Rooster_Ties

Here's the third track.

Yeah, it's the groove that's hookin' me in, definitely. I get how the whole thing doesn't quite gel, but damn - that groove!!

Anybody have the Billy Harper DVD thing with chorus? Been curious about it for forever. Guess I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and check it out myself one of these days.

Here's the three bonus tracks from the 2006 reissue of "African High Life", for anyone wondering. (Fully 39 minutes of music!!) Jim, I'd still love to heard your thoughts on the bonus session in particular - thanks!! Third track to follow in next post...

For years, I'd find various Donald Byrd BN dates from the 70's on CD in the used bins, and every time I went to sample them - I ran for the hills like my life depended on it. I've got everything up through "Kofi" (and think "Kofi", "Electric Byrd", and "Fancy Free" are all pretty solid). And I thought I had all the Byrd leader-dates I ever needed. But my question is... What's up with Ethiopian Knights?? I thought this was a Mizell production, but my on-line poking around today seems to indicate otherwise. I just found the whole album uploaded to Youtube, and am mostly diggin' it (at least the groove, which is solid as a heart attack). It ain't mind-blowing as far as the soloing, but if this were on any label other than Blue Note, and by some random unknown trumpeter -- I'd say this date would pretty much exceed expectations, and be considered a fairly solid, if maybe flawed date. (But being on BN, and being Byrd - expectations are completely different, I'll grant everyone that.) It's that groove that's got me hooked, and makes up for the soloists maybe not bringing their 'A' game. Wholly apart from Byrd's and BN's legacy, what do people think of this one? Pretend it isn't Byrd, and isn't on BN... Worth it? Or not? For instance, until today I had no idea Harold Land and Bobby Hutcherson were both on this date. That's gotta count for something? The two long tracks have me tempted (Youtube clips below), even if I can't stand the ballad (which, thankfully, is pretty short - the same Youtube user has it uploaded too, if anyone really wants to hear it). Thoughts?? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVuIpl_0fyg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Jdwbkqm88U

Joe's on this entire album, Babatunde Olatunji's "Soul Makossa". Not a ton of solo-space for Joe, per se (lots of really short solos, but no lengthy ones as best I recall), but his playing is out front in the mix on practically every track. Really a fun date! Here's a couple tracks...

Nice. More Joe is always welcome!!

Kind of crazy that some of these are seeing release as single CD's unto themselves (like Donald Byrd's "The Creeper" - which is on the Byrd/Adams Mosaic) -- whereas a few dates like Larry Young's "Contrasts" and Sam Rivers' "A New Conception" (BN albums released back in the day, nearly contemporaneous to when they were recorded) STILL haven't ever been issued as single CD's unto themselves (not even in Japan) -- or at least not that I'm aware of. I'd still LOVE to get a copy of "Contrasts" on CD, by itself (though I do own the Larry Young Mosaic). (It's the only released BN date with Tyrone Washington that's not yet seen release on a CD by itself.)

I imagine everyone here has this one already, but just in case anyone doesn't... Lee Morgan's "Infinity" is an absolute monster of a session -- maybe my very favorite Lee Morgan leader-date, and IMHO the best of his numerous pairings with Jackie McLean. Not to be missed, especially since copies of the OOP Conn issue of this date seem to run about $40-$45 these days.

Interesting to see Donald Byrd's "The Creeper" being offered - for the first time on CD (outside of the Mosaic). From 1967, with Pepper Adams and Sonny Red on the front line, and Chick Corea(!), Miroslav Vitous, and Mickey Roker in the rhythm section. Even includes a couple of Chick's tunes, "Samba Yantra" and Chico San".

Tempted by the Nathen Page.

Hoping you're having a very happy day. Cheers! -- Rooster_T.

Many thanks!!

Many, many thanks!! - for what I presume are your translations. Anybody know if the "Freedom Jazz Dance" is from a commercially released recording? (I did some Googling earlier, but didn't come up with anything.)

