Record Reviews

DR. JOHN ~ AFTERGLOW BLUE THUMB 7000 (Barcode: 011105700023) ~ USA ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 1995 Released: 1995 This is a lovely and sadly little known album by iconic American singer / pianist / songwriter / bandleader Dr. JohnFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Mac RebennackFind albums by this artist), recorded with a full Jazz Big Band / Orchestra. The album presents ten songs, seven of which are American Songbook standards and three are his own songs. The album was produced by the legendary producer Tommy LiPumaFind albums by this artist and the songs were arranged and conducted by John ClaytonFind albums by this artist. The instrumentalists include guitarist Phil UpchurchFind albums by this artist, bassist Ray BrownFind albums by this artist, drummer Jeff HamiltonFind albums by this artist and other renown Jazz players. The beautiful idiosyncratic voice, piano playing and general attitude of Dr. John work absolutely perfectly with the Big Band arrangements, and the resulting music works as if it was initially created exactly for this unique setting. Overall, this is a little hidden gem of American music, which deserves to be remembered and a lot can be learned from it, how to combine cross-genre musical sources to create a perfect amalgam, which is simply everlasting. Blues, Soul and vocal Jazz enthusiasts should love this album to bits!

Updated: 05/10/2022Posted: 05/10/2022

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

WOBBLER ~ AFTERGLOW KARISMA 209 (Barcode: 7090008312093) ~ NORWAY ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2007 - 2008 Released: 2021 This is a reissue of the second album by Norwegian Prog group WobblerFind albums by this artist. Same as the debut, it was recorded by a quartet lineup, which included guitarist Morten Andreas EriksenFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Lars Fredrik FroislieFind albums by this artist, bassist Kristian Karl HultgrenFind albums by this artist and drummer Martin Nordrum KneppenFind albums by this artist, and four guest musicians. The album presents five original compositions, including two lasting well over ten minutes, all written by the group members. The material was written in 1999, before the debut album was recorded, and was not used on the debut album. The group returned to it, giving it a “second chance”, which is quite different from the early demo versions of this material. Wobbler, like many other Norwegian Prog groups, explore the original sound Prog, which developed in the early 1970s, and often sound remarkably similar to Prog forefathers, completely skipping the dreaded Neo-Prog doodling. The music on this album shows more Classical / Early Music / Medieval Music references than the debut, as well as some hints of Heavy Metal, but it is a classic Symphonic Prog at its best, which nobody can deny ;) The music is remarkably melodic, with the intrinsic Nordic melancholy well incorporated, but more energetic and harder sounding elements are also present, creating a fascinating continuity and remarkable coherence, which make this album a delightful sonic experience. For experienced Prog listeners, especially those well versed in the original Prog period, this album certainly rises fond memories and a worm familiarity. Prog, or rather the core of Symphonic Prog, to which this music belongs, it an intrinsically limited genre, and as such operates mostly within pre-destined limits, which allow little flexibility. Wobbles certainly manage to stretch the limits of the genre to the max, and their superb melodic and harmonic capabilities are certainly outstanding. Overall, this album and its predecessor and successor (“HinterlandFind albums with this title” and “Rites At DawnFind albums with this title”), all recently reissued, are a superb Prog triumvirate, which can be warmly recommended to all lovers of the genre. They proudly represent the Norwegian Prog scene, which is certainly alive and kicking, in parallel to other Scandinavian Prog scenes. Great to have this available again!

Updated: 30/03/2022Posted: 30/03/2022

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend