Jazz for aficionados
frogman are you enjoying the fine weather we are having today? Great live clip from Montreux Switzerland 1988. I have just 6 albums with Brecker as a leader but at least a dozen or more with him as a sideman or co leader. Brecker's recording sessions as a leader/co leader/sideman prove just how talented the man was and I know he would have kept on giving us more of it if not from his early departure from this place. (23) John Abercrombie & Michael Brecker - Hippityville (1986) (Fusion) - YouTube (23) Michael Brecker, David Liebman, Joe Lovano - 1999 - YouTube |
More of the new “good stuff”. Astounding quartet. Michael Brecker taking what Coltrane started to a whole other place: https://youtu.be/7L97yBaKFRQ Joey Calderazzo! Someone to check out. I didn’t think I would have ever say this, but I don’t miss Herbie on this: https://youtu.be/2wRUEjwF9rA https://youtu.be/Rdb7zadFxJo |
More from the GOOD STUFF thread: 1927 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMktmt9H_2U africa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c9-poC5HGw beach boys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qElrmDDjn6o rising sun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sOygJsLDc4 rags old iron https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLqr_T04oMU sinnerman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP7XuE1Fw9s st louis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=debDGhfzz-c Cheers |
Today's Listen: Charles Mingus -- MINGUS AT THE BOHEMIA Notes: "This was Charles Mingus first recording with a working band of his own." Very interesting background on each tune. On "All the things you are C#", Mingus combines three tunes into one. The tunes are, "All the Things You Are", "Prelude in C# minor" and "Clair de Lune." Sign of things to come. septemberly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHHq8DSpQ2A jump monk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdMuK5bHWko all the things you C-sharp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF-6D3UwSfE work song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NekAe5eX7GA Cheers |
Rok, I know David Hurwitz; he is a fellow Brooklynite. He is the ultimate music geek and I say that in the most positive way possible. Extremely knowledgeable about Classical music, composers, artists and history; you name it. He has a very easy and appealing way with his music writings and critiques. I would definitely take his opinions on “best of” seriously. Glad you came across his YouTube links. Btw, speaking of LVB 5&7, he wrote a book on those two symphonies as part of his Magnum Opus Series “A Closer Look, Beethoven’s 5th and 7th”. Check it out. He also has a book coming out on LVB’s orchestral music. Very interesting guy. |
Nice interview with Larry Coryell, even though the interviewer is awful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71NYkqyqc6A |
Performances by Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, Count Basie. Nice chats between Oscar and Joe, and Oscar and Duke. Forgive me if this has been posted recently. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HAZP7nWo6A&t=65s |
Frog, Miles was bullsh...... He would'n have played back up for Zawinul. Compared to him, Joe was not much at all. Miles Davis and John McLaughlin have unique leadership qualities. I bet, John learnt a lot from Miles, that fostered his abilities. You are certainly right about the rhythm. This is always most important in any relations. Timing and rhythm. Harmonic sophistication comes later. Maybe. |
@frogman Thanks for your reply on picking band musicians. Are you familiar with this reviewer? Would like your opinion of him. I just recently ran across him on you-tube. He has a ’best of’ list for every major classical work ever written!!. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIOEeOhoKp4 I like stuff like that. He also seems to review CDs only, which is great also. Because of his review, I purchased Gunter Wand’s Beethoven cycle on RCA. It is the Kleiber 5&7 of 9th’s. Cheers |
Today’s Listen: Jackie McLean -- HAT TRICK / JACKIE McLEAN MEETS JUNKO ONISHI with / Junko Onishi(piano), Nat Reeves(bass), Lewis Nash(drums) Most minimal packaging I’ve seen on a Blue Note CD. It was made for BMG record club, so that might explain it. No notes at all. Recorded 1996. little melonae https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NNytzRwnCE jackie’s hat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOrOWQtvrXA bluesnik https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvzWOf0ka8U left alone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgWIL-t5G2Q I really like Onishi's playing. Cheers |
