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[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

JazzViews: “Antares is the World Citizen Band’s new album. It’s filled with impassioned playing and its members come from all over the world. Saxophonist Uri Gurvich comes from Israel. Argentina is home to guitarist Ramiro Olaciregui. Pianist Marcos Merino is from Spain. Founding member on bass, Kenneth Dahl Knudsen, is from Denmark. And Costa Rica is home to drummer Rodolfo Zuniga.

The music was inspired by McCoy Tyner, Brad Melhdau, and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers… The essence of those greats is here but World Citizen Band is very much their own band with a very modern sound.”

This is their 2nd album, since 2019. The video is a concert performance of an album tune.

World Citizen Band, Antares, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

1973 was 50 years ago. Wait, what?

The half-century, or 50 years ago, 1973, horn-jazz retrospective posted 26 albums now, so half-a-year for weekly ‘purchasers.’ Here’s ~half-way favorites, as there’s about the same number of albums to go. Two albums posted Fridays should make it by year’s end. FYI, these are all quality jazz. This retrospective posts albums that I enjoy, and rejected those that I did not. YMMV.

When Grover blows, he’s #1, but an unranked top 5 ~is Grover Washington Jr. Soul Box, Don Ellis Soaring, Joe Henderson Multiple, The Crusaders The 2nd Crusade and Weather Report Sweetnighter. And a whole buncha others that are also awesome jazz. What a year for jazz!

FYI, here's a link to the post above where I discuss the exact same thing about the concurrent albums from 1998 retrospective.

Here’s links to posts upthread about the 26 albums from 1973:

Previous 1973s (link upthread): Dave Brubeck We’re All Together Again...; Gato Barbieri Bolivia; Elvin Jones Mr. Jones; Donald Byrd Black Byrd; Dave Liebman 1st Visit; Don Ellis Soaring; Grover Washington Jr. Soul Box; Hank Crawford Wildflower; Ron Carter All Blues; Return to Forever Light As A Feather & Hymn Of The 7th Galaxy; Flora Purim Butterfly Dreams; Steve Grossman Some Shapes To Come; Archie Shepp The Cry Of My People; Dave Holland Conference Of The Birds; Gary Bartz I've Known Rivers...; Joe Henderson Multiple; Don Sebesky Giant Box; Fela Kuti Gentleman; Chuck Mangione Land Of Make Believe; Crusaders 2nd Crusade; Freddie Hubbard Keep Your Soul Together; Weather Report Sweetnighter; Ray Barretto The Other Road; Gil Evans Svengali; Stanley Turrentine Don’t Mess With Mr. T.

The Grateful Dead and McIntosh gave us the wall of sound in 1973:

 

[MoreWatts]

The characterization of this 1973 retrospective as ‘horn-jazz’ above, requires mention of this big band album.

Allmusic: “Superbly funky big-band jams that work uncommonly well as soundtracks for cruise-control freeway driving, thanks in large part to electric bassist Dave Markee, drummer Randy Jones, baritone saxophonist Bruce Johnstone, and trumpeter Maynard Ferguson's wild brass section.”

This was Maynard’s ~30th of >50 albums from 1955-2001. Maynard had a busy 1973, as he also released M.F. Horn #4 & #5, which will be posted in the future.

The video is ~1977, with a young Peter Erskine on drums, before Jaco Pastorius recommended him to Joe Zawinul for Weather Report. Aptly, the tune is ‘Birdland, ' but not from this album. Maynard’s bands were always a youth movement, which is displayed here.

See the post right above for 26 more cool jazz albums from 1973.

Maynard Ferguson, M.F. Horn 3, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

Another from 1973. How about one from an artist who often blows abuncha horns all-at-once.

