Leading With Conviction

Big Walter Horton was one of the key architects of modern blues harmonica. Blues legend Willie Dixon referred to him as "the best harmonica player I ever heard." Along with Little Walter Jacobs and Sonny Boy Williamson II, he is considered to be one of the most influential harpists ever. He was capable of both intense power and fragile delicacy, often in the same song. He was endlessly melodically adventurous, and always unpredictable. His only Alligator Records album, - "Big Walter Horton With Carey Bell", came out in 1972. It paired him with his young protégé, who had played under Walter's tutelage since Bell's arrival in Chicago. Walter's long-time partner Eddie Taylor joined them on guitar. It was Alligator's second-ever release, and received widespread critical acclaim, especially for the fiery harp duets that pitted the two harmonica masters against one another.

John Cale - Fragments of a Rainy Season (1992) {Ltd. Edition 2016 Remastered Reissue with Outtakes Extra Disc}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 675 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 244 Mb
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© 1992, 2016 Hannibal / Domino ‎Recording | REWIGCD107X
Rock / Acoustic / Art Rock

John Cale's 1992 live Fragments of a Rainy Season holds a special place in the hearts of longtime fans. Cale was no stranger to concert sets. Among his most notorious are the snarling Sabotage/Live from CBGB's and 1986's howling Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. Fragments captures Cale completely solo. His iconic singing voice, rainbow variety of melodies, and poetic lyrics are accompanied only by his piano or acoustic guitar. It's easily his most welcoming album, the one that provides a solid introduction as he ranges through his back catalog.

Kendrick Scott Oracle - Conviction (2013) {Concord Jazz 0888072341920}
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© 2013 World Culture Music / Concord Jazz | 0888072341920
Jazz / Contemporary Jazz / Electric Jazz / Modern Creative / Drums

It has been six years since drummer Kendrick Scott and his band Oracle released their debut, The Source. On Conviction, only guitarist Mike Moreno remains. The rest of the lineup is filled out by John Ellis on tenor saxophone and bass clarinet, bassist Joe Sanders, and Taylor Eigsti on piano and Fender Rhodes. The set was produced by Derrick Hodge of the Robert Glasper Experiment. Nearly half the program is devoted to original compositions; the balance is made up of carefully chosen, wide-ranging covers. Conviction isn't a showcase for Scott's drumming skills, though he is clearly the leader – evidence of his kit work is right up front in this crystalline mix.

What separated this from the average good Bill Evans date was the inclusion of Shelly Manne on drums, who inventively pushed and took unexpected chances. This was Eddie Gomez' (bass) debut release with Evans (piano) and it was quite impressive. There were numerous takes at this session and judging from Chuck Briefer's liners it might be interesting to hear them released.

Joachim Carlos Martini is obviously a conscientious and intelligent musician. Like Robert King before him, he opts for the overture used in the 1744 revival, as only a continuo part survives of the original overture. Acknowledging that we cannot be certain of what the first performance did or did not include, he also picks and chooses items from the various editions and texts (among them Chrysander, Bernd Baselt and Robert King himself) available to him.