So, What Are You Listening To NOW?

[jazzbo]

15 minutes ago, Rabshakeh said:

I really like how raw the synths sound.

I think it's an organ.  

Right now

Something different that I'm enjoying.

Orville Peck "Pony"

[mjazzg]

1 hour ago, Rabshakeh said:

Now on: 

Nils Petter Molvær's Khmer (ECM, 1997).

Nothing dates worse than yesterday's hip attempt at crossover.

Loved that when it came out. Saw him perform it at the Jazz Cafe I think.  Haven't listened to it in 15 years at least

[HutchFan]

Bobby Watson & Horizon - The Inventor (Blue Note, 1990)

 

[Rabshakeh]

11 minutes ago, mjazzg said:

Loved that when it came out. Saw him perform it at the Jazz Cafe I think.  Haven't listened to it in 15 years at least

Give it another spin. I'm interested to know how you think. It is very Jazz Cafe in the 1990s. I can smell the frizzly white dreads.

[sidewinder]

1 hour ago, HutchFan said:

Bobby Watson & Horizon - The Inventor (Blue Note, 1990)

 

Enjoyed seeing that band around the time this one and ‘Post Motown Bop’ came out.

[BillF]

[mjazzg]

1 hour ago, Rabshakeh said:

Give it another spin. I'm interested to know how you think. It is very Jazz Cafe in the 1990s. I can smell the frizzly white dreads.

Listening now.  Yes, dated it certainly is.  Ouch! on some tracks

I think most of the trumpet still works in that post-Miles, Nordic cool way (although Henriksen has always been better and more original at that to my ears) and I like Aarset's guitar treatments  It's the rhythm parts that really let it down in places especially when they pick the tempos up, when they "rock out" or use dance rhythms. In that way it is the crossovers that fail.

It's interesting to compare my reaction to this to recently listening to Miles's 'Live At Vienne' which didn't sound dated as much as of its time and I thought was mostly a very good listen.  It was the template for a lot of what Molvaer is doing 6 years later.

And I do remember how fresh and interesting it all sounded last century, even without the dreads...thanks @Rabshakeh for taking me back to a great gig but also for making me feel old 

[Rabshakeh]

12 minutes ago, mjazzg said:

Listening now.  Yes, dated it certainly is.  Ouch! on some tracks

I think most of the trumpet still works in that post-Miles, Nordic cool way (although Henriksen has always been better and more original at that to my ears) and I like Aarset's guitar treatments  It's the rhythm parts that really let it down in places especially when they pick the tempos up, when they "rock out" or use dance rhythms. In that way it is the crossovers that fail.

It's interesting to compare my reaction to this to recently listening to Miles's 'Live At Vienne' which didn't sound dated as much as of its time and I thought was mostly a very good listen.  It was the template for a lot of what Molvaer is doing 6 years later.

And I do remember how fresh and interesting it all sounded last century, even without the dreads...thanks @Rabshakeh for taking me back to a great gig but also for making me feel old 

Good summary. I agree that the actual trumpet playing has aged quite well. 

Never heard Miles' Viene. Something exciting for this evening.

I also need to revisit Henriksen. It's been a while.

Meanwhile, I'm finishing up:

The Art Ensemble of Chicago - Fanfare for the Warriors (Atlantic, 1973)

A good period of the AEC, between Paris and ECM, that I don't revisit enough. Nice to hear them with Abrams on piano. "What's To Say" is a great tune.

Edited July 27, 2021 by Rabshakeh

[mikeweil]

[HutchFan]

1 hour ago, sidewinder said:

Enjoyed seeing that band around the time this one and ‘Post Motown Bop’ came out.

Nice.  I've never seen Bobby Watson live.  Need to correct that!  

I think those two CDs with his Horizon band -- The Inventor and Post Motown Bop -- are among Watson's best.

