SO Warm

WD is one of those rare groups that started with a double album for a debut (Chicago Transit Authority being the other example I can think of), and the least we can say is that for a double album, it is a monster debut album. Just like Chicago, WD is a brass rock band, with the particularity of not having any brass instruments (no trombone, trumpet or tuba), so they might sit better with the compatriots If, if musically WD was not way proggier than both other groups…

Sonny Criss - The Joy of Sax & Warm and Sonny (2011) {2CD Set, Impulse! 2-on-1 Series Remaster rec 1976-1977}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 520 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 196 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 16 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1976-77, 2011 Impulse! / Verve / Universal Music | 06025 2780947
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Jazz Funk / Saxophone

The Impulse 2-on-1 series is a mixed bag: "The Joy Of Sax" (1977) and "Warm And Sonny" (1976). Despite the fact that these recordings are over-produced in the extreme by Esmond Edwards, who jammed up the music with too much percussion, boring guitar solos and strings that were not needed, Sonny Criss and his brilliance on the alto saxophone still shines through. As these were Sonny's last two recordings, done just before his tragic death in 1977, they are worth having, and Sonny sounds beautiful, as always.

Among the wave of brass rock groups that embraced the rock world from 68 until 71 or 72, Warm Dust was a late-comer, but quickly became one of the most interesting and progressive group of the genre. The sextet developed a solid psych-laced progressive brass rock, lead by the twin sax players of Alan Solomon (also KB) and John Surguy (also guitar) and featuring future Mike Rutherford and Steve Hackett acolyte Paul Carrack…

Jeff Tweedy has announced a new solo album. WARM is out November 30 via dBpm. It was produced and recorded entirely by Tweedy at his Chicago studio, the Loft, with his usual collaborators: his son Spencer Tweedy, Glenn Kotche, and Tom Schick.

The veteran tenor Ben Webster had a very warm tone on ballads that contrasted with the aggressive biting sound he used on faster material. For this 1961 set Webster is joined by a string quartet (arranged by Johnny Richards) and a rhythm section for his melodic interpretations of a dozen standards. Even when simply stating the melody, Webster brings out unexpected beauty in the songs.

Ingrannagi della Valle delivered a dazzling and brilliantly performed debut, `In Hoc Signo', back in 2013 on the Black Widow label, a thrilling shot-in-the-arm for the traditional vintage symphonic RPI sound, fuelled by endless searing violin and extravagant vocals. It was the classic sound of Italy's proud prog past meeting a youthful and exuberant future, one for lovers of bands such as Quella Vecchio Locanda. So having accomplished that, what was next for the band? How about aiming even higher in something of a different direction and possibly setting the standard for modern progressive rock overall? Because that's what the band have achieved with 2016's `Warm Spaced Blue', a defining work that not only almost completely eclipses their first work, but more than ever sets the band up for a bright future that lifts their status considerably.