SOUND CHECK.Jimi Hendrix/``Live at the Fillmore East'' (Experience Hendrix/MCA) and ``Live at the Oakland Coliseum'' (Dagger) Nearly 30 years after his death, Hendrix's guitar work, singing and songwriting still sound as fresh and exciting as they did in the patchouli-scented days of the bell-bottom era. Now that the Hendrix family has control of the catalog, previously unheard material has been seeping out. The double-CD ``Live at the Fillmore East'' (Four stars), drawn from the guitarist's four shows with the funk-tinged Band of Gypsys around New Year's Eve 1969, contains 16 tracks, 13 of which are issued here for the first time. Best of all are burning performances of ``Earth Blues,'' ``Izabella'' and ``Stone Free,'' plus two takes of the jaw-dropping ``Machine Gun,'' a Vietnam war Vietnam War, conflict in Southeast Asia, primarily fought in South Vietnam between government forces aided by the United States and guerrilla forces aided by North Vietnam. commentary delivered by six Fender strings and a Marshall stack that can still cause shivers. ``Live at the Oakland Coliseum'' is the debut release of Dagger Records, a label established by the Hendrix family to offer inspired performances that don't meet the standards of the MCA MCA in full Music Corporation of America Entertainment conglomerate. It was founded in Chicago in 1924 by Jules Stein as a talent agency. In the 1960s it bought Decca Records and Universal Pictures, and today it produces films, music, and television shows. releases. Call this limited-edition two-disc set, available by mail order and through the Experience Hendrix Web site, an official bootleg. Taped by an audience member with a single microphone in April 1969, the night after a Hendrix date at the Forum, the superb ``Oakland'' (Three and one half stars) is capped by an 18-minute ``Voodoo Child'' in which Jefferson Airplane bassist Jack Casady Jack Casady (born John William Casady, April 13 1944 in Washington D.C), is an American musician considered one of the foremost bass guitarists of the rock music era. First playing as a lead guitarist with the Washington D.C. joins the trio on stage. Equally fine is an extended version of Hendrix's greatest blues, ``Red House.'' - Fred Shuster Eminem/``The Slim Shady LP'' (Aftermath/Interscope) Warped, vulgar, demented and offensive - those are the adjectives white Detroit rapper Eminem's label uses to market this much-publicized debut disc. With savvy hip-hop producer Dr. Dre at the helm and MTV MTV in full Music Television U.S. cable television network, established in 1980 to present videos of musicians and singers performing new rock music. MTV won a wide following among rock-music fans worldwide and greatly affected the popular-music business. giving it the big push backed by Interscope's well-known muscle, look for ``Slim Shady'' to top the charts in a few short weeks. Aimed squarely at suburban teens destined des·tine tr.v. des·tined, des·tin·ing, des·tines 1. To determine beforehand; preordain: a foolish scheme destined to fail; a film destined to become a classic. 2. to lap up Eminem's lyrical assault, the album is sort of enjoyable in a cartoony ``South Park'' way upon first listen. However, it's hard to imagine many return visits to this vulgar and demented landscape where there's at least truth in advertising. Two stars - Fred Shuster Charles Mingus/``Oh Yeah'' and ``The Clown (Rhino/Atlantic) John Coltrane/``Coltrane's Sound'' (Rhino/Atlantic) Art Blakey/``Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers With Thelonious Monk'' (Rhino/Atlantic) This is the second wave of deluxe jazz reissues from Rhino that expertly mine the classic recordings made in the late '50s and early '60s for Atlantic. Each comes complete with an informative, colorful booklet (with original liner notes liner notes pl.n. Explanatory notes about a record album, cassette, or compact disk included on the jacket or in the packaging. , new essays and color photos) and a CD sleeve featuring the album's original art. The first-rate packaging perfectly complements the music, which ranks among the greatest jazz ever recorded. The Mingus albums couldn't be more different. ``The Clown'' (Four stars) features the classic ``Haitian Fight Song,'' as well as Jean Shepherd's improvisational story reading on the title track. Mingus limits himself to piano and some enthusiastic shouting on ``Oh Yeah'' (Four stars), giving the spotlight to Roland Kirk, who plays the flute, siren, tenor sax, manzello and stritch. The passionate, emotional music - all originals - is among Mingus' compositional best work. Both albums also add stellar bonus tracks from the