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- Achtud El Buod (Children's Song)
- Don't Drink That Corner My Life Is In The Bush
- Air Show
- Apricots On Their Wings
- Salute To The Enema Bandit
- Side Step
Henry Threadgill - reeds, flute, percussion
Cassandra Wilson - vocals
Fred Hopkins - bass
Pheroan Aklaff - drums
Recorded June 2 & 3, 1986
192 KPBS mp3s
A really solid outing. Cassandra Wilson really adds something special to this already powerful band. The music is typical Threadgill, and Wilson blends perfectly into the feel on the three tracks she is on. This was the final Air recording, one of only two that Aklaff is on. If you're familiar with the band, you know what to expect, and you will not be disappointed. If you're not familiar, this is not a bad introduction. Link in comments.
- Pawky
- Moonlight In Vermont
- Back Talk
- Dancing In The Dark
- Charmaine
- Jollity
- There's A Small Hotel
- Rascallity
- You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
- It's a Minor Thing
- Yesterdays
- Bohemia After Dark
- Taboo
- Autumn In Rome
- Alone Together
Dorothy Ashby - harp
Frank Wess - flute
Herman Wright - bass
Roy Haynes, Art Taylor - drums
Recorded 1958
192 KPBS mp3s
Jazz harp anyone? Seriously, if you're not familiar with this, you've gotta check this out. I knew nothing of Dorothy Ashby when I discovered this. I figured she was a vocalist from the cover, and when I spun it I was totally blown away. Of course, she's surrounded by some heavy hitters, too. It's pretty mellow, but swings like hell anyway. Definitely worth the DL. Link in comments.
Disc 1
1. Horace
2. Cyclops
3. Why Not
4. Splashes
5. It Happens
6. Work Song
Disc 2
1. Walkin'
2. Jevin
3. Lament
4. Hummin'
5. Melodee
Recorded 1977, Yokohama, Japan
J.J. Johnson - trombone
Nat Adderley - cornet
Billy Childs - rhodes
Tony Dumas - bass
Kevin Johnson - drums
192 KPBS mp3s
No huge ground broken here, but it sure is fun to hear Nat and J.J. work with a Rhodes. Solid 70s stuff, much more listenable than most of the electric stuff from the 70s.
Live at Montmartre
1. I.J.
2. Flame Games
3. Well, I Guess We'll Never Know
4. Forever Lovers
5. Song Everlasting
George Adams - tenor sax
Don Pullen - piano
John Scofield - guitar
Cameron Brown - bass
Dannie Richmond - drums
Recorded live at Montmartre, 1985
192 KBPS mp3s
I'm not a huge Scofield fan, nor electric guitar fan really, but this is a solid outing. It seems to mold together the energetic music that was the trademark of the quartet with the more commercially accessible music of John Scofield. There's plenty of energy in this loose, dirty set. Dannie Richmond fires throughout, and it's a good listen. Link in comments.
Live at the Village Vanguard, Vol. 1
1. The Necessary Blues
2. Solitude
3. Intentions
4. Diane
George Adams - tenor sax
Don Pullen - piano
Cameron Brown - bass
Dannie Richmond - drums
Recorded 1983, NYC
192 KBPS mp3s
This is not the quartet's best record, but at the same time, it' representative of a good show for them. I was somewhat disappointed when I saw them live. The studio albums all seemed to have two killer tracks, and three that were either middle-of-the-road or dogs. They did the same thing live. However, when they were on, they were on. Still, I find when I go back and listen to this group now, there was more happening than I was aware of at the time (cut me some slack, I was a teenager). Link in comments.
I'm just curious why some bloggers feel the need to be tyrannical assholes. There's a popular blog where someone posted something -- attempting to share -- that, evidently without his knowledge, had actually originated on that blog. The offending poster apologized, explaining he'd gotten the files from a friend (I've done that -- most of us have). In response, the blog host threw a profanity-laced mini-tantrum. Why be an asshole about it? The guy made a mistake. This host is one of the same folks who pisses and moans about the way people treat him as a blogger. Perhaps he reaps what he sews. I just don't understand the need people have to be this way. Those of us into this music make up about 2% of the listening population; can't we get along and not act like we're all in high school over silly shit like this? Sad, O.J.... sad.
Congratulations to Herbie Hancock on his recent Grammy... seriously. It's an achievement and I applaud his incorporation of Joni Mitchell's music... really. CBS Sunday morning just did a segment on Herbie, again congrats. Next week, they'll do yet another feature on Quincy Jones. Nothing against these guys, but they're basically the walking dead of this music (Herbie less than Quincy). Quincy has been less about Jazz than about production for years.
CBS Sunday Morning tapes in New York. New York is the home to Billy Harper, William Parker, Rob Brown, Dick Griffin -- all survivors. Or even young guns like Potter, Turner and McHenry. While not my bag, they certainly bring a fresher voice to the table than Hancock or Jones these days.
How 'bout Chicago? Ari Brown, Kahil El Z'abar, Hamid Drake, Fred Anderson, Ernest Dawkins... heck, how 'bout Von Freeman or even Eric Alexander? Point is, this music has an audience and it would be a larger one of they'd get some exposure (can you resist El Z'abar's One World Family!?!??).
So while I'll congratulate Herbie and Quincy, particularly Herbie's comment that his Grammy, "is good for Jazz," I have to give both failing marks for failing to seize the opportunity to point the world to other aspects of this great music. As Z'abar says in the lyrics to One World Family, "This generation's too busy thinking about themselves...." I don't expect Herbie to shoulder this burden on his own -- that's not his job. But many years ago, a famous, respected musician let Herbie earn his shot. It's time to pay back, Herbie.
