The Classical Source For All The Performing, Visual And Literary Arts & Entertainment News
Blog

'REVIEW: Gus Spenos, 'If You Were Gold Baby,' Self-Released

Time for fun. If you want to jump, jive and wail, you could, of course, turn to Louie Prima. But he's dead. Gus Spenos is alive...wonderfully, wildly alive. This Indiana neurologist has self-released 'If You Were Gold Baby' and he's garnered big-time trombonist Wycliffe Gordon to blow and arrange as the feather in this hat of swing, blues and boogie.
By Mike Greenblatt

  • 'REVIEW: Dave Liebman & Richie Beirach, 'Balladscapes,' Intuition Records (Germany)

    Just like sibling harmonies, the magic created by Dave Liebman and Richie Beirach has been nurtured, in this case, for almost half a century. They need no rhythm section. Their chemistry is second nature. 'Balladscapes' (Intuition Records, Germany) is so pure and so free that it has, forevermore, cemented these two in time.
    By Mike Greenblatt

  • 'REVIEW: Matt Wilson's Big Happy Family, 'Beginning of a Memory,' Palmetto Records

    Combining all three of his longstanding bands, drummer Matt Wilson has returned to the studio in full force with a Love Army of family and friends to pay tribute to violinist Felicia Wilson who performed on Matt's 2003 'Humidity,' became his wife and succumbed to leukemia in 2014. The result is a swinging session with moments of tender, bittersweet asides and studio banter. The star here is trumpeter Terell Stafford but the focus is cumulative...a joyous swingfest of epidemic proportions.
    By Mike Greenblatt
Real Time Analytics