By RANDY WILLIAMS
Joe Cocker, ‘Classic Cocker’
The gravelly-voiced Englishman who has established himself as one of contemporary music’s most distinctive figures with his soulful sound and hyper-kinetic stage presence, offers 19 tracks of his best. While many artists shined writing their own material, Cocker won international acclaim offering his idiosyncratic interpretations to such songs as the Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends”, and “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window.” Both are presented live here. A brilliant concert performer, Cocker also presents “The Letter” and “Feelin’ Alright” as live versions on this album. Other tunes include “Up Where We Belong” (a duet with Jennifer Warnes), “When the Night Comes,” and “You Are So Beautiful.” (Capitol) Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, ‘Lago Brazil’ A leading American instrumental ensemble, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet is one of the most charismatic groups performing today. Popularly known as the LAGQ, these four virtuosi bring a new energy to the concert stage with their eclectic programs and dynamic musical interplay. Their critically acclaimed transcriptions of concert masterworks provide a fresh look at the music of the past, while their interpretations of works from the contemporary and world-music realms continually break new ground. This album is an extension of that vibe that is part of their musical exploration offering 15 tracks taking you deep into the home of the samba and the band’s influence of the music from Brazil. (Telarc) Katrina Karlson, ‘Here and Now’ A long awaited follow-up to her sparkling 2003 project, “Untucked,” that yielded four major hits. Katrina’s first single here is a cover of the Howard Jones hit, “No One is to Blame” that features Jones helping out with vocals and piano. The cream of her album include, “First to Say Goodbye,” “Feel for Me” and the title track “Here and Now,” each have a heightened ability to connect emotionally. (Kataphonic) ‘Malt Shop Memories’ Break out those bobby socks and school sweaters. The search for those rare gems of ‘50s music is over. Some 150 jukebox classics and hard-to-find hits are offered here in 10 discs entitled: All I Have To Do Is Dream, Save the Last Dance, Top Down Convertible Sound, Juke Box Gems and Street Corner Symphonies. Packaged in a clever collector’s box, it also includes the lyrics to all the songs. The Four Seasons, Dion and the Belmonts, Elvis, The Drifters, Connie Francis, and Fats Domino are just a few of the dozens of performers included. (Time Life) David Russell, ‘Air on a G String’ Grammy-winning guitarist David Russell returns with “Air on a G String,” baroque masterpieces by Bach, Couperin, Saint-Luc, and Weiss performed on guitar. World renowned for his superb musici
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 15, 2008. Read the original PDF.