IMPROVIJAZZATION Nation
Issue # 84 REVIEWS
New! New! New! Zzaj PODCAST!
We now have 3 TOTALLY FREE CD's (with free cover art) available for download at our NETLABEL site! The only thing we ask is that you scroll to the bottom of the page(s) & give us a REVIEW! Please ADVERTISE this to ALL your friends... tell them we are GIVING AWAY music!
I've played in over 65 "bands" . We will highlight a few of these bands in this (and future) issues.
Featured Zzaj band for issue #82 - Detroit Improv Duo (these don't auto-start - CLICK the PLAY button to listen while you read our reviews - or don't, totally up to you!).
This grouping featured Pontiac, Michigan guitarist extraordinaire Jim Konen, with me on Kurzweill PC 88. On "The Fasttrack", Jim played horn on his guitar synth - VERY interesting sounds. The first two tracks also featured drummer Jim Russell, from Olympia, Washington. ENJOY!
Jon Gordon - WITHIN WORLDS:
This CD is the result of an "ArtistShare" project that Jon put together... his
alto sax work can only be described by one word - "masterful". That's true
of many of the artists he assembled for the album, many of them from the
ArtistShare stable. There is a lot of talent there, but Jon's stands out
(if for no other reason) because the music comes through full of passion and
energy for communicating "the message". Each listener will find something
unique in one or more of the 9 tracks. One thing I wasn't especially
attracted to was the album layout... though the artwork was fully acceptable,
there wasn't much in the way of biographical information in the liners, and the
same held true for the page at ArtistShare... I think listeners will want to
become better acquainted with all the players, & the only way they can do that
is if they can view more historical information on both the CD jacket and the
page. That's NOT a criticism of the music, however... Gordon's composition
and musical communication skills are superb and show great promise. I give
this one a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for listeners 'round the world who love jazz
featuring saxophone. Get more information at
http://jongordonmusic.com/
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Anna Maria Flechero - WITHIN THE
FOURTEENTH HOUR: We get many CD's in with vocalists doing standards, & few
of them shine as clearly as Ms. Flechero's performances do! She's
joined by a whole host of players (about 10 players, far too many to name off
here) who contribute a lot to the energy & do a marvelous job of supporting her
vocals, but when the song's over & done, you just naturally know that
what wrapped you in were Anna's husky and spirited vocals. If you love
high talent jazz vocals, these tracks will go to the top of your playlists;
there is no better today. My take on it (having done a bit of singing
myself) is that the combination of rich tone and verve for living is what makes
Flechero stand out in a field populated by so many. If ever I have the
chance to watch her perform, nothing will stand in the way of it... yup, she's
that good, folks. There's no high-tech wizardry going on here to enhance what
she does - it's "just Anna", & you'll be as happy as I was with that, I've no
doubt. I give this a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, as well as the "PICK" of
this issue for "best female jazz vocals". Get more information at
www.annamariaflechero.com
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Mark Prince - FRACTION OF
INFINITY:
We'd not heard Mark's splendid drum works before... we're glad it was sent our
way for review, to be sure! Definitely jazz with a "modern" feel, & joined
by a whole host of players with the same high talent levels he displays.
The cut with the highest mojo level (in my humble opinion) was "Friendly
Fire"... the drums are recorded right out in FRONT of the players, & come
across as right "in your ears", if you will... my favorite, with a splendid
level of raw phonkiness, this track will hold you in it's grip for the
full 5:54. That's not the only one, of course... if you dig a kinda'
"slinky" sound, you'll love "Abena's
Last Stand" & keep queuing it back up on your player. If you want a
tune with a little more traditional feel, you'll enjoy "Rite
of Passage" a lot! What really makes this album stand out (for me) is
that the compositions are all original... excellently recorded and performed
with high energy levels, this CD will stand the test of time... it's a definite
KEEPER. I give this a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, particularly for those
listeners who demand precision! Just released on 24 June, 2008, it should
be available on the racks now. Get more information at
www.markprincemusic.com
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Karen Johns & Company - STAR AND
SEASON:
If you love "big band swing" with red-hot & smokin'-husky female vocals out in
front, you're going to fall in love with this on the opener, "Carry
Me Away"... I did (yes, this is my favorite track), in great part because of
Karen's fantastic ability to make "scat" sound like regular conversation.
