Cecil Taylor solo playing 'Spring Of Two Blue J's'(Part 1) at Town Hall, New York in November, 1973:
JR
JR
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It's the end of/near the beginning of a new month which means it's guitar string changing time; I have listened to:
Miles Davis - In a Silent Way
John Coltrane - Interstellar SpaceComment
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'Matador' – Kenny Dorham
with Jackie McLean, Bobby Timmons, Teddy Smith & J.C. Moses
United Artists (1962)Comment
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Herbie Hancock - HeadhuntersComment
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Billy Harper with Virgil Jones, Joe Bonner, David Friesen & Malcolm Pinson playing 'Croquet Ballet' from the 1975 album 'Black Saint':
JRComment
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‘Heavy Soul’ - Ike Quebec
with Freddie Roach, Milt Hinton & Al Harewood
Blue Note (1961)Comment
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Miles Davis - In a Silent WayComment
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I was given the 3-CD set which included a number of Joe Henderson's recording for Verve from the 1990s. The set includes the tribute to Billy Strayhorn with Wynton Marsalis on some tracks and the big band album which re-cast a lot of the material Henderson had previously recorded for Blue Note. From recollection, the Strayhorn record was really highly considered at the time of it's release and Henderson is impressive on the record although the five musicians do not play as a quintet throughout the record and are split into duos, trios and a quartet as well. I have played this one through once and I think it is a decent enough album although far from his best. It has a slight feeling of coming out of the New-Neo movement and the pairing with Marsalis may have been inspired in 1991 but it seems a mismatch nowadays. The big band album, by contrast, received lukewarm criticism at the time which put me off the album. I am halfway through this CD and I think that the arrangement as a bit workaday but there is a fleetness with the rhythm section which gives this a small-group feel. In my opinion, what I have listened to so far has been good.
The main reason for wanting this record was the collaboration with John Scofield on an album which celebrated Miles Davis who had passed away a few years beforehand. I was familiar with this record and I have to say that it seems ever better in 2021. Whilst the Strayhorn album may have received the stellar reviews, "So near, so far" is, in my opinion, one of the best albums from the 1990s and typical of the quality jazz that Verve released in the 1990s. The quartet gets to stretch out quite a lot here. I would argue that this album is far more involved and engaged than anything Davis cut himself from the mid 70's onwards. The music seems to concentrate on Miles 50s and 60s era and also chooses more obscure tunes which keeps the music fresh. This is a brilliant album. (There were a couple of more albums made for Verve including a brilliant tribute to Jobim which included Herbie Hancock on half the album and a run-of-the mill version of "Porgy & Bess" which a friend had and was a massive disappointment when I heard it.)
Blue Note have also issued a 5-CD box set of Henderson's work which is very good as well and include "in n' out" which is now impossible to find as a stand alone. I love his work with Kenny Dorham but, by contrast, the Blue NOte set also includes the two trio albums cut at the Village Vanguard. The trio albums are actually quite low key efforts and the music seems better to my ears as Joe Henderson in a live setting is an intelligent and compelling improvisor. The trio never tears it up and just concentrates on music - making excellent results. One of the better Live at the Village Vanguard recordings.Comment
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I have both the Verve 3-essential album and 5-disk Blue Note boxes and they are fine things indeed. Might give the disk with Scofield a spin today...Comment
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‘Tenor Madness’ - Sonny Rollins
with John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers & Philly Joe Jones
Prestige Records (1956)Comment
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Charles Brackeen with Don Cherry, Charlie Haden & Ed Blackwell playing the title-track from their 1968 album 'Rhythm X'(Strata-East):
JRComment
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Earlier - Bitches Brew (first disk)
While changing my bed and currently - One Down, One Up - Coltrane live at the Half Note.Comment
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‘The Waiting Game’ - Tina Brooks
with Johnny Coles, Kenny Drew, Wilbur Ware & Philly Joe Jones
Blue Note (1961)Comment
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George Russell's 'All About Rosie' from 'The Birth Of The Third Stream':
JRComment
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‘The Thing to Do’ - Blue Mitchell
with Junior Cook, Chick Corea, Gene Taylor & Al Foster
Blue Note (1964)Comment
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