Woman's Day
Artist: Ron Miles

This is an eccentric and varied date featuring the consistently inventive trumpeter Ron Miles, guitarist Bill Frisell (his regular employer at the time), bassist Artie Moore, and drummer Rudy Royston (along with a few added guests). The music ranges from freakout rock to introspective ballads, from rhythmic pieces to some spacier sounds. Miles... Read More

Bladik
Artist: Elton Dean
Bang On!
Artist: Billy Bang

Bang is well-regarded as one of the premier progressive jazz violinists, and this recording, not surprisingly, shows him balancing music both inside and out. Pianist D.D. Jackson follows these modern traditionalist lines, while unheralded bassist Akira Ando holds up things nicely, and drummer Ronnie Burrage constructs and deconstructs rhythms in... Read More

Gone, Just Like a Train
Artist: Bill Frisell

Drawing from all over the musical spectrum, Frisell selects drummer Jim Keltner (best known for his records with George Harrison, Eric Clapton and other rock stars) and bassist Viktor Krauss (a fixture in Lyle Lovett's country band), and comes up with an immensely likable, easy-grooving CD that defies one to put a label on it. If anything,... Read More

In the World: From Natchez to New York
Artist: Olu Dara
Community Score: 10.00

This CD is certainly a surprise. Well known as a lyrical avant-garde cornetist, Olu Dara emerges here as an effective country-blues singer and guitarist. Fortunately Dara does not neglect his cornet but the music is definitely much different than one might expect. The material, all written by Dara, deals with country life, difficulties with... Read More

Ten Bulls
Artist: Douglas September

This national debut from singer/songwriter Douglas September is a somewhat mixed affair, with its supremely derivative premise yet occasionally touching lyricism. September's subdued delivery and overall approach is more than just Dylanesque, it's almost a tribute that while sincere, is hard to appreciate for its own vision and quality. Joining... Read More

Faze Phour: A Twenty Year Retrospective
Artist: String Trio of New York

Although sometimes classified as "avant-garde," much of the music on this outing by the String Trio of New York is fairly straightforward, at least until the final two selections. The group's new violinist, Diane Monroe, fits into the intuitive and fairly explorative music quite well, and she swings hard in spots. Melodic originals alternate... Read More

Oh, What A Thrill
Artist: Barbara Sfraga

The 1990s were full of unimaginative Sarah Vaughan clones and faceless Ella Fitzgerald imitators who failed to bring anything fresh or personal to jazz singing -- like a lot of "Young Lion" instrumentalists, they were stuck in the past and refused to leave their comfort zones even for a minute. But the 1990s also brought us some impressive... Read More