What Are You Listening To?

[CRAZY-HORSE]

LOL....
great comment jazzbo, i agree 100% with "albatross" being "aimless,harmless noodling".

but im not really a fan of Fleetwood Mac neither,only thing i own is Rumours and the rumour is,i dont like most of it!
but i like Stevie Nicks' solo material so go figure???

[jazzboCR]

Got in two Jazz albums this morning:
Myron Walden Countryfied 2010 and Christian Scott Yesterday You Said Tomorrow 2010

Since its release earlier this year, the latter has received effusive praise from Jazz reviewers. I don't hear it yet, but I hear enough good things to keep listening. It's just that the songs that don't get me going really turn me off. This is distinctly post-bop and not as peppy as Blue Note 60s jazz, lacking a certain melodic glue that keeps less sophisticated listeners (like me) engaged. Sometimes, I think any jazz with a guitar included induces some Jazz reviewers to increase their ratings. But I digress...

Countryfied is simply a good time listen. This one grabbed me right away and kept up the getting. Walden says this is his tribute to the sound of the south of his youth, and it sounds like it. Think groovy jazz with hints of James Brown, rockabilly/country, and good times; the liner notes refer to "roots music". Very enjoyable and very likely to get played a lot around my ears.

With the perspective of 4 years after the above was written, may I say both artists are maturing nicely: Mr. Walden started his career aggressive; starting with this piece, he's scaled back nicely. 2 studio/1 live since '10...and his own record label...talented, creative and biz minded. Mr. Scott is a New York Resource, a force of nature, plain and simple. His uncle is Donald Harrison q.v. Played at the Monterey Jazz Festival at 21 as part of Berklee's best 4. He's really stretched out with a 2012 release: [URL="http://www.allmusic.com/album/christian-atunde-adjuah-mw0002359663"]http://www.allmusic.com/album/christian-atunde-adjuah-mw0002359663
[/URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DNHHWe1GP8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JR1W75HS7A << not that he won't "git on it"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufzKAwi9kbI << takes Christian-ity down in the alley right nice, yes?
http://www.amoeba.com/live-shows/detail-...ows/page-1 << interesting Website--all biz but live perfs

[jazzboCR]

The King of Big-Band Swing.

All of these tunes were recorded under the shadow of WWII, so optimism is the key. Romantic songs, or good-time dance tunes make up the vast majority, and when the emphasis turns to the Army Air Force Band, with GM becoming part of the US war machine, even more so.

The standard of these recordings is remarkable, given that they are all at least 65 years old...

Have to take issue with the Company Line on Glenn Miller. His were carefully-researched, tightly-written charts and the same goes for his organization/biz practices. All the other major swing bands (we're talking the White ones here) had one or two players who can stand alone/one or two charts that were mildly inventive. Not GM. His was a machine organization, with little room for individualism. Sure he was a success; how could he not be?

[jazzboCR]

Chris Potter Moving In 1996
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Been a master Master since the '90's--his pieces/realized conceptions run long but you'll stay with him every minute. :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-x4f7o-8E8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgCYGJSR2Hk << his take on what he acknowledges is one of John Coltrane's more challenging pieces
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4Xgqm3jf6Q << I chose this piece for one reason only--I lived on Okinawa as a teenager--military dependent.

BONUS: Here's Mr. Potter doing a free jazz-funk thing, with spoken interludes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si-7m7u84Do

[jazzboCR]

Brian Blade Brian Blade Fellowship 1998
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AllMusicGuide says:
Brian Blade Fellowship is an impressive debut as a leader for Brian Blade, one of the best young jazz drummers of the '90s. Producer Daniel Lanois doesn't follow jazz conventions, letting Blade run wild and blend genres, as on "Folklore," where the adventurous, searching jazz meets pygmy chants. All across the album, there is the sigh of a steel guitar, which adds an unusual, exotic texture to a debut that is uniquely daring and richly rewarding.

JazzRandy is quite the talent scout. Here's another mention that's gone on to a greater strength: Recorded in '10 and released only now, Landmarks is the schiz, according to AMG: http://www.allmusic.com/album/landmarks-mw0002613883 Here's some of what he's done[URL="http://www.allmusic.com/album/landmarks-mw0002613883"]:
[/URL][URL="http://www.allmusic.com/album/landmarks-mw0002613883"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkZRAQzdS10
[/URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQpyQWRJnPM << a previous group with Kurt Rosenwinkel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hbtg0Eldq0 << from '98, again Kurt R. on guitar

[jazzboCR]

A friend just turned me onto this today. Already knew Brad through his recent work with Pat Metheny. There are some incredible cover versions here on this album I would never have dreamed of hearing, let alone liking!

One in particular is a cover of Oasis' 'Wonderwall' featuring an alternate intro and extended piano improvisation. A band not known for their musical adversity or unique creativity which is so evident in this version! Not often I'll say this but it outclasses the original in every sense of the word!

