Jazz for aficionados

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

Not Jazz, but you gotta dig that trumpet playing. Great song also. CD sounds better, but you will get the idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWUb5AR7W8M

the entire Cd is killer.

Cheers

Yeah, it's a title disappointing in that regard. As good and authentic (duh!) as the rhythm section sounds playing that style, there is a little bit of a "on automatic pilot" feeling. But, Cannonball plays his ass off on those beautiful melodies, and being a saxophone geek, I love that record.

Cannonball is great on the Bossa Nova CD. And you are right, it's all about him. On my CD, you can hardly hear Sergio Mendes' piano.

I have noticed that happens alot. Most recently with Red Garland and Sun Ra. The piano just seems to be too far in the background.

Even Mingus on 'hog calling blues' was sort of faint, but then again, maybe that's what makes it such a great cut. You have to listen for it.

Cheers

I may sell my Polk speakers, and buy some beach front property in Rio.

Cheers

The Frogman:
I have the Cannonball Bossa Nova CD with sergio. I will check it out. This could bring on the dreaded 'review' !!

I listened to Senhorita Regina twice. The first time, my brain was oblivious to any of the senses, other than the sense of sight. What a beauty.

I listened the second time to hear the music. Her personality just comes thru. very very good.

Thanks for the info.

Cheers

Rok, no question Brazilian singers are uniquely wonderful; in no small part because women Brazil are uniquely wonderful. There is something about the sound and rhythm of the language (in Brazil, not so much in Portugal) that does it for me. I could get carried away with that one, but I should stop; my wife reads these threads once in a long while :-)

You mentioned Sergio Mendes. This is one of my very favorite records. Cannonball with the Bossa Rio Sextet (Sergio Mendes on piano). The session is all about Cannonball; he sounds incredible on those Brazilian tunes:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pWMjF4UMYYc

As far as Brazilian female singers go, Elis will always be my favorite. There is something about her that I have never been able to put my finger on. Not a particularly great voice, a little out of tune sometimes; but, soulful as hell with a great sexy feeling in the way she sings. Check out the "break" at 1:10. Amazing!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bGbKHHqtsJE

Today's Trip:

Dexter Gordon -- One Flight Up
with/ Donald Byrd, Kenny Drew, Art Taylor, Niels-Henning Orsted

Recorded in paris in 1964. All the players except the Dane, Orsted, were American expatriates living and playing in Europe.

The playing is exceptionally enjoyable. Only four tracks, so the soloist can really stretch out and take the time to state their case. All the music is mid-tempo and very lyrical. The Frogman would have a field day breaking down these solos.

Makes me wonder that maybe a lot of other Recorded Jazz was too much, crammed into too little time and space.

The liner notes were written by Leonard Feather. His style is what I would call Frogmanesque. Sort of technical, but very interesting.

There are a few statements in the liner notes that irritated me. The players say that European audiences had a very special insight into Jazz. After all that goose stepping, I find that hard to believe. And that the place was "almost completely free or racial prejudeice". I guess they had not heard of World War Two.

The cover photo is one of the most interesting in Jazz. Which is another thing we have lost, the Great Blue Note black & white photos. Just as audiophiles have lost the great cartoons of Rodriquez.

All in All, a very good session. Highly Recommended.

Cheers

Rok,
Your comment about You Tube is so true.I`ll pick a song, say,"It never entered my mind", or "These Foolish Things" and just enjoy the variuos versions,vocal or instrumental.What a great resource it is.
Charles,

I went on youtube to listen and watch the Brasil '66 babes. there off to the side was Ella doing 'Mack the Knife', had to hear it. In sweden I think. She even did a little Satchmo, hanky and all. Hell, she out Satchmoed the Satchmo!!

And off to that side was Nina talking about some 'Sinnerman'! If would have been a sin not to dig it.

You can stay on youtube all day if you aren't careful.

Ella and Nina!! What planet were these people from??

Cheers

Rok, just thinking about those days takes my breath away. Each and every one of those songs has a special meaning for me. I just can not believe that life was that grand once upon a time, but it was.

Enjoy the music.

Speaking of making a joyful noise. Does anyone else think the female singers of Brasil 66 are uniquely wonderful, or is it just me. I could listen to them all day. If 'Pais Tropical' does not make you move with a smile on your face, then, sell your gear.

