Baswood's music

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Baswood's music

1baswood
jan 1, 2021, 5:53 pm

Thought I might try this out here: I listen to a lot of music. My favourite genre is jazz (I play tenor and alto saxophones) not professionally or very well probably, but I listen to many other genres as well: rock, blues, chanson, classical music (particularly early music) world music, even heavy metal and so I am going to keep a listening log with a few comments - well lets see how it goes. I used to share my live music listening experiences, but I don't know when I will get to go to concerts again. Ho-hum this damn covid 19

2AnnieMod
jan 1, 2021, 6:14 pm

My high school music teacher ruined jazz for me for a very long time (while jazz can be interesting, being used as a filler in class of teens is... not a good idea - I know she meant well but half the class was into hard rock/metal, the other half into the local folk music at the time so for a very long time after that I stayed away from jazz). What finally got me back to it was the piano - I don't play but I love classical music and especially any piano music. It is almost embarrassing to admit how long it took me to realize that the other genre where you have the big piano players is jazz... :)

Anyway - I will be interested in seeing what you listen to. I had started listening to music again lately (after a break of a few years) so had been discovering what everyone had been doing in the 2010s... and earlier for some genres which I had been ignoring.

3kidzdoc
jan 2, 2021, 5:20 am

Great idea, Barry! I'll follow this thread with special interest.

4baswood
jan 2, 2021, 8:30 am

Rating system which is "Strictly Personal"

5 stars - A disc that I would be always happy to hear in its entirety
4 stars - Mainly very good music with some outstanding tracks
3 stars - Many CD's would fall into this category - enjoyable music but would quickly disappear from my playlist
2 Stars - not for me will never play this again
1 star - How did this get onto the player/turntable?

5lisapeet
jan 2, 2021, 2:28 pm

I've been listening to more music in the past few years than I have as a while—I was very into discovering new stuff in my 20s and 30s but fell of a bit. My jazz musician husband has turned me on to a lot of stuff, and I follow other avenues here and there... so I'll be interested to see what you're listening to.

6baswood
Bewerkt: jan 2, 2021, 6:19 pm



Bobby Previte and Bump - Counterclockwise - 2003
Jeff Herr Corporation - Layer Cake - 2014

Two jazz groups led by the drummer. Once upon a time it was a standing joke that a jazz quartet would be introduced as three musicians and the drummer, but I guess Art Blakey changed all that. Drummer led jazz groups can produce some high octane music with the drums to the fore in the mix and this is the case with Bobby Previte's American group. Jeff Herr's group is more typically European and so the emphasis is on sound and timbre, anyway there are three of them whereas there are five in Previte's group.

If I was sat down at a blind listening competition I reckon that nine times out of ten I would be able to guess which groups were American and which were European even if I had never heard them before. Back to the music - Previte's group sound like mid period Charlie MIngus with Previte (I presume) shouting out encouragement to his soloists (this doesn't happen with European bands - they like to be taken more seriously perhaps). A feature of the Previte disc is the ensemble playing with Marty Ehrlic on tenor saxophone and Curtis Fowlkes on trombone who know each other well enough to improvise together to provide exciting if somewhat jagged sounds. There are good solos and the group are driven along by Previte's drumming and Steve Swallows electric bass. The group also have long time associate Wayne Horvitz on piano to fill out the sound.

Jeff Herr's Layer cake is a different proposition with Maxime Bender (yes really) on tenor and soprano saxophones and Laurent Payfert on bass. Herrs drumming has a clean sound and he is featured for most of the disc improvising his rhythms behind Benders solos. There are four short tracks amongst the more lengthy improvisations where the group concentrate on making sounds rather than music which to me sounds like a waste of time and had me wondering if there was something wrong with my headphones.
They really did not need this because Bender is a good soloist; melodic and precise and plays well in front of Herr's drums. Laurent Payfert's bass glues it all together. All of the material is original except for a workout on David Bowie's 'The Man who sold the world' The theme sounds great on tenor saxophone, but it took me a few seconds to realise what it was.

Both these discs are worth listening to and I cant get the David Bowie tune out of my head; 4 stars for Bobby Prevites Counterclockwise and three stars for Jeff Herr.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3CZoa89u1U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7txGZh5XcJw

7kidzdoc
jan 3, 2021, 11:27 am

Thanks for those reviews, Barry. Both albums are on Spotify, so I'll listen to them in the next few days.

Interesting comment about Charles Mingus, one of my favorite composers and musicians. I was listening to his band during their 1964 trip to Europe earlier today, as I'm also a huge fan of Eric Dolphy.

https://youtu.be/5STaUWmh9bw

8baswood
jan 4, 2021, 7:00 pm

>7 kidzdoc: That's a great link Darryl - super stuff and Eric Dolphy is on fire what a contrast between his playing and Clifford Jordan - Dolphy was not quite "Out To Lunch" here but he was getting there.

9baswood
Bewerkt: jan 4, 2021, 7:13 pm



Tom Verlaine - Words from the Front - 1982
Tom Verlaine - Cover - 1984

Tom Verlaine (birth name Thomas Miller) is a rock guitarist who hit the big time with his group Television. Based in New York the group got a regular gig at the CBGB club and were along with Talking Heads in the vanguard of the 1977 new wave groups. The release of Marquee Moon demonstrated that the burgeoning new wave scene were worth a listen. Marquee Moon remains a classic rock album. I saw Television live in London probably in 1978 and they put on an exciting show. I saw Tom Verlaine again some years later when he toured as a member of the Patti Smith group, the years had changed him a little as he seemed so introspective that Patty Smith introduced him as the band member who had not said a word to anyone the whole tour, he played well though, hunched over his guitar ringing out his solos with perfect clarity.

Verlaine worked long and hard on his guitar technique searching for a clarity to the notes he played, I get the impression when I hear him play that his solo work is well thought out and composed in advance. These two solo albums both have that distinctive guitar sound and Verlaine wrote all the music. Control along with introspection seems to be the guiding principles for Verlaine, but I might be doing the man an injustice. The strength of the albums then depends on the quality of the songs and Verlaine is experimenting here a little with song structures, but he writes some good melodies and there are some very good songs on both these discs, but some suffer from repetitive guitar riffs that ring out so clearly that they become difficult to listen to. Verlaine's vocal work can sound strained and he has trouble in bringing depth and colour to his voice. If you are a fan of Television's Marquee Moon then neither of these albums will disappoint, because when Verlaine comes up with a good song it is memorable and there are several here - 3 stars for both albums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwqX9D63x8E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wzs7pkyV1U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiHuF3hsGck

10lisapeet
jan 4, 2021, 8:59 pm

I'm a big fan of Television but I haven't heard either of these Verlaine albums, so I'll check 'em out.

11kidzdoc
jan 5, 2021, 1:59 pm

>8 baswood: Right, Barry. Dolphy's solo on "Meditation (for a Pair of Wire Cutters)" is red hot, and Clifford Jordan, who I normally like a lot, was apparently mesmerized when it was his turn to play. It seems as though Dolphy knew that he was approaching the end of his far too short life, and played as if he wanted to say everything he could before he left us. I wonder how jazz would have been different had he not died so suddenly and tragically.

12baswood
Bewerkt: jan 7, 2021, 6:00 pm



Pantera - Cowboys from Hell - 1990
Breakthrough album from this American heavy metal band that went on to become one of the most successful bands on the heavy metal scene. They influenced plenty of other bands with their thrash metal riffs, slowed down to give more depth to their sound. There is room for guitar solos from Dimebag Darrell and Phil Anselmo's vocals take rocks rough vocal sound to just short of screaming. They were no flash in the pan having started out in 1981, but by 1990 they had forged a sound of their own.

