What Jazz are you listening to now?

[Jazzrook]

Jazzrook

Never heard of this guitarist but he appears to be most famous for playing with soul singer and mashed potato enthusiasm James Brown.

Have you been listening to Eleanor Alberga's music on Composer of the week ? Absolutely brilliant music by British / Jamaican Composer. Her music is a revelation.

Jimmy Nolen was one of Frank Zappa’s favourite guitarists.
Will check out Eleanor Alberga on CotW tomorrow,
Thanks, Ian

JR

[Ian Thumwood]

Susiwnded Night by Tomasz Stanko. I preferred the ECM discs which preceded this but I had underestimated how good it is. From 2004.

[Jazzrook]

Julius Hemphill, Baikida Carroll, Hamiet Bluiett, Abdul Wadud & Phillip Wilson playing ‘The Hard Blues’ in 1972:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=G_ZVpCUULzg

JR

[Serial_Apologist]

Julius Hemphill, Baikida Carroll, Hamiet Bluiett, Abdul Wadud & Phillip Wilson playing ‘The Hard Blues’ in 1972:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=G_ZVpCUULzg

JR

I have the original LP with that as Side B - "'Coon Bid.ness" on the Freedom label - picked up secondhand almost untouched at one of the Bracknells - with a larger 1975 group with Arthur Blythe and Philip Wilson, "Reflections", on t'other: mostly collective improvisation around a composition, very much anticipating the WSQ. It was my introduction to the Black Artists Group, about whom I don't think much was yet known over here at that time.

[elmo]

'Double clutching' from Cecil Taylor's "Hard driving jazz" album with Kenny Dorham, John Coltrane, Chuck Israels and Louis Hayes.

Somewhat controversial album, apparently Kenny Dorham was unhappy with Cecil's contribution and the critics had a downer on it. I like it though and though it its a bit shaky in places it was of course early days (1958) but the solo's by all are really good especially cecil who sounds like monk on speed. What is the bored's opinion?

https://youtu.be/6m5ryxxYngo?si=1oT8Ta_wd1vRbzq3

elmo

[Jazzrook]

Thanks, elmo. I enjoyed hearing that again despite the many criticisms of the album.
Following on JRR’s ‘train’ theme, here’s ‘Excursion On A Wobbly Rail’ from Cecil Taylor’s great ‘Looking Ahead!’, also recorded in 1958.
Wish the brilliant vibist, Earl Griffith had recorded more.

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=Hn5FCq4ghvE

JR

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks, elmo. I enjoyed hearing that again despite the many criticisms of the album.
Following on JRR’s ‘train’ theme, here’s ‘Excursion On A Wobbly Rail’ from Cecil Taylor’s great ‘Looking Ahead!’, also recorded in 1958.
Wish the brilliant vibist, Earl Griffith had recorded more.

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=Hn5FCq4ghvE

JR

[Ian Thumwood]

The new Fergus McCreadie album is getting a lot of critical praise in the press and plenty of air play in Jazz FM. I would have loved this trio 30 years ago but find the mixture of jazz and Scottish folk music to be off putting these days. The piano playing is terrific and you can hear the infuence of Brad Mehldau.

I am sorry to say that i really dislike it. I am probably in a minority but the music is too divorced from more orthodox for my taste. Makes you wonder how you get from McCoy Tyner or even Cecil Taylor to Fergus McCreadie . It is a sad indictment of comtemporary jazz. The music has gone from the sound of surprise to rhe sound of mindfulness.

i am get bored with a lot of contemporary. I have no interest in this kind of music.

[Serial_Apologist]

The new Fergus McCreadie album is getting a lot of critical praise in the press and plenty of air play in Jazz FM. I would have loved this trio 30 years ago but find the mixture of jazz and Scottish folk music to be off putting these days. The piano playing is terrific and you can hear the infuence of Brad Mehldau.

I am sorry to say that i really dislike it. I am probably in a minority but the music is too divorced from more orthodox for my taste. Makes you wonder how you get from McCoy Tyner or even Cecil Taylor to Fergus McCreadie . It is a sad indictment of comtemporary jazz. The music has gone from the sound of surprise to rhe sound of mindfulness.

i am get bored with a lot of contemporary. I have no interest in this kind of music.

Ken Hyder did Scottish jazz in the only possible way back in the 1970s and 80s, which was in the spirit of Albert Ayler.

[Ian Thumwood]

I remember Talisker but the McCreadie record is more like Brad Mehldau. The review in All about Jazz is ecstatic but Jazz FM are heralding as one of the best records of 2020s. It was only released on Thursday.

[Jazzrook]

British-Russian pianist, Vladimir Miller & drummer Ken Hyder playing ‘Hear the Fear in the Dark Forest’ recorded in London, 2002.
I’d be interested to hear what Ian thinks of the pianist.

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=ow14jzu8k5o

JR

[Ian Thumwood]

British-Russian pianist, Vladimir Miller & drummer Ken Hyder playing ‘Hear the Fear in the Dark Forest’ recorded in London, 2002.
I’d be interested to hear what Ian thinks of the pianist.

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=ow14jzu8k5o

JR

Jazzrook

I am sorry but i really did not like that track. Never heard of Vladimir Miller but he appears usually to work in contemporary music. Just too dark for me.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Bud Powell trio - "Fantasy in blue" from Bud Powell's Moods, 1954. Recorded for Norman Granz with him picking the material, Bud being unfamiliar with some according to Barry Harris. Which could explain some of the strange hesitancy and time- "Never entered my mind" being a prime example.

But this is fabulous, prime Bud and excellent Art Taylor.

https://youtu.be/A8nwf959iHM?si=sYY_ew33I7Tbr-pP

[Ian Thumwood]

Bud Powell trio - "Fantasy in blue" from Bud Powell's Moods, 1954. Recorded for Norman Granz with him picking the material, Bud being unfamiliar with some according to Barry Harris. Which could explain some of the strange hesitancy and time- "Never entered my mind" being a prime example.

But this is fabulous, prime Bud and excellent Art Taylor.

https://youtu.be/A8nwf959iHM?si=sYY_ew33I7Tbr-pP

I think alot of the appeal of Bud Powell comes from the fact he was playing on a knife edge. Never heard this track before and thanks for the link. I just find it really intense and flicking in and out of focus. Art Taylor is superb.

It made me think of the excellent film " I swear ' that we went to see last night. Some times Bud seems in control but that track largely gets by on nervous energy. I think he represents the pure essence of Bop piano.

[Jazzrook]

Ken McIntyre with Eric Dolphy, Walter Bishop Jr., Sam Jones & Art Taylor playing G. & I. Gershwin’s ‘They All Laughed’ in 1960:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=CLWiLvi0icM

JR