calendar  |  musicians  |  venues  |  concert reviews  |  CD reviews  |  photos  |  features

















Rudy Lu

1. Return to Forever - Light as a Feather
Latin influenced jazz. Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Joe Farrell, Airto Moriera with Flora Purim on vocals. Great modern standards such as 500 miles high, You're Everything and of course Spain grace this album. This release stands in marked contrast to the great post Bitches Brew fusion movement of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, the Eleventh House and the second more electric guitar driven versions of Return to Forever.

2. Pat Metheny Group - Pat Metheny Group
Pat's 2nd album  with a musical line up that would carry him through the early 80's.  Lyle Mays-keyboards, Mark Egan-Bass and Dan Gottilieb -Drums. The 1st 2 cuts San Lorenzo and Phase Dance are beyond beautiful. Pat's debut album as leader with Jaco Pastorius and Bob Moses is also wonderful.

3. Quincy Jones - The Quintessence
Big Band Quincy Jones style circa 1961.  All star line up including Thad Jones, Freddie Hubbard, Clark Terry, Curtis Fuller, Phil Woods, Oliver Nelson, Milt Hinton and Frank Wess among many others.  Outstanding cuts include the title song, Robot Dance, Little Karen and Hard Sock Dance.

4.John Coltrane -The Complete Africa Brass Sessions
John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy playing together with 16 other musicians, need I say more?  Trane explores traditional folk music with Greensleeves and Song of the Underground Railroad (Follow the Drinking Gourd). There are also several versions of the African influenced Africa. The use of 2 basses on this composition adds much excitement.

5.Miles Davis -The Legendary Miles Davis Quintet Prestige Sessions
- Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet
- Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet
- Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet
- Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet
- Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet
The 5 classic Prestige LPs of Miles with Trane. An extra CD of live cuts from that band are also included (OK I 'm cheating 6 albums in one set).  Favorite cuts- Surrey with the Fringe on Top, It Never Entered My Mind, Four, If I Were A Bell and I Could Write A Book.

Honorable mention:
A Love Supreme - John Coltrane
Crystal Silence - Chick Corea and Gary Burton
How Long has this been Going On? - Sarah Vaughan
Clap Hands Here Comes Charlie - Ella Fitzgerald
Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus - Charles Mingus
Sketches of Spain - Miles Davis and Gil Evans
Lady in Satin - Billie Holiday
Ballads - John Coltrane
In a Silent Way - Miles Davis
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman - John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman

The list goes on and on.......