This is way more than just high talent, this kind of vocalist only comes along
once in a blue moon. Her rendition if "Night
And Day" is just the cat's meow, & you'll find it a very comforting listen.
As I listen to this, I can visualize her in one of my old Huntsville haunts (the
KaffeeKlatsc h), though I doubt they're still doing live music there... the
reason I mention that is because her vocals remind me in many ways of a singer
named Beth Jackson who used to perform in that venue. My whole point here
is that Karen has a kind of "southern flavor" in her songs, & those listeners
who have heard jazz singers in that neck of the woods will know what I'm talking
about when I say there's a little "more" you get out of a well-composed jazz
vocal when the singer is from down that way! This is an absolutely splendid
album - comes MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me. Get more information at
www.karenjohns.com Rotcod
Zzaj
Jamie Davis - VIBE OVER
PERFECTION:
This must definitely be an issue for jazz vocalists... Jamie's deep rich vocals
and performance style remind me of the Vegas stylings of Lou Rawls, though with
a much deeper tone (if you can imagine that). As many who read this 'zine
know, I'm a big fan of original compositions, but when a singer as skilled as
Mr. Davis hits the microphone, it wouldn't matter who the composer was... the
songs are in the hands of a true vocal master... just superb singing!
Jamie has a real sense of "life" in his style that makes every track sound like
a classic... talent that just won't quit. Unfortunately, I couldn't find
any samples on the web for you; one other minor complaint is that the tracks
weren't "burned" onto the CD, so when you're ripping them, you have to actually
type all the information in! That doesn't detract (at all) from the
excellence of the listen, though... this CD will stay in your collection for a
long time to come if you love male jazz vocals... I give it a HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED, to be sure. Get more information at
www.jamiedavis.com/
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Darrell Katz Jazz Composers
Alliance Orchestra - THE SAME THING:
If you've been listening to high-spirited all vocal jazz (as I have for the
last 2 hours), Darrell's opening track (December 30, 1994) will be a shocker...
not in a "bad" way, it's just that this is about as full of jazz experimentation
and adventure as you can imagine! In a strange way, it strikes a "funny
bone", too.. there's great spoken word (written by Paula Tatarunis and performed
by Rebecca Shrimpton) sort of "sparring"
with the music that follows along in the wake of her entertaining textual
performances. Clocking in at over 10 minutes, "Everybody Loves Ray
Charles" is my favorite track, no doubt... great call/response lines that just
KICK your tail, & when the guitar kicks in on lead, you'll grab your
flask out of your pocket & swig down th' whole durned thing! Actually,
this tune alone makes the CD purchase worth it... just visualize Ray doin' "free
jazz"! Another favorite, "I'm Me And You're Not Ha Ha", lets us focus in
on Paula's superb word visions... a haunting experience. This album
definitely take the spoken word/jazz paradigm to a new level... this gets a MOST
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me for those who want to hear something challenging
and different. This gets the "PICK" of this issue for "most
enjoyable jazz adventure"... in fact, barring something more cosmic, I'm going
to give it the "PICK" of the YEAR for that category. Get more information
at www.jazzcomposersalliance.org
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Noah Preminger Group - DRY BRIDGE
ROAD:
Noah's tenor sax provides a very pleasant "wake-up" set... I've actually been
listening to it via my Palm pilot's expansion card for a couple of weeks now.
There wasn't anything especially distinctive about the CD cover, except perhaps
for the picture of Preminger with his sax hanging over his shoulder, but I just
had a "feel" that this one would be very interesting. I suppose the other
factor is that this is a debut CD, & I caught that in the liners. The
point here is that Noah's 1 August 2008 release has 6 out of 9 tracks that are
all original compositions, with more than just "verve" and high talent going for
them... the sextet he's assembled is just "tight"... this album is a clear-cut
keeper, & will ride in my car rack with me (a place of honor, one might say).
