She just finished her European tour. I was lucky to catch up with her in Vienna. I’m still going back to her 1985 LP “Good Morning Kiss”. Her new one, “Soul To Soul”, is her best so far and one of the best recordings of 2014. Happy Birthday Carmen and many more to come!
While I’m still not finished reading his memoir, “Possibilities”, Herbie Hancock is busy on a successful duo tour with fellow pianist Chick Corea. Herbie celebrates his 75th birthday today and as you know, all of his albums are masterpieces, whatever the genre. From his 60s Blue Note Records with the classic “Watermelon Man” or “Cantaloupe…
So it seems that we won’t get any more serious winter days this season since the molehills in the gardens are too high already. Don’t quote me – quote our farmer friend. Gina can’t wait until the garden season starts again – she is already practicing her ball techniques as you can see here.
I’ve been following Kathy’s career since the late 90s and already had the pleasure of hearing her new album which will surely be her best recording up to now. The quality of her singing, the production, and the choice of material, including a couple of originals, are top-notch. Too bad I can’t make it to…
I don’t want this to become an obituary page so I’ll return to reviewing new music soon since new stuff is piling up on my desk, but I’m sad to hear that we have lost yet another legendary musician and singer: Billy Paul has died at age 81. He is best known of course for…
Pianist Kevin Hays has taken a break from his Rhodes and Wurlitzer sounds on his album “New Day” (see review on these pages from Oct 12, 2015) and recorded in acoustic trio format for “North”, his latest release. Music from the album was the main thing at Kitano on Thursday night, where I attended the…
I’m currently reading Ben Sidran‘s fascinating, behind-the-scenes biography of one of the most pivotal producers of the past decades, Tommy LiPuma. He has produced almost everybody from Miles Davis to George Benson, Barbra Streisand to the Manhattan Transfer, Rickie Lee Jones to Michael Franks. And he also produced Diana Krall who reflects: “Tommy was my…