Death of J*** Revisited

I can accept that Beethoven is neither overwrought nor overheated, but then neither are Gnu High, Stevie Wonder, The Godfather, Earth Wind & Fire, Tower of Power, nor Annie Hall.

However, I do find the music of Yes to be somewhat overwrought.

Best,
Fred

Dear Fred,

I am sure that you will understand that with the Piano Trios of Haydn, still half his quartets, and the Cantatas of Bach yet in front of me [none of which could possibly be over-wrought], then actually investigating modern music [which might be], is a long way down the list, though you did seem to imply [at least that is how I read it] that some Beethoven might be! Hence my otherwise gratuitous response.

Almost all [recorded] Jazz leaves me foxed, and most modern popular music also. Far more of the modern classical, or "art," music leaves me for cold, though I like some modern popular repertoire. Jason Mraz has a certain simple catch that is as gratifying as anything else, if I do not want to concentrate too hard!

ATB from George

PS: Would you agree that the real value in Bach is that the logic of the progress is both warmly human, and seemingly inevitable! But with Bach one could never predict how it would go before listening to it. Only afterwards does it seem in inevitable. That is why any imitation of Bach sounds like an imitation rather then actually as if Bach had invented it himself ... Truly amazing! Learned but more ispired than anything since ... so combining genius with huge human warmth ... and Jazzy as heck in the process! Bach was a great Jazzer, I suspect, when sitting down at keyboard, "vamping!"

Fred, didn't mean to get you upset, but since the apple cart is already overturned, I have to ask :

How old were you in the 70s?

I was in my twenties.

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:
Fred, didn't mean to get you upset, but since the apple cart is already overturned, I have to ask :

How old were you in the 70s?

I was in my twenties.

I'm not upset.

I was 17-27 in the 1970s. Is that what you suspected? And why do you ask?

Best,
Fred

quote:

Originally posted by fred simon:

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:
Fred, didn't mean to get you upset, but since the apple cart is already overturned, I have to ask :

How old were you in the 70s?

I was in my twenties.

I'm not upset.

I was 17-27 in the 1970s. Is that what you suspected? And why do you ask?

Best,
Fred

Frde, I thought you might be anywhere between 25 and 50 (i.e. no clue). I asked out of simple curiosity. The 70s were a different experience for each of us.

The two things about the 70s that stick in my memory are the turmoil, and the relentless drive to change everything.

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:

The two things about the 70s that stick in my memory are the turmoil, and the relentless drive to change everything.

That describes the 1960s more for me, although I think the 60s spilled over into the early 70s.

Best,
Fred

quote:

Originally posted by fred simon:

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:

The two things about the 70s that stick in my memory are the turmoil, and the relentless drive to change everything.

That describes the 1960s more for me, although I think the 60s spilled over into the early 70s.

Best,
Fred

In the 70s here in New Orleans, the music changed radically, everyone started divorcing and cheating on each other, people left the city for the suburbs, many friends got sucked into the Vietnam war, many stopped going to church, and every household appliance changed.

Maybe I didn't notice it in the 60s :-)

Fred, truth is I am in a mood. It is seeping into my ears. It is a barrier between me and my music. To fight it, I've ingested large amounts of new music. So far, it is impervious.

Its origin is unambiguous, it's from work. My group is being laid off next February, with a year's severance.

People who have always been kind and courteous, ready with a smile, are sullen and belligerent. Rumors are rampant.

I am trying to make a habit of being happy, quite impossible without other participants.

Music is my refuge. Now this disease has infected my ears.

I think "Gnu High" hasn't gotten a good hearing yet, after eight tries.

We're going out Friday and Saturday, dinner and music. Maybe this will be a lucky weekend :-)

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:

Fred, truth is I am in a mood ... Music is my refuge. Now this disease has infected my ears ... We're going out Friday and Saturday, dinner and music. Maybe this will be a lucky weekend :-)

Well, I hope so. Yes, these are "strange days, indeed ... most peculiar, Mama."

