Jazz ♫ Music only | In the now, or recently, or that you love...

[Barrelhouse Solly]

I'm older than dirt. I got started with my folks' Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller albums. In the past year I've finally gotten around to listening to 3 artists I should have been listening to 50 years ago: Lennie Tristano, Ahmad Jamal, and Art Pepper. I'm ashamed. I still get excited listening to the Louis Armstrong Hot 5 and Hot 7 recordings, and equally excited by John Coltrane.

 

[MoreWatts]

Tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer’s 2016 album All L.A. Big Band propels itself right along, to a Grammy nomination. Trumpeter Wayne Bergron, altoist Bob Sheppard and drummer Peter Erskine help.

Sheesh, this guy has ~37 albums, many of them big band, plus ~26 with The Yellowjackets, since 1981. ‘Prolific’ seems too understated. 2 recent Grammy-nominated Yellowjackets albums were recommended upthread here and here, with videos. Please enjoy some nice big band jazz.

Bob Mintzer, All L.A. Big Band, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[melvinjames]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[DarrylG]

Michael Rabinowitz, "Mrab"

 

[DarrylG]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

British saxophonist Tim Garland has a new duo album with pianist Jason Rebello, Life To Life. AllAboutJazz: “This is a flawlessly executed album and shows that a meeting of musical spirits together with learning ‘from experience’ can be wonderfully productive.”

Their ‘experience.’ This is Garland’s ~20th album since 1988. He’s played with Chick Corea, Bill Bruford and John Dankworth. Rebello has ~10 releases since 1990, and had long stints with Sting and Jeff Beck. Both have numerous session credits.

The video is the first album tune, live. Not a brash album, but carries nice energy. Please enjoy.

Jason Rebello & Tim Garland, Life To Life, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

Let’s recommend another from 1998, 25 years ago, the 7th in a now ‘Tuesday 25’ series.

The 1st 6, (title links to upthread post): Joanne Brackeen Pink Elephant Magic; Don Sebesky I Remember Bill: A Tribute To Bill Evans; Erik Truffaz The Dawn; Phil Woods The Rev And I; Arturo Sandoval, Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album Hot House; Herbie Hancock, Grammy for Best Instrumental Jazz Album Gershwin’s World.

Saxophonist Charlie Mariano’s An American In Italy is a fine example of him straight-ahead, late career. A quartet date with 3 Italian musicians, although Discogs is otherwise sparse. Ballady, but Charlie is really good at those. A long post on Charlie’s history and his 4 duo albums with fellow altoist Sadao Watanabe is upthread here.

Please enjoy a nice album from one of my favorite jazz artists.

Charlie Mariano, An American In Italy, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[DarrylG]

 

[ExPerfectionist]

Interesting list, I'm checking these out at the moment:

The 7 Best Jazz Vinyls that You Must Own

Are you an avid jazz fan who just got your first record player and wants to know which jazz vinyls would be the best to buy first? Look no further; for today, I will be offering up some of my favorite jazz records for you to flick through with the guarantee that they all sound fine when spinning...

notesonvinyl.com

1. In a Silent Way – Miles Davis
2. The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady – Charles Mingus
3. Astigmatic – Krzysztof Komeda
4. Your Queen is a Reptile – Sons of Kemet
5. The Nubians of Plutonia – Sun Ra
6. The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live Recording – John Coltrane
7. Out to Lunch! – Eric Dolphy

 

[MoreWatts]

Good choice!

From AllAboutJazz: "Isaiah J. Thompson is one of the leading pianists of his generation... This live album, The Power of the Spirit will certainly put him on an even steeper trajectory as a performer, composer and bandleader.

The album features Julian Lee on tenor saxophone, a powerhouse performer in his own right and superb throughout this set. Phillip Norris on bass is excellent and with TJ Reddick on drums moves the changing rhythms around with controlled power. Thompson shows original solos, smart comping and the versatility to move the tempos up to red hot before cooling them smoothly and efficiently. This is a quartet at the absolute top of their game that just deliver.

This is an impressive album for lovers of soul-jazz played in a contemporary style... highly recommended."

The video is the short official album teaser. Please enjoy this 25 year old's ~4th album as a leader.

Isaiah J. Thompson, The Power of the Spirit, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

AllAboutJazz: “Guitarist Dave Askren and saxophonist Jeff Benedict collaborate on their 4th album as co-leaders on the Denver Sessions, an exquisite 10-piece set. The leaders have played together for around 30 years in the LA area, and added vibeist Ted Piltzecker, drummer Paul Romaine and bassist Patrick McDevitt.

The sax-guitar-vibes frontline has been featured throughout jazz history, and ... the music here is …. forging new ground on the hollowed landscape. The sound is upbeat, hard-driving and boppish to the core.”

Please enjoy a nice new album recorded in The Mile High City, Colorado, USA. [Whose 'fat point guard' led their team to the NBA Championship!]

Dave Askern & Jeff Benedict, Denver Sessions, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

Juan Garcia-Herreros is a Colombian 6-string electric contrabassist also known as The Snow Owl. He’s led ~4 albums since 2006, leads his band ‘Totem Warriors’ on film and game scores, and records and tours with film composer Hans Zimmer, recently on the new ‘Dune’ film score.

The moods swing from frenetic to introspective on his 2013 album Normas. A sextet, of guitar, trumpet and tenor, play with an array of percussionists, with the result a Latin Grammy Best Jazz Album nomination. Way more melodic overall than the 1st tune would have you expect. A very nice prog-Latin-jazz fusion.

Snow Owl, Normas, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

Here’s the 4th post for ‘Friday 50’, albums from 50 years ago, or 1973. Previous recommendations were (title links to post upthread): Dave Brubeck We’re All Together Again For The First Time; Gato Barbieri Bolivia; Elvin Jones Mr. Jones.

Trumpeter Donald Byrd’s Black Byrd was Blue Note’s biggest selling album for a while . Allmusic: “Sure, maybe the electric piano, sound effects, and Roger Glenn's ubiquitous flute date the music somewhat, but that's really part of its charm. Black Byrd was state-of-the-art for its time, and it set a new standard for all future jazz/R&B/funk fusions… Black Byrd stands as his groundbreaking signature statement.”

The album certainly kick-started the electric phase of his career. He released ~50 albums from 1955 to 1991, this was his ~35th release. Turn up the volume, to properly feel that funk bass groove -- which seems buried a bit in the mix.

Donald Byrd, Black Byrd, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

The new Bobby Sanabria Mulitverse Big Band album Vox Humana is simply ‘unfettered upbeat joy.’ Vocalists featured are Jennifer Jade Ledesna, Antoinette Montague, and Janis Siegel of The Manhattan Transfer.

AllAboutJazz: “While the intention of this album seems to be to feature vocalists, the instrumental soloists and the big band as a whole all shine with tight arrangements and inspired solos.” A live show with fine sound. The 12 minute close-out ‘Mi Congo’ is a party in itself.

His 2008 Grammy nominated Big Band Urban FolkTales was recommended upthread, with a nice video.

Seems like a nice one for a Saturday night. Please enjoy, unfettered.

Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band, Vox Humana, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[Ralph_Cramden]