Abdullah Ibrahim -- Very good. The bass player played a role similar to the role the snare drummer plays in Bolero. But he didn't falter. The next Tune up was "little Boy" from the album "Voice of Africa. Also Excellent.
Abdullah Ibrahim and Hugh Masekela ARE African Jazz. Both so uplifting.
Of course, their music is of African Origin, and sounds like it. The question is, what is it about about the music that says it African?? The same question could be asked about Spainj and other Countries.
*****Rok, have you noticed I'm making a lot of mistakes*****
Is this supposed to be 'Breaking News' ? :)
Nice Posts.
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This might be a better example of what I am talking about. This piece was composed by a Russian, with a Spanish Theme, and it does sound Spanish to my ear. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh6mDL-VwYwIs this because of just me associating sounds with visual images, i.e. the movies, I hear the music when looking at Carmen or El Cid, or, did the composer 'know' how to make it sound 'Spanish' to listeners around the world Derived from Spanish Folk Music? I think the answer has a lot to do with indigenous folk music. Being the source, it can never be changed, and is identified with a people or culture forever. Cheers |
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Louis Armstrong -- AND THE GOOD BOOK
This is actually two albums on one CD. "Louis and the Good Book" and "Louis and the Angels". Tracks 1 thru 12 are from 'The Good Book', and they are great. Spirituals being sung with humor, and NOT like it's European Opera. Great backup singers. You can imagine Louis doing 'Ezekiel Saw The Wheel'.
Of course no one can do a song like Pops. The second LP, 'Louis and the Angels' must have taxed Pop's spirit. But he was the consummate pro. Sy Oliver and his orchestra with some background singers that sounded like they came from 'sing along with mitch'. Complete with the obligatory violins. What a bunch of crap. I guess they wanted 'improve' Pops!! Sy Oliver should be ashamed.
But, Louis struggles to, and manages to stay above the travesty. This is what I call disrespect. As bad as 'Bird with strings'. I guess some people with the power just didn't get it.
Recommended for the first 12 tracks only. At least they didn't mix the tunes, it's easy to hit the eject key after #12.
Allen Toussaint died yesterday while in Spain. He was right up there with Louis when it came to capturing the soul and essence of New Orleans. I will have to play "The Bright Mississippi" today. Great CD.
Cheers |
O-10:
Baby Face : Fantastic!! This, 8 ball, is one of the best things you have ever posted. The ones with Lou Donaldson were great also. The clips had every surface in my house vibrating / resonating. And this was with computer speakers at normal volume. Great stuff all around.
I see he has several more on youtube. I will have to visit Amazon!
Thanks for the introduction.
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Excellent Clip by Allen Toussaint. Would have been to better effect if the other members of the Band had made it to the dry cleaners before they closed. Allen and the Sax player managed to do so.
A player of Toussaint's accomplishment / reputation, should not have to play with guys wearing baseball caps. The music was good, but baseball caps and extreme casual dress, visually, brings it down to noise-maker level.
Thanks for the clip
Cheers |
The Frogman ventures South??? What's next, he orders Red Beans and Rice at Cafe Habana?? :)
My first CD of Donald Harrison was 'New York Second Line' with Terence Blanchard.
I need to find out what's up with Nawlins and Indians. Dr John sings about them often.
Nice, and different clips. Thanks.
Cheers |
O-10:
I think The Frogman is partial to sweet plantains, don't you?
Cheers |
Manu Dibango: Sounded a little like 'Kool and The Gang'. In Africa, Once you get past Masekela and Ibrahim, quality Jazz is not that common. Nice dance hall stuff.
Donald Harrison: I think some folks can out Coltrane, Coltrane. And sometimes that's a good thing. Excellent clip.
Hey! where were the baseball caps??
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scat singing:
I do believe it was a case of the eyes overruling the ears. I remember Miss B.B. from my days in Atlanta, at the Peachtree Arts Theater. Luscious!!
The Music? The Frogman pretty much nailed it.
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Quantum Mechanics allows for Something to come from Nothing. Sort of like this 'Ruckus".
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Acman3:
Great clip! Loved it! The Pigs were great, but I didn't think the Wolf was THAT bad. Of course, I listened to 'Bitches Brew' yesterday, and it could be some sort of Jazz Post Traumatic stress thingy.
Thanks for posting.
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Turrentine:
This is the type music that introduced me to Jazz. You could hear tunes like this and stuff like Cannonball's 'sack of woe' on the Juke box in Bars..
As they say, very 'accessible' which I always took to mean, it ain't Ornette.
Nice clip.
