Bass Solo

Brian Bromberg's first totally "Solo" acoustic bass recording. This is a state of the art, 100% digital hi resolution recording. This CD is quite unusual as it was recorded using only digital microphones. There were no mic pre-amps, outboard EQ, or analog signal path. This is truly a noiseless recording. The CD was recorded at 24 bit 96 kHz and is one of the must pristinely recorded CD's to date. All of the songs were recorded live with no overdubs. This CD was recorded for King Records in Japan.

Amanda Ruzza is an electric bass player and composer based in New York City. On this album she covers eight Gorillaz's hits on a bass guitar.

The first question to ask must be: how could it possibly come about that certain essential works by a composer which display no flaw or failure in musical conception or compositional execution stayed dormant in libraries for well over two hundred years and had to wait so long for publication and audience attention?

Legendary composer, arranger, pianist, educator, and leader Harold Mabern returns with another Smoke Sessions recording, the engaging album “To Love and Be Loved”. He brings a sextet of exceptional musicians featuring the fabulous tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb of Miles Davis “Kind of Blue” fame, protean trumpet master Freddie Hendrix, and the facile double bassist Nat Reeves, with percussionist Cyro Baptista, in his only appearance, enlivening the song, “To Love and Be Loved”. Mixing up the musicians, Mabern uses quartet, quintet, and sextet sized configurations, and plus a mesmerizing solo piano performance. This recording also especially provides more examples of the power, invention, and empathy that is shown by the long-term Harold Mabern and Eric Alexander association which has enlivened so many wonderful recordings.

Violinist Christian Howes is a technically proficient, forward-thinking musician with a bent toward progressive jazz, bluegrass, and classical music. Born in Columbus, Ohio, Howes began playing classical violin at age five and by his teens was competing in various national classical competitions as well as pursuing a burgeoning interest in jazz improvisation. At age 19, however, Howes was convicted on a drug charge and sentenced to four years in a medium security prison.

This DVD was recorded live at Cobo Hall, Detroit Michigan December 8th, 1984. It has never been released officially on DVD, although as you can see there are unofficial versions to be had. (It’s clearly unofficial since it has a picture of Carnival of Souls era Kiss on the back!) Annoying subtitles are the only real drawback to the DVD. There’s not much crossover between this and the two Alive albums, as it leans heavily on newer material (Creatures, Lick It Up, Animalize). The tempos are, in general, faster. The energy is high, and Paul is singing at the peak of his talents.