SOUND CHECK.THE 88: ``Kind of Light'' (Orchard) - Three stars This Calabasas-based quintet has clearly spent a lot of time listening to rock older than they are, and the response is some punchy punch·y adj. punch·i·er, punch·i·est 1. Characterized by vigor or drive: "He speaks in short, punchy sentences, using plain, populist words that excite" pop with tricky, inventive (which is not to say always catchy) melodies and paisley- draped drape v. draped, drap·ing, drapes v.tr. 1. To cover, dress, or hang with or as if with cloth in loose folds: draped the coffin with a flag; a robe that draped her figure. instrumentation that can also serve as a spirited game of Guess the Influence. (Hint: If you choose the Kinks, you won't be wrong too often.) Lyrics are smart without being quite memorable, though there's an agreeably wry sensibility trying to work out a jittery spirituality, as evidenced by the juxtaposition of the songs ``God Is Coming'' and ``Hate Me.'' Other highlights include ``All the Same,'' ``How Good It Can Be'' and ``Melting in the Sun.'' - David Kronke ROY HAYNES Roy Owen Haynes, born on March 13 1925, in Boston, Massachusetts, is an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Haynes is one of the most recorded drummers in jazz and in his over 60-year career has played in a wide range of styles ranging from swing and bebop to jazz fusion : ``Love Letters'' (Eighty-Eights/Columbia) - Three and one half stars At 77, Haynes still stands as one of jazz's top timekeepers, and he seems to be getting better with age. His last handful of albums as a leader, including a fine 2001 tribute to Charlie Parker Noun 1. Charlie Parker - United States saxophonist and leader of the bop style of jazz (1920-1955) Bird Parker, Charles Christopher Parker, Parker, Yardbird Parker , have made for great listening. ``Love Letters,'' first issued in Japan, is no exception. Here he fronts two different all-star bands: pianist Kenny Barron Kenny Barron (born June 9, 1943 in Philadelphia), is a United States jazz pianist. He is the younger brother of tenor saxophonist Bill Barron, and known for his lyrical, adaptive style. , saxophonist Joshua Redman and bassist Christian McBride join him for four songs; guitarist John Scofield, bassist Dave Holland and pianist David Kikoski contribute another four. The latter group has the slight edge for its rhythmic exploration of Mongo Mongo Any of several peoples living in the African equatorial forest. They speak a dialect of a common language, Mongo or Nkundo, which belongs to the Niger-Congo language family. Santamaria's ``Afro Blue.'' Haynes closes the album with a fierce solo tour de force, ``Shades of Senegal 2,'' a fitting conclusion. Haynes remains in a class by himself. - Glenn Whipp VARIOUS: ``Fishing Music: A Collection of Acoustic Folk, Blues and Swing'' (Snake River) - Two and one half stars It's unclear how a disc like this will do in a fairly rod 'n' reel-free zone like Los Angeles - they might've been better off touting it as an unassumingly charming collection of tunes and, oh yeah, the word ``fish'' might pop up time to time in the lyrics. Featuring laid-back numbers courtesy of mandolin mandolin (măn'dəlĭn`, măn`dəlĭn'), musical instrument of the lute family, with a half-pear-shaped body, a fretted neck, and a variable number of strings, plucked with the fingers or with a plectrum. player Ben Winship and bassist David Thompson, the album's subtitle tells you exactly what to expect, but its selling point - its utterly low-key nature - also makes it fairly dispensable dis·pen·sa·ble adj. Capable of being dispensed, administered, or distributed. Used of a drug. . If nothing else, it'd make a good Father's Day gift for a harried pop's quiet time alone. But who knew the ``Andy Griffith Show'' theme had lyrics? - D.K. MARK INSLEY: ``Supermodel'' (Rustic) - Three stars It's been a while since we've had someone floor us with a song. But Insley has definitely done it here with a sterling reading of the gritty Johnny Paycheck tune ``Pardon Me (I've Got Someone to Kill).'' That's the only cover; Insley manages quite handily hand·i·ly adv. 1. In an easy manner. 2. In a convenient manner. Adv. 1. handily - in a convenient manner; "the switch was conveniently located" conveniently 2. to mine his own dark thoughts on this effort. Tracks like the self-explanatory ``Deep End of the Bar'' and ``Meat, the Devil'' make clear he's the supermodel here - with a face like 40 miles of bad road. Capable backup includes Jackson Browne bassist Bob Glaub and Dave Alvin guitarists Rick Shea and Greg Leisz, but Insley remains the main attraction. Incidentally, Insley appears May 6 at Crazy Jack's in Burbank and May 7 at Molly Malone's in Los Angeles. - Theo Douglas RHONDA VINCENT ``One Step Ahead'' (Rounder) - Three and one half stars Though she chucked Nashville dollhood for her bluegrass bluegrass, any species of the large and widely distributed genus Poa, chiefly range and pasture grasses of economic importance in temperate and cool regions. In general, bluegrasses are perennial with fine-leaved foliage that is bluish green in some species. roots several albums ago, Vincent VINCENT Vital Information Necessary Centralized (movie, The Black Hole) has raised some eyebrows in traditionalist circles with her belly-baring, leather-clad look on this disc's cover. Not to worry though - the music is as authentic as denim overalls, with just enough hints of experimentation (An acoustic truck-driving song? By a girl?) to keep things interesting. Furious picking, outstanding harmonies (with brother Darrin, Alison Krauss and others) and moving emotional portraiture - plus a baking-flour commercial, all like we've come to expect from the born-again mandolin wonder. - Bob Strauss CAPTION(S): 5 photos Photo: (1) THE 88 (2 -- 5) no caption (CD covers) |
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