HutchFan

No, I like that OK. And I sorta like the Prime Time cuts on In All Languages. I was just listening to that the other day. But it isn't a natural affinity. I'm missing out on a groove that others can hear. On the other hand, the M-Base stuff is practically home cookin' in comparison -- even at its most angular and math-nerdy.

M-base will definitely be on my 80s list. Of course, there's a relationship between Harmolodics and M-Base -- but they're also different. To my ears, M-base seems like an 80s version of Soul Jazz. It's jazz-meets-popular Black American music of the day. By the 1980s, that meant Rap and a new sort of angular funk -- but it still seems like M-Base had deep roots in James Brown (just like Rap did and does). I've never felt that with Ornette's music -- Dancing in Your Head or Virgin Beauty. I just don't "get" that stuff. Not that there isn't something there. It just doesn't register with me.

Joachim Kühn, Daniel Humair, J.-F. Jenny-Clark - Easy to Read (Owl)

Sonny Stitt & Don Patterson - Brothers - 4 (Prestige) with Grant Green & Billy James; recorded in 1969

Santi Debriano - Obeah (Free Lance)

I like Audio Visualscapes very much. It is, as you say, "of its time but good of its time." Also, I like that DeJohnette was trying to stretch boundaries. It seems like a lot of jazz -- especially jazz from the 1980s -- observes an unwritten rule that its got to be "acoustic" to be legit. Perhaps during the 80s this stance was in reaction to the widely-held perception that jazz in the 70s was dominated electric instruments & unswinging fusion. Of course, I don't buy that narrative (on many levels) -- and it appears that DeJohnette didn't either.

R.I.P.

This is terrific. Thanks for brining it to my attention, ghost. And THANK YOU to Mark for writing such well-balanced and thoughtful remembrance.

Franco D'Andrea - Quartet Live / My Shuffle (Red)

Not familiar with that one. Will check it out. Another one to look into! Thanks!

First this: and now this:

R.I.P.

Per Wikipedia, Warne recorded Star Highs on August 14, 1982. So it's 'in' timeline-wise.

soulpope, Larry, Interesting that you both chose Warne's A Ballad Album. I've always preferred Star Highs. ...But now you guys make me want to go back and re-listen to A Ballad Album. Maybe I've been missing something!

Great topic for discussion, Rab! I think Marc Johnson's JMT records are excellent: Right Brain Patrol and Magic Labyrinth. I actually prefer these over his more well-known ECM records (Bass Desires, etc.). I love Cassandra Wilson's JMT records, especially Jump World. Just so happens that I've been digging into Steve Coleman's and Greg Osby's early recordings on JMT lately. I'm really enjoying it, so far. Seems like a genuinely new take on Soul Jazz; that is, a fusion of jazz with popular Black American music (from, say, early-70s James Brown to 80s Rap). I dig both Gary Thomas and Tim Berne, and I think their JMT records are excellent -- especially Code Violations and Fractured Fairy Tales respectively. As One, a Jane Ira Bloom duo record with Fred Hersch on JMT is well worth a listen. I also strongly second the vote for In the Year of the Dragon by Geri Allen, Charlie Haden & Paul Motian. As far as DIW, I agree with soulpope's recommendation re: John Hicks' Inc.1. I'd also add: - David Murray - Shakill's Warrior and Fast Life - Marion Brown - Live in Japan - Richard Davis, Roland Hanna, Freddie Waits - Persia, My Dear - James Williams' Magical Trio - Awesome - Stanley Cowell - We Three - Lee Konitz - Some New Stuff - Harold Mabern - Straight Street Oh yeah! Forgot that one.

I've been listening to a couple McCoy Tyner big band records: and

More Larry Willis: Fantastic.

More Michel Petrucciani: