What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XIV)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 31 December 2017
On the eve of a new year, it's time for a new thread.
Last year's thread can be found here:
Seasick Steve & The Level Devils - Cheap.
The original and best ............... Steve's first album, and it's on Tidal, so have a bash. 
I knew that I had bought a vinyl copy of Sleeps with Angels about 20+ years ago but I haven't played it in years and couldn't find it, so when I found an old LP case that I had last used to carry some LPs to work for some demos at the factory over 10 years ago and - voila! - there it was! Later Neil young output can be a bit hit and miss, but this album is certainly one of his best from the '90s and perhaps one of his best of all time - and I think its standing will increase with time.
Anyway, I just had to give it a play on the RP10 this evening. Now, the CD is excellent but just wait until you hear the LP... Wow. I had quite forgotten just how well recorded was this double LP set. This was a US copy - mastered at Masterdisk according to Discogs.
Transported me me right back to NYC in '94/95.
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I was a little underwhelmed the first few times I played this but it has grown on me in time.
Getting into my newly bought music...
The Chick Corea + Steve Gadd Band, “Chinese Butterfly” (Concord Jazz)
Compared to other genres, flexibility of lineups is one of the most fascinating aspects of jazz bands. Musicians are constantly looking for new partners, reuniting with old ones, the musical colors of ensembles shifting as this sax player or that guitarist comes and goes and another one sits in.
The leaders of The Chick Corea + Steve Gadd Band have played together occasionally for over 50 years but “Chinese Butterfly” is the first joint album by the keyboardist/composer and the drummer under that not-so-imaginative name. Beyond that small grievance, however, there’s an album full of creativity and chops.
The first half is comprised of five “shorter” tracks, each below 12 minutes. Leading the way is “Chick’s Chums,” a funky, relatively recent Corea tribute written by John McLaughlin with a decidedly 1970s vibe, a powerful sax solo by Steve Wilson and a wide range of Gadd dynamics. “Serenity” has some gentle Brazilian breezes and the disc closes with the title track, a real group effort with strong contributions by all band members, also including guitarist and vocalist Lionel Loueke, Carlitos Del Puerto on bass and percussionist Luisito Quintero.
A cover of “Return to Forever” featuring Philip Bailey on vocals opens the second half. This version of the title track from the 1972 album — the Corea-led eponymous band’s first configuration — starts and ends with the same spine-chilling interplay between keyboards and vocals as on the original, but in between it’s Gadd who really turns up the heat.
The band has been presenting the album in concerts on several continents over the past months to great acclaim. Even after Corea and Gadd move on to other projects, “Chinese Butterfly” will remain as an impressive memento of their present collaboration.
From one lady with a great voice to another. On CD (to be released this coming Tuesday):
Minnie Riperton - Perfect Angel.
As above ^ another lady with a great voice, this deluxe reissue of the original album is an absolute must. IMHO.
Just finished......
Alexi Murdoch - Four Songs
Streamed on TIDAL......... Enjoy Alexi music....
Now Playing......
Alexi Murdoch - Time Without Consequence
Streaming on TIDAL....... Enjoying more of Alexi.......
Now Playing.......
Michael Mantler - Comment c’est
Michael Mantler (trumpet), Himiko Paganotti (voice), Max Brand Ensemble, Christoph Cech (conductor).
Streaming on TIDAL...... Recent release (11-03-2017) from ECM Records and continuing the exploration of the ECM catalogue. Something a little different but the music is captivating and certainly drawing me in......
Note on the ECM Records Website here:
Declaring that he is “no longer able to ignore overwhelming and outrageous recent world events”, trumpeter and composer Michael Mantler leaves the world of abstract music behind to tackle a host of contemporary evils head-on. His texts for Comment c’est, sung by French-born singer Himiko Paganotti, respond to what he calls “the all-pervading environment of hatred, greed and corruption.” Comment c'est “refers specifically and reacts strongly to recent events and concerns itself with a range of deadly serious subjects, such as war, terrorism, hostages, migration, poverty, fear and the exceedingly sorry state of the world in general.”
Head East. Flat As A Pancake. On vinyl from 1974. A shining gem in the annals of forgotten rock albums. I'd encourage any fan of the band 'Rush' to sample this brilliant album. It's hard rock and progressive. Lead singer Darren Walker even sounds quite a bit like Geddy Lee.
Breakfast
The Best Of Blur. On 2 CDs from 2000. Immediately enjoyable for it's Woo Hoo! factor. Soon becomes a lot of cockney Britpop droning on like Oasis. Still good for an occasional listen.
(2008)
Playing disc one of two from this nicely transcribed work by Hopkinsom Smith himself.
Rachel Podger and Biber- perfect.
Tori Amos - Boys for Pele (1996)
My introduction to Tori Amos more than 21 years after this album (her third studio album) became a simultaneous US and U.K. hit. Reminds me of Madonna with more excitement. Will certainly dust the cobwebs off!
Wikipedia says....Boys for Pele was recorded in rural Ireland and Louisiana and features 18 songs that incorporate harpsichord, clavichord, harmonium, gospel choirs, brass bands and full orchestras. Amos wrote all of the tracks, and for the first time, she served as sole producer for her own album. For Amos, the album was a step into a different direction, in terms of singing, songwriting, and recording, and is experimental in comparison to her previous work.
Phil