Free For All

I remember seeing Sinead on Saturday Night Live once singing in front of a big band, but not a standard. It was very hip, I must say. I picked up Bjork's Vespertine based upon a recommendation on the old BNBB, and it is one of most engaging things I've ever heard. Once again, not jazz, though.

I don't know of what his education consisted, but it wouldn't surprise me if he was just a voracious reader who learned on his own. He doesn't strike me as a "college" type, but I could be wrong. Or maybe he went to DeVry.

Thanks, BW. I was wondering if this was something to check out or if it was just an example of yet another pop star jumping on the standards bandwagon. I like Aaron Neville in the context of the Neville Bros.; it seems like he might make a passable jazz vocalist. OTOH, those Rod Stewart standards CDs just about make me want to yak. But so does everything else he does, so I'm not the most impartial judge. Let's see- Sting, Melissa Manchester, Toni Tenille, Carly Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Bette Midler, Diana Ross...................who else has ventured into the jazz realm?

For anyone who might be interested, there is a very interesting and articulate essay by Brad Mehldau in the Dec. JazzTimes. He talks about musical idealogy, the "apples and oranges" folly of comparing players to one another, many things similar to the debates that take place on this board. And it's a much easier read than some of his liner notes! Anyone check this out and have a comment? I think he's right on the money on several points.

Anyone heard the Aaron Neville? Is it any good? Big band/orchestral accompaniment? Good or cheesy arrangements? Inquiring minds want to know.

I don't know if this was discussed elsewhere, but did anyone notice that a new record was set this morning (Monday) with 63 online at 11:01 am?

Ah...........my favorite Wynton. One of my top 3 or 4 pianists of all time. I really like his leader dates like Someday My Prince Will Come, Kelly at Midnight, Piano Interpretations and Full View, but some of my favorite Wynton is his sideman appearances. Mobley's Roll Call, Miles' Someday My Prince Will Come(his intro on the title tune is one of my favorites moments in jazz) and Rollins' Newk's Time and Volume One, to name a few. He's soulful, he swings, and he comps beautifully behind soloists. I wish he could've stuck around a little longer. Happy Birthday Wynton Kelly, and thank you! Edit: I can't leave out the Blackhawk recordings! And Smokin' at the Half Note! It's all good........

I got to hang with Vonski multiple times while I lived in Chicago through most of the 90s- sometimes down south at the "Apartment" jams, where Von held court. Those sessions were often full of long winded half-hour F blues; Von would start things off with a few choice choruses and then give way to the long line of participants- some could play, some couldn't but did anyway. Von welcomed them all with a big smile. For me, the better Von hangs were the occasions when he would venture north to the Green Mill and play with the quintet I was working with. That gig was the greatest- every Wednesday for SEVEN YEARS! An opportunity to play way-too-long solos and explore some territory beyond the known envelope. I sure miss that gig- I doubt I'll ever get to do something that hip again. Those Steeplechase sides were recorded with a couple mikes and a digital recorder. Pretty informal jam-type format, usually head-and-solos. I truly felt like I was in the presence of greatness- when Von would get rolling on a solo, you'd be treated to a stream-of-consciousness sermon combining bebop, hardbop, soul and free jazz, all within one solo. A history of jazz. He is one of those who can truly take his time and play a long solo that very gradually builds and roars and starts over, much like I would expect from Jug or Stitt at a live gig. When Vonski was "on", the results, to me, rivaled some of Rollins' greatest late 50s- 60s moments, and that is not a compliment I bestow very often. You know how sometimes you hear something so good and so right it just makes you laugh? This magic didn't happen every time he played, but I never heard him have a bad night. And he's a gem of a person- always made you feel good about yourself, very supportive. He always made me play better. And he do love the ladies! I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time.

Does go well with turducken, though!

That was my first experience as a participant with the whole plaza lighting thing. It was cold so pitch was all over the place all night (I just love outdoor gigs in the winter), and the sound was really loud with lots of noise mixed in. I taped the broadcast at home and when I checked out the sound there were NO trombones present anywhere in the mix. Just saxes and trumpets. And the singers! Oy! Oh well, glad to have a gig!