There are plenty of good tracks on this album with varied tempos and lively guitar riffs. On the seven minute 'Cemetary Gates' the group start of acoustically and build to a climax with Darrell's guitar out - shrieking Anselmo's vocals and just to prove a point the next track Domination starts off with fast riffs and power drumming before morphing into more grunge guitar territory. Throughout the guitar playing is impressive and very well recorded, the band stay tight and produce an impressive sound, changing tempos and riffs with expertise. This is a good example of the music and a 4 star disc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD0kELk5AVQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms_cJxvaa30

13dchaikin
jan 8, 2021, 12:43 pm

>12 baswood: this is a sound world i can understand 🙂

14baswood
Bewerkt: jan 10, 2021, 5:27 pm



Schubert - The Complete Impromptus - Alfred Brendel
I am always on the lookout for re-issues on the Philips Duo label, older recordings released at bargain prices. This one features Alfred Brendel 's recordings of the shorter piano works of Franz Schubert. They are analog recordings digitalised, but they have not lost the warmth of the originals. The music is logical, romantic and tuneful flowing out of the speakers and full of Shubertian flourishes. They are a good starting point for anybody embarking on a discovery of romantic piano music.

On the first CD there are Impromptus D899 with no 3 in G flat and no 4in A flat having particularly striking melodies, these are followed by Impromptus D935 and 16 German Dances D783. The music is very accessible, many of the tunes will sound familiar. CD 2's music features 3 Klavierstucke D946, 6 Moments musicaux D 780 and 12 German Dances D790. The recordings are all from the early 1970's, but no further details are given. Impromptus give the impression of light weight music perhaps made on the spur of the moment, but this is not what this music sounds like at all. Relax, kick off your shoes, pour a glass of wine and let this music flow over you - it's good for the Covid-19 blues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvshe8ONd1s

15thorold
jan 10, 2021, 6:24 pm

>14 baswood:: this is a sound world i can understand 🙂

— I've got a couple of LPs of Brendel playing Schubert, and thought I also had those, but now that I look I can only see sonatas and the Wanderer Fantasie — have you been raiding my shelves? :-)

As you say, great for those lockdown evenings.

16janemarieprice
jan 11, 2021, 3:06 pm

LPs have been a huge part of my partner's pandemic buying so we've been listening to a good bit more. I'll be following along here as he's a big jazz fan.

17baswood
Bewerkt: jan 12, 2021, 5:56 am



Louis Armstrong - Hot Fives and Sevens
Volume 3 1928
This was a significant year for Louis Armstrong's playing and therefore a significant year for jazz. He was quickly leaving the New Orleans traditional dixieland formats in his wake and moving on to something new. It was the year he recruited Earl Hines to the piano chair and the year that his groups started playing in a way that we now recognise as modern jazz, with solo space for instruments over the rhythm section. His trumpet playing was approaching his best and his vocal interpretations of standard songs was about to set a blueprint for many other artists to follow. He was creating Jazz solos that were moving further away from the groundbeat, floating over the rhythm section in a way most jazz players do today. There are many of his famous tracks in this volume: West End Blues, Weather Bird: a duet with Earl Hines, Hear me Talkin to ya, Tight like this, Muggles and his brilliant vocal on St James Infirmary. This is my favourite volume of the set; it has so much variety and its all good.

This is part of a 4cd set originally released on the Columbia label, but I have them on JSP records. They are of course old recordings; the earliest is November 1925, but have been very well remastered. This is the cornerstone of any jazz collector interested in the history of Jazz. I would say essential and a five star listen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_Z4SBOOFr8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv_9B7W7Q0w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky9rPWaomf8

18baswood
Bewerkt: jan 14, 2021, 6:41 pm



The Decemberists - The Crane Wife - 2006
This was the breakthrough album for the group led by songwriter and lead vocalist Colin Meloy. Their sound is most easily described as folk/rock, but with a whole set of new songs written by Meloy. The songs are are good lyrically as they are melodically and with The Crane Wife parts 1, 2 and 3 having such a great tune to work on gives the album a special atmosphere.
After the opening track The Crane Wife 3 and that gorgeous tune comes The Island which is twelve minutes of musical progression with its excellent folk/rock arrangements.

Did I mention that the tunes were good, well they are all good. O Valencia is a well sung and played pop song, while Shankhill Butchers is an edgy acoustic folk song that tells of murder and fear inspired by the Ulster Loyalist gang in the Shankhill area and then there is The Perfect Crime which swings with a funky guitar figure. Meloy has a distinctive voice immersed in folk roots music, but updated to sing these modern songs. This is a superb folk/rock album and a five star listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHslrm1jFAg

19baswood
Bewerkt: jan 15, 2021, 5:20 pm



The Ruts - The Crack - 1979 - 4 stars
The Ruts - The Peel sessions - 1990 - 5 stars
The Ruts DC - Rhythm Collision - 1982 - 3 stars

The Ruts were a rock group that came to the attention of most rock music fans in 1978 a year after the first punk bands had managed to change the music scene somewhat in 1977. They struggled to get their first album released The Crack which only hit the shops in late September 1979 and then seemed something of a disappointment. They had featured on John Peels radio show in England with two sessions earlier in 1979 with a bunch of classic rock songs that seemed to feature almost every week and so by the time The Crack was released it felt to me a little tired. Those John Peel radio sessions were released in 1990 and so there was an opportunity to compare the recordings.

Babylon's Burning, Savage Circle, Dope for Guns, S U S, It was Cold, Your Just A..... and Something That I Said were featured on both releases and the songs are so good that they are worth hearing twice and to my ears the Peel sessions have that extra punch. The group had a presence about them, Malcolm Owen was a powerful vocalist and Paul Fox played excellent guitar lines, but it was the rhythm section of Segs and Dave Ruffy that powered the group and gave them a depth of sound that is recognisable. The Peel Sessions also had room for a couple more excellent songs Staring at the Rude Boys and In a Rut. However The Crack had a couple of the groups reggae dub tunes that was the direction the group were heading especially after the demise of Malcolm Owen. The groups anti-racist stance did not endear them to the rightwing mob that attached themselves to many of the punk bands.

White boys playing blues we have all got used to, but white boys playing reggae was perhaps stretching things a little back in 1980. Rhythm Collision was the result of the Reggae experiment and I think there are mixed results. The bass and drums are superb throughout and the songs have that Ruts presence, but the harmonica on some of the tracks sounds intrusive. It's worth getting the CD for two excellent songs that do work Militant and Accusation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWA6YlZHXgs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yns-Yz7bAeI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RESoUM91RiQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti1ZMKBSVCs

20dchaikin
jan 16, 2021, 2:27 pm

Enjoying these reviews. As much as I like the Decemberists, i’ve never gone so far as to check out an album. Not familiar with The Ruts. You’ve given me some things to look up.

21baswood
Bewerkt: jan 16, 2021, 7:50 pm



Johnny Shines - Standing at the Crossroads - 1971 - 4 stars
Johnny Shines - Traditional Delta Blues - 1991 - 3 stars
Johnny Shines - Too Wet to Plough - 1977 - 4 stars.

I thought I had heard most of the great American Delta blues artists, but Johnny Shines has crept under my radar and he was the real deal. He was a farm worker back in 1932 and in 1935 was travelling with the great Robert Johnson, who undoubtedly influenced Shines guitar playing especially his slide guitar work. Shines never got into a recording studio in his early years, but did so in 1946 with Columbia records and again in 1950 with Chess records, but these takes were not released. Shines had to wait until he was rediscovered in the late 1960's and in 1968 he made two LPs.

Standing at the Crossroads was released in 1971 and is a solo all acoustic set for the most part well recorded. His strong tenor voice rings out clearly sounding a bit like Muddy Waters, but it is his guitar playing that really catches the ear; soft gentle slide guitar that is inventive and tuneful. He was over 50 when he was rediscovered, but these 1971 recording capture him seemingly in his prime. Much of his material is original although rarely strays outside of the country blues format. Traditional Delta Blues although released in 1991 features sessions from 1972 and 1974 and again Shines is alone in the studio. This one is a bit more of a mixed bag with some tracks seeming like out-takes and much of his slide guitar work is missing from the songs.

