Jazz

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Let's Eat Home," the new album by singer/songwriter Dave Frishberg. It's on the Concord Jazz label.

Singer and actress Annie Ross. Ross is best-known as a member of the jazz vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. She also wrote "Twisted," which was recorded by both Joni Mitchell and Bette Midler. She made her acting debut in the 1974 play "Kennedy's Children," and has appeared in such films as The Homecoming, Yanks, and Superman III. Her latest role is in the film "Basket Case 2."

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new album by German jazz organist Barbara Dennerlein (DEN-er-line). The album, "Straight Ahead!" is her first to be released in the U.S. and Kevin says part of the reason for its success is that Dennerlein doesn't sound like other jazz organists.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new album from tenor and soprano saxophonist Bill Pierce. It's called "Equilateral," and it's on Sunnyside Records.

On the 25th anniversary of the death of Nat King Cole, jazz critic Kevin Whitehead has an appreciation of the well-known singer, and he takes a look at Cole's often overlooked skills as a jazz pianist. (By the way, Nat King Cole actually died on February 15th, but we're running the piece today, a couple of days early).

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the music of two tenor saxophonists, who are father and son. Von Freeman from the Chicago blues style, plays with his son, Chico Freeman, on the album "Freeman & Freeman," (on the India Navigation label). Whitehead also reviews Von Freeman's album "Walkin Tuff!" (on Chicago's "Southport" label).

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews two new albums by drummer Mel Lewis. Lewis has been leading a New York based band for more than 25 years.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new CD by drummer Cecil Brooks III, "The Collective."

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a reissue of a 1957 album by bassist Wilbur Ware. Kevin says that year was the highlight of Ware's career--he recorded with Sonny Rollins and Thelonius Monk as well as recording his only album as a leader.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new album from pianist Dick Hyman and cornetist Ruby Braff. The pair have been playing together off and on since the mid 70s. This time they've teamed up and revived an old jazz tradition, playing tunes from Broadway. The album's called "Music from My Fair Lady," and it's on Concord Jazz.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead looks back on jazz in the 80s...the big figures, the big trends, the big albums, and he takes a guess as to what the 90s will bring.

Jazz guitarist Jim Hall. In the 50s, Hall was part of the West Coast jazz scene. Several years later he was touring South America with Ella Fitzgerald when the Bossa Nova craze hit. That music's been a lasting influence on Hall. In the 70s, Hall recorded with free-jazz player Ornette Coleman and made several albums with jazz's best bassists. In all, Hall's made more than 100 albums, his latest, with his quartet, is called "All Across The City." It's on the Concord jazz label.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Quincy Jones' new album "Back on the Block." Jones produced the album, co-wrote some of the numbers and performs a bit, but mainly it's a showcase for some of his favorite performers, ranging from Dizzy Gillespie to the rapper Ice-T.

Arranger and baritone saxophonist, Gerry (pronounced "jerry") Mulligan. He's been an innovator in modern jazz orchestration. Early in his career he was staff arranger for Gene Krupa's big band. In 1949 he collaborated with Gil Evans and Miles Davis in the Nonet. The nine-piece band shook up jazz arrangers and launched the era of so-called cool jazz. He achieved international acclaim when he started a "pianoless" quartet with trumpeter Chet Baker in the early 1950's.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a reissue of music by singer and pianist Fats Waller from 1940-1943, the years just before his death. Although this period is considered by many to be his least productive, Kevin says Waller was great at any time.

A live stereo concert with Lenny Pickett and the Borneo Horns. Pickett says the Borneo Horns play rhythmically compelling music using wind instruments, not percussion, to track the rhythm. He formed the band with horn players he met in David Bowie's band. These days, in addition to leading his band, Pickett is an accomplished composer and arranger, and he plays in the band on Saturday Night Live.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Fractured Fairy Tales," the new album by alto saxophonist Tim Berne and his septet. Kevin says Berne started out by putting out his own records and eventually worked his way up to a deal with Columbia. Ironically, they dropped him at the same time he was winning his largest critical acclaim.

South African pianist/composer Abdullah Ibrahim (E-bra-HEEM). His music is influenced by South African vocal and popular music, early American Jazz, church music, and American Jazz of the 1960's and 1970's which was influenced by African music. One of his songs, "Mannenberg is Where It's Happening (Capetown Fringe)," a vocal, was a hit in South Africa and became the anthem for the Soweto uprisings of 1976. Ibrahim formerly went by the name Dollar Brand, and has several albums under that name. Ibrahim lives in New York in self-imposed exile from South Africa.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead takes a historic look at boogie-woogie piano music. Includes such piano players as Meade Lux Lewis, Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson, and Jimmy Yancey.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews clarinetist John Carter's new album, "Shadows on a Wall." The album concludes Carter's 5 album musical saga of the African-American experience. Kevin says the series doesn't recreate history, but it DOES reimagine it.