The Musical Box

terence blanchard: "a tale of god's will"

Terence Blanchard: A Tale of God’s Will (A Requiem for Katrina) - Three years on, with Hurricane Katrina’s devastation nearly echoed by Gustav, this extraordinary song cycle - a mix of percussive fire, ominous Crescent City swing and elegiac strings - still sounds vital. Understandably, Blanchard’s trumpet tone sets the album’s numerous moods, from celebratory sass to plaintive reflection to deep rooted blues and sadness.

josh rouse: "the best of the rykodisc years"

Josh Rouse: The Best of the Rykodisc Years - Though perhaps not as worldly as his recent indie albums, the material on this two-disc anthology offers the genesis of a master pop stylist. It boasts the twilight chill of Under Cold Blue Stars, the retro bounce of 1972 and the quietly regal Streetlights. There are unreleased treats and demos here, as well. But it’s the refresher course on a quickly blooming artistic voice that satisfies most.

sugar cane harris: "sugar cane's got the blues"

Don “Sugar Cane” Harris: Sugar Cane’s Got the Blues - An album I never thought to find on CD - but did. Harris was the violinist that distinguished himself on Frank Zappa’s seminal Hot Rats. But the music on this 1972 concert relic flirts with broken blues, fusion jams and densely patterned funk. Harris is a bit of a vocal ham at times, but the solemn groove on Song for My Father, along with Terje Rypdal’s guitar surrealism, sweetens Sugar’s muse.

tower of power: "tower of power"

Tower of Power: Tower of Power - Saturday’s Roots & Heritage Festival show by Lenny Williams is prompting a new listen to this 1973 gem. Rumor goes that the album was completed when the brass-bred band parted ways with Bump City singer Rick Stevens. Williams then stepped in and made the soon-to-be soul hit So Very Hard to Go and the monstrous, horn driven funk epic What is Hip? his own. All this and Soul Vaccination, too. Mercy.

paul desmond: "bridge over troubled water"

Paul Desmond: Bridge Over Trouble Water - This reissue of an obscure 1969 outing by saxophonist Desmond won’t come as much of a thrill to those who championed his work with Dave Brubeck. The repertoire sticks solely to Paul Simon songs, the band includes then-renegades Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter and the production by Don Sebesky is glossy and groove conscious. But’s Desmond’s tone is still steady and deliciously cool.