Mercy (2000)

The career of blue-eyed soul singer Robert Palmer was a study in style versus substance. While the performer's earliest work won praise for its skillful assimilation of rock, R&B, and reggae sounds, his records typically sold poorly, and he achieved his greatest notoriety as an impeccably dressed lounge lizard. By the mid-'80s, however, Palmer became a star, although his popularity owed less to the strength of his material than to his infamous music videos: taking their cue from the singer's suave presence, Palmer's clips established him as a dapper, suit-and-tie lady's man who performed his songs backed by a band comprised of leggy models, much to the delight of viewers who made him one of MTV's biggest success stories.

This early German Baroque work is composed in what is known as the “sepolcro” tradition, which appears to be a cross between a Passion Play and an Oratorio. The characters are allegorical: Mercy, Justice, and Grace (who represent Christ), along with a Contrite Sinner, an Obstinate Sinner, and a Demon. The “dramatic tension”, and I use the words as lightly as humanly possible, comes both from the Demon’s attempts to seduce the stubborn sinner, who is still in the running for hell, and from the contrite sinner’s support of the three allegorical ladies who are Christ’s stand-ins. What we get is more than two hours of sparsely if beautifully accompanied recitative-aria-recitative-occasional duet or terzetto-recitative-aria.

Compared to the previous Mercy, Mercy, this recording is a lesser effort by the Buddy Rich big band. However, the outing does have its notable moments, with the key soloists being the young altoist Richie Cole, tenor saxophonist Pat LaBarbera, guitarist David Dana and the drummer/leader. Recorded live at the Whiskey A-Go-Go, some of the songs are stronger than others; a pair of tunes by the Doors sound silly in this context. Highlights include Don Sebesky's "Soul Lady," Bill Holman's "Ruth" and "The Meaning of the Blues."

Erik Truffaz’ sweet, open trumpet tone reveals the influence of a 1970s Miles Davis. The Fender Rhodes with echo serves to drive that message home. Most of the compilation employs acoustic bass and a tasteful drummer in the mainstream jazz tradition. However, it’s the French trumpeter’s intimacy with Davis’ fusion periods that takes center stage. From the small town of Gex, ten miles from the French/Swiss border, Truffaz got his early training working with his father’s dance band. His formal training came later at the Geneva Conservatoire where the trumpeter studied composition, theory and technique. Each track is an original, composed by the quartet. Truffaz wrote "Betty," a light, lyrical waltz with open trumpet, acoustic piano and acoustic bass. A vocal-like trumpet message becomes soaked in the piano’s overlapping harmony.

Heavy Metal Anthem is Japanese heavy metal band Anthem's return album, released nearly 8 years since their disbandment in the early 1990s. Most of the former members play on the album, but the original vocalist, Eizo Sakamoto, did not return until the next album (Seven Hills). The album was released on April 21, 2000 and was a joint collaboration between the band and singer Graham Bonnet. Most of the songs are Anthem's older releases, which have been remixed and sung in English by Bonnet…

Long one of Israel's most popular singers, Ofra Haza broke through to international recognition during the mid-'80s when her traditional music found favor on the U.K. club circuit, its success leading to a series of unlikely pop projects…