Catching up after the holidays. So here are 3 more that just don't quite make the cut, but are excellent records.
Dave Brubeck Quartet-Their Last Time Out.
Acquired: Gift
Rating: 89
Some sound quality issues, but this is the classic quartet. This group is one of those that got me into Jazz- a bit of a theme for this posting. I only wish this had Blue Rondo on it, but I guess they didn't play it that day. Eugene Wright comes off a bit boomy in the mix, but for a live recording of this vintage you have to give it some slack. If you have Time Out and Time Further Out, this side really shows the quartet playing some charts that you wouldn't have already. Great blowing by all through some standards as well as the tune they are most famous for. For Bass Players, Eugene's open solo at the beginning of "Set My People Free" is a highlight.
Toshiko Aikiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band- Mosaic Collection
Acquired: Label Website
Rating: 91
This is a 3 disc set that comprises Toshiko's early JVC/Japan sides- Kogun, Long Yellow Road, Tales of a Courtesan and Insights. The first time I ever heard a big band (that I wasn't in) was Northern Illinois under Ron Modell in '85. They opened with "Road Time Shuffle". I thought the world was coming to an end. I bought this 3 disc set just for that track. It's left a lasting impression. Toshiko's writing only got more meaning for me over the years. The lead trumpet on these sides is Bobby Shew. I got the opportunity to go out on the road with Bobby as a Freshman in college. Unfortunately all anybody wanted to talk about was playing with Steely Dan. I wish I was hip to these sides then. Toshiko doesn't get played as much as she should. The charts are just that hard. They start off all swinging in a Thad Jones kind of vibe, then the flutes piccolos and other assorted woodwinds get taken out. You need aces in every section to even think about trying her stuff. Which is too bad. Highly recommended big band. Not dated to my ears at all.
Keith Jarrett-Rio
Acquired: Gift
Rating 95
A double disc improvised piano disc could be like a root canal, no matter who the player is. And they can be pretty great too. I can't compare this to La Scala, as I don't have that side. But this concert in Rio is really happening. Keith uses the whole tonal spectrum from the angular stuff you'd expect to some moments of conventional beauty so moving even my wife digs it. Each track is different, and this is really a side you want to listen to complete. And yet the movements each stand alone. As usual for the ECM label, the sound is just as clear and full as can be. It's like being inside of the lid of the piano.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
2012 Top Cds part 2
Working my way through CD's acquired during the first three months of 2012. Here are four more that just didn't make the cut.
Clayton-Hamilton Big Band- Live at MCG
Acquired: Artist's Table
Rating: 82
Some really solid swinging big band. A few moments where I scratch my head. A few tracks I just don't like. One of the tracks I don't like is "Nature Boy". I'll call this reviewer bias. I've never liked that song, instrumentally or otherwise.
What this band does the best is expand on the legacy of the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis band. In the pocket swing like on "Captain Bill" or blazing through Rhythm choruses on "Eternal Triangle" and "Squatty Roo".
Renee Rosnes-As We are Now
Acquired: Jazz Record Mart
Rating: 87
I had the opportunity to meet and hang out with one of my Twitter friends while he was on the road in Chicago. After lunch we went to kick around at the record mart. I found this side. I said to him: Renee Rosnes, Chris Potter, John Pattituci and Jack DeJohnette. I'm sure this record must suck.
I should have looked a bit closer at the disc, it was a used out-of-print and had a $30 price tag, but I'm glad I have this side. The production does make it sound a bit dated, and it sounds like they recorded Jack's kit in an airplane hangar.
My favorite track on this is the title track. Chris Potter lays out and it's just a beautiful modern composition. I don't have many recording that John and Jack play on. I should seek more out as they are fantastic together.
Charlie Haden and Hank Jones-Steal Away
Charlie Haden and Hank Jones-Come Sunday
Acquired: Amazon
Rating: 85 (each)
I'll cheat and review these together. This is the first time I've actually clicked "add to cart" when I got the "frequently bought together" message. It was very interesting to see the contrasts in the second meeting years later. I feel that Steal Away is a bit looser, in a good way. It comes off as more of a jazz reading. Much of Come Sunday is simple readings of Hymns. Of course, nobody ever sounds better playing in an understated way than Charlie Haden. I don't have an exact measurement, but it seems that Charlie takes more of a lead role on Come Sunday than he does on Steal Away.
So Steal Away- more of an improvised session. Come Sunday, slightly better material selection (totally subjective on my part) and a bit more bass heavy.
Clayton-Hamilton Big Band- Live at MCG
Acquired: Artist's Table
Rating: 82
Some really solid swinging big band. A few moments where I scratch my head. A few tracks I just don't like. One of the tracks I don't like is "Nature Boy". I'll call this reviewer bias. I've never liked that song, instrumentally or otherwise.
What this band does the best is expand on the legacy of the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis band. In the pocket swing like on "Captain Bill" or blazing through Rhythm choruses on "Eternal Triangle" and "Squatty Roo".
Renee Rosnes-As We are Now
Acquired: Jazz Record Mart
Rating: 87
I had the opportunity to meet and hang out with one of my Twitter friends while he was on the road in Chicago. After lunch we went to kick around at the record mart. I found this side. I said to him: Renee Rosnes, Chris Potter, John Pattituci and Jack DeJohnette. I'm sure this record must suck.
I should have looked a bit closer at the disc, it was a used out-of-print and had a $30 price tag, but I'm glad I have this side. The production does make it sound a bit dated, and it sounds like they recorded Jack's kit in an airplane hangar.
My favorite track on this is the title track. Chris Potter lays out and it's just a beautiful modern composition. I don't have many recording that John and Jack play on. I should seek more out as they are fantastic together.
