The Little Willies – The Little Willies (Milking Bull/EMI) The Little Willies aren’t just a side project for country-jazz-pop chanteuse Norah Jones and her boyfriend/collaborator Lee Alexander with a bunch of New York muso buddies like Richard Julian, Jim Campilongo and Dan Reiser. They are a legitimate band, a group of separate and equal pub performers … Continue reading
Us3 Questions and Answers by Abraham Kuranga You’ve heard the song a thousand times and probably didn’t know to whom you were listening. The hip-hop meets jazz feel of “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)” undoubtedly made you move to its infectious rhythm. The name of the group, in case you were wondering, is called Us3 (pronounced Us Three) and they … Continue reading
Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass-The Lonely Bull, South of the Border and Lost Treasures (Shout! Factory) Herb Alpert is a giant in the music business. He was a ground-breaking musician with his band the Tijuana Brass (and solo from 1968 on) who wed jazz with Mexican rhythms and opened the door to an entire style of music. He … Continue reading
Herbie Hancock New Directions by Zoran Misetic Herbie Hancock is a true icon of modern music. His explorations of melody have transcended limitations and genres, and at the same time he has maintained an unmistakable voice. Hancock’s success at expanding the possibilities of melodious thought has placed him in the annals of this century’s visionaries. Born into a … Continue reading
Raphael Saadiq The Return of Ray Ray by Abraham Kuranga Raphael Saadiq is cool. Student Council president cool. Zach Morris cool. O.K. well, you get the point. Saadiq is also extremely focused. No stranger to success, Saadiq has reached both highs and lows, but mostly highs, with Tony! Toni! Toné! and later Lucy Pearl. Saadiq … Continue reading
Alison Moyet – Voice (Sanctuary U.K.) Back in 1991, I interviewed Alison Moyet as she was releasing her third solo album HooDoo. At the time, we discussed her biggest international hit, an old-fashioned jazzy sounding cover of Billie Holiday’s “That Ole Devil Called Love.” Although the song topped the charts in most countries outside of the United … Continue reading
Chicago – The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning (Rhino) Very few bands have had two completely separate stylistic periods. The late 60s-early 70s incarnation of Chicago was a pioneering force that wed rock and roll with jazz horns and improvisational playing in a way that was totally unique. By the time the late 70s … Continue reading
Tony Bennett & k.d. lang – A Wonderful World (RPM/Columbia) Last year’s dual tour between old smoothie Bennett and former torch-and-twang gal turned chanteuse lang turned out to be a surprisingly smart pairing. It has now spawned this album; a tribute to Tony’s old pal Louis Armstrong. While the songs of the scratchy-voiced Satchmo may seem like … Continue reading
Norah Jones – Come Away With Me (Blue Note) This is just about the best debut album I’ve heard in years. Jones’ sultry vocals and extraordinary musical taste have led to stunning synthesis of jazz, pop folk and country. The album starts off with the truly astounding “Don’t Know Why” which is simultaneously insanely cool and … Continue reading
Robbie Williams – Swing When Your Winning (Chrysalis UK) It should be no total surprise that British pop phenomenon Robbie Williams would end up doing an album of all covers (okay, there is one original here, but it is written to be a piece with the other songs chosen). After all, Williams’ old band Take That … Continue reading
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