Herbert – Scale (2006)

Dec 06, 2006 by Mr. Nau Matthew Herbert certainly knows his stuff compositionally. A number of the tracks on his CD are very challenging. Unfortunately, most of the songs here are more unconventional, conceptual, and experimental than they are musical. Lacking a cohesive flow, this collection sounds like an envelope-pushing graduate student music composition recital. […]

Jeff Samuel – Step (2006)

Dec 06, 2006 by Mr. Nau This ho-hum collection of techno tracks contains a few head-nodding moments, but gets stuck trying to pull off something “interesting.” While some of the song titles are cleverly named, much of the actual music feels like it was constructed with GarageBand, which built the tracks in an afternoon. Grade: […]

Frankie Bones – Act Like You Know (2005)

Frankie Bones unleashes a beautiful mix of seventeen original tracks reminiscent of very late nights in dank warehouses. This set ranges from tribal house to straight up banging techno grooves. Clean production and a continuously thumping vibe keep the flow going from start to finish. Wow, is it Friday night yet? Grade: B+. AllMusic: Act […]

Luomo – Vocal City (2000)

A beautiful set of laid-back microhouse tracks that feel ambient, but still funky, this collection of original tunes brings a grainy electro feel and a minimal techno feel together with a solid house groove. The tracks are long, but interesting, and have a stark simplicity and a European flavor. Grade: B+. AllMusic: Vocal City.

Toots Thielemans – Only Trust Your Heart (1988)

Toots Thielemans fronts an incredibly talented band with a set of beautiful songs. The rhythm section flawlessly complements the harmonica master. This is quite a wonderful collection of unfortunately infrequently played tunes by very familiar names, such as Wayne Shorter, Thelonious Monk, Benny Carter, Rogers and Hammerstein, and Duke Ellington. Grade: A. AllMusic: Only Trust […]

Toots Thielemans – East Coast West Coast (1994)

Belgian harmonica master Toots Thielemans plays a wistful set of ballads and uptempo jazz standards. This CD features a world-class rhythm section. The musicianship on this album makes it one of my favorites. The songs are primarily standards, easily accessible and interesting to jazz connoisseur and casual listener alike. Grade: A-. AllMusic: East Coast West […]

Various Artists – Om 100 (2002)

Om celebrates 100 releases with this double CD compilation that features some of their best known artists. This unmixed set is split between two different genres. The first CD is a fun set of Om’s unbelievably delicious house anthems. The second CD features more funky breakbeat flavor and downtempo grooves. Grade: B+. AllMusic: Om 100.

Miles Maeda – A Tourist’s Guide to the Realization of Your Own Buddha Nature (2000)

DJ Miles Maeda puts together a solid mix of Panhandle Records artists in this six-year-old set. Despite the fluffy name, this set is full of jazzy chords, funky basslines, and laid-back house music. Inland Knights, Lance Desardi, Tony Senghore, Undercover Agency, Ra Soul, and others are featured. Grade: B. AllMusic: A Tourist’s Guide to the […]

Ali Ryerson – Blue Flute (1991)

Ali Ryerson, flute, jumps into her debut with an astonishing rhythm section with gusto. Leaving no room to question her jazz chops, she holds her own with a group that includes Red Rodney and Kenny Barron. I Fall in Love Too Easily, Waltz for Harry, and Asterie especially stand out. Grade: A+. AllMusic: Blue Flute.

Roger Sanchez – Come With Me (2006)

Roger Sanchez delivers a delicious set of eleven original tracks on this surprising CD. House music is refreshed with poignant and sometimes humorous song lyrics. The production is sharp and very clean. The vocal work is beautiful, the composition is rich and funky, and the tracks flow together very well. Grade: A. AllMusic: Come With […]

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