DJ for The Blues Alley Show
OCEAN SHORES, Washington, United States
I started collecting music in 1962, at the age of 10. In 1973 I went to work at Budget Tapes and Records in Burien , Wa. I started as a clerk, in 6 months I was promoted to Mgr. In 1975 I became a multiple location mgr. In 1977 I became the Western Region Operations Manager over seeing 100+ stores in 10 states for the corporate office. In 1978 I added Blues buyer to my duties.
In 1983 I left the Record business and began a 12 year run in the HiFi store management... Read More
Latest Album Reviews
Review of La Tierra Canta
Album Info: La Tierra Canta
Patricio Morales Album: La Tierra Canta Label: Northsound Genre(s): Crossover Jazz Posted By: Robert Silverstein
May 9, 2025
Review
In the spirit of accordion great Astor Piazzolla, Chilean-born, NYC-based guitarist Patricio Morales enchants the listener with his 2025 album La Tierra Canta. The Piazzolla connection comes into play thanks to the accordion and piano work of Vitor Goncalves and a host of other fine musicians that support Patricio throughout the album.
For the 9-track, 38 minute album, Morales revisits music he wrote early in his career. Backing his sonorous, very easy on the ears nylon string classical guitar are gifted players including the rhythm section of Sebastian De Urquiza (upright bass) and Rodrigo Recabarren (drums), while other players lend further support on indigenous Brazilian and Portuguese percussion.
In addition to the South American influences, La Tierra Canta also features very continental, European influences overall that makes it very smooth with a kind of NYC vintage
Unity Quartet Album: Samba of Sorts Label: Sunnyside Genre(s): Fusion Posted By: Robert Silverstein
May 8, 2025
Review
Usually when I think of Brazilian music made by artists from that country I think of Samba and Bossa Nova but with the release of Samba Of Sorts in 2025, Unity Quartet makes a pitch for Brazil as a hub of new jazz fusion. This first album by Unity Quartet, entitled Samba Of Sorts, features an impressive lineup of Brazilian musicians including Hélio Alves, Guilherme Monteiro, Gili Lopes and Alex Kautz. A subtle South American jazz influence permeates the grooves while being based in New York City gives the album a more cutting edge sound.
On Samba Of Sorts, the interplay between the punctuated grand piano style of Hélio and the Metheny-esque electric guitar textures of Guilherme comes across in memorable waves of swinging world fusion at times echoing the mid 1970s Tom Jobim mellowness during his CTI / A&M years as well as the international rise of Brazil’s
Kris Adams & Peter Perfido Album: Away Label: Self-Release Genre(s): Crossover Jazz Posted By: Robert Silverstein
May 6, 2025
Review
Honoring the spirit of the late guitarist-composer Michael O’Neil, drummer Peter Perfido and vocalist Kris Adams released Away in 2025. The 62-minute, 13-track CD features nine O’Neil originals, 2 covers written by drummer Paul Motian and several instrumentals. Recording the album with Peter Perfido and Kris Adams are Bob Degen (piano) and André Buser (bass).
The music on Away is sparse and moody making it perfectly suited for Ms. Adams’ earthy vocals and the drumming of Peter Perfido. Not having heard Minnesota native Michael O’Neil’s music before, I can only attest that the music is equally inspired and melancholy with bold overtones. Although it’s clearly jazz in nature there is an air of experimentalism and improvisation. There’s even a stellar ensemble tribute to legendary sax player Jan Gabarek called “Die Sehnsucht”
On her debut album from 2007 Live At The Acton Jazz Café vocalist Melissa Kassel covered a range of well-known jazz standards and in mid 2025 she returns to the recording medium again with a 10-track, 48 minute album complete with all original compositions co-written by Ms. Kassel and pianist-composer Tom Zicarelli. The resulting album, simply called Moments is quickly building a positive reaction in the jazz community.
Teamed with co-writer Tom Zicarelli, Ms. Kassel displays true vocal finesse and variety while receiving excellent support from Tom Zicarelli (piano), Bruce Gertz (bass), Gary Feldman (drums) and Phil Grenadier (trumpet). The tracks are all original this time around and the music displays a fresh spontaneity with the central focus being on the jazz vocal medium. Fortunately, Zicarelli and Ms. Kassel seem to have a musical ESP that is easy to discern after
Cochran & McAllister Album: Pale Blue Dot Label: Self-Release Genre(s): Classical Crossover Posted By: Robert Silverstein
Apr 30, 2025
Review
Inspired by Carl Sagan’s famous presentation about a photo taken from the Voyager II satellite in which the Earth is a tiny little speck in an enormous galaxy, Pale Blue Dot is a fine introduction to the classical guitar wizardry of Matthew Cochran and Matthew McAllister.
With Matthew Cochran’s 5-part, side-long title track / suite introducing the album, the sound soon shifts to classical guitar covers of music by Pat Metheny (“Letter From Home”), Ralph Towner (“Icarus”), Chick Corea (“Spain”) with the superbly recorded CD closing out with a final cover of “Interstellar Suite” by soundtrack master Hans Zimmer.
Calling Michigan-based Cochran & McAllister fretboard virtuosos would be an understatement. Touring all over the world, the duo have successfully built word of mouth interest among classical music fans as well
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Released in mid-2024, It’s Worth It is the second solo album by Delay Tactics guitarist and keyboard player David Udell. It’s Worth It... Read Full Article
Mar 15, 2024 -
CMH RECORDS (Country. Music. Heritage.) maintains a rich history of classic country and bluegrass albums and is honoring several of these legacy... Read Full Article
