Jazz for aficionados

I loved the Mcferrin CD. It is currently on loan to a friend.

It is my unofficial biography.

O, Every journey has a beginning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8rKFHxnOe8

Skipping slavery, but not oppression.

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

As far as music going back to Africa from America…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxtyJtl2Tuo

HeHeHe,Talk about tying it all together, Coltrane, Africa, and for ROK, 4 French horns and a tuba. Conducted by Eric Dolphy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J4YZwFa_1w

One of my favorite modern trumpeters, Dave Douglas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpK69hHcfKw&list=PLA989DAB13E7299B7

I was going to play a little Hot Club of Detroit and ran smack dab into this singer I had not heard of.

With the Hot Club of Detroit….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-bGLGb-_Hw

With Friends…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8htJVyavMvo

A lot of good Jazz from her on youtube.

Mingus- New Tijuana Moods
Coltrane- Cresent
Garland- Groovy
Ellington / Hodges- Back to Back

I will add one more. At a time ,about 15 years ago, when I thought Jazz had said all it could, I heard Chicago Underground Duo's " 12 degree of freedom". For some reason this record opened, no, reopened my eyes to what Jazz can be and still is. I hope you all get your eyes and mind opened regularly.

Jafant, Another classic from 1959

Ornette Coleman- Change of the Century

Ornette on sax, the master Don Cherry on trumpet, Charlie Haden on bass, and Billy Higgins on the drums.

I say, there is no single way to play Jazz. Some of the comments made about my music make me realize though that modern jazz, once so daring and revolutionary, has become in many respects, a rather settled and conventional thing. The members of my group and I are attempting a breakthrough to a new, freer conception of jazz, one that departs from all that is "standard" and cliche' in modern jazz.

Ornette Colman

Agree on all points on Mr. Kirk. Adventurous, but always musical and grounded in gospel and blues. Watch out though. It starts with a little Rahsaan, and next thing you know, your listening to Anthony Braxton and your hooked.

Rokid2, I have seen that recording of Fats Waller, but had a Hank Jones recording called " Ain't Misbehavin " which, I would highly recommend , and past on it. I will go ahead and get it next time I see it. Doesn't Hank Jones play on that original Broadway cast recording?

If you try something and it doesn't speak to you, move on. It's just so easy, at least it was for me, to limit my choices until everything I heard was "Inbred", and the surprises, big and small faded away.

We all listen for different reasons, I guess. Enjoy!

I am going to move to modern jazz, only 30 years ago. Jack Dejohnette's
"Album Album" from 1984. Great from start to finish. I was even dancing around Rok. Not a pretty sight.

Frankly, I had not listened to this lost gem since I upgraded my system about 5 years ago. Kind of a eye opener.

What ever happened to John Purcell?

Rok, I am hesitant to say, you will love. It is not a safe choice, but it has been one of my favorites, and is a classic. After starting to listen to jazz from strictly rock, by way of Metheny, I picked up an ECM sampler and "forced" myself to understand what was going on. I picked this recording up at this time and fell in love with it.

If you think about it, it is actually easier, as a young man listening to Zeppelin, to understand free jazz and hard bop than structured classic jazz.

For the sake of Orpheus's thread, let's just say, I am struggling with the football/music analogy, however I do agree Bill Parcells was a great coach.

If the masses don't get it, it's bad? We will have to agree to disagree on some things, or we will have to keep fighting the same battles.

Goofyfoot, I for one, would like to see your Ellington list, understanding how difficult that would be, if your willing.

I forgot to say thanks to Frogman for his awesome answer to my John Purcell question. Hopefully Mr. Purcell will get the help he needs.

I would go with "Sonny", the masses would say "Kenny".

I rest my case.

Two not mentioned yet, would be Bill Holman and Bob Florence. I always found them interesting. I have a newer recording of a big band Bob Florence wrote and played piano in before his death. The Phil Norman Tenant .

May seem like a strange question, but would you label Lee Konitz "West Coast"? He seems actually to defy labels.

Jazzcourier, Thanks for mentioning Warren Vache. I have been wanting to pick some of his music for a while. What is your opinion regarding his music with John Allred? I have heard good things about both men.

People have been saying Jazz was dead since that delinquent Benny Goodman came along. Then it was really dead when Bird and those crazy boppers started going nuts. Then Coltrane planted jazz six feet under?Jazz is dead in the water? It just mutates to the next phase, but it will not sound the same as it did, until the keepers of tradition try to drag it back to where they want it to stay. Real Jazz.

Look where Lee Morgan had progressed to at the time of his death. He wasn't playing straight ahead soul jazz, but was challenging and stretching in new directions. His music on "Live at the Lighthouse" would be to radical for some on this forum to even be called Jazz. Sound familiar? Jazz will always move forward and challenge the artist and the listener. Btw, some these innovations will flop and some will be wonderful. I hear composers today and I think, that sounds like where Mingus or Monk would be today.

Sorry for the rant, but it strikes a nerve.

As with most, not so well thought out rants, the point gets lost on the side issues.

Rok, the usage of Lee Morgan's " Live at the Lighthouse" was only used as an example of how he and his music had changed, not a recommendation for the music. Also, I only have a double album, and not the CD which has more music added as usual, so YMMV.

Orpheus10, I have mainly commented in the past through a lens of what you were trying to say/learn on this thread. I lost that perspective on my last post, which was written only to say Jazz is in good hands, although different. I agree with your wise earlier statement that once we start arguing ''What is Jazz',' the thread will disintegrate into chaos and I don't want any part of that.

