So, What Are You Listening To NOW?

[optatio]

Eric Dolphy: Iron Man. West Wind WW 2057 [Germany 1990]

[jazzcorner]

MGM E 4042 (compilation)  - The George Shearing Quintet "Soft and Silky" - rec. 1949 to 1951

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Mel Powell - Borderline (Vanguard/Mosaic). Disc 3 of the latest Mosaic release. Nice stuff. Sound quality sounds a bit below the previous discs. It's weird to see a pianist listed with a trio and see that it's piano/sax/drums.

[Peter Friedman]

Harold Mabern  - Misty

[jazzbo]

Robert Hunter “Tiiger Rose” Fiftieth Anniversary 2 cd set, disc 1

Newly released set. . . I haven’t listened to this album in a long time but I remember it fondly. Was part of my final period of rock listening before jazz nearly completely swallowed up my interests and musical attention.

 

 

[jazzbo]

Craig Taborn "Daylight Ghosts" ECM cd

Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Chris Speed
Double Bass, Bass Guitar – Chris Lightcap
Drums, Percussion – Dave King
Piano, Electronics – Craig Taborn
 

Edited March 29 by jazzbo

[Rabshakeh]

4 hours ago, JSngry said:

He's always played ballads like that, more or less. It's wobbly, but it's a controlled wobbly.

I’m not a musician but it doesn’t always sound controlled or intentional to my ears. I mentioned above that one that which is particularly creaky.

[JSngry]

Oh, the outcome is quite intentional.

I can crack on Shepp for some things (like long-windedness) but lack of intention would never be one of them.

If it was not controlled or intentional to one degree or another, the flow of the line would dissipate or otherwise break down.

Shepp has always been as much a painter as he has been a player, and a still-life painter is just not what he has done, ever.

Now having said that, he did have a series of physical issues that affected him. But rather than struggle against them, he embraced them and intentionalized them. That's why the line keeps flowing, and that's why it's intentional and controlled.

That's also why those Venus records have such emotional power to me. They're true, because life doesn't always pull its punches. Sometimes they land, land hard.

But oh well about that, right?

[Peter Friedman]

[jlhoots]

3 hours ago, JSngry said:

Oh, the outcome is quite intentional.

I can crack on Shepp for some things (like long-windedness) but lack of intention would never be one of them.

If it was not controlled or intentional to one degree or another, the flow of the line would dissipate or otherwise break down.

Shepp has always been as much a painter as he has been a player, and a still-life painter is just not what he has done, ever.

Now having said that, he did have a series of physical issues that affected him. But rather than struggle against them, he embraced them and intentionalized them. That's why the line keeps flowing, and that's why it's intentional and controlled.

That's also why those Venus records have such emotional power to me. They're true, because life doesn't always pull its punches. Sometimes they land, land hard.

But oh well about that, right?

Deja Vu is another Venus CD by Shepp that I like. Obviously "different strokes".

[Referentzhunter]

Woww ... fantastic record, the last track is something else !

[Referentzhunter]

[optatio]

Karl Berger / Ed Blackwell / Dave Holland: Transit. Solid Records CDSOL-45023 [Japan 2017]

[jazzbo]

Warm again! Starting off with

Chet Baker “The Complete Timeless Records Albums Collection” disc 1, Kirk Lightsey's "Everything Happens to Me"

 

Edited March 30 by jazzbo

[jazzbo]

“Classic Vanguard Jazz Piano Sessions” Mosaic Records box set, disc 2

Sir Charles Thompson Quartet! Bobby Henderson solo piano!

[optatio]

Duke Ellington: Ellington At Newport 1956 (Complete). Columbia/Legacy C2K 64932 [US 1999]

[jazzcorner]

Leonard Feather presents

Verve E 3390 (Japan 1993 POJJ-1576)   West Coast vs. East Coast " A Battle Of Jazz" - rec. 1959 

 

[Referentzhunter]

[Pim]

On 3/29/2025 at 1:04 PM, Rabshakeh said:

Archie Shepp - Blue Ballads

 

I really struggle with this period of Shepp. He seems to run out of breath quite a lot and there's a samba version of "If I Should Lose You" where he doesn't seem to be able to control his horn. Maybe it is on purpose. 

I never dug those Venus records as well. I see what you mean with his playing. I think Shepp could really blow a beatufiul ballad. The duets with Mal Waldron are amazing as are those with Horace Parlan. It's more the music as a whole plus the chosen repertoire that I dislike. Pharoah Sanders made a similar move in the 90's and I don't visit those records a lot too. Not that it's bad, it's just they made a lot more interesting music.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

41 minutes ago, Pim said:

I never dug those Venus records as well. I see what you mean with his playing. I think Shepp could really blow a beatufiul ballad. The duets with Mal Waldron are amazing as are those with Horace Parlan. It's more the music as a whole plus the chosen repertoire that I dislike. Pharoah Sanders made a similar move in the 90's and I don't visit those records a lot too. Not that it's bad, it's just they made a lot more interesting music.

I differ a bit with you on those Sanders recordings. I really like "Crescent With Love", a 2 CD release from Evidence that combines two Venus sessions ("Ballads With Love" & "Crescent With Love") into one package. I play these CDs quite often. I got to see this band live at the Regattabar shortly after these were released and thoroughly enjoyed the music.  I do remember Pharoah giving the bassist a bit more solo space than I would have preferred. 10 minute bass solos might be fine for the leader but seemed a bit much for a Pharoah Sanders gig.

You've just reminded me that I haven't pulled it off the shelf in a while.

[Rabshakeh]

1 hour ago, Pim said:

I never dug those Venus records as well. I see what you mean with his playing. I think Shepp could really blow a beatufiul ballad. The duets with Mal Waldron are amazing as are those with Horace Parlan. It's more the music as a whole plus the chosen repertoire that I dislike. Pharoah Sanders made a similar move in the 90's and I don't visit those records a lot too. Not that it's bad, it's just they made a lot more interesting music.

I think the Sanders ones are much better but I never listen to them. 

15 hours ago, JSngry said:

Oh, the outcome is quite intentional.

I can crack on Shepp for some things (like long-windedness) but lack of intention would never be one of them.

If it was not controlled or intentional to one degree or another, the flow of the line would dissipate or otherwise break down.

[...] That's why the line keeps flowing, and that's why it's intentional and controlled.

I think this is precisely what I am raising issues about. There are points on that record when the line does appear to collapse to my ear. It is like if i am reading aloud and I run out of breath mid word or falter, and need to rally before proceeding. 

[Pim]

17 minutes ago, Kevin Bresnahan said:

I differ a bit with you on those Sanders recordings. I really like "Crescent With Love", a 2 CD release from Evidence that combines two Venus sessions ("Ballads With Love" & "Crescent With Love") into one package. I play these CDs quite often. I got to see this band live at the Regattabar shortly after these were released and thoroughly enjoyed the music.  I do remember Pharoah giving the bassist a bit more solo space than I would have preferred. 10 minute bass solos might be fine for the leader but seemed a bit much for a Pharoah Sanders gig.

You've just reminded me that I haven't pulled it off the shelf in a while.

Must say I forgot about that one and I DO like that one. I recently played Welcome To Love and found that a little boring.

[Chuck Nessa]

[JSngry]

1 hour ago, Rabshakeh said:

 It is like if i am reading aloud and I run out of breath mid word or falter, and need to rally before proceeding. 

If you are a skilled storyteller, you will incorporate that into your telling and give it impact and meaning.

If you're not, you'll just be a poor soul who is SOL and who should probably go sit down and let the pros handle it.

[Holy Ghost]