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

And from Ilse DeLange two albums. Hurricane and After the Hurricane.... - great stuff

Now relaxing a bit after the big drive...

CD4: 

Chopin: Cello Sonata in G minor Op.65

Franck: Cello Sonata in A

Bruch: Kol Nidrei Op. 47

I have listened CD's 1 to 4, up to now an outstanding box set.

Hank Mobley: Soul Station  1960 Recording

• Hank Mobley — tenor saxophone
• Wynton Kelly — piano
• Paul Chambers — bass
• Art Blakey — drums

Back to the Music Matters 33 press. That *in room* sound is back from the previous Prestige AP pressing as if Mobley playing right in the room. 

Wynton Kelly's piano is even more prominent on this album which starts with such a groovy striding Irving Berlin's 'Remember'. 

The opening and ending are covers but the rest are Mobley's own. Certainly this shows confidence and this is a much tighter band the Prestige pressing but I see why this album is popular. Art Blakey provides high energy drum solos creating a nice foil with ever so *cool'n'easy* Mobley's melody line. The title tune 'Soul Station' adds a funky feel to a bluesy jazz. All tunes are happy and upbeat. None of the sad minor key tunes make it easy to like.  

Hank Mobley: Roll Call  1960 Recording Mono

• Hank Mobley — tenor saxophone
• Wynton Kelly — piano
• Paul Chambers — bass
• Art Blakey — drums
• Freddie Hubbard - trumpet

Same personnel as Soul Station but add young Freddie Hubbard to make it a quintet. Almost all Mobley composition except Harry Warren's 'More I See You' cover. It's pretty much the same groove as Soul Station but perhaps even harder hitting. Amasing trumpet playing by 22 year old Hubbard!

Blakey is absolutely on fire on the title track. This is a Classic Records mono release and remastered by Bernie Grundman with a brigher balance than Music Matters. Also has more of laid back perspective as if Mobley stepped away from a microphone a bit. So he's more over there than over here.

(2015)  CD 

First listen.  I'm certainly not versed well enough to compare this recording to other performers.  I can only say that I like it, and will listen to it more in depth this week.  

Suggestions of other pianists for these Bach recordings would be welcome.    

Back to Mobley's Workout again.

My haunch was right. This is the best sounding Mobley yet. Got lucky!

And as for the content, I am preferring this over Soul Station or Roll Call. I find his more lyrical and better diversified. ( plus much better sounding Wynton Kelly's piano )

My favourite Francis Wolff's photo: Alfred Lion perched on top of Mobley's shoulder like a wise owl.

What a great recording, still after decades!

Great - interested in what he will come out next...

Neil Young. Prairie Wind. On HDCD from 2005. A warm, Harvest-like album bolstered by Emmylou Harris' vocal accompaniments on several tracks.

Make Some Noise: the Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur. Various popular artists. On 2CDs from 2005. Generally not a fan of covers, the Lennon songs on this compilation are quality productions, flow well, and several contributors offer some fresh interpretations. An enjoyable listen.

Streaming | WAV Download | Bandcamp

(2013)

Some hard and heavy stoner rock from Germany to start the week.

Streaming | 16/44. WAV Download | Bandcamp

(2015)

Modern progressive rock by some lads from Durham using a story telling style and atmospheric building of sounds.

My first Sufjan Stevens album, bought on a recommendation. If the rest are as good as this I shall buy the lot. Lovely, whimsical, great tunes.

His back catalogue contains some odd swerves  ('The Age of Adz') but if you like 'Illinoise' then 'Michigan' is definitely going to float your boat. A fantastic album. 'The Avalanche' is outtakes and extras from 'Illinoise' but better than that sounds.

'Seven Swans' is the most folkily conventional, 'Carrie and Lovell' quite devastatingly personal, and at times beautiful too. Going to be in my top 3 albums of the year.

I've never heard the Xmas album 'Silver and Gold'

Bruce

Thanks Bruce. Over to Amazon now...

Need I point you in the direction of iron And Wine? I always see him as similar to Sufjan Stevens (although nobody is really quite like SS). 'Our Endless Numbered Days' is a belter of a record. You won't get the horn sections etc but it may be something you'd like.

Then there's Bonnie Prince Billy-one of my favourite artists and another folky eccentric. His back catalogue could take up a whole thread!

Bon Iver?

Bruce

I did dip a toe into Iron and Wine with "Kiss Each Other Clean"  but I wasn't too struck by that particular album. I've a couple of Bon Iver's albums which are OK but not my favourite listening. I've not really paid attention to Bonny Price Billy - I'll give him a try.

'Kiss Each Other Clean' not a fave of mine either. Here's a YouTube clip of 'Endless Numbered Days' in entirety.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxyUl3DrOLE

re  BPB try 'The Letting Go or 'Lie Down In The Light'

Suspect you can hear bits first somewhere. It's an acquired taste maybe, but I think quite brilliant at times. If you just hear one track try this link below, 'Missing One' from Lie Down In The Light. 2 1/2 mins as devastating and lovely as anything you will ever hear about loss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi_4ctu-Npg

Bruce

Streaming | WAV

(1991)

Very good prog rock from this much under appreciated band. 

"After the "Kowtow" album pretty much fell on deaf ears, The band abandoned the idea of commercial success and stuck to their guns, left EMI and released "The World" through their own label. This album shows the band exploding creatively which would be followed by 3 equally great [studio] albums." ~ An Amazonian

+1 to both, Will Oldham aka Bonnie Prince Billie is one of my favourites as well.

Try "The Sheperd's Dog" from Iron and Wine and "Ease down the Road" and "Master and Everyone" from Bonnie Prince Billie. I regard these three as some of the finest LPs im my collection.

Wow, such contrasting styles on the same album. From blasting out hard-nosed blues on 'Trouble' to the folky rendition on 'Better than Home' to the lovely ballads of 'St. Teresa' and 'We're Still Living in the City' - four consecutive tracks I might add. Still listening to this for the first time but I am pretty sure it will be saved as a favourite on my Tidal album listing. Talented Lady.

Update. I have got to the end of this wonderful album and must admit I shed a tear or two. The second part of this album is mostly ballads but with differing styles but all underpinned with a beautiful soulful portrayal. Try to find the Deluxe Edition of this album with four additional tracks (three repeated tracks) with just Beth and a piano. Absolutely gorgeous. I urge you to track this one down. It can be found easily for those of you who are on Tidal.

Streaming | WAV

(2003)

Just fancied giving this a spin again. Another band discovered thanks to this forum.

Deluxe and standard editions also available on Deezer Elite for those who like streaming from there.