I do not feel qualified to lead any comment on newer jazz styles, as I like most of you, listen mostly to older music, especially since going mostly vinyl about 5 years back. Some of my newer Jazz favorites are now 10 years old, and the musician's are not young anymore. Also for the same reason you have chosen not to identify your mystery musician friend, I will respectfully have to keep some good, but controversial musicians off any list. It is easy to tear down.

I listen while I travel around town to the local college station KNTU, and hear great straight ahead music all day. Some new, some old. I will get some names for you if I think they have possibilities.

Ken Schaphorst- anything, but "Over the Rainbow " is an overlooked GEM.

William Parker- A virtuoso bass player known more for his group interplay and writing than his bass playing. ( sound like any one you know) Some of his music is harder to get, but most is surprisingly accessible. Never boring.

Earl Harvin- "Live at the Gypsy Tea Room" has been a regular on my system since around 2000. Earl plays a lot of styles and plays in Jazz to Funk to Rock bands. A monster on the drums. UNT professor Fred Hamilton on bass and guitar, and Dave Palmer on electric piano.

Benny Green
Kurt Elling
Kurt Rosenwinkle
Marchel Ivery
Dennis Gonzalez- Great trumpet player, getting a little more Avant-garde, but worth hearing.

What about John Abercrombie? I have left off about 1,000.

Pnmyer, I listened to some Roy Hargrove recordings a few years back. He had a bright future , but had IMHO not matured as a musician at that time. I will certainly check him out. I will also check out Eric Alexander as I have, not to my knowledge, actually heard him play.

Charles Lloyd has turned into one of my favorites. His music with BoBo Stenson was magical. If you like Enrico Rava you might like Tomas Stanko. Both are very good.

Thanks,

Rknight, Like all music on an edge, not all of Braxton's music is a math equation, or played over your head.

Try Anthony Braxton/ New York, Fall 1974, with Kenny Wheeler on trumpet, Dave Holland on Bass, Jerome Cooper on drums. Some fairly straight ahead compositions, and a couple of streches. Startling dynamics, at least on my 40 year old LP.

It seems the Braxton recording was never released digitally, but only on LP.

Maybe this will work??????
http:www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lYeHiHUFU8

Here it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lYeHiHUFV8

Rok, No intention of a thread hijack, please look at it as a small supplement.

I have been enjoying your lists. Even ordered and am listening to the Mellow Fellows, on vinyl. Very good indeed.

I stumbled across Etta Jones by way of the great Houston Persons, and agree she is wonderful.

Walter Davis? I need to pick some more of his work up.

Mingus "Town Hall Concert" ; Listen to what Byard is doing to create tension. Mingus as a composer was on the EDGE too!

Charles1dad, I have been listening to Shirley Scott with Lockjaw Davis, on a " Cookbook'' compilation. Great playing from everyone. Jerome Richardson adds a lot of great flute playing.

I think I have the original recordings somewhere???

And now for something completely different....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcOnbzq40pY

Notice the age of the Polish audience. Jazz is cool again.

Who wants to listen to Grandpa's music?

I would think that most of the audience was there because they are fans of the bass player, Wojtek Mazolewski's band. I can only hope they knew who Dennis Gonzalez is.

Mr Gonzalez is a music teacher in Dallas. He travels the world with his band, sons Aaron and Stephen, to play with like minded musicians. His recorded work is usually thought out and does not fall apart into noise ( not that there is anything wrong with that) ;) you can hear a lot of Miles in his trumpet playing.

No Rok, he will never be as popular as Kenny G.

Now back to your regular programing.

Isochronism, Any time I see Emily Remler or Philip Catherine's name on a record I buy it.

Rok, sit down and read Emily's bio.

Rok, Sorry about that. Emily Remler's music will live on.

How about a really good new album, by Winard Harper, called Coexist? Feeling any better?

Off one of the best recordings last year. Mike Barone Big Band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WQKTOMD8zM

I was fortunate to see this group in the old Caravan of Dreams in Ft. Worth. I was sitting about 3' in front of Di Meola. It was sort of overwhelming to the senses.

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

I thought Jazz was once PoP music; what goes around comes around?

Or, are we like the people who thought JATP ruined Jazz because it brought it to a wider audience.

Second part of my post above is a straw argument. Sorry!

Is fusion Jazz? Sometimes.

Is Weather Report Jazz. Of course!

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.

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.

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

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.

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

O-10, I like the Prasant. First thing I hear is the good tone. They are playing in a different dialect of the Jazz language. I will have to listen some more.

Regarding pianist, I like to hear them in both settings. The group interaction is always of interest to me. Not just their solo's, but what do they add to the others. I also am interested in how they play when they have to carry everything on their own. Different ways of listening and playing.

One Saxophonist I followed and lost track of, is Craig Handy. I will have to see what he is doing today. Saw him with Herbie around this time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKlFv0mhi3s

Frogman, that is nice. I do not see it on vinyl, but will get it anyway.

Thanks

Would all the purest cover your ears? I ran across this and thought someone would enjoy it. Real primal and African. Were they a little Pissed?

Can anyone tell me who is in this band besides David Lieberman?

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

Funny, I remember Lisa a little different. Definitely a Babe though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctrC9FtkmYA

Rok, She should be a lot more famous. It's hard to steal the show from Mick! A talented Lady. Maybe she will go Jazz!

Get well soon O-10.