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Aficionados: Betcha can't just listen to one track and stop there! Brown really knew his way around a Trumpet. His technique ranks right up there with Wynton, but I think he was a much better be-bop player than Wynton. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8lTZ7lQaykWhen you think of some people dying so young, it still makes you sad. Be sure to check out 'Blues walk' and 'Parisian Thoroughfare' Cheers |
Brownie with strings:
Nice playing esp for the moments / moods you described.
Lots of vibrato. Is that De Rigueur for Trumpet Ballards?
Some sage once said, the only up-side to talented people dying young, was that we never had to see / hear their talent deteriorate. Brownie and all the rest will be frozen in time and perfection.
Nice Clip
Cheers |
Nancy Wilson:
Exquisite! My favorite, and my earliest remembrance of her is, 'Guess Who I Saw Today'. I did listen to that a billion times.
She seemed to have great synergy with Cannonball.
She has also aged very, very well.
Where B D OP?
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Ambrose Akinmusire: Not noise at all. Had too much coherence to be noise. I didn't think the music was that much removed from later day Coltrane or Miles. I was not familiar with the group, so, google being my friend, I found this on the Blue Note Site: "Trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire is a forward-thinking musician with a bent toward atmospheric post-bop". Sounds about right to me. I liked the clip you submitted. They didn't 'sample' A Love Supreme' did they?? I let the youtube run and this came up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNzE2nTCtxEThe problem I have with the newer stuff, is that it seems to be too introspective and / or esoteric. Greatly appreciated and understood by those in the know, but will never catch on with, or, be appreciated by the great unwashed. And to my ear, there is a sameness in overall effect to a lot of it. Of course it could just be me. Just out of touch. But I did remove a Kenny Dorham out of my cart, and replaced it with an Ambrose. Back in the day, Jazz Music was being created all over the country. NY, Chicago, Detroit, west coast(LA), New Orleans, St Louis and even Memphis and Kansas City etc....... Does the newer Jazz have that same reach, or is it mainly a NYC or two coast thing??? Cheers |
O-10:
Got out my CD of Trio Tres Bien. It was a lot better than I remember it being the first time around. My favorite tune is 'Tender-Hearted'.
Their sound belies the small size of the group. The really get a lot out of just the three players. I said once before, that the composition of the picture on the back of the CD could have been better. But they play very well.
*****Although I've never been to New York, they seem to think what ever originates there has or should set the standard; "It ain't necessarily so."****
I agree that the NYC arts community seems to be of this point of view, but this is probably true of all major cities in all countries. They are full of themselves. :) I remember seeing a program on TV about the NYPO playing in North Korea. They can take their asses to that nut job country, but I bet they have never played in Mississippi or Kansas etc....... Too hip I guess.
*****I don't approach music from an intellectual point of view*****
John Philip Sousa says:
"Jazz will endure just as long people hear it through their feet instead of their brains."
You can find any number of great musicians to support ANY point of view on Jazz and Music. I think Sousa nailed it.
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NYC Arts Scene:
It's hard for us peasants in 'fly-over territory' to resist taking shots at you folks 'way up there' in New York.
Love Supreme Catch:
I Knows my scriptures, and my Trane :)
NYPO:
The Bolshoi Ballet came to my small town and did the Nutcracker. Just saying.
Trio Tres Bien:
If you have the CD, and read the notes, then you know these are local guys. Won't be mistaken for The Oscar Peterson Trio.
Elaine Elias:
If someone would destroy all recorded traces, and memory, of, Ella, Billie, Sarah, Dee Dee, Etta, etc....... Then Elias would be fantastic.
The World's foremost Authority has Spoken.
Cheers |
*****It was hip 50 years ago, but it's like having roast beef and potatoes one time too many *****
Heresy:
a : dissent or deviation from a dominant theory, opinion, or practice b : an opinion, doctrine, or practice contrary to the truth or to generally accepted beliefs or standards.
And from his own home-boy!!! Is this what we've come to??? Miles being Dissed on aficionados??
BTW, Pops always said, "ain't nothing wrong with me, that a good piece of roast beef couldn't fix". |
O-10:
You do have the most eclectic taste in music of anyone I know. Amazing.
However, this guy is a fraud. He is not an aborigine. The music he plays is not music of the native people of Australia. You should check these folks out, before you go out wandering in the outback. You might not be able to get back to St Louis.
I am glad you stated you were off the Jazz reservation. May have Prevented a 'ruckus'.
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Miles:
That could well be true. In my case, Bird and Dizzy were never on my list of favorite players. Sometimes these guys seemed to be playing the practice / exercise book. At least To my untrained/not-hip ear.
