Εμφάνιση αναρτήσεων με ετικέτα instrumental. Εμφάνιση όλων των αναρτήσεων
Εμφάνιση αναρτήσεων με ετικέτα instrumental. Εμφάνιση όλων των αναρτήσεων

Τετάρτη 12 Ιουνίου 2013

V/A - Pioneers of the Jazz Guitar [1992]



This anthology features the predecessors and contemporaries of Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian with an emphasis on the jazz guitar duet. Working within their seldom recorded solo or duet performances, master guitarists such as Eddie Lang, Lonnie Johnson, John Cali and others couple melodic sophistication with the kind of economy and restraint rarely achieved today in such compositions as Teasin' The Frets, handful Of Riffs, Chicken A La Swing, Feeling My Way and others.



                                                     
       

Τρίτη 30 Απριλίου 2013

Tommy McCook & The Supersonics ‎– Down On Bond Street [1993]



 'Down on Bond Street' compiles 20 tracks from 1966-1968.Like Roland Alphonso did while leading Clement Dodd's own Soul Vendors outfit (with organist Jackie Mittoo), McCook and the Supersonics cut several instrumental sides, focusing on groove-heavy beats and tasty horn and organ solos. Trojan's Down on Bond Street brings together 20 of these gems, ranging from late ska cuts like "A Yellow Basket (A Tisket a Tasket)" to early reggae sides such as "Second Fiddle." Focusing primarily on rocksteady material, McCook also delves into some updated Jamaican R&B ("Heatwave (Moving)"), several choice covers ("Ode to Billie Joe"), and a few breezy originals ("Real Cool"). Showing off his considerable jazz chops, McCook is ever present with his vaporously tart and sinewy tenor lines (he turns in impressive flute work on a handful of cuts as well). Also part of that select crew of Jamaican jazz musicians, many being fellow Skatalite alums as well, the Supersonics featured alto saxophonist Lester Sterling, trumpeter Johnny "Dizzy" Moore, trombonist Vin "Don Drummond, Jr." Gordon, guitarist Lynn Taitt (whose Jets found work with producer Joe Gibbs), and organist Winston Wright. While Heartbeat's fine Tribute to Tommy and a few albums with the Aggrovators cover ska and reggae ground respectively, this McCook title is one of the few, if not the only wide-ranging collection of the saxophonist's instrumental output during the '60s. Highly recommended. 



                                                                                 Enjoy!

Δευτέρα 29 Απριλίου 2013

Don Drummond - Jazz Ska Attack:1964 [2000]




Drummond was one of the top soloists and most creative musical minds of Jamaica's ska era. His apex came in 1964 when he and fellow Skatalites, like saxophonists Tommy McCook and Roland Alphonso, organist Jackie Mittoo, Lester Sterling, and trumpeter Johnny "Dizzy" Moore, ruled Kingston's musical scene as the virtual house band for producers Clement Dodd, Duke Reid, George Phang, and many others. Drummond's lopey sounding yet technically superb trombone work stood out on all the Skatalites sessions, whether the band was cutting some of its own records or backing numerous singers like Alton Ellis and Delroy Wilson. This fine Drummond roundup on Jet Set brings together many of the trombonist best Skatalites sides from 1964, including such self-penned classics as "Musical Storeroom," "Eastern Standard Time," and "Don-de-Lion." A great introduction to this most talented of Jamaican jazz masters. 



                                                                                Enjoy!

Τετάρτη 13 Μαρτίου 2013

Pierre Cavalli - The fantastic guitar sound of Pierre Cavalli [1973]


Original Italian pressing on JOKER label (SM 3478), from 1973. Italian-only project from the cult Swiss jazz guitarist famous for his Un Soir Chez Norris / Chasse A L'Homme French OST single. Cavalli plays all kinds of very stylish and very funky rhythms using wah wah pedals / fuzz distortion box and other studio trickery. Several important compositions like the stunning psychedelic funk cum bumpy samba - bossa of THE TOAD, the groovy horns / orchestral strings and scat chorus theme ONCE WE WERE IN LOVE, the twisted and super-funky PLANT A SEED with psychedelic fuzz motifs and the funky beats / basslines and trippy riffing throughout WINTER WIND. Killer breaks burst out of nowhere on the otherwise mellow, EASY GOIN' too. Wonderful backing orchestra and singers with a now sound / euro Library / soundtrack feel. Track for track, this Lp is even better than his German-only, Souvenirs From Brazil session. 



                                                    Enjoy!