Too Wet to Plough finds him in the studio with an acoustic group featuring Louisiana Red on second guitar and Sugar Blue on harmonica, they are underpinned by Ron Rault on bass. They work well together playing in a fairly relaxed style and Johnny Shines vocals are more expressive on these tracks, with plenty of examples of his falsetto range. He plays some good slide guitar as does Luisiana Red and overall this is very good acoustic blues. A couple of tracks are solo recordings by Johnny Shines. Overall Shines is a bit of a discovery for me and his singing and playing is very fine indeed, perhaps his vocals lacked just a little bit of character.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RupWtft9or0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ7ryi2PVuw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLKhw0aS3MU

22baswood
jan 22, 2021, 6:13 pm



Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark - 1974
A superb collection of songs, ten of the eleven written by Mitchell, every one in its way a gem. My LP copy of this is fairly battered, but while it will spin I will continue to play it. The songs are all love songs told by Mitchell in her unique personal style and that is why I like her. She more than any other artist catches those personal moments in love affairs, many are written in the first person. She might sing about waiting for her lovers car to sound on the hill leading up to her house, or she might be reminding her errant lover that it all "Down to You". She often makes herself sound vulnerable, but then again most lovers are vulnerable in one way or another. She is however always strong enough to move onto the next love affair: she counts lovers like railway cars.

Her voice is of course instantly recognisable and on the final song the only one not written by her, she does a good job on a jazz vocal number. There is sadness and joy, with her deeply tonal piano chords sounding out that sadness, while her ringing acoustic guitar is present on most of the upbeat numbers. The production values are excellent apart from the scratches on my copy it still sound marvellous. She still had two more excellent collections to be released in the 1970's; "The Hissing Of Summer Lawns" and "Hejira" before the 1980's and a noticeable downturn in her songwriting, but this is wonderful and 5 stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QkI767Wa04
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqXFKD6bKJE

23baswood
Bewerkt: jan 28, 2021, 6:17 pm



Timeless - John Abercrombie - 1975
An early release on the ECM label and knowing that label "Timeless" seems to fit right in with their sound, however it is dangerous to call a collection of music "Timeless" when drummer Jack DeJohnette is in the group. This was American Guitarist Abercrombie's first release as a leader and he had come from playing in mainly jazz-rock groups and that influence shows on this release which is a mixture of jazz fusion, modern jazz and much that hovers between the genre's. Keyboards are played by Jan Hammer who had previously recorded as part of John Maclaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra and he wrote half of the material on "Timeless". It is no surprise that the first track opens with a pumping organ sound from Hammer and Abercrombie plays guitar licks that sound much like McLaughlin. It is only the jazz drumming of DeJohnette that stops it sounding just like the Mahavishnu orchestra.

The second track 'Love Song' changes that with an acoustic guitar and piano duet and then we are onto 'Ralph's Piano Waltz' with the group sounding like something from a well recorded Jimmy Smith album. There is a very catchy phrase repeated on organ and electric guitar that binds this improvisation together and Abercrombie seems to be finding his feet as a jazz guitarist. 'Red and Orange' takes us back to a more Mahavishnu Orchestra sound, but the changes introduced by DeJohnette stops it from falling into a jazz-rock beat. 'Remembering' is another acoustic guitar piano duet and the CD ends with the title track 'Timeless' which shifts the group into thoughtful free jazz territory. A varied selection of music on this CD and it sounds like Jan Hammer could have had equal billing with Abercrombie. Being on the ECM label it sounds marvellous and I think there is enough music on here to satisfy anyone who leans more to the jazz element of fusion sounds. I enjoyed everything on here and so 4 stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHsZ_-9442o

24baswood
Bewerkt: jan 28, 2021, 6:18 pm



Joe Henderson - Mirror Mirror - 1980
American Jazz saxophonist released his first LP as leader in 1963 and was recorded regularly throughout the 1970's, 80's and 90's. This 1980 release sees him leading an all star group with Chick Corea on piano, Ron Carter - bass and Billy Higgins drums. This is inventive jazz played by musicians who had taken on board the avant garde explosion in the 1960's and absorbed this into their playing. Henderson rarely resorts to overblowing techniques happy to let his musical playing carry all before him. Only on Joes Bolero are we back in the 1960's. A superb tenor saxophonist he works well with a busy and inventive Chick Corea who also has some excellent solo time.

An excellent reissue and 4 stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE65B1dO5OE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx7RO5BM70g

25kidzdoc
jan 30, 2021, 5:18 pm

>24 baswood: I'm not familiar with this album by Joe Henderson, so I'll check it out this weekend. Thanks, Barry!

26baswood
feb 2, 2021, 7:23 pm



Devendra Banhart - Cripple Crow - 2005
Devendra Banhart is definitely a one off. A singer songwriter who writes freaky type songs that go their own way. Cripple Crow is his biggest selling album: a double LP originally containing 22 songs. He has a distinctive vocal style; a strong voice that wobbles in a way that Marc Bolan's voice could be made to do. On Cripple Crow he plays guitar and the backing musicians sound like they have been influenced by late 1960's psychedelic music. He does write some good tunes and he does write some awful ones, but they all get packed onto his releases. Of the 22 songs on Cripple Crow I am happy to listen to ten of them. Many of these songs have a rough and ready feel to them which sometimes works to their advantage. Childish and silly at times he could always make a living on children's TV. This release could be filed under weird, but not so weird that it doesn't come together strikingly at times. 3.5 stars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8RQodKlixc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueTONUZphZ8

27baswood
Bewerkt: feb 6, 2021, 6:49 pm



Jackie Leven - Creatures of Light and Dark - 2001
Jackie Leven claimed that he was songwriter of genius and wrote so many songs that he wanted to make more than one record every 18 months. His record producer told him to go away he was only contacted for a certain number of records. Leven therefore turned to releasing records under the name of Vincent Lone. This CD however was released under his own name and I am inclined to believe he was a songwriter of genius. He has a distinctive voice where one can hear traces of a Scottish accent.

There are ten excellent songs on this CD all with interesting arrangements, but the lyrics are always worth a careful listen especially on songs like "The Sexual Loneliness of Jesus Christ" or "My Spanish Dad" He is not afraid to take risks and on Rainy 'Day Bergen Women' or 'Billy Ate My Pocket' this really pays off. He is the sort of artist who might click with you on hearing him on the radio and leads you to hunting down some of his records. Be warned there are many. This is probably one of his most accessible and the songs stay with me long after they have been played. Definitely New Wave. A five star collection

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuMcwfZjQGY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhRSoMak_P4

28baswood
Bewerkt: feb 8, 2021, 7:38 pm



Echo & the Bunnymen - Crocodiles 1980
Echo & the Bunnymen - Ocean Rain 1984
A new wave band from Liverpool that managed to create a distinctive group sound. Nothing spectacular, but recognisable with songs that were well thought through and Crocodiles is an album that gains in power as it progresses. The music has a dark side to it with its threatening sexual images and the powerful vocals of Ian McCulloch who sounds like a more tuneful version of the Doors Jim Morrison. The bands sound feature a prominent bass guitar sound and sparse slashing guitar motifs. There are good songs on the first side, but the album closes with four great songs starting with "Villiers Terrace" and going into "Pictures on My Wall" This is followed by the catchy guitar riff of "All That Jazz" and the album ends with "Happy Death Men" which is as desperate and dark as the title suggests. Probably one of the best rock albums of 1980 and 5 stars

Four years later and the release of Ocean Rain still found the groups sound intact, perhaps it had lost its raw edge, but it had gained through McCulloughs more expressive vocals. However the big change was the use of strings not just strings but a 35 piece orchestra. Generally the orchestra is used to dramatise the songs, but occasionally it cant help but produce sweeter sounds that I think reduces some of the power. The songs are still full of dark imagery and the tunes are good, but not surprisingly they do not quite match those of the first album. "Thorn of Crowns" tries something different but McCullough sounds even more like Jim Morrison. "The Killing Moon" has some of the swagger of their first album. The fuller sound however does not always improve the groups sound and a little of the atmosphere they created on their first release is lost. This is still a good listen and so 4 stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qKBjgzyEPk&list=PLtnzVENr5rVP5k5ebe9fYPJCkF...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnNZPt499KI&list=PLtnzVENr5rVP5k5ebe9fYPJCkF...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbMIe_wU1jQ&list=PLtnzVENr5rVP5k5ebe9fYPJCkF...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVD1HRV8NqA&list=PLtnzVENr5rVP5k5ebe9fYPJCkF...