**** Speaking of Miles’ new group, what is the primary thing a leader looks for in selecting band members? **** No. 1- “Can I work with this guy?” “Is he an a-hole?” Doesn’t matter how great the player is, if the personality is not a fit then all bets are off. Musical considerations: Again, personality; this time, musical personality. The player has to have a similar musical vision as the leader and other band members. Musical style is one aspect of “vision”. A great pre-bebop era player like Prez wouldn’t have known what to do with a harmonically obtuse tune like “Giant Steps”. No way of knowing for sure how his playing MAY have changed over the years given that he died so young, but not even Bird would have been a good fit in a ‘60s era Miles band. IOW, is the player someone who is forward-looking style wise; or, at least, has the skills to adapt to the moment? Some players are musical chameleons; others, even great ones, are very set in a style and have no ability or desire to adapt or evolve stylistically. There’s a reason that Sonny Stitt didn’t last in Miles’s quintet. Fantastic player, but very set in a more traditional bebop mold. Of course, all this is governed by the leader’s personality and ego. Just how much leeway is he willing to give a player personally and musically? As in any relationship, ego is a big factor; even for someone like Miles, who valued players with very strong and individualistic musical personalities. From his autobiography. Miles on Joe Zawinal: ”I needed to let Joe go because that dude has more skills and rhythm than any musician I know. I don’t want to play back up for Joe” Speaking of rhythm, of all the musical skills needed to be considered a good player, that is THE No. 1 consideration. You can have great technique, great intonation, command of harmony and beautiful sound, but if the rhythm is not super solid all those other positives mean little. |
Today's Listen: Duke Ellington -- STUDIO SESSIONS 1957 & 1962 VOL. 7 Private recordings, later released by the Ellington Family. Excellent, but tiny notes. Synopsis of each tune. "Circle Blues: ..the musicians were grouped around one mike and the leader simply pointed to each in turn for his solo - Carney, Nance, Hodges, Brown, Gonsalves. Had this been heard by Ben Webster, there was one comment he would surely have made: "That's Sonny Greer, and he's swinging!" He didn't agree with the drummer's critics and was always firm in his support." What the hell was that all about(Greer)? These folks always leave you hanging. As is usual for the old great stuff, they get right to the point. No filler. 1957 blues a la willie cook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2bL4Yq0ibg the riff https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lSATjtWhwo slow blues ensemble https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5kvoNoouC8 three trumps (omg!!!!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw1-rPgkUKM 1962 things ain't what they used to be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6tnjCNreJw circle blues https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWR2ln9aBPY cottontail -- the one on the CD says 1962. It's better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IiwpysyyWo Cheers |
I mostly listen to jazz recorded by my friends, cellist Peggy Lee, Dylan van der Schyff, Mike Herriot, Hugh Fraser (RIP), Ian McDougall, Dan Lapp... Anything by Ethan Iverson (saw Billy Hart at the Blue Note, backed up by the spectacular Bad Plus, a few years ago). Anyone have the BP LP of Rite of Spring they want to sell me for a good price? "I LOVE jazz (except for how it sounds)!" |
Very nice indeed. Transition period to his “second great quintet” which IMO was the greatest band to play the music; my favorite, anyway: https://youtu.be/lRhqn21-xeg https://youtu.be/bVtVobH3GDo https://youtu.be/a8MWHpxEbnw |
Today's Listen: Miles Davis -- SEVEN STEPS TO HEAVEN with / George Coleman(tenor sax), Herbie Hancock(piano), Victor Feldman(piano), Ron Carter(bass), Tony Williams(drums), Frank Butler(drums). Notes indicate that Miles was in transition or Miles renewed. New group and direction. Nice booklet with great photos. Miles gives his opinion of critics and it ain't good. Williams and Hancock probably had a hard time getting into the clubs they played. They look like 12 year olds. Columbia 1963. basin street blues https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhfe1SUe2-A baby won't you please come home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-W9I-HRD9Y joshua https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXONYUnppLs seven steps to heaven https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQMJv3HuZdU Cheers |
