SOUND CHECK.Byline: - Fred Shuster Van Dyke Van Dyke (or van/Van Dijk or Dyk etc) is a surname of Dutch origin. It refers to:
Eclectic singer-songwriter Parks was in a playful mood 1-1/2 years ago when this album was cut in front of an audience at the now-defunct Ash Grove on the Santa Monica Pier The Santa Monica Pier is located at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California and is a prominent landmark. Attractions The pier contains Pacific Park, a family amusement park with a large ferris wheel. . Backed by a delicious string section as well as jazz guitarist Jazz guitarists are guitar players who play jazz music using an approach to playing chords, melodies, and improvised solo lines which is called jazz guitar playing. The guitar has a long history in jazz music, both as an ensemble instrument performing chordal accompaniment, and as Grant Geissman, Parks shines not just as a performer but also as arranger of these quirky yet affecting pieces that often explore arcane Americana. Best of all: the delightful ``Orange Crate Art,'' ``FDR in Trinidad'' and a lovely reading of ``Sailin' Shoes,'' which doubles as a tribute to Little Feat's late, great wit Lowell George. Three Stars Jon Faddis/``Remembrances'' Trumpeter Faddis is best-known for upper-register prowess, but here he proves he can lay back and handle ballads with subtle expression. The disc, which contains originals as well as the standards ``Sophisticated Lady,'' ``Laura'' and ``Footprints,'' benefits from the warm, Gil Evans-style arrangements of conductor Carlos Franzetti Carlos Alberto Franzetti (born June 3, 1948) is a Latin Grammy Award-winning composer and arranger from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Franzetti started studying music at Buenos Aires' National Conservatory at the age of 6 and later began taking private piano lessons. , who provides Faddis a subtle textural backdrop of woodwinds, French horn French horn, brass wind musical instrument. Fundamentally a metal tube of narrow conical bore, it is curved into circles because of its great length. The horn ends in a wide flare. It is a development (c.1650) of the small hunting horn. , trombone trombone [Ital.,=large trumpet], brass wind musical instrument of cylindrical bore, twice bent on itself, having a sliding section that lengthens or shortens it and thus regulates the pitch. The descendant of the sackbut, it was developed in the 15th cent. , oboe oboe (ō`bō, ō`boi) [Ital., from Fr. hautbois] or hautboy (ō`boi, hō`–), woodwind instrument of conical bore, its mouthpiece having a double reed. and a top-notch rhythm section Noun 1. rhythm section - the section of a band or orchestra that plays percussion instruments percussion section, percussion section - a division of an orchestra containing all instruments of the same class . In fact, the amazingly flexible ensemble work deserves top billing alongside Faddis. Meanwhile, ``Goodbye,'' an obscure tune by arranger Gordon Jenkins, will surely emerge as a listener favorite. Three Stars - Fred Shuster Soundtrack/``Music From and Inspired by `The Apostle' '' This terrific soundtrack is nothing less than a capsule history of gospel music sparked by director-actor Robert Duvall's research into old-time Southern preachers for his current film ``The Apostle.'' Drawing from the Nashville talent pool, the disc ranges from the Appalachian-styled ``Two Coats'' by Patty Loveless to buoyant spirituals from the Sounds of Blackness Sounds of Blackness is a Grammy Award-winning vocal and instrumental ensemble from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota who perform music from several genres music including gospel, R&B, soul, and jazz. to the classic, gruff voice of Johnny Cash delivering a gospel hymm. There's also a wonderful duet between Emmylou Harris and Duvall, while contemporary Christian artist Steven Curtis Chapman Steven Curtis Chapman (born November 21, 1962 in Paducah, Kentucky, U.S.) is a contemporary Christian musician who has won five Grammy awards and more Gospel Music Association awards than any other artist in history. is also represented. Three Stars - Fred Shuster Mulu/``Smiles Like a Shark'' This invigorating in·vig·or·ate tr.v. in·vig·or·at·ed, in·vig·or·at·ing, in·vig·or·ates To impart vigor, strength, or vitality to; animate: "A few whiffs of the raw, strong scent of phlox invigorated