Don't torture yourself over Gnu High ... if most of your jazz experience has been more of the toe-tapper variety (not that there's anything wrong with that), this is some pretty advanced stuff ... it does take some work, as you have already noted.

Here's a different suggestion, and one that I hope will bring a wide smile to your face: Wayne Shorter's Native Dancer, his masterpiece collaboration with Brazilian singer/songwriter Milton Nascimento. This is truly one of the very most life-affirming albums I know of, and I'm not alone in that appraisal. It features some instrumental songs of Wayne's, and some songs sung by Milton, who also plays nylon-stringed guitar. The band makes a mighty joyful noise, comprised of both Brazilian and American musicians, including the sublime acoustic piano of Herbie Hancock.

And although it was released in 1976, it is neither overwrought nor overheated. (insert emoticon here) In fact, it's perfectly wrought, perfectly seasoned, at a perfect temperature range. Give it a try and let us know what you think.

All best,
Fred

It's on its way. Thanks Fred :-)

As far as toe tapping jazz goes, I've done lots of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Roland Kirk and many others, and was able to enjoy them without effort. It is interesting that you used the phrase "toe tapping" as I am here in New Orleans, and have never heard any band from anywhere ever, that could keep time as well as a good New Orleans band.

The Stravinsky, Chopin, Schubert and Haydn I've been giving a listen are pretty advanced too, even compared to Keith Jarrett.

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:

The Stravinsky, Chopin, Schubert and Haydn I've been giving a listen are pretty advanced too, even compared to Keith Jarrett.

Advanced, absolutely, but within a different set of parameters ... some intersect, many don't.

I hope you love Native Dancer even half as much as I do.

Best,
Fred

Some new American jazz that is alive and doing well. In the UK jazz magazine JAZZWISE, this was given a 5 star review - they only issue 5 stars about once a year.

Last night, I got my groove back. My daughter is in town to finish planning for her March wedding, and very close friends (who are musicians) we have not seen for decades are in town from Atlanta.

We went to Ralph's on the Park for a 5 course dinner, then to Snug Harbor to hear Ellis Marsalis, and back to the house to listen to the stereo. We played "Dr. John plays Mac Rebennack", Johnny Adams "One Foot in the Blues", "Keys to the Crescent City", and Louis Armstrong playing the tunes of Fats Waller and W.C. Handy. Didn't finish up till early this morning :-)

This music is really in my heart.

We're going to do it all again tonight.

How was Ellis?

I had the great and unexpected pleasure of hearing pianist/singer Eliane Elias and her quartet last night ... stupendous! She's a virtuoso pianist, with incredible rhythmic complexity that nonetheless grooves non-stop, melodic, lyrical, harmonically rich, soulful, and funky. And a beautiful singer, with that great vibrato-less, airy Brazilian way.

A fantastic set of authentic yet refreshed bossa-nova and samba standards, plus a beautiful bossa version of Gershwin's They Can't Take That Away From Me.

Her band featured her husband, the great bassist (with Bill Evans and so many others) Marc Johnson, and two young Brazilians on acoustic guitar and drums. Such joyful, warm, heartbreaking, wise, and genuinely sexy music.

All best,
Fred

Ellis is always smooth as silk, and formally he understands the underlying superstructure of every tune he plays.

He did some Cole Porter, some Gershwin, some Duke Ellington, and a wealth of tunes that are local.

We didn't get there until the second set, which I regret, but he's at Snug Harbor every Friday night year round, so next weekend we can get another dose of him.

Speaking of keeping time, I am always amazed at how rhythmically aware he is, every note falls in time right where it should be, but you didn't really know that till you heard him do it.

So much more refined and spontaneous than anything I've heard him do on a CD.

The man has to be experienced in person, to really comprehend how awesome he is ...

Fred, if you ever get down here, we insist you endure a 3 hour meal at Ralph's, followed by a few sets at Sung Harbor with Ellis.

My wife has maintained his piano since 1996, so we had a nice talk before heading home. What a lovely man. Like most true masters, he has a heart of gold.

