Rabshakeh

What a time it was.

F Zero was a computer game with an absurd fusion / speed metal soundtrack. This is a record that was recorded by Nintendo's house band (which was apparently a thing). Copies of the CD go for north of £400. Holdsworth's Secrets and Di Meola's Electric Rendez Vous are precisely the kind of stuff I'm thinking of as a sort of basic starting point.

This one is positively tasteful.

What are the craziest, most bad taste, 1980s or early 1990s fusion records that you can think of? Doing some "research" for a "friend". I'm talking music so shredding that it could be on the soundtrack to F Zero (or for the 'mature' ballads, intro music for the Weather Channel). The kind of music that reeks of pony tails, lucozade, garish waistcoats and cheap wrap-around sunglasses.

It's a good article and a pretty good list, although I would not personally have chosen any of those records. There is quite a lot of guidance out there already in relation to Blue Notes, including where to start, deep cuts, soul jazz, avant garde records, etc etc. I think that anyone who is interested in getting into jazz, whether out of musical interest or just for some good record sleeves, has quite easy access to this information.

Max Roach – To The Max! (Enja, 1992)

Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim – Sangoma - Volume One (Sackville 1973) Ruby Braff / George Barnes Quartet With John Giuffrida & Wayne Wright – The Ruby Braff / George Barnes Quartet (Chiarosco, 1973) What a wonderful afternoon's listening it has been.

Khan Jamal Trio – The Traveller (Steeplechase 1986)

Paul Dunmall / Percy Pursglove / Olie Brice / Jeff Williams - Palindromes (2021)

Some brazen skimming for recommendations here, but which of the Chicago Octet / Tentet records.do.you most enjoy? I realised that I only really know the first.

Mary Halvorson – Amaryllis (Nonesuch, 2022) Now on: Sirone Bang Ensemble – Configuration (Silkheart, 2005) Such an incredibly ugly cover. Such great music. Tyshawn Sorey just fantastic.

Let’s not forget the stuff with James Newton and Anthony Davis too.

Streamable on YT. Pretty good too, especially the Tyner track.

I was listening to that Columbia Montreux record just yesterday.

How strange. Someone posted the record on instagram yesterday and I was also trying to figure out who it was. I also assumed Lester Young. I mean… it is a picture of Lester Young.

Nice one.

I have it on my shelf waiting a reading. Looking forwards to it.

I second all of this. I was so excited at the prospect of the reissue of By Myself that I have been encouraging all of my jazz and non jazz friends to listen to the record. This was done half as a joke: generally my recommendations are met with what I assume are rolled eyes and maybe a cursory listen. However, when I told them he had just died, only a week or so later, I was surprised to find that this time several of them had gone back to the album and listened to it multiple times in the short interval.

Zoh Amba Featuring William Parker And Francisco Mela ‎– O Life, O Light (Vol. 1) (577, 2022) FJC was going mad for this one recently. I'm actually pretty impressed by it.

Hubert Laws – Laws' Cause (Atlantic, 1969)

Thanks. That’s more than one…

How many did he do? Wikipedia suggests just the one in 1998 We’re there others?

I don't know that one but it has a great line up.

Seeing reports of bad news that Abdul Wadud may have passed away yesterday.

Richard Beswick, Simon Mayo, Philipp Wachsmann, Tony Wren – Chamberpot (Bead, 1976)