her" British electro-pop duo (the name comes from a Thomas Dolby song) do better than most at mining fresh melodies and dance rhythms from familiar territory. Slightly similar acts like the Sneaker Pimps boast just one or two memorable tracks, but Mulu manages to maintain interest throughout the album, which sparkles with energy and plain silliness. Starbucks should market ``Smiles Like a Shark'' as musical espresso. Two and One Half Stars - Fred Shuster Lucky Peterson/``Move'' Smooth operator Peterson handles guitar, vocal and keyboard chores on his latest outing, which veers into the rockier side of things but rarely strays from this New Yorker's down-home blues roots. Peterson has been slammed in the past for his choice of material. Here, alongside some above-average originals, he covers Robert Cray, Ashford & Simpson, the Isleys (``It's Your Thing'') and even Prince (``Purple Rain'') for better results. Two and One Half Stars - Fred Shuster Various/``The Aristocrat of the Blues: The Best of Aristocrat Records'' The Aristocrat label in the '40s and its successor, Chess, tell the story of the blues. This two-CD set collects rare material originally issued on 78 rpm records that Sunnyland Slim, Muddy Waters, Robert Nighthawk nighthawk: see goatsucker. nighthawk Any of several species of North and South American birds in the whippoorwill family (Caprimulgidae) that are buff, reddish, or grayish brown, usually with light spots or patches, and 6–14 in. and others cut for the earlier label. Blues fanatics will crave this album for Waters' seminal early slide classics, 25 of them in all, including ``Rollin' and Tumblin','' ``Feel Like Going Home'' and ``I Can't Be Satisfied.'' Also worth checking out are boogie-woogie and jump-blues rarities like the Five Blazes' ``Chicago Boogie'' and Andrew Tibbs' ``Bilbo bil·bo 1 n. pl. bil·boes An iron bar to which sliding fetters are attached, formerly used to shackle the feet of prisoners. [Origin unknown.] Is Dead,'' named for a U.S. senator from Mississippi who clearly was not a favorite among Chicago's African-American community in 1947. Three and One Half Stars - Fred Shuster Robin & Linda Williams/``Devil of a Dream'' This country harmony-singing couple have been a musical and marital team for a quarter-century, which explains a lot about their latest album. While they both have strong lead voices, there's a tight, seamless quality to their harmonies. At the same time, there's a high level of songwriting and musicianship on display. Throughout ``Devil of a Dream,'' the rootsy Williams duo hits the mark, especially with material like album opener ``Things I Learned,'' ``Falls From the Sky'' and ``Rolling & Rambling (The Death of Hank Williams),'' which Emmylou Harris once covered. Three Stars - Fred Shuster Ani DiFranco/``Little Plastic Castle'' DiFranco may finally find a heap of mainstream 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 with ``Castle,'' her 10th album. Expect also a heap of hype, for America is ready for this alterna-folkie who defies the the stereotype by making truly alternative music. The album boasts tunes that strike head and heart with irony and passion. ``Castle'' also reflects DiFranco's growth as a musician and technician. And as a thinking person. She's added polish to the grit and subtlety to her politics. You really have to look to a constellation that includes the likes of David Byrne, Joni Mitchell and Richard Thompson to find writers who've maintained this level of craftsmanship for so long. Thankfully, Ani may still be too hip for Star 98. And she can only get better. Even after 10 records, Stevie Wonder had not yet gotten to ``Talking Book.'' Bob Dylan still had ``Blood on the Tracks'' in his future. And Paul Simon (counting his Garfunkle-era releases) was ``Still Crazy'' and had not yet bought the car that was going to take him to ``Graceland.'' As for DiFranco, I can hardly wait for what's to come. Three and One Half Stars - James Hames hames linked metal, curved bars that fit around the horse collar and serve as the attachment for the trace chains and traces. CAPTION(S): 8 Photos Photo: (1) Emmylou Harris and Robert Duvall team up in Nashville to record ``I Love to Tell the Story,'' one of the tracks on ``Music From and Inspired by `The Apostle.' '' (2--8) no caption (CD covers) |
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