Milestones

R.I.P. Mr. Konitz I don' know how many sax players of his stature and even close to his age are still left.

R.I.P. Jymie Merritt I believe Curtis Fuller, still alive, was on some of the those records from when Merritt was in the Messengers.

A month ago we lost one of modern jazz's greatest players. In my opinion, he was also among the greatest composers. Below is just the cream of the crop: Passion Dance Search for Peace Sunset African Village Vision Smitty's Place Contemplation Blues on the Corner The Greeting The High Priest Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit Fly With the Wind Sama Layuca Celestial Chant Beyond the Sun Espanola You Taught My Heart to Sing Three Flowers Effendi Flying High New Orleans Stomp

This was when? About 1962-64?

I'm most impressed by the Jim Hall records--a very diverse set, all of them rather interesting, most of them highly successful. Among Tyner's records, I like the last one best: Illuminations. This is an all-star group that is really in-sync. I like how it breaks down to smaller groups on several tracks, including a piano/bass duet on "West Philly Tone Poem."

Seems to me that Duke owed a lot of his piano style (or at least one of his styles) to Johnson.

#12 is "Theme for Nana" by Tyner with Joe Ford on flute. The album is Focal Point. I have this record. I've been listening to a ton of Tyner's music lately, but had not gotten around to this one. It looks like it's underrated. Good stuff, and thanks for including the great McCoy Tyner.

Duke with New Orleans Suite....I have not heard that one in ages. I do recall it having some prominent flute, which is the only record of his for which that is true (as far as I know). On #11 Ahmed Abdul-Malik makes perfect sense.

1) “Siesta for the Fiesta”—Lester Bowie Brass Fantasy 2) That sure sounds like the Ellington orchestra—early stuff, I’d say mid-30s or earlier. But the wrinkle is the presence of organ. Duke meets Fats Waller? 3) Not bad, pretty laid back. The sound reminds me a bit of John Lewis writing for a larger ensemble. That could even be Milt Jackson. It picks up and get punchier during the trumpet solo. It seems to be a full big band, plus some strings. 4) This must be Duke again. This is familiar, and it sounds like something off Far East Suite—except it isn’t (unless it’s a bonus track). Cool stuff...I like hearing flute in jazz. 5) This reminds me of Tyner’s Fly With the Wind album, although it certainly is not that. Maybe James Newton on flute, though it doesn’t sound much like him. Not bad. Bass is rather prominent. Maybe the bassist’s record? 6) Very mellow, but it sounds like low-end Third Stream or soundtrack music. 7) More modern (I’m guessing ) big band. Some interesting writing, and a nice sudden shift into a funky section just past the 5-miute mark. But I have no idea who this might be. 8) I see you favor the big band sound. Pretty good track. I’m not much up on big band stuff from the last 2-3 decades, just Carla Bley, Gerald Wilson, occasional forays by Dave Holland and McCoy Tyner. Nothing suggests it’s any of them. 9) This could be Barbieri, or perhaps it’s Brecker (whom I know better for his more mainstream work). Whatever it may be, this is what decent “fusion” sounds like. 10) Fun stuff, but I would certainly have a hard time identifying a boogie woogie pianist. 11) Flute seems to be another thread running through this BFT. I have heard many versions of “Delilah,” but not this one. Stephane Grappelli on violin? Ray Nance? Then we have some…oud? I like this! 12) Imagine, more flute! I’m thinking James Spaulding. I’ve heard plenty of his fine playing on Blue Note, where unfortunately he was never a leader. Perhaps later Spaulding. Oh man, on piano that has to be the one and only McCoy Tyner. I don’t recall Spaulding and Tyner meeting up post-1960s. I would have to think it is the flute player’s date. In any case, this is sterling stuff. 13) "Útviklingssang” by Carla Bley. This might be the version from Social Studies, or possibly a different one. I’m a big fan of her music, and this is one of my favorite pieces by her. Overall, this is a great BFT—lots of wonderful music. 1

Of course not. Nor John Fogerty, Neil Young, Loretta Lynn, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Towshend, Carly Simon, Brian Wilson, etc. Nor Dylan, but then he has a Nobel. I guess it's not really an award for songwriting, but rather for contributions (In whatever way that is conceived) to popular music.

Sorry if I offend anyone who enjoys his music, but WTF with Garth Brooks getting this award? He didn't even write his most famous tune, "Friends in Low Places," which in any case hits every lyrical and musical cliche in Country. My one favorite by Brooks is "Make You Feel My Love," composed by some guy named Dylan. Near as I can tell, he contributes to about 50% (or less) of the songs on his records, and I do mean "contribute"--he almost always has co-writers. And the records are 33-38 minutes in running time.

That must have been just a few months before Coltrane passed away.

Expansions is a great album, and so is the big band album The Turning Point (more than 20 years later).

Supertrios was also a double. Of course, all the doubles later wound up as single CDs.

I teach at a community college near Cleveland. I think nearly all the colleges in the state cancelled starting yesterday, including mine. We are just on the verge of spring break anyway, but chances are the rest of the term will be cancelled in terms of on-campus. But they want everything (or nearly everything) to convert to online, which is not hard for me. It looks like everything will be deeply affected. Not good for so many businesses, but I've never seen a crisis like this.

Tyner must have done at least 25 records on Milestone, several of them doubles. And he did most of this within a 10-year span.

OK, I do have that record (4x4), though it has not been played as much as many of the others.

Someone mentioned a piece called "The Seeker." I don't know that one.

I'm spinning Trident at this very moment. I would not mind a record of Tyner/Bartz/Clarke/DeJohnette!

The mellow and gentle side often goes unremarked. I'm thinking of pieces like "Twilight Mist," "Espanola," "You Taught My Heart to Sing," "Good Morning, Heartache," and many ballads (especially solo). All good, good stuff. From what I can tell, McCoy Tyner was still playing live less than two years ago. Yet no recordings for a decade or more.

I hope someone will release some McCoy Tyner we've not heard before, which would most likely be live material. It could be from 10 years ago or 40 years ago, but let's have something.

R.I.P. to one of my all-time favorites. He was, of course, integral to the Coltrane quartet, but what a spectacular solo career. I collected just about everything he did, from solo to big band. So much of it was excellent, including the many sideman appearances on Blue Note in the 1960s. He was a fine composer, and certainly one of the greats on the keys.

I always thought of Montgomery as the leader on Smokin' at the Half Note, though it is true that on the original release Kelly's name appears above his. But that one and Wes' Full House are genuine classics.

Any thoughts on Wynton Kelly? He's one of those guys who put in a nice stint with Miles, but does not get much credit. He had, of course, just the one track on Kind of Blue, but he was integral to Someday My Prince Will Come, which I think is a highly underrated Miles Davis record. I've been listening lately to Coltrane Jazz, where he has a big role (pus there are several bonus live tracks). Much of Kelly's best work is found in live settings, including later work with Wes Montgomgery. He played with such other greats as Dizzy, Cannonball, Sonny Rollins, J.J., Milt Jackson, Hank Mobley, and Jimmy Heath. He seemed to usually have a bright, sparkly style--though at ballad tempo he was nearly as sensitive as Bill Evans. Kelly did not seem very distinguished as a leader. The only record of his in my collection in Kelly Blue, and to be honest I've not listened to it enough to make a real judgment. I had forgotten that Kelly died quite young--only 39. That was true for so many of the players on Kind of Blue: Trane, Cannonball, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers (the youngest of all), and Wynton Kelly.

I can't say that I've heard (or even heard of) Roy Buchanan. I've heard of Quicksilver, but that's about it...before my time is part of it.