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What jazz are you listening to right now?
- Thread starter rousseau
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I paid a visit to one of our record shops this morning and walked away with a two-disc live recording by Wynton Marsalis:
Here
For the first time in a few years I shut off the lights and went through a record in it's entirety. This recording in particular is fantastic. I've never thought of myself as a fan of Wynton Marsalis, but I've gravitated to him a number of times now. It would seem I'm more of a traditionalist than fan of avant-garde jazz.
Here
For the first time in a few years I shut off the lights and went through a record in it's entirety. This recording in particular is fantastic. I've never thought of myself as a fan of Wynton Marsalis, but I've gravitated to him a number of times now. It would seem I'm more of a traditionalist than fan of avant-garde jazz.
Tharmas
Veteran Member
In 1951 Miles Davis was nursing a heroin habit that kept him out of work and almost destitute. He was still able to make some recordings, although he didn’t have the strength to do much, and the sides he did cut show bloops and errors. Nevertheless, some of them were quite memorable. Ian Carr says, referencing this recording of ‘Blue Room,’ “Of his early recordings, his playing on ‘Blue Room’ is technically perhaps the poorest, and yet this is one of the most moving and memorable tracks of that period.”
I’d bet that most of us would give anything to be able to play any instrument with such technique and feeling.
I’d bet that most of us would give anything to be able to play any instrument with such technique and feeling.
I've gone through this a few times this week, and also a new (live) release by Don Cherry, called Cherry Jam.
I've been looking for jazz that swings a bit, but that doesn't come from the earlier names that I've already played to death. So far many of ideologyhunter's recommendations have been spot on and a little off the beaten path, so I may go through some of his posts again soon.
Tharmas
Veteran Member
I've learned a lot from other posters on this forum, including you, Rousseau. Right now though I'm going in the exact opposite direction from you, taking a very deep dive nto the works of one person (Miles Davis). Thanks to Carr's biography I'm exploring Miles' work and development year by year, session by session, cut by cut, and solo by solo. Call me obsessed, but I'm learning about a lot more than Miles. I'm learning a lot about the guts of post war jazz, and I'm learning about how to really listen to what's going on.
Those deep dives into a single case study can really reveal a lot about a broader topic. I've done similar in a few areas outside of jazz.
You've actually got me thinking about picking up the same book on Miles and reading it over the winter. But on the other hand I've always been a bit lukewarm on his music, so I don't know if I'll go through with it. And I'm not sure I have the same passion for jazz at the moment that I did a few years ago.
When you're done with Miles, you might be interested in checking out Ted Gioia's How to Listen to Jazz for more perspective. I went through it a number of years ago and found it added to my appreciation. Another book, in a different vein, you might like is Conversations in Jazz by Ralph Gleason.
I have a boatload of jazz records that I have picked up over the past several years waiting to be played. Reissues from Blue Note, Verve, Impulse, Contemporary - all analog pressings cut by Kevin Gray. Not enough time!
I picked up this record today for 10 dollars. I can't seem to locate any audio, but I'm enjoying it.
While browsing my local's used jazz area I'm starting to get tempted by the lesser known musicians who fall under a letter and not their own section. I might start clearing out some of my old vinyl to make space for some miscellaneous albums.
Worldtraveller
Veteran Member
I'm thinking I might go to the big Jazz fest in Clearwater in a few weeks. I assume I'll be feeling better by then. 
I'm thinking I might go to the big Jazz fest in Clearwater in a few weeks. I assume I'll be feeling better by then.
I wish. I've heard the Montreal Festival is pretty good, but too far of a drive from us. Canada is a jazz desert for the most part.
Rob
Splitting this across a few posts because I can only include two youtubes per post:
McCoy Tyner - Looking Out. I bought this on a whim and it turned out to be the worst rated album in his entire catalogue. I sold it back to the record store the next day.
Mel Lewis Orchestra - 20 years at The Village Vanguard. This was more of a just for fun one, not that interested but it cost me 6 dollars.
McCoy Tyner - Looking Out. I bought this on a whim and it turned out to be the worst rated album in his entire catalogue. I sold it back to the record store the next day.
Mel Lewis Orchestra - 20 years at The Village Vanguard. This was more of a just for fun one, not that interested but it cost me 6 dollars.
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I stopped at a different record shop today. I only had about 10 minutes to browse, but managed to find this album. The shop's jazz section was a little better stocked than the one closer to our place, so I'll likely be making it a regular stop. I'd been before, but it'd been years.
laughing dog
Contributor
My son gave me a CD by the Sons of Kemet. This track is from it:
laughing dog
Contributor
Tharmas
Veteran Member
Nice to hear some Jelly Roll on this thread. I've been a fan since I was a teenager, but I don't remember ever hearing this cut. By the way, his Library of Congress musical autobiography (recorded by Alan Lomax) is well worth listening to. It comprises a real and fascinating history of early jazz in New Orleans.
I was in one of our record shops again last week and noticed Bill Evans very last album on display for about 65 CDN. I didn't buy it as a lot of what he's done is a bit samey, but I realized that I'd overlooked most of his catalogue in favour of his earlier work.
The title of the album stands out after watching a documentary on him a few months ago, called Time Remembered. I found the film on a site called Reelhouse, and it's well worth watching. Evans was maybe one of the most talented jazz musicians of the twentieth century, and from what I can gather he eventually just flamed out. I've spent quite a few years with his music, but these days seem to be trending on jazz with some liveliness to it.
The title of the album stands out after watching a documentary on him a few months ago, called Time Remembered. I found the film on a site called Reelhouse, and it's well worth watching. Evans was maybe one of the most talented jazz musicians of the twentieth century, and from what I can gather he eventually just flamed out. I've spent quite a few years with his music, but these days seem to be trending on jazz with some liveliness to it.
Makoto Ozone (Self-titled)
For something a little different I picked up a few records from the 'misc' sections today. This one is the debut recording of a Japanese pianist who went to a music school in the U.S., and came of age in the 80s. Eddie Gomez is on bass, who played in Bill Evans' final trio for a number of years. Apparently this guy has had a successful career, and is still active. Another interesting point, his father was also a jazz musician in Japan.
The trio on the record includes piano, vibraphone, and bass. It's an interesting mix without drums, feeling largely like a solo record. You can tell that he was post Bill Evans, but there is a definite uniqueness to it that might come from his Japanese roots. At times he sounds a bit like Fred Hersch. And later in the record he flexes a bit with some speed.
Bud Powell - In Paris
I thought this one was a live recording, but unfortunately it's a studio session (from 1963). It's now the only record I own from Powell, who apparently was one of the leaders of the bop movement.
For something a little different I picked up a few records from the 'misc' sections today. This one is the debut recording of a Japanese pianist who went to a music school in the U.S., and came of age in the 80s. Eddie Gomez is on bass, who played in Bill Evans' final trio for a number of years. Apparently this guy has had a successful career, and is still active. Another interesting point, his father was also a jazz musician in Japan.
The trio on the record includes piano, vibraphone, and bass. It's an interesting mix without drums, feeling largely like a solo record. You can tell that he was post Bill Evans, but there is a definite uniqueness to it that might come from his Japanese roots. At times he sounds a bit like Fred Hersch. And later in the record he flexes a bit with some speed.
Bud Powell - In Paris
I thought this one was a live recording, but unfortunately it's a studio session (from 1963). It's now the only record I own from Powell, who apparently was one of the leaders of the bop movement.