Mile Davis Xrcd

A legend in the Bossa Nova world, surprisingly, Oscar Castro-Neves does not have that many cd's currently available. This is too bad, since this album is outstanding. If you are a fan of Bossa Nova, this album is a must. The XRCD format truly shines in this release. The engineering is so spacious and natural, you have to wonder if audiophile recordings get any better. The guitar plucks, and the impact of the percussion is full and present. It just goes to show that you don't need an SACD player to get master tape sound, as long as you have top notch engineering and remastering.

Taking a break from his day job with the Rippingtons, saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa treads some different ground on Walk a Mile (Fahrenheit FR9603-2; 52:06). The talented wind player experiments with a variety of textures and moods-from the brassy and warmly inspirational “Givin’ In,” to the loping, urban-toned title track, both of which showcase some soulful, economical work in lean settings. Kashiwa pairs up well with keyboardist Dave Kochanski (who shares writing credits on the album), as well as with gypsy guitarist Marc Antoine, whose pretty, driving acoustic work support the swirling Brazil feel of “August Moon” and the knuckling Latin rhythms on “Rise.”

Cornetist Nat Adderley was at the peak of his powers in the mid-1960's. This Atlantic issue has four quintet numbers with tenor-saxophonist Joe Henderson (three also feature pianist Herbie Hancock) plus four tunes in which Nat is part of an 11-piece group. He plays quite well on such songs as "Cantaloupe Island," "Hippodelphia," "Gospellete" and even the then-current pop tune "Call Me," making this set one to search for.

Many straight-ahead bop musicians would never consider recording traditional folk songs from the British Isles, but that's exactly what Johnny Griffin does on The Kerry Dancers and Other Swinging Folk – and this Orrin Keepnews-produced album just happens to be one of his best releases of the 1960s. ~ AllMusic