Category Archives: Records
Yoko Ono: Approximately Infinite Universe & Feeling The Space
In 1972 and 1973 Yoko Ono released two of her most successful albums, Approximately Infinite Universe and Feeling the Space. Both of these albums are focused on issues of women’s rights and the pain of living in a male-dominated world, and they contain some of Ono’s sharpest and most interesting songwriting as well as an attempt to create music that sounded like rock music of the time in order to carry her message forth.
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Black Uhuru Gets Dubbie with Sly & Robbie
A look back at Sinsemilla, Red, and The Dub Factor
Back in my college days I attended a Black Uhuru concert in St. Louis. I was interested in reggae largely because of the influence of punk bands of the day, such as the Clash and the Members, who were incorporating reggae into their own sounds. Uhuru was working with Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, the rhythm section responsible for laying down tracks on some of Peter Tosh’s best-known albums, including Equal Rights, Legalize It, and Bush Doctor.
Continue reading Black Uhuru Gets Dubbie with Sly & RobbieI Am Shelby Lynne: 20 Years After
Bennie Maupin: Early Reflections
The return of Bennie Maupin to somewhat regular recording, beginning with his first Cryptogramophone release Penumbra in 2006, is one of jazz music’s more welcome stories of the past few years. Maupin, widely known for his work with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock through the late 1960s and well into the 1970s, is a strong tenor saxophonist, bass clarinetist, and also plays soprano sax and flute. In addition, he is a top-notch composer, and his 1975 ECM release The Jewel In the Lotus, has long been considered a classic recording (ECM just reissued the album for the first time on CD last year).
Continue reading Bennie Maupin: Early ReflectionsBennie Maupin Ensemble: Penumbra
Bennie Maupin is a master of improvisational music and of the woodwind instruments. He has worked with some of the most creative musicians and most innovative ensembles of all time.
Continue reading Bennie Maupin Ensemble: PenumbraSonny Rollins Volume One
At the end of 1956 Sonny Rollins ended his six-year period of recording at Prestige Records, and he proceeded to record prolifically for the next two years for a variety of labels. Rather than accept the advances against royalties arrangement of his Prestige contract, Rollins opted to be paid by the session, without royalty provisions. He recorded this way for Lester Koenig at Contemporary, Orrin Keepnews at Riverside, and Alfred Lion at Blue Note, as well as recording a variety of performances, both as leader and sideman, for EmArcy, Verve, and Atlantic. This period culminated in the famous vacation from recording that found Rollins practicing nightly on the George Washington Bridge.
Continue reading Sonny Rollins Volume OneSam Rivers: Fuchsia Swing Song
In the autumn of 1964 tenor saxophonist Sam Rivers spent two months on tour with the Miles Davis quintet. This was the group that, with the addition of Wayne Shorter, would become known as Davis’ “Second Great Quintet.” Miles found the young tenor man to be too “out there” for his group, influenced as he was by avant-gardists such as Eric Dolphy, Ornette Coleman, Albert Ayler, and Archie Shepp.
Continue reading Sam Rivers: Fuchsia Swing SongCharlie Rouse: Bossa Nova Bacchanal
I love bossa jazz, but let’s face it, during the early 1960s there were so many instrumental boss nova albums cut that it’s sometimes hard to get enthusiastic when yet another surfaces from the back catalogues. Listeners really need to sit up and take notice of this reissue by tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse, though. Bossa Nova Bacchanal is a real lost treasure.
Continue reading Charlie Rouse: Bossa Nova Bacchanal10 Blue Note Records You May Not Know
by Marshall Bowden
Many record collectors and jazz fans will tell you that there are really no obscure Blue Note records because, during its 80 year history, more ink has been spilled over Blue Note records than almost any other label you can think of.
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