What Jazz are you listening to now?

[T. D.]

 

Sir Roland Hanna is another who really wanted to be a classical musician, but went into jazz because a classical career was impossible. See his chapter in Mark Stryker's Jazz from Detroit (there's also a chapter on Ron Carter, among of course others).

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Sir Roland Hanna is another who really wanted to be a classical musician, but went into jazz because a classical career was impossible. See his chapter in Mark Stryker's Jazz from Detroit (there's also a chapter on Ron Carter, among of course others).

Didn't know about it while I always found his execution style very sophisticated and likable. Will order the book.

[Karl Henning]

I think she is a Juliard-graduate pianist. However, just like Ron Carter, she knew that she wouldn't be hired by an orchestra. So she looked for club gigs and one club owner told her that she would be hired if she sings. She was active in the Civil Rights movement, blacklisted by the FBI, and lost most of live/club gigs. Her "In the Dark" is my fav among her songs.

https://youtu.be/HmANmf7fXUI

Most interesting!

[aligreto]

I think she is a Juliard-graduate pianist. However, just like Ron Carter, she knew that she wouldn't be hired by an orchestra. So she looked for club gigs and one club owner told her that she would be hired if she sings. She was active in the Civil Rights movement, blacklisted by the FBI, and lost most of live/club gigs. Her "In the Dark" is my fav among her songs.

https://youtu.be/HmANmf7fXUI

Thank you very much for that. All of that not so very long ago either.

[aligreto]

Chris Barber: In Concert





This one is obviously a live one and lots of fun was being had.

[SimonNZ]

The piano Jarret is playing on this...it's a perfectly fine piano, right? it's a piano that Bill Evans would have been happy to find at a gig, right? Because this story has gotten way out of control.

I first read the backstory of the Koln Concert in Ian Carr's 1991 biography, and in that telling the piano had just a section in one of the lower octaves that was proving difficult to tune. I've read other accounts since that have made its limitations much more serious and some novice booking agent was nearly fired over it, and just a couple of weeks ago heard an interview on the album where both host and subject were calling it a "piece of shit" and suggesting it was found in the basement of a church hall or something. And I'm left thinking "are you even listening to this?"

True, it may not have been up to Jarrett's exacting standards, but then little ever was. Ian Carr describes Jarrett stopping concerts to demand the audience complain to the management about how intolerable the piano, the acoustics and everything else are - and Gary Peacock and Jack de Johnette refusing to come on stage unless he stops abusing the hospitality of their hosts.

I was about to suggest that maybe it might not be good enough for a classical recital, but is fine for something jazz-adjacent, but actually I don't think that at all. I'd like to hear more classical concerts with instruments with individual character.

[bhodges]

Manhattan Transfer: Extensions (1979) - I've been on a weeks-long rabbit hole, revisiting some of this group's recordings for the first time in awhile. Extensions was their fifth album, and one of the best. High points are the opening "Birdland" by Jon Hendricks (arranged by Janis Siegel) and the closing "Foreign Affair" by Tom Waits (sublimely arranged for a cappella quartet by Gene Puerling of the Singers Unlimited).

Bonus: uber-1980s costumes designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier.



--Bruce

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

The piano Jarret is playing on this...it's a perfectly fine piano, right? it's a piano that Bill Evans would have been happy to find at a gig, right? Because this story has gotten way out of control.

I first read the backstory of the Koln Concert in Ian Carr's 1991 biography, and in that telling the piano had just a section in one of the lower octaves that was proving difficult to tune. I've read other accounts since that have made its limitations much more serious and some novice booking agent was nearly fired over it, and just a couple of weeks ago heard an interview on the album where both host and subject were calling it a "piece of shit" and suggesting it was found in the basement of a church hall or something. And I'm left thinking "are you even listening to this?"

True, it may not have been up to Jarrett's exacting standards, but then little ever was. Ian Carr describes Jarrett stopping concerts to demand the audience complain to the management about how intolerable the piano, the acoustics and everything else are - and Gary Peacock and Jack de Johnette refusing to come on stage unless he stops abusing the hospitality of their hosts.

I was about to suggest that maybe it might not be good enough for a classical recital, but is fine for something jazz-adjacent, but actually I don't think that at all. I'd like to hear more classical concerts with instruments with individual character.

Great album, and thank you for the interesting story. Keith could be very difficult sometimes (always?). Also, I heard that Bill Evans could play any pianos, including pretty bad ones at lower-strata clubs/bars. He was good at fixing the problems with pianos at clubs. As for Jarrett, I personally like his music in the 1970s. I like the album below. It is with Paul Motian and Charlie Haden.

[T. D.]

On a rare trip to brick/mortar shop, found excellent inventory and picked up several used discs. This is what I snapped up first (had been on "wish list"):

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Stefon Harris, Black Action Figure.

[aligreto]

Duke Ellington: In A Mellotone

[bhodges]

Nina Simone: My Baby Just Cares For Me





Besides the wonderful vocals from Simone there is some really wonderful piano playing on this album including two solo piano tracks. It is a very fine album overall.

Haven't heard the whole album, but I have heard the title track, which is wonderful.

I think she is a Juliard-graduate pianist. However, just like Ron Carter, she knew that she wouldn't be hired by an orchestra. So she looked for club gigs and one club owner told her that she would be hired if she sings. She was active in the Civil Rights movement, blacklisted by the FBI, and lost most of live/club gigs. Her "In the Dark" is my fav among her songs.

https://youtu.be/HmANmf7fXUI

And thanks for that, too, which is new to me.

Coincidentally, was listening to Nina Simone today: From 1976, "I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free)," live from the Montreux Jazz Festival, in excellent audio and video. She really was a great singer, among her other gifts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq3sdF0YXkM

--Bruce

[bhodges]

From Ben Cox and Jack Mizzi, a pandemic version of "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square," in the Gene Puerling arrangement used by the Manhattan Transfer. Cox and Mizzi doubled themselves to make a quartet, and among other things, their intonation is excellent in Puerling's beautiful dissonances.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY9w5LFrrA4

--Bruce

[George]

This Simone performance blew me away earlier this week. Amazing stuff:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK0B9FXU72A

[bhodges]

This Simone performance blew me away earlier this week. Amazing stuff:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK0B9FXU72A

Oooooh, thanks!

--Bruce

[bhodges]

This Simone performance blew me away earlier this week. Amazing stuff:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK0B9FXU72A

Thanks again for this knockout. (I would love to know what was happening with the repeated calls to "Sit down!")

--Bruce

[Artem]

[George]

Thanks again for this knockout. (I would love to know what was happening with the repeated calls to "Sit down!")

--Bruce

My pleasure. As for the calls to sit down, I guess it could be anything. She was an eccentric and amazing woman.

Did you happen to catch Janis Ian's (the author of the song) comment?

[aligreto]

Coincidentally, was listening to Nina Simone today: From 1976, "I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free)," live from the Montreux Jazz Festival, in excellent audio and video. She really was a great singer, among her other gifts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq3sdF0YXkM

--Bruce

A very talented lady indeed.

I will watch that clip later.

[aligreto]

This Simone performance blew me away earlier this week. Amazing stuff:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK0B9FXU72A

I will watch that clip later as well.