Articles by Dave Hughes

Can You Judge an Album By Its Label?

by Dave Hughes
March 3, 2024

This article was first published at All About Jazz in March 1999. For almost as long as there have been record labels, many labels have sought to build a reputation or a brand identity for themselves in terms of the genre of music presented on their labels or the technical quality of their product. Some of the largest and longest-running labels, such as Columbia, RCA, and Warner Brothers, have taken a “big tent" approach in which major artists ...

Jazzy Holiday Music

by Dave Hughes
November 24, 2004

It never ceases to amaze me how many different recordings of the songs in the repertoire of popular holiday music exist, and the broad spectrum of styles in which they have been recorded. But I suppose their overall musical utility is one reason why so many of them have endured through the years and not yet died of overexposure. That's what makes a good song a good song! So naturally, there is no genre better suited for taking an old ...

Mark Winkler Sings Bobby Troup

by Dave Hughes
December 29, 2003

All About Jazz: You've recently released Mark Winkler Sings Bobby Troup. What motivated you to devote an entire CD to Bobby's works?

Mark Winkler: I really wasn't planning to do a whole CD of Bobby Troup tunes, I was looking for some outside material to fill out a CD of my originals. His work was always something I'd been meaning to check out a little more, and when I did, I fell in love with it-and I couldn't narrow it ...

Rich Lamanna & The Last Word: Introspective

by Dave Hughes
January 1, 2002

Saxophonist Rich Lamanna, schooled at Berklee, now practices dentistry in upstate New York, but obviously the music has never left him. This is definitively evidenced by this very impressive debut CD Introspective. It’s sort of a sad reflection on the current state of music business economics that a musician with this much to offer isn’t being more widely heard and appreciated.

There’s tasty stuff throughout this disc. Some tunes, such as opener “You Just Left” are modern straight-ahead, while others ...

Neil Pyzer: From the Bush to the Pridelands

by Dave Hughes
January 1, 2002

Multi-instrumentalist Neil Pyzer’s From the Bush to the Pridelands is an eclectic, multi-faceted outing which truly charts its own course. The program of all original compositions draws influences from Indian music (most prominently), contemporary jazz, new age, and numerous “world music” genres. Each piece has its own set of sonic textures, but common threads that run throughout the program are Pyzer’s snaking, inquisitive soprano sax, background synth washes, and an infectious percussion groove. On some songs, counterpoint to the soprano ...

Circo: North/South Convergence

by Dave Hughes
December 1, 2001

While the band Circo is based in the U.S. (around University of North Texas in Denton, to be specific), they have embarked upon the mission of performing and promoting the music of Uruguay, and to an extent, Brazil. The inspiration for this music began with founder Lee Tomboulian’s purchase of Airto’s 70s albumFingers(a college favorite of mine too, I might add). The rhythm section of that band was made up of Uruguayans Hugo Fattoruso (keyboards), Jorge Fattoruso (drums) and Ringo ...

Rosemary Clooney: Let It Snow: Christmas with Rosemary Clooney

by Dave Hughes
December 1, 2001

Here’s a baker’s dozen of previously released Christmas material by Rosemary Clooney, issued on the North Star label. The fine print indicates that this “compilation” is copyright Concord Records. However, this program seems to be 13 of the 21 songs on Clooney’s Concord CD, “White Christmas.” So, naturally, I would recommend choosing the Concord CD in order to get the remaining eight songs.

Packaging concerns aside, if you love Rosie, you’ll love this. All of her stylistic traits are here. ...

Various Artists: Groovin' Jazz Christmas

by Dave Hughes
December 1, 2001

It’s a smooth jazz Christmas. Most of this program is exactly what you’d expect: sax lead, programmed backgrounds and drum loops, lightweight improvisations (although Doc Powell’s guitar on “Let It Snow” is appealing). The first eight songs stay close to the formula, and it’s pretty predictable, mechanical, and at times downright sterile. But whoever sequenced the CD saved the best for last; the final three songs are the most rewarding of the lot. “Christmas Eve”, the only original on the ...

Otis Read: Deck the Halls

by Dave Hughes
December 1, 2001

Acoustic guitarist Otis Read offers up an enjoyable acoustic straight-ahead jazz program of holiday favorites. The program swings along in a laid-back, cool, comfortable groove from start to finish. I wouldn’t call this “groundbreaking,” but it’s good. On some tunes, the band plays it fairly close to the melody, while others feature more adventurous improvization. Interestingly, the primary lead voice on the CD is that of saxophonist Bruce Abbott; the leader assumes a supporting role and rarely solos. Pianist Willie ...

Nancy Wilson: A Nancy Wilson Christmas

by Dave Hughes
December 1, 2001

Veteran singer Nancy Wilson has put together an impressive cast for her 2001 holiday CD on Telarc. This CD is the latest installment in the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild (MCG) Jazz series, and all proceeds go to benefit the MCG’s arts and learning center in Pittsburgh. The arrangements and players are superb! The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All Star Big Band add that irresistible big band swing to “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”, “Silver Bells”, and “God Rest ...