If you like "laid-back", you'll favor "Luke", the opening track... you can hear
this one & others by clicking
HERE.
My favorite piece, though, was "Today Is Okay", with a really rambunctious bass
lead-in, then some great interplay between the tenor sax & Russ Johnson's
trumpet. Other players are Ben Monder doing guitar, Frank Kimbrough on
piano, John Hebert's bass & Ted Poor's drums. You'll find Noah's jazz
well-founded & most enjoyable. This album would have gotten our "MOST
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED", except that tracks were not embedded on the CD (maybe next
time). It certainly merits the HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating for jazz
listeners everywhere! Get more information at Noah's site -
www.noahpreminger.com/
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Misha Feigin, Dave Liebman,
LaDonna Smith (with Jason Foureman) - WATERS ASHORE:
Our long-time improvising pal LaDonna Smith sent us this 2007 CD release, as
well as several others to be reviewed in upcoming issues, that are part of an
improv "revival" of the Transmuseq Records label she & Davey Williams started
'round 30 years ago. Many who have read this 'zine since it's inception
will be familiar with these names, as I reviewed a lot of the Transmuseq
material in the early issues. For this adventurous outing, Feigin (guitars
& balalaika), Liebman (soprano & tenor sax, flutes, reading) & Smith (violin &
viola) just "start right off" on "Drink Deep"... 20 pleasurable minutes of
exploration that will leave you wanting to empty the well. Misha's
spoken-word on track 3, "Jazz", is superb & gives you an intricate view of the
"after effects" of one of those honkin' jazz parties we've all been to, surely
enhanced by Jason's contra-bass undercurrents. This is my favorite because
of the poetry, but all the rest of the tracks on this album & the others as well
will have you seeking out these recent releases as well as several re-releases
that will appear at the
TRANSMUSEQ site! "Waters Ashore" is fresh and invigorating
improvisation that gets my MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating for listeners who want
more than just "humdrum" in their musical experience.
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Wayne Wallace - THE NATURE OF THE
BEAT:
Famous players all the way from Carlos Santana to Count Basie, Stevie Wonder &
John Lee Hooker have called on this astounding trombone & tuba player to enhance
their productions. You won't hear a more punctual & enjoyable version of
EWF's "Serpentine Fire"
anywhere other than (of course) the original... and on Herbie Hancock's "Come
Running to Me", you'll find a very danceable track that clearly highlights
the diversity of style that Wallace is able to play with. In fact, that's
what's most attractive about the songs on this great CD... nearly all musical
languages are spoken here. The most energetic cut (& my absolute
favorite), though, is a Wayne original titled "That
Walk"... besides the fact that it's composed by him, there's some phasing
goin' on behind his crystal-clear 'bone lines that will definitely help you to
"walk the jazz walk" - you know, strut it! I just really DIG this
piece. There's a decidedly Latin influence in his arrangements, with all
the high life that implies... if you don't find yourself feeling better
after listening to this exciting album a couple times, you're in need of an
M.D., for sure. This enchanting musical adventure gets a MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED from us. Start checking your favorite CD store now - this one
gets released on August 19th, 2008. Get more information at the
PATOIS
RECORDS site.
Sharel Cassity - JUST FOR YOU:
Sharel's highly lively jazz CD was just released at the end of June, 2008, so
if you love exciting new talent, you'll want to rush right out & get your copy
now! Too many players to itemize here, but every player has their place, &
the arrangements & execution are flawless. Ms. Cassity's alto sax work is
superb throughout the album, & will make you keep coming back to this one...
it's a great collection for ripping to .mp3, so you can carry it with you
wherever you go. While I (always) love the cuts that make you want to get
up and dance, strangely enough, my favorite track on the CD was the title track,
"Just for You",
because it features Sharel's horn right out in front all the way through!