period, making them a must for collectors. ``Coltrane's Sound'' (Four stars), recorded the same week as the more famous ``My Favorite Things,'' doesn't receive as much acclaim as the latter work. One listen, though, and you realize that this is a fantastic album and on par with any of the the saxophonist's recordings on Atlantic. It contains the beautiful ``Central Park West'' and bluesy ``Equinox equinox (ē`kwĭnŏks), either of two points on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic and the celestial equator intersect. The vernal equinox, also known as "the first point of Aries," is the point at which the sun appears to cross the ,'' as well as two revealing takes of Coleman Hawkins' ``Body and Soul.'' The Blakey-Monk collaboration (Four stars) features several famous Monk compositions (``Evidence,'' ``Blue Monk,'' ``I Mean You'') as well as an original from tenor sax man Johnny Griffin (``Purple Shades''). Griffin is an essential part of this recording, which is a shining example of musicians adapting their individual styles to create a cohesive, committed whole. - Glenn Whipp The Other Ones/``The Strange Remain'' (Arista arista (ä·riˑ·st ) ``Friend of the Devil'' and ``China Cat Sunflower'' are just two of the many pleasant surprises to be found in this effort to get back to basics: live Grateful Dead, played by surviving members and close friends. With bassist Phil Lesh the strongest element of this reincarnation, and a strong pinch of Bruce Hornsby thrown in, the results offer a fresh look at such oddly touching throwbacks as ``Mountains of the Moon Mountains of the Moon, Africa: see Ruwenzori. ,'' ``St. Stephen'' and ``The Eleven.'' For Deadheads, the remarkable force of the Other Ones provides reassurance. Three and one half stars - Brett Pauly Joe Henry/``Fuse'' (Mammoth) Here's a slinky slink·y adj. slink·i·er, slink·i·est 1. Stealthy, furtive, and sneaking. 2. Informal Graceful, sinuous, and sleek: wore a slinky outfit to the party. , grown-up grown-up adj. 1. Of, characteristic of, or intended for adults: grown-up movies; a grown-up discussion. 2. soundtrack for late-night musings on the nature of love and life. Think world-famous depressive Mark Eitzel on a good day. Henry's ``Monkey'' and ``Want Too Much'' have received some airplay air·play n. The broadcasting of an audio or audiovisual recording on the air over radio or television. airplay Noun the broadcast performances of a record on radio in odd corners of the radio dial, for good reason. The singer boasts a smokey, world-weary voice that fits his sophisticated musical backdrop like an olive in a desert-dry martini. And like that martini, ``Fuse,'' due Tuesday, is a refreshing and grown-up libation li·ba·tion n. 1. a. The pouring of a liquid offering as a religious ritual. b. The liquid so poured. 2. Informal a. A beverage, especially an intoxicating beverage. b. for the ears. Three stars - David Bloom John Lithgow/``Singin' in the Bathtub'' (Sony) ``3rd Rock From the Sun'' star John Lithgow and company have assembled a quirky and nostalgic collection of novelty tunes guaranteed to amuse adults and kids. His simple, folksy folk·sy adj. folk·si·er, folk·si·est Informal 1. Simple and unpretentious in behavior. 2. Characterized by informality and affability: a friendly, folksy town. 3. voice is a comfort to behold as he perfectly puts across a range of material - from the big band of ``Everybody Eats When They Come to My House'' to the simple ``Gnu Song.'' This first effort has a little something for everyone. Three stars - Nancy Hewitt Paul Westerberg/``Suicaine Gratification'' (Capitol) Westerberg's solo career has never quite lived up to the bang-up mixture of blister and beauty of his old band, the Replacements. The good news is ``Suicaine Gratification'' easily tops his earlier efforts, offering the familiar lyrical mix of beleaguered be·lea·guer tr.v. be·lea·guered, be·lea·guer·ing, be·lea·guers 1. To harass; beset: We are beleaguered by problems. 2. To surround with troops; besiege. bile, sweetness and persistent doubt all atop a blend of folk, streamlined crunch and piano pop. And most of it hits an emotional vein you figured the Replacements had long ago wasted. As Westerberg himself asks and answers on standout track ``It's a Wonderful Lie'': ``How am I feelin'?/Better I suppose.'' Three stars - Steve Byrne Detroit Free Press The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep". Some still refer to it locally as "The Friendly" -- a slogan from an ad campaign in the '70s. CAPTION(S): 6 Photos Photo: (1) CHARLES MINGUS (2--6) no caption (CD covers) |
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