Jazz for aficionados

"The Penguin Guide To Jazz" numbers "Destiny's Dance" among the core collection which jazz fans should possess; and I thought I had them all. Better late than never.

Chico Freeman - tenor saxophone, bass clarinet

Wynton Marsalis - trumpet (tracks 1, 3, 4 & 6)

Bobby Hutcherson - vibraphone

Dennis Moorman - piano (tracks 1, 4 & 6)

Cecil McBee - bass

Ronnie Burrage - drums

Paulinho Da Costa - percussion (track 4


These are the tracks;
"Destiny's Dance" - 4:11
"Same Shame" - 5:37
"Crossing the Sudan" - 5:46
"Wilpan's Walk" - 9:18
"Embracing Oneness" - 6:59
"C & M"


Although this was recorded in 1981, it could have been recorded yesterday. The reason I'm posting it again is to point out how outstanding an album it is.

"Wilpan's Walk" is too tough, Bobby Hutcherson kills the vibes, and that guy on trumpet is not at all shabby, he's blowing his tail off on this one. When you are listening and looking at who is blowing at the same time, that gives added depth to the music. Dennis Moorman on piano is new to me. Paulinho Da Costa on percussion is all over the place in my collection, but Ronnie Burrage on drums is unfamiliar.


  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRih07ksHDE




Here is another one of Chico Freeman's tunes that gets repeated play in my collection. I'm still going through posts for outstanding music to make sure I don't overlook yours


      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buFUP2LvK2s


Enjoy the music.

Eric Dolphy was a tremendous loss. Without a doubt one of the most unique voices in the history of jazz. This record is amazing. The rhythm section sounds incredible with that distinctive high energy and relentlessly forward moving feeling in much of Mingus’ music. You’re right, ATFW captured that era of playing perfectly. But what is really interesting to me is that, most of all, it captured the spirit of that style of playing while at the same time bringing it to a much more modern era with excursions into dissonance that are not part of the earlier era’s style. It does it seamlessly, and it strikes me that this is exactly like what makes Dolphy’s playing so unique; he is clearly coming out of a bebop tradition, keeps its spirit, but takes it to a different place with dissonance and inflections that are not part of the the traditional bebop vocabulary. Great stuff.

Today's Listen: 

Irakere -- THE BEST OF IRAKERE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKTANfUHnXs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44dUAruBdwE   ilya
still sitting?   Better call EMS quick.

Lots of praise for Sandoval and D'Rivera in the notes.  Chucho barely gets a mention.   What's up with that?

The Mozart thingy didn't work for me.

Cheers

Great high energy stuff. I am fortunate to have the two original lp’s that this "best of" compilation comes from; they were sent to me by a relative in Cuba. After years of practically prohibiting Jazz in state-sponsored musical groups, the Cuban govenrment decided to create an image, for propaganda reasons, that Cuba was a free and open society and created and funded what would become "Irakere".

**** Chucho barely gets a mention. What’s up with that? ****

This compilation was released in 1994. Both Paquito and Sandoval had already made well publicized defections from Cuba, were living in the USA and were well on their way to becoming stars. Chucho, the band’s leader and probably best musician of all, remained in Cuba. Less flamboyant as an entertainer then Paquito or Sandoval, it wasn’t until years later that he would become an international star with the Cuban government’s blessings.

I agree about the Mozart thingy. The "Mozart theme" is the Adagio (2nd mvt.) from the Mozart clarinet concerto. I like Paquito’s playing, but this is kinda tasteless playing; have always hated it.

The real thing:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fFEt10lDo2s

***** After years of practically prohibiting Jazz in state-sponsored musical groups, the Cuban govenrment decided to create an image, for propaganda reasons, that Cuba was a free and open society and created and funded what would become "Irakere".  *****


 I always thought Communist regimes approved of Jazz.   I remember several big time bands toured in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union during the cold war.   Of course we all remember the hype over  Soviet Premier Yuri Andropov, "a Jazz Lover", being a big Ellington fan.   I think it was all wishful thinking.

Cheers