Archive for 'Music'
Norman Brown
When I think of smooth jazz, the first person that comes to mind is guitarist Norman Brown. Norman’s penchant for incorporating stellar musicianship with groove-oriented compositions has proven to be a formula for a very long [...]
Pat Metheney
One of my favorite pastimes is introducing fellow music aficionados to artists who are most likely not familiar to them. I would like to believe that jazz guitarist and composer Pat Metheney does not belong in [...]
Bobby Lyle
I’m sure there are many fantastic musicians that deserve wider public recognition. Keyboardist Bobby Lyle is most definitely in this category. If the reader has been a regular follower of this column, you are aware of [...]
Andy Narell and Steelpans
Any Andy Narell fans out there? How about steelpans? Well, hopefully after you’ve finished reading this article, you will be a fan of both! I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard steelpans played before and [...]
Jazz Vocalists
I trust that you are having a great start to 2013 and will stick to all of your resolutions for the New Year! (Well, at least some of them!) It’s high time to give props to [...]
Vibraphones
In this installment, we will absorb the very mellow and cool vibes of the vibraphone. When I was growing up, those who were, wanted to be or considered themselves as “real cool”, not only listened to [...]
Dexter Wansel
If there was ever a list of musicians that don’t get the recognition that they deserve, Dexter Wansel is very high on that list. And it would not surprise me if the majority of the reading [...]
The greatest concert I ever attended
Thirty years ago, a mere lad of 25, I was already a veteran classical music and jazz fanatic. I bought LPs, attended classical concerts with the Miami Philharmonic, recitals by some pretty great pianists, operas, and [...]
Albert Mangelsdorff
As we continue our tour of the bandstand, I submit to you trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff (September 5, 1928-July 25, 2005). “Mangels who,” you ask. Let us briefly delve into how Mr. Mangelsdorff’s journey led him to [...]
Quincy Jones
Very few musicians, let alone people in general, are recognizable by the first initial of their first name. Quincy Jones, or Q, is one such person. Even though he started out as a jazz trumpeter, Q’s [...]
Chick Corea
This month, I will attempt to serve up a Chick Corea “jazz sandwich”, with thinly sliced commentary “bread” and a healthy portion of musical “meat” (or assorted vegetables for those so inclined) and tasty condiments. Armando [...]
Dapp Theory
Remaining in the realm of fusion, this month’s entry-or entre-features a group that serves up some very tasty tunes for your musical palette-Dapp Theory. Most likely, very few-if any-of the readers have even heard of this [...]
Healing the Recording Industry
The Music Industry may be on the verge of some big changes. What can we do to make sure everyone’s happy this time around? We could start by returning the album to prominence, changing distribution methods, [...]
Weather report
To the uninformed, the term weather report would normally be associated with the Oxford Dictionary definition “the condition of the atmosphere at a certain place and time, with reference to the presence or absence of sunshine, [...]
A Fond Farewell to Levon Helm…
With the recent passing of the GREAT Levon Helm I’ve been listening quite a bit lately to The Band’s albums. Which is nothing new, as living in the Catskills they are a regular part of my [...]
The Saxophone: From Adolphe to Gerald
In contrast to the instrument that was the subject of my previous article, the saxophone was embraced and engulfed by jazz with little, if any, resistance. Unlike the violin, the instrument that is more apt to [...]
Jean Luc Ponty
I am fairly certain that if I asked 10 people to name the instrument that they most associate with jazz, very few, if any of them would name the violin. The gentleman who is the subject [...]
Wes Montgomery
In my book, Wes Montgomery is one of the greatest and the most influential jazz guitarist who ever lived. He had a style and a sound that was uniquely his and would influence every jazz guitarist [...]
Gene Krupa
I have had the privilege of seeing and hearing some incredible drummers in my lifetime. Because of the physicality and endurance required to play the drums, I don’t recall seeing very many drummers smiling, laughing and [...]
Musicians are Occupied Right Now
There’s been a lot of talk lately about the lack of music produced in conjunction with the Occupiers and various social reform movements that characterized the past year. Seeger, Guthrie, Baez, et al. played their way [...]
Favorite Independent Label Releases of 2011
Reviews of new releases from Bill Nelson, Cowboy Junkies, A Winged Victory For The Sullen: three of my favorite 2011 recordings. BILL NELSON Fantasmatron Be Bop Deluxe founder Bill Nelson brings fresh potency to the term [...]
Three best guitarists
When you think of bands that produced legendary guitarists, most people automatically default to the Yardbirds. The legendary triumvirate of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page rank in the top ten in Rolling Stone magazines [...]
Kittyhawk Takes a New Flight Path
Keith Copeland shows us a wild new instrument called a Chapman Stick and it is the basis of some really innovative and fresh new music by the group Kittyhawk. Jazz at it's best. [...]
Reconciling Holiday Music
Dum Dum Girls and the Crocodiles- “Merry Christmas Baby (Please Dont Die)”: The other day, seeking shelter from cold, December winds, my girlfriend and I stepped into a Starbucks. Five minutes later, seated and sipping dirt-water [...]
