Album Reviews

Recorded in glorious mono in 1956 and issued first in 1957, this set of small combo standards with Cole both singing and playing the piano remains as fresh and vital as it did when originally released. 

Trumpeter Kenny Dorham brought Joe Henderson to Blue Note and on the late tenor saxophonist's second lead album gives him strong support as the two chase each other through some zig-zag bop thickets. "Teeter Totter," the fast-paced Henderson-penned opener alone is worth the price of admission but the other tracks simmer with equal intensity.

What possessed Amanda Palmer to cover Radiohead playing her "magic ukelele"? Who knows? Did this inspire Eddie Vedder to issue a ukelele-based record? What would Arthur Godfrey think of all of this (look him up if you're too young to know who he is)?

 Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice were a couple when they made this REM indebted pop/rock album a few years ago. For all I know they are still a couple. I sure hope so because they make exquisite folk/rock music together, with both sharing guitar and bass playing.

Well after this SACD review had been posted, the double 180g LP arrived. It takes the sound up a significant number of notches, producing greater imaging and staging three dimensionality. The hall reflection is more distinct, King's voice projects further forward and the sometimes rough vocal textures are enhanced in a way that makes it sound more "live.". The string section sounds richer and fuller when it's added and the "you are there" sensation is greatly enhanced overall. If you've not picked this up on SACD, I'd say it's worth spending the extra to get it on LP. A great sounding time capsule for sure!

Underrated and anonymously well-exposed, the Los Angeles session guitarist Howard Roberts played for everyone from Frank, to Elvis, the Beach Boys, the Jackson 5, the Monkees and Dean Martin, to name but a few. That's Howard out front on "The Twilight Zone" theme song, among many others. The guy got around.

The Cuban born, classically trained jazz pianist Elio Villafranca plays in a lyrical, yet not quite florid style that moves from Latin style fiery and dramatic one moment to deeply introspective and abstract the next.