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Jazz/Blues

Mose Allison, 'American Icon: Live In California,' IBis Recordings [REVIEW]

A generation and more got turned on to Mose Allison when The Who recorded his "Young Man's Blues." Then, when The Yardbirds, Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, Van Morrison, John Mayall and The Clash covered him, he became the icon that he is today. 'American Icon: Live In California' (IBis Recordings) has this retired genius in rare form at the age of 79.
By Mike Greenblatt

  • 'The Essential Van Morrison' Release on Legacy Recordings [REVIEW]

    'The Essential Van Morrison' (Legacy Recordings) lovingly meanders from his early pre-punk 1960s days in Them ("Gloria") and his mystical hippie period ("Astral Weeks") to his "Moondance" break-out and "Tupelo Honey" stardom onward to such beloved albums as 'Veedon Fleece' (1974), 'Wave Length' (1978) and a host of exquisite '80s, '90s and '00s projects. It's the first such look-back and signals what promises to be one of the most important and culturally satisfying rollout projects yet.
    By Mike Greenblatt

  • Erroll Garner, 'The Complete Concert By The Sea,' Sony Legacy/Octave (REVIEW)

    One of the best-selling jazz albums of all-time, 'Concert By The Sea' (1956) by the Erroll Garner Trio, has now been digitally re-mastered into 'The Complete Concert By The Sea' (Sony Legacy/Octave), a three-CD box with 11 previously unreleased tracks and rare post-set interviews with pianist Garner, acoustic bassist Eddie Calhoun [1921-1993] and drummer Denzil DaCosta Best [1917-1965].
    By Mike Greenblatt