What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. X)

No more description WHY anyone might be interested?

EJ

On vinyl from 1971: Claire Hamill - "one house left standing"

I don't suppose many here will have heard of, let alone remember, Claire Hamill, but she was an up and coming singer/songwriter in the early 70s. This album is lovely with some very fine Claire Hamill penned songs like "When I was a child".

She seemed to sort of disappear from the scene, but I could never understand why!

As I don't have this recording, but others from here. I am interested what you like about this recording and how it would compare to other albums.

I was going to hold off the Christmas Music for one more day but your post got me in the mood.

I have the part III album which is very pleasing. I notice Part IV is on Qobuz as a studio master.

You may also like this which is tastefully done.

Richard

Thanks Richard. 1 and 2 were played yesterday, with 3 to come. 4 is on order. I love these records. I'll check out the one you recommend on Spotify, if they have it.

Laura Shay

"To A  Place"    (2005)

I was a bit late today, so this is my first recording. It's one of by returned to now a couple of times since I bought it. As such a nice piece of music but also played by a young prmousing player.

Aerosmith - Rocks

Just a great rock album from 1976

Aerosmith - Permanent Vacation 

Yet another great rock album from 1987. Always liked Aerosmith but never got around to getting any of their albums. Sorting that out now. 

On vinyl from 1975: Cate Brothers Band - "Cate Bros."

Just one of a number of great albums from the best (in my opinion) soul band of the 70s.

Right The Stars (Rich Jacques)

"Right The Stars"    (2010)

Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance 

Jeff,

With 'Hejira' I think you have discovered her studio zenith. Only bettered IMHO by the live recording from the tour promoting that album, 'Shadows and Light'. This features a spectacular line-up including Pat Metheny, Don Alias, Lyle Mays, Jaco Pastorius and Michael Brecker. Pat's solo at the end of 'Amelia' is just sublime, a piece of music which always draws me in.

I agree that 'Turbulent Indigo' is another fine album and would encourage you to listen to 'The Hissing of Summer Lawns' and 'Court and Spark' too. In fact buy them all!

It is a great opportunity to discover Joni Mitchell. 

CB

This is for me one of the contenders for the best jazz album of 2014. Modern and dynamic. I have copied in a review below.

Alexi Tuomarila Trio -  Seven Hills
(Edition Records EDN1041. CD Review by Adrian Pallant) 

Moving to a new home at Edition Records, Finnish-born pianist Alexi Tuomarila and his trio have released Seven Hills, an engaging collection of nine jazz originals by the pianist himself, by Mats Eilertsen (double bass) and Olavi Louhivuori (drums) – plus guest appearances by guitarist and album engineer André Fernandes.

Lauded in his early career by Brad Mehldau, Tuomarila has a number of album credits to his name over the past decade including his fine 2003 quartet album ’02′, as well as recording and touring with Olavi Louhivuori as part of Tomasz Stanko’s acclaimed quintet (Dark Eyes, ECM, 2009). Yet this is only the second release from his piano trio (following 2006′s Constellation). Recorded in Lisbon – Portugal’s capital ‘city of seven hills’ – it finds Alexi and his colleagues on sparkling form.

Tuomarila’s pianistic prowess displays crystalline agility, particularly in his top-end soloing, exuding an assuredness which commands attention. Matt Eilertsen, a characteristically bold bassist, pliantly pulls the strings with great solidity and poise, also capable of delivering the most tender, lyrical melodies. And, similarly, as demonstrated in the leading of his own group (Oddarrang), Olavi Louhivouri has a distinctive, solid approach to his drumming, generating complex, clattering patterns, but also able to ‘whisper’ with measured softness. Together, they communicate impressive rapport to produce a vibrant and full sound.

The trio are masters of the gear change. The simple folksong-like melody of title track Seven Hills (vocal line and words easily imaginable) switches effectively into a bubbling, pulsating 7/8 groove; Tuomarila seemingly unstoppable in his runs; bass and drums bristling with energy – just wonderful at high volume. Prologue introduces the overdriven, sustained guitar improvisations of André Fernandes (hints of late 70s McLaughlin), seamlessly augmenting the three, again with an up-tempo rhythmic shift halfway through. Eilertsen’s bass tugs at the heart strings in the wistful Jibeinia, as well as in Pearl, who’s heavy, chordal beginnings develop into another lively and spirited showcase for Tuomarila’s ‘high wire act’.

Visitor G brings four minutes of pure Monk-like brilliance and eccentricity – both pacey and spiky, the trio clearly relish its freedom, seemingly encouraging each other to push the creativity, whilst very definitely keeping communication lines open. In contrast, the romanticism of Bill Evans (or Nikki Iles) inhabits Miss, a diminutive piano-led piece of near perfection, Louhivuori disclosing the delicate, shimmering side of his persona. André Fernandes rejoins the line-up on Ceremony, an otherwise confident closing anthem whose central section becomes captivatingly tense with the feature of Fernandes’ echoic, penetrating guitar improvisations.

Roxy Music - Stranded

My favourite of theirs at the moment. Can't get enough of this absolutely stunning album.

On vinyl from 1975: Steve Howe - "Beginnings"

Bought this when it first came because I had been a big fan of Yes. I remember being a little disappointed by it, but I am enjoying it this time round. I rarely listen to Yes these days I find their music (for me at least) hasn't really stood the demands of time. 

Pink Floyd - The Endless River 24/96 Flac

I am glad that they released this album, I like this a lot. I think that this album works better as one long listening session and not on vinyl.  

Van Morrison

"What's Wrong With This Picture"   (2003)

Another modern jazz album - good while not so excellent as the one I listened to before...

CD Rip streamed from my NAS: Tomatito - "Paseo De Los Castanos"

Not a genre of music I listen to a lot, but some impressive flamenco guitar music from Tomatito, and an interesting listen following on from Steve Howe.

Johann Sebastian Bach:  Edwin Fischer (Vol. 1):  Great Pianists of the 20th Century

Every Sunday usually starts with Bach with me. (<= to be safe, this was the WHY part in case it wasn't actually totally clear.  )

Florestan originally posted:

"Every Sunday usually starts with Bach with me"

On that theme, although not my first listen this Sunday:

Angela Hewitt - "Bach: The Art of Fugue"

Nothing better than a bit of Zep Deluxe (IV Companion Audio) on a dark Sunday afternoon, is there?

Nothing better than LedZep eh? How about this?