Name: Kit O'Toole
Dateline: Chicago, Illinois
Weblog: kotoole.livejournal.com [RSS]
Articles: 56
First Published: Monday, March 10, 2008
Last Published: Monday, December 1, 2008
Currently listing articles 56-1:
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Music Review: Tony Bennett Featuring the Count Basie Big Band - A Swingin' Christmas— Tony Bennett's first Christmas album in 40 years provides the perfect soundtrack for all your holiday festivities.
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Experience the "Robot Pop" of Kraftwerk— Kanye West's new album owes a great deal to visionary German band Kraftwerk.
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Make Your Own Holiday Compilation CDs— Looking for a meaningful yet inexpensive gift? Creating holiday compilation CDs give your friends and family an instant keepsake.
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Music Review: Chester Gregory - In Search of High Love— Broadway performer Chester Gregory releases an uneven but promising R&B album.
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Music Review: Leigh Jones - Music in My Soul— R&B diva Leigh Jones shows promise with her debut CD but needs to find her niche.
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Like Robin Thicke? Don't Miss Remy Shand's 2002 Gem The Way I Feel— Blue-eyed soul singer Remy Shand's 2002 debut still delights with its obvious affection for vintage R&B.
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Make Firefox Yours: A Guide to Some of the Best Firefox Add-Ons— Installing the right add-ons can enhance your Firefox browser and, ultimately, save you time and increase productivity.
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Music Review: Maysa - Metamorphosis— Incognito vocalist Maysa should expand her fan base with her new album, a solid collection of contemporary jazz and R&B.
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Music Review: Judi Silvano - Cleome: Live Takes— Vocalist Judi Silvano's new release proves to be a challenging listen for open-minded jazz fans.
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Music Review: Tuck and Patti - I Remember You— Tuck and Patti's new album pays tribute to the jazz standards that most influenced their sound.
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Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan's Family Style Celebrates Music and Family— Stevie Ray Vaughan's collaboration with brother Jimmie Vaughan still amazes with its energy and musical virtuosity.
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Rediscovering Des'ree's I Ain't Movin'— 90s soul singer Des'ree combined rock and soul with self-empowering lyrics to create a satisfying blend.
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Music Review: Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It— Want an instant education in 60s-era Motown? Raphael Saadiq's new album provides that, and much more.
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Music Review: Tina Turner - Tina!— Tina Turner's latest greatest hits collection serves as a basic overview of her career for casual and newer fans.
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Music Review: Darius Rucker's Back to Then Showcases His Talent Outside of Hootie & The Blowfish— Think that Darius Rucker's new country CD is his first solo effort? Think again.
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Music Review: Martin Taylor - Double Standards— Jazz guitarist Martin Taylor's latest CD proves that the best musicians make technique look effortless.
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Music Review: Vince Mendoza - Blauklang— Conductor/composer Vince Mendoza's latest CD is a challenging — but ultimately satisfying — blend of jazz and classical genres.
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Gerry & The Pacemakers: Not Just Another British Invasion Group— Gerry & The Pacemakers stand out from other British Invasion groups with their introspective songwriting and catchy songs.
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Music Review: Stevie Holland - Before Love Has Gone— Singer Stevie Holland's latest release pays equal tribute to jazz and pop.
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Soul Train Gang's "Soul Train '75" Represents More Than Just A TV Theme Song— Unfairly overlooked, the Soul Train Gang's "Soul Train '75" encapsulates some of the best elements of 70s funk and soul.
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Music Review: Swing Out Sister - Beautiful Mess— '80s band Swing Out Sister creates a "beautiful mess" of R&B and 60s pop on their latest release.
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Music Review: Earth, Wind, & Fire - Live in Japan (DVD + CD Collector's Edition)— Earth, Wind, & Fire's special DVD/CD set celebrates Maurice White's final tour with the legendary group with style.
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Concert Review: Squeeze and Aimee Mann at Ravinia Festival, Highland Park, IL, August 31, 2008— Time stood still as Squeeze rocked like it was 1980, while Aimee Mann celebrated her recent successes in her opening set.
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Rediscovering Blue-Eyed Soul Singer Lisa Stansfield's Real Love— Before the current influx of English blue-eyed soul divas, there was Lisa Stansfield and her overlooked 1993 album.
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Music Review: Negativland - Thigmotactic— Negativland's most song-oriented release to date will please longtime fans, but may bewilder newer ones.
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Robbie Robertson Takes Listeners on a "Crazy" Journey— Robbie Robertson's 1987 single "Somewhere Down the Crazy River" retains its mystery and sensuality.
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Music Review: Cathy Rocco - You're Gonna Hear from Me— Cathy Rocco's debut jazz CD pays tribute to the great jazz standards, but cannot match their definitive versions.