Sounds like you need to vent a bit, Scott. Have at it! Was someone wearing sandals?

....and future celebrity politicians. Don't forget Fred "Gopher" Grandy's foray into the political arena. He had some title in Iowa I don't recall- is he still active in politics?

I'm with you on this one, EKE BBB. I participate in some decidedly non-jazz discussions here, but I have little interest in the political threads. I come here to escape that bombardment. I am, however, sometimes inclined to reference the political threads because of some poster's comment in a non-political thread, or to better understand the opinions of various posters, so I guess I would like to at least have access to the political stuff, even if I don't spend much time there. I'm interested in learning about the non-jazz interests of many here who share a love of the music; I am one who believes that if you don't like like it, don't read it, but to someone else it apparently needs to be said or responded to, and I'm OK with that. But you won't see me tangling with too many online, I'm just here to hang out and have fun. Which is not to say I'm not passionate about certain things, I just don't want to drag all my own baggage in here. Your mileage may vary.

Happy Turkey Day, folks! Travel safely, forgive your friends/relatives their political beliefs/religious beliefs/flatulence etc. , enjoy "gobbling" your feasts of choice (just SAY NO TO TURDUCKEN!), keep an eye on the "kids table", enjoy Dallas trouncing Miami/Miami trouncing Dallas, don't feed turkey/chocolate to the dogs (they shouldn't eat it), be alert for the moment when you can say "Welp.......we better hit the road so we can beat the traffic...", and bring some good turkey tales back to the board. And be thankful for our little jazz clubhouse here. Thanks, Jim, Joe and Randy!

The Paris Hilton...........after you check in, you better get checked out........... OR...... The Paris Hilton...........you're gettin' checked out while you check in.............

Turduckin'-A!

Agreed. A great side, and a dream band for sure! Check out his recording "Color Changes"- some of my favorite Clark.

Chocolate-covered roasted espresso beans. Very tasty. And they give you a serious buzz. :rsmile:

That's an interesting idea. Kind of like "Double Clutching" on Coltrane Time. I didn't mean to be critical of those who like to play Blue Monk, Sundog, I just think it's important to continue to delve into the more obscure and less frequently played tunes. There are also those who play Shorter's "Footprints" (usually with the wrong turnaround) and end their exploration of Shorter tunes there. Both are great tunes, fun to play, but neither is particularly representative of the most innovative work of the composer, IMHO. Both Shorter and Monk tunes are so unique unto themselves that you can't apply the usual analytical yardstick (such as traditional functional harmony and phrase lengths, for example). Each player is at a specific point in his/her development and they should proceed only as is comfortable for them, I just think it's important to sample a larger portion of each writer's work. It took me a while to "grow into" appreciating certain artists (like Monk, Mingus, Andrew Hill, Dolphy for example) and tunes (Shorter, Monk, Golson) and I'm still learning. That's what's so great about this music- once you reach one peak, you see another higher one off in the distance, and this goes on forever!

Good title for a tune.

Another vote for Rahsaan. We need to start a new thread on him. He's one I listen to obsessively for a while, then put aside. But I keep coming back to him, maybe as much as anyone I listen to.

My question to you, Jim, is was there a point where this seemed like a good idea?

I think I'll just use "turducken" as a substitute for the popular rhyming expletive, and respell it- turduckin'. "Hey Paul, you stayin' home for Thanksgiving?" "Turduckin'-A I am!" or "Have you heard Rod Stewart's Standards Volume 2? It rocks!" "Gimme a turduckin' break! That turduckin' turducker can't turduckin' sing!"

Sometimes Blue Monk is what people call when they want to be hip and call a Monk tune, but haven't bothered to learn any more challenging Monk tunes (like Epistrophe, for example, or Well You Needn't with the right bridge). "Hey look, I know a Monk tune!" Gimme a turduckin' break!

They also could have called it Ch-uck-ey. Chuckey! First you eatey, then you chuckey.