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'Blogarrhea: Dr. John, Leon Russell, Diana Krall Honor Famed Producer Tommy LiPuma in Cleveland
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'REVIEW: Branford Marsalis Quartet with Kurt Elling, 'Upward Spiral,' Marsalis Music/Okeh Records
The more passionate fans of saxophonist Branford Marsalis might be disappointed with 'Upward Spiral' (Marsalis Music/Okeh Records) because this could be construed as a Kurt Elling vocalese CD with the quartet merely backing him up. Elling achieves a strong Chet Baker nodding-out-on-heroin style, true, and Branford is still one of today's greats, but the news of a new Branford was more exciting than actually listening to the new Branford. -
'REVIEW: Jimmy 'Duck' Holmes, 'It Is What It Is.' Blue Porch Records
Jimmy "Duck" Holmes just may be the last of a dying breed. Straight out of the Mississippi Delta, his seventh album, 'It Is What It Is,' is the premiere release on the new Blue Front Records out of Bentonia, MS. It's filled with the real low-down blues, no rock'n'roll here, this one's for purists.