2me, Illdestino, Popsho Spotlight

South African award-winning composer/producer/guitarist/keyboard player, born April 17th, 1973 in Tembisa, near Johannesburg. Having studied piano at the Federated Union of Black Arts Academy, he graduated in 1987 with a diploma and best student award, then went on to play alongside Miriam Makeba, Jonas Gwangwa, Hugh Masekela and toured the USA with Dorothy Masuka and Julian Bahula. He founded two bands (Brotherhood and Umbongo) before releasing his first solo effort, "Finding Oneself", in 1995 before gradually branching into production work for young kwaito artists.

The nine selections on this CD reissue each extensively feature one or two top West Coast jazz players. Bassist Howard Rumsey's group was expanded to an octet, and showcased are trombonist Frank Rosolino ("Funny Frank"), tenor saxophonist Richie Kamuca, trumpeter Conte Candoli, drummer Stan Levey, Bob Cooper on tenor, trumpeter Stu Williamson, valve trombonist Bob Enevoldsen, pianist Claude Williamson, bassist Rumsey (on "Concerto for Doghouse"), and altoist Bud Shank. With the exception of the Rumsey feature (composed by Stan Kenton), all of the music was new, with the arrangements provided by pianist Dick Shreve, Bill Holman, Cooper, and Williamson. An excellent set.

B.B. King is the most influential guitarist in the instrument's electric history. His string-bending, vibrato, and phrasing are the raw material that players as diverse as Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Pink Floyd's David Gilmour have spun into their own epic solos. This CD draws on King's '60s efforts for the defunct Kent label, tapping rarely heard instrumental tracks to present a crash course in his unique fusion of country blues, the single-string soloing perfected by Lonnie Johnson, and the swinging phrasing of jazz guitar pioneers like Charlie Christian and Django Reinhardt. Tunes like "Slidin' and Glidin'" and "Calypso Jazz" are tickets to blues heaven.