A former editor of JazzTimes, Mike Joyce has written extensively on jazz, blues, country, and pop music for The Washington Post, Maryland and Washington, D.C. public television stations, and other outlets.
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Of all the recording projects Gene Perla has overseen during his distinguished 40-year career as a musician, producer and record label owner, none has taken … Read More “Gene Perla: Orchestral Tones for Elvin Jones”
“This is the record I always wanted to make,” states bassist Ben Wolfe in the liner notes to No Strangers Here, an album that rewards … Read More “Ben Wolfe: No Strangers Here”
If the veteran Belgium guitarist’s first solo recording sounds like the product of an intimate collaboration, chalk it up to the finesse he displays as … Read More “Philip Catherine: Guitars Two”
Well known for his work with Spyro Gyra and bassist John Patitucci, guitarist Jay Azzolina is clearly in a mood to stretch out on Local … Read More “Jay Azzolina: Local Dialect”
Playing for Keeps finds veteran guitarist Bob DeVos playing to his strengths once again, favoring the kind of Hammond B3 grooves that he mastered while … Read More “Bob DeVos : Playing for Keeps”
Guitarist Ronnie Earl doesn’t get around much anymore due to health problems, but that hasn’t prevented him from performing in concert now and then. Hope … Read More “Ronnie Earl: Hope Radio”
According to Darol Anger’s liner notes, he and longtime collaborator Mike Marshall had several aims when they joined some friends in the studio to record … Read More “Darol Anger & Mike Marshall : Woodshop”
In the wake of celebrations commemorating the 90th anniversary of Ella Fitzgerald’s birth comes this oft-delightful collection of previously unreleased performances made by the legendary … Read More “Ella Fitzgerald: Love Letters From Ella”
If Roni Ben-Hur views Manhattan as that “isle of joy,” as Lorenz Hart famously put it, chalk it up to a series of life-altering encounters … Read More “Roni Ben-Hur: Keepin’ It Open”
A memorable night at a concert doesn’t always translate into a recording that holds up over the long haul. But it’s a safe bet this … Read More “Kenny Burrell: 75th Birthday Bash Live!”
Lennon and McCartney, Leon Russell, Jimmy Webb-don’t let the fine print fool you. For all its ties to contemporary pop tunesmiths, Song and Dance aims … Read More “Bobby Broom: Song and Dance”
Like David Grisman, his longtime associate, multi-instrumentalist Joe Craven has no use for the border patrol. Django Latino is testimony to his world view, inspired … Read More “Joe Craven: Django Latino”
Besides being shorthand for acoustic guitarist Alex de Grassi, electric bassist Michael Manring and percussionist Christopher Garcia, De-Mania’s name hints at the nature of this … Read More “DeMania Trio: DeMania”
The title of this extraordinary double-disc set might be construed as misleading after scanning the fine print. John Pisano collaborating with George Van Eps, Herb … Read More “John Pisano: John Pisano’s Guitar Night”
Sure, this is a small-combo session, but Bucky Pizzarelli is nevertheless in a large-ensemble frame of mind here, one big-band veteran guitarist saluting another. A … Read More “Bucky Pizzarelli: 5 for Freddie: Bucky’s Tribute to Freddie Green”
Two may be the norm as far as jazz-guitar groupings go, but three swiftly proves a charm on this collection of imaginatively arranged standards performed … Read More “MB3 : Jazz Hits Volume 1”
A meeting of minds, cultures and wizardly techniques, here’s yet another reminder of mandolinist Mike Marshall’s well-documented habit of placing himself in challenging and intriguing … Read More “Mike Marshall & Hamilton de Holanda: New Words (Novas Palavras)”
