Oscalypso (Skipstone) 9/10 Oscar Pettiford was not the first jazz bassist to take up the cello, but he played a crucial role in this super-expressive instrument finding a permanent home in jazz, even if the number of exponents remains absurdly small. Now Erik Friedlander, a truly extraordinary improvising cellist, plays…
Category: Album Reviews – Archive
The Essential Recordings (Primo/Planet) 8/10 Jacques Brel’s conservative, religious upbringing in Belgium would subsequently prove a crucial catalyst for both the satire and the more provocative elements of his marvellous lyrics. Brel was a major influence on songwriters ranging from Leonard Cohen to David Bowie, and the greatest cabaret artist…