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Isaac Hayes: A Guide to His Most Famous — and Little Known — Compositions— Isaac Hayes became famous as a dynamic performer, but was also a stellar songwriter, having penned songs for various artists.
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Music Review: Art Blakey and the Giants of Jazz - Live at the 1972 Monterey Jazz Festival— Art Blakey and the Giants of Jazz exemplify the term "supergroup" in their incredible 1972 Monterey Jazz Festival performance.
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Music Review: Shirley Horn - Live at the 1994 Monterey Jazz Festival— Shirley Horn's 1994 Monterey Jazz Festival performance may seem subtle, but reveals deep complexity in her singing and piano playing.
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John Hiatt's Bring the Family An '80s Masterpiece— John Hiatt's masterwork amazes with its deeply personal lyrics, bare bones production, and blend of rock, blues, country, and folk.
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Concert Review: Earth, Wind, and Fire at the Chicago Theatre, July 28, 2008— After 38 years, Earth, Wind, and Fire can still dazzle an audience with their showmanship and unique blend of R&B and jazz.
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Mary J. Blige's Underrated Mary Shows Her Vocal Versatility— Mary J. Blige's powerful 1999 album cemented her status as the Queen of Hip Hop Soul and as worthy successor to past soul divas.
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Bill Withers' Live at Carnegie Hall Treats Listeners to Deeply Personal Songwriting and Performing— Bill Withers' under appreciated live album functions not only as a great listen, but as a master class to songwriters and performers.
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Celebrating Level 42's Jazz-Fusion Roots— Think you know everything about 80s band Level 42? Listen to their early material and gain a whole new perspective.
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Jaco Pastorius Transformed the Bass Forever in His 1976 Solo Debut— Think you've heard great bass playing? Listen to jazzman Jaco Pastorius's 1976 self-titled album and learn from a music visionary.
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Music Review: Massive Attack - Blue Lines— Massive Attack's first album challenges listeners with a unique combination of soul, hip-hop, trance, and reggae.
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Concert Review: Stevie Wonder at Taste of Chicago, June 28, 2008— After a 20-year absence, Stevie Wonder transformed the Taste of Chicago into one joyous party.
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Music Review: Incognito - Tales from the Beach — Jazz-funk group Incognito's latest release is sure to please longtime fans.
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Music Review: Maxwell's Embrya Remains A Romantic Hidden Gem— Released 10 years too early, this sophomore album challenges listeners with abstract lyrics and unusual instrumentation, yet emits pure sensuality and soul.
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Music Review: Encanto - Sergio Mendes— Sergio Mendes blends traditional Brazilian jazz with modern sounds to create an album sure to please new and longtime fans.
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The Cutout Bin: New Moon Shine and Hourglass Remain Underappreciated James Taylor Albums— James Taylor experienced a creative renaissance in the 1990s, yet that work is frequently overshadowed by his classic hits.
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Music Review: The B-52s - Funplex— The B-52s excellent new album invites listeners to party like it's 1989.
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Music Review: Patrice Rushen - Straight from the Heart— This seamless fusion of jazz and R&B remains as fresh today as it did over 20 years ago.
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Music Review: The Monkees' Head Soundtrack Remains A Worthy Trip— This week's column uncovers The Monkees' unjustly overlooked film soundtrack, a collection of solid 60s rock and pop. It also shows the group at
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Stevie Wonder's A Time to Love Has Universal Meaning for All Listeners— Stevie Wonder 's unfairly neglected album shows an artist who still has something to say.
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Music Review: Incognito - Tales from the Beach— Jazz-funk group Incognito's latest release is sure to please longtime fans.
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Music Review: Steve Tyrell - Back to Bacharach — Pop singer Steve Tyrell tackles Burt Bacharach's songs with mixed results.
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Jazz Singer Johnny Hartman: An Underappreciated but Brilliant Vocalist— While not as famous as Sinatra or Cole, Johnny Hartman remains one of the greatest--and most under appreciated--interpreters of the Great American Songbook.
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Music Review: Kenia - Simply Kenia— Kenia's first release in a decade shows that some things just get better with time.
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Singer Janis Siegel Feels At Home with Various Music Styles— This week's Cutout Bin features Manhattan Transfer's Janis Siegel and her second solo effort, At Home.
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London Elektricity Puts An Unusual Spin on Electronica— The Cutout Bin looks at London Elektricity, an unusual electronica/dance artist that transcends the music genre.
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Michael Franks's Abandoned Garden An Eloquent Tribute to Jobim— Michael Franks's eloquent tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim remains an unappreciated gem.
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Music Review: Various Artists - Stax Does The Beatles— Stax artists put a soulful spin on Beatles classics.
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Go "Far Out" with the Crown Heights Affair— Digging through the music racks for lost treasures.
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The Evolving Definition of Radio— Is traditional radio irrelevant? Its definition needs to change.
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