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Jazz/Blues

Perez Patitucci Blade, 'Children of the Light' on Mack Avenue Records [REVIEW]

It's the long time Wayne Shorter quartet...without Shorter. On the mysteriously beautiful and wholly accessible 'Children Of The Light' (Mack Avenue), pianist Danilo Perez, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade take lessons learned and apply them to an 11-track all-original hour (except for a loving remake of Shorter's "Delores"). Although they're all leaders in their own right, this is their first trio outing.
By Mike Greenblatt

  • Santana & McLaughlin, 'Invitation To Illumination: Live At Montreux 2011,' Eagle Rock [REVIEW]

    Guitarists Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin had already headlined the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland numerous times with their own bands but in 2011, in their only show together provided a mystical, magical, profound, spiritual and loud experience. Going into their jazz-rock fusion handbook, they performed majestically, switching leads, switching genres and cheering on their own wildly percussive band (including wife Cindy Blackman of Santana, a powerhouse drummer). Now, for the first time on CD (you can also get it digitally and on DVD or Blu-Ray), Santana & McLaughlin are 'Live At Montreux 2011' on their "Invitation To Illumination" tour (Eagle Rock Entertainment).
    By Mike Greenblatt

  • Pat Metheny, Gary Burton, and More Release 'Hommage a Eberhard Weber,' ECM [REVIEW]

    Right on the heels of 'Encore,' wherein 75-year old bassist Eberhard Weber stitched together tapes of in-concert solos with new arrangements and instruments, comes 'Hommage a Eberhard Weber,' a January 2015 two-night various-artists tribute in Stuttgart, Germany. Weber, who hasn't performed since his 2007 stroke, had his former bandmates, including guitarist Pat Metheny, soprano sax men Jan Gabarek and Paul McCandless (also on oboe) and vibes master Gary Burton, plus two conductors, the SWR Big Band and an extra rhythm section for the 35-minute title track, perform his originals.
    By Mike Greenblatt