Sergio Mendes And Brasil '66 -- Foursider

21 tracks. All, very good, to great. Very good recording also. Most should be familiar with Mendes' music. This is an excellent complilation.

Cheers

Rok, I can thank you and Frogman for my new appreciation of this old music. When I was making forays into new genres, you pointed out that there was old music I hadn't yet discovered. Now that we have Frogman to enlighten us in regard to music from a musicians point of view, we can hear things we never heard before. I don't think we'll ever run out of this "new" old music.

Try Curtis Counce "Nica's Dream"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trjO7TWe6ME

Enjoy the music.

I meant to write: "Elvin's cymbal work ....."

****swept away by the awesome greatness of the man****

Beautiful way of describing the effect that many say they feel when listening to his playing; especially live. I have been told by the handful of lucky individuals (mostly other musicians) who, like yourself, heard him live that he had and almost other-worldly way about his presence on stage; spiritual, even. "Giant" is almost not good enough to describe his status among the greats. "Naima" is the ballad that he is most known for:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LLAq0XhXG8E

And then there is this one: one of the most amazing performances, any genre, that I have ever heard. Coltrane is definitely more exploratory, but the expressiveness is unbelievable. Elvin's brush work is amazing.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R416VHIL514

************ Yes, ignorance is true bliss, and I've always liked the happy people.*************

Thanks, I think?

Cheers

Today's Selection:

Miles davis -- Milestones
with / Cannonball, Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones

A lot of talk about this one being an outstanding example of MODAL Jazz. Like O-10, I am not even sure what that means. 'Kind of Blue' is another MODAL outing.

The only thing I noticed was that the horns seldom if ever played at the same time. The piano player, Garland, seem to just stab at the notes he played. He was very much in the background. This could have been by design or just the recording. I didn't notice any thing other than great playing by the bass and drums.

In any event, this is one great recording. The soloing is just awesome. It all seems so uncluttered. No blowing just to be blowing. I 'reviewed' the '58 concert, Stella by Starlight, a while back. This is the same group. Anything by this group is a must have. We will never again see this much talent together, in such a small group.

Sometimes we tend to just take guys like Miles and Coltrane for granted. We say they were great, almost as an after thought, but they really were! This CD demostrates that they were on a level above the rest.

You know the drill. Ain't got it? Git It!

I just ordered the Harold Land. I had to remove a 'Gene Ammons & Sonny Stitt', to fit him in. He'd better be worth it. :)

Cheers

O-10, Sweet! I had not heard that. I think the only Harold Land I have heard is ''A study in Brown". Thanks.

Rok, I bought that LP when it came out, and I still don't know what Modal music is. Yes, ignorance is true bliss, and I've always liked the happy people.

Enjoy the music.

Short Story:

Shortly after we arrived here at Ft Hood, a local DJ had a dispute with the station owners and he was fired.

He locked himself in the studio and played 'Hit The Road Jack' over and over, non-stop for two days!!

The craziest thing I have ever heard!! I like Ray, but damn!

Cheers

Frogman, "The present is best appreciated in the future". I say this because of your statement about me seeing Coltrane live. At that time, I was disappointed because he had gone into his "exploratory" mode as opposed to playing what I had heard on records.

Today, I heard "Invitation" that you submitted by Trane, and I was swept away by the awesome greatness of the man, and his ability to "improvise". When I saw Trane, he had properly deduced, "That if you wanted to hear what he had recorded on records, you could have stayed home and played the record". Trane was blowing what he felt at that moment.

Enjoy the music.

The Frogman:

Very detailed and informative insights as always.

When the Froman speaks, it's like getting homework from your teacher. Now I will have to listen for and count measures and chord changes and keyes. But I am determined to hear what he said.

My latest Miles CD,' Milestones', is supposed to be an important recording of MODAL music. :) How I long for the good old days when ignorance was truly blissful.

Thanks for the input.

Cheers

Ah, GREAT choice! One of the all-time great melodies, IMO; and one of the favorite vehicles for improvisation of jazz players. I didn't know this version by Harold Land, but I love it; thanks for sharing.

