The dictionary definition of melisma is: “A passage of several notes sung to one syllable of text, as in Gregorian chant.” My definition? Read on…
Continue reading Melisma: A Terrible Disease →

And just when you think your opinion of bass players could not sink any lower, we have this little anecdote about everyone’s favorite band member…
Continue reading Musician Humor: Curse of The Bass Player →

For the past 20 or so years, I’ve owned both of Jobim’s A&M/CTi albums, Wave and Tide, on the Audio Master Plus reissue vinyl. They both sound fantastic, and even Verve’s reissue of Tide on CD sounds quite nice. The music is better on Wave, but to me, Tide always sounded like the album was comprised of half-finished songs, and it was rather short in playing time as well. Even the title track was a bad, noodly imitation of “Wave”. It turns out that Tide was the last A&M/CTi recording before Creed Taylor picked up his label and moved it to Columbia. A few years ago, I had found out that there was a third Jobim album, called Stone Flower, that was like the final piece in a trilogy. And others had told me how good it was. And call me a skeptic, but after having heard how Tide came out, I was in no rush to hear it. So is it any good, or is it another mediocre recording?
Continue reading Antonio Carlos Jobim: Stone Flower →

There are countless Carpenters compilations available, both in the U.S. and as imports. In many cases, compilations with the same titles often have minor variations between countries. This particular title, Singles: 1969-1981, is the most recent version of the first Carpenters compilation that covered 1969-1973. Since this one is an SACD hybrid, it is playable in both CD and SACD players. What is there to recommend on this compilation? Remixes. Remixes that you’ve never heard before.
Continue reading Carpenters: Singles 1969-1981 (SACD Hybrid) →