By 1968 the big bands were supposedly dead, but someone forgot to tell that to Count Basie, whose orchestra, still going strong, hadn’t altered much of anything since its heyday. Although most of the key members of the classic lineups had either passed on or moved on (notable exception: guitarist Freddie Green, wrapping up his…Read More

Casual fans of bop vocalist Mark Murphy who bring home this DVD without closely examining the list of performances are likely to be left wanting more-a lot more. Featuring two nearly 30-year-old episodes of the TV show Ad Lib, Murphy’s Mood isn’t quite what it appears to be at first glance. The cover jacket’s fine…Read More

The Crusaders haven’t been a commercial (or, arguably, artistic) force in a quarter-century, and only two original members, keyboardist Joe Sample and saxophonist Wilton Felder, were still onboard at the time of this 2003 gig. But little about the group had changed since its ’70s heyday, and that seemed just fine with the Montreux audience.…Read More

Medeski, Martin & Wood’s drummer upfront…Read More

As a historical document, this collection of two half-hour Ad Lib TV programs, dating from 1980 and ’82 and featuring the young Dianne Reeves, is a keeper. Out of the gate Reeves was fully formed, instantly captivating and in control of every nuance. Attired and coiffed elegantly but modestly, she barely moves a muscle when…Read More

On par with his Miles and Weather Report days…Read More

A stunning performance from the guitarist…Read More

Turns out Dueling Guitars1 has nothing to with oneupsmanship and everything to do with simpatico. Small wonder, then, that during this series of guitar duets, recorded live in a cozy setting, a member of the audience asks Paul Bollenback and John Hart to explain why it is that their collaborations sound so conversational. That’s the…Read More