Aucf-cs.343 net.records utcsrgv!utzoo!decvax!duke!ucf-cs!carter Fri Jan 29 09:24:41 1982 A Music Report Here are some recently released records which I think are worthy of comment. I'll limit myself to jazz since I'm more closely connected to it. First, however, I'd like to recommend a publication to those who like jazz. It's called Jazz Times, and its a monthly newsmag of about 20 pages in length. Contains lists of new records, reviews, photos, and interviews. This month's issue, for instance, has an inter- view with McCoy Tyner. Subscriptions are $10 yearly and their address is; JAZZ TIMES 8055 13th Street, Suite 301 Silver Spring, MD. 20910 It's sort of a trades publication for radio stations but offers a lot for the non-pro. Record stores sometimes sell it. Records listed in no particular order: Houston Person - Very Personal - Muse (Cedar Walton, Curtiss Fuller) Straight jazz, mellow and well played. Al Jarreau - Breaking Away - Warner Bros. Jarreau seems to have moved away from his natural-voice jazz style to something more artificial, though still good. This album sounds like it was put through millions of dollars worth of audio gear. I enjoy maybe three songs. Ronnie Laws - Solid Ground - Liberty Brother of Hubert Laws, Ronnie's music is far more funky. I don't like the vocal numbers. The only tune of interest is 'Heavy on Easy', a slick, heavily processed piece with Laws on sax. Rob McConnell & the Boss Brass - Tribute - PAUSA (Moe Koffman, Terry Clarke) This is a big band with an impressive, high-energy sound. Several nice songs and well recorded. They have a live album out on the Dark Orchid label which I haven't heard. Soft Ware - Marbles - Head First Jazz-fusion with a very electronic sound. Some good melodies, a few that are uneventful. This is published under the 'Head First' label, a relatively new company which bears watching. Richie Cole - Cool "C" - Muse The usual Cole, fast alto sax playing straight jazz style. Jeff Tyzik - Prophecy - Capitol More fusion. I liked this a lot at first but soon tired of the somewhat sterile electronics. Better than average. Miles Davis - The Man With the Horn Too bad about this one, he used to be good. One neat song is 'Shout' if you like the disco thing. Earl Klugh - Crazy for You - Liberty (a big string and horn orchestra) Much like his previous work, thoughtful guitar and pleasing melodies. Larry Carlton - Sleepwalk - Warner (Steve Gadd, Abe Laboriel, Jeff Porcaro, Dave Sanborn) I've heard only one other by him, any more? More mellow than before but has the same fairly distinctive guitar sound. Nice record to smootch by. Michael Urbaniak - Daybreak - PAUSA ( /w Urszula Dudziak) Another of a long line of innovative fusion. Nothing earthshaking but well done. A variety of styles. Fuse One - CTI (Stanley Clarke, Larry Coryell, Paulinho da Costa, Joe Farrell, John McLaughlin, Lenny White, etc.) With a lineup like this, how can you lose? Well, you can. Some good music, but I was disappointed. Listen before you buy. Roland Vasquez - Feel Your Dreams - Headfirst (various famous names like Phil Upchurch, Alex Acuna, Clare Fischer) Electronic Latin. I liked this a lot, just like all the other Vasquez music. Contemporary sound. Horns, keyboards, the works. Al Dimeola - Electric Rendezvous - Columbia (Jan Hammer, Steve Gadd, Paco de Lucia, etc.) One of his better albums. Fast electric guitar work, pseudo-latin melodies. Just like the old days. Hope these were appropriate. I realize my commentaries are quite subjective but we aren't talking about science here, you know? What are other people listening to? Bill Carter, U. of Central Fla. ___________________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------- gopher://quux.org/ conversion by John Goerzen of http://communication.ucsd.edu/A-News/ This Usenet Oldnews Archive article may be copied and distributed freely, provided: 1. There is no money collected for the text(s) of the articles. 2. The following notice remains appended to each copy: The Usenet Oldnews Archive: Compilation Copyright (C) 1981, 1996 Bruce Jones, Henry Spencer, David Wiseman.