Jazz

Mark Mosley TLC Album Review

Mark Mosley TLC Album Review

Posted October 31, 2010 at 11:27 am | One comment

Review of D.C. area guitarist Mark Mosley’s latest album, TLC.

Posted in: Jazz, Jazz Reviews, Reviews

Abshire and Wingo: Detour Ahead Review

Abshire and Wingo: Detour Ahead Review

Posted October 27, 2010 at 1:00 pm | One comment

Guitarists Steve Abshire and Paul Wingo join forces here to pay tribute to two departed friends. Herb Ellis and Barney Kessel were members of “The Great Guitars” with Charlie and Joe Byrd. They also made their individual marks as legendary players over brilliant and lengthy careers. Abshire and Wingo honor their contributions to the genre with Detour Ahead, a compelling collection of jazz standards.

Posted in: Jazz, Jazz Reviews, Reviews

The Gateway to Rhythm DVD Review

The Gateway to Rhythm DVD Review

Posted October 25, 2010 at 1:00 pm | One comment

Like many Western musicians, the Indian rhythmic system known as Konokol has always been a bit of a mystery to me. I’ve heard the seemingly complex rhythmic-pattern language on many recordings, but as interesting as it sounds, the sometimes rapid-fire vocalizations (Takita, Taka Dimi, etc.) have always befuddled me.

Posted in: DVD Reviews, Jazz, Reviews

Chicago Guitar Festival 2010: Paulinho Garcia and Badi Assad Review

Chicago Guitar Festival 2010: Paulinho Garcia and Badi Assad Review

Posted October 11, 2010 at 1:00 pm | 2 comments

Review of Badi Assad and Paulinho Garcia’s performance at the 2010 Chicago Guitar Festival.

Posted in: Concert Reviews, Jazz, Reviews

Savassi Jazz Festival 2010: Guitars Galore

Savassi Jazz Festival 2010: Guitars Galore

Posted September 22, 2010 at 12:00 pm | One comment

Almost by pure coincidence I found myself in Belo Horizonte, Brazil during the first week of August, 2010, just as the city’s annual Savassi Jazz Festival was fully under way.

Posted in: Concert Reviews, Jazz, Reviews

Pro Music Guitar Seminar Brazil Summer 2010

Pro Music Guitar Seminar Brazil Summer 2010

Posted September 22, 2010 at 11:09 am | 2 comments

One of the coolest aspects to being a musician, educator and writer, is that I get to work with and meet countless amazing people during the course of my work week.

Posted in: Jazz, Reviews, Workshops and Events

On Stage With Paulinho Garcia: Brazilian Guitar at its Best

On Stage With Paulinho Garcia: Brazilian Guitar at its Best

Posted September 19, 2010 at 12:14 pm | 5 comments

On a cool, rainy fall evening in downtown Chicago, the kind of day that painfully reminds the city’s residents that the long, cold winter is fast approaching, the Paulinho Garcia Quartet featuring Art Davis took the stage at the Auditorium Theater and warmed the crowd with two breathtaking sets of Brazilian standards and arrangements of American jazz classics.

Posted in: Concert Reviews, Jazz, Reviews

Fabrizio Sotti Inner Dance Review

Fabrizio Sotti Inner Dance Review

Posted September 18, 2010 at 11:00 am | One comment

Guitarist and composer Fabrizio Sotti released his much anticipated jazz album Inner Dance earlier this year after taking a hiatus from the jazz world. For the past few years Sotti was making a name for himself in the hip hop and rock world, and was keeping himself busy working with well known artists like Dead Prez, Q-Tip, Tupac Shakur, Jennifer Lopez, and Whitney Houston.

Posted in: Jazz, Jazz Reviews, Reviews

Continental Talk by Ratko Zjaca

Continental Talk by Ratko Zjaca

Posted August 20, 2010 at 6:19 am | No comments

This is the debut recording of Croatian guitarist Ratko Zjaca. It is comprised of original material penned by Zjaca and saxophonist Stanislav Mitrovic.

Posted in: Jazz, Jazz Reviews, Reviews

If You Would Dance by The Wayne Brasel Quartet Review

If You Would Dance by The Wayne Brasel Quartet Review

Posted August 11, 2010 at 6:45 am | No comments

One huge benefit of professionally reviewing jazz guitarists is discovering new voices. There are many fine players today who go largely undiscovered.

Posted in: Jazz, Jazz Reviews, Reviews