January 4, 2002

1. Ricki Lee Jones - “It's Like This” - 2001
It's just coincidence that I'm coming out with an all covers CD and that this is an all covers CD ( I had already finished "Do it Again" by the time this was released). I love her off the cuff approach and phrasing. I also really love the sparse instrumentation and production. I don't think she always gets as much credit for being as influential on all the female singers that came up after her. Great stuff if you're a Ricki Lee fan.

2. Charlie Hunter,“Songs from the Analog Playground” - Bluenote 2001
Really cool "beatnik funk". Probably my favorite recent release.

3. Jimmie Vaughn - “Do You Get the Blues?” - Artimis 2001
I love everything Jimmy does. Jimmy never received the mass appeal his younger brother Stevie Ray did primarily because he stayed closer to his blues roots rather than incorporate a flashier rock approach. That doesn't make his feel any less deep. Uncluttered, straight from the heart blues.

4. Various Artists - “Cha Cha Party” - part of the Jazz Moods series on Concord 2001
Excellent compilation of Latin jazz. Lots of fun

5. Rodney Jones - “Soul Manifesto“ - Bluenote 2001
Classic style soul jazz. Nothing terribly new here but it's cool that Rodney put a band together of some of the guys who pioneered this style. Idris Mohammed on Drums, Dr. Lonnie Smith on organ, Maceo Parker and Arthur Blythe on Sax. Familiar territory covered by a cool band.

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