Allmusic: “This is perhaps saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kirk's most experimental recording in that it involves his most involved performing on multiple horns and flutes -- including his infamous and wonderful nose flute… Despite the beauty of the album's first three tracks, with various small ensembles, it is on the closer, the 21 minute ‘Saxophone Concerto,’ where Kirk most leaves his mark as a composer and innovator… The band is 16 pieces total, and the concerto is structured in movements… There are numerous metaphors and metonyms here, but they will not come to the listener until later, when she or he regains the conscious notion of breathing.”

This was Kirk’s ~20th of ~27 albums from 1956-’76. This is nice because it is experimental but not free jazz. The video is a performance for the 1969 British documentary film 'Supershow', which has neat history. “The Conscious Notion Of Breathing” and "Metaphors and Metonyms" should both be album titles...

See the 2 posts above for links to posts about 27 more nice albums from 1973.

Noticed this my 500th post, so I am now ‘Addicted To Fun And Learning.’ What I am is a ‘new music’ junky, which is why you folks get this constant spew of the mainly new to me albums, both current and classic, I explore and enjoy. I’ve now recommended 402 albums, not all jazz, btw. But nothing beats good sax, as illustrated by...

Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Prepare Thyself To Deal With A Miracle, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

A plethora of nice new big band albums have recently been posted, and here’s another, with a few more on deck for posts soon.

AllAboutJazz: “The WDR Big Band’s latest recording, on which it is paired with the esteemed Florida-based composer and arranger Chuck Owen, offers another master class in big-band artistry, or how to make even the most arduous charts seem deceptively simple… An excellent showcase for the author and orchestra.” The video is an in-studio performance of a relaxed album tune, a bit long, but nice.

Hmm, I recommend the WDR Big Band a lot. Here’s a post about Christmas Holiday music, with more band background info. Here’s their 2022 albums Center Stage, Grammy-nominated with drummer Steve Gadd & bassist Eddie Gomez, also Samba Jazz Odyssey, and 2021s Grammy-nominated Jackets XL, with the Yellowjackets.

Chuck Owen & The WDR Big Band, Renderings, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[BenjaminB]

Well, there was some discussion regarding sax and organ .... here some further suggestions

this was a formidalbe success, consequently there is a follow-up

if you just want to listen ... spotify, yt, and all the others are your friends!
(btw, good luck with the ö:s etc )

sax and (a real) organ is a very interesting combo. Not all can do that, obviously.

 

[MoreWatts]

Tuesdays are for jazz albums from 1998, 25 years ago, yeah, a quarter-century.

Allmusic: “Swiss alto saxophonist George Robert … recruited alto saxophonist Phil Woods, pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Ray Drummond, and Phil's drummer Bill Goodwin. Robert composed 5 of the songs, Woods 2. All 5 men are to be commended for their contributions to this highly recommended CD.”

This was Robert’s ~10th of ~19 albums since 1987. From 1987-’92 he co-lead a quintet with trumpeter Tom Harrell, whose album The Art Of Rhythm, and Phil Woods' The Rev And I, were posted as part of this 1998 retrospective.

Scroll up this page to see posts and links to 29 more neat albums from this 1998 retrospective, plus a 1973 retrospective, and some new jazz.

George Robert & Phil Woods, The Summit, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

Here's a 2nd album from 25 years ago, 1998, yes, a quarter-century.

Henri Texier is an outstanding French bassist who has concentrated most of his activity in his native land, and has released ~36 albums since 1976. I can’t find many specifics about his 1998 album Mosaic Man, his ~19th release. Nice modern jazz, with neat horn-work, a bit on the cool side.

Sébastien Texier (Henri’s son - nice job!) on alto/clarinet, Glenn Ferris trombone, Bojan Zulfikarpasic piano, and Tony Rabeson on drums complete the ‘Azur Quintet.’

Scroll up this page to see posts and links to 30 more neat albums from this 1998 retrospective, plus a 1973 retrospective, and some new jazz.

Henry Texier, Mosaic Man, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

When Finns need a break from Metal, they consult the JazzFinland website.