The history of music and hi fi part 2
In 1957 I was at a store with my father. This place sold cameras, records and audio gear. I noticed a Pentron reel to reel tape deck. On it was the word “Stereo.” I asked what it meant. [...]
The history of music and hi fi part 1
Here we are a decade beyond the new century. Where we are today in the enjoyment of music. The steps taken to get here have taken over a century. In the beginning, listening to music could only [...]
10 Things Happening in Music Right Now
Appreciation for detail is a major prerequisite for an interest in HiFi audio. I like to think that we appreciate the details because we appreciate music. We build our systems and components, and engineer our recordings [...]
Stanley Clarke-Living Bass Legend
Stanley Clarke is perhaps one of the best bass players to have ever lived. Anyone interested in the Jazz artform should read this article by Keith Copeland on one of our greatest living legends of [...]
The forgotten albums from the summer of love
The summer of love was a huge one for music but we'll bet you didn't know half the story then or now. Charles Albert jumps in from personal experience in this fascinating article. [...]
Gone Too Soon: Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown was one of the best trumpet players to ever grace the stage and his life ended tragically and too soon. Here's the amazing story. [...]
Jazz for TV and film
Mission impossible? You bet, jazz composers have written many TV and film scores you're familiar with. [...]
Woodstock a fresh perspective
We've just past the 42nd anniversary of Woodstock, the giant music festival in New York - when rock music was at its heyday. That got Charles Albert thinking and his comments and evaluations of the [...]
The Outsider Sound That Will Save Pop Music
Classical music may be the “highest” genre -speaking in terms of music as an art form- but Pop, accessible to all, with a simple, easily digested structure uniquely conducive to the concise and pleasurable expression of [...]
Jazz – what the heck is it?
Not into Jazz yet? Keith Copeland walks us through the history as we start our journey into a great musical art form. [...]
Bob Dylan’s – Blood on the Tracks
Dylan's latest release is reviewed for PS Tracks by Gilbert Heatherwick and he loves it! [...]
Classic Rock Corner
What is it that makes a piece of rock music "Classic"? What is it that can make a bar full of complete strangers start to bob their heads in unison and sing along upon hearing the [...]
Steve Tibbetts’ “Complex Little Cathedrals”
What album would work best with a lazy Sunday morning with coffee and the paper? A long drive in the country? While preparing for a hectic commute? Reining in focus in order to study? Winding down after [...]
Wagner’s ring for Audiophiles part 2
In this, the second part of Jason Victor Serinus epic Wagner's ring for Audiophiles, we dig deeper into the Ring Cycle and have a lot of great musical clips as examples. [...]
Wagner’s Ring for Audiophiles part 1
Richard Wagner's four-opera Ring Cycle is beloved of some, and anathema to others. Reviewer, music critic and Audiophile Jason Victor Serinus helps us appreciate Wagner and his mammoth creation in this two-part survey, complete with audio [...]
Music Spins Me Right Round
Crank it up! Eddie Van Halen, Buffalo Springfield, Elvis Costello and Jazz great Oliver Nelson's new vinyl releases are reviewed in this edition of Josh Bizar's great column on vinyl and music that keeps us [...]
Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominoes (Eric Clapton) - 1970 Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs 96/24 High Definition Download / From HDtracks. Here's a great review on this new release of a classic band that [...]
Elton John in High Definition
There are now 5 Elton John 24/96kHz releases available for download and writer Gilbert Heatherwick is hearing things not found on the original vinyl pressings or the 44.1/16bit releases most of us have. [...]
It spins me right round like a record baby
Great reviews of music on vinyl from Josh Bizar. Fleetwood MAC, Charles Mingus, Stevie Ray Vaughan and the new Pink Floyd release. This is vinyl at its best from someone who certainly knows. [...]
Reflections on Recording Vijay Iyer’s latest album
What's the recording process like when making a high-end album from scratch? Blue Coast Records engineer Cookie Marenco walks us through the process of making a high-end recording with artist Vijay Lyer. [...]
Get 50% off HD Tracks download
It seems everyone wants to try a high resolution download. Here's a 50% off discount coupon you can use to join with everyone else and get some great music as well. The album is [...]
Paul Simon – SO BEAUTIFUL OR SO WHAT
Paul Simon hasn't had an album released in five years, so what's the opinion on his latest release? Reviewer Gilbert Heatherwick reviews Paul Simon's latest release So beautiful or so what. See what he [...]
Downloads and serious music collecting
What's it like to go from years of collecting vinyl, moving on to collecting CD's and then transfer all that to a hard disc drive to make a new system? Gilbert Heatherwick walks us through [...]
Vinyl on the big system
Thanks Michael and good to see you again in Munich. I am washing each
Vinyl on the big system
I am a old FOH (front of house) engineer with over 35 years in the fie
Vinyl on the big system
Don't know why comment appears twice. Don't know why comment appears t
Vinyl on the big system
Sorry Paul, but if you're consistently hearing surface noise, pops and
Vinyl on the big system
Sorry Paul, but if you're consistently hearing surface noise, pops and