Exploring the Music of Russell Malone – finding Dianne Reeves – together they perform “You’ve Got a Friend”

Ok so to honor Russell Malone on his birthday today, I said I would listen to his 2010 release Triple Play. But when I went to MOG, there was a 2013 release listed at the top of his discography, so I downloaded that and listened to it! It was great! I came home tonight and discovered that, the album I listened to was Playground which was actually released in 2004! I don’t know why it’s listed as 2013 unless it has been re-released??? The last song on Playground  is Carol King’s “You’ve Got a Friend” a song that won both James Taylor…

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The Safari Lunches with Persephone’s Dream from Pittsburgh, PA!

So the Safari didn’t have to travel far this week as I’ve been listening to Pan: An Urban Pastoral  from the Pittsburgh based band Persephone’s Dream. From the ProgArchives…… Claiming influences like RUSH, GENESIS and OZRIC TENTACLES, Pittsburgh,PA band PERSEPHONE”S DREAM (named after a Greek myth) was formed initially in 1993 by guitarist Rowen POOLE and bassist Christ SIEGEL. The duo drafted an intern named Judilynn NEIDERCORN to sing vocals and recorded the band’s first album, ‘Evening Mirage’, in Rowan’s dining room. Although the album was not released until 1997, it gained some radio play and a cut off the…

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Today in Music – November 8, 1963 – Happy 50th Birthday Russell Malone!!

The first time I really heard the guitar of Russell Malone was one night a while back when I stumbled upon this video of Malone, Christian McBride and Benn Green performing Wes Montgomery;s “Jingles” and I was blown away by his talent!!  (and McBride and Green’s talent too!!) Anyway, today I get to say Happy Birthday to Mr Malone! Russell Malone was born on this date in 1963 in Albany Georgia…and is  is an essentially self-taught[1] swing and bebop jazz guitarist. He began working with Jimmy Smith in 1988, and went on to work with Harry Connick, Jr. and Diana…

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People Music – from Christian McBride and Inside Straight

This morning I was in jazz mode and listened to the Christian McBride & Inside Straights release People Music. The album was released in May of this year. Inside Straight has everything I enjoy in jazz, lively vibes from Warren Wolf, piano from Peter Martin and smooth saxophone from Steve Wilson, All supported by the solid bass lines of Christian’s bass and Carl Allen;s drums.on the majority of the songs. On a few of the songs the piano duties are manned by Christian Sands and Ulysses Owens, Jr. handles the drums. Both are considered members of the Inside Straight family….

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Music Safari runs with Norway’s Kerrs Pink – Mystic Spirit

There’s good news and bad news from last night’s run. The good news is the headlamp that I bought the other day works great. It makes the road visible to me and me visible to drivers! The bad news is that now I have no excuse for not running when it gets dark at five o’clock!! Last night’s run was pretty good. The first mile was 9:30 and the rest were around 9:50 minutes plus! The soundtrack for the run was a new to me Prog Rock band from Norway Kerrs Pink. I listened to their latest release Mystic Storm….

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Life’s Soundtrack – Norway’s Prog Rockers Kerrs Pink’s latest – Mystic Spirit – Powers Another Good Run!

There’s good news and bad news from last night’s run. The good news is the headlamp that I bought the other day works great. It makes the road visible to me and me visible to drivers! The bad news is that now I have no excuse for not running when it gets dark at five o’clock!! Last night’s run was pretty good. The first mile was 9:30 and the rest were around 9:50 minutes plus! The soundtrack for the run was a new to me Prog Rock band from Norway Kerrs Pink. I listened to their latest release Mystic Storm….

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New Prog from Sweden’s The Flower Kings – Desolation Rose

One of my son Andrew’s favorite bands is (are sounds better) The Flower Kings Over the years, I’ve listen a few times to their albums and have found them to be just ok. After listening to their latest release, Desolation Rose I am reconsidering my assessment and may just have to go back and listen to the other albums from these guys. Hell at their website I read…. They are regarded by many as one of the leading, if not THE leading, progressive rock outfit of the new millennium. The Flower Kings are led by progrock icon, guitarist, vocalist, composer,…

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Morning Music – New Prog Rock from the Steve Paine’s – Legend – Spirit

  So this morning I found and listened to the album Spirit by the Prog Rock band Legend, and on first listen I came away very, very impressed by the band. that, Steve Paine created way back in 1988. The band’s first album, Light in Extension was released in 1990. That album was followed in 1993 with the release of Second Sight and their third and maybe best known album Triple Aspect was released in 1996. Then the band disappeared from 1998 until 2008 when… LEGEND’s return began in 2008 as Steve Paine and John Macklin made plans to see if anybody…

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Into the Morning with Legend from Jersey and The Dark Place!

So this afternoon I was looking for a new release title Spirit from the Prog Rock band Legend. i went to MOG and found the band and a 2013 release the only thing was I hit download before I went back and checked the title. The title of the album I downloaded was The Dark Place.not Spirit. Here is the website of the Jersey Band Legend. Here is the website of the Prog Rock band Legend Anyway I listened to the album and liked it and while the band appears to be labeled as metal rather than Prog I do…

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Morning New Age Music from the Bombay Dub Orchestra – Tales from the Grand Bazaar!

Yesterday morning I decided that I’d check out what’s new  in the world of New Age Music and what better place is there to do that, than Echoes.org. So I surfed on over there and looked at the Top 24 Albums for October my curiosity peaked quickly when I read the name of the band that holds the number two spot the Bombay Dub Orchestra with a name like that, they have to be checked out!! At their website I read….. Bombay Dub Orchestra was formed almost ten years ago following a trip to Bombay, India, by Garry Hughes and Andrew…

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