Sweet November (2001)

Larry Carlton & Steve Lukather - No Substitutions: Live in Osaka (2001) {Favored Nations FN2060-2 rec 1998}
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© 2001 Favored Nations / Larry Carlton and Steve Lukather | FN2060-2
Jazz / Jazz Rock / Contemporary Jazz / Blues Rock / Guitar

One of the more underrated guitarists in rock is Steve Lukather. Best known for his work with Toto, Lukather is a highly sought-after session player, having played on countless albums by other artists, and has no problem adapting his playing to a wide variety of different styles. Lukather also finds the time to sporadically issue his own solo albums, and in 2001, he issued a live collaboration with fellow session guitarist Larry Carlton, No Substitutions: Live in Osaka. As expected, plenty of guitar showcases for each player are provided, especially on a pair of over-14-minute tracks – "The Pump" and "All Blues" – as well as an album-closing rendition of the Carlton classic "Room 335." Not exactly a groundbreaking jazz-rock guitar release, but fans of each guitarist should enjoy hearing each show their stuff on-stage.

While his tenure as the frontman for the legendary Roxy Music remained his towering achievement, singer Bryan Ferry also carved out a successful solo career that continued in the lush, sophisticated manner perfected on the group's final records.

Dizzy Reece - Progress Report (1956-58) {Tempo–Jasmine JASCD620 rec 2001}
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© 1956-58, 2001 Tempo Records / Jasmine Records | JASCD 620
Jazz / Hard Bop / Trumpet

“Progress Report” on the elusive Tempo label. But this LP is so rare that I had the feeling it would be very, very hard to acquire. It was one of those albums that seemed out of reach in the foreseeable future, if ever. When you talk about rare jazz records from the 50’s, holy grails if you will, this one is in the top 5 for me.

Robert Gordon - Rock Billy Boogie + Bad Boy (2001) {RCA–Collectables ‎COL-CD-2820 rec 1978-1979}
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© 1979-80, 2001 RCA / Collectables Records / BMG | ‎COL-CD-2820
Rock / Rockabilly Revival / Rock & Roll / Retro-Rock

Graced with the passion and looks of a '50s rocker, Robert Gordon emerged on the music scene in the late '70s. More than the retro-rocker he was labeled, Gordon sang with such heart and conviction that he helped secure reissues of songs by the many artists who influenced him. The two albums from the vaults of RCA available CD feature memorable versions of Black Slacks, Uptown, and It's Only Make Believe, plus more.

Although this is technically the third volume in the Classics Bix Beiderbecke chronology, close examination reveals that volumes three and four retrace a timeline already traversed by the earlier installments, resulting in a reshuffled, non-linear progression that is atypical of the Classics Chronological Series yet seems oddly appropriate for an authentically surreal character like Beiderbecke. This volume follows a timeline from November 18, 1927 to April 22, 1928. Because the producers of this series ladled most of the "Bix & Tram" collaborations into the Frankie Trumbauer portion of their label's catalog, the entire Classics "Bixology" initially fit into two volumes (issued in 1996) with two additional volumes (issued in 2002) documenting Beiderbecke's tenure as a sideman with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra during the years 1927-1929…

This third volume of Lucky Millinder's complete works in chronological order brings together for the first time three Deccas from October 1947, 12 sides recorded for Victor between January and November 1949, and 12 titles waxed for the King label during the year 1950. Millinder is remembered as a shrewd bandleader who accurately assessed the prevailing trends in popular entertainment during the late '40s. His strategy seems to have involved a wide range of musical styles, a spectrum reflected in this grab bag compilation. Millinder clearly tailored the material to fit each record label and its assumed audience. Of course, Victor was selling to a more generalized public while King's clientele was predominately Afro-American. Listening through all 25 tracks is quite an experience…