HutchFan

Now playing: Art Pepper - San Francisco Samba: Live at Keystone Korner (Contemporary, rec. 1977) with George Cables, Michael Formanek, and Eddie Marshall

That Johansson post makes me think that there must have been some propagandistic "tractor music" written during the days of the Soviet Union. These posters (and many others like them) testify to the importance of tractors in the Soviet scheme of things: Also -- if I recall correctly -- some of the most brutal fighting during the Battle of Stalingrad was in and around a tractor factory.

Milton Nascimento - Milton (A&M, 1976) with: - Milton Nascimento – guitar, vocals, arranger - Toninho Horta – electric guitar - Wayne Shorter – soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone - Raul De Souza – trombone - Herbie Hancock – piano - Hugo Fattoruso – piano, electric organ - Novelli – double bass - Roberto Silva – drums, percussion - Laudir De Oliveira – percussion I think this is a masterpiece, beyond category.

Oh yes, that's brilliant too.

Now: KD's best? I think so. Last night: Disc 1: Such a superb compilation. It's terrific to hear Louis in so many contexts -- with different bands (King Oliver, Clarence Williams, Fletcher Henderson, his own Hot Five) and backing various singers (Maggie Jones, Bessie Smith, "Chippie" Hill). . . . Armstrong's comprehensive sets are essential, of course. But I feel like the variety here makes for an experience that's more like spinning a (big!) stack of 78s. Hawes at the top of his game!

TtK, Yesterday, I watched a terrific Jackie Stewart documentary on ESPN. I was thinking of you because the soundtrack was made up of VERY Euro-sounding jazz, easy-listening, library music, etc. And Formula 1 racing -- for someone who like me grew up in the U.S. -- is the epitome of hip and glamourous Euro culture. That's Jackie being kissed by his wife, who (of course) looks like a model you'd see on the pages of Vogue. As Stewart peers into the camera's lens, you can almost hear him thinking, "Yeah, you should wish you were me!" I think they're getting ready to go to the Electric Psychedelic Pussycat Lounge.

More Nawlins music: Dejan's Olympia Brass Band Of New Orleans - Here Come Da Great Olympia Band (Preservation Hall, 1974) Fantastic!

Taking a trip down to NOLA: New Orleans' Sweet Emma & Her Preservation Hall Jazz Band (Preservation Hall, rec. 1964)

These guys were part of the Athens, GA scene -- with REM, the B-52s, Pylon, and the like -- while I was at UGA.

Now spinning: One of Pete Turner's most striking cover images, IMO. And the music is pretty good too.

I love that record.

More Junior Cook: This is an even better album than Pressure Cooker, I think. The presence of Woody Shaw definitely doesn't hurt. I can understand both perspectives. It certainly isn't regular, garden-variety jazz -- but I think it is interesting music. As you say, it's very much "of its time." Yep, I remember seeing that somewhere. It's always a bit of a bummer when they have to lop off a cut to make two LPs fit on one CD. 😬

Junior Cook - Pressure Cooker (Catalyst / Affinity UK, rec. 1977) with Mickey Tucker (p), Cecil McBee or Juini Booth (b), and Leroy Williams (d) Yeah, I dig the cover design too. I've already put the album up on my always-evolving wall display.

A few days ago, I pulled this album from a local shop's dollar bin: My LP is actually the mono version.

Ohhh. Cool !!!! Let us know how it goes, romualdo! As a long-time cyclist and motorcyclist, I'd love to hear about it.

This again:

Good stuff!

Next up: McCoy Tyner - Focal Point (Milestone, 1976)

Pete & Sheila Escovedo - Solo Two (Fantasy, 1977) produced by Billy Cobham

Now streaming: Sebastião Tapajos & Pedro Dos Santos (Trova, 1972) Beautiful.

Bill Mason on the title cut of Rusty Bryant's Fire Eater: Leon Spencer: Richard "Groove" Holmes:

Now: How about Arlen's & Mercer's "Blues in the Night"? Sinatra's classic version works--but Billy Eckstine's version (with Billy May's arrangement) is every bit as good: A song about a no-good woman is right up noir alley.