New Albums - Page 183

Earlier this year, Jack Bruce took his Big Blues Band on the road in the UK to tear through new arrangements of classic Cream tunes as well as his solo work. Luckily for us, the March 19th performance at The Stables in Milton Keynes was recorded. The resulting Jack Bruce & His Big Blues Band: Live 2012 album is now...

Hot on the heels of his new album Compared to That, bassist Brian Bromberg is paying homage to two of his musical heroes with Bromberg Plays Hendrix and In the Spirit of Jobim. The albums were originally recorded for Japan’s King Records, but are now available in the U.S. via Artistry Music. “Even though people know me as a jazz...

In 1976, a relatively unknown bassist by the name of Jaco Pastorius joined Weather Report as a full-time member – an event that brought unprecedented commercial success to the six year old band. Jaco’s impact wasn’t limited to Weather Report either. It was during this same year his solo album debuted – an album which redefined the electric bass in...

At only 20 years old, Erena Terakubo is off to an amazing start. The Japanese alto saxophonist has made her North American debut with New York Attitude, tapping some legendary jazz musicians for the occasion: bassist Ron Carter, pianist Kenny Barron, drummer Lee Pearson and trumpeter Dominic Farinacci. Carter’s unmistakable swing permeates and pushes each track as Terakubo practically sings...

Eighties supergroup Asia is celebrating their 30th anniversary with a new album entitled XXX. Featuring members of Yes, ELP, King Crimson, UK and The Buggles, the band’s current lineup includes bassist/vocalist John Wetton, guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Carl Palmer, and keyboardist Geoff Downes. The new release is being hailed as their best since their breakthrough self-titled album. “We’re very pleased...

Once again, it is time for a new wave of box sets for music buffs who love their collections of music with added memorabilia, new music (and updated versions of the old stuff). None of them can be more exciting than the limited edition box set featuring the music of Stanley Clarke. Stanley Clarke: The Complete 1970s Epic Albums Collection,...

Bassist/vocalist Casey Abrams has released his self-titled debut on Concord Records. Abrams caught national attention on the tenth season of American Idol after performing some rousing renditions of pop tunes while accompanying himself on bass. Through that experience, he hooked up with fellow bassist and Idol judge Randy Jackson, who produced the album. The album is laden with upright bass...

Steve Uccello‘s latest release is Fire Times, an album on which he shares low end duties with UK solo bassist Steve Lawson. The group, dubbed Clarified Birds, is rounded out by drummer Mike Shannon and multi-instrumentalist and singer Dayan Kai. Fire Times came about after Uccello started thinking of arranging for a single tune he wrote. “I had this piece...

Following two vastly different solo recordings, guitarist Pat Metheny has once again turned his attention to the quartet format with the release of Unity Band. The guitarist set his sights on a new bassist this time around, enlisting Ben Williams for the record, and rounding out the group with drummer Antonio Sanchez and saxophonist Chris Potter. Williams, who won the...

In 1986, Paul Simon released Graceland, his groundbreaking album which took the world by storm, leading to 14 million copies sold and a five-year tour. For many of us, this record also introduced another great discovery: bassist Bakithi Kumalo. His fretless bass work – particularly his iconic bass on the album’s “You Can Call Me Al” was as remarkable then...

Dywane “MonoNeon” Thomas, Jr. has released Down-to-Earth-Art, the bassist’s new album featuring his unique blend of soul and avant garde. The six-track collection includes two that feature what he calls “microtonal-southern soul,” and while some of his music seems out of this world, Down-to-Earth Art is named so for its concept. “The reason this album is called Down-to-Earth Art is...

Bassist Darryl Jones teamed up with keyboardist John Beasley and drummer Ndugu Chancler to form 3 Brave Souls, a trio informed by funk, roots, and jazz. In fact, each of the members are alumni of Miles Davis’s band and as such bring together incredible groove with intellectual playing. The group has released their self-titled debut album. Jones, whose career credits...