STATION_MANAGER for Hambone's Blues Party
Long Grove, Illinois, United States
Scott "Hambone" Hammer, a Chicago-based attorney, went on-air with Hambone's Blues Party in November 1995, broadcasting from a small Arlington Heights radio station, WCBR 92.7FM. Thirteen years and 650 shows later, he currently can be found on listener-supported public radio, WDCB 90.9FM, simulcast on the web at www.wdcb.org, every Thursday, from 10 p.m. until midnight.
Hambone's Blues Party has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Sun-Times and Daily... Read More
Latest Album Reviews
Review of Beatles in Bossa
Album Info: Beatles in Bossa
Minas Album: Beatles in Bossa Label: Blueazul Genre(s): Latin Jazz Posted By: Joe Ross
Jul 4, 2022
Review
There are few songs that have had as much impact on musicians as those of The Beatles. Orlando Haddad (vocals, guitar, berimbau) and Patricia King Haddad (vocals, piano, keyboards) are certainly no exception. In 1978, they formed Minas at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, performed all over the eastern seaboard, moved to Brazil, then returned to the U.S. in 1984 where they perform and record extensively in the Brazilian jazz, folk and classical genres.
Their eighth album, Beatles in Bossa, provides lovely Latinesque arrangements of 14 classic favorites from the Fab Four. They have clearly put a lot of creative time, effort and thoughtful planning into this project that covers many of my personal jazzy favorites from “Blackbird” to “Day Tripper,” “Can’t Buy Me Love” to “Norwegian Wood,” and “With a Little
Bennett Matteo Band Album: Shake The Roots Label: Gulf Coast Genre(s): Contemporary Blues Posted By: Duane Verh
Jul 3, 2022
Review
Jade Bennett’s fiery, focused vocals sync up with an engaging and varied song list, making the case for her inclusion among the more exciting female blues performers around. Ballads are a particular treat on this set, all penned by Ms. Bennett and guitarist and album co-producer Gino Matteo. “Moving On” and “Paid & Broke” stand out and “Table For Two” sets a seriously high bar for any other ballad work out this year. A pair of rockers, the steamy “Warm Inside” and the urgent “Shiny Creatures” are strong as well. The band is solid and lead guitar play is suitably ferocious throughout. A “Best of The Year” candidate.
Review of Connections 38th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
Album Info: Connections 38th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
Steven Halpern & Paul Horn Album: Connections 38th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Label: Inner Peace Genre(s): New Age Posted By: Robert Silverstein
Jul 3, 2022
Review
Recorded live 38 years ago, Connections is a classic example of what happens when two pioneering New Age musicians get together in the studio for an album of improvised and meditative music magic.
Steven Halpern and the late, great Paul Horn weave a hypnotic flow of cosmic sounds, highlighted by a series of five duets featuring their combined musical telepathy. A good example is the album’s lead-off track, “Shared Secrets Revisited”, a mesmerizing duet between the two artists that sets a perfect tone and mood as well as being an appropriate song title that reflects just how effectively these two musicians tuned in to each other and the same music at the same time.
Although the original 10-track, 47-minute LP version was considered state of the art sound-wise, in 1984, it was limited by the evident time
Erik Dahl Album: Music For Small Rooms Label: Svalka Genre(s): New Age Posted By: Robert Silverstein
Jul 3, 2022
Review
In 2020, Swedish composer and keyboardist Erik Dahl released Gethenian Suite, a gothic laden neoclassical album spotlighting the Erik Dahl Ensemble. In early 2022 Erik Dahl is back with a solo album called Music For Small Rooms. Also featuring members of the Erik Dahl Ensemble, the 10-track Music For Small Rooms is similar to Gethenian Suite, yet in some ways it is somewhat sparser, though it’s equally effective. If anything, Music For Small Rooms is more driven by a modern day instrumental prog-rock ethos, although the music is far away from rock and is more rock in opposition, borrowing from the traditional 1970s and early ‘80s era Swedish progressive music sound pioneered by keyboardist-composers like Stefan Nilsson, the late Björn J:son Lindh and Lars Hollmer.
The all-instrumental nature of Music For Small Rooms lends itself to a wealth of comparisons like the
Zan Zone Album: Start Where You Stand Label: Randomaxe Genre(s): Alternative Rock Posted By: Robert Silverstein
Jul 3, 2022
Review
2022 marks the return of Brooklyn’s best band, NYC rockers Zan Zone. Featuring the songs of band founder Zan Burnham, Start Where You Stand is the long-awaited result of 38 months of blood, sweat & tears that found the band enlisting the aid of a new co-lead female singer Angela Watson Modeste. Angela joins forces with long-time Zan Zone vocalists Zan Burnham, Philip Dessinger and Zan’s daughter Arianna Burnham. Angela’s voice rounds out the trademark, 4-part vocal harmony that is featured on a number of Start Where You Stand songs, including the title track composed by band member Philip Dessinger.
Key to the Zan Zone sound is Zan’s dazzling songwriting and his sizzling electric guitar skills. Dedicated to Zan’s wife Marilyn Lisa Feldman, who died in 2021, Start Where You Stand is the best-produced and best-sounding Zan Zone album yet. In
Jun 22, 2022 -
With the release of his sophomore album, Noli Me Tángere, saxophonist, composer and educator Matthew Muñeses magnifies the... Read Full Article
Jun 19, 2022 -
George Lernis is a drummer, percussionist and composer whose unique musical influences and upbringing meld to create a sound and vision that... Read Full Article
Jun 19, 2022 -
Drummer and composer Clemens Grassmann’s latest creation, Grass Machine, is a tale of the strength of community and support amidst the... Read Full Article
Jun 19, 2022 -
Elsa Nilsson is a flutist, composer and educator from Gothenburg, Sweden currently residing in Brooklyn, New York where she can often be found... Read Full Article
Jun 10, 2022 -
Trumpeter and composer Kalí Rodríguez-Peña blurs the lines between genres as he pays homage to the 21st-century mindset with... Read Full Article
Apr 15, 2022 -
Cantodiscanto has come out with a new album entitled Pandemusica. There are significant collaborations with artists, old and new fellow travelers... Read Full Article
Apr 15, 2022 -
Visage Music is a record label founded by Claudio Carboni and Riccardo Tesi, focused on the production of world music and Italian songwriting.... Read Full Article
Apr 15, 2022 -
Bologna - On 7th April 2022, neapolitan musician Peppe Aiello released his solo debut CD on the Visage Music label.
Taking inspiration from... Read Full Article
Apr 4, 2022 -
“This new album is about letting my all of my electronic influences out for everyone to see!” laughs two-time Emmy® award winning... Read Full Article
