Bill Evans Trio: Live in Buenos Aires (1979)

This 2CD set features the brilliant pianist Bill Evans with bassist Marc Johnson and Joe LaBarbera on drums live in concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina on September 27, 1979.

A great deal of music by this trio has been released and I am not familiar with most of it, but the music on this CD is so good that I doubt there are many recordings of this group that are significantly better. If you like the 2 volumes of the Paris Concert you will like this. In fact I think it is a bit superior to those recordings. But for one item: on some tracks there is an audible 60 hertz hum on one channel. This is annoying when listening through headphones with good bass response, but almost unnoticeable through average speakers. If you have a subwoofer and like to crank it up, this hum (not always present) probably will bother you.

Tracklist:

CD1

1. Stella By Starlight

2. Laurie

3. Theme From MASH

4. Turn Out The Stars

5. I Do It For Your Love

6. My Romance

7. Letter To Evan

CD2

1. I Loves You Porgy

2. Up With The Lark

3. Minha

4. Someday My Prince Will Come

5. If You Could See Me Now

6. Nardis

Live in Buenos Aires 1979

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Bruce Cox: Stick to It (1996)

Bruce enrolled in the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts after graduating from high school in 1978. One year later he joined the Intergalactic Sun Ra Arkestra (1980). After 6 months on the road with Sun Ra he returned to study at Berklee College Of Music 1981 in Boston. Bruce then moved to Paris France in 1983 where he studdied West African Drumming. Upon returning to the United States in 1984 he played with several street bands in NYC. The first break came in 1986 when Bruce met Rodney Jones who introduced him to Fred Wesley which led to gigs and recordings with Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker and Pee Wee Ellis. The rhythm section of Fred's band - Peter Madsen, Dwyane Dolphin and Bruce Cox - formed the trio 'Three of a Kind' in 1990 and Bruce completed his debut recording entitiled STICK TO IT released in Europe 1996 and USA 1997.

Tracklist:

01 - Monkey {Cox} 6:05

02 - Malcolm's Mood {Cox} 7:26
03 - Serenghetti Slide {Cox} 6:54
04 - Marie-Line {Cox} 6:23
05 - Strode Rode {Rollins} 4:56
06 - Like Someone in Love {Burke, VanHeusen} 4:39
07 - Happy House {Coleman} 8:07
08 - Calaba {Essiet} 7:08
Personnel:
Ravi Coltrane: Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor)
Bruce Cox: Drums, Producer
Dwayne Dolphin: Bass
Essiet Essiet: Bass
Donald Harrison: Sax (Alto)
Dave Kikoski: Piano
Annette Lowman: Vocals
Peter Madsen: Piano
Jeff Williams: Percussion
Stick to It
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Mike Stern: Play (1999)

Mike Stern is a preeminent guitarist for two key reasons: One, he can play all styles very well and with equal command; and two, he plays very well with all other players. He always shows great respect for those with whom he is playing and gives them each the time and space to develop their musical ideas. Stern displays these two qualities in abundance on Play. Several notable guests join Stern and his core band for this release. Guitarists John Scofield and Bill Frisell and drummer Dennis Chambers each team with Stern on several tracks. If you enjoy straight-ahead jazz, listen to Stern and Scofield on the title track, or mix in Bob Malach's tenor sax on "Outta Town." If you like your guitar music slightly more spacious and lyrical, try Stern and Frisell on the hypnotic "Blue Tone" or the pensive "All Heart." Finally, if you want to turn up the heat and move into some rock/funk-influenced fusion, then check out the groovy "Tipatina's," the bold rocker "Link," or the intensely funky "Big Kids." It is no surprise, based on his other work, that Chambers, in particular, gives the band a kick in the musical pants inspiring bassist Lincoln Goines to enjoy the ride. Play is an outstanding guitar album from the highly accomplished and incredibly versatile Mike Stern. It is highly recommended.