One main point is that this isn't "thinking man's" jazz... it's so full of the
verve of life that you've no need to deliberate... just groove right
along with the players & you'll be able to hear that this music IS being played
with you in mind. When you are ready to kick up your heels, though, you'll
find that the opener (trombonist Michael Dease composition), "Phibes'
Revenge", will transport you well into the ether... heavy movement,
without doubt. This is an excellent album & surely merits my MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED rating. Get more information at
www.sharelcassity.com
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Anna Estrada - Soņando Vuelos:
For a debut CD, this is one astonishing performance. Anna's from
Brazil, but has been performing in the Bay area for a few years now, & decided
to make her dream of singing come true (say the liner notes)... well, she's
accomplished her mission, as you'll surely agree when you listen to this
wonderful album. There will be no doubt in your mind that Latin-flavored
jazz is in her blood by the end of the first track, and her husky (yet rich)
vocals will have you falling in love with her, too. The title means
"Dreaming Flights" (at least, that's what the translator says), & it's a perfect
description for what Estrada conveys through her lively singing... she will have
you soaring in no time, feeling the same exhilaration that's apparent from her
singing. The backing orchestra (might as well be, FAR too many players to
itemize in a review) sways & moves right along behind her, all to most pleasant
effect for jazz lovers of all persuasions. A grand excursion, with some of
the best Latin jazz vocals I've heard in a while... I give this a HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED, to be sure. Get more information from
www.annaestrada.com
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Kevin Hays - THE DREAMER:
Kevin's CD release is another "ArtistShare" project... basically some
superb jazz, featuring his excellent keyboard work on 11 absolute originals.
Hays also does vocals & clearly displays a talent that many artists doing
piano/Rhodes/synth just do not have... he's able to sway you whichever way he
wants you to go with his singing (just think Stephen Bishop, from a style
perspective, anyway... with a little more sophisticated approach). I get a
real feeling of roots in Zawinul, especially on the passages where he's playing
the Rhodes... in fact, my favorite track, "A
Question", combines both the Zawinul feel as well as the laid-back yet
penetrating Bishop vocal thang. As you might imagine, I fell in love with
his playing immediately, no hesitation, no second guessing... I believe
you will, too! This is a very spirit-filled and soulful album that
will stay at the top of your playlists for years to come... it gets my MOST
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating! Get more information at
www.kevinhays.com Rotcod
Zzaj
Georg Breinschmid & Friends -
WIEN BLEIBT KRK:
Let it never be said that reviews in this 'zine are "only about jazz", or
"only about "regular" music"... we are always pleased to hear & write
about music that is on the edge, no matter what the genre. That's the
first thing I'd have to say about Georg's CD.. it takes the listener to a zone
they never would have imagined... think of some sort of cross between Django
Reinhardt and a "classical gypsy band" from Vienna, Austria.. ha! ha! One
other thing you will come away from this superb musical experience with is a
clear respect for Brinschmid's bass playing abilities, as well as his high
talent for crafting pieces that have strong jazz leanings, yet leave you
wondering why it doesn't "sound like" any jazz you've ever heard before; I don't
mean that in any negative way, either, because Georg "has it", in spades.
If you're a "standard jazz" freak, you'll probably go elsewhere, but I give this
a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for listeners of all persuasions who have a little
adventure in their blood. This was released on the 1st of August, 2008, so
you should be able to find it in your favorite store now. Watch him on
YOUTUBE, or get more
information from
www.georgbeinschmid.com Rotcod Zzaj
Mosaic - UNSAID, UNDONE:
If vibrant & upbeat is what you demand in your jazz experience, you'll
want this July, 2008 debut CD for sure. Six of the seven tracks are solid
originals, with all the verve & life you'd expect... Matt Belzer's sax, Ned
Judy's keyboards, upright bass by Larry Melton, drums & percussion from Mark
Merella & scorching percussion by David Font-Navarrete all combine to create one
of the freshest jazz listens I've heard (yet) this year. These
players are right on time, & definitely in tune with the muse... your ears will
be more pleased than they have in a long time. The word that comes to mind
as the short description for the band sound is "full body"... if you're a sax
lover, think of "Kenny G on 21st Century steroids" (without the side effects)...
