Rabshakeh

Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra – More Of Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra

Very sad news to hear. A titan.

Albert Mangelsdorff - Now, Jazz Ramwong I should just play this record all the time.

It’s a funk record, with only great tunes on it and a bit of jazz quality soloing. What’s not to love? He’s doing it wrong. It is just flaccid versions of slow paced choral Christmas carols. It’s horrible stuff. We didn’t celebrate Christmas in any meaningful way growing up. This year because of the grandkids my parents are experimenting with doing it with all the trimmings. The music is one experiment that is not working!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Currently listening to my Dad's specially curated Christmas playlist, which he seems to have decided should be in the background this year. It's bleak energy sapping stuff. I'm trying to sneak some Carla Bley in there. Bobby Timmons' Holiday Soul still up the sleeve.

Spinnin' some Schubert in the classic Fischer-Dieskau / Moore version. Christmas tradition over here at Chez Rabshakeh. Going down extremely well this year with the five year old and three year old.

Libre – Con Salsa...Con Ritmo, Vol. 1

Rudresh Mahanthappa – Mother Tongue This is a good reminder to me that I did actually used to enjoy Vijay Iyer's music, 15 years ago. All Mahanthappa records are basically the same thing - the playing is always high standard post Steve Coleman stuff, but I don't think the albums tend to be that good - This one stands out because of the punchier piano work behind him.

As someone with a habit, I can say that no whisky tastes better than the way you're consuming it.

I think she writes well for horns. I'm always either on or off for Halvorson. Not all of her projects are equal, but I don't think it's as easily divided as smaller group v. larger group.

Every year the Phineas or every year the Talisker?

Why even start a band if you don't get the uniform?

Lindsay / Looney / Robair - Yellowcake

I've always wanted to like her music but never did. I find the studio slickness* of her treatment of the blues tradition very off-putting. It reminds me of John Martyn for some reason. *Edit: To avoid misunderstanding, by "studio slickness" I am talking about production choices and her phrasing, not criticising the idea of delivering the blues with slick urbanity or high polish, which is good with me.

Noice

Rent Party Revellers – She Was Just A Sailor's Sweetheart First Dixieland record that I've enjoyed in a while. World Saxophone Quartet – 25th Anniversary - The New Chapter Hard to think of a WSQ record I don't like, but the more that they settled into a settled groove gospel concept with their later records, the more I find them a great listen, even if Hemphill's ideas are missed. Bluiett just always keeps things cooking, and his high cholesterol playing in this context has so much of what I love most about jazz and improvised music: a deep sense of blues funk lodged right up there.

I would like to know whose the face is on Olivencia's. Maybe a custom-made portrait of Olivencia himself.

Dominant moustache game from the Gentleman on the right. Poor Lalo could never quite compete.

I Breakfast listening.

Justo Betancourt – Distinto Y Diferente