29AlisonY
feb 10, 2021, 11:35 am

Love this thread - it's such a musical education. So many bands / artists I've not heard of.

I really enjoyed the John Abercrombie track - very much the soothing vibe I need to hear right now.

30baswood
Bewerkt: feb 11, 2021, 6:44 pm


Bert Jansch - Crimson Moon - 2000

Jansch was a Scottish singer/songwriter, but best known as a stalwart of the thriving London Folk scene back in the 1960's. He was a founder member of the British folk group Pentangle. He was a master of the acoustic guitar and his music never strayed too far from his folk roots, although some of his work with Pentangle crossed over to popular music. His own releases and there were more that 30 under his own name were typically a mixture of traditional folk songs and his own compositions. His voice although recognisable could not be considered strong and just about carried his songs. Really you listen to his consummate guitar playing and his obvious passion for British folk music.

Crimson Moon released late in his career is a good example of his work. It contains eight of his own songs plus a version of the American ballad Omie Wise and a cover of Guy Mitchell' Singing the Blues from 1956. There are also covers of a couple more songs from the 1960's folk scene. Bert Jansch is usually worth a listen especially if you are interested in British folk music and want to hear an artist steeped in the tradition 3.5 stars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfC0_cXldfw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReDFUb2DhnA

31baswood
Bewerkt: feb 16, 2021, 9:07 am



Kate and Anna McGarrigle - Kate and Anna McGarrigle 1975 - 4 stars
- Pronto Monto 1978 - 3.5 stars
- The French Record 1980 - 3.5 stars.

I have had these records sitting on my computer for a number of years and have hesitated to play them thinking that I would not like their far too musical take on folk music. What a pleasant surprise when I got round to listen to them this week because I fell under the charms of the Mcgarrigle sisters almost instantly. On their first eponymous LP they wrote ten of the 12 songs which they sing beautifully. Its more popular music than folk, but the songs are tuneful and well crafted and they do not outstay their welcome. The sisters have good voices and they harmonise well, but its the care they seem to give to their music that makes it so worthwhile. They have a number of star backing musicians, but they do not intrude on the ambience and charm of these two fine singer/songwriters. They also do an excellent job on Loudon Wainwright's "Swimming song". It is only on the last song the traditional "Travelling for Jesus" they sound a little too cheesy

Pronto Monto is more of the same, but the vocal arrangements are a little more complex as they move further away from the folk genre. The French Record is just what it says on the tin. All the songs have french lyrics and the sisters combine with Philippe Tartartcheff in the songwriting department. While I like this record almost as much as the other two I do find the Canadian twang on a couple of the songs a bit off putting. All three releases contain a good collection of songs that will easily pass away an enjoyable forty minutes apiece.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8cQFdFezXc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZXfDxikwWA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Neigx4FzGo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryK2nkuUrVw

32LolaWalser
feb 15, 2021, 8:22 pm

I do find the Canadian twang on a couple of the songs a bit off putting

Best avoid Cajun folk then, the McGarrigles are positively posh in comparison...

33baswood
feb 21, 2021, 7:58 pm



Duke Ellington & Ray Brown - This Ones For Blanton
This was released on the Pablo label in 1972 and one of the labels early releases. Pablo was a record company founded by Norman Granz and back in the mid seventies it felt like almost every other jazz record release was on Pablo. In the early years of the label it was a typical Norman Granz production in that famous jazz artists were given studio space to improvise together, there were plenty of duets, but this one featuring Duke Ellington on piano and Ray Brown was something special. Ellington was in his 70's when this was recorded, but listening to him play is like absorbing the history of jazz pianists from Art Tatum onwards, with particular attention paid to the innovations of Thelonious Monk.

This one for Blanton pays tribute to Jimmy Blanton who in his short career as bassist with Duke Ellington's band from 1940-42 showed how the double bass could be used as a solo instrument. Ray Brown comes from the era of the Be-bop musicians when bass solos were a fact of life on many record releases, he is a master of the jazz double bass and his meeting with Ellington sees two musicians creating wonderful music. On side one there are four Ellington compositions including Pitter Panther Patter which comes from the Jimmy Blanton era and on which he soloed. The duo also improvise their way through the traditional See See Rider. The feature of this excellently recorded album is the interplay between the two instruments, while Duke is soloing Brown will be doing wonderful things on the bass; Ellington had always been a superb accompanist to other players with his sketchy notes always seeming to fall in the right place, here he is more inventive not letting Brown steal the show.

On side two there is the Fragmented Suite for Piano and Bass which is credited to both musicians. It is in four movements and could well have been worked through in the recording studio. The first movement starts with Ellington playing a repeated single note and a brief word between the musicians sets them off on an improvisation, with Ellington using single notes sparsely, setting a plan for Brown to do his stuff. The second movement starts with a chord sequence which will sound familiar, and Ellington has plenty of melodies in his armoury to bring to the party; Great stuff. This is a five star release and deserves repeated plays.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVP2Zd5E7p8

34baswood
Bewerkt: feb 26, 2021, 6:48 pm



Dilon Djindji - Dilon
Dilon Djindji is a musician and entertainer from Mozambique famous in that part of the world for his playing and story telling. He had his first and only long playing CD released in 2002 when he was 75 years old. At the time he was optimistic that it would be the start of an international career, but sadly that does not seem to have happened. He was still alive in 2019 claiming to be 93 years old and the king of Marrabenta music.

Riverboat records took a chance with this release and it got good reviews in the world music press. Dilon sings thirteen songs and accompanies himself on acoustic guitar. The music has a lilt to it that compares to South African high-life music. He is backed by electric guitar and hand drums on some tracks and a saxophone makes an occasional appearance. It is basically folk music and Dilon obviously had a good time making this music, because on several tracks he breaks out into laughter, in fact on one track he is laughing almost all the way through. Riverboat records have done music lovers a service because Dilon's songs are good and they are sympathetically recorded. He claimed to have written over 500 songs, but these thirteen songs sung in his rough vocal style (perhaps he has a few teeth missing) are enough to be going on with. His joy of making music is infectious and so 4 stars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35_8Pf2hplE&list=PLRniVRK4oxs08k7JPfuBF2HyB7...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zNtQBa6jgo&list=PLRniVRK4oxs08k7JPfuBF2HyB7...

35baswood
mrt 1, 2021, 5:33 pm



Samy Thiébault - Caribbean Stories - 2018
Alex Garnett's Bunch of Five - Andromeda - 2015
Two European jazz release featuring tenor saxophonists (my favourite jazz instrument), neither of which break any new ground, but fit snugly into the mainstream of jazz releases.

Samy Thiébault was the last live act I saw at Marciac's jazz festival in 2019, before Covid-19 descended on us all and closed all the venues. I was not particularly impressed with his set which featured tunes from Caribbean stories, but I bought his CD anyway. It does have the feeling of a jazz group looking for a new sound or at least different rhythms and thinking that The music of the Caribbean islands might give them inspiration. The group is a sextet: supporting Thiébaults saxophones and flute are guitar, trombone, bass, drums and percussion. Thiebault has brought a clutch of good tunes to the recording studio and his arrangements are efficient and the playing is good, but for me he does not capture the Caribbean. Attempts at a couple of group vocals do not add anything and it is all just a trifle lacklustre. Nothing wrong with the music, with saxophones, guitars and trombones all having solo space. I enjoyed this CD with its catchy tunes and so 3 stars.

