What Jazz are you listening to now?

[Stanfordian]

Jimmy Forrest with Grant Green, Harold Mabern, Gene Ramey & Elvin Jones
'All the gin is gone'
Delmark (1959)

[Dave2002]

Does the Stan Kenton Wagner count?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rPmzqYIPrE

[CGR]

Does the Stan Kenton Wagner count?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rPmzqYIPrE

Now that is an oddity. Couldn't stop smiling. Reminded me of the Portsmouth Sinfonia at times.

[Stanfordian]

Art Blakey with Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, Bobby Timmons & Jymie Merritt
'The Big Beat'
Blue Note (1960)

[Ian Thumwood]

Thelonious Monk - Blue Note Vol 2 - This has most of my favourite Monk tunes on it such as "Skippy", "Hornin' in" and my absolute favourite, "Four in one." It is quite funny to listen to because the horns include the likes of Lou Donaldson, Kenny Dorham and Lucky Thompson yet they still all manage to trip up when playing the heads. Nice to see that these musicians are human too! It is staggering to find that tunes like "Sixteen" are still never performed and of the 70 odd tunes he wrote, I find that the more obscure ones are often the most satisfying.

The most strking thing is that the music not longer sounds complex and is just extremely good natured. I can't think of any other musician whose music makes me smile as much as Monk's.

[Jazzrook]

The underrated Texan tenorist Budd Johnson from his superb 1960 quintet album 'Let's Swing!':

https:www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxs3J_T6qvc

JR

[Stanfordian]

Brother Jack McDuff with Jimmy Forrest, Lem Winchester & Bill Elliot
'Tough’ Duff'
Prestige (1960)

[Stanfordian]

Kenny Dorham with Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Butch Warren & Tony Williams
'Una Mas'
Blue Note (1963)

[Ian Thumwood]

Jazzrook

Wondered if you were aware of the 4-CD reissue of Andrew Hill's Soul Note recordings from 1980 and 1986 ? I was curious about this set after reading a review you wrote on amazon of one of the records but this set is now available at approx. £4 per CD. The four records are effectively spread over two extended visits to the studio with a band set being followed by a solo offering.

I have been looking at these records today and having made my way through about 60% of the content I was quite struck at the direction Hill was coming from. His style underwent a degree of refinement after his Blue Note records and the two 1980s sessions see him coming from a free / improve direction. The "Face of hope" solo session is ok but not an essential record I would suggest. It seems to demonstrate Hill being given a total free reign and makes a stark contrast with similar efforts around this time by Kieth Jarrett. Sometimes the music seems to take a while to come together. The addition of Freddie Waits and Alan De Silva pitches the music in to a more intense situation which is more compelling. Still, I can't see this kind of record being issued in 2017 given the intensity of the music and the "heart on the sleeve" approach . The only "odd" thing about this session is that it is supposed to have been re-mastered but the sound is a bit thin and the three instruments are not properly miked. The production values seem a bit amateurish but there is no quibble about the music even if this is probably the most intense that I have heard Hill.

I have just got on to the 3rd disc which is "Shades" , a quartet session with the under-rated Clifford Jordan and the fabulous Ben Riley on drums. This sounds a bit more contemporary whilst at the same time probably being the most approachable disc I have heard from Hill since "Grass Roots." From what I have heard so far, this is a brilliant set and certainly one Bluesnik would love. I have not played the solo "Verona Rag" yet and this is supposed to be the best of the bunch.

[Jazzrook]

Many thanks, Ian. I have 'Shades' and agree it's a wonderful album. May buy the 4-CD set for 'Verona Rag' which is hard to find in its original form.
Have been listening to Jaki Byard's Quartet/Trio album from 1965 recorded live at Lennie's on the Turnpike with fine tenor playing from Joe Farrell.
Worth searching for!
Here's their lengthy version of 'Broadway':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jId2hDMi2vQ

Cheers,
JR

[Stanfordian]

Wayne Shorter with McCoy Tyner, Reggie Workman & Elvin Jones
'JuJu'
Blue Note (1964)

[Beef Oven!]

Joaquín Rodrigo

Miles Davis - Concierto de Aranjuez (parts 1&2) CD

Paco de Lucía, Cadaqués Orchestra - Concierto de Aranjuez Apple Music Stream (this isn’t strictly Jazz!)

[Ian Thumwood]

Jazzrook

I am probably going to tip your hand here but "Verona Rag" is the pick of the bunch. The whole record is impressive and it starts with an introverted tune called "Retrospective" which sets the tone. For me, there are a couple of really interesting elements on this solo record. The first of these is the chance to hear Hill tackle tunes other than his own. "Darn that dream" is probably the definitive version and it reshaped to fit Hill's concept and the reworking of John Lewis' " Afternoon in Paris" which is fascinating. I would suggest that the main reason for snapping this disc up is the title track which is not at all ironic - it is truly a piece of ragtime. The music is like a screwed up piece of Scott Joplin, the music having a lop-sided gait before mutating in to more expected Hill territory. I think the tune lasts for about 15 minutes and is something of a masterpiece. From recollection, The Wire included this record in it's best of the 1980's records at the end of 1989 and it is a record that has stood up really well to the passage of years.

All in all, the first two discs are interesting, especially the trio but neither of them really match the peerless quality of the two 1986 sessions.

Hope this helps.



Cheers

[Jazzrook]

Elvin Jones Trio with Joe Farrell & Jimmy Garrison in Denmark, 1968:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKevv5VQw3M

JR

[Stanfordian]

Cannonball Adderley with Nat Adderley, Yusef Lateef, Joe Zawinul, Sam Jones & Louis Hayes
'The Cannonball Adderley Sextet in New York'
Riverside (1962)