SOUND CHECK.WILLIE NELSON: ``You Don't Know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker'' (Lost Highway) - Three stars Although the standard ``You Don't Know Me'' might be songwriter Walker's best-known composition, fellow Texans like Nelson think of her more as the behind-the-scenes genius of Western swing. If some of the fiddle and pedal steel pedal steel n. An electronically amplified guitar mounted on legs, with up to ten strings whose pitch can be altered by sliding a steel bar across them or by depressing pedals attached to them. Also called pedal steel guitar. work on this album sounds virtuosically familiar, that's because Willie dragged Bob Wills' old cohorts Johnny Gimble and Buddy Emmons into the sessions. While that Texas Playboys precision-jump sound dominates most of the disc, there's room left over for some of Nelson's most bizarre vocal phrasings yet, as well as a truly magisterial mag·is·te·ri·al adj. 1. a. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a master or teacher; authoritative: a magisterial account of the history of the English language. b. cowboy epic, ``Dusty Skies'' (No, it's not the brokeback song - Walker was not that kind of a gal, from what we know from her songwriting, anyway. Although that ``Cherokee Maiden'' was a mighty hot little number). - Bob Strauss DONALD FAGEN: "Morph the Cat" (Reprice) - Two and one half stars Nothing demands immediate attention on Fagen's third album away from Steely Dan. The disc, a jaded little conceptual love letter to the Grim Reaper, is predictably polished, meticulously crafted and sometimes dead boring. Like Fagen's previous solo outings, the jazz-pop veneer runs paper-thin without the collaboration with Walter Becker
Walter Becker (born Walter Carl Becker, 20 February 1950, in Queens, New York) is the guitarist (and sometimes bassist) half of the duo at the core of the jazz-rock that seems to bring focus and real steel to Dan ware. Nice but only mildly memorable moments here include "Security Joan," about a businessman's obsession with an airport security guard. In the most cheerful track, "What I Do," Fagen is haunted by the ghost of Ray Charles For the composer and conductor of the Ray Charles Singers, see . Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) known by his stage name Ray Charles, was a pioneering American pianist and soul musician who shaped the sound of rhythm and blues. , who coaches him in cool. The best part of "Morph the Cat" are the guitars six players, including favorites Wayne Krantz Wayne Krantz (born July 26 1956 in Corvallis, Oregon) is an innovative American jazz fusion guitarist who has played with names such as Steely Dan, Michael Brecker, Billy Cobham, and others, but currently has a solo act. and Hugh McCracken, are on board for the project. - Fred Shuster ALAN JACKSON: "Precious Memories" (ACR/Arista Nashville) - Three stars Jackson originally intended this fine gospel set as a Christmas gift to mama, but encouragement from family and friends thankfully persuaded him to put it out. The 15 classic hymns, recorded intimately with acoustic guitar and keyboards, are rendered faithfully, giving fans a chance to hear the country star's heartfelt readings of such timeless tunes as "Softly and Tenderly," "I'll Fly Away," "Are You Washed in the Blood?" and "The Old Rugged Cross." Longtime Jackson fanciers will appreciate "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus," featuring vocals from Jackson's wife, Denise, and two of his daughters. The whole thing clocks in at a little more than a half-hour. - F.S. ANDREW HILL Andrew Hill (June 30, 1931[1] – April 20, 2007) was an American jazz pianist and composer. Life and career Born in Chicago, Illinois[2], Hill took up piano at 13, and was encouraged by Earl Hines. : "Time Lines" (Blue Note) - Three and one half stars At 68, innovative pianist Hill is making every note count. Here, in his return to Blue Note, the label for which he recorded frequently until 1970, he pushes forward in one of the most adventurous straight-ahead jazz Straight-ahead jazz is a term used to refer to a widely accepted style of jazz music playing that can be thought of as roughly encompassing the period between bebop and the 1960s styles of Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. efforts in recent memory. This quintet set, highlighted by the challenging title track and the intriguing "Smooth," is as exciting as Hill's signature 1964 peak, "Point of Departure." Here, eight top-notch new compositions set the stage for a rematch with the always exciting trumpeter Charles Tolliver Charles Tolliver is an American jazz trumpeter and composer. Self-taught, he was first influenced by Clifford Brown and Freddie Hubbard. After graduating from Howard University (in pharmacy) he came to prominence in 1964, playing and recording with Jackie McLean. , who was featured on several of Hill's early classic Blue Note sessions. - F.S. GONZALO RUBALCABA: "Solo" (Blue Note) - Three and one half stars Pianist Rubalcaba's solo date continues the unrushed, emotionally honest vibe of his two collaborations with Charlie Haden, "Nocturne nocturne (nŏk`tûrn) [Fr.,=night piece], in music, romantic instrumental piece, free in form and usually reflective or languid in character. John Field wrote the first nocturnes, influencing Chopin in the writing of his 19 nocturnes for piano. " and "Land of the Sun." Much of the music will be familiar to Rubalcaba's fans - he did "Here's That Rainy Day" for "Inner Voyage" and "Nightfall" with Haden on "Nocturne" - but the versions here reach deeper. Hypnotic and soothing, complex but as easy to appreciate as an ancient lullaby, "Solo" finds the artist at the top of his game. - Glenn Whipp CAPTION(S): 6 photos Photo: (1) no caption (Willie Nelson) (2 -- 6) no caption (CD covers) |
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