On Alex Garnett's Andromeda you get two tenor saxophonists for the price of one. Englishman Garnett links up with fellow saxophonist: American Tim Armacost who are supported by piano, bass, and drums. It is a blowing session with the two front men well supported by a good rhythm session. They play a couple of standards and six tunes written by Garnett, the musicianship is of a high quality with both saxmen creating plenty of interest with their long solos. I am a sucker for two tenor saxophones trading riffs off each other and a lot of that happens on this disc. Garnett is a studio musician who rarely gets the chance to feature his own group on a CD, but he sounds like he enjoyed this session. The group sound good at brisk to fast tempos and put me in mind of the group led by Tubby Hayes and Ronnie Scott in the 1960's. The music has not changed an awful lot in the intervening years, but as an example of a straight ahead jazz combo this will do just fine. Garnett features the lowest notes at times in his solos to such an extent that I thought he had switched to a baritone sax at one point. This CD does not have the polish of Thiébault's disc, but it does have a lot more jazz. 3.5 stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o5pbe1UpXM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRd44Ues_Xc

36baswood
Bewerkt: mrt 8, 2021, 8:07 pm



Eric Clapton - Crossroads - 4 Disc set - 1988
This four disc set gives the listener nearly five hours of Eric Clapton and documents his career from his early work with the Yardbirds up until the releases under his own name in the 1980's.

In my opinion Eric Clapton did his best work when he was working for someone else and this is highlighted by this collection. Left to his own devices he can sound uninspired and his vocals have never been the strongest. Having said that much of the music on this collection is superb. We hear his tentative rather polite solo's with the Yardbirds back in 1963. He was the star of John Mayalls group in the mid sixties, providing plenty of attack with his stinging solos. He was at at his best when he teamed up with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce in the Cream; the three musicians pushed each other to create some of the most exciting rock music in the late sixties and there is a good selection here including "Spoonful" and the shorter live version of "Crossroads". Clapton moved on to become a member of the supergroup Blind Faith with Baker, Steve Winwood, and Rick Grech. It was a short lived venture: a headline concert at the Hyde Park in London and one LP, there are three tracks included, one previously unreleased. The excellent single with Delaney and Bonnie: "Coming Home" was certainly worth including and then disc 2 closes with two tracks from the original Derek and the Domino's which featured Duane Allman.

Disc three starts the slide into less inspired music featuring a bunch of unreleased tracks that were projected to be the second Derek and the Dominoes LP. There is usually a good reason for tracks not being commercially released and that is they are not good enough and this is certainly the case here. Duane Allman had gone and Clapton was leading a group of excellent musicians that just did not spark. Clapton was still firing off melodic solos in the now familiar blues style, but there was nothing to match the freshness and excitement of that first LP. Clapton needed other musicians to really spark and the likes of Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon were not it. The music then gets safer and safer as Clapton seems to be rivalling J J Cale in who can be the most laid back musician in history. Yes many of the songs are good and are interspersed with a few live blues tracks where Clapton reminds us just how good a rock guitar soloist he is. All in all this is an excellent representation of Clapton's music, however nothing much seems to have been done to enhance the recording quality and some it sounds a little underpowered to me. 4 stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEl0ZhKm-lo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUUEtCBhn_Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2LSSgQMc2E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAZ5G3xoxhI

37AlisonY
mrt 10, 2021, 3:57 am

>36 baswood: I must agree I prefer Clapton's Cream music as well. I regularly stick on 'I Feel Free' on the TV on YouTube on a Friday night (we have a couple of hours of music going - Friday Night Disco). The video of it (from some German TV show) confuses me as Jack Bruce is "singing" lead yet I'm pretty sure Ginger Baker was the lead on that track. Maybe that they decided he was a better front man to mime along as lead for TV.

38Jiraiya
mrt 10, 2021, 4:08 am

I harbor musical aspirations even if I'm nearly middle aged. Someone who works as a sound technician in movies once said, on IMDB (around 2005), that Clapton only plays on the pentatonic scale. I'm not qualified to even know if that is true.

39baswood
mrt 10, 2021, 5:32 am

>37 AlisonY: Maybe it was because Jack Bruce was better looking than Ginger Baker.

40baswood
mrt 10, 2021, 5:35 am

>38 Jiraiya: blues scales have five notes so that is probably true.

41Jiraiya
mrt 10, 2021, 5:41 am

>40 baswood:
Thanks for solving that decade old mystery for me.

42baswood
Bewerkt: mrt 15, 2021, 8:27 pm



Howard Jones - Cross That Line - 1989
Howard Jones - One to One - 1986
Howard Jones had at least six singles that made the top ten music charts in the UK, he had success in America as well. He is said to be one of the defining figures of synth-pop a genre of music which is not usually my favourite hunting ground. However I think that Howard Jones had something going for him, underneath all that pop glitter there was a good songwriter and arranger struggling to get out and Cross that line proved that to be so. It did produce the hit single 'Everlasting Love', but the rest of the music was more thoughtful and Jones used his studio expertise to produce some memorable songs. He stretches his tuneful vocals a little more: he has a good range and his keyboard work shows more maturity. After all his hit singles the album itself was relatively unsuccessful and coming some three years after his previous release, he had disappeared from view. "Guardians of the breath" is an imaginative composition as is "Those who moved Clouds" and "Out of Thin Air" is a melodic piano instrumental. Everything sounds good and this one off release where he succeeds in being taken more seriously is a four star release.

One to One bristles with the synth pop that made his name and just wasn't as good as his previous albums, his material was thinner and he seemed to be desperately searching for that winning pop formula - 3 stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA_35yJ7boA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk7YoUYUrCM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We9QukN2N8c

43baswood
Bewerkt: mrt 20, 2021, 8:30 pm



Scritti Politti - Songs To Remember - 1982
Scritti Politti - Cupid and Psyche - 1985
I must stop listening to this 1980's pop music, but there is an excuse with Scritti Politti who are really Green Gartside a Welsh singer/songwriter. Scritti Politti started as a DIY group making and releasing their own music on the rough trade label and this is when I first heard them. It was Green Gartsides vocals that promised something different - a high pitched breathy voice singing catchy melodic pieces in songs that seemed to ramble all over the place. Much of it was acoustic home made sounding material. You would never think that this was the case when listening to these discs which feature highly polished, highly produced synthetic pop music. Gartside is now the star and his gift for melody although still very much in snatches has been harnessed into songs that are tight knit in rhythm and content.

Songs to Remember is probably the best of the two discs, because the material is slightly better and Gartside's vocal charm is a little more stretched, covering reggae beats, jazz swing and white soul all channelled into a pop music format. The music still retains elements of the original do it yourself approach but in new high fidelity sound. There are plenty of guest soloists who enhance the material and the professionalism of musicians keep these songs moving along to great effect.

Cupid and Psyche refined the sound even further but Gartside's voice shines through the over production that takes the character away from some of his music. Green Gartside is always worth a listen, an original talent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExC0oK28VLA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1HkOyXPysU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2lh79WGvTg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snqMZIvzhMY

44AlisonY
mrt 23, 2021, 3:32 pm

>42 baswood:, >43 baswood: Some blasts from the past there. I seem to remember Howard Jones' handful of hits more than Scritti Politti's, but I think that's down to my age at the time. Howard Jones was very much tween / teen girl territory in the 80s.

45baswood
mrt 24, 2021, 8:22 pm



Rudresh Mahanthappa - Bird Calls - 2015
Charlie "Yardbird" Parker bending notes to create quarter tones that feature in Indian Classical Music. There is no mistaking a jazz release with Bird in the title; its just got to be a reference to Charlie Parker. That is what I thought when I first heard alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthrappa play on the first track: Bird Calls No.1. There are five Bird Calls tracks which are interlaced with tunes that pay tributes to Charlie Parker. The sleeve notes tell the listener that Rudresh's quintet improvise on themes that are suggested by Parkers original tunes and as an example "Chillin" is based on "Relaxin at the Camarillo". The songs are not a re-run of Parkers tunes but contemporary compositions: perhaps based on a theme or an improvisation by Parker. If all this sounds a bit complicated then not to worry as the music speaks for itself. The music is very much in the modern jazz tradition with a theme and then improvisations on that theme.

