Dave Pike was never an innovator, but his best albums are definitely solid. A perfect example is 1961's It's Time for Dave Pike, which was recorded when the vibist was only 22. By 1961 standards, this album isn't experimental or forward-thinking – certainly not compared to some of the adventurous, challenging sounds that were coming from modal and avant-garde improvisers in the early '60s. But it's easy to enjoy if you appreciate swinging, inspired bop along the lines of Milt Jackson, who is one of Pike's primary influences.
Before the Guess Who became one of the top album rock acts of the '70s, they were a darn good British Invasion-influenced garage band. This set features the three records they made in the mid-'60s: Shakin' All Over, Hey Ho (What You Do to Me), and It's Time for the small Canadian label Quality…
You might call Jimmy D. Lane a natural born bluesman. His father was the legendary Jimmy Rogers, who Jimmy D. shared the stage with for many years before recording on his own. Lane can play it '50s-style, as he did with his father and on Eomot RaSun's album, but he can also turn it up and rock out with any of the finest guitar slingers. For It's Time, Lane tackles a program of original tunes (except for one), with the aid of Double Trouble, Stevie Ray Vaughan's rhythm section. These guys bring decades of experience to their blues rhythms, and know exactly how to support a player like Lane. Keyboard duties are split between Celia Ann Price on B3 and piano, and Mike Finnigan on the B3. In addition, the album was produced and engineered by the one and only Eddie Kramer, who adds crisp, clear production values and some very subtle studio tricks (check out the panning in the slide solo on "Stuck in the Middle"). As a writer, Lane sticks close to standard subject matter "What Makes People" is certainly a close cousin of Willie Dixon's "The Same Thing," but the variety of tempos and grooves and great playing all around keep the album exciting.
Lester Young, the influential tenor sax great of Count Basie's 30's-40s bands said "you got to be origanal man!" in response to all the cats trying to play like he did. "Prez" as he was called even had a saxist around nick named the "vice-pres" as Paul Quinichette the younger was called. So, you gotta play yourself and some musicians follow the lead. The Hungarian jazz guitarist Attilla Zoller was an original, as fate would have it for fellow Hungarian Gabor Szabo. Not a lot of Zoller is around but this one recording is my favorite.
Great collection of some of Bohannon's many club hits, including several different mixes of the smash hit "Let's Start The Dance".
Alma Afrobeat Ensemble was founded in Chicago in 2003 by guitarist Aaron Feder. In 2006 Aaron moved to Barcelona in search of a different sound for the AAbE. He quickly found a group of international members, from all continents of the globe. In a short time the band was reformed and headlined the Fiestizaje music and arts festival in 2008. The band then set about recording their first studio album, Toubab Soul which was released in 2010. Shortly afterwards, they released the remix album, Toubab Resouled, and opened the world music festival Cruilla de Cultures with Konono No 1.
Maryland-born saxophonist Kim Waters is a gifted performer known for his romantic, cross-over jazz style. Influenced by both bluesy jazz and soulful R&B, Waters debuted in 1989 with Sweet and Saxy. His next several albums, 1991's Sax Appeal, 1993's Peaceful Journey, and 1994's It's Time for Love, found him moving in a more smooth jazz direction. It was a creative transformation that culminated in 1998's Love's Melody and 1999's One Special Moment.