[video=youtube;zJb46qdcoEY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJb46qdcoEY[/video]

Mr. Mehldau is one of the very few who's going to take us deeper into the new century, inventively and fruitfully. Here's a review of his newest: http://www.allmusic.com/album/taming-the...0002603543
Here's a live perf this year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMRnntU0PYs << the more you dig deeper, the more you like this guy and what he's doing and where he's going

[jazzboCR]

1960 recording which focusses on RC's Jazz playing. He wanted to make an album featuring himself on Hammond Organ, and he's backed by either the Basie Band, or another Big Band put together for the recording. There are a couple of songs with RC taking the vocals, but it's mostly instrumental Jazz.

The Hammond sounds quite out of place in a Big Band environment at first, but once you get past that, this is a solid album.


AllMusic 3+/5 stars.

AMG moved it up to 4-1/2 stars (rightfully so) and it's newly available in a grouping from Concord (are those folks ever doing everything right! Huzzah!) with Brother Ray's other 3 jazz albums. Nice package. Some tunes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFWMSnxKgtA << from a festival 26 years later but with a crack band. Nice personal story from the uploader about the fest and his place in it.
http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-in-co...0000841369 << from this live album from '64, the one to get: http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-in-co...0000841369
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqcwj0w8rlw

Here's a sound-alike cover. Interesting>: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-157W0hdTlc

[jazzboCR]

Wardell Gray! Dude was awesome tenor man

He was one of those--Frank Morgan was another--who made it easier for Swing-era fans and musicians to accept, like and understand Bop. Died at 34--suspected drug issue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up470jIo-kU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu4PrpKqd0s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t6uHm3A-8Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd3ZZzayuY0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcscx7IvAiI << had many "tenor battles" with Dexter Gordon--this is the best known.

[jazzboCR]

Mississippi Number One
by Eden Brent
2008
Listen to the whole album at http://edenbrent.bandcamp.com/album/miss...number-one


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1. Mississippi Flatland Blues 03:14
2. He'll Do The Same Thing To You 03:58
3. Darkness On The Delta 03:20
4. Love Me 'Til Dawn 03:25
5. Fried Chicken 03:55
6. Mississippi Number One 03:56
7. The Man I Love 04:10
8. Careless Love 03:46
9. Meet You Anywhere 03:24
10. Why Don't You Do Right 04:14
11. Afraid To Let Go 03:41
12. Close The Door 02:35
13. All Over Me 03:34
14. Trouble In Mind 05:52
15. Until I Die 04:21


Ain't Got No Troubles
by Eden Brent
2010
Listen to the whole album at http://edenbrent.bandcamp.com/album/aint...o-troubles


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1. Someone To Love 03:15
2. Ain't Got No Troubles 05:08
3. Blues All Over 04:35
4. Later Than You Think 03:33
5. Right To Be Wrong 02:45
6. Leave Me Alone 03:50
7. Let's Boogie-Woogie 04:31
8. My Man 03:08
9. Beyond My Broken Dreams 04:10
10. If I Can't 03:23
11. In Love With Your Wallet 03:20
12. Goodnight Moon 03:43

Quite the impressive talent, is Ms. Brent: singer, songwriter and impressive piano player. Her next album '10's Ain't Got No Troubles boasts some impressive players and is solid throughout. http://www.allmusic.com/album/aint-got-n...0002008299 Hey, but we want to listen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9MTQx5iSFE << Pretty much what I feel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvOaKLTqsus << some serious pianism on display
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_ZN56mSdLY << one of her own songs, in an informal setting. I have 5-10 folks in mind that would kill with this song--how about you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFLAVaVXup4 << Off her newest, Jigsaw Heart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liXKwuJX4A0 << Everybody loves "Fried Chicken", right?

"If you can't do it right, do it wrong with feeling". Resonation par exellence.
BONUS: Nice insider vignette about he making of...: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCPn6sE8niM

[jazzboCR]

This collection is unusual in that it intersperses Patton songs with those from other Blues artists to illustrate the development of the form in the early years of recorded Blues. If you think plagiarism is a new phenomenon, think again. They were all pinching ideas for all they were worth

Gotta take a little issue with this overly restrictive view of plagiarising. If you pick elements out of a confluence, is it plagiarising or just melding into a new whole? How much was yours and how much was theirs? Are you saying this is wholly yours? To be remembered is that those early Bluesmen were total entertainers--if the audience wanted the Blues, they got it--if they wanted some and some rag-time or popular songs, they got that. Not downplaying the Originals but they were working musicians first, last, always and only later got lumpily categorized as "Bluesmen". A career retro of ALL they did might show a different picture than we've been presented. Here's about plagiarism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism
Jimmy Page, on the other hand, knew very consciously what he was doing...