Besides being a beautiful and haunting melody, it is a favorite of jazz players due to the fact that its harmonic structure and progression is musically logical and relatively simple, so it lends itself very well to improvisation. If one listens carefully, one notices that after the C minor 7 chord in the opening measure there is no chord change for five measures (an eternity in jazz). When the opening (and very distinctive) opening motif is repeated eight measures later it is modulated up a minor third (Eb minor 7), the same thing happens: no harmonic change for five measures. Things then get a bit more complex harmonically until the end, but still in an extremely logical way. It is one of the first tunes that jazz students learn.

The tune was written by Polish composer Bronislaw Kaper who also penned "On Green Dolphin Street", another favorite of improvisers, for a film in the '50's starring Lana Turner (!!! Talk about great chord changes ;-), I don't remember the name of the film, but I do know that it was not a big hit. Bronislaw's score for that film was then reused for a film "Invitation"; the title of the tune.

I am a fan of performances of music, regardless of genre, by the composer him/herself. I think the reasons are obvious, although we may have personal preferences for versions by other artists. Here is the composer himself performing "Invitation":

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=v7F6_6kVtPQ&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dv7F6_6kVtPQ

It's a beautiful performance which really conveys the haunting feeling of the tune; BTW, one of the reasons Land's version is so great. Land also captures a similarly haunting feeling with a very similar pacing; as opposed to the most commonly sited version, which while being equally beautiful is less atmospheric and relaxed than Kaper's, and is the version that put the tune "on the map":

http://vimeo.com/33852454

As I mentioned, this tune is one of the first that jazz students learn, and saxophone geeks in particular consider the saxophone solo on this next, very different, version to be one of the very best recorded examples of saxophone virtuosity by the most emulated and transcribed post-Coltrane saxophone player (unfortunately, I am only aware of a link to the improvised solo, not the whole tune from guitarist Jack Wilkin's album):

http://harderbop.blogspot.com/2011/04/michael-brecker-invitation.html

Enjoy!

I'll have to add Jimmy Smith "Angel Eyes" to my collection, I really liked it. Music like that sounds best very late at night.

Enjoy the music.

Orph & Rok, Ray always has had a very special place with me!! And his backround singers the "Raelettes" ... they had to "let Ray"

My offering is Jimmy Smith "Angel Eyes" with: Roy Hargrove, Christian McBride, Nicholas Peyton, Mark Whitfield, Gregory Hutchinson. Low key and mellow.
It can be turned way up, which I like!!
The follow-up album is titled "Damn" (!!)

Rok, Frogman, Leersfool; here's music we can all agree on. It has the best elements of several genres of music, and I get carried away every time I hear it. Maybe Frogman, our musical encyclopedia will give us the history of this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhFC7LB5OXs

Enjoy the music.

O-10:

I have the Genuis + Soul CD, but it does not include the 'my kind of Jazz' addition.

Ray was a genius. He changed C&W forever, and for the better. Check out his Country and Western CD if you don't have it.

I have a complete shelf dedicated to his music and that does not include the box sets. A person can't have too much Ray.

A woman once said: Ray Charles can play so slow he makes you wanna scream! I love that.

I am in the process of listening to my latest Miles and Jimmy Scott. Both are keepers for sure.

Cheers

While no one associates "Ray Charles" with jazz, I have two jazz albums by Ray that are on par with some of my best.

"Soul Brothers" with Ray and Milt Jackson, has already been reviewed, so I'll go to Ray Charles, "My Kind of Jazz". He gives us his unique interpretations of jazz standards. There is a reason they call the man "genius", and it can be heard on this album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiZg5pvRT8k

Enjoy the music.

O-10:
Thanks for the info. I have found several highly rated CDs by Shaw on Amazon. I got 10 CDs, by various artists, including several by Shaw, for the price of the Box Set on Mosaic.

Cheers

Rok, the sound quality is good, but that's more music than you would want by almost any artist; however, that's the only way you'll get some of the music. Take the bitter with the sweet.

Enjoy the music.

To Anyone:

What can you tell me about MOSAIC Records box sets?

Sound quality, Alternate takes etc..... 7 to 9 CDs seems to be a lot of music from one artist.

Cheers

Rok, since yours didn't show up I substituted "Kush" by Diz for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbVRM5-bcJo

Enjoy the music.

Thanks Frogman for the Zach Brock. Really interesting. Also found out about another Polish violinist named Zbigniew Seifert, who I had not heard before. Died young from cancer.