JazzFinland: “On Rumba Liberte you can hear multidimensional music, where prog shifts are combined with the soundscape of a big band… According to pianist/arranger/bandleader Jukka Linkola you will hear an energetic and surprising ensemble, in whose sounds you can hear a lot of creative madness.”

Jukka has hewn ‘creative madness’ around Europe long enough to have ~25 albums on Discogs since 1976. He did another ‘Tentet’ album in 1994. The video is an album tune.

Jukka Linkola Tentet, Rumba Liberte, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

Here's another nice new big band album.

AllAboutJazz: “Grooveyard from the John La Barbera Big Band… is a supremely inviting and enthusiastic romp. It is well-balanced in every way and possesses subtleties which surprise, intrigue, and encourage multiple aural visits.” Renee Rosnes plays piano and Rufus Reid bass.

He's been a trumpeter/composer/arranger since 1971, has 2 jazz musician brothers, and both play here. He’ released ~4 big band albums since 2004, with a Grammy nomination for 2004s On The Wild Side. The video is a tune from his 2014 album Caravan, with his brother Joe on drums.

John La Barbera Big Band, Grooveyard, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

John La Barbera Big Band, On The Wild Side, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

Saxophonist Gato Barbieri’s album Bolivia ~began this 1973 horn-jazz retrospective, and here's a 2nd he did.

Allmusic: “Chapter One: Latin America turned out to be the second of four chapters in his series on Latin America… At the helm was Barbieri, playing in his rawest and most melodic style to date, offering these Latin melodies, harmonies, and rhythms as a singular moment in the history of jazz… Simply put, this album, like its remaining chapters, makes up one of the great all but forgotten masterpieces in 1970s jazz.”

This was Gato’s ~10th of ~30 albums from 1967-2010. See the Bolivia post for more bio info.

Gato Barbieri, Chapter One: Latin America, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

Previous 1973s (link upthread): Dave Brubeck We’re All Together Again...; Gato Barbieri Bolivia; Elvin Jones Mr. Jones; Donald Byrd Black Byrd; Dave Liebman 1st Visit; Don Ellis Soaring; Grover Washington Jr. Soul Box; Hank Crawford Wildflower; Ron Carter All Blues; Return to Forever Light As A Feather & Hymn Of The 7th Galaxy; Flora Purim Butterfly Dreams; Steve Grossman Some Shapes To Come; Archie Shepp The Cry Of My People; Dave Holland Conference Of The Birds; Gary Bartz I've Known Rivers...; Joe Henderson Multiple; Don Sebesky Giant Box; Fela Kuti Gentleman; Chuck Mangione Land Of Make Believe; Crusaders 2nd Crusade; Freddie Hubbard Keep Your Soul Together; Weather Report Sweetnighter; Ray Barretto The Other Road; Gil Evans Svengali; Stanley Turrentine Don’t Mess With Mr. T; Maynard Ferguson M.F. Horn 3; Rahsaan Roland Kirk Prepare Thyself... = 28.

 

[DarrylG]

 

[MoreWatts]

Horns on 3 tunes qualify this for the retrospective on horn-jazz from 1973. Especially when the horns are the Brecker Brothers!

Allmusic: “This obscure Horace Silver LP features two separate sessions by the pianist/composer. On three selections he is joined by trumpeter Randy Brecker, tenor great Michael Brecker, Bob Cranshaw on electric bass and drummer Mickey Roker. The other four numbers feature vibraphonist David Friedman in a quartet with Silver, Cranshaw and Roker, a very unusual sound for a Horace Silver set. But no matter what the instrumentation, the style is pure Silver, hard-driving and melodic hard bop with a strong dose of funky soul.”

This was Silver’s ~21st of 36 studio albums from 1952-’99, with 3 Grammy nominations.

See this post above for links to posts for 29 more nice albums from 1973.

Horace Silver, In Pursuit Of The 27th Man, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]