What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XIII)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 01 January 2017
2017 has arrived today, so time to start this thread afresh.
Last year's thread can be found here;
Vincent Dumestre - Henry Purcell: Son of England
Russell Malone - Playground
From allmusic.com
Russell Malone refuses to be pigeonholed into one category as a player, composer, or arranger on this outstanding CD, the first release led by a guitarist for the Maxjazz label. With a powerful group supporting, including pianist Martin Bejerano, bassist Tassili Bond, and drummer E.J. Strickland, Malone is clearly at the top of his game. "Blues for Mulgrew" is built from a fairly simple blues riff, though it explodes into a complex post-bop vehicle with Bejerano either following Malone or playing in unison with him in a piece that almost borders on avant-garde. Equally explosive is his well-named "Sugar Buzz," a rapid-fire piece that adds guest Joe Locke on vibes. The strutting "Mandela," which almost seems to chant the word "freedom," features the soulful alto sax of Gary Bartz. Malone's lyrical treatment of Billy Strayhorn's "Something to Live For" is a gem, as are his solo interpretations of the overlooked chestnut "Remind Me" and a sparse but compelling "You've Got a Friend." The Carpenters' huge hit "We've Only Just Begun" can come off hackneyed in the wrong hands, but Malone's arrangement picks up the tempo and frees the rhythm section from just plodding along behind him, while he adds a humorous lick from Burt Bacharach's "Say a Little Prayer."
ewemon posted:
I fear this might be the first Robert Plant album I don't buy. Setting aside 'Raising Sand' I've been pretty disappointed with most of his recent offerings (that's most of them since the turn of the millennium!)
Great series! This is No. 16 with BWV 28, 122, 152, 190, and 225
On CD:-
Grizzly Bear - Painted Ruins
Off ramp - probably my favourite Pat Metheny Group record, certainly a hi-fi demo album. Need to reacquaint myself with it prior to an imminent upgrade.
2012 - Limited edition double vinyl...
Unsure what to play for now, so letting Radio Paradise give me some ideas.
(2006)
Radio Paradise (as usual) came up trumps and reminded me of Loreena McKennitt. This album is a lovely fusion of celtic, world and north African sounds, enchanting and beautifully sung as ever.
Back to Billy this AM, last night I watched a recorded interview with Dan Rather, he's been doing many musicians on AXS TV.
When they got to the end Rather asked about this album and the shift to Latin Jazz rhythms. Billy said as a teen he was banging on everything with pencils to sticks and this was during a hurricane in Texas. His father gave him a guitar, and somehow he got to NYC to study with Tito Puente and band around that time so always loved latin music. He was also in England in a band Moving Sidewalks and opened for Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix like to have him across the hall in hotels so they could talk and figure things out. That's quite a start in music. I really love this CD, grinding guitar and afro-cuban backing, some short rapping also. That cap he's wearing was given to him by the president of Ghana in trade for his 10 gallon western hat.
Such a nice casual guy for 45 years on the road and still loving it
Phineas Newborn Jr. - Here is Phineas
From allmusic.com:
Other than two numbers cut for the Progressive label in Houston a couple years earlier (and thus far never reissued), this Atlantic session (put out as a Koch CD in 1999) was the recording debut for the remarkable Phineas Newborn. The 24-year-old pianist's playing on this trio/quartet date with bassist Oscar Pettiford and drummer Kenny Clarke (and occasionally guitarist Calvin Newborn) is virtuosic to say the least, on Oscar Peterson's level if not Art Tatum's. Newborn rips through the repertoire (which is highlighted by "Barbados," "Celia," "Daahoud," and "Afternoon in Paris"); try to tap your foot to "Celia" without breaking your ankle! In the liner notes, George Wein faults Newborn's tendency to double time the ballads, and some listeners may shake their heads at his constant outpouring of technically impossible runs (those speedy octaves are ridiculous) -- but if one has chops on this level, one should feel free to display them. This is a dazzling debut from an ill-fated but classic pianist, and this CD is a gem.
I am following Jerome. Phineas was known to me, but not so on my radar screen. Quite rich playing style..
2014 - vinyl...
(2003)
Another of my favourite female Celtic voices, I just wish that she had more solo albums, there is still plenty of time...
Had another insight in this one, on the one hand liking it and on the other hand not completely into my desired style..., Tidal gives me he option to chance to contemplate longer...
(1995)
2011 - vinyl...