What are you listening to right now?
Started by
ghost of miles
, Sep 18 2003 08:49 PM
119563 replies to this topic
#105883
Posted 27 March 2012 - 01:39 PM
Well, those trio dates are classic Hawes from 1955 and For Real! was recorded in 1958. Others have noticed a decline during this period. In his notes to Bird Song, which covers sessions from 1956 and 1958, Robert Gordon, referencing Hamp's autobiography Raise Up Off Me, is pretty candid about this issue:
I agree it doesn't come up to expectations.
Very nice but so much less than it should have been.
My feeling too, but why exactly ? For me it's Hawes playing, excessively "clipped". Where are the irresistibly swinging long lines of his Trio, vol. 1 & 2 ?
"The later recording date would also explain the slight deterioration of the pianist's powers that can be detected .... Between 1956 and 1958, Hamp spent a great time on the road, including an extended layover in New York City. Once again drugs took the place of music as the most important thing in his life, and the wonder is not so much that his playing slipped a notch, but that he was still alive and able to play with such brilliance at all by 1958."
#105889
Posted 27 March 2012 - 05:59 PM
Well, those trio dates are classic Hawes from 1955 and For Real! was recorded in 1958. Others have noticed a decline during this period. In his notes to Bird Song, which covers sessions from 1956 and 1958, Robert Gordon, referencing Hamp's autobiography Raise Up Off Me, is pretty candid about this issue:
I agree it doesn't come up to expectations.
Very nice but so much less than it should have been.
My feeling too, but why exactly ? For me it's Hawes playing, excessively "clipped". Where are the irresistibly swinging long lines of his Trio, vol. 1 & 2 ?
"The later recording date would also explain the slight deterioration of the pianist's powers that can be detected .... Between 1956 and 1958, Hamp spent a great time on the road, including an extended layover in New York City. Once again drugs took the place of music as the most important thing in his life, and the wonder is not so much that his playing slipped a notch, but that he was still alive and able to play with such brilliance at all by 1958."
My initial complaint wasn't just about HH. It just seems to me every participant just delivers a "professional product". Hamp's problems might have been the reason but someone else might have sparked some music.
#105896
Posted 27 March 2012 - 09:07 PM

Jerry Jerome - Something Old, Something New (Arbors); disc one, the "something old."
I hope I'm not repeating myself, but I recently picked up this album and its companion set, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and have been quite taken with both. Each pairs a disc of "new" (at the time) recordings by the veteran tenor player with a disc of archival material. Nice stuff!
#105897
Posted 27 March 2012 - 09:47 PM

Jack Purvis (Jazz Oracle); disc three. This three-CD set is several things, among them, the best collection of recordings by a brilliant, obscure trumpeter. It's also a wonderful survey of late-20's/early 30's jazz-tinged pop music.
Later: The Boswell Sisters' "It's the Girl" from this set was the track that clicked with so that I finally "got" this wonderful vocal group. I'm embarrassed that it took me that long.
Edited by jeffcrom, 27 March 2012 - 10:15 PM.
#105898
Posted 27 March 2012 - 11:34 PM

Preservation Hall Jazz Band and guests - Preservation (Preservation Hall). A 2010 album by the main touring PHJB band with guest vocalists. I will admit that I have very little idea who some of the guest stars are, but most of the tracks are excellent. I particularly like the tracks with Andrew Bird, Tom Waits, Del McCoury, Ani DiFranco, Merle Haggard, and Dr. John.
Reply to this topic
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users
































