Title: Tim O'Brien & Darrell Scott - Live (We're Usually a Lot Better Than This
Genre: Roots, Singer-Songwriter, Country
Description: Taken from two benefit concerts Tim O'Brien
and Darrell Scott did back in 2006, the performances are so good that it's easy
to forgive the pedestrian sound quality. O'Brien and Scott have an uncanny
ability to musically zig and zag both vocally and instrumentally, that it's
hard to believe they haven't been playing together since birth. Released on
Darrell Scott's Full Light Records, I strongly suggest buying the disc directly
from the artists as opposed to from that big ol' A in the clouds.
Rating (0- 10): Overall - 8, Sonically - 7
Title: Uli Geissendoerfer - Colors
Genre: Jazz
Description: Pianist and composer Uli Geissendoerfer's
special form of atmospheric jazz reminds me of some of the more adventurous
early Windham Hill releases from the '80s. With an occasional percussional or
vocal exclamation to shake up the instrumentation, which consists of piano,
synth, Rhodes, saxophone, bass, and drums, Geissendoerfer's polished, and at
times even breezy, jazz percolates along with well-polished verve and sly
sideways energy. If modern, yet accessible jazz is your thing, you should hear
Uli Geissendoerfer.
Rating (0- 10): Overall - 8, Sonically - 8
Title - Jazz Delights Volume II
Genre: Jazz
Description: On Jazz
Delights Volume II you can hear a baker's dozen of superb recordings that
give you a taste of the breadth of European jazz on the Opus 3 record label. European
jazz is, in my humble opinion, an acquired taste. Some listeners may find the
music is overly left-brained, but no one could complain about the sound quality
here. Every cut is good enough to be used for reference equipment evaluation...
Rating (0- 10): Overall - 8, Sonically - 9
Title: Hillbenders - Can
You Hear Me
Genre: Bluegrass
Description: Although they ARE a bluegrass band, the
Hillbenders do a lot more bending of genres than hills. With not merely good,
but superb multi-part vocals, the Hillbenders could sing the alphabet and make
it interesting. Josh Graves dobro and Mark Cassidy's banjo deliver hot solos
and fills that complement Nolan Lawrence's strong lead vocals and the band's
intricate arrangements. The Hillbender's cover of the power-pop group, The
Romantics, hit "Talking in Your Sleep" is perfect.
Rating (0- 10): Overall - 9, Sonically - 8
Title: Lucy Kaplansky - Reunion
Genre: Singer-Songwriter, Folk
Description: A
couple of years ago Lucy Kaplansky chucked her successful psychology practice
to return to music full-time. Since then she's amassed a string of superb
albums. For her seventh solo effort she's enlisted Buddy Miller, Richard
Shindell, John Gorka, Eliza Gilkyson, and Duke Levine, to create an album of
modern folk songs. The six originals, co-written with Richard Litvin, focus on
Kaplansky's family roots in a Toronto bakery. I dare you to only listen to ONE
song on this album without letting it track to a second and third cut...
Rating (0- 10): Overall - 9, Sonically - 8