Charlie Haden and Hank Jones-Steal Away
Charlie Haden and Hank Jones-Come Sunday
Acquired: Amazon
Rating: 85 (each)
I'll cheat and review these together. This is the first time I've actually clicked "add to cart" when I got the "frequently bought together" message. It was very interesting to see the contrasts in the second meeting years later. I feel that Steal Away is a bit looser, in a good way. It comes off as more of a jazz reading. Much of Come Sunday is simple readings of Hymns. Of course, nobody ever sounds better playing in an understated way than Charlie Haden. I don't have an exact measurement, but it seems that Charlie takes more of a lead role on Come Sunday than he does on Steal Away.
So Steal Away- more of an improvised session. Come Sunday, slightly better material selection (totally subjective on my part) and a bit more bass heavy.
Monday, December 10, 2012
2012 top CDs'
Once again, time for me to work on my year end list. As with last year, this is a list of CD's I personally received over the past year. Not being a full time reviewer, just about everything on this list is stuff I bought. I think I received two promos in the past year. Also the CD's listed could have wildly varying release dates, and are in most cases, not from 2012.
I'm going to organize this by quarter. So first will be the best CD's acquired in January, February and March. First up are the albums that didn't make the cut.
Orchestre National De Jazz- Shut up and Dance (released 2010)
Acquired: Retail- Jazz Record Mart, Chicago
Rating: 64
A very experimental album, featuring the music of John Hollenbeck. I believe I first was aware of this disc from Jason Crane's Jazz Session podcast. As the release was pretty limited, I had to pay a fair premium for this disc. To my tastes, it's a bit uneven. There is a lot of rhythmic interest, but I prefer that there be a melodic interest to go along with that. Strict rhythmic interest is fine in doses- I do like a good drum solo, but my ears just need more.
My favorite tracks were Melissa Dance, Racing Heart Heart Racing, Bob Walk and Life Still.
Bob Walk illustrates what this disc is when it works best. A heavily syncopated, yet light grove sets the exposition. A reed solo starts to lay in, as melodic fragments from the ensemble build tension. As the piece moves forward, more harmonic material is interlaced. There are a variety of ostinato figures, without being overused. The rhythmic contrast helps develop the story this song would tell.
Worth seeking out for fans of the artist or the genre.
John Patitucci- Songs, Stories & Sprituals (released 2003)
Acquired Retail-Jazz Record Mart, Chicago
Rating: 73
A solid all-around disc, but with not enough bright moments for me. The recording of "It Never Entered My Mind" actually sounds like it is in the wrong key for the vocalist. That vocalist is Luciana Souza, and it kills me to not write something glowing about her. A far better track is "Lei" written by brazilian Djavan. This is the sort of thing I bought the record for. A fantastic groove set up by Brian Blade and Ed Simon, six-string bass pyrotechnics, and Luciana's singing of something that's in her wheelhouse. This also has a fantastic string quartet and bass arrangement of "In the Bleak Midwinter" that's worth the price of a download. I expected to see Gil Goldstein as the arranger, but it's JP's work.
Various Artists- Soda Fountain Favorites (compiled & released 2011)
Acquired-gift
Rating: 71
A good collection of the genre. Not too many fillers, but a few songs that aren't as "Favorite" as others. I review them all. Of course a collection such as this has the benefit of 55 years of hindsight, and could always have been stronger. There's probably nothing on this you haven't heard before.
I'm going to organize this by quarter. So first will be the best CD's acquired in January, February and March. First up are the albums that didn't make the cut.
Orchestre National De Jazz- Shut up and Dance (released 2010)
Acquired: Retail- Jazz Record Mart, Chicago
Rating: 64
A very experimental album, featuring the music of John Hollenbeck. I believe I first was aware of this disc from Jason Crane's Jazz Session podcast. As the release was pretty limited, I had to pay a fair premium for this disc. To my tastes, it's a bit uneven. There is a lot of rhythmic interest, but I prefer that there be a melodic interest to go along with that. Strict rhythmic interest is fine in doses- I do like a good drum solo, but my ears just need more.
My favorite tracks were Melissa Dance, Racing Heart Heart Racing, Bob Walk and Life Still.
Bob Walk illustrates what this disc is when it works best. A heavily syncopated, yet light grove sets the exposition. A reed solo starts to lay in, as melodic fragments from the ensemble build tension. As the piece moves forward, more harmonic material is interlaced. There are a variety of ostinato figures, without being overused. The rhythmic contrast helps develop the story this song would tell.
Worth seeking out for fans of the artist or the genre.
John Patitucci- Songs, Stories & Sprituals (released 2003)
Acquired Retail-Jazz Record Mart, Chicago
Rating: 73
A solid all-around disc, but with not enough bright moments for me. The recording of "It Never Entered My Mind" actually sounds like it is in the wrong key for the vocalist. That vocalist is Luciana Souza, and it kills me to not write something glowing about her. A far better track is "Lei" written by brazilian Djavan. This is the sort of thing I bought the record for. A fantastic groove set up by Brian Blade and Ed Simon, six-string bass pyrotechnics, and Luciana's singing of something that's in her wheelhouse. This also has a fantastic string quartet and bass arrangement of "In the Bleak Midwinter" that's worth the price of a download. I expected to see Gil Goldstein as the arranger, but it's JP's work.
Various Artists- Soda Fountain Favorites (compiled & released 2011)
Acquired-gift
Rating: 71
A good collection of the genre. Not too many fillers, but a few songs that aren't as "Favorite" as others. I review them all. Of course a collection such as this has the benefit of 55 years of hindsight, and could always have been stronger. There's probably nothing on this you haven't heard before.
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