OSCAR D’LEON
– CLASICOS DE BIG BAND (BIG BAND CLASSICS)
A really
unique album from this salsa legend – a set that has Oscar D'Leon paying
tribute to the era of big bands, both Latin and jazz – with full orchestral backing
alongside his vocals! The package has a really unusual presentation – in that
it features two different CDs of the same material – one set with English
language lyrics, one with Spanish – a wise idea, given that this album could be
the one to reintroduce Oscar to a larger world outside the Latin music scene!
The arrangements are great – very jazzy, and in a classic sort of Nelson Riddle
style, but with some more Latin moments – and title sinclude "Strangers In
The Night", "New York New York", "I've Got You Under My
Skin", "Fly Me To The Moon", "My Way", and
"Cachito Mio". ~ Dusty Groove
SPIKE
WILNER – LIVE AT SMALLS
Beautiful
work from pianist Spike Wilner – an artist we already respect for his tireless
work running the Live At Smalls series – and one that we've grown to love even
more for the fresh new sound of this wonderful record! Spike's always had a way
of linking styles and generations with his piano – sometimes very traditional,
sometimes very personal – yet here, he finds this really wonderful groove that's
somewhere in between, but very unique as well – a trio format that has the
guitar of Yotam Silberstein and bass of Paul Gill often dancing alongside his
own lines on piano – so that all three instruments resonate out strongly in the
melody, and find new ways to spiral out together! The approach is very
individual, and especially well-tuned to the wide range of material here –
which includes Wilner compositions, and some other surprising choices. Titles
include "Blues For The Common Man", "Pathetique",
"Variations On A Popular Theme #1", "Magnetic Rag", and
"Hopscotch". ~ Dusty Groove
UNIVERSAL TOGETHERNESS BAND - UNIVERSAL TOGETHERNESS BAND
A
Chicago group who never hit the big time during their short run at the start of
the 80s – but one who definitely know how to groove! There's a vibe here that really
lives up to the "togetherness" in the group's name – a way of coming
together with a tight, sharp sound throughout – but one that's never too slick,
just surprisingly strong for such an underground funk group from the Windy
City! And although the music is upbeat, the style is less disco than it is the
kind of faster funk that percolated strongly in the underground scene in the
pre-house years – almost more akin to some of the best indie club work coming
out of the east coast, but with a very unique vibe too. As usual with Numero,
the set does way more than just bring this lost music to light – it also tells
the tale of the Universal Togetherness Band, and their never-flagging sense of
energy and inspiration during their short but important run. Titles include
"Ain't Gonna Cry", "Try Try Try", "My Sentiment",
"Real Thrill", "Once In A Lifetime", "Call For
Love", "I Want You", and "Taken By Love". ~ Dusty Groove
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