Reviews

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Mngwa

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Andrew Franey

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The Shangs

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Alex Cuba

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Tri Nguyen

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Defend The Rhino

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Talltale

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Kiwi Jr.

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Plaster

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Hyness

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Black Suit Devil

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Yamantaka // Sonic Titan

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The Pack A.D.

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Chad VanGaalen

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Potengowski Anna Friederike

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Todd Rundgren

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Old 97's

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Needles//Pins

!earshot picks for 2007


Jim Dupuis

Jim Dupuis of Jazz Notes with Jim on 92.5 the X, CFBX-FM Kamloops, BC, heard Wednesdays from 5-7 PM. I include many interviews on my show with musicians and writers. Many of the interviews are carried in !earshot-online.com. I program annual specials for Mardi Gras and International Women's Day and an all Canadian show in July. I usually attend the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, The Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival and lately the Komasket Music Festival. I attend most concerts sponsored by the Kamloops Jazz Society and make it on occasion to the Ashcroft Opera House for live music performances (no they usually don't have opera).

Other Picks: The Alberta Report
Jazz Notes
Tell the Band to Go Home
Wednesday Evening Jazz
Meow Records
New Shit
ANoiZE
I Am Collecting Beautiful Things
Home Game
Charts & Graphs
Scene-ik Drive
Right On Time
The End of Silence
Rocketship Radio
Pirates of the Caribbean

TOP 5 RECORDS OF 2007

PJ Perry Campbell Ryga Quintet -- Joined at the Hip – (Cellar Live)
Veteran alto saxophonists show what they can do in a live setting. Powerful solos and an incredible rhythm section remind us that bop is not dead! Read Jim’s interview with Campbell Ryga.

Sonny Rollins -- Sonny, Please – (Doxy Records)
Tenor sax giant formed his own label to finally put another album out and it doesn’t disappoint. To say that this man still cooks is an understatement. He can play smoothly without playing “smooth jazz.”
http://www.sonnyplease.com/

Carol McCartney -- A Night in Tunisia – (Moxy)
This wonderful vocalist from Toronto sings and skats through a challenging selection of songs and is backed by some of the greatest musicians in Canadian jazz history. A must buy for mainstream jazz fans. Read Jim’s interview with Carol McCartney.
http://www.carolmccartney.com/

Nordic Connect -- Flurry (Artistshare)
A Canadian/Scandinavian group of musicians which includes the Jensen sisters, saxophonist Christine and trumpeter Ingrid, really take you places. This is contemporary jazz done right! Read Jim’s interview with Ingrid Jenson.
http://www.ingridjensen.com/

Brandi Disterheft -- Debut (Superfran Records)
This is a wonderful debut album. It was completely composed by this young bass player, including the song lyrics. Her bass playing shows influences of the greats like Ray Brown, but this album shows that she has a sound of her own. Read Jim’s interview with Brandi Disterheft
http://www.brandidisterheft.com/

MOST UNDER-RATED RECORDS OF 2007

Larra Skye
Larra Skye
Larra Skye – The World Disappears – (Audiomaiden Music)
I know it got big sales back east, but I bet I don’t know anyone who remembers this album. They should. It is very good.
http://www.larraskye.com/

Cat Jahnke – None of These Things – (Independent)
This isn’t a jazz album, but this singer/songwriter writes with her heart on her sleeve and plays that little heart out on this album. Soulful voice singing amazing lyrics makes me play cuts over and over again.
http://www.myspace.com/catjahnke

MOST OVER-RATED RECORD OF 2007

Randy Bachman and the New Guitar Summit – Jazz Thing II(Ranbach)
I almost feel like there’s something wrong with me for not enjoying this album; but, it bored the hell out of me. Where were the jazz things? Funny, because I usually like everything from every one of the musicians on that album and I respect Randy Bachman, immensely.

BEST LOCAL RELEASE OF 2007

Guppy Tyke, Sean Luciw’s attempt to shake up the jazz world was very interesting. Vocalist Terra Grimard (http://www.myspace.com/terragrimard) and guitarist Kris Ruston (http://www.myspace.com/krisruston) put out short albums which left us wanting more.
www.MySpace.com/lexplexus

BEST PERSONAL C/C RADIO MOMENT OF 2007.

Shelly G, host of Jazz on the Rocks on CFBX (Friday’s 5-7 PM) interviewed Molly Johnson. Shelley, her husband Ken and I attended Molly’s concert in Kelowna and we got to meet her. She was very generous with her time, signed stuff for us, had her pictures taken with us and even recommended a wonderful book to read—The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill (Dan Hill’s brother). I was walking on air. Oh yeah, bought the book and it’s great.

MOST ANTICIPATED RECORD FOR 2008

I really wish the great Ahmad Jamal (http://www.ahmadjamal.net/) would put another one out and locally vocalist/trumpet player Anita Eccolston says that she should have one soon.

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