2012 Top CD's Second Quarter

I've got to pickup the pace or I'll still be doing this in 2014... So I'm going to condense a bit.

My favorite CD from April May June was...

Sunna Gunnlaugs-Long Pair Bond
Acquired: Bandcamp
Rating: 92

The opening notes of this disc remind me of "The Pretty Road" by Maria Schneider, even though this is a piano trio date. So I was hooked in about 5 notes. The title track is a definite highlight, it's something I can listen to over and over. There is much on this disc that puts me in an introspective mood, but this is by no means wallpaper music that one is to put on and ignore. My second favorite comes from the bassist "Fyrir Briynhildi". I'm pretty sure I misspelled Sunna's name and I won't even attempt the bassists'. I have this on my recommended page at bandcamp, and on my new fan page. My comment on bandcamp is music I can only wish I wrote. I didn't mention the drumming of Scott McLemore. Very musical stuff, and what I'm hearing in my head when I play. Scott has the distinction of being the single drummer I've bought the most discs of in 2012 also. More on that later. You can link to this via bandcamp www.bandcamp.com/stonewing

Missing the cut:

Jane Ira Bloom-Wingwalker
Acquired: Gift
Rating: 91

Another very solid side. I heard of this via the "Jazz Sessions" podcast which is now discontinued. I just love her tone on Soprano and the tracks are all very deep.

Locke/Keezer Quartet-Signing
Acquired: Artist Website
Rating: 89

Some solid moments, but a couple of misses for me. Doesn't really stick with me.

Steep Canyon Rangers-Nobody Knows You
Acquired: Gift
Rating 90

Very hook-filled bluegrass. Solid playing by the backup band for Steve Martin. While the choruses have great hooks, some of the overall songs let me down a bit.

Booker T and the MG's-Stax Profiles
Acquired: Stax Museum gift shop
Rating 82

I always rate compilations to a bit higher standard. I don't think compilations should have too much filler. There's some great live stuff from the Stax European tour, and all the requisite Booker T hits. Deep grooves and Duck was a huge influence on me. But a little bit goes a long way sometimes.

Various Artists-Top of The Stax
Acquired: Stax Museum gift shop
Rating: 75

Hard to get a definitive collection of stax singles together since the bastards at WEA refuse to let Stax out of their distribution deal. Most of the great stuff WEA wants to keep in the vault like it's Disney. Atlantic was kind enough to let a few well-known hits onto this but not a lot of them.

Ludwig Wicki/Howard Shore-Lord of the Rings Symphony
Acquired: Gift
Rating: 72

Just not enough new here for me. A neat concept, but works better as a film score than a symphony in my book. Very strong material though, so still earns a decent rating.

Million Dollar Quartet-Complete Million dollar quartet
Acquired: Sun Studios Museum Gift Shop
Rating: 65

The last of my Memphis trip discs. As a historical document:100. I can't describe the feeling I got being in the same room as where that side was cut. Just a lot of incomplete and false starts. Again a fascinating historical document, but not really a side I'm going to put on to rock out to.