The group is Mahanthappa on alto sax, Adam O'Farrill on trumpet who share most of the solo space and then Matt Mitchell piano, Françoise Moutin bass (who solos on Bird calls No.4) and Rudy Royston drums. The alto sax and trumpet sound good together, complimenting each other and swapping ideas. It is however Rudresh Mahanthappas disc and his grainy fierce sounding alto resonates through most of this music. Rudresh is American but has Indian ancestry which of course is reflected in his music. It would seem that alto saxophonists are particularly attracted to the sound of Indian music, I remember John Handy in the sixties and his collaborations with Ali Akbar Khan and Joe Harriott's Indo/jazz fusion releases at about the same time. Mahanthappa brings the Indian influence right into his playing there is no need for collaborations with Indian musicians on this disc.

The music is very much contemporary jazz, but the arrangements are imaginative and the themes melodic. The rhythm section can power the group along when needed and Rudresh can play those fast runs on the alto sax. This was the first time I had heard Mahanthappa and I am mightily impressed, its always good to discover another saxophonist, especially one that has his own voice. A five star recording.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx9cNAN8-w8

46baswood
Bewerkt: mrt 28, 2021, 5:20 pm



Damaged - Lambchop - 2006
Kurt Wagner leader and singer/songwriter of Lambchop plays at being Leonard Cohen and proves once again that you do not need much of a voice to make great music. Like Cohen's music it is the words and then the tune that make these songs so successful. Wagner does not have Cohen's deep growl of a voice, his is altogether lighter and more well spoken, but it is the phrasing and the words that are the main attraction. The songs are for the most part talked /sung at a slow to mid tempo, with a simple quartet feel leaning towards country music, with the addition of slide guitar, but it is the orchestral arrangements that deliver the sumptuous tunes. Think of Leonard Cohen's third LP Songs of Love and Hate and you will understand where I am coming from. There are also some computer generated sounds, but these hardly intrude into the format.

On first listen I found that the lack of song variety made the disc sound a bit samey, but there are subtle and not so subtle differences and these soon reveal themselves as do some of the lyrics. One paced it might be, but it a pace that feels just right for the songs. The first and longest song: "Paperback Bible" shows what can be done with lyrics taken direct from a radio bring and buy programme. Wagners vocal delivery makes them sound like poetry with some ear grabbing lyrics such as; "I have always thought/That handguns were made for shooting people/Rather than for sport. We have to wait for the final song: "The Decline of Country and Western Civilization." for Kurt Wagner to break out of his non emotional word smithing to create a song with anger and passion. It is a fine ending to an excellent disc and a 4 star release for me.

Laura Veirs - Year of Meteors - 2005
Singer songwriter Laura Viers writer of clever and very listenable contemporary songs hits more than she misses with this collection. Not a great vocal talent, but her sometimes deadpan delivery is stretched a little on these tunes. A three star release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3YOPQ89jS4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mleWQamfPS8

47baswood
apr 3, 2021, 6:40 pm



Branford Marsalis Trio - The Dark Keys - 1996
Andy Sheppard - Surrounded by Sea - 2015
Two jazz albums on the deck this last week and I found both a little disappointing. Branford Marsalis trio are too busy and Andy Sheppard's group are not busy enough. let me explain:

Tenor and soprano sax man Branford Marsalis has chosen a trio format; he is accompanied by Reginald Veal on bass and Jeff "tain" Watts on bass. There are guest appearances by other sax men Kenny Garrett and Joe Lovano, but there is not a piano player in sight. Not having a pianist in the group gives sax players more freedom, they are not so tied to piano chords, but this freedom of expression can lead to over elaboration or music that loses much of its shape. In my opinion this happens on some of these tracks. The title track starts off the album and there is an extended solo by Marsalis playing tenor and although there are lively interchanges with drummer Jeff Watts, I cannot make out where Marsalis is going with this. He quotes repeatedly Coltrane's love supreme riff: an iconic riff in itself, but once or twice is probably enough. The next track "Hesitation" features his soprano sax and again I feel it fails to take off. Things do however get a lot better. He is inspired by Jo Lovano on Sentinel and By Kenny Garrett on Judas Iscariot. Some brilliant duel improvisations on these cuts and Marsalis holds his own. This is not a bad album by any means but there are bumps in the road and so 3.5 stars.

Andy Sheppard's Surrounded by Sea is on the ECM label and it has that spare sound that seams to be a feature of this label. The music certainly has a shape and sound of its own, but in my opinion it is all a little too precious. The inclusion of Keyboard/guitarist Elvind with his synthesiser like musical washes makes much of this music stretch too far into ambient territory for my liking. Sheppards tenor and soprano playing is strong on texture and melody, but can fade into the background. More mood music than jazz perhaps and if you are in the right mood the sumptuous sounds might carry you away. Too difficult to rate this music which crosses musical boundaries, but I feel something is missing. I cannot fault some beautiful playing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_zbqWlqQmI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iny6-iaHClw

48baswood
apr 10, 2021, 6:20 pm



Amalgam - Prayer for Peace - 1969
The younger jazz musicians around the London scene in the late 1960's and early 1970's were making some fine music. There was plenty of cross over with the blues and rock scene and many were influenced by the American avant garde and free jazz movement. For me British jazz albums released at this time are a treasure trove and this first release by Amalgam is one of the best. On this release Amalgam are a power trio led by Trevor Watts on alto sax, Jeff Clyne double bass and John Stevens on drums.

The first track is a fourteen minute extended improvisation by the trio with Watts alto hardly pausing for breath. Comparing him to modern day musicians he sounds like a more impressive Kenny Garrett. The next three tracks are three improvisations on a theme written by Watts and called Judy's smile. The final track is the achingly beautiful Prayer for Peace with Clyne playing bowed bass. Back in 1969 this album sounded like cutting edge, it is extremely well recorded with all three instruments coming across loud and clear, but with an unmistakable group sound. It still has all the power and beauty that you could want and Trevor Watts sounds magnificent all the way through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnyaP-cDaLg

49baswood
Bewerkt: apr 16, 2021, 7:13 pm



Red Temple Spirits - Dancing to Restore an Eclipsed Moon - 1988
Red Temple Spirits were an American band that managed to release two albums before fading back into obscurity. I probably picked up this first release in one of the bargain bins of the old HMV record shop. Probably attracted by the exotic sounding name and a nice album cover, but the album has stayed with me probably because their sound reminds me so much of the "Cure" one of my favourite bands of the 1980's. It seems that the Red Temple Spirits had listened very carefully to the Cures 1982 release 'Pornography' and did a good job in enhancing the sound of that album. The songs are crafted around bass guitar riffs that lope along making a nice platform for guitar lines and the distinctive vocals of William Faircloth.

The groups sound hardly varies throughout the eleven tracks, its a mixture of psychedelia and grunge, but when the band work themselves into a groove they sound impressive. I am a succour for this sound and a band whose lyrics reach for something more than the drug inspired love songs that are all too common is an added bonus. 4 stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NOHwLveXZ8

50baswood
Bewerkt: apr 20, 2021, 7:00 pm



Soft Machine - Third - 1970
Now considered to be a classic, this experimental (very experimental) double album can still surprise. There are four long tracks that stretch over each of the four sides. What is surprising is that anyone in the 1970's got past side 1 track 1 "Facelift" which is truly awful. Cobbled together from two live performances: the sound quality is not great and the music is worse. Crushing chords from Mike Ratledge's organ seem to be the main feature of the first six minutes, before drums, bass and saxophones join to play a series of pointless riffs. I didn't like this in 1970 and it sounds even worse now. Things improve on side 2 and they needed to. A bass figure lays the ground for Elton Deans alto saxophone played in unison with other reeds and a rocking organ riff. The group prove that they can play together and there are some interesting improvisations over tightly controlled jazz/rock riffs. Wyatt's drumming is imaginative and the bass guitar pulls everything together. They even manage to convince the listener that the group did not need a guitarist and that they could overcome the boxy sound.