                          

Δευτέρα 18 Φεβρουαρίου 2013

Embryo – Turn Peace [1989]



Back in 1967/68 Christian Burchard was the vibraphonist of Mal Waldron, the pianist who played with Billie Holliday and John Coltrane and who at least the Japanese recognize for the great musician he is. Just how good the Mal-Chnstian alliance still works can be heard on this record. It is a pity that the other great American musician who was involved in the Embryo evolution – Charlie Mariano – is not to be heard on the record. But in a way he is: when Roland Schaeffer plays the nagasuram, an oboe-like instrument that Mariano studied for years in South India (and so often played with Embryo), you think on hearing Mariano himself, until you realize that it is Roland playing in his own special way – more independent and technically superior. Of course Embryo’s important countries are represented on this record. Marocco by El Houssaine Kill, Nigeria by the Yoruba Dun Dun Ensemble of Lamidi Ayankunie and his friends and India by T.A.S. Mani with his College of Percussion.

 Celebrating 20 years of Embryo, TURN PEACE offered many more surprises, showing that Burchard and co. were still fresh and innovative musicians, still willing to try new ideas and forge on whilst still having the knack for recreating the music they originally set out with!


                                                                Enjoy!

Δευτέρα 28 Ιανουαρίου 2013

Nedyalko Nedyalkov - The art of kaval [2004]



Nedyalko Nedyalkov is one of the best kaval players of our time. Besides his excellent qualities as a kaval player, Nedyalko Nedyalkov is also notable as the composer of many original instrumental pieces that he performs. In them one can see and sense his exceptional artistic judgment and his skill in developing a melody in a musical kolyano, or phrase. His improvisations are perfect with respect to melodic line, modulations and transitions between them.
I hoped to conduct this brief informal "musical analysis" of Nedyalko Nedyalkov's qualities as a performer because they are all demonstrated in the present CD, which appeared on the musical market – with a bit of a delay I might add from the point of view of musical specialists, who have long been waiting for it. All the pieces on the disc have been selected and arranged with a very high degree of professionalism and fine artistic judgment; in my opinion, the disc as a whole presents Nedyalkov as one of the kaval masters of our time. It is a great pleasure to listen to this artistic production, which in all its aspects characterizes the high contemporary level of kaval performance style.




                                                                 Enjoy!

Τετάρτη 16 Ιανουαρίου 2013

Petros Tabouris & Shankar Chattergee - Modes and Talas [1995]



Petros Tabouris born in Athens, Greece. He has occupied himself with Greek traditional music cince his childhood and learnt to play the oui, the nai and mainly the Canonaki. He has worked on the ancient and medieval Greek music and has established a strong presence with these subjects in the recent recordings. He has cooperated with many groups and Greek composers by playing the kanonaki.
Shankar Chattergee born in Calcutta, west Bengal. He started learning tabla from his childhood and studied Indian classical music under wellknown masters of Rabindra Bharati Academy. He learnt Tabla improvisation and technique from the famous tabla player Keramadtulla Khan. Shankarlal has performed not only in India but also in Germany and many countries of Europe and showed his activities giving lectures, workshops and experiment conserts with great succes.

They play mostly greek traditional  songs mixed with indian flavour plus some of their own compositions.Beautiful album.



                                                                                Enjoy!

Πέμπτη 27 Δεκεμβρίου 2012

Itzhak Perlman – Klezmer In The Fiddler's House [1995]



In his introductory note to this CD, Itzhak Perlman informs us that, more than anything else he has recorded, this is truly his own music--"what you might hear if you came to my house and I decided to jam with some friends." And jam he does--with some very talented friends indeed. Klezmer music, which combines the folk and religious music of Yiddish-speaking cultures with various musical traditions of countries such as Russia, Turkey, and Greece, is unusual territory for a major label and a superstar artist, but here the combination works perfectly. Perlman, who normally is the star of his recordings, just blends into the whole celebration. The playing of violin, accordion, mandolin, clarinet, and other instruments is stylish, infectious, and at times virtuosic.Perlman captures the careening, infectious spirit of klezmer with style and grace, making In the Fiddler's House an intoxicating listen. 



                                                                 Enjoy!
 

Πέμπτη 13 Δεκεμβρίου 2012

Omar Khorshid and His Magic Guitar - Belly Dance, Vol. 2 [1974]


Movie star and famed guitarist of the Middle east, he composed the music for thirteen films. Khorshid began recording albums under his own name for the prestigious Lebanese record labels Voice Of The Orient and Voice Of Lebanon. Working with visionary engineer Nabil Moumtaz at Polysound studios in Beirut, Khorshid would take his music into some of the most progressive musical terrain of its time.He recorded 9 albums between the years 1973-1977.
Khorshid’s prolific instrumental music enjoyed recognition that transcended class and status during the brief period he shone. It’s a testament to his immense talent and some of the finest guitar music the world has ever heard.

