Here's a digest of this week's #OPM writeups! 5 tracks from indie Fediverse #music artists to expand your musical horizons. Unusual ambient, wild ADHDcore, and more this week!
If you want the full, undigested versions (i.e. where I have more to say about each one than will fit in a single post) of these writeups, they are here:
Lush, organic and cinematic, this is the sound of #jazz crashing into post rock while the ghost of #prog looks on with approval. Twisty, unusual rhythms and interesting harmonic movement realized by an array of impressive musicians, including both traditional rock/jazz players but also strings and more. Sounds like someone made a movie out of the weirdest dream you ever had and this is the score.
This is a sweet story that I never heard. Jimmy Carter hosted a jazz celebration at the White House. He requested that they play “Salt Peanuts.” Dizzy Gillespie agreed on the condition that Carter sing it. He did.
An often ignored classic of South African jazz, “Tete’s Big Sound” by Tete Mbambisa was released in 1976. Tete Mbambisa – "Tete's Big Sound" The album Tete’s Big Sound emerged during a golden age for local South African jazz recordings in the 1970s. Issued by the independent As-Shams/The Sun label in 1976, it was the […] …
"John Coltrane, one of jazz history’s most revered saxophonists, released 'Giant Steps' in 1959. It’s known across the jazz world as one of the most challenging compositions to improvise over for two reasons - it’s fast and it’s in three keys."
one of the records I grew up with, courtesy of my budding trumpet player older brother, and still one of my absolute favourites, so I got myself my own copy.
Starting this LP and asking…”what’s all this about Samba, then, Milt?” is forgivable…because all of side 1 is the “Jazz”. The “Samba” kicks in with side 2 and you can’t blame Bags for wanting to cash in a little.
The liner notes are amusing: “…spoke of (samba) as ephemeral and predicted that overproduction would run it into the ground.”
RvG definitely turned the dials up to 11 when recording this one…maybe 12.
“It is a curious and gratifying fact that although almost three years have elapased since Stan Getz decided to bring the jazz samba to North American audiences, the consequent commercial uproar did not turn out to be a nine-day wonder.” (Cont…)
Jazztodon artist of the week: David Murray! From @aaj: Few musicians in jazz history have proven more vigorously productive than tenor saxophonist David Murray. During the past 35 years, David has careened forward in a cool, collected, rocket-fueled streak. He has released over 150 albums under his own name. He has perfected an instantly recognizable approach to improvisation that even in its freest flights acknowledges the gravity of a tradition he honors more than most.
I love Cannonball Adderley and in particular his collaborations with his brother Nat, but on this instead we get Miles Davis on probably the best record where he’s credited as session musician.
Stanley Turrentine and The Three Sounds - "Blue Hour" (1961)
One of the crown jewels of the #BlueNote catalog has been reissued. I love my mono original of this, scratches and all, but this new stereo reissue is terrific. Ideal rainy day music.
Not sure if there are any Latin/Jazz music lovers out there; I'm plugging my good friend, former college roommate, and fellow musician, Jon Ball as he joins
"Gonzalo Grau & La Clave Secreta" at the Lincoln Center in NYC!
This ~ 2 hour event will be live-streamed on the Lincoln Center website as well as YouTube (link below).
La Clave Secreta has been together for 15 years and their eclectic blend is son cubano, jazz, rhumba, R&B, and funk... so tune-in an turn it up! 7:30p EST ⟶ there's a countdown timer on the YouTube site that should align with anyone's time zone)
⟶ If you know someone who might like some free, live music streamed tonight, boost it out! ⟵ https://lincolncenter.org/series/lincoln-center-presents/gonzalo-grau-andamp-la-clave-secreta