the sounds that Belzer plays on "Hikaru's
Dance" (my favorite on the CD) are cutting without being offensive or edgy
in any way. I'm highly impressed by the broad range of talent displayed on
this album, & you will be too. This gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for
sure. Get more information at
http://snackrecords.com/artists/mosaic/ (be sure & tell them Zzaj sent you,
of course) Rotcod Zzaj
Robin McKelle - MODERN ANTIQUE:
When Robin tells you (on the opener, "Abracadabra"...
this is definitely the track that I favor the most, perhaps because it's on
YOUTUBE - click the link & watch her) that she wants to "reach right out & grab
ya'", you'll know she means business... in fact, you'll be so caught up
in the magic spell she weaves that you'll volunteer! Those jazz
fans who find "big band" irresistible" won't be able to put this CD back in the
rack... it'll just keep on spinning for days & days. She has excellent
style, especially when it comes to scat... this isn't just an attempt to dazzle,
it's the real deal... she'll have your heart whirling 'round & 'round.
It's also very clear that Ms. McKelle loves to have fun, and has the talent to
pull it off to the degree that the listener will be infected with the joy
and love of life that is her message. She has one of the most sultry
voices I've listened to this year. I can guarantee you that this will be
one of your favorites of 2008... it surely rates the MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
rating I'm giving it. Visit her on MYSPACE at
www.myspace.com/robinmckelle
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Bill Cole's Untempered Ensemble
- PROVERBS FOR SAM:
Bill's ensemble is what the roots of this magazine are all about... unfettered
performance, improvisation that creates relentlessly to produce music that stirs
all the emotions we need to stay in touch with on our life journey. The CD
was issued in memory of Sam Furnace & captures the complete set that he
performed on at the 2001 Vision Festival in New York. Furnace's alto sax
will penetrate your mind and allow you to experience imagery that comes from the
most primal parts of you... the titles are L-O-N-G, and probably (like many of
my own) come from the heat of the creative moment (usually right after the piece
is realized)... one example is the opening track, "Don't Wait for the day of
battle before getting your weapons ready"; it won't make much sense until you
listen to it - absolutely tribal. I'm more than (just) impressed...
my ears get EXCITED when they hear this kind of exploratory sound, & if you
understand that sense of anticipation of the next moment (heck, the next
millisecond), you'll agree & declare this MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, as I
have. In FACT, I'm also giving this album the "PICK" of this issue for
"best jazz improvisation". No intellectual (B.S.) analysis needed - this
just hits the spot! The release date is 19 August, 2008, so order
your copy now from boxholdr@aol.com
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The
Joe Gilman Trio - VIEW SO TENDER- WONDER REVISITED, Vol. 2:
If you hadn't guessed by now, this CD explores the very jazz-friendly music of
Stevie Wonder... it's odd to hear a trio doing this, when I'm so used to
Wonder's music with far more instrumentation, but Gilman's keyboards, bass by
Joe Sanders & drums from Justin Brown, reinterpret Wonder's tunes to the point
that you'll wonder why Stevie didn't do them this way in the first place.
Of course, we all know the answer... "non-jazzheads" wouldn't have comprehended
it, & sales would have been low... what Joe's fantastic creativity & talent does
prove, however, is that Mr. Wonder was/is a master composer! If
it's "move" you want, you'll find my favorite track, "Another
Star" to your liking... if, on the other hand, you want something that
sounds more "Wonder-ous", you'll probably pick "Knocks
Me off My Feet". All 10 tracks pass on the sense of joy that Stevie
has always had in his music, though, so it's an album well worth having &
certainly merits our HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating. Get more information at
www.joegilman.com/ or watch Joe & the
trio playing SIR DUKE
(YOUTUBE). Rotcod Zzaj
Glenn White - SACRED MACHINES:
Mr. White's full-bodied tenor lines takes me back to a time when jazz was at
the forefront of my life... you know, late-night crawls through 2 or 3 cavernous
and smoky dens where everyone was "in the mood" for jazz... in those days, a lot
of "intellectuals" hung out in such places, too, and the whole scene made for a
real intermingling of minds. What we often didn't realize back then is
that it was really the "soul" we were communicating with, usually through the
players... & Glenn's playing is in that class. In other words, it's not
just "gut-funk", chords patched together in odd hooks just to attract
listeners... it's clear that his talent stems from a deeper understanding than
many reed players have of the emotional pull they are in control of. I can
tell you that he reached right out & touched me from the opening bar of this
album... & especially so on "Washington
Heights", my favorite track on the album; very reflective, yet penetrating
and full of soul. If you love jazz that features reeds, you'll certainly
agree with me - this is MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Get more information at
www.glennwhite.net Rotcod
Zzaj
Puttin' On The Ritz - BANGIN'
YOUR WAY INTO THE FUTURE:
This one came through the mail slot (seemingly) with a certain air of "punk"
(it was almost, like, "strutting" when I took it out of the envelope), &
that was surely borne out when I slid it into the CD tray.... BJ Rubin joins
Kevin Shea as the "Outsider Jazz Vocal Duo"... sonic backing came from Peter
Evans' trumpet, Jon Irabagon's saxophone & Moppa Elliott's bass. If you
think humor in music has no place in the "modern world", yer' probably a blue
meanie anyway, so put this album down... but if you enjoy rock with a cutting
edge that isn't afraid to poke fun at (essentially) anyone (YAH, U2),
this one will come across like Dirty Harry's nemesis... it'll MAKE YOUR DAY...
