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Look for these releases in the Jazz add pool tower or in the recently reviewed CDs section in the music library.

Review Date: 4/24/2008
Artist: Various (Far Out Recordings)
Album: Nicola Conte Presents Viagem
Genre: Jazz, Bossa Nova
Grade: A+
Review: Viagem is a compilation of bossa nova and hard edged samba jazz selected by Nicola Conte from the vaults of legendary Brazilian label Som Livre. The album features a mix of killer Brazilian classics such as Tenorio Jr’s “Nebuloso”, Som 3’s moody “Margarida” and Wanda De Sah’s “Vo Sonhando”, plus a whole selection of jazz and samba rarities on CD for the first time ever! The first in a series of DJ compiled albums for 2008 and coinciding with the celebration of 50 years of bossa nova (1958 – 2008), Viagem pays testament to some of the seminal jazz inspired bossa nova and experimental music circa 1962 – 1970. Highlights include a re-interpretation of Baden Powell’s and Vinicius Moraes all time classic, “Canto De Ossanha” by Trio Maraya and Bossa Jazz Trio’s version of Jorge Ben’s “Vamos Embora Uau”. Everything is recommended for radio play – perfect for jazz and mix shows.
Recommended Tracks: Play anything!
Instrumental: 1, 3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 15
Vocal: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13
FCC: None
Reviewer: Catie Kosinski

Review Date: 5/5/2008
Artist: Various (Prestige)
Album: Rudy Van Gelder Remasters Sampler
Genre: Jazz
Grade: A+
Review: Rudy Van Gelder, legendary jazz engineer, remasters some of jazz’s most influential albums from the bop era. Miles Davis plays with Milt Jackson, Thelonious Monk, Percy Heath, Kenny Clarke, Sonny Rollins, and Horace Silver on Bags’ Groove (1954). Hear John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Arthur Taylor with surprising clarity on Settin’ The Pace (1958). On Rollins Plays For Bird (1956), Sonny Rollins is joined by Kenny Dorham, Wade Legge, George Morrow, and Max Roach. It’s a tenor sax extravaganza on Very Saxy (1959) with Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Buddy Tate, Coleman Hawkins, Arnett Cobb with Shirley Scott, George Duvivier, and Arthur Edgehill. Where? (1961) features Ron Carter with Eric Dolphy, Mal Waldron, George Duvivier, and Charlie Persip.
Recommended Tracks: Play anything!
1: Latin-infused up-tempo
2: Mid-tempo
3: Mellow
4: Up-tempo
5: Rollins original cool waltz
6: Mellow ballad from “My Fair Lady”
7: Hard swinging jam
8: Spirited tribute to Lester “Pres” Young
9: Carter original with bass clarinet and cello
10: Hints of Argentinean tango in rhythmic melodic line
FCC: None
Reviewer: Catie Kosinski

Review Date: 5/2/2008
Artist: Various (Warner Bros)
Album: Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur
Genre: Rock
Grade: A-
Review: As with any attempt to cover Beatles-related music, results are hit and miss, with kudos going to Snow Patrol and the Postal Service for capturing the starkness of "Isolation" and "Grow Old with Me," respectively, Mexican rock band Jaguares for uncovering the fear and fury in "Gimme Some Truth," and Christina Aguilera for nailing the complex composition and mood of "Mother." Other highlights include Jackson Browne's piano-led "Oh My Love," and the Black Eyed Peas turning "Power to the People" into a gospelly protest. --Scott Holter
Recommended Tracks: Play Anything!
FCC: Disc Two: 1
Reviewer: Catie Kosinski

Review Date: 5/1/2008
Artist: Sondre Lerche (Virgin)
Album: Dan In Real Life
Genre: Alternative
Grade: B
Review: In the tradition of Simon & Garfunkel's The Graduate and Cat Stevens' music for Harold and Maude, Sondre Lerche's Dan in Real Life finds the Norwegian sensation lending his coy, almost precious, touch to this movie's soundtrack. Several tracks are plucked from Lerche's back catalogue, including "Modern Nature" (2002's Faces Down), the Elvis Costello-penned "Human Hands" (2006's Duper Sessions), and "Airport Taxi Reception" (2007's Phantom Punch). These and the seven instrumental cue tracks form the matrix surrounding the four originals, among them a smarmy, beautiful duet with Regina Spektor, whose dulcet voice plays ideal foil to Lerche's own. "I'll Be OK" mimics the aw-shucks charisma of every character lead actor Steve Carell plays, offering inspired proof of director Peter Hedges' wisdom in handing the project to Lerche. Elsewhere, a string-heavy cover of Pete Townshend's seminal "Let My Love Open the Door" provides a memorable highlight. Hedges postulates in the liner notes that perhaps the film was made "so more of the world can hear [Lerche's] music," and certainly, this album provides an enticing vehicle for newcomers to his wavering vibrato, saccharine falsetto, and all too genteel songwriting, though existing Lerche fans may lament the relative shortage of new material here. --Jason Kirk
Recommended Tracks: 5, 14, 2, 3, 7, 10, 14, 9
FCC: None
Reviewer: Catie Kosinski