It is side three that was worth the price of the double album and the only track that features vocals. Robert Wyatt's high pitched vocals improvise over a catchy tune which stops and starts gloriously. It is shadowed by some inspired organ work by Ratledge. Wyatt proves that his drumming can both swing and rock and the group come together to rock out an exciting riff in great style. New themes emerge and with this group the chaos still lurks menacingly around the corner held together by the thread of Wyatt's vocalising. It is one of the great inventive and listenable tracks from that era. The final track is Mike Ratledge's "Out Bloody Rageous" and the awful noise that he created on track one is firmly put in its place by some exotic sounding keyboard work before the group leap in with Ratledge and Dean creating their unique sound of organ and alto sax. An excellent extended solo by Ratledge over a tuneful rock riff (still no guitars) seem to bring things to a close, but there is still time for a new theme and some throaty improvisations from Dean. This track swirls around and melodic content is high. Buy the double album if you must, but throw away sides 1 & 2 after a cursory listen. A great half of a double album makes this a 5 star listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJFSIX_uVPM

51baswood
Bewerkt: apr 27, 2021, 10:47 am



The Blues Collection - Peetie Wheatstraw no. 82
The Blues Collection - Mance Lipscombe no. 85
Two Cds that would have been issued with an accompanying magazine in the Blues Collection series. There were 92 magazines published between 1993-1997 in the UK. Apart from a couple of Christmas compilations all the magazines featured one blues artist and the magazine gave some details of the life and work of the artists. The above Cds have obviously been ripped from the magazines and can usually be picked up from second hand Cd outlets for not very many pennies. I have never read any of the magazines and so do not know how informative they were. I am sure there are people who have collected all 92 issues but I am not one of them.

From the issue numbers it is clear that by the time these artists featured they had run out of household names. (number 1 issue was John Lee Hooker) These two might even be quite obscure to blues music fans. I pick up these Cds whenever I see them and the more obscure the better, because the more famous artists can be represented by sub standard material. It would seem that Peetie Wheatstraw is well represented by this selection of eighteen tracks. Wheatstraw played guitar and piano, but it was his vocals a lyrics that set him apart. These tracks date from the 1930's and 1940's and demonstrate an early jazz tinged Chicago blues sound. The instruments are acoustic but the songs are urban with titles like 'Gangster Blues' 'Working on the Project' and 'Police Station Blues' this is a good collection with a variety of supporting artists and well worth a listen. 4 stars

Mance Lipscomb was a rediscovered blues artist making his first records at the age of 65 in 1960. He was an acoustic guitar stylist in the manner of the country blues. These tracks demonstrate that he was good instrumentalist and he had an attractive voice. Like many of the more famous country blues artists he also played vaudeville and more popular music as well as blues tunes. He was primarily a performer rather than a songwriter. I imagine that this 20 track selection shows him performing in the blues style and he makes attractive recordings of "Corrine Corrine" "Evil Blues" and "I want to do Something for You". Not all of theses sides are are successful, but they are well recorded and again worth the pennies it will cost you to get the Cd. 3 stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O-DFfh-HDg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYhJ7gjNeM8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE2w7YVV1gc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1ElDf4TeQQ

52baswood
Bewerkt: mei 4, 2021, 7:33 pm



Sonny Rollins - The Bridge - 1962
Sonny Rollins - Dancing in the Dark - 1987
The Bridge is Sonny's comeback album after taking a more than two year break from recording. He spent the time 'wood shedding'; that is overcoming what he saw as his musical limitations. Sometime during this period he could be heard blowing his tenor saxophone on the pedestrian walkway above the Williamsburg Bridge in New York. Apparently his 15 hour a day practice sessions were disturbing the neighbours and so he took himself off in all weathers to play on the bridge. While he had been away on his sabbatical, that other tenor saxophonist John Coltrane had grabbed all the headlines. The wood shedding must have been worthwhile because The Bridge turned out to be one of his best selling albums. On The Bridge (the album) he led a quartet with guitarist Jim Hall, Ben Riley on drums and Bob Cranshaw on drums. If people were expecting a different sound or new style they would have been disappointed because Rollins sounded just like he had never been away, but his playing on the album was superb throughout. The album contains the usual mix of Rollins originals and songs from the American songbook. Of the two Rollins tunes I like John S where a lively theme leads into a solo full of tension. However to admire his technique you only need to listen to his version of God Bless This Child and his playing in the lower register of his instrument. He receives good support from Jim Hall who is inspired to solo well and they both swing like mad on Cole Porter's You Do Something To Me. This is a five star record.

All the way forward to 1987 and Dancing in the Dark and Sonny Rollins sounds like Sonny Rollins. He now has an electric pianist and electric bass in the group along with trombonist Clifton Anderson. but his solos have that same marvellous shape to them and can push the music along which must be exciting for his band. Sonny's original tunes are more wide ranging on this album: Duke of Iron has that West Indies sound that had earlier inspired St Thomas and O.T. Y. O. G. has soul and R & B influences. Dancing in the Darl features one of Rollins famous unaccompanied solos as an intro. and the final track Allison is a great tune. Rollins is not afraid to extend the range of his playing at this stage of his career, but it is kept within bounds and doesn't stray into the avant-garde. Much of the music on this album is uptempo which makes a nice contrast to The Bridge.
This is another choice album from Rollins catalogue and to my ears another 5 star recording.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F106pRlqV1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGB5U5nW3fw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw3lz7LPQSM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTtTFT204zo

53dianeham
mei 5, 2021, 12:10 am

>52 baswood: not sure why but I’ve been listening to a lot of bebop lately. Checking these albums out, thanks.

54baswood
mei 17, 2021, 6:50 pm



Free - Free - 1969
Nice Enough to Eat - Various Artists (Island label sampler) 1969
Back to British late sixties rock music and Nice Enough to Eat was just the best sampler Lp ever released - I ended up buying all of the records that were sampled - just look at the lineup - Nice enough to eat and as cheap as chips.

1. Fairport Convention – Cajun Woman
2. Mott The Hoople – At The Crossroads
3. Spooky Tooth – Better By You, Better Than Me
4. Jethro Tull – We Used To Know
5. Free – Woman
6. Heavy Jelly – I Keep Singing That Same Old Song
SIDE TWO
7. Blodwyn Pig – Sing Me A Song That I Know
8. Traffic – Forty Thousand Headmen
9. Nick Drake – Time Has Told Me
10. King Crimson – 21st Century Schizoid Man
11. Quintessence – Gungamai
12. Dr. Strangely Strange – Strangely Strange But Oddly
Normal

Woman by Free came from their second LP which is my favourite by the group and I recently bought the enhanced CD version which has nine extra tracks from that 1969 session. There are two new songs to the original release which are forgettable, but the other seven track which are all alternative versions are well worth a listen. Andy Fraser was one of the very best rock vocalists and his thoughtful powerful singing on these tracks is at its best. The songs all feature some tuneful guitar work by Paul Kossoff before he went off the rails. Perfectly worked blues based rock songs which may be short on quantity, but have quality in abundance. 5 stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIeglX2HOSo&list=PLMwluFtqP5tZPL7xrBhmQPSLqW...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Myjh6SB0og&list=PLuSQDv_4Yz_tP1so3mjKgGBbv6...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dEBxwDk1tc&list=PLuSQDv_4Yz_tP1so3mjKgGBbv6...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53_4f2I4weg&list=PLuSQDv_4Yz_tP1so3mjKgGBbv6...

55baswood
Bewerkt: jun 1, 2021, 7:35 pm



Lyambiko - Lyambiko 2005
Tina May - Divas - 2013
Silje Nergaard - Darkness out of Blue - 2006

Three female vocalists who would probably be pigeon holed as jazz singers, but who tread a fine line between popular music. The jazz label is probably merited because of the supporting musicians who do most of the improvising. All three have excellent voices, but my interest in the music tends to wander to those backing musicians.