ha! ha! These guys are into "deconstruction" in a BIG way... some
of the vocals, in fact, will have purists cringing... it's right on the edge of
talent, exploratory & sometimes so audacious it will have you scratching your
head (if you don't believe, me, listen to their performance of "Earth
Angel". Personally, I find this just distasteful enough to give it a
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for listeners who find their Nirvana in "odd-istry".
Ha! Ha! Get more information at
www.puttinontheritz.blogspot.com/ Rotcod Zzaj
Cynthia Felton - AFRO BLUE (the
music of Oscar Brown, Jr):
Ms. Felton has an absolutely astounding cast of musicians joining her on this
tribute to Oscar's music; the CD, to be released on the 2nd of September, 2008,
will hold you spellbound from the opener ("Motherless Child"). After that
splendid spiritual, Cynthia favors us with her vocal rendition of "Afro Blue"...
excellent interplay between the players and her vocal leads, with a totally
appropriate focus on the music! If you haven't been "jazzified" lately,
this will surely do the trick. There is one criticism, however... when I
went to the site that was supposed to have more about Felton & her music (
www.cynthiafelton.com ), it says
"coming soon"... that is a BIG "no-no" in today's webbed world; there were a few
other sites that had reviews of the CD, but nothing a listener could preview
with. I surely hope (for Cynthia's sake) that whoever is handling that
aspect of Ms. Felton's campaigns gets that fixed soon, as her music is high-end
enough that it surely deserves to be heard. She has her own unique style,
and superb talent when it comes to scatting... I give this debut CD a HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED for jazz lovers who want tasty & sultry female vocal work as a part
of the listen. Rotcod Zzaj
Guideline for artists SUBMITTING to us: We do NOT generally review .mp3 files/sites. Being an active artist myself, though, I understand the need for the use of Internet sites as a "staging ground" for reviews! You are encouraged to email us your .mp3 links... we will visit the site/link, & if we like your energies, we will contact YOU! (We will NOT respond to followup inquiries about .mp3 files, though!!! p.s. If you EVER e-mail me .mp3 files, you will be BLACKLISTED on this site!!!)
We would really appreciate any support you can give us in this effort - as you'll see, there are a few FREE trax on each of the albums, too! Please (also) TELL other folks about our new BLASTMYMUSIC site
You can ALSO sell your OWN music by clicking on the graphic
below (you'll really be helping Zzaj out, as it uses my Affiliate ID when you
sign up with BLASTMYMUSIC. Thanks:
In This Issue: -
IF you are the FIRST e-mail respondent to this note (to
rotcod@hawaii.rr.com - MAKE SURE
your subject states ALEX CD), you will
receive (free of charge) a copy of a superb jazz CD by Alex Kontorovich, titled
"DEEP MINOR" (which was reviewed in our last issue). We will have (some)
more freebies coming in future issues, so be sure & tell all your friends about
us!
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