Top 10 Gil Scott-Heron Tracks
I just discovered the news of Gil Scott-Heron’s passing and want to put this list together for all those like me who in this moment are compelled to reflect on his legacy.
Continue ReadingRon Carter Baker’s Dozen: Top 12 + 1 Ron Carter Top 10 Lists
In honor of Ron’s birthday I wanted to come up with a Top 10 list, but narrowing down and leaving things out proved to be too hard. So I came up with 12 Top 10 lists, with an extra one to make a baker’s dozen and accommodate some of my favorite tracks that didn’t fit easily into these categories.
Continue ReadingTop 10 Most Mind-Blowing Concerts: The Rutgers Years (1992-1998)
Recently I returned to New Brunswick/Rutgers for the first time in seven years, which not surprisingly led to a pretty heavy nostalgia trip. While my relationships with the faculty (particularly Kenny Barron and Ted Dunbar) dominate my memories of my time there, there was much else. One of the main reasons I wound up there…
Continue ReadingTop 10 Slide Guitar Solos
I have a particularly strong soft spot for slide guitar, and here is the result of my agonizing attempt to narrow down to a Top 10 list.
Continue ReadingTop 10 R&B Keyboard Performances
One of the purposes of my Top 10 lists is to discuss the music that moves me, whether the influence is obvious in my own music or not. This is a case where the connection is a bit more direct, since I’ve taken a lot from classic R&B/soul records and worked to incorporate it into what I do without casting aside the authentic elements of jazz. Here are some tracks/players that have helped open my ears and expand my vocabulary.
Continue ReadingTop 10 Charles Lloyd tracks
my personal highlight reel from Charles Lloyd’s catalog through the years.
Continue ReadingTop 10 R&B Male Vocal Performances
J.B., Rev. Al, Bobby “Blue”, Brother Ray and 6 more . . .
Continue ReadingTop 10 Forgotten Early MTV-Era Songs
Here are my top 10 songs from MTV’s first few years that seem to have been all but forgotten even by those with nostalgic memories of that era.
Continue ReadingTop 10 Stevie Wonder Tracks
I love Stevie Wonder so much that coming up with a Top 10 list for him is really hard – hard to even know how to approach it. So I have ultimately decided on approaching it as the top 10 tracks I cannot imagine living without.
Continue ReadingTop 10 R&B Duo or Group Vocal Performances
Marvin and Tammi, the Isleys, Four Tops, Impressions and some surprises . . .
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