... April showers

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

Jazz Line Up @ 1800hrs today

Julian Joseph presents a concert performance by the Konrad Wiszniewski/ Euan Stevenson New Focus Quartet recorded at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh. The group take inspiration from saxophonist Stan Getz classic 1961 album 'Focus', their line-up features Konrad Wiszniewski (saxophone) , Euan Stevenson (piano) , Michael Janisch (bass) and Alyn Cosker (drums).

one for our old pal TC 'n me then ....

Geoffrey covers Lee Konitz at midnight .... LK has not appealed to this jazbo too much over the years, happy to persuaded otherwise ...


Jon3 continues its explorations in West Yorkshire with this set from the Marsden Jazz Festival

Fusing the bubbling post-jazz scenes of Manchester and London, Let Spin features some of the country's most exciting and progressive players. Saxophonist Chris Williams (also of Led Bib) leads alongside guitarist Moss Freed - uniting in melodies that flow from whistful ponderings to searing thrash. Former Acoustic Ladyland bassist Ruth Goller also lends her punk-jazz credentials to the sound with powerful gritty playing alongside James Maddren who cements the grooves at the kit (stepping in for the group's regular drummer Finlay Panter for this gig).

er sic on that 'whistful' eh ....

&

Also in the programme, trombonist Sarah Gail Brand talks to one of the unsung heroes of the British improv scene, bassist John Edwards. Plus there's new music from American saxophonist Steve Coleman and a chance to hear live tracks recorded at the 2014 Willisau Festival with his Five Elements band.

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks Calum.

Jon3 should be interesting just from the interview with John Edwards - a man capable of transitioning from noise to the responsivest walking line in the flash of an ankle, and one of my favest bassists for some years now - should the F-Ire Collective moonlighters on the live session be not to your tastes.

[Alyn_Shipton]

And should you prefer Lee Konitz's own selection of his own work, it is still available (for UK listeners) here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00g3s6s

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

thanks Alyn ... what with recording Caliban's tip on BBC2 and flipping out with the spring virus [a real head banger] could well miss out on Geoffrey ...

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

now hooked on Konitz after the last half of Geoffrey's prog in the early hours and Alyn's podcast .. neither of which mentioned the Live At The Half Note which is a remarkable documentation of five major artists in the early months of 1959 [yes that year] in NYC

i now regret not listening to Mr K for a number of years ... would also strongly recommend his recordings with Martial Solal see discography here

have you ever lost an artist?

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

I try to lose Keith Jarrett. Really never got the "fuss". When he's not average he's a cornball. And I have tried again this morning with the trio, excellent tho Peacock and DeJ are.

As for Konitz, that trio album he did late 50s/60s with Elvin and Sonny Dallas is very good. On Verve? Name escapes me. Unlike Keef and his mono-mental groaning.

BN.

Its "Motion".

The Penguin Guide to Jazz gives the album a four-star rating plus a special "crown" accolade, and includes it as part of a selected "Core Collection", stating that it is "one of the great modern jazz records". Wiki.

*
Just ck/d, Not Now (budget label) has repackaged "Motion" (trio) with "Very Cool" (quintet) as a two album box, Lee Konitz - "Piece by Piece". Excellent value. On Utube if you want to test the water.

[Ian Thumwood]

Jarrett, average?

I think that Jarrett is one of the few jazz musicians capable of going "long distance" on improvisations but I think he is better described as being erratic. The better material by the trio is pretty sensational ("Out of towners" being a favourite) but he can be monotonous too. The description of "cornball" is also a bit harsh although I think that in his quest to be "in the zone" he can sometimes be quite banal. I've heard some solo recitals where there are moments when he sounds almost like Elton John which is about a bad as it gets. These tend to be slower movements when he simplifies the music down with melodies which can sound a bit naïve and harmonies which seem almost too obvious. I've also got some music in my collection where the results are staggering and the trio click . This is half the appeal of Jarrett as I feel he wears his heart on his sleeve and he has the capability of been sublime and dull in the performance of one song.

I think it is interesting comparing Konitz and Jarrett insofar that both are heavily concerned with the process of improvisation and how the music can be built up upon simple building blocks. Only Coltrane and Rollins seems to come close within the jazz mainstream at being able to do this and it requires someone from the avant garde tradition before this kind of approach tends to generate the goods. I thinking of players like Cecil Taylor or Keith Tippett.

As we are talking about Keefs, wondered if anyone had checked out Keefe Jackson?

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Jarrett, average?

I think that Jarrett is one of the few jazz musicians capable of going "long distance" on improvisations but I think he is better described as being erratic. The better material by the trio is pretty sensational ("Out of towners" being a favourite) but he can be monotonous too. The description of "cornball" is also a bit harsh although I think that in his quest to be "in the zone" he can sometimes be quite banal. I've heard some solo recitals where there are moments when he sounds almost like Elton John which is about a bad as it gets. These tend to be slower movements when he simplifies the music down with melodies which can sound a bit naïve and harmonies which seem almost too obvious. I've also got some music in my collection where the results are staggering and the trio click . This is half the appeal of Jarrett as I feel he wears his heart on his sleeve and he has the capability of been sublime and dull in the performance of one song.

I think it is interesting comparing Konitz and Jarrett insofar that both are heavily concerned with the process of improvisation and how the music can be built up upon simple building blocks. Only Coltrane and Rollins seems to come close within the jazz mainstream at being able to do this and it requires someone from the avant garde tradition before this kind of approach tends to generate the goods. I thinking of players like Cecil Taylor or Keith Tippett.

As we are talking about Keefs, wondered if anyone had checked out Keefe Jackson?

Actually, hearing Konitz's "Motion" again, it struck me how Rollins-like it is. Maybe Elvin being there triggered this for me, but Lee does have that same open ended free flowing range of ideas over bass and drums as did Sonny's Vanguard discs. It really is a wonderful record with Konitz etc. very well recorded.

BN.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

cheers El Senor Bleu i'll look out for Motion ....

having a demented day today recall virtually inoperable .. little notes all over the house .... what do they mean?

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

cheers El Senor Bleu i'll look out for Motion ....

having a demented day today recall virtually inoperable .. little notes all over the house .... what do they mean?

Goblins...or ducks.

BN.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

yellow

[charles t]

Calum: I always looked forward to receiving the 'Newsletter' from my mom's nursing home (in Pennsylvania).

Typical senior-citizen humor:

Q: How do you know if you're getting old?

A: It takes an hour to get undressed at night...and...two hours to remember why!

[Serial_Apologist]

Calum: I always looked forward to receiving the 'Newsletter' from my mom's nursing home.

Typical senior-citizen humor:

Q: How do you know if you're getting old?

A: It takes an hour to get undressed at night - and - two hours to remember why!

Then there's the one about bending down to do up shoelaces, and checking around to see what else there is to be done while down there!

[Ian Thumwood]

I thought that the Keefe Jackson / Jeb Bishop duo was hugely compelling. I listened to the whole set and was quite amazed that two horns playing in a duo could be as engrossing as that. I'm a huge fan of anything with Jeb Bishop on but that gig seemed to be something special, in my opinion.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

i have been meaning to listen to it Ian but zzzzzzzzzzzz took over the universe; beware the spring bugs they are potent little blighters ...