CD Review – Ayahuasca Dreams, by Ciro Hurtado

Peruvian guitarist Ciro Hurtado breaks from his usual mold and brings it on this engagingly vibrant world music album.

Based primarily on South American rhythms and sounds, the CD is a full and rich cornucopia of Latin-flavored jazz, pop, rock and fusion, with Hurtado leading the way on nylon- and steel-string acoustic guitars and electric guitars.

Hurtado proves to be a consummate bandleader, hosting not only his wife on sprightly vocals, but also a top-notch group of musicians on flute, violin, keyboards, bass, drums, and percussion.

This is a fine guitar album that deserves a place in any guitar enthusiast's collection.

--Raj Manoharan

CD Review – Thoughts of Tomorrow, by Uwe Gronau

German keyboardist-composer Uwe Gronau consistently puts out top-notch albums, but this just might be his best yet.

Gronau nails every track of this all-instrumental collection, from engaging melodies to radical synthesizer textures and sounds. Gronau also displays his virtuoso chops on primarily or solo piano tunes.

Co-producer and long-time collaborator Clemens Paskert also does a fantastic job keeping time, both behind an actual kit and with drum programming.

My only complaint is that many of the songs end abruptly, but that probably has more to do with the fact that each individual piece is so good that I didn't want it to end.

This is a slick, edgy fusion of jazz, pop, and rock that has both bounce and bite.

--Raj Manoharan

Yvonne Craig (1937-2015)

Batgirrrl, Batgirl!
Batgirrrl, Batgirl!
Where do you come from, where do you go?
What is your scene, baby, we just gotta know.
Batgirrrl, Batgirl!
Batgirrrl, Batgirl!
Are you a chick who fell in from outer space?
Or are you real with a tender warm embrace?
Yaaa, whose baby are you?
Batgirrrl, Batgirl!
Yaaa, whose baby are you?
Batgirl!

http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/b/batgirltheme.shtml

--Raj Manoharan

Alex Rocco (1936-2015)

Alex Rocco was most famous for his role in The Godfather, after which he went on to appear in many films and especially television shows of the 1970s and 1980s.

Most recently, I saw him in a couple of old episodes of Starsky and Hutch, playing a couple of different characters.

However, I remember him from my childhood as the father of one of the girls on The Facts of Life. He appeared on several episodes of that popular 1980s sitcom.

--Raj Manoharan

CD Review – Road to Ambo, by Adam Andrews

This may be pianist Adam Andrews' debut album, but it sounds like anything but.

Rather than come off like the first work of a novice artist, the CD displays the immense talents of a seasoned and gifted composer and performer.

Andrews' brilliant composing and arranging abilities come through on eleven original tunes that also showcase his wide range of playing, from subtle and gentle to epic and compelling.

Andrews' recording career is off to a fantastic start with a second album already out, so now is as good a time as any to start following this bright and promising musician from the beginning.

--Raj Manoharan