Belly dance series with Omar Khorshid have  various international standards that have nothing to do with the middle eastern title but  the music arrangments  with the Omar signature is what makes the difference. Could be a list of Omar favorites or choosen show how Omar would make the world music obey his talent...


                                                                               Enjoy!

Πέμπτη 15 Νοεμβρίου 2012

Marc Ribot Plays Solo Guitar Works of Frantz Casseus [1993]




This gentle, understated album shows NY guitar madman, Marc Ribot, extending his diverse reperatoire into Haitian folk-based compositions. Playing the music of this former Harry Belafonte guitarist--as well as his former guitar teacher--Ribot trades in his patented twangy tones, stylistic collages, and sheets of noise for a more subtle, clean sound. Like Heitor Villa Lobos in Brazil, Casseus was interested in creating a National classical music based on local folk-melodies. Unfortunatley, apart from a few recordings in the fifties and sixties, Casseus' music was never really documented or studied, until now. In spite of the folksy veneer of this recording, "The Works of Frantz Casseus" reveals a lot about Ribot's musical roots, and helps to explain his interest in eccentric musical contexts. Quirky and unpredictable, Casseus' compositions stroll along into strange places; they reveal a quick wit and ironic humour that is much closer to Ribot's own work than may be expected. These are complex compositions that demand a virtuoso like Ribot, someone who can quote a wide range of styles and musical concepts on a dime. This album is a wonderful ode to a little-known composer, and an intersting diversion for those familiar with Ribot's other work. 
 
 
 
                                                                 Enjoy!

Πέμπτη 1 Νοεμβρίου 2012

Booker T. & The MG's - And Now! [1966]



More BBQ sauce-smeared Memphis soul classics from organist Booker T. Jones, guitar man Steve Cropper, bassist Duck Dunn and drummer Al Jackson, including "My Sweet Potato," "Soul Jam" and "One Mint Julep." This funky, slow-cooking, instrumental outfit, comprised of two blacks and two whites, set the standard for musical as well as racial harmony while carving out a masterful recording career that landed them in the R&R Hall of Fame.
                                                                Enjoy!

Παρασκευή 26 Οκτωβρίου 2012

Shake Keane - Dig It! [1969]



A groovy album of short little pop jazz numbers – featuring the sparkling trumpet of West Indian player Shake Keane over the top of arrangements from Ivor Raymonde! Shake's got his roots in the hipper side of the British scene of the late 50s and early 60s – and is particularly well known for his work on some of Joe Harriot's groundbreaking albums. Here, though, Shake also proves that he's got a good vision for an all-around groover – and works with the arranger in a style that nicely circles between mainstream instrumentals and jazz inflections. There's some great groovy covers on the session – including "Honey", "Sunny", "World", "Love Is Blue", "As Tears Go By", "Goin Out Of My Head", and "Bend Me Shape Me".



                                                                 Enjoy!

Δευτέρα 22 Οκτωβρίου 2012

Jimmy McGriff - Honey [1968]




Honey is by far Jimmy McGriff’s best Soul stompin album. He really lets go on a series of great covers from the opening (Sweet, Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone to Respect to a really grooving version of We’re A Winner to Tell Mama to the open drums at the beginning of I Thank You and I Got The Feelin. With a set like that and McGriff going off on the organ you really can’t go wrong. 



                                                                Enjoy!

Σάββατο 20 Οκτωβρίου 2012

Mukta - Jade [2000]



Here's a unique ensemble--a French Indo-jazz group. None of the players are likely well-known to American listeners, but don't let that stop you from an eminently satisfying listening experience. Traditional jazz instruments--drums, trumpet, guitar, marimba--combine with Indian ones--sitar, tambura, bansuri--to produce a set of tunes that defy easy categorization.
Mukta also makes use of Latin percussion, an additional component that blends seamlessly, thanks to the leader's (Simon Mary's) songwriting skills. The presence of this third culture lets you know these guys are well aware of the environment of world music--but they don't overdo it; they're savvy enough to know how to give their music exactly what it needs to make it glow, scintillate, and throb. 


                                             
                                                   
                                                               Enjoy!

Κυριακή 7 Οκτωβρίου 2012

East New York Ensemble de Music - At the Helm [1974]



Bilal Abdurahman's East New York Ensemble de Music came out of the diverse community of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, where African, West Indian & black American cultures converged. First and foremost a deep Spiritual Jazz record, At The Helm also incorporates elements of the West Indies, and both the Near and Far East. 
The sound is loose and free – spiritually building in a manner that recalls the work of Ahmed Abdul Malik, Phil Cohran, and some of the AACM – and the album has a style that's exploratory, but never goes too far out, or loses its sense of rhythm and swing. 



