What Jazz are you listening to now?

[Joseph K]

Allan Holdsworth - The Sixteen Men of Tain



His finest album IMO. Truly exquisite, just totally luscious.

[Joseph K]

Ant Law - The Sleeper Wakes

Very good.

[Serial_Apologist]

Ant Law - The Sleeper Wakes

Very good.

Charlie Christian in 1941 setting out some ideas for beboppers to take up later in his famous contribution at Minton's in 1941, and it remains extraordinary in so many ways, as do his other solos taken from that session. There seems to be some argument as to whether or not Monk was actually the pianist on this date, or if it was Kenny Kersey, if the comments are anything to go by; no doubts about Kenny Clarke on the drums however. John Etheridge has claimed this to be the greatest-ever jazz guitar solo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6JU0Tx2siU

[Joseph K]

Charlie Christian in 1941 setting out some ideas for beboppers to take up later in his famous contribution at Minton's in 1941, and it remains extraordinary in so many ways, as do his other solos taken from that session. There seems to be some argument as to whether or not Monk was actually the pianist on this date, or if it was Kenny Kersey, if the comments are anything to go by; no doubts about Kenny Clarke on the drums however. John Etheridge has claimed this to be the greatest-ever jazz guitar solo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6JU0Tx2siU

I started transcribing that about 6 years ago. I thought it was Monk on keys but who knows...

[Joseph K]

John Coltrane - First Meditations



edit - recorded 55 years ago today...

[Ian Thumwood]

I started transcribing that about 6 years ago. I thought it was Monk on keys but who knows...

The Charlie Christian track is incredible. I love his guitar playing. Part of me sometimes wonders if Christian would have become as influential as Parker. His attack is sensational.

This track is fascinating. I do not think it actually sounds like Monk on piano. Kenny Kersey was the pianist who replaced Mary Lou Williams in Andy Kirks band. There are none of the Monk traits such as while tone scales on this track and the phrasing seems totally wrong unless Monk radically changed! Monk never sounded that fluid and was more angular. Kersey is another musician from the era who is overlooked. When you delve in to that era, you realize that there was actually a community

The trumpet player was Joe Guy who was married to Billie Holiday and supposedly a nasty piece of work. He played in Chick Webb's band and then later with the big band that Coleman Hawkins briefly led.

The tune they are playing is called "Topsy" which was written by Edgar Battle and arranged by Eddie Durham who himself was a pioneer of electric guitar.

[Joseph K]

The Charlie Christian track is incredible. I love his guitar playing. Part of me sometimes wonders if Christian would have become as influential as Parker. His attack is sensational.

This track is fascinating. I do not think it actually sounds like Monk on piano. Kenny Kersey was the pianist who replaced Mary Lou Williams in Andy Kirks band. There are none of the Monk traits such as while tone scales on this track and the phrasing seems totally wrong unless Monk radically changed! Monk never sounded that fluid and was more angular. Kersey is another musician from the era who is overlooked. When you delve in to that era, you realize that there was actually a community

The trumpet player was Joe Guy who was married to Billie Holiday and supposedly a nasty piece of work. He played in Chick Webb's band and then later with the big band that Coleman Hawkins briefly led.

The tune they are playing is called "Topsy" which was written by Edgar Battle and arranged by Eddie Durham who himself was a pioneer of electric guitar.

Incidentally, Trane's First Meditations is an incredible album, especially his solo on this glorious number: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l04HEIJu3IY

BTW you could argue that amongst guitarists, Christian is as influential as Parker...

[frankbridge]

Rather obviously

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Time Out with Take Five and other stuff especially Blue Rondo a la Turk

COL 494 847-2

but I've also got a Naxos CD with John Salmon playing his more serious pieces like the Chromatic Fantasy Sonata and a little piece he wrote for the present soloist called 'The Salmon strikes' which is quite lovely (with booklet notes from the composer to boot!). But I suppose that that shouldn't really be in the jazz section as it is classical music

[Stanfordian]

‘Cattin With Coltrane and Quinichette’ - John Coltrane & Paul Quinichette
with Julian Euell, Ed Thingpen & Mal Waldron
Prestige (1957)

[Serial_Apologist]

‘Cattin With Coltrane and Quinichette’ - John Coltrane & Paul Quinichette
with Julian Euell, Ed Thingpen & Mal Waldron
Prestige (1957)

Don't know that one at all - fascinating, I would think, with there being two such contrasting tenor players.

[Joseph K]

I don't know it either. Stan - how did you come to know it and what's it like?

[Joseph K]

'Joy' from First Meditations - this tune is well-named, it's overflowing with joy, truly glorious and beautiful. Absolutely wonderful in every respect, I'm not sure why I neglected this album but it is a true joy to rediscover.

[Jazzrook]

Don't know that one at all - fascinating, I would think, with there being two such contrasting tenor players.

Here's a track from that 1957 album.
A fascinating contrast in tenor styles from Trane & 'Vice-Pres':

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=x3H2DD4QKBo

JR

[Serial_Apologist]

Here's a track from that 1957 album.
A fascinating contrast in tenor styles from Trane & 'Vice-Pres':

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=x3H2DD4QKBo

JR

Fantastic, and most interesting. Firstly I'd only anticipated ballads. Second this is the only other version of the tune I've heard by anyone - my previous being Ben Webster ploughing his way through it with robust backing from Oscar Peterson's trio. Thirdly that Quinichette is more at home than 'Trane (coming down?), though the latter comes into his own when they exchange choruses. Fourthly, that I am hearing a kind of bridge in Quinichette between Lester and Rollins in the asymmetric way he unfolds ideas against the chord changes. At first blanch the idea of Lester Young having had any influence on Sonny seems oxymoronic, but a number of writers have pointed out this fact. Right now I just happen to be making 1957 my listening year, with some Stan Kenton to come!

Oh, and thanks for posting it JR, by the way!

[Joseph K]

... & thanks from me too, it's a fine performance.