What Jazz are you listening to now?

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Joe Henderson: Mode for Joe.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Julian Cannonball Adderley.

[KevinP]

The thing about Adderley that always fascinates me is how he begins a solo. The first phrase is often an amazing attention-getter.

[vers la flamme]

Archie Shepp: Fire Music

Challenging work, but it sounds great right now, just the kind of thing I'm in the mood for at the moment.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

The thing about Adderley that always fascinates me is how he begins a solo. The first phrase is often an amazing attention-getter.

I agree. Nice observation.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

The Gathering, Geri Allen.

[vers la flamme]

Miles Davis Quintet: Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet

Man, I've been a Miles fan for many, many years but somehow I never got around to this disc until a few weeks ago when I found it at a local record shop. Damn, it's good. The first two tracks are such a one-two punch of absolute bangers, "Surrey With The Fringe On Top" and "Salt Peanuts", both of which feature some killer playing from Red Garland and Philly Joe Jones (on keys and drums respectively). Miles reportedly referred to Jones as his favorite drummer of them all, which is saying something from a guy who worked with Tony Williams for years. If you dig Miles but haven't heard Steamin', don't be like me and wait forever to check it out.

Need to hear the other records in the series asap (Workin' and Cookin'—Relaxin' has been a favorite of mine for a long time).

[KevinP]

[Brian]

I'm looking through my listening log for 2022 and identified these as the best new explorations, discoveries, and purchases of my year:

- the Modern Jazz Quartet in general but especially live (European Concert, Dedicated to Connie, Last Concert)
- Dave Brubeck Trio live in Vienna (a night when Paul Desmond failed to appear on time)
- First Flight to Tokyo, and Just Coolin' - Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers

I also finally wrapped up listening to the amazing "Monk's Dreams" box set by Frank Kimbrough, Scott Robinson, Rufus Reid, and Billy Drummond. And then started over again from the beginning!

[DaveF]

Blakey in wondrous form.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Cannonball Adderley: The EmArcy Small-Group Sessions.

[SimonNZ]

- First Flight to Tokyo, and Just Coolin' - Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers

Interesting. I hadn't heard of these recent issues from the vaults. Thanks for the heads-up.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

The Miles Davis/Tadd Dameron Quintet – In Paris Festival International De Jazz - May, 1949.

[KevinP]

I'll continue the Cannonball theme with this:


Alas, I don't think interpreting melodies of standards was Cannonball's forte, nor was doing arrangements of existing pieces William Russo's. These are also quite commercial (as 'with strings' recordings were back then), which may have been forced upon Russo.

Will move on to the Russo-arranged cuts on Jump for Joy probably later today.

In a few days (the 11th) it will be the 20th anniversary of Russo's passing.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I'll continue the Cannonball theme with this:


Alas, I don't think interpreting melodies of standards was Cannonball's forte, nor was doing arrangements of existing pieces William Russo's. These are also quite commercial (as 'with strings' recordings were back then), which may have been forced upon Russo.

Will move on to the Russo-arranged cuts on Jump for Joy probably later today.

In a few days (the 11th) it will be the 20th anniversary of Russo's passing.

The playing is good and the arrangement is good too. But the songs are not my favorite.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Bud Powell – Swingin' With Bud.

[SimonNZ]

Four or five times in a row last night while I was reading the Quincy Troupe book I found in a secondhand store

[Artem]

How's that book?

[SimonNZ]

How's that book?

It's very well written. But it confirms what I had already read about Miles being utterly insufferable personally, especially in the years covered in this book: the 1980s.

It's exhibit A for "you should never meet your heroes", even if the author got a few very rare glimpse at moments of his nicer side.

And I just read a bit where he's badmouthing McCoy Tyner saying he "couldn't play for shit", and knowing and loving the Tyner discography that made me very sad.

Edit: while I've been reading it tonight I've had another favorite album going around on repeat: Pat Metheney's As  Falls Witchita.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Bud Powell at Birdland 1953.