Tune of the Day
"Blue Rondo a la Turk" on the Two Generations of Brubeck album. Wow.
There are many fine versions of this tune, but this one gets me dancing, clapping, fist-pounding, whatever, every time....and it's not easy to dance in, what, 9/8? I love tunes that grow, build, develop, and move through changes. This one just picks me up and takes me right along with it. Great melding of jazz and rock idioms, too. It's fun to imagine Dave Brubeck setting the groove and then sitting back to hear where his kids and their friends take it.
You can continue exploring Dave and the kids on Two Generations of Brubeck, "The Great Spirit Made Us All". And Chris Brubeck's rock/jazz band Sky King on "Secret Sauce".
For extra credit, give a "spin" to Chase, "Bochawa" from their last album, Pure Music.
Anyway, that's my two cents today.
There are many fine versions of this tune, but this one gets me dancing, clapping, fist-pounding, whatever, every time....and it's not easy to dance in, what, 9/8? I love tunes that grow, build, develop, and move through changes. This one just picks me up and takes me right along with it. Great melding of jazz and rock idioms, too. It's fun to imagine Dave Brubeck setting the groove and then sitting back to hear where his kids and their friends take it.
You can continue exploring Dave and the kids on Two Generations of Brubeck, "The Great Spirit Made Us All". And Chris Brubeck's rock/jazz band Sky King on "Secret Sauce".
For extra credit, give a "spin" to Chase, "Bochawa" from their last album, Pure Music.
Anyway, that's my two cents today.
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@reubent, Wanted to get back to you on the new Courtney Barnett/Kurt Vile "Lotta Sea Lice" lp. I’ve listened to it four times now. At first I had preconceived notions about it that got in my way of hearing it on it’s own merit...as opposed to a sophomore CB lp. If you’re familiar with Kurt Vile, he actually has a similar vocal style and they seem to make a good fit. It’s a more mellow lp than her first in some ways....doesn't have that "punk" feel to it. FWIW, I like it and put it on "the best of 2017". Sonics are very good. |
Steely Dan - "Gaucho" Maybe my favorite tune from Steely Dan. Maybe. Well, at least today... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYryV8og6Ms |
Portugal. The Man, "Feel It Still" https://youtu.be/pBkHHoOIIn8 "Modern Jesus" https://youtu.be/q8e1sSNsf44 N |
@slaw - I'm a huge Jayhawks fan. Do you have their "Live at the Women's Club, Vol. 1&2? Awesome stuff. For a completely different take on the subject of "Cherry Pie", try this: The Jezabels - "A Little Piece" - Great song with a really solid finish...... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4seYhgaETQ |
@slaw - I did listen to the whole of Mutations straight through and enjoyed it. I recall checking the title on "Bottle of Blues" because the song struck me (in a good way) and I wanted to know what it was called. Honestly though, I'd have to go back and re-listen to the album again and maybe a few more times for it to kind of get fixed in my head in support of any deeper comments. An initial impression is that it is not as consistently strong all the way through as Sea Change or Morning Phase. I thought the songs in the last 1/2 or last 1/3 were not as good as earlier in the recording BUT, again, I need to give it more time. I do believe I could hear "seeds" of Sea Change or Morning Phase in it. Definitely a good recommendation. Thanks. |
@ghosthouse , You definately have a way, (good way), of describing a first listen. I do believe that your previous post....in need of another lp to complete a trilogy in addition to how or when either one of these 3 Beck lps one hears first, DOES have an affect on the end user’s relational nature of these great lps. And they are great. Mutations was actually the very first Beck lp I ever purchased, so I may view it in a somewhat different way. I think overall, I take it in as (a whole). I’m putting on my best copy now. (that says something..) (With "Mutations", one isn’t always ready to hear , what they hear, from one song to the next. This (may) be the reason for the title. This is one lp to explore over & over again......then you’ll be glad you did.) Could it be his MOST complex/daring lp ever?...IMO, yes. IMO, he was at his peek here, without him knowing it. Absolute Brilliance! Cheers! |
@slaw Definitely planning to give Mutations another listen - soon! Interesting to read the high regard you have for it. Yup, it preceded by a couple of years Sea Change which was earlier than Morning Phase...so definitely the first installment of my imaginary "trilogy". I read the Beck entry in Wikipedia. He's a member of a younger generation and a culture I don't "get" - never the less, I respect the dues he's paid and his obvious talents as a musician. |
Haha - another example of a shared interest, Slaw. To me, Neil Finn is up there with THE great pop music composers. Have all his solo stuff except "Out of Silence" + everything by Crowded House. I did give Out of Silence a listen a few weeks (months?) back but haven’t revisited it. I was still "digesting" Dizzying Heights. Lately, been spending much of my listening time on Michael Brecker...his first 6 studio LPs where he is band leader. Tales From The Hudson probably my favorite of those. |
Neil Finn gets taken for granted as a songwriter. To me he is sort of the British (or is Neil Welsh, Irish, or Scottish?) Marshall Crenshaw---great chord sequences (employing chords lesser songwriters aren’t even aware exist), melodies, harmonies, and arrangements, a little on the "softer" side in presentation. |