On the ABC television series “Pan Am,” we follow the lives of a crew working for the legendary airline as they crisscross the globe in what is regarded as ‘the golden age of air travel’—a time with few (if any) security issues, no luggage fees and complimentary meals on board. In the background of each episode the music from the time plays, according to each destination the group flies to.

Many of the songs on the soundtrack CD are related to flying, including Ella Fitzgerald’s “Blue Skies,” Buddy Greco’s “Around The World” and Dinah Washington’s “Destination Moon.” Getz/Gilberto’s “The Girl From Ipanema” and Sergio Mendes’ “Mas Que Nada” represent the bossa nova era (one of the early episodes takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Read the rest of this entry »

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Though Billie Holiday died in 1959 pretty much in disgrace (she was technically under arrest as she lay dying in a New York hospital), her legacy as a jazz performer lives on thanks to countless reissues of her recordings and tributes from many contemporary jazz artists influenced by her work. Even though she has been gone for more than half a century, her unique delivery of tunes like “I’m a Fool to Want You,” “God Bless The Child” and “Lady Sings The Blues” are testament of the great talent taken away from us too soon. Incidentally, her recording of “I’m a Fool To Want You” was recently used as the backdrop for a Chanel commercial featuring French actress Audrey Tautou and Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro. Read the rest of this entry »

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For this celebration of Latin jazz, pianist Bill O’Connell partners with legendary reed man Paquito d’ Rivera (who burst to fame during his years with Latin fusion band Irakere), Richie Flores (congas), Dave Samuels (vibes) and Dave Valentin  (flute). Together, they take listeners on a very intense musical journey.

Among the highlights is an interesting take on “’Round Midnight,” the classic Thelonious Monk tune that has been recreated by various artists through the years. D’Rivera takes the lead on the main melody, while O’Connell and Flores provide a solid backup that includes a few smart Afro-Cuban piano riffs. Read the rest of this entry »

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When Bill Wyman left the Rolling Stones in 1992, fans of the septuagenarian bassist thought he would simply retire and concentrate on Sticky Fingers, his United States-themed cafe (according to Keith Richards’ best-selling autobiography) and his signature metal detector. However, nothing could be further from the truth. He has kept quite busy with his Rhythm Kings, a band he founded in 1998 with longtime musical partner Terry Taylor. Read the rest of this entry »

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If drummer Roy Haynes isn’t an unsung hero of American jazz, a host of folks he recorded with are. Surely, doing time with players like Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk means at least a little something to those not enamored of America’s most enduring art form. But moments from the work of other players serve to elucidate the hardscrabble path to creative freedom only a few folks achieved without becoming icons. Multi-instrumentalist Eric Dolphy embraced a more erratic and fractured style, but was able to create a unique dialect within the medium. Read the rest of this entry »

During this time of year, music stores and their online counterparts get filled with rereleases that range from remastered versions of holiday classics from Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra to not-so-great offerings from the likes of Christina Aguilera and even former Beatle Ringo Starr (who made a whole album about a decade ago). And then again there are those faux-humorous songs about daddy getting drunk at Christmas while grandma was run over by a reindeer. While some of these examples are genuinely enjoyable, many are better left where they belong—in the bargain bin.

But the truth remains that for many people a Christmas party is not quite complete without holiday music, so there definitely is always a market for these albums—even if we have been hearing them day in and day out at the local grocery store since late October. In spite of that sensory overload, some new
releases deserve to be checked out, especially for artists who decide to present these classics from a different perspective. Read the rest of this entry »

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Ann Arbor’s funky ensemble Nomo can’t have its music reduced to a simple blurb. But it says a great deal about any working band when the four covers it counts over a career comprising just as many discs are from the utterly dissimilar catalogs of Segun Bucknor, Joanna Newsom, Moondog and Tom Zé. As wild as that combination sounds, Nomo works within some self-imposed restraints. The group’s first disc, a 2004 self-titled effort, can be wrapped easily in the afro-beat mantle. Read the rest of this entry »

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On the follow-up to 2007’s ”Jobim Jazz,” guitarist and arranger Mario Adnet continues to explore the lesser-known catalogue of Antonio Carlos Jobim from a contemporary jazz perspective. Among the selections are tunes the maestro wrote for movie soundtracks, including “O Boto” and “God and the Devil in the Land of the Sun,” the latter of which was featured in the 1964 film of the same name. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Old Town School of Folk Music has been the stage for countless performances for its half-century existence, hosting concerts that run the gamut from Americana to folk-rock and world music and in the meantime giving lesser-known artists a chance to showcase their talents to appreciative audiences that might not be reached otherwise.

To celebrate this, the school is releasing a four-disc box set of recordings made during these shows—some made on the sound board and others captured during radio broadcasts. The full package includes as many as 127 songs that had to be individually cleared with each artist or their estates. Read the rest of this entry »

John Scofield

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Being a bit of everything hasn’t become a problem for John Scofield—it’s just a situation jazz guitarists find themselves in today. Coming along during the seventies, Scofield wound up working in a fusion mold, contributing to discs like flautist Jeremy Steig’s 1977 “Firefly.” After picking out the cheesier moments of the long-player, Scofield clearly becomes the most memorable and powerful player. Read the rest of this entry »