The Whole Music Experience

I cut my CDs in half this year to concentrate on writing "Whole Music" (the book).  World Music recordings made up the bulk of reviews in 2012, while jazz and classical lingered more in the background.  Still, the 7 recordings below are phenomenal. 1. Fred Hersch Trio, Alive at the Vanguard, Palmetto 2. Jeff Hamilton Trio, Red Sparkle, Capri Records 3. Marshall Gilkes, Sound Stories, Alternate Side Records 4. Roberta Donnay, A Little Sugar, Motema 5. Gregory Porter, Be Good, Motema 6. Ahmad Jamal, Blue Moon, Jazz Village (Harmonia Mundi) 7. The Jens Wendelboe Big Band, Fresh Heat, Rosa Records Honorable Mention: Lisa Dillan, Love Me Tender, Kirkelig Kulturverksted Best book on music: Music Medicine by Christine Stevens (Sounds True)

Since 2012 marks a special year, in celebration of global music, I'm hosting a top 5 CDs thus far.  I am posting YouTube videos for 4 of the top albums. Support these artist. 1. The Toure-Raichel Collective, The Tel Aviv Session, Cumbancha http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A0VXjKwYHs&feature=related 2. Mahsa & Marjan Vahdat, Twinklings of hope, Kirkelig Kulturverksted http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-TlFCIoRUI 3. Ahmad Jamal, Blue Moon, Jazz Village (Harmonia Mundi) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcUvkO4A5Vo 4. Gregory Porter, Be Good, Motema http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HvpIgHBSdo 5. Alexander Melnikov, Shostakovich Piano Concertos & Sonata for Violin and Piano, Harmonia Mundi

Gregory Porter Be Good Motema Ever so often a musician blazes their way into my life--Gregory Porter is one such musician.  Last year I reviewed his sizzling debut Water .  Like other journalists, I leaped onto the Marvin Gaye comparison bandwagon. Oh, yes, there’s much to compare between the two musicians such as powerful voices that move mountains, a storytelling gift, and delightful music arrangements.  On the sophomore CD, Be Good ,Gregory roots himself deep with the African-American culture of NYC and currently resides in Brooklyn.  Listen to the rousing third track, On My Way To Harlem in Porter gives homage to Duke Ellington, Marvin Gaye and the author Langston Hughes. He croons, more or less, roars, “You can’t keep me away from where I was born.  I was baptized by my daddy’s horn.” Porter sings from a vibrant palette and his songs range from the tender, yet ironic title track in which he waxes metaphors about lions and cages, to the sw...

Gregory Porter Water Motema Music As the flood waters recede in western Washington, debut jazz artist Gregory Porter’s Water plays in the background. Similar to the stormy weather alternating with the sun peeking through thick clouds, Porter’s recording, rides a wave of emotions too. From tender love ballads like the opener, Illusions and  Pretty to the bombastic socio-political 1960 What? that recalls Martin Gaye’s What’s Going On , Porter covers all the bases here. Porter composed and co-arranged the bulk of the recording and his lyrics cut straight through the heart. The arrangements with passionate horns, and saxophone anchored down with piano, bass, and drums, wed to Porter’s visual text. Porter’s vocals hit the spot too, again portraying a palette of emotions, outrage on 1960 What? and sensual on Pretty , when Porter sings, “Her hand strokes the drum. She plays so fast I can’t find the one…” On Magic Cup the musicians introduce Latin jazz funk and Wisd...