Milestones

No love for this music?

I really only came across this music recently, and I find it quite enjoyable. It's too bad there were just two records. You have James Carter in his early days and the great Steve Turre. And it's certainly worth checking out Myers--she is not your average greasy organist. You wouldn't really expect this from Bowie, or at least I wouldn't. The playing is pretty straight (by Bowie standards), but certainly of fine quality. Always good to hear another version of "When the Spirit Returns," and this one is sterling. You don't often hear organ ensembles led by a trumpeter; usually they don't even include a trumpeter. And then you make it the one and only Lester Bowie!

Seems like I've heard some bass clarinet from Chico Freeman.

Wow, such a big response. I can't claim familiarity with many of the artists mentioned. I've never yet made a playlist of bass clarinet. Maybe I should.

An interesting instrument, especially in the the hands of Eric Dolphy. In my opinion he is the top player, Followed by David Murray. Not sure where I would to go from there. Probably John Surman. Maybe Anthonty Braxton. I have just one record where bass clarinet is featured throughout: Ballads for Bass Clarinet by David Murray.

I still need to digest "The Moon."

This strikes me as pretty much first-rate rate stuff. I saw this trio in concert, and they were great. Sure, the record has a huge playing time, but Chick has culled performances from all over the world. I did expect a little more in the way of his own compositions. I am currently listening to "Fingerprints" (relatively speaking a newer piece), and it's outstanding--not least for McBride's monster bass solo. I find that Corea is amazingly full of ideas for being so deep into his career. It's been quite a long time since he's released anything second-rate.

What else is Amina known for? I've only heard her work with Lester Bowie.

There is great Coltrane from every period. I've made 7 or 8 playlists on my computer, mot of which have gone on to CDs. To boil it down, these would be my choices: I See Your Face before Me Slow Dance Stella by Starlight (Miles) Naima Syeeda's Song Flute Spiritual Cousin Mary (live) Alabama Wise One Welcome After the Rain --not an easy list

Any knowledge on this? Any thoughts? I guess the basis is two Bowie albums from the mid-70s, but they are short--in tunes and in playing time. Here we have 16 tracks and about 2 hours of music. I was never too big on Art Ensemble of Chicago, but always liked Bowie's playing. I'm a much bigger fan of Brass Fantasy, and saw him once with that group--fine show.

Yes, it's odd this one is so brief.

There is a rather odd duet with Hubert Laws on "Airegin," supposedly from 1986. Available on YouTube.

I know Sonny revisited "Oleo," another iconic tune from the a 1954 Miles session. There is a 60s version with Don Cherry. Don't know about "Airegin."

Mostly a fan of the two Miles Davis versions. Grant Green's version is rather good, and so is Wes Montgomery's.

I had one record by him (don't recall title) and it wasn't bad. Also caught him once at Tri-C JazzFest, and he was quite respectable--but not mind-blowing.

Just wondering what people make of the collaboration of Clark Terry and Monk: In Orbit. Oddly, it features just one Monk composition.

Miles, of course, had a taste for the outrageous comment.

It's well known that Miles had trouble with Monk comping behind him. All I can say is Miles did some memorable stuff with "Straight No Chaser," "Well You Needn't," and "Round Midnight."

You can refashion Monk in so many different ways. That's the beauty of it.

So Miles was not very good at playing Monk? Thad Jones? Many others

Like it or not, Monk is the Mozart or Beethoven of jazz, and everyone ought to take a crack at some of his music (not necessarily full album tributes)--and most have. Hell, half of Steve Lacy' long career was playing Monk.

"Timeless"--title track of John Abercrombie's first ECM.

I liked King Crimson too. I should add some of their stuff to my digital collection. Also big on groups using some jazz elements--Traffic, BS&T, The Doors.

That's a tough one. I came up as a rock lover, though I was very young (age 4) at the time of the British Invasion. I basically followed two paths: 1) Beatles and offshoots; 2) Dylan and rootsy Americana stuff. I also favored for some time the "art rock" groups, of which only Jethro Tull still stands high in my favor (pretty different, though, from Pink Floyd and Yes). Some favorites: Sgt. Pepper--Beatles The "White" album--Beatles Who's Next--The Who Bringing it All Back Home--Dylan Basement Tapes--Dylan/Band Aqualung--Jethro Tull Into the Music--Van Morrison

The general feeling seems to be that his first three albums (along with his appearance on Hancock's Quartet) are his best. I would agree with that assessment. Still, he has real talent, and I don't understand those who dismiss most or all of his career.