Swinging Island

The EVA labels were a group of sisterlabels made for compilations and Best-Of albums released as joint ventures between the national divisions of EMI, Virgin and Ariola. The label became active in 1984 but is now defunct in all countries. Early EVA albums were released with the logos of the three individual labels. Sometimes the label name EVA was not mentioned on those releases.

The EVA labels were a group of sisterlabels made for compilations and Best-Of albums released as joint ventures between the national divisions of EMI, Virgin and Ariola. The label became active in 1984 but is now defunct in all countries. Early EVA albums were released with the logos of the three individual labels. Sometimes the label name EVA was not mentioned on those releases.

A renowned poet has a new album out Friday titled “The Gospel According To Nikki Giovanni.” In addition to publishing dozens of poetry works, Nikki Giovanni has recorded several spoken word albums over the course of 50 years. But this time, she’s doing something a little different. The new album, a collaboration with saxophonist Javon Jackson, is a collection of gospel hymns and spirituals set to jazz. Growing up in the Baptist church, Giovanni says gospel music was instrumental to understanding herself as a poet. “The spirituals had a message,” she says. “They weren't just some people woke up one morning or came from working in the evening and said, ‘Oh, let's sit down and sing.’ They were sharing information with each other.”

This cd was selected as one of the Best Nortwest Jazz cds of 2006 by DJ Jim Wilke of NPR-KPLU's Jazz Northwest and Jazz After Hours. No wonder. On this recording, straight ahead and swinging jazz vocalist Dina Blade sets a joyful mood backed by a rhythm section of piano, bass, drums, congas. With the addition of trumpet and tenor sax, the romp through a plethora of gems from the Great American Songbook is playfully creative. Dina Blade's voice is in terrific form, especially on standards like "Just in Time" which finds her in her element. The perfectly swinging musical sense that is her trademark intensifies as she becomes uplifted and really "digs in" after hearing the astoundingly virtuosic bass solo of Larry Holloway…