be …
TED COLEMAN BAND-TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS-VINYL EDITION.
TED COLEMAN BAND-TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS-VINYL EDITION. It was in 1921, that the Leedy Manufacturing Company first began marketing the vibraphone in America. Since then, the distinctive sound of the vibraphone has featured on albums by Gary Burton, Milt Jackson, Roy Ayres, Bobby Hutcherson, Tito Puente and Cal Tjader. They’re among just a few of the …
PAT THOMAS-COMING HOME-ORIGINAL GHANAIAN HIGHLIFE AND AFROBEAT CLASSICS.
PAT THOMAS-COMING HOME-ORIGINAL GHANAIAN HIGHLIFE AND AFROBEAT CLASSICS. During a long and illustrious career that has spanned six decades, Ghanaian highlife master Pat Thomas, became known as the “the golden voice of Africa.” Now aged sixty-five, and one of the veterans of African music, Pat Thomas continues to make music. That’s no surprise. All Pat …
TIM MAIA 1971.
TIM MAIA 1971. Larger than life, charismatic and hugely talented describes Brazilian singer Tim Maia. He was also someone who lived life on the edge, and was determined to do things his way. Tim Maia also lived life to the full. Especially, after the success of his groundbreaking eponymous debut album. It was the first …
JAMES LUTHER DICKINSON-DIXIE FRIED.
JAMES LUTHER DICKINSON-DIXIE FRIED. All too often, artists spend days, weeks and sometimes even months recording their debut album. Eventually, the album is complete, and it’s delivered to the record company. Nervously and expectantly the artist awaits as the record company plan a marketing campaign. If the artist is signed to a major label, it …
EDWIN SANZ-OVERFLOW.
EDWIN SANZ-OVERFLOW. There aren’t many six year olds that leave home to become a dancer. That’s apart from Edwin Sanz. He was only six when he joined the Grupo Madera dance group, which promotes Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Venezuelan culture through dance and music. For the next twelve years, Edwin Sanz toured Venezuela and traversed South America and Europe. …
BUSHMAN’S REVENGE-JAZZ, FRITT ETTER HUKOMMELSEN.
BUSHMAN’S REVENGE-JAZZ, FRITT ETTER HUKOMMELSEN. After spending twelve years touring and recording, the three members of Bushman’s Revenge decided to take a much needed break. The gruelling and relentless schedule of the last few years had taken its toll. All that was needed was some time off, and a newly refreshed and revitalised Bushman’s Revenge …
MARY AFI USUA-AFRICAN WOMAN.
MARY AFI USUA-AFRICAN WOMAN. When Mary Afi Usuah released her sophomore album African Woman on Clover Music in 1978, very few people outside of Nigeria heard the album. That was despite Mary Afi Usuah having performed in front of hundreds of thousands of music fans. Mary Afi Usuah had spent thirteen years touring Europe with …
SPACE ECHO-THE MYSTERY BEHIND THE COSMIC SOUND OF CABO VERDE FINALLY REVEALED!
SPACE ECHO-THE MYSTERY BEHIND THE COSMIC SOUND OF CABO VERDE FINALLY REVEALED! In the spring of 1968, dockers in Baltimore, loaded cargo onto a ship bound for Rio De Janeiro, in Brazil. For the dockers, it was just another day at the “office.” This was what they did, day in, day out. No longer did …
WILLIAM ONYEAEBOR MUSICIAN AND MAN OF MYSTERY.
WILLIAM ONYEAEBOR MUSICIAN AND MAN OF MYSTERY. Enigmatic. That’s the perfect word to describe synth funk pioneer, William Onyeabor. He is, without doubt, one of the most mysterious and elusive musicians. There’s a good reason for this, Much of William Onyeabor’s life is shrouded in mystery. After releasing eight albums between 1978 and 1985, William Onyeabor became …
GARY BURTON-SOMETHING’S COMING!, THE GROOVY SOUND OF MUSIC AND THE TIME MACHINE.
GARY BURTON-SOMETHING’S COMING!, THE GROOVY SOUND OF MUSIC AND THE TIME MACHINE. Growing up in Anderson, Indiana, Gary Burton was regarded as a child prodigy. He became interested in music when he was just six. That was when Gary Burton first began to play the vibraphone and marimba. Mostly, Gary was self taught, and eventually …
MOP MOP-LUNAR LOVE.
MOP MOP-LUNAR LOVE. Growing up, music was always a huge part of Andrea Benini’s life. He started to play the guitar when he was ten. By the time he was fourteen, Andrea Benini had switched to drums. This would stand him in good stead later in life. Towards the end of 1999, twenty-two year old …
ERIC GALE-BLUE HORIZON AND ISLAND BREEZE.
ERIC GALE-BLUE HORIZON AND ISLAND BREEZE. Eric Gale was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 20th 1938. By the time he was eleven, Eric had discovered music. Fittingly, it was guitarist Les Paul that piqued Eric’s interest in music. He heard Les Paul and his wife Mary Ford on the radio. They were on …
JON BALKE-WARP.
JON BALKE-WARP. There aren’t many twelve year olds that switch from classical music to the blues. That’s apart from the Norwegian pianist Jon Balke. He grew up learning to play classical piano. However, by the time he was twelve, Jon Balke was ready to turn his back on Bach and Beethoven. The year was 1967, and psychedelia …
ALOHA GOT SOUL.
ALOHA GOT SOUL. The 21st of August 1959 was the day the Hawaiian history was changed forever. That day, Hawaii became the fiftieth and most recent American state. This changed Hawaii forevermore; including its cultural identity. From that day onwards, Hawaiian music changed. The next generation of Hawaiian musicians would be influenced the British Invasion …
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