Mike Stern, Big Neighborhood

Sep 8,2009
Mike Stern, Big Neighborhood [Heads Up] Jazz/fusion über-guitarist Mike Stern throws caution to the wind, assembles a highly unlikely cast of A-listers, and aggressively submerges himself in their divergent timbres and styles More...

Flea Association

Oct 13,2011
If you were to imagine Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers to be a passionate, intense, high-energy dynamo of a person, you’d be right—to a point. Of course, as anyone who has seen him on stage can attest, the man plays with the More...

Dweezil Zappa, Return Of The Son Of… [Razor & Tie]

Nov 1,2010
With this double-disc live album, prodigal son Dweezil Zappa isn’t just honoring his legendary father, Frank, as a guitarist. He’s following in his footsteps as a virtuoso bandleader, field-marshaling a formidable group of More...

Saul Zonana, Phatso [20and20 Music]

Nov 1,2010
Who is Saul Zonana? There’s no short answer. A longtime New Yorker now based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; a former sideman bassist for Ace Frehley of Kiss; a mix engineer on Adrian Belew’s most recent live album; a More...

Ray Riendeau, Atmospheres [Groove Theory]

Nov 1,2010
If you only knew Arizonabased Ray Riendeau from his main sideman gig of recent years—as the touring/recording bassist for Halford, the Judas Priest vocalist’s solo project— you’re in for a shock. But even those who know of More...

Jeff Berlin, High Standards [M.A.J. Records]

Nov 1,2010
With his first disc of all covers and the fourth with his versatile trio (featuring drummer Danny Gottleib and pianist/upright bassist Richard Drexler), Jeff Berlin’s turn toward straightahead jazz comes full swing (no pun) More...

Garaj Mahal, More Mr. Nice Guy

Jul 1,2010
Garaj Mahal, More Mr. Nice Guy [Owl Studios]The term “world music” gets tossed around a lot, and the instrumental rock/jazz/funk/dance fusion on Garaj Mahal’s fourth album could qualify as such, with Indian, Middle Eastern More...

Dave Sharp’s Secret Seven, 7

Jul 1,2010
Dave Sharp’s Secret Seven, 7 [Vortex Jazz 1969]Ann Arbor, Michigan doubler Dave Sharp stays sharp on this recorded debut of his band Secret Seven. He’s a serious groover, as the lilting Afrobeat “Africano” demonstrates, but More...

Meshuggah, Alive

Jul 1,2010
Meshuggah, Alive (CD and DVD) [Nuclear Blast]With a conceptual opening video sequence and a richly detailed color booklet that pay explicit homage to Ridley Scott’s classic space-horror movie Alien, Meshuggah’s live CD/DVD More...

John Blackwell Project, 4ever Jia

Jul 1,2010
John Blackwell Project, 4ever Jia [JBP]For his wide-ranging solo debut, powerhouse Prince drummer Blackwell makes the sage choice of Will Lee as his co-anchor. In addition to his pocket prowess, Lee serves as co-writer on More...

The VW Brothers, Muziek

Jul 1,2010
The VW Brothers, Muziek [Patois Records]The Amsterdam-born Van Wageningen brothers have been tearing it up as sidemen since the ’80s—Paul as an L.A. drummer, and bassist Marc Van Wageningen as a Bay Area badass with everyone More...

Stephan Crump with Rosetta Trio, Reclamation

Jul 1,2010
Stephan Crump with Rosetta Trio, Reclamation [Sunnyside]Five years after recording music in the wake of 9/11, New York bassist Stephan Crump’s Rosetta Trio offers a stirring encore, an intimately recorded collection of music More...

William Parker and Giorgio Dini, Temporary

Jul 1,2010
William Parker, Giorgio Dini, Temporary [Silta]Two avant-leaning upright jazz bassists veteran musical provocateur William Parker and classically trained Italian player Giorgio Dini meet for five open improvisations that are More...

Esperanza Spalding, Chamber Music Society [Heads Up]

Aug 31,2010
Esperanza Spalding certainly has got the world on a bass string these days. With a fresh sound and a fearlessness to match her considerable gift, she continues to turn up on a wide array of artists’ CDs contributing More...

Trey Gunn & Marco Minnemann, Modulator [7d Media and treygunn.com]

Aug 31,2010
The back cover of this disc reads as follows: “This recording was composed and produced on top of a single, 51-minute live drum solo by Marco Minnemann.” Minnemann, one of a spare few drummers who could make such a More...

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