Point of No Return
Though already in business in 1961 with his own record label, Frank Sinatra was contractually obligated to give Capitol one more record before moving on to Reprise. Sinatra gave them the ironically titled Point of No Return, which is hardly the deal-fulfilling throwaway one might expect. Expertly arranged... Read the full story
Harps & Angels
Award winning musician Randy Newman’s childhood began in Los Angeles but included time spent in New Orleans, absorbing the city’s signature rhythm & blues to accompany his family’s pop-orchestral endowment. He meshed his musical roots with strong doses of singer-songwriter creativity,... Read the full story
The Water Is Wide
Charles Lloyd was on a roll in the 1990s, each new CD offering some small surprises. On his new 2000 release, The Water Is Wide, Lloyd boasts a great lineup. Guitarist John Abercrombie and drummer Billy Higgins are back from Lloyd’s Voice in the Night, but they are joined here by Brad Mehldau and... Read the full story
Songs for Swingin’ Lovers!
April 2010 Week 3 Sinatra already had one youthful career behind him by the time he made Songs for Swingin’ Lovers! His were no longer the lustrous pipes of the kid crooner from Hoboken–the voice that made bobbysoxers swoon–but from the first notes of the opening track (“You... Read the full story
Around the City
April 2010 Week 1 Pianist Eliane Elias goes from bop and Bach to bossa nova just as easily as she sings in English and Portuguese. This CD is the sequel to her 2004 recording, Dreamer, and it features bassist Marc Johnson, guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves, flutist Dave Valentin, and trumpeter Randy Brecker.... Read the full story
Songs for Young Lovers/Swing Easy!
March 2010 Week 5 This CD pairs the first two 10-inch records Sinatra recorded for Capitol. In 1955, full-length albums by popular singing stars were still few and far between. These two platters marked the beginning of Sinatra’s phenomenally successful relationship with conductor-arranger Nelson... Read the full story
Come Fly with Me
March 2010 Week 4 When critics refer to Sinatra’s Capitol albums, their highest praise is usually reserved for the dark melancholy of Wee Small Hours or Only the Lonely. But the upbeat “Swinging” records should not be ignored. Probably the finest of these albums is Come Fly with Me.... Read the full story
Scene of the Crime
March 2010 Week 3 “I’ve got my mem-mor-eehees,” sings Bettye LaVette at the chilling finale of her version of Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s obscure “Talking Old Soldiers,” holding the last syllable as it fades into a hum while Spooner Oldham’s ghostly piano... Read the full story
Blue Note Plays Jobim
March 2010 Week 1 Containing 11 previously issued cuts from the back catalog of Blue Note, this mix of new and old artists takes a stab at the songbook of one of Brazil’s most important artists. While some artists here may not be the best representatives for re-interpretation of Jobim, they all... Read the full story
Soul Serenade
Gene Ludwig started performing professionally in 1949 at the age of 12. Born near Pittsburgh, PA, one of the major cradles of jazz artists, Ludwig was initially a pianist. He took formal piano training for more than 12 years. Then in the late ’50s he saw Jimmy Smith perform at Pittsburgh’s... Read the full story
