MAIN EVENT. A Good Place to Get Started --- a.k.a "Table of Contents"
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MAIN EVENT. A Good Place to Get Started --- a.k.a "Table of Contents" |
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Guitarist Kenny Poole, who possesses one of the most attractive sounds in todays jazz circles, pays tribute to the late guitarist George Van Eps in an excellent new album, "For George: Tribute to a Master" (J Curve Records).
You've got to be a proficient player to perform unaccompanied, which Poole does with finesse and more than a touch of soul. He plays solo on ten of the albums 15 tracks. The remaining five include superb support from drummer John Von Ohlen and vibist Dick Sisto.
The tunes are all in the classic mode, guaranteed delights and worthy of being given this distinguished attention. The song list includes, "Just You, Just Me," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "You Make Me Feel So Young" and one of my all-time favorites, "Lullaby of Birdland."
Van Eps deserves the tribute paid on this album. Working from the 1930s on, he called his guitar a "lap piano." Working in studio sessions for decades, Van Eps appeared on literally thousands of dates. He was one of the musicians that other musicians knew and respected, while mostly obscure to the general public.
Kenny Poole might be placed in that same category. Hes much better than his commercial success might indicate. He started in the business by working with James Brown in the 1970s, then became a regular in various clubs around Cincinnati. His record career is almost new, his first album being released in 1998.
J Curve, a two-year-old label based in Cincinnati, has made impressive strides with a solid array of excellent CD offerings that have gained attention across the country. "For George: Tribute to a Master" deserves wide distribution and perhaps a place in your record collection.
The list includes such winners as "Rufty Tufty," "Twas in the Pleasant Month of May" and the wonderfully funny, "Down with the French." Both Pint and Dale possess excellent voices and their enunciation makes each word of a song crystal clear.
You don't have to be a folk aficionado to like this album.
The Rat Pack era continues to flourish, at least on the new CD from Darren. "This Ones From the Heart" (Concord Records) is a swinging collection of Big Band classics, featuring Darrens excellent voice sounding at times like a hologram of Frank Sinatra.
Darren handles himself with ease throughout. The song selection is downright spectacular, including such classics as "The Best Is Yet to Come, "Come Fly With Me," "Just in Time," "The Way You Look Tonight," and many more.
Speaking of good blues performers, give a listen to the new one from Mason Ruffner. "You Cant Win" (Burnside Records) is one of the "live" albums recorded in the studio without many tricks being performed by the techie people. So many blues albums these days get stripped of their power and attitude through studio dubbing and re-arranging. This is Ruffner in the raw, and if youre a blues fan, youll find it a doozy of a party.
Funny Folk
If youre like me, a good round of folk music can sweep away troubles and cares. Ive been impressed with the work of William Pint and Felicia Dale, whose new release, "Hartwell Horn" (Waterbug Records) contains 15 songs that should keep you entertained for hours and hours.
Just Like Frank?
James Darren has been around show business a long, long time. He had a run as a leading man in 22 Hollywood films, including "The Guns of Navarone" and "Gidget." In recent years, Darren has been busy in TV, in particular the long-running "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." In that show, he played Vic Fontaine, an interactive hologram of a swinging 1960s Rat Pack Era singer.
The album contains 17 outstanding songs, a virtual hit list of the best music from the glory days of Las Vegas. Darren might be seen by some as foolhardy in tackling material given an indelible and unforgettable rendering by the Chairman of the Board. But Darren wisely doesnt attempt to emulate Sinatra so much as to pay tribute to the Old Master. Theres nothing in the albums notes that makes any mention of this being a tribute to Sinatra and the Old Days.
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Bugs in 82
Bugs Henderson has a wide following in the blues field, and this re-issue of a 1982 session will give Hendersons many fans the opportunity to hear what he sounded like in the early years of his successful career. Hendersons music always is marked by humor and tremendous energy. He sounded great in 82 and he continues to impress all these years later. "Back Bop: The Unreleased 82 Sessions" (Burnside Records) demonstrates how good hes always been.
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