relyles

I am going to have to do this in multiple sittings. Here are my comments on the first seven tracks - typed while listening to them the first time. 1. I am not good identifying titles, but at least I can identify this as an Ellington (or Strayhorn?) tune – “African Flower” maybe? Anyway, the intro by the saxophonist stretches it out a bit to make it sound a little like something else. I can’t identify the saxophonist with any confidence, but Rahsaan comes to mind. Solo saxophone requires a bit of effort by the performer a well as the listener. I enjoyed this. He/she for the most part sticks to the melody of the tune and adds little inflections in the tone here and there that keeps me interested. 2. The sound quality betrays this as an older recording. It has a certain primitive relaxed feel that is appealing. The track was over before I realized it. The trumpeter and pianist did not overwhelm with virtuosity or imagination, but both had an effective feel that worked. 3. This track is somewhat in the same zone as the prior track. Hard to pick between the two tracks, but here the trumpeter seems to tell a bit more of a story in his/her solo – but again with what today I am calling a “primitive relaxed approach” – not intended as an insult. It’s a contrast to the other side of the extroverted trumpeter that I seem to hear more of. The pianist plays some interesting things – not necessarily in support, but more along with the trumpeter. 4. Are we going further back in jazz history here? Good vocalist, but I suspect for it to really resonate with me I would have to hear this under different circumstances than I am currently listening. Another feature for relaxed trumpet work – nice little interlude there. 5. Since the second track we have been a bit outside my usual listening preferences so any perceived lack of excitement over these tracks should keep that in mind. Another trumpeter, but the strings here makes this feel “pleasant” as opposed to relaxed like the prior tracks. It actually gets more interesting once the male vocalist enters. I wish there was more time for me to investigate some of the gaps in my listening experience so that I can enhance my appreciation of tracks like this. For now, I will just have to say it is “nice”, but not something that has the immediate impact of motivating further investigation. 6. We are still dwelling in a certain zone regarding tempo and overall mood, but now we get to hear some heartfelt tenor saxophone. Maybe it is a preference for saxophones, or perhaps we are moving a bit forward on the timeline, but I am enjoying this one a bit more than the previous tracks. The saxophonist sounds like someone that maybe I should know, but there is nothing readily identifiable to me. Very enjoyable track. 7. This immediately got me to refocus as I had drifted a bit and started checking facebook on my cell phone. Sax-bass-drums trio. It is an alto, but it has that rough around the edges tone that I like – someone like Thomas Chapin has that at times. Bass and drums seem locked in. Saxophonist is familiar, but again I am not willing to go out on a limb and commit to anyone in particular – although the previously mentioned Mr. Chapin sounds like a legitimate possibility to me. Very interesting bass solo. Easily my favorite track so far.

My order just arrived on my desk. thank you for braving the weather on our behalf.

PM sent re: Dewey Redman – Musics Jerome Richardson – Roamin’ With Richardson

PM sent.

Friday night's concert was somewhat different. I described the show Tuesday as "playful". The overall tone of the concert was a bit more earnest. The set list was different as well. In addition, jason Moran's wife, Alica Hall Moran a classical soprano singer guested on several tunes. Since her singing is not really coming from the jazz perspective, the texture of the tunes she joined the group on was different. Other than the differences, Jason Moran's playing still interests me the most. Lloyd's Coltrane inspired playing is okay, but I am still not totally won over. In any event, both concerts were enjoyable and I am glad I went.

Just placed an order via paypal for the Mitchell.

I attended the concert last night at UMASS. Overall, it was an enjoyable evening of music. As expected based on his recent recordings Lloyd’s group was not overly aggressive or overpowering. Instead, there was a somewhat subtle intensity at the foundation of the music. They played a varied set consisting of mostly slow to medium tempo tunes, but the quartet also performed a couple of pleasantly soulful/bluesy tunes that my friend commented revealed Lloyd’s Memphis roots. The set list included some recognizable tunes such as a Thelonious Monk ballad and snippets of other things as well as Lloyd originals. I think the most impressive characteristic of the quartet is that they have developed a nice symbiotic relationship after playing together for a couple of years. They obviously enjoy performing together and were indeed “playful” at various times during the performance. This certainly enhanced the enjoyment of the concert. In this group Moran seems to be the most imaginative soloist, but Lloyd plays with a much more affecting feeling that focuses on sound as opposed to notes. The contrast between the two works nicely. Rogers was admirable in his role of laying down the foundation and Harland impressed as well. I also have a ticket to the concert Friday night at Wesleyan that I am now looking forward to attending.