What I cannot for the life of me fathom, is how Berry somehow rehabilitated himself in the public sphere (in the view of the public), such that you can now see his mug on the front cover of various "visit St. Louis" state department of tourism full-color magazines (overgrown brochures), and have regularly for the last 10 years. (I'm originally from St. Louis, and my folks would regularly pick up the 'tourist stuff' for when my wife and I would visit from Kansas City. I'm talking about the (multiple?) incidents where he was caught videotaping underage women (teen girls) at his restaurant/club complex somewhere outside of St. Louis. For those only reading the Wikipedia article on Chuck (which more than gives him the benefit of the doubt), there (probably, imho) more to it. For instance... http://performingsongwriter.com/chuck-berry -- gives this account (next paragraph is a quote)... Berry had another brush with the law in 1989, when he was caught secretly videotaping women in the bathroom of his restaurant, The Southern Air. A former employee took him to court with a suit that alleged that the tapes “were created for the improper purpose of the gratification” of Berry’s “sexual fetishes.” Several women followed with similar class-action suits. Chuck denied it all. Shortly after The Southern Air was closed, the Feds raided his estate. Along with firearms and marijuana, a cache of videotapes was found, showing underage females in sexual poses. This kept Berry in court for over a year. Charges were finally dropped when the prosecuting attorney became embroiled in his own financial scandal. The same source indicates some other underage shenanigans with a 14-year old girl around 1959. I don't want to make more of this than it is -- but, still, it is what it is. How one can do stuff like that (which I understand, is probably not totally uncommon), and still be an "advertising icon" for a state department of tourism, is totally beyond me.

Wow, I had no idea Shunzo Ohno could play like this. (I think even heard him once, or maybe I was dreaming -- Spontooneous, was Ohno on a Buster Williams gig at the Folly many years ago, late 90's?) In any case, enjoy... At least this one is from a real release (or one that I can try and track down).

If anything, this third clip (from a different Youtube user) is just as amazing as the last one above... Who's on tenor? Who's on guitar? WHAT A PERFORMANCE!! Has this ever been released??? Checking out the other clips from this user, there's plenty of others of interest, for instance...

Audio-only clips from Youtube, I'm afraid. (Oh, to see video footage, but the audio is amazing enough!) First the JAZZ one, a really forward-thinking take on Jimmy Heath's "The Time And The Place" -- but notice the almost "surf"-like guitar right in there with the groove!! And I love the flute that flies in over everything now and again, which I get the impression (from photographs) was played by the lead singer of the Blue Comets. And then some SOUL with a FREE JAZZ bent, this take on Otis Redding's "I Can't Turn You Loose". Simply amazing "free-jazz"-leaning solos from the tenor-player in Hino's group (at 3:15), and then Hino (at 4:00). Just listen... Surely they're from the same source. Have these cuts been released anywhere?? Hard to tell with all the Japanese (and lack of English) in the Youtube descriptions. I would LOVE to find a copy of this, any ideas??

Have spun this a good 6 or 8 times since I got it, and it continues to impress. Fair warning, much of this date sounds like a "half-crazy, party record" if you don't pay too close of attention to it. In many ways, it's everyting that Tyrone Washington's "Do Right" date attempted to be. The thing is, that there's WAY more going on in the rhythm section on THIS date (than on Tyrone's last leader date). Very active, almost 'nervous' bass-playing - and some really nice, comping on keys from Delmar Brown. So put this on as background music, and you'll never notice much of anything about why this date works so well (at least for whom this date works so well).

Couple more Cabu comps...

Never quite realized that any of the one (or two?) "Chick had to play acoustic" Bitches Brew era gigs had ever been recorded professionally (or semi-professionally, or at least good enough to release legit). Never in a million years did I expect to ever hear the Bitches Brew band play with an acoustic piano, but that's long been a dream of mine -- to hear that kind of material played with acoustic piano. Now, the "Miles Ahead" footnote isn't entirely clear -- on this particular recording (the one about to be released) where there ANY of the Bitches Brew tunes played with acoustic piano?? And if so, which ones?? (Obviously I've never heard the recordings of this gig that circulate.)

More Cabu comps...

A couple more 'Cabu' cartoon covers (there are plenty more for those who want to search for them)... Quite jarring, if you ask me. The Parker almost reminds me of Dr. Seuss. One more that doesn't bother me as much (maybe because it kind of reminds me of Miles' paintings)...

Here's two especially "cartoonish" ones I just stumbled on, to get us started. While I'm not sure if I liked it at first, the one of Gil is starting to grow on me, as I really like the idea of the band being the colors on a palette as he paints. FYI, the Gil album is called "Cabu Jazz Masters", and now that I look -- so is the Quincy (they have a whole series like this).

OK, finally, actual sound-clips. 90-second samples of every tune are available through the iTunes music store (I had to bring up iTunes itself to hear the samples). Centennial (Newly Discovered Works of Gil Evans) Even more tempted. OK, I'm sold. Just have to get around to ordering one, but I will one of these days.