What Jazz are you listening to now?

[Joseph K]

Jim Hall - Jazz Guitar

[Ian Thumwood]

Checked out some Julie Dexter tracks on Spotify - for my taste she has that annoying habit, that whilst having a good jazz feel, of not being keen on the right note, and thence not hitting it! By accident via Herbie Hancock’s Joni Letters I came across Luciana Souza - I like her sound very much, after exploring further!

I really like Luciana Souza and would recommend "The New Bossa nova" which is effectively a set of singer-songwriter material which is rather akin to Norma Winstone. The band behind her is ace too. "Tide" is really good too albeit this consists of originals but you can pick up the former disc cheaply and I would recommend snapping it promptly before it disappears.

[cloughie]

I really like Luciana Souza and would recommend "The New Bossa nova" which is effectively a set of singer-songwriter material which is rather akin to Norma Winstone. The band behind her is ace too. "Tide" is really good too albeit this consists of originals but you can pick up the former disc cheaply and I would recommend snapping it promptly before it disappears.

Cheers Ian

[Stanfordian]

‘Blue’s Moods’ - Blue Mitchell
Blue Mitchell with Wynton Kelly, Sam Jones & Joe Brooks
Riverside (1960)

[Jazzrook]

Peter King Quartet playing 'Lush Life' at Pizza Express, 2002:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=gLtCggfJgF0

JR

[Serial_Apologist]

Peter King Quartet playing 'Lush Life' at Pizza Express, 2002:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=gLtCggfJgF0

JR

I saw Peter King do this number several times around that time. Amazing, isn't it

[Jazzrook]

I saw Peter King do this number several times around that time. Amazing, isn't it

Wish I'd seen Peter King's 'Lush Life' live, S_A.
Will have to track down his 'Lush Life' CD.

JR

[burning dog]

Wish I'd seen Peter King's 'Lush Life' live, S_A.
Will have to track down his 'Lush Life' CD.

JR

I saw hin play that too. Surely not 18 years ago?! The album was from 1998

[Joseph K]

Bireli Lagrene and Sylvain Luc - Stella by Starlight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gjUANhT6l4

[Stunsworth]

Pete La Roca: Basra

One of the Blue Note 80th anniversary LP reissue series.

[Jazzrook]

Anthony Braxton playing 'Lush Life' with Tete Montoliu, NHOP & Albert Heath in 1974:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=lbHJjuinsIo

JR

[Ian Thumwood]

Bireli Lagrene and Sylvain Luc - Stella by Starlight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gjUANhT6l4

I have seen both of these musicians at Vienne. Lagrene is a strange musician as he is more generally steeped in the Django / Swing Era kind of playing but occasionally crops up playing more orthodox styles of jazz. There is a very good record he made with a group with an organ and I have to admit that I much prefer this side of his playing. He was a child prodigy in the early 1980s specialising in the gypsy jazz style. There was actually a DVD of a performance he gave a Vienne in about 2001 which was a concert I attended. If it came to naming the most resilient style of jazz, my experiences of listening to jazz in France would make me argue that the influence of Django still resonates nearly ninety years later. It has almost evolved in to it's own class of jazz with the elements that are treasured by both fans and musicians seemingly contrary to all other styles of jazz. The Gypsy jazz gigs at Vienne are always packed out and it almost transcends jazz to be something of a celebration of national pride rather like "Last Night of the Proms." Lagrene is one of the big names in this movement even though it is not an oeuvre he is limited to.

Sylvain Luc is another French musician who is sadly neglected this side of the Channel. I cannot remember the context I hear him perform in but he comes from a more "outside" tradition and one perhaps more informed by more contemporary and progressive ideas. The duet with Lagrene is something of a compromise for both musicians - halfway meeting point to arrive at a really agreeable set. There is so much great jazz in France, it is a shame that a lot is totally under the radar and that a lot of "weaker" European stuff tends to take precedence. For me, France is one of the great jazz nations and there is a lot going on there which is far more interesting than is happening in more "hip" places like Scandinavia.

[Joseph K]

I have seen both of these musicians at Vienne. Lagrene is a strange musician as he is more generally steeped in the Django / Swing Era kind of playing but occasionally crops up playing more orthodox styles of jazz. There is a very good record he made with a group with an organ and I have to admit that I much prefer this side of his playing. He was a child prodigy in the early 1980s specialising in the gypsy jazz style. There was actually a DVD of a performance he gave a Vienne in about 2001 which was a concert I attended. If it came to naming the most resilient style of jazz, my experiences of listening to jazz in France would make me argue that the influence of Django still resonates nearly ninety years later. It has almost evolved in to it's own class of jazz with the elements that are treasured by both fans and musicians seemingly contrary to all other styles of jazz. The Gypsy jazz gigs at Vienne are always packed out and it almost transcends jazz to be something of a celebration of national pride rather like "Last Night of the Proms." Lagrene is one of the big names in this movement even though it is not an oeuvre he is limited to.

Sylvain Luc is another French musician who is sadly neglected this side of the Channel. I cannot remember the context I hear him perform in but he comes from a more "outside" tradition and one perhaps more informed by more contemporary and progressive ideas. The duet with Lagrene is something of a compromise for both musicians - halfway meeting point to arrive at a really agreeable set. There is so much great jazz in France, it is a shame that a lot is totally under the radar and that a lot of "weaker" European stuff tends to take precedence. For me, France is one of the great jazz nations and there is a lot going on there which is far more interesting than is happening in more "hip" places like Scandinavia.

I'm a great admirer of Lagrene, though sometimes feel his brilliance can get the better of him... only very occasionally. Luc I am not as familiar with, though maybe I'll search some more of his playing on youtube.

I like playing and listening to Stella by Starlight, and in addition to the above video, there are at least four guitar duets of this piece on youtube, one of which - Stern & Farias - I am in the process of figuring out by ear... I'll write it down once I can play it all..

[Stanfordian]

‘Open Sesame’
Freddie Hubbard with Tina Brooks, McCoy Tyner, Sam Jones & Clifford Jarvis
Blue Note (1960)

[Jazzrook]

Archie Shepp playing 'Lush Life' with Horace Parlan in 1992:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=0t9W7xPRvcw

JR