HutchFan

Inspired by mikeweil's Poncho posts above. 😉

Chucho Valdes - Piano I (Areito) Amazing solo piano.

Duke Ellington - All Star Road Band (Doctor Jazz, 2 LPs) The full band in flight at an "ordinary" dance gig in Carrolltown, PA, 1957.

Duke Ellington - Unknown Session (Columbia) 1960 septet recordings from the stockpile. ... Another instance of Duke's utterly distinctive, everyday brilliance.

Anita O'Day - My Ship (Emily, 1975)

Strange, beautiful, and singular.

Both are superb too! As is Amsterdam After Dark!

Steve Turre - Lotus Flower (Verve, 1999)

Some of the very best post-comeback Pepper, IMO.

Two interesting musicians. I've never seen that CD before. But what a strange cover photo. My first impression: "That's awful!" But maybe I'm missing something. Only the word "Sky" appears in the open sky. Nice touch. Eyges is looking at the camera, but Blythe is looking at Eyges. Meaning? Why are they standing next to a fence that appears to be surrounding a back-yard deck? An enclosure contrasting with sky? And the newspaper and centerpiece on the table. What's that all about? Hmm. ... Oh well. I'm probably reading way too much into it. So what's the music like?!?!

NP: Charlie Mariano - October (Contemp, 1977) with Rainer Brüninghaus, Barre Phillips, Trilok Gurtu, et al Earlier: Charlie Mariano - Crystal Bells (CMP, 1980) with Stu Goldberg, Gene Perla, and Don Alias

Jack McDuff - The Heatin' System (Cadet, 1972) Oh yes.

Just listened to this LP the other day. Enjoyed it so much that I'm spinning it again. Jay McShann - Kansas City Hustle (Sackville, 1978)

Mark Murphy - Stolen Moments (Muse, 1978)

Mick Goodrick - In Pas(s)ing (ECM, 1979) with John Surman, Eddie Gomez, and Jack DeJohnette

Eastern Rebellion 4 (Timeless) Not the usual Eastern Rebellion line-up. On this LP, the quartet is expanded to include "Chocolate" Armenteros & Curtis Fuller.

Chico O'Farrill - Heart of a Legend (Milestone, 1999)

George Mraz - My Foolish Heart (Milestone, 1996) Beautiful trio record with Richie Beirach & Billy Hart

Regarding Akinmusire: I think he's a very interesting player. I only know one of his records well, When the Heart Emerges Glistening, but I think the compositions go unexpected places. IMO, the band is strong too -- particularly the tenorist in the front line with Akinmusire, Walter Smith III. You can tell that the band plays together regularly. They're tight. ... And I don't have any issues with Akinmusire's approach or sound. He can be "colorist" and play with some dissonance, but I find myself pulled in by it. Besides, another aspect of his playing -- every bit as prominent, if not more so -- is his tenderness and lyricism. All that said (HutchFan said as he climbed aboard his hobby-horse), I really do think people tend to hear & experience music differently -- even when they're listening to the same thing. So there you go. BTW, I've been meaning to get the CD that Akinmusire made with Tom Harrell for a while now. Just haven't got 'round to it yet. It's called Something Gold, Something Blue, released a few years ago on HighNote. Anyone heard that one?