Feature: Jazzed Up!

Jazz music got me through college. It was impossible for me to study in silence, but music with lyrics distracted me. Inspired by the cover of “God Bless the Child” by Blood Sweat and Tears which included a lot of jazz, I looked into the category. Dave Brubeck and his classic, “Take Five” quickly got my attention. My jazz collection continued to grow. Almost forty years later now, I still love jazz and have included various fusions of the genre in my library. Join me as I write about what I hear and see if it can “jazz me up!”

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• TV Review: Dave Brubeck: In His Own Sweet Way

  “Jazz cries out its soul and nobody cares.” — Erik Satie

  Opinion by FCEtier — on Dec 06, 2010

• Music Review: Spanish Harlem Orchestra - Viva la Tradicion

  This Paul Simon-produced project captures the Latin jazz legacy of passion and beauty.

  Review by FCEtier — on Oct 09, 2010

• Music Review: Kurt Rosenwinkel and OJM - Our Secret World

  An ambitious big-band reworking of seven Rosenwinkel compositions.

  Review by FCEtier — on Oct 04, 2010

• Music Review: The Trio of Oz - The Trio of Oz

  “There are only two types of music - good and bad.” - Duke Ellington

  Review by FCEtier — on Oct 03, 2010

• Book Review: Saxophone Colossus: A Portrait of Sonny Rollins by Bob Blumenthal, Photography by John Abbott

  Photographers at all levels of skill will enjoy a close examination of Abbot’s work.

  Review by FCEtier — on Oct 01, 2010

• Music Review: Berlin Voices About Christmas

  Get jazzed up with Berlin Voices for Christmas and repeat the sounding joy!

  Review by FCEtier — on Sep 28, 2010

• Music Review: Axel Krygier - Pesebre

  New sounds from Argentinian Axel Krygier combining jazz, rock, electronica, cumbia, native folklore and experimental music.

  Review by FCEtier — on Sep 27, 2010

• Music Review: The Bad Plus — Never Stop

  The Bad Plus marks a decade of pace setting progressive music with a new CD that represents two firsts: all original songs and all instrumental.

  Review by FCEtier — on Sep 15, 2010

• Music Review: Toots Thielemans — The Live Takes Vol. 1

  “Nine superb tracks recorded in various locations between March 1994 and December 1998.” - Jazz Promo Services

  Review by FCEtier — on Sep 14, 2010

• Music Review: Landsberger and Morello - Hammond Eggs

  Puns are great but the music on "Hammond Eggs" is no joke.

  Review by FCEtier — on Sep 13, 2010

• Music Review: Dave Bass Quartet - Gone

  Engaging melodies and memorable lyrics make this music not only accessible, but appealing to those not previously familiar to jazz.

  Review by FCEtier — on Sep 09, 2010

• Music Review: Buselli Wallarab Jazz Orchestra — Where or When

  “Sometimes a single statement of the tune is all that is needed, as repetition can diffuse the intimacy of simple poetry.” — Brent Walarab

  Review by FCEtier — on Aug 30, 2010

• Music Review: James Moody - Moody 4B

  "Jazz is a spiritual music, and anything that's spiritual can't go along with what the devil does, OK?" - James Moody

  Review by FCEtier — on Aug 27, 2010

• Music Review: Piano Red — The Lost Atlanta Tapes

  “The creation of American music came from the blues. I used to live the blues years ago and that’s when I learned to play ’em.”

  Review by FCEtier — on Aug 23, 2010

• Music Review: Dave Anderson Quartet - Clarity

  “It’s great to hear someone care for the soprano saxophone.” — Bassist Rufus Reid

  Review by FCEtier — on Aug 23, 2010

• Music Review: Dave Wilson Quartet - Spiral

  This is jazz. Pure, traditional quartet jazz with an edge. Not “saxophone karaoke with a music machine”!

  Review by FCEtier — on Aug 13, 2010

• Music Review: New Latin Quarter Presents The Jazz & Blues Collection Volume I

  Basin Street is the street where the elite always meet — but not in Japan. It's the New Latin Quarter!

  Review by FCEtier — on Aug 12, 2010

• Music Review: Bob Mintzer - Canyon Cove

  “The sound of the Hammond B3 was and is so rich in overtone, and has the ability to sound like a much larger ensemble while maintaining the intimacy of a small band.” — Bob Mintzer

  Review by FCEtier — on Aug 11, 2010

• Music Review: The Monterey Quartet - Live at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival

  It’s a very powerful thing for sure, when the musicians are in sync with their instruments and each other and the music along with a “oneness” with the audience.

  Review by FCEtier — on Aug 07, 2010

• Music Review: O.K. Jazz Orchestra - Roots of OK Jazz

  The production quality of this CD is spectacular, especially considering that most of these songs originated from 78 rpm records.

  Review by FCEtier — on Aug 05, 2010