In a few hours, we will be off to the night scene again. As New Orleans is a Catholic city, and we are now in the throes of Lent, things are a bit subdued. One benefit is, everyone's relaxed :-)

Last night, my attitude took a fundamental shift. A friend of decades, who had always been worried, walked into my home absolutely care-free. The sight of that made the desire for music flash and glow and throb, like seeing my wife for the first time.

One of the joys we indulged was listening to how people play, as opposed to a pure focus on the music itself. In other words, we listened past the music to comprehend the personality behind the performance.

It is a fascinating and exciting way to use your ears :-)

It put the blood back in it for me :-)

That is the holy triangle, composer, performer and listener, and so it is and has always been for all music.

Tonight, I think we may need to dance ...

quote:

I had the great and unexpected pleasure of hearing pianist/singer Eliane Elias and her quartet last night ... stupendous! She's a virtuoso pianist, with incredible rhythmic complexity that nonetheless grooves non-stop, melodic, lyrical, harmonically rich, soulful, and funky. And a beautiful singer, with that great vibrato-less, airy Brazilian way.

A fantastic set of authentic yet refreshed bossa-nova and samba standards, plus a beautiful bossa version of Gershwin's They Can't Take That Away From Me.

Her band featured her husband, the great bassist (with Bill Evans and so many others) Marc Johnson, and two young Brazilians on acoustic guitar and drums. Such joyful, warm, heartbreaking, wise, and genuinely sexy music.

All best,
Fred

Nice to hear that you dig her music. I have about half a dozen of her albums. This is my favourite, especially tracks 12 and 14:



I like to play this in my car:

Our friends from Atlanta bumped into a street band called "Loose Marbles" they quite liked, and found out they would be playing at "Masion" on Frenchman street last night, so we went.

The music was all original new dixieland tunes, and the club had a large dance floor.

They had a great time, Charlotte and I were mildly amused. I think two nights in a row is a bit much for my wife and I.

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:

Fred, if you ever get down here, we insist you endure a 3 hour meal at Ralph's, followed by a few sets at Sung Harbor with Ellis.

I'll be right over!

Best,
Fred

quote:

Originally posted by irwan shah:

Nice to hear that you dig [Eliane's] music. I have about half a dozen of her albums. [Sings Jobim] is my favourite, especially tracks 12 and 14 ... I like to play [Around the City] in my car

I like Around the City; I'll have to check out Sings Jobim.

My favorites are Kissed By Nature and Dreamer (which my friend and colleague Steve Rodby produced). I also hear great things about her Bill Evans tribute, Something For You.

All best,
Fred

Wayne Shorter "Native Dancer" came today, and I gave it a good listen, which concludes my experiment to expand my horizons in jazz.

I am a fellow with a consuming passion for much of classical music, everything New Orleans, and nothing more. No other musics ring my emotional bells.

I will make every effort to enjoy what I do love every time I listen, and to respect other music that lies out of emotional reach.

So it goes.

It was exciting to try to expand my horizons in jazz, and I will never forget what I have learned.

See you in the classics, or maybe on some future New Orleans thread :-)

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by irwan shah:

Nice to hear that you dig [Eliane's] music. I have about half a dozen of her albums. [Sings Jobim] is my favourite, especially tracks 12 and 14 ... I like to play [Around the City] in my car


I like Around the City; I'll have to check out Sings Jobim.

My favorites are Kissed By Nature and Dreamer (which my friend and colleague Steve Rodby produced). I also hear great things about her Bill Evans tribute, Something For You.

All best,
Fred

I also have 'Kissed by Nature' and 'Dreamer' in my collection which I have not listened to for the past couple of years. Thanks for the reminder. I will go and dig it out from my collection later today.

By the way, I also love her Bud Powell tribute album.

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:

I am a fellow with a consuming passion for much of classical music, everything New Orleans, and nothing more. No other musics ring my emotional bells.

This makes me sad ... seems restricted, finite.

Fred