What Jazz are you listening to now?

[Stanfordian]

‘Kind of Blue’ - Miles Davis
with Julian ‘Cannonball’ Adderley, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers & Jimmy Cobb
Columbia (1959)

[Joseph K]

As I've mentioned before, this guy's concept is well and truly happening - particularly the polyphonic aspect of his playing:

[Joseph K]

John Coltrane - Coltrane

John Coltrane's first album as leader, I think. It's the first of two albums named simply by his surname; I have this album as part of a four-disk collection of seven classic albums, volume no. 3, and it also features the second album of Trane that's also named by his surname.

[Ian Thumwood]

Picking up from my earlier comment about "conservative" jazz pianos, I have been playing the record "Facing dragons" by pianist Christian Sands. I think the title is daft a but the music is anything but. I would not recommend staring at the album cover too long either as it will make your eyes go funny! The whole approach of the album is exuberant and although not ostensibly a Latin album, there is plenty of percussion on the record to up the excitement levels. There is a core trio which is augmented with percussion plus the addition of a guitarist and the horns of Marcus Strickland and Keyon Harrold. There have been comparisons with Herbie Hancock made on line although I feel that is too simplistic. A lot of it reminds me of more contemporary players like Cyrus Chestnut and perhaps a more aggressive incarnation of Gerald Clayton. Certainly the bass and drums have a very contemporary feel about it even when there are moments like the wonderfully disrespectful version of The Beatles "Yesterday" which sounds like Gene Harris at some points on first listen - Sands does not seem that interested in the Lennon & McCartney melody.

I am about halfway through listening to this record which matches my perception of hearing Sands play live. There is plenty of energy in this music and the groove is an essential element. I understand that we was a pupil of Dr. Billy Taylor but was a member of Christian McBride's trio for a long while although he is still only 30. Christian Sands is probably most going to interest the likes of Bluesnik and Elmo on this board I would have thought. The record is solidly "in the tradition" and very much the antithesis of the more studious approach to jazz piano promoted recently by labels such as ECM. Anyone who enjoys a pianist such as Kenny Barron, for example, will find much to enjoy with Christian Sands playing.

http://www.christiansandsjazz.com/home#music

[Joseph K]

[Joseph K]

John McLaughlin - Devotion



I love this album. Archetypal psychedelia.

[Stanfordian]

'Boss Tenor' - Gene Ammons
with Tommy Flanagan, Doug Watkins, Art Taylor, Ray Barretto
Verve (1961)

[Jazzrook]

Charles Mingus, Booker Ervin, John Handy, Richard Wyands & Dannie Richmond playing 'No Private Income Blues' recorded live at the Nonagon Art Gallery, NYC on January 16, 1959:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=tAK7BkVWgyc

JR

[Stanfordian]

‘The Thing to Do’ - Blue Mitchell
with Junior Cook, Chick Corea, Gene Taylor, Al Foster
Blue Note (1964)

[Joseph K]

Coltrane Live at Birdland - arrived a few hours ago.

[Ian Thumwood]

Playing the Walt Dickerson disc yesterday, I have to say that it is really surprising that his music remains so little known. I am a fan of Bobby Hutcherson's work but I think that Dickerson was easily his equal. Their tone on the vibes sounds similar although the mechanics of Dickerson's playing is less strident than his colleague's. There is a comment in the liner notes which suggests that Dickerson was influenced by Coltrane's "sheets of sounds" approach and this absolutely nails it on the head for me. The album covers show a lack of imagination that is in contrast with the music performed within but the absence of known names other than Andrew Hill and Andrew Cyrille is a red herring as the bands are pretty exceptional. Pianist Austin Crowe impresses me in particular.

Not sure if Bluesnik is familiar with these records but I think Jazzrook's recommendation was spot on. This is brilliant, uncompromising jazz.

[Stanfordian]

‘Blue & Sentimental’ - Ike Quebec
with Grant Green, Paul Chambers & Philly Joe Jones
Blue Note (1961)

Just love Ike Quebec's playing and this album!

[Jazzrook]

Alto saxophonist John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell, Sonny Clark, Paul Chambers & Dannie Richmond playing 'Chalumeau' from Jenkins' BLUE NOTE album recorded on August 11, 1957:

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

JR

[Joseph K]

John Coltrane - Coltrane; the second eponymous album.

[Bert]

Walt Dickerson - 1976