In recent years Shim has also been a frequent member of Michelle Rosewoman's Quintessence and I recall he sounded very good on Liberty Ellman's Tactiles. Most recently he appeared on Steve Lehman's Travail, Transformation and Flow.

Can you add me to the download list?

I heard this band live in November in Hartford with Bruce Williams and Mike Lee on saxophones instead of Keith Loftis. Very enjoyable show and the CD is worthwhile as well.

PM sent re: Sonny Fortune Monk's Mood on Konnex Mint $15

Or less. PM sent re: offer on remaining jazz titles.

PM sent re: Chris Crosco – Fluid Trio+ (GPA) gtr b d w/ George Garzone 4 Rudresh Mahanthappa/Steve Lehman – Dual Identity (Clean Feed) nice 5tet 7

PM sent re: Bang, Billy (w/ Sun Ra, John Ore and Andrew Cyrille) - A Tribute to Stuff Smith (Soul Note) Few, Bobby - Continental Jazz Express (Boxholder) - OOP Jenkins, Leroy (w / Muhal Richard Abrams) - Lifelong Ambitions (Black Saint) - OOP Murray, David (with Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner and Fred Hopkins) - Special Quartet (DIW) - OOP Shipp, Matthew / Morris, Joe - Thesis (HatHut) - OOP

Good to know he is still out there.

Does anyone know what is going on with Blythe these days? I don't think he has had any recordings released in the past few years and I have not seen anything about any live performances.

I have approximately 2620 CDs and 717 LPs - all jazz. I have a bunch of R&B/Soul/Hip hop CDs and LPs that I have collected since childhood, but since they are not catalogued I have no idea how many there are, but it is less than the jazz. I keep collecting although I don't have much time for listening. The fastest growing segment of my music collection is unreleased private recordings and broadcasts of live performances - which now exceeds 9000 concerts.

Received my package as well. And for the record I already owned both the New Jaz Composers Octet and Point of Departure CDs.

pm sent re: Old and New Dreams - A Tribute to Blackwell (Bllack Saint) $5

A few weeks ago my wife moved some of my CDs to make room for a project she was starting in the basement. I was annoyed at first, but seething on the inside for days when I could not find a CD where I thought I had seen it last. I felt like an idiot when I finally realized that I did not even own the CD. Good thing I did not say anything to my wife - that would have been an extremely embarrasing apology.

pm sent re: Terence Blanchard Choices (Promo) Hadley Caliman Straight Ahead Thomas Marriott Flexicon Dave Liebman Big Band As Always The Cookers Cast the First Stone

Second email sent re: Berkman ,David – Leaving Home (Palmetto) Oatts $2 Krystall ,Marty – Plays Herbie Nichols (K2B) $10 Moondoc ,Jemeel – Nostalgia on Times Square (Soul Note) Rahn Burton $7

email sent regarding the following: Marsalis ,Wynton – The Magic Hour (Blue Note) $2 Palmer ,Jeff – Island Universe (Black Saint) Blythe,Abercrombie, Rashied Ali $6 Person ,Eric – More Tales To Tell (Soul Note) $4 Pieranunzi ,Enrico – Special Encounter (CamJazz) Haden,Motian $6 Ragin ,Hugh – Revelation (Justin Time) $5 Rogers ,Paul – Time of Brightness (Rare) $2 Also, what is the price on this one? Spearman ,Glenn – First and Last (Fremite)

It would be interesting to know an estimate of how many new releaes posters have actually heard? Seems that selecting ten favorites from a pool of one hundred new releases has a bit more weight than selecting ten from twenty?

A recently published (if not incredibly revealing) interview of Logan can be found in the December issue of Jazz Inside NY magazine. Giusepi Logan