I just happened upon a gallery of photos from a Rilo Kiley/Nada Surf concert I went to with Barak, Julie, and Marissa. Nada Surf didn't impress me, but Rilo Kiley really knocked me out. The band was tight; Blake, in particular, exhibited some solid, versatile technical facility as a guitarist. Perhaps even more impressive was seeing him play his ass off without showboating. He and Jenny also c
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Adam Kolker talked to us once about how he used to go see Joe Henderson at the Blue Note (or the Vanguard, I forget which). He said Hen' would take these long solos that went on for choruses and choruses, just gradually building up in intensity; Al Foster would just be there with him, matching that same level of intensity. Kolker asked us, what if you had that many levels of intensity? Same ...
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_The Boss_ features Jimmy Smith leading a trio with guitarist George Benson and drummer Donald Bailey; Nathen Page replaces Benson on "Fingers," which was culled from another live set. There's a lot of interplay on all the tracks, and everyone gets a chance to stretch out. The musicians sound inspired, and the two guitarists' contrasting approaches bring out different sides of Smith. Benson, a not
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Liberty Ellman's compositions on _Tactiles_ are very rhythmic -- sometimes funky, often complex. Though the composed melodies aren't especially memorable, bassist Stephan Crump and drummer Eric Harland compensate by grooving pretty damn hard. Listen to them hook up during Mark Shim's solo on "Helios." Greg Osby guests on three tracks, including the standout "Ultraviolet," which features compelling
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This is an excellent listen. Chris Cheek's melodies are catchy and memorable, which makes _Vine_ a good starting point for the curious or uninitiated. More experienced listeners will find plenty to latch onto, as well. The ensemble really gets a chance to stretch out and interact with one another; such subtle communication suggests that these are very sensitive musicians._Vine_ is Cheek's second a
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