Event #131: Give Me a Reason
 SEA OF DREAMS: CYNDI RUSSELL's popular feature returns! But with a twist. In association with ZenCyn's Dream Emporium, G21 offers a monthly contest. Submit here and win a free Dream Interpretation.
 POWERSSOUND: Fasten Your Seatbelt. BOB POWERS looks at ROBIN EUBANKS, AMINA FIGAROVA, DICK HYMAN & DICK WILBER, Western star STEPHANIE DAVIS, TEXAS' KERRVILLE FOLK FESTIVAL, MICHAEL WARD, and DON BAKER. A musical cornucopia!
YOUR VOX POPULI page has new e-mail which we'll try to respond to.  DAY ONE: TODAY: Guest Writer RIC WILLIAMS talks about America.
There's a new Joke of Day in HOUSE OF CARDS.  TABLOID HART: THOMAS HART with a special Dish Update on Bruce Willis, former-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, Paula's new proboscis and The Jerry Springer Show.
 QUEER PLANET: PHIL MARTIN looks to a gay political hero who handled privacy invasion with class. Are you listening, Mr. President?
DON'T READ ME FIRST! Our Publisher on the changes and trends in your World Magazine. LAST WEEK's EDITION  BarnesandNoble SEARCH: Every writer here still reads offline. We support Barnes and Noble and hope you will, too. This is the place to find the best and brightest!
For rapid response, use The Message Board |
But Eubanks, biggest influence has been the incomparable J.J. Johnson, whose work during the 50s and 60s remains the standard by which jazz trombonists are judged. The new CD by Eubanks, sextet, "4: JJ/Slide/Curtis and Al" (TCB97802) is one of those albums that you,ll leave on the player for repeated listenings. This is superb music, a modern mix of bop and post bop, with occasional bits of funk, rap, and other modern genres.
Eubanks gets a wonderful tone on the admittedly difficult slide trombone, particularly in his tribute called "J.J." His younger brother, Duane, joins the group on trumpet and proves that he's worthy of the task. (Another brother is guitarist Kevin Eubanks, leader of the Tonight Show band.) The brilliant young sax player Antonio Hart will cause attention with his stellar work on this hour-long collection of seven originals, plus innovative versions of Kurt Weill,s "Speak Low" and Wayne Shorter's "Black Nile."
If you like straight-ahead jazz, Robin Eubanks is your man. The album was produced by Aleardo G. Buzzi. For more information, check TCB's web page. Or you can contact the company by e-mail.
Figarova, who sings on four of the 11 cuts, wrote all the music (with one collaboration with drummer Hans Jijkenaar). Her voice is pleasant, her dexterity at the keyboards is expert. Backup, ranging from two to five musicians, is more than competent. I'm assuming Figarova comes from Holland, as the jewel case notes that her management is in Rotterdam.
These guys are perhaps the best choices to do an album saluting Johnny Hodges, the magnificent sax genius from the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and organist Wild Bill Davis, whose career launched as a player when he joined Louis Jordan's Tympathy Five in 1945. Although an excellent jazz pianist, Davis is best known for his jazz organ trio, prominent in the late '50s.
Wilber, 70, has been involved in jazz since a high school sophomore. His history involves working with his own groups and as a frequent player on many others, albums. Wilber has a history with Ellington, having been commissioned in 1966 to put together a small-group program in 1966.
The new collaboration between Wilber and Hyman is called, not unexpectedly, "A Perfect Match" (Arbors ARCD 19193). It contains a dozen tunes that give both musicians ample room to show their wares and pay a delightful tribute to Hodges and Davis. Especially worthwhile are the gorgeous "Wisteria," a song written by Jimmy Jones and Mercer Ellington) and the sensual Gershwin brothers ballad, "He Loves and She Loves."
Backing Wilber and Davis are Britt Woodman, trombone; James Chirillo, guitar; Phil Flanigan, bass, and Joe Ascione, drums.
Recently the letter carrier brought me a package, with a personally signed note from Ms. Davis, of her two albums. "River of No Return" and "I'm Pullin, Through" (Recluse Records) both were released in 1996. As a singer, songwriter and performer, Davis has achieved a modicum of success. After hearing these two albums, it's obvious that she deserves to reach the widest possible audience.
Davis is worth your attention. Her web page is found at www.cattle-log.com and you can send e-mail. Check her out!
The uniformity and quality of the cuts on this excellent album demonstrate that Kerrville attracts the creamiest of the current crop of folk performers, including Kevin Welch, Gail Davies, Richard Shindell, the brilliant Tom Paxton, and the unique sounds of the Chenille Sisters. This music will soon become one of your favorites, no matter your personal opinion of folk music. It's simply good stuff.
As a singer, Baker reminds one of Jim Croce, in that his voice is pleasant though husky, smooth as a cool August night. His new album, "Just Don Baker" (Round Tower RTMCD 91), contains an ecletic mix of old and new. Eight of the numbers are Baker originals. The others include some favorites, such as Bill Broonzy,s "Hey Hey Baby" and Donovan,s wonderful "Catch the Wind." Baker has an album that will be welcomed by the easy listening crowd, yet has enough punch to attract diehard folkies as well.
Round Tower Records can be reached through e-mail at: 102354.2304@compuserve.com .
___________________________________________________________
Record companies who produce albums in pop, jazz, blues, or folk categories are invited to add Bob Powers to their promotional mailing lists. He pledges to give all comers a fair listen. Contact him by e-mail .
________________________
If you want to compliment, condemn, or argue with Bob Powers, his e-mail address is: rpowers@ee.net.
The Previous POWERSSOUND +++ POWERSBOOKS +++ The NEXT POWERSSOUND +++