The most appealing voice of the three is the Norwegian singer Silje Nergaard, but on Darkness out of Blue there is very little jazz indeed. She writes much of her own material and I was hoping she would stretch herself more, as she does on her Night Watch CD. Tina May's Divas takes songs made famous by female singers from the past, unfortunately I would prefer to listen to most of the originals. She does well with Chet Baker's Lets get lost and there are some nice solos from her musicians. Lyambiko is a German singer born in Tanzania and has made her name singing jazz standards and I think she has the most interesting voice of the three singers. Her voice has more depth than the other two counterparts and she tackles a few Latin American songs to give a variety to this collection. So nothing earth shattering here and all of the CD's are a bit patchy and so three stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioidV7fI1eg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwApdAFd1k4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhi4EjbtIVU

56baswood
Bewerkt: jul 31, 2021, 5:58 pm



Thelonious Monk - Genius of Modern Music - 1951
After immersing myself in books published in 1951 I thought to look and see what was top of the music charts. According to Best Ever Albums internet site this LP was the best selling LP. Wow! I could not believe how groovy the record buying public were in that year. I was expecting to see something by Doris Day, but her highest entry was way back at number 6. An even bigger surprise was that the LP was still available as a CD and so I ordered a copy. I might not have been so quick had Doris Day been the best seller.

The CD that eventually arrived through my post box, however only told half the story as it was not the same as the LP that those cats were listening to in 1951. Back in the day the LP was a compilation of five single releases and was the first record by Monk to appear as a long player. The music dated from recording sessions dating from 1947 and 1948, the latest CD version is a compilation of three sessions from 1947 and so while it has extra tracks it misses entirely `Epistrophy' and 'Misterioso' But still it was good to hear about 60% of the music that was on that 1951 release.

Getting to the music, which is the work of a genius, albeit early Thelonious Monk; these were the first sessions he made as leader and they contain a whole bunch of original tunes that have since become jazz standards, such as 'Off Minor' 'Round Midnight' 'Ruby My Dear' and Well, You needn't'. The earliest of the sessions is a sextet and the music is firmly in the Bebop mode with fast tempos and bright sounding solos. The group is powered along by Art Blakey on drums and they sound like a Dizzy Gillespie ensemble without Dizzy, but there is also a solo piano track titled 'Thelonious' which was not included on the original compilation, but dated from the 1947 sessions. The real genius of Monk emerges on the piano trio tracks that follow the sextet recordings, and they sound like blue prints for all the modern jazz that followed. Yes there were a lot of switched on people in 1951, unfortunately there was none in my household. The recording quality is good and this would serve as a good introduction to Monk's music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njJtE9citu4&list=PL8MEZuBkYyVZNDJDQeI40_S4NS...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIdz11_E-vQ&list=PL8MEZuBkYyVZNDJDQeI40_S4NS...

57kidzdoc
aug 3, 2021, 9:17 am

Nice review of Genius of Modern Music, Bas. The Blue Note CDs of Volume 1 and Volume 2 that were released in 1989 may have been the first ones I bought by Monk, probably in 1990 or 1991. I completely agree with you; they serve as an excellent introduction to Monk, although my favorites by him are Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane (1957), Monk's Dream (1963), and Underground (1968).

58baswood
Bewerkt: okt 21, 2021, 6:11 pm



Desert Blues 2 (Rêves D'Oasis) - Various Artists - 2002
There was a Desert Blues 1(Ambiance du Desert) and a Desert Blues 3 (Dunes et Savanahs). They form a series of double CD's that provide an introduction to music from the desert regions of North Africa. This is no hastily put together sampler of lesser music, but carefully selected tracks from some of the most respected musicians of the region. I can understand why it has the label of blues, but it would be more accurate to describe it as folk music, mostly at a slow or medium tempo which has a feel for the blues.
It is a Francophone compilation with artists hailing from Mali, Morocco, Guinea, Algeria, Senegal, Egypt and Sudan. Curiously enough it was released on the German label NetworK Medien and compiled by Christian Scholze. There are 22 tracks and every one of them is worth a listen.

The music is acoustic and features a variety of instruments, guitars, ouds, African flutes, harps, koras, drums, violins, ............. It is the variety of vocal performances that is the most immediately ear catching. Different voices, timbres enliven each song and it is no matter that the words are not understandable to non speakers of the African dialects employed, because the songs in themselves are so good and the atmosphere created by the vocals and instruments carry the listener along with them. There are some famous artists of world music featured here. Lobi Traore, Rokia Traore, Habib Koité, Cheb Mami, Mansour Sek. Some of the best tracks have been laid down by artists unknown to me - Momo Wandel Soumah with his guttural vocals and crude saxophone sound, or the haunting flutes and shells that back Abaji's Gibran with its great tune and hoarse whispered vocals. The tracks are superbly recorded making up this 5 star collection. All that needs to be done now is to hunt down CD1 and CD3.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-xWsDT5PBQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-pbj5b_LlM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9UVKs1Zfkc

59AnnieMod
okt 21, 2021, 7:02 pm

>58 baswood: This sounds very interesting... :) Finding it may be a bit hard though...

60Dilara86
okt 22, 2021, 2:43 am

>58 baswood: Thanks for the review and the links! I loved the Momo Wandel Soumah song. As it happens, I saw Hasna el Becharia, the artist featured in the second link, back in March 2020, right before the first French lockdown, in an all-woman ensemble called Lemma (http://tournsol.net/artist/lemma-2/). It was fantastic! She is not in good health, but she still got up to dance. I feel very lucky I was able to see her play.

61baswood
okt 22, 2021, 4:33 pm

>60 Dilara86: I have missed going to see live music the last couple of years. The Marciac jazz festival usually features one or two nights of world music, but this year there was a truncated version, mostly featuring artists living in France. I ventured out to see one of the concerts.

62Dilara86
okt 23, 2021, 6:16 am

>61 baswood: I haven't seen a concert since that one. I miss live music, but somehow haven't renewed my theatre membership and bought my tickets for this year yet.

63baswood
Bewerkt: okt 29, 2021, 5:35 pm



Cassandra Wilson - Coming Forth by Day
On this 2015 release Cassandra Wilson sings eleven songs made famous by Billie Holiday, plus one original song co-written by her. It is a challenge for any artist to reinterpret songs made famous by singers from the past and to perform eleven by the same artist is very brave indeed. There are probably two main approaches to the problem; either to perform the songs in a similar style to Billie Holiday in the hope that your vocal talents will outshine the original or to completely rework the material. Cassandra Wilson has chosen the latter approach and more power to her elbow. She is helped by the fact that the songs are from the great American songbook and so were not written by Billie Holiday and so it is a re-interpretation of a re-interpretation.

The songs as sung by Billie Holiday were backed by a stellar group of jazz instrumentalist. Lester Young, Teddy Wilson etc....... musicians who knew Billies style of singing and were comfortable with sharing the music making. Billie was able to sing the most trite of these songs with a melancholy bordering on desperation that could electrify the listener and so it is a hard act to follow. Wilson has surrounded herself with studio musicians and complicated arrangement designed to enhance the atmosphere of the originals. However in the attempt to enhance the melancholy bluesy style of Billie they have slowed down the tempos, to such an extent that to some listeners they sound like a dirge. The arrangements take the place of the bright solos of the originals and Wilson's deep vocal style seems to struggle at times beneath the arrangements. My first impression of the music was that the slow tempos were dragging down the songs and when I played them back to back with the originals which seemed to be played almost at double time this was the case.

This album attracted some rave reviews on its release and no doubt fans of Cassandra Wilson would be impressed, but to my ear only a couple of the songs benefit from their new arrangements and Wilson's artistry suffers as a result. She would have been better to get rid of the studio musicians led by Nick Launay and start again. 3 stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB1HK-rlVig
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVS8_vOkJNU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBcijYD7778
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De_xthmIUO8