Led Zeppelin IV was released on November 8, 1971 — 40 years ago today. How much do I love Led Zeppelin IV? Well, I referenced its cover in the design of my three albums.
And, of course, the working title of the album I’m currently writing is IV.
Listening to Keith Jarrett “Treasure Island” (1974)
One of my favorite Keith Jarrett albums. Can anyone have only one? He’s put out so many great records throughout his career, and of such different temperatures. This is my favorite of the albums by the American Quartet. Though it’s not strictly the quartet — they’re augmented here by two percussionists: Guilherme Franco and Danny Johnson, and guitarist Sam Brown. (Brown plays on two tracks on which saxophonist Dewey Redman sits out.)
Treasure Island was recorded on February 27…
Album of the Week: Volcano the Bear’s “Classic Erasmus Fusion”
I bought Volcano the Bear‘s Classic Erasmus Fusion after seeing it on an Other Music display shelf in 2006. I had read about the Leicester, England group in a WIRE magazine profile in the January 2006 issue, but it was the artwork and production quality of the packaging that sealed the deal. That, and that it was pretty inexpensive for the quality — maybe $18 or so for a very nicely made 2 CD set.
The WIRE…
Album of the Week: Duke Pearson’s “Sweet Honey Bee”
Joe Henderson is one of my favorite tenor saxophonists. In the mid-90s, when I first discovered his work, I went about acquiring every session he played on for Blue Note Records in the 60s. Two great ones were sideman appearances on Duke Pearson‘s albums Wahoo! (1964) and Sweet Honey Bee (1966).
Pearson is best remembered as a composer and arranger, though he was a fine pianist too. He was a creative and resourceful traditionalist in a time when all…