 

Edited July 27, 2021 by HutchFan

[BillF]

[Referentzhunter]

[sidewinder]

27 minutes ago, HutchFan said:

Nice.  I've never seen Bobby Watson live.  Need to correct that!  

I think those two CDs with his Horizon band -- The Inventor and Post Motown Bop -- are among Watson's best.

 

His band were wonderful - the one with Melton Mustapha, Victor Lewis and Essiett Essiett. Plus Ed Simon on keyboards. At the time it was about -30 outside but the heat generated by the band felt the opposite. Bobby such a warm and gracious host/leader too.

I went along two nights running and had a front row seat !  

It wasn’t the first time I saw Watson. That was with Blakey’s 1979/80 Jazz Messengers, where he was musical director.

Edited July 27, 2021 by sidewinder

[HutchFan]

9 minutes ago, sidewinder said:

His band were wonderful - the one with Melton Mustapha, Victor Lewis and Essiett Essiett. Plus Ed Simon on keyboards. At the time it was about -30 outside but the heat generated by the band felt the opposite. Bobby such a warm and gracious host/leader too.

I went along two nights running and had a front row seat !  

You can feel the warmth in his sound, his music too.  It's so soulful and personal.

 

10 minutes ago, sidewinder said:

It wasn’t the first time I saw Watson. That was with Blakey’s 1979/80 Jazz Messengers, where he was musical director.

I totally dig those late-70s/early-80s Blakey bands that were anchored by Bobby Watson and James Williams. I think they're still underrated. 

Dennis Irwin was in there on bass, and then Charles Fambrough. 

Those were TOUGH bands.

 

[sidewinder]

5 minutes ago, HutchFan said:

You can feel the warmth in his sound, his music too.  It's so soulful and personal.

 

I totally dig those late-70s/early-80s Blakey bands that were anchored by Bobby Watson and James Williams. I think they're still underrated. 

Dennis Irwin was in there on bass, and then Charles Fambrough. 

Those were TOUGH bands.

 

Yes, I think the first time I saw Blakey Irwin was on bass. The next time was with Fambrough, which was the Wynton lineup I think. One thing stands out of that music - it was loud !

Williams on piano with the first group I think.

Yeah, Bobby came across as a real warm no BS character.

Edited July 27, 2021 by sidewinder

[HutchFan]

NP:

Mulgrew Miller Quintet - Wingspan (Landmark, 1987)

[sidewinder]

11 minutes ago, HutchFan said:

NP:

Mulgrew Miller Quintet - Wingspan (Landmark, 1987)

Another excellent group of that era. Also superb live.

[HutchFan]

17 minutes ago, sidewinder said:

Another excellent group of that era. Also superb live.

 

 

[Teasing the Korean]

Andre Kostelanetz - Lure of the Tropics (Columbia, 1955)

 

[HutchFan]

and

[BillF]

[Rabshakeh]

Konkan Dance (rec. ,1972) by Amancio D'Silva

It is a shame that jazz with tablas outside of a self-conscious fusion setting did not become more commonplace, because it really works here. I love the bass lines too.

[jazzcorner]

15 hours ago, HutchFan said:

16 hours ago, sidewinder said:

 

Nice.  I've never seen Bobby Watson live.  Need to correct that!  

I think those two CDs with his Horizon band -- The Inventor and Post Motown Bop -- are among Watson's best.

We had Bobby Watson with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers  live in a private concert here in Koblenz, Germany (1979) in our jazz club.

 Some more Shearing on MGM IMO his best period 

 

 

 

[mikeweil]

2 hours ago, jazzcorner said:

We had Bobby Watson with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers  live in a private concert here in Koblenz, Germany (1979) in our jazz club.

I saw that band in Frankfurt during the same tour. They sure were swinging hard!

[jazzbo]

Bill Evans "Behind the Dikes" 2 cd set, disc 1

I always enjoy this trio with Marty Morell. Do I really need another Bill Evans Trio release? Guess so . . . .