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

Now Playing............

Boz Scaggs - Memphis

Streaming on NAS..........   arrived in the mail on Monday and taking Memphis out for a spin. Last evening it was Boz singing the blues, waking up with Boz singing a little soul and he is sounding mighty fine!

Dan Steel posted:

Triple vinyl released 2018 - In the years following World War Two, Japan developed one of the most insatiable, dynamic and diverse markets for jazz. For a crucial period of little over a decade – from the late 1960s to the early 1980s – Japanese jazz culture progressed at an astonishing rate, producing an extraordinary array of artists, recordings and record labels that created some of the most forward thinking and impressive jazz to be committed to tape. This amazing journey is explored on ‘J Jazz’.

This compilation from BBE uncovers some of the most sought after and rare material from this period and pulls together key artists who shaped the post-war modern jazz scene in Japan.

‘J Jazz’ includes obscure and sought after rarities like the bass-driven power jazz of Koichi Matsukaze’s ‘Earth Mother’, the holy grail rarity of Aizawa Tohru Quartet’s ‘Dead Letter’ and the loping majesty of Takeo Moriyama’s ‘North Wind’. This collection takes the listener into deep spiritual jazz, post-modal impressionism and fierce dance-floor fusion with material from artists and composers whose names are generally only known to committed collectors of Japanese jazz. Fumio Karashima, Mitsuaki Katayama, Takeo Moriyama and Kiyoshi Sugimoto are among the names featured on an album aiming to shed a little light on the shadowy world of Japanese jazz clubs, tucked away in the neon backstreets. This music demands a wider audience and BBE are excited to deliver a landmark compilation, lifting the veil on this wonderful and mysterious area of the global jazz catalogue.

None of the tracks featured on ‘J Jazz’ have ever received an official release outside Japan before. The albums the tracks are taken from are extremely hard to find and often fetch huge sums on the collector’s circuit. Originally pressed in small numbers on independent and private labels such as Union, Johnny’s Disk, Whynot, ALM and VAP, these tracks are now available for everyone to enjoy.

Compiled by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden, both long-time collectors of Japanese jazz, ’J Jazz’ brings together the very best in modern jazz from Japan, recorded during a critical period of musical and cultural transition that saw composers and musicians not only assert a new artistic identity but also create a lasting musical legacy.
This is a great compilation and if you watch the video below by Tony Higgins it highlights the Japanese Jazz Joints with album photographer Phillip Arneill. It’s a great watch. ????

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nejxhkv5ZRk

Thanks for the link. Fascinating.

Now Playing......

Tom Adams - Silence

Streaming on NAS.......  it has been awhile since I have taken Tom's Silence out for a spin. On this cool overcast damp Thursday morning it just felt right to gently push me out into the day.

All this talk of Miles - 1989 Amandla - just love the last track (Mr Pastorius)

Another 1660s Miles, on '80s vinyl.

Just finished........

Vanessa Rubin - Pastiche

Vanessa Rubin (vocals), Tarik Shah (bass), Aaron Walker (drums), Michael Rubin (percussion), Aaron Graves (piano, organ), Roger Byam (tenor sax, alto sax, soprano sax), Houston Person (tenor sax), Steve Turre (trombone), Cecil Bridgewater (trumpet) and Eddie Allen (trumpet, flugelhorn). 

Streaming on NAS.........  dropping back 25 years to the soulful voice of Vanessa Rubin. Wonderful vocals with a great musicians backing her up on this album!

I ordered this the other day after hearing the final movement of the concerto for three hands on BBC R3. Although a fine recording, and including lots of music which is all new to me, it's unfortunate that the movement which made me buy it is not as 'live' as the version I heard. 

Ray Brown Trio - Some of my best friends are...guitarists

Good to work to, quietly, with a cuppa.

Kevin-W posted:

Clive B posted:

Why not move forward in time? Just sidestep In a Silent Way and you'd arrive at this milestone, now playing in this part of Wiltshire:

No way would I sidestep In A Slient Way... it's far superior to Bitches Brew, being less bombastic and wasteful (I think IASW has aged better than BB too).

For me BB is a transitional (albeit hugely popular) step between the oceanic washes of IASW and the more radical 1970s experiments with tape cuts, loops and open-ended improvisation that one finds on albums like Agharta, Dark Magus, Jack Johnson and On The Corner.

I certainly play IASW more but I enjoyed some of this last night:

Now Playing........

The Stray Birds - Let It Pass

Streaming on TIDAL........  A first time listen of the 'The Stray Birds' and 'Let It Pass' a newly released album.......  which also came along with the announcement that after seven years of playing together they are disbanding and cancelling their fall tour.  First track sounding pretty fine folk/county rock......  Wish them the best of luck with their future endeavors!

Released 2005 - Fine album of electric charged jazz-rock. ????

• Drums – Lenny White
• Electric Bass – Victor Bailey
• Electric Guitar – Larry Coryell

Bit of a Paul Simon week since 'In The Blue Light' arrived which by the way I really like. However, also revisited this album which I have not played for ages and think in retrospect this could be one of his very best.

2006 Vinyl.

I saw him in Luxembourg at the weekend and he was absolutely spiffing, so time to return to this three-CD boxed survey of the genial drummer's solo output. This time, the 1985 collaboration with 10CC's Rick Fenn, Profiles. A couple of passable tracks, but it's all a bit too '80s for me...

Some pre-hurricane listening...expecting the system will be shut off one way or t'other over the next few days...

Some jazz

(2006)

Till The Sun Turns Black

One of Ray LaMontagne's finest and one of my favourites. 

What a day....

Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins  -  "Rabbit Fur Coat"  (2005)  edgy pop music

Streaming on Tidal, have always been fond of this Joan album from ‘77, have it on vinyl somewhere

Vinyl reissue on Pure Pleasure - Herbie Hancock Sextet & Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers player has reached his creative peak with this spacey classic jazz/fusion album, this LP is a must have for any lover of the funky side of jazz!!! ????

Justin Sullivan  -  "Navigating By The Stars"  (2003)  solo effort by the New Model Army leader

Jeff Anderson posted:

Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins  -  "Rabbit Fur Coat"  (2005)  edgy pop music

I really love the Watson Twin’s version of The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” which featured on the True Blood soundtrack compilation.

Now Playing.......

Kathy Mattea - Pretty Bird

Streaming on TIDAL..........  A new release from Kathy and taking out for a spin.......  a little country from this 2 time Grammy and 4 time CMA winner.  Kathy is sounding mighty sweet this morning!   Kathy sings a fine version of 'Ode to Billie Joe'

(2003)

Younger Brother - A Flock of Bleeps

Simon Posford doing his wonderful fairly hard trance 'n dance thing with Younger Brother.