Frogman, I like McCoy much better now, he can't play quite as many notes. He sounds like the old McCoy minus the too many notes. Coltrane live was not the one you hear on records. He was much more "explorative" is the only word I can find. I was at a table with a professional drummer, and some other "deep in the pocket" aficionados, who were really digging "way out" Trane. At that time I was lost; but as I recall from the audience reaction, he was blowing what they came to hear. Although I cherish that experience, that's the way it was.

Enjoy the music.

Heard the studio version of this on WBGO today and it floored me (even better than this live version). Great band, and had never heard of violinist Zach Brock before. And speaking of McCoy, this excellent young piano player is right out of a McCoy bag.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xyGVtCthtZw

You saw Coltrane live!?!? I am jealous beyond words. Liked McCoy; 'though.

I like McCoy Tyner a lot better than when I saw him live with JC, too many notes before.

Acman3, thanks, I got to have that.

Enjoy the music.

Enjoy:

What a lineup!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1qP6DHopVw

Cheers

Acman3:

I have Ravi Coltrane's 'Moving Pictures'. I will have have to 'review it'. Have not listened to it in a while.

I see where 'these sellers' have gotten their paws on two of the leaning house Ivery recordings. I will order them nevertheless. (used)

Since it's Saturday Morning down South, my I recommend:

'Buckwheat's Zydeco Party' A lot of the Nawlins classics. Like to party? Gotta have it!!

This guy makes 'hog calling blues' seem like a song out of the Baptist Church hymnal.

Cheers

One who is still going strong and one who has found his own voice.Got to get some more Ravi. New recording is supposed to be good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dFtZbha29M

Rok, I can recommend any, or all, of the 3 Leaning House recording of Marchel Ivery. While your at it, if you run across any Leaning House, pick it up!

The guitar player on the Ivery recording was Clint Strong. Great jazz guitarist. Also played a long time with Merle. How's that for diverse. Mentored by Howard Roberts.

These guys played my kind of jazz, RIP Mr. Miller.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f-OQVGKm4w

Enjoy the music.

Frogman, believe it or not, although I bought that LP new, and "Kings of Mali" was my favorite tune; I never thought about the saxophone until you mentioned it, but as you stated "It's the overall conceptual mindset" that counts.

Enjoy the music.

Orpheus10, thanks for the Chico Freeman link; I enjoyed it. I am generally not a big fan of Chico Freeman's saxophone playing, but do enjoy and admire his overall conceptual mindset. He has been part of some really interesting projects, and this is certainly one of them. Reaching back to the roots! What a great sound the balaphone is with it's very unusual tuning. You might enjoy this, and very close to the source:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IW6OCamt-p4

Mingus & Dee Dee, I have both of them, and if they were on LP, they would already be worn out. I think Milestones will be a favorite also.

I have always considered 'Oh Yeah" and 'At Antibes' my favorite mingus. But 'Ah Um' is moving up fast.

Cheers

Marchel Ivery. I was not aware of him. It's on the OJC label. so I think I will try it. But, another one that is already gone before I even know of him.

I wonder why the B-3 organ was not more widely used in Jazz groups? Was it being electric, a factor. I think it's a great instrument for blusey Jazz. Buddy sure can play it.

Cheers

O-10:
Mulgrew Miller has died. We can add him to the list of past greats. He, and Lester Young, were both from Mississippi. That State has turned out more than it's share of great musicians.

Cheers

Rok, here's Dee Dee Bridgewater doing one of my favorite Horace Silver's tunes "Song for my father"; she's a true gem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otcHh-90eo4

"Milestones" was one of my favorites by him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeZomqLM7BQ

"Mingus Ah Um" was my first, and still favorite album by Charles Mingus. Although "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" is sad, it's my favorite tune on that album. It was a tribute to Lester Young, and that "Pork Pie Hat" he always wore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IsNHDuwJrM

Enjoy the music.

I was also unaware of Billy Bang's death. Bummer!

2007 saw the death of Texas tenor, Marchel Ivery.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzVSMLHXwas

A bootleg recording from the old Recovery Room, with Red Garland, Marchel Ivery, James Clay and a college kid named Bob Belden

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgScowl9d_Y

There is a part two if interested.