Album review by Neil Hobkirk Well, the cover art’s nice. And the music’s nice too. Or rather, the music’s too nice. Yes, nice music. So: […]
Definitive Statement: Dee Daniels’ “State of the Art” (Criss Cross Jazz, 2013)
Album review by Neil Hobkirk Dee Daniels should need no introduction. Unfortunately, she too often does. In a music climate clouded by jazz-singing sound-alikes, a […]
The Long and the Short of Mike Oldfield: “Five Miles Out” and “Crises” (deluxe editions; Mercury, 2013)
Album review by Neil Hobkirk I remember my first proper sound system, purchased during high school in 1984: Harmon/Kardon HK330I receiver; JBL J216A speakers; and […]
Upended Cornucopia: Glass Hammer’s “Ode to Echo” (Arion Records/Sound Resources, 2014)
Album review by Neil Hobkirk Sure, it’s safe to say that Glass Hammer is the finest progressive rock band ever to have emerged from Chattanooga, […]
Polite Blaze: Eric Alexander’s “Chicago Fire” (HighNote, 2014)
Album review by Neil Hobkirk Yes, folks: he still walks the earth and works among us. Rudy Van Gelder, one of the most celebrated engineers […]
Suites of Sorts: “Mira” by Arild Andersen with Tommy Smith and Paolo Vinaccia (ECM, 2014)
Album review by Neil Hobkirk I’m going to treat this album as though it fell into two distinct sections. For me it does. Two thirds […]