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:
Influenced by TOBYJUGs earlier post..
This is, I suppose, best described as ambient electronica.
Now Playing.........
Marc Johnson - Shades of Jade
Marc Johnson (double-bass), Joe Lovano (tenor saxophone), John Scofield (guitar), Eliane Elias (piano), Joey Baron (drums), and Alain Mallet (organ).
Streaming on TIDAL...... Random selection from the ECM Records catalogue. Through the first three tracks of this album and really enjoying this one!
Note on ECM Reviews Website here:
If you had heard only Marc Johnson’s ECM debut with his Bass Desires quartet, you might be forgiven in thinking that the bassist was an extroverted player by default. Yet, listening to his rounded commentaries on such albums as Rosslyn and Class Trip, it’s easy to see how this, his third leader date for the label, reveals in him a tender heart that holds beauty and integrity in highest esteem. Shades of Jade complements his fulsome sound with an even richer tapestry of carefully chosen bandmates, including the painterly and good-humored Joey Baron at the drums, tenorist Joe Lovano, guitarist John Scofield, and, in her debut for the label, Brazilian pianist Eliane Elias (who also produces alongside Manfred Eicher). The result is something as timeless as the set’s opener, “Ton Sur Ton.” It is, along with the title track, co-composed by Johnson and Elias. Both rock a delicate balance of guitar and sax that is smooth, hip, and subtle. The composers, here and throughout, lay the ground in shaded Morse code. Baron splashes delicately around as Scofield and Lovano complete things, clinging leisurely like sunbeams on water’s surface.
With exception of the epilogue, Johnson and Elias individually compose the album’s remaining tunes. To his own, the bassist reaches back to his defining years will Bill Evans through an artful shuffling of touch and go. He is, for the most part, by his pen deferential, as both “Blue Nefertiti” and “Raise” put Scofield in the spotlight, dancing nimbly through the changes. The latter tune adds the organ of Alain Mallet for some flavor. Yet the highlight, of both subset and album, is his bass solo “Since You Asked.” Accompanied by a whisper of cymbals, it is an utterly personal dialogue between deep and deeper.
It is in the context of Elias’s writing that Johnson comes more overtly into his own. Whether through the deep circulation he provides in the trio setting of “Snow” or in the album’s ballad du jour, “All Yours,” he carves out prime singing space amid Elias’s flowing keys. For her part, the composer gets plenty of shine time in her denser moments, as in “Apareceu,” which calculates an even smoother ratio of bread to butter alongside Lovano’s champagne sparkle, and in the curtains of “In 30 Hours” that billow from the wind of a passing memory.
Shades ends with exactly that in the form of a haunting take on the Armenian folk song “Don’t Ask of Me” (a.k.a. Intz Mi Khntrir). Its echoes burn forlorn afterimages into the night. Droning, keening, dreaming. As if the music alone weren’t enough, the album is an engineering gem, managing to bring out inner warmth while retaining all the immediacy of a live set. And in the end, is not immediacy what jazz is all about?
Eoink posted:
Vinyl. I think Neil Diamond is one of the more under-rated singer songwriters, his best songs are wonderful examples of the craft, and he interprets them superbly. What a cruel end to his career, thanks for the music Neil.
Very sad. One of my favorite live albums Hot August Night. In the 1970s when I sold hifi gear it was a fabulous demonstration record, terrific performance. Saw ND numerous times over many years, always an amazing show.
Bob F
Fairport Convention Live at Broughton Castle 1981, original 1982 vinyl. I wasn't at this, I got into Fairport around this time, saw them at London gigs in the early ‘80s and did my first Cropredy Festival in 1984. This is much more of a reunion of early Fairport than the band that plays now, Richard Thompson and Dave Swarbrick in front of the rhythm section of Mattacks, NIcol and Pegg, Not the best sound quality from the stage recording, OK, but a bit lacking in body, excellent performances from great musicians, having fun with old friends and playing a fun selection of covers and originals.
I have spent the evening at a talk about the Crumlin Festival, a 1970festival in the wilds of West Yorkshire that had a major lineup, Elton John, Fairport, Pentangle, Fotheringay, Pink Floyd (no show), Alan Price, Manfred Mann (rained off), but failed when it was rained off at the end of the Saturday so that the Sunday never happened. It was immensely badly organised, they were aiming for 60,000 attendees, the main catering was 60,000 sandwiches ordered from a local sandwich shop and Heinz soup and baked beans from the tin. The presenters were the people who now own the farm where it happened, they mentioned that Dave Pegg had been up to visit and that triggered me to play some live Fairport.
HARP, Holly Near, Arlo Guthrie, Ronnie Gilbert, Pete Seeger, live recording from 1984, original UK vinyl.
American folk royalty, Seeger and Gilbert from the Weavers, Arlo son of Woodie and also Mr. Alice’s Restaurant, Holly Near a major songwriter. 2 of the leaders of the first wave of American folk revival with 2 of the leaders of the post-Dylan generation they inspired, they had all worked together, but not as a quartet until this tour in 1984. Four fantastic singers, singing personally committed songs from the heart, simple backing superbly played, a wonderful album. Arlo’s version of City of New Orleans in this is my favourite recording I’ve heard, and Holly/Ronnie’s medley of What’s Going On/Foolish Notion is amazing.
Arlo Guthrie, Alice’s Restaurant, vinyl. Having heard Arlo on the previous album, I couldn’t resist listening to the Massacree, the classic song of a miscarriage of justice over littering. Just the first side because I want one more album before I go to bed.
The original Sandy Denny, 1992 vinyl reissue of the 1978 set of her 1967 recordings. A fantastic set of Sandy’s early recordings, covers and classics as well as originals. Sandy’s voice and her guitar with (overlaid?) bass, sparse recordings, occasionally overmiked vocals, but we’re hearing a great singer interpreting songs superbly, these were recorded just over 50 years ago, but still move immensely. Still missed.
Just finished.......
Marc Johnson - Shades of Jade
Streamed on TIDAL......... Had to have a second listen, very enjoyable album
Now Playing.........
Mark Knopfler - The Ragpicker's Dream
Streaming on TIDAL........ Picking up the beat while getting dinner together!
Small Faces. 78 In The Shade. On vinyl from 1978. The band's final album. I find it quite enjoyable.
am
Roger Waters. Amused To Death. On CD from 1992. A concurrent thread running here inspired me to spin this, maybe the epitome of a redbook CD for its sterling hi-fi qualities.
"A Silk Purse" by Spud.
The song "The Wind in the Willows" randomly reentered my mind after a 40 year interval. It was on Irish radio every other day in the mid 70s, but I don't think I've heard it once since then. This prompted me to do some Google sleuthing, and I eventually tracked down a copy of this album on the 'bay. Unexpected bonus: Donal Lunney [sic] is credited with playing bodhrán, guitar, and Moog synthesiser.
Katie Melua, Piece By Piece a nice start to this wet morning in the South West.
Not up Carly Simon No Secrets, still bloody raining!!
joerand posted:am
Roger Waters. Amused To Death. On CD from 1992. A concurrent thread running here inspired me to spin this, maybe the epitome of a redbook CD for its sterling hi-fi qualities.
I agree Joe. When CD reproduction quality is this good, hi-def isn't needed.
M