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Everything posted by CJ Shearn
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Fair enough, I can respect that because you also have a very wide taste. Personally for me, he's been one of the more interesting players in the last two decades in the so called "mainstream" along side Christian Scott. I think they are working to push things forward and jazz is in a place where things are evolving in a way that it's not palatable to everyone. I think to recent conversations with some of my musician friends, that a lot of musicians, particularly from my generation, and those who are now coming up like Joel Ross, are using their jazz background but are using it to do something else. Sure, Ambrose can play hard bop, probably the closest thing is the Blue Note All Stars Our Point Of View which I dig very much, but opts for a more expansive take in his own work, or what his heart sees as valid, and I dig that. I applaud Ben Williams for doing the same thing, with I Am A Man which is excellent with the jazz flavorings. As much as hard bop is part of my personal listening palette, and comfort food, when I review on my blog I almost never do hard bop records, because as fine as albums on Smoke Sessions (and I have a fair amount) and the like are... there is not much to say. What can be said about that stuff that hasn't been said of all the classic Blue Note stuff already? Lenny White made a great point in a podcast with Vince Wilburn, Jr with Emilio Modeste and Malick Koly, who were in Wallace Roney's last band. They were talking the "future of jazz" and Lenny said for new generations, there has to be a way to take home cooking, and because younger folks have different tastes figure out a way to make that home cooking palatable-- so integrating that jazz flavor in a way that can bring folks to the music. I mean we all know that kind of argument has been around for years-- the kind of raise a red flag to purists. I guess I react so strongly to pro purist type feelings because I was one, and then my mind opened. I like what Antonio Sanchez said when we caught up last week, jazz is a freedom and a spirit, and I think that's exactly where it is today. I'm starting to think of all the artists I like, their music is their own universe, I'm trying not to think oh this is jazz, this is rock, this is funk, this is electronic... it's all music.
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With what crime?
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All of those records you gotta hear more than once. He has such an abstract way of approaching things that it can be a challenge, but I accepted the challenge. He's wonderful on Wolfgang Muthspiel's ECM albums and I think Ambrose will sound great doing albums as a leader for them. I also think because he's of my generation it may be easier to grasp, I'm not sure... I just keep an open mind and dig what he's saying
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My card was charged so it must be shipping
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Thelonious Monk - Palo Alto (Impulse) --> fresh new monk!
CJ Shearn replied to EKE BBB's topic in New Releases
Interesting. -
Thelonious Monk - Palo Alto (Impulse) --> fresh new monk!
CJ Shearn replied to EKE BBB's topic in New Releases
CD packages have been getting bad for years but I wonder sometimes it's the labels' way of saying "yes, we think the CD is dead". I didn't buy Blue World but the Both Directions At Once packaging is pretty bad. -
Tangents and Now This his final two albums are excellent as well.
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Thelonious Monk - Palo Alto (Impulse) --> fresh new monk!
CJ Shearn replied to EKE BBB's topic in New Releases
Yep, that darn Conor McGregor. -
That's what he told me as well. Good news
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This is a nice album, I didn't like it as much as Letter to Herbie though which is fantastic
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RIP. Love the Elvin work especially
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I have digital promos of the Wilkins, Clayton, new Frisell and album by Artemis and the Blue Note: reimagined I intend to review. I listened to most of the Clayton, Logan Richardson and Marcus Gilmore make very strong contributions. After a listen, I need to really focus on the Wilkins, there is some really good playing there. I think Blue Note should keep signing new artists because thee most important thing in jazz is to be present in the here and now. Blue Note at this point as we all know is just a brand, and I don't think many artists have broken out during the Don Was era, Robert Glasper, Norah Jones and Jose James were all with them in the Lundvall era, Ambrose Akinmusire too whom I think is the biggest stand out. This current era is not that different from the George Butler/UA one honestly... most of what's being put out is product. If anything, Blue Note should sign someone like Connie Han because she could benefit from more diverse settings. It is good but the sound is horrible. So compressed.
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I also think Chewy's view is a bit closed minded. My list Pat Metheny: everything he recorded for ECM Keith Jarrett: Sun Bear Concerts Keith Jarrett: Arbour Zena Bill Frisell/Thomas Morgan: Small Town Jan Garbarek: Afric Pepperbird Art Ensemble of Chicago: Urban Bushmen John Abercrombie: Arcade John Abercrombie/Marc Johnson/Peter Erskine Keith Jarrett: Still Live Keith Jarrett: At the Blue Note: The Complete Recordings Jack DeJohnette: Special Edition Jack DeJohnette: Oneness Marcin Wasilewski Trio: Live Anders Jormin/Lena Willemark/Karin Nakagawa: Trees of Light John Scofield/Bill Stewart/Steve Swallow: Swallow Tales Arild Andersen/Paolo Vinaccia/Tommy Smith: In House Science Masabumi Kikuchi: Black Orpheus Nana Vasconcelos: Saudades Meredith Monk: Dolmen Music Trio Beyond: Saudades Terje Rypdal and the Chasers: Blue Kit Downes: Obsidian Eberhard Weber: The Following Morning Rainer Bruninghaus: Freigeweht Kenny Wheeler: Double, Double You David Torn: Cloud About Mercury David Torn: only sky Wolfgang Muthspiel: Angular Blues Steve Reich: Music For 18 Musicians Nils Petter Molvaer: Khmer Avishai Cohen Big Vicious
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Happy bday Mr. Burrell
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The Girl From Ipanema is a far weirder song than you thought
CJ Shearn replied to JSngry's topic in Miscellaneous Music
This was cool. I saw it the other day. -
Thelonious Monk - Palo Alto (Impulse) --> fresh new monk!
CJ Shearn replied to EKE BBB's topic in New Releases
In my dealings with him he's been nothing but a stand up guy but the jazz business is so strange, maybe because he's received so many accolades, someone has a thing. I try to steer clear of the BS and focus on just writing about the music I like but I'll start going outside of jazz too. -
Further thoughts on the Resonance Bill Evans titles
CJ Shearn replied to Larry Kart's topic in New Releases
Can you explain how so? I'd like to learn about this... if we use Jimmy Smith as a base since he's one of my favs.. wouldn't he play on top or slightly ahead? Hank obviously plays way behind