The ultimate rock keyboard player, Jon Lord‘s work with DEEP PURPLE and WHITESNAKE, let alone with THE ARTWOODS and PAL, is loved, admired even, yet it’s not scrutinized enough, despite a couple of volumes on the late musician adorning the aficionados’ shelves. But there’s another one, on the way, that might change this situation: penned by Ovais Naqvi, titled “Before We Forget – A Work in Eight Movements” and set to be out in February.
For a band with a three-decade history THE FLOWER KINGS, who are ever so often on tour, don’t have a proportionate number of concert albums, their first recording from the stage dating back to 2000, when “Alive On Planet Earth” brought the Swedes’ natural sound to those who could not attend their shows, and their last, “Live In Europe 2023” from 2024, divided from the previous one, “Tour Kaputt” from 2011 by a long gap. This is why it seems quite celebratory that the veterans are ready to release a new one soon.
Next year is going to be special for Robben Ford – because 2026 will mark the 50th anniversary of the “Schizophonic” album which was the beginning of his career as a solo artist. Of course, the five-decade run should not go uncelebrated, what with the American musician’s last studio effort “Night In The City” having seen the release as far back as 2023 and followed by the veteran’s Montreux recordings. Therefore, there’s a new longplay in the cards now for Robben, and this forthcoming offering, titled “Two Shades Of Blue” and set for issue on March 27th, feels more than welcome.
Saxophonist Tim Garland and pianist Geoffrey Keezer have been working together, on and off, as a duo or in a trio with vibraphonist Joe Locke, for a quarter-century now – although, sadly, a lot of people who admire the reedman’s work with Bill Bruford and other rock-related musicians tend to ignore these collaborations. The last time Keezer and Garland recorded in the same space was quite a long time ago, however, so it’s great to hear about their forthcoming effort that will be released on February 27th.
A jack of all trades style-wise, what Van Morrison always did best of all, from THEM on, was singing the blues, and wherever fancy might take the Irish warbler, he seemed to double back to that seminal genre. While the veteran’s latest effort, "Remembering Now" which saw the light of day last June, boasted a healthy dose of all-original material, it lacked a bit of vim 2023’s "Accentuate The Positive" got high on, with rock ‘n’ roll classics sounding so invigorating in Van’s interpretation, so one will rejoice at the news of Morrison reaching for perennials again, on his forthcoming album slated for the January 23rd release.