Corroboree:
Interesting, but a futile effort to save / preserve a doomed culture. That's the usual routine. Europeans come to a land, destroy the indigenous people, their culture, and the wildlife, then centuries later, go through all sort of BS to 'save' it. Miles was probably tired of that also.
NOTHING, survives contact with American(western european) culture. As soon as we see the Golden Arches in North Korea, victory will be complete.
Nice post. O-10 always aims to educate.
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*****This dance in Cuba might to the uninitiated might look like flinging around and jumping to the beat, but it's just as structured as any European dance.******
Count me among the uninitiated.
*****but it's just as structured as any European dance.*****
Ballet is structured. No one can critique the Cuban dancer. Did she do it well? Who knows. As you said, she was just jumping around. The drumming was not related to what she was doing.
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Haiti Drum Ensemble:
Nonsensical to this western brain. Again, what is this?
Dance Anthropology: Part of the attempt to create 'instant' culture and history. Usually out of thin air.
Beware of these folks who spend their lives trying to make Africa something it wasn't.
I bet you own every Olatunji record. :)
Cheers |
Jazz Player Growth:
As an artist moves on, they lose some fans, and gain new ones. I can imagine the frustration an artist feels when the public just wants to hear him play his sole 'mega-hit' every time he performs.
I continued to buy Miles and Trane even after I no longer liked their music. Always thought I would grow into it. I did to some extent. I always trusted the reviewers in Stereo Review.
Cheers |
Drum Suite:
Excellent playing. Percussion is much more prominent, appropriate and indigenous in Latin Jazz. Which is what this LP sounds like, rather than African.
There a reason so few Jazz group leaders are Drummers or Bassists. I always considered drum and bass solos to be interruptions to the flow of the music.
If you play drums or bass and want to be leader, you better be able to compose. IMHO of course. :)
Cheers |
I didn't realize Wynton Marsalis was part of the tribute.. This should have been your first post. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPDo7l1aOfAWynton and Carmen Delavallade: This is dance. I can connect with this. This is awesome! Only let down by piss-poor camera work. Miss Carmen is a stone Fox. What sensual moves! It's a wonder poor Wynton could concentrate on his nuts and bolts. And Wynton's playing was just PERFECT. Is there anything this guy cannot do? So you see, there is no need for you to go running off to Africa and all that mindless and constant jumping around nonsense. The real talent is right here. Great Post Cheers |
Masekela Piece:
As one reviewer said,"a feast for the eyes", and for my ears because I love Masekela's music. But the story meant nothing to me. I am getting a little weary of the never ending whining about that damn 'coal train'. I don't think he has made a CD without the coal train tune on it.
You would think with what's going on in Africa today, there would be bigger fish to fry. But as usual, if it can't be blamed on white folks, it's not a problem.
Nice to look at, buyt can't hold a candle to the Wynton / Carmen piece. As always, IMHO.
Nice post
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Katherine Dunham:
Very impressive lady. Her attitude is so reminiscent of the adults I knew while growing up in Mississippi.
I noticed that the interviewer tried her best to get Miss Dunham to wallow in self-pity, but she did not go there. Thereby frustrating the poor thing.
We could use more people like her today. She set her sights / goals, and then achieved greatness, apparently without even noticing or acknowledging any obstacles.
She was a DOER, not a WHINER.
Great story. Thanks for posting.
Cheers |
Harold Land:
I posted that CD not long ago. Do you people read my posts?
But you are right on target about Land.
Cheers |
The Poor: The Bible says there will always be poor folks. This can be considered as a 'case closed' statement. Poverty is an important, even vital part of the Capitalistic system. It's to Capitalism, what Hell is, to religion. If the government and private groups were not helping the poor, there would not be so many of them. The U.S. is the most generous country on Earth. Government and People. Government Statistics say: (1) If you finish High School (2) Don't have any children out of wedlock (3) Don't have any children before age 20 You will not be poor. Not a very high bar for conduct at all. I guess these days we should add drug use. Now, you make the moral case, for the Government taking money from some people, and giving it to other able bodied people, because I can't. And, the welfare state has destroyed millions of families in this country. The consequences of which we see everyday in places like Chicago and ST Louis. My thoughts on Government help are sort of like the old blues song, you should have to be Blind, Crippled or Crazy. Cheers BTW, listened to this today. An artist that has been solely neglected on this thread. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-bGVsANv3g |
*****Then they graduated to attempts at melodic solos and the results were often a lot of out of tune and even wrong notes******
You have no idea how glad I am to hear you say this. I thought some how, I was lacking in appreciation.
Cheer |
O-10:
Your reading assignment -- Ayn Rand.