Some sweet tracks from my YT mix today. Oscar Pettiford - "Bohemia After Dark" Vol. 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5EwGijmqKc&list=RDGMEMTmC-2iNKH_l8gQ1LHo9FeQVMETDSOugNrqU&i... Coleman Hawkins - "Time on My Hands (You in my Arms)" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6AXe_82rP8&list=RDGMEMTmC-2iNKH_l8gQ1LHo9FeQVMETDSOugNrqU&i... Jimmy Cobb - Featuring Roy Hargrove - "Remembering U" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6AXe_82rP8&list=RDGMEMTmC-2iNKH_l8gQ1LHo9FeQVMETDSOugNrqU&i... Thelonious Monk - "Evidence" - Japan (1963) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT2by9Rbjek&list=RDGMEMTmC-2iNKH_l8gQ1LHo9FeQVMETDSOugNrqU&i... Lester Young - "Pennies from Heaven" (1950) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT2by9Rbjek&list=RDGMEMTmC-2iNKH_l8gQ1LHo9FeQVMETDSOugNrqU&i... |
Today’s Listen: Oscar Peterson -- THE COMPLETE DUKE ELLINGTON SONGBOOKS with / Ray Brown(bass), Ed Thigpen(drums) 2CD SET. CD1 consists of two albums with (12)identical tracks, one in stereo(1959), and one in mono (1952). CD2 is music by Duke performed by Peterson with various artists over many albums. This music is from CD1 in stereo. All short and sweet. take the A train https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4b5R16ysJQ john hardy’s wife https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WN_Mn9ie0o don’t get around much anymore https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzqvm-yXhL8 cottontail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQuPR9S99wc rockin’ in rhythm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3012Ugd2oY things ain’t what they used to be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zx3urBTqSM Cheers |
Today's Listen: part 2. Coleman Hawkins -- ALIVE! AT THE VILLAGE GATE 1962 with / Tommy Flanagan(piano), Major Holley(bass), Eddie Locke(drums) CD1. all the things you are https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smNg1jELYyI bean and the boys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10V_HkOtHwc joshua fit the battle of jericho https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy9qN7afXL0 it's the talk of the town https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAQdjr6Vq1o Cheers |
Today's Listen: Coleman Hawkins -- ALIVE! AT THE VILLAGE GATE 1962 with / Roy Eldridge(trumpet), Johnny Hodges(Alto Sax) 2CD set, taken from two different albums. This is from CD2. CD1 is Hawkins at the Village Gate, minus Eldridge and Hodges. Excellent 20 page booklet. Nice photos. From the booklet: "What is Jazz? The rhythm-the feeling. It can be taught. Or at least its mechanical aspects can be. I think that out of so many of these thousands of musicians, plenty are mechanical, rather than real Jazz musicians. But today the public doesn't know the difference. But it certainly used to." --- Coleman Hawkins mack the knife https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV1gZ9jRWxA satin doll https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mbu_tF1KXo perdido https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0EG86kUp3w the rabbit in Jazz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDDiGhwcjbA Cheers |
I did not want to paste this link on the previous post. It does not go with a last line. But what you have said keegiam, the similarity of that clip is obvious. Here is Wicked Game. https://youtu.be/dlJew-Dw87I |
Thank you all for your thoughts. Frogman, the guitar in the intro to Lucinda Williams made me think of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game." Maybe your wife will hear the similarity. (Or maybe I'm off my rocker?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vKsSGyQf-M&t=14s |
Sorry to hear that, Keegiam. I too lost a dear friend recently; a very sad feeling indeed. Hang in there. Best to you and your friend’s family. Not usually my cup of tea, but my dear wife a country music fan recently introduced me to this interesting song writer: https://youtu.be/edH1zYNPPoU |
And then Bill Frisell helps us with our blues. Keegiam, sorry about your friend. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHU24jeFKeU |
