Leaving behind the downtempo electronic approach of 2010's Earthglow, pianist David Benoit returns to a more traditional contemporary jazz vibe on 2012's Conversation. Once again working with producer Clark Germain, Benoit has put together a more organic, swinging sound this ...

Digitally remastered by Phil De Lancie (1990, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California). Digitally remastered by JVC using XRCD (Extended Resolution Compact Disc) technology. This is a Hybrid Super Audio CD playable on Super Audio CD players and regular CD players. Bassist Scott LaFaro's death ...

As of this recording, three out of four members of Oregon have been playing together in the group for 42 years. Drummer and percussionist Mark Walker has been on board since 1996, making them among the longest-running small groups in ...

Originally tagged as a Bill Evans disciple by some writers early in his career, Fred Hersch has long since distinguished himself as a pianist with a distinctive sound of his own who constantly challenges himself as a performer, composer, and ...

With a style that merged boogie-woogie neatly into the blues, Otis Spann found his first success as the pianist for Muddy Waters, and he played on virtually all of Waters' classic tracks between 1953 and 1969, but as the house ...

It's difficult to believe that in 1982, bandleader and conguero Poncho Sanchez signed a one-year record deal with Concord Picante, because 30 years later, he is still with the label. Who does that anymore? To celebrate that mighty anniversary, Sanchez ...

The companion piece to Brad Mehldau's other 2012 album, the all-original Ode, Where Do You Start features the pianist's trio covering material by other artists. Included are cuts by such eclectic non-jazz artists as Sufjan Stevens, Chico Buarque, and Jimi ...

Digitally remastered two-fer containing a pair of albums (plus four bonus tracks) on one CD from the Country great. Includes both volumes of the Gunfighter Ballads & Trail songs LPs. The 16 page booklet includes rare photos, vintage memorabilia and ...

Photographer: Monika Rokicka . Personnel: Manu Katché (drums); Tore Brunborg (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Nils Petter Molvær (trumpet, loops); Jim Watson (piano, Hammond b-3 organ). Recording information: Studios La Buissonne, Pernes-Les-Fontaines (03/2012).

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Performance. That Ry Cooder, you've got to keep an eye on him every minute, or he jumps into another cross-cultural collaboration. In the wake of his landmark recordings ...

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass were rolling right down the middle of the American pop scene like a locomotive in 1966 -- and this album captures them at the peak of their exuberance. By now, there really was a ...

Originally issued on CD without the song "Last Night When We Were Young." Digitally remastered by Larry Walsh (Capitol Recording Studios). Recorded in 1955, this superbly arranged and sung set of slow ballads can lay claim to being the world's first "concept ...

On June 25th, 1961, Bill Evans and his trio made jazz history over the course of five sets at the Village Vanguard. Selections from those performances were released on two full-length LPs, WALTZ FOR DEBBY and Sunday AT THE VILLAGE ...

With its seething, laid-back funk beats and steamy lyrics full of obvious references to romantic trysts, it doesn't get any sexier than Brian Culbertson's IT'S ON TONIGHT. A number of prominent crossover jazz artist lend their talents here. For example, ...

This Enhanced-CD version of BLUE TRAIN features audio tracks from BLUE TRAIN, interviews with jazz musicians (including Curtis Fuller, who played trombone on BLUE TRAIN), still pictures and video clips from the period, and a multimedia biography of Coltrane. Digitally remastered ...

Track Listing: DISC 1: Stardust; Soon One Mornin' (Death Come A-Creepin' in My Room); Memphis Blues; Livery Stable Blues; Charleston (South Carolina); Chimes Blues; Backwater Blues; Pearls, The; Dead Man Blues; Wild Cat Blues; Cake Walking Babies from Home; Sugar ...

This is one of Grover Washington, Jr.'s best-loved recordings and considered a classic of r&bish jazz. All four songs (which includes Billy Strayhorn's "Passion Flower") are quite enjoyable but it is "Mister Magic" that really caught on as a major ...

Personnel: Loreena McKennitt (vocals, harp, kanun, accordion, piano, keyboards); Brian Hughes (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, classical guitar, bouzouki, oud, guitar synthesizer); Robin Jeffrey (guitar); Aidan Brennan (acoustic guitar, mandola); Martin Brown (acoustic guitar); David Rhodes (electric guitar); Nigel Eaton ...

United by dalliances with purism as young men and an abiding love of classic blues and jazz, Eric Clapton and Wynton Marsalis are a more comfortable fit than it may initially seem. Both musicians are synthesists, not innovators, stitching together ...

In 2001, Collectables reissued two releases from crooner Mitch Miller on one disc. More Sing-Along With Mitch features even a larger portion of singalong goodness that made Miller so successful, and was originally released on Columbia in 1958. And for ...

For the past few decades, Al Jarreau has established himself as a truly modern jazz singer, one for the post-fusion generation--those who grew up with the sounds of the cordial contemporary jazz of George Benson, Spyro Gyra, and Herbie Hancock. ...

Verve's Let's Sing a Song of Christmas is an excellent collection of Spike Jones' Christmas recordings, featuring no less than 20 tracks, including "All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)," "Jingle Bells Medley," "Nuttin' for Christmas," "The ...

Smooth jazz producer, arranger, and songwriter Paul Brown made the transition to recording artist with 2004's Up Front, which, like its successor, 2005's The City, was a Top Ten hit on the Contemporary Jazz chart. With a switch from GRP ...

W/J.Butler,G.Albright,D. Sanborn,Jabba Recording information: Kar Studio; Knoop Studio; Westlake Studio. Photographer: Josef Astor. Unknown Contributor Roles: Charley Drayton; Ira Seigal; Michael White ; Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence. Arranger: Will Downing. Personnel: Will Downing (vocals, background vocals); Will Downing; Ira Siegel, Rohn Lawrence (guitar); Tollak Ollestad (harmonica); ...

Recorded at the Pershing Club in Chicago, IL, Jamal's third album (including the hit "Poinciana") was the turning point in his career. His liberal use of silence influenced many jazz musicians, including Miles Davis. ~ Michael Erlewine Recording information: Pershing Club, ...