Tracklist
1. Play (7:13)
2. Small World (5:24)
3. Outta Town (6:08)
4. Blue Tone (6:43)
5. Tipatina's (6:33)
6. All Heart (6:22)
7. Frizz (5:39)
8. Link (6:52)
9. Goin' Under (4:07)
10. Big Kids (7:27)
Play
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Steps Ahead: Step by Step (1980)

This killer group consists of Michael Brecker (ts), Steve Gadd (d), Eddie Gomez (b) Don Grolnick (p), and Mike Mainieri (vibes). One of three releases available from Japan only, this excellent recording was recorded in the studio under the name Steps.

Tracklist

01. Uncle Bob
02. Kyoto
03. Belle
04. Bullet Train
05. Six Persimmons
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Fiction: Loose Translation (2003)

Fiction is a fusion band from Portland, Oregon, and sounds like Mahavishnu (indeed - pay attention to the violin... it's very cool!) crossed with instrumental Rush with a dash of King Crimson. Fiction was together from 1998 to 2003 with some line-up changes, though the core group of bassist, drummer and guitarist was consistent throughout that time. This is their only official CD. The drummer (me) has continued to make music in this vein with a band called Graxxus, though we have not yet released a CD with our present line-up, which is identical to the one below in terms of instrumentation. Check out our myspace page for full song samples, though. Listed here is the lineup that recorded Loose Translation and the compositional credits for each song. I’m glad someone out there likes what we were doing. (Brian Christopher).

Tracklist:
01. Thought You Were Someone Else (6:59)
02. Under the Gunn (5:40)
03. Wu Li (6:41)
04. Loose Translation (6:46)
05. Leviathan (8:14)
06. Matantha (6:06)
07. Astrology (7:36)
08. Languidicity (6:10)
09. Vehicle (4:54)
10. Waxing Isometric (6:23)
11. Generations (8:06)
Personnel
Ryan Thomas - electric basses, keyboards
Brian Christopher - drums, percussives
Kevin Ertel - electric & acoustic guitars
Brian Eliason - electric & acoustic violins
Bret Malmquist - additional electric guitars
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Ansgar Specht: Electric Jazz Quartet (2001)

German Jazz Guitar Player Ansgar Specht plays on the Jazz Scene in Europe since 20 Jears. After private Studies for 5 Jears at french Gitarrist Philippe Caillat and a Study on the "Street", he performed in Netherlands, Germany, Spain and the United States. He produced 5 Solo CDs and as Recording Artist you can join his Playing on many CDs too. Right now he 's performing with his "Ansgar Specht Group" in the Jazz Clubs arround Germany a groovy Mix from Popular Modern Jazz to Nu Jazz, Fusion and Lounge.Also his CD's have a lot of Airplay in Radio and TV Stations. His last Album "Diversion" was released on the 25th Sept 2009.

Tracklist

1. Never Again (5:27)
2. Next Please (4:17)
3. Incognito (4:04)
4. South C (4:36)
5. Road Song (4:53)
6. Slow Motion (5:44)
7. When You Leave (5:15)
8. On Sunday (4:45)
9. Crack House (3:11)
10. Looks Bad, Feels Good (5:44)
http://www.ansgarspecht.de
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Dietmar Osterburg Trio: Inside Out (2010)

The first musical experiences of the Braunschweig guitarist, double bass player and composer Dietmar Osterburg had nothing to do with Jazz. For ten years he studied classical violin in the tradition of his family, playing in orchestra as well as winning prizes in many solo competitions.

Tracklist
01. Recurrence 5:05
02. Reverse 7:04
03. Turn again 6:20
04. Mosaic 5:37
05. Time out of mind 5:48
06. Inside out 5:48
07. Early 5:28
08. Right ahead 7:20
09. Meanwhile 7:26
10. Asken 6:34
11. The way through 4:48
12. Crossing 4:08
Inside out
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