                                                              Enjoy!

Παρασκευή 5 Οκτωβρίου 2012

Sabir - Fones [2004]




SABIR gives us the image of the two furthest pillars in the Mediterranean sea on the one part we have Greece, cradle of the Western civilisation, and on the other shore the Iberian land.The three members of the Greek-Spanish group SABIR include into their repertoire traditional pieces from Mediterranean countries, as well as others which are original compositions but still strongly influenced by the traditional music of the Balkans, Persia, Greece, Flamenco or Western Medieval music. Ancient and oriental modes are merged with asymmetric rhythms and improvisations performed with instruments such as the Indian tabla, the hurdy-gurdy (mediaeval bowed string instrument), flamenco guitar, the santoor (Persian psaltery), saz (Turkish lute) or the zarb (Persian percussion instrument).






                                                                                Enjoy!

Πέμπτη 4 Οκτωβρίου 2012

Max Roach – M’Boom [1980]



This is credited to Max Roach, who formed the M’Boom ‘re:percussion ensemble’ around 1970, but it’s very much a group work. The ensemble features a bunch of experienced drummer-percussionists – Roy Brooks, Freddie Waits, Joe Chambers, Ray Mantilla etc . Before you run away with thoughts of endless soloing, this is an album of tunes, using “more than 100 different instruments of determinate and indeterminate pitch”, which means a whole lot of marimba, vibes, xylophones, timpani, gongs, bells, and pretty much every instrument you can bang on. Banged on by men who really know how to bang on shit. This is a particularly colorful set that is easily recommended not only to jazz and percussion fans but to followers of World music.



                                                                                 Enjoy!

Δευτέρα 1 Οκτωβρίου 2012

Ocote Soul Sounds with Adrian Quesada - El Niño Y El Sol [2004]



''El Niño y el Sol" is a collaboration between Martin Perna (Ocote Soul Sounds) and Adrian Quesada. They are founding members of two of the world's most successful and progressive afro/latin/funk big bands, Antibalas and Grupo Fantasma, respectively. Antibalas (Brooklyn, NY) has been credited with reviving the afrobeat sound popularized by Fela Kuti while Grupo Fantasma (Austin, TX) has been called "the adventurous musical offspring of Los Lobos and Mano Negra.


In this welcome pseudo-soundtrack, Latin percussion and woodwinds meet electronica, conventional instruments and other sounds to create a unique mix that explores various moods. In one instance, you have '70s-inspired funk with a salsa-ish backbeat that lends itself to a lot of improvised moments on saxophone and flute. In another, you have a dreamy ambient soundscape that leads you to a completely different place. In between, you have a saxophone freely traveling through a semi-psychedelic background formed by guitar, bass, B-3 and percussion. Also, you have very short interludes that serve sometimes as introductions or simply a break between tunes. 



                                                                Enjoy!

Πέμπτη 20 Σεπτεμβρίου 2012

Sabicas - The soul of flamenco and the essence of rock [1971]



This is the second album that the great flamenco guitar player Sabicas is mixing his skills with rock elements,as he had done in '66 at the Rock Encounter album with Joe Beck.It is one of the first flamenco rock albums,a genre that a few years later became more popular in Spain.
Here we have five instrumental tracks,each one experimenting with a different backing rhythm.Probably the flamenco purists wouldn't love that kind of mix,but for the rest it is an interesting album.




                                                                                  Enjoy!

Τρίτη 18 Σεπτεμβρίου 2012

Ry Cooder & V.M. Bhatt - A Meeting By The River [1993]



Ry Cooder has long had an interest in other people's music, from the blues and gospel of black America through classic jazz and the music of Cuba. Even by this standard, his meeting with Mohan Vishwa Bhatt is certainly a departure. He is neither a serious student of Indian music nor in any way a master of its intricacies. Yet on his improvised session (this album was recorded without rehearsal in one evening), he and Bhatt truly collided musically and created moments worthy of the world-music Grammy they received for it. Bhatt is an iconoclastic character himself. He plays a modified box he calls the mohan vina that is a hybrid of a classical Indian instrument and slide guitar. He is long trained in the arduous classical style, yet his work has always demanded a lot of freedom. His duets here with Cooder are completely unique, liberating both artists from the usual constraints and creating a new musical style that is unlikely to be repeated or imitated.
 
 
 
 
                                                              Enjoy!