NP a newly discovered (for me) album by Andrew Hill, But Not Farewell on (Blue Note) from 1991. Somehow I totally missed this when it came out. It features solo, duo and full group ensemble playing from Greg Osby, Robin Eubanks, Lonnie Plaxico and Cecil Brooks III. Well worth your time if you are a fan but I may be the only one who hasn't heard it until now.
Some interesting names there. I'm a big fan of Cleaver and Burton. I was playing some Abraham Burton this evening- Closest To The Sun (which sounds a good deal like Sun Ship in places). I 'd like to hear more tuba in jazz, loved those Arthur Blythe albums with Bob Stewart.
Earlier today, as I was pulling into work, my little phone shuffled up the title track to Ahmad Jamal's "The Awakening". Man, that's a wonderful track and a great record. I gotta play that one in full, and soon! This week has been so STUPID at work... I need stuff to soothe my frayed nerves (I work in a call center). This might just be the thing. Side 1 of Miles' Sketches of Spain really helped yesterday afternoon....
Nice idea for a thread Has anyone followed Sonny Rollins' health (Maggie?) and know how he is doing? I only follow his Facebook and the Youtube channel and there hasn't been much there.
I've had a copy for a long time. I remember not liking it at all on first hearing. Hill seemed to be messing around, it struck me that he'd lost the magic. I went back to it later and it sounded a hell of a lot better, indeed definitely worth picking up. I'm puzzled as to what was wrong first time round- as I recall on the opening track he plays a phrase that he repeats over and over and for some reason I found it annoying the hell out of me. Just about the only time I've had an adverse reaction to Hill. It's not as accessible as his other late BN with Bobby Hutcherson, Eternal Spirit, but after my early misgivings I'd say it's just as good. Andrew Hill didn't make bad records.
If anyone wants to take part in a blind taste test of two different CD masterings of Sonny Rollins Vol 2 here you go: Dropbox - a.wav » Dropbox - b.wav » I'll reveal the results in a bit.
I probably won't get many "likes" for this (haha), but below is a nice smooth-jazzy tribute to Grover Washington, Jr. by an actual honest-to-goodness "real jazz" big band (all three Phil Kelly CDs are excellent). This is a sweet listen. OK, I promise never to post in this thread again.
A recent good one is Tony Malaby's TubaCello called "Scorpion Eater" on clean feed. Now this is a very skronkish, rough hewn session. Malaby's soprano playing here is very strong. But as I mentioned above, this one is not an easy listen. You decide the rewards based on numerous factors.
All this talk about Myra Melford put me in the mood to listen to one of her albums Myra Melford - The Same River, Twice Chris Speed — saxophone, clarinet Dave Douglas — trumpet Erik Friedlander — cello Michael Sarin — drums Myra Melford — piano, harmonium
Those interested in avant garde stuff can check these two websites Aum Fidelity - featuring the vanguard works from some of today's masters of music » NoBusiness Records - jazz label from Lithuania » I discovered them when I was finding more albums by bassist William Parker
Thanks for contributing. Man I love both that Powell and that Pearson album. They are both artists that had a personal vision and realized their own writing and playing style, and left us too soon. Way too soon.
Milestone has some of my favorite 70s jazz. Some of Sonny Rollins's albums during this period are very fine and underrated -- I particularly love The Cutting Edge and Horn Culture also lines up with the sound you're describing. Tyner didn't really use electric instruments, although the standup bass sound of the period was such that he may as well have. His Horizon is one of my favorite albums by anybody, with beautiful violin by John Blake. Another Milestone record I really love is Ron Carter's Parade. I find most Ron Carter solo albums kind of disappointing, but this one (with a larger horn section than usual) has a really nice sound. The earliest CTIs have a similar kind of sound to Power to the People -- Freddie Hubbard's Red Clay and Straight Life, which have a very similar band. Later CTI stuff is more "smooth"...I also recommend some of Grover Washington's early records. They're sometimes cheesy, but Sonny Rollins was a big fan and the very early ones (e.g., Inner City Blues) still have a reasonable amount of straight-up jazz content. This is more if you're into the CTI sound than the Milestone sound, though.
Great thread, I'm a relative newcomer to Jazz, find I hardly listen to anything else now as so much great music to discover. Will follow this thread with interest.
Hello all. Starting my summer vacation NOW (it was about time...) and listening to Pee Wee Russell's Swingin' With Pee Wee (1961), in honor of the thread starter.
(I mean, really. "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in." I'm a little scared to be here, to be honest. ) Anyway, my favorite chaotic Coltrane these days is: http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-in-japan-4cd-mw0000263511 Absolutely impossible to digest (yes, Pharoah is there; how did you guess?), but I'm tough as nails. Hardcore intense, dude! EDIT: It's the Live in Japan 4 CD set (1966), John Coltrane Quintet, for those who don't like links
Thanks! I'll do that! Yes, I am familiar with these albums through the Mosaic Select set, but I haven't listened to them that often. I'll do so again. The Awakening is one of my favourite jazz albums EVER! Great stuff. Thanks, Maggie. '70s Sonny Rollins will definitely go on my list. And CTI? Didn't think of that, so I'll check them out. I have become more and more tolerant of their sound over the past years and I do find what their stuff interesting, even with all of the cheeeeeeeeeese...
Lonson, many thanks for the thread idea. If it's the new place to read your thoughts on jazz and other music then that's the plaace I'll be !! Thank you for your review of Coltrane's Heavyweight Champion Japanese SHM CD. I got mine today and will get to it ASAP. I usually enjoy the sound of those SHM CD...I'm sure it will sound terrific. Thanks again !!!
Salut, Dennis... Et merci. It's like Switzerland in here! Thanks to Lonson. Are you working on some other project like your review of Coltrane's whole oeuvre on the other jazz thread?
Great Thread How about a book I'm reading at the moment that might interest some of you... Richard Williams has written a history of the album which for once does not rip it out of its wider cultural context. He evokes the essence of the music - identifying the qualities that make it so uniquely appealing - while making effortless connections to painting, literature, philosophy and poetry. This makes for an elegant, graceful and beautifully-written narrative.
It sounds really good, Steel City. I'm a book monster slash jazz lover, so I'll be all over this. Thanks.