Cheers |
Happy Thanksgiving to Aficionados everywhere. Watching the parade from NYC. The Big Apple Looking Good!
*****how the drum solo on your Rollins clip does not interrupt the flow; Pete La Roca was a fabulous drummer. ******
I noticed this. I remember thinking when I heard the Rollins clip, "well that shoots my drum/bass thing to hell".
*****One of the few musicians who could pull off playing in a piano-less setting. *****
Does this mean he has to play more? He was playing almost non-stop.
Thanks for all the Music info.
Cheers |
Speaking of Bass Players. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C154ptSqPooA reviewer years ago, said I had to have this. He was right! I love this. I won't call it Jazz, remembering the 'Buena Vista Ruckus'. The prudent thing to do, is to refer and defer to The Frogman. Cheers I wish the Blue Note method of listing the personnel and instrument played, had been standardized across all record labels. |
Cachao:
I agree, call it what you will, it's great playing and beautiful music.
Cuba:
I think some people find it hard, to see such a beautiful tropical paradise like Cuba, as a deadly Stalinist dictatorship, but that's exactly what it is. As bad as any in the former Eastern European communist bloc. Castro's flamboyant personality, the diversity of the people, the Cuban Musical scene, and their love of Baseball, are big reasons for this misconception. As strange as this might seem.
But, I am confident, relations with the U.S., will be the beginning of the regime's downfall.
Cheers |
******Can anyone tell which of the Sonny's plays on the clip?***** Rok says "I can", (as he sheepishly raises his hand). I youtubed it, and all was revealed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPFcP1oRmcsGreat tune. Drums and bass very prominent. :) Cheers |
*****I posted this to let you guys know that I'm repressing my opinion of what you think about this subject, *****
That's what is known as self-censorship. I look forward to hearing your repressed thoughts on the matter.
Cheers |
Lush Life:
I liked the Nancy Wilson Version Best. Has nothing with her being a Stone Fox. The song just seems better suited to being sung by a woman. This has to be one of the most recorded of all jazz tunes. Surprisingly, its not on The Duke Ellington Disc, 'and his mother called him Bill'. "Blood Count'" was.
I have 2 CDs titled 'Lush Life', by Coltrane and Joe Henderson. How much of Ellington was Strayhorn?
Cheers |
*****If this is not yet more proof that this music (jazz) is just as serious as any other, I don't what is:*****
Much more serious than most.
Cheers |
Dizzy:
I really need to get more familiar with the founders of be-bop, both Dizzy and Bird. They sound a lot better than I thought.
Whenever I see Dizzy I think 'Cubano be, Cubano bop'. which has to be one of the greatest titles in Jazz. He looks like his name should be, be-bop
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Pulled this one off the shelf today. The Miles we all know and Love. As The Frogman might say, with a line-up like this, what could possibly go wrong? Answer; not a thing. He recorded more than 'Kind of Blue'. i know, I know, it's hard to believe. Total playing time a little over 46 minutes. Shorter than some of Coltrane's solos. :) [url] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUGkPo2N7jM[/url] One of the tunes is by Gershwin. Did he ever write music for Jazz Band or small group Jazz? I know a lot of his stuff is played, but I am not sure if any was written esp for Jazz band. Did he ever play Jazz? Listening to American in Paris, Rhapsody in Blue, and Porgy and Bess, you can tell he had the talent to do. Benny Carter: Another one we have neglected. Cheers |
Jaco Pastorius:
An obvious talent, I just don't understand why he could not play double bass like all other Jazz guys. I see / hear electric bass, I think Rock!!
Cheers
Rok2id, President of the American Luddite Jazz Society.
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Downbeat Magazine:
December issue includes the 80th Readers Poll. :( Of the approx 30 entries under 'Jazz Album', I only own one. "The Art of Conversation" by Kenny Barron and Dave Holland. Amazing!
I can only conclude that my music is disappearing fast.
Several interesting and insightful articles, including those on Phil Woods and Hubert laws. I understand better why Woods was not on my radar for such a long time.
Some promising news concerned the current crop of young up and coming Jazz musicians in New Orleans. "They play with their hearts and their heads" hmmmmmmmmmmm I hope that means something good.
Tom Harrell's latest album "First Impressions", received a 5-star rating. The reviewer states that 6 of the 8 tracks were credited to Maurice Ravel or Claude Debussy!! WTF!?! This is, a Jazz publication??
All in all, an interesting, if somewhat depressing issue. But, not nearly as absurd as the infamous 'Playboy' poll.
Cheers |
Round Midnight:
Nice enough, for electrons.
Cheers |
