Jazz Pyramid

This is a strong recording from the Modern Jazz Quartet, with inventive versions of John Lewis' "Vendome," Ray Brown's "Pyramid," Jim Hall's "Romaine," and Lewis' famous "Django," along with cooking jams on "How High the Moon" and "It Don't Mean a Thing." The MJQ had become a jazz institution by this time, but they never lost their creative edge, and their performances (even on the remakes) are quite stimulating, enthusiastic, and fresh.

Cannonball Adderley - Pyramid (1974) {Fantasy OJCCD-952-2 rel 1997}
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© 1974, 1997 Fantasy Records | OJCCD-952-2
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Hard Bop / Jazz Funk / Saxophone

Cannonball Adderley is in generally good form on this 1974 recording. His Quintet at the time featured cornetist Nat Adderley, keyboardist Hal Galper, bassist Walter Booker and drummer Roy McCurdy. Guests on some selections include guitarist Phil Upchurch, keyboardist George Duke and (on "Bess, Oh Where's My Bess") veteran pianist Jimmy Jones. The emphasis is on recent group originals including the three part "Suite Cannon," two Galper compositions and Cannonball's "Pyramid." Nothing too earthshattering occurs but this is an improvement over many of Adderley's Capitol recordings.

Azteca - Pyramid Of The Moon (1973) {2013 Remastered & Expanded - Big Break Records CDBBR0206}
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© 1973, 2013 Columbia / Big Break Records / Cherry Red Records | CDBBR 0206
Rock / Jazz / Fusion / Funk / Latin Rock

A really special record from a really special group – one of two sublime 70s gems from Azteca – a wicked blend of jazz, funk, Latin, and soul – all put together by a young Coke Escovedo! Coke's ostensibly the leader of the group, but there's also a richly collaborative feel going on – a style that brings together jazz players like Tom Harrell on trumpet, Mel Martin on saxes, George Muribus on Fender Rhodes, and Flip Nunez on organ – and Latin players like Victor Pantoja on congas, Coke Escovedo on timbales, and Pete Escovedo on added percussion. In fact, the set's a key early example of the strength of the Escovedo family – and like their best later efforts, the set really stretches out and pushes the boundaries of conventional genres. There's also some great guest work from Lenny White on drums, Mike Nock on keyboards, and Neal Schon on guitars – and vocals are by a range of singers who really keep things fresh.

Its hard to think of another jazz musician, outside of George Benson, who has released as many high level pop jazz recordings as Ramsey Lewis. Ramsey is probably one of the top pianists of the modern jazz era, but he has always been more of a crowd pleaser than an adventurer, but that doesn’t mean his playing is light weight at all. “Ivory Pyramid”, released in 1992, is typical of Lewis’ repertoire with masterful renditions of tunes he wrote plus a few covers.

They've done this in the past, back in the days of 'Masque' and 'Do They Hurt', when where they'll do one or two numbers with a 'steppin' out' rhythm (examples: AWB's 'Pick Up the Pieces' and Janet Jackson's 'What Have You Done For Me Lately'), but fully half of this album has that same quarter note-driven rhythm. It's an interesting mix–that sort of beat behind guitarist Goodsall's crisp tonalities. The track 'Virus' at nearly eight minutes is the longest one they've done in at least fifteen years. This album isn't as minimalist as its predecessor 'Xcommunication', which was based almost entirely on guitar, bass and drums–they use a session keyboarist occasionally, along with some new MIDI-powered synth and sampler tonalities done by Goodsall.

2019 release. 15-track jazz tribute to Radiohead featuring covers by Jamie Cullum, Geoff Gascoyne and Sebastian de Krom, Magnetic Ear, Richard Cheese, Terni Jazz Orchestra, Noordpool Orchestra and others.