What Jazz are you listening to now?

[Jazzrook]

J.J Johnson led an excellent quintet in 1956/57 which deserves to be better known.
Here’s J.J. with Bobby Jasper, Tommy Flanagan, Wilbur Little & Elvin Jones playing ‘Bernie’s Tune’ live at The Cafe Bohemia in 1957:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=tYivD4knKuw

JR

[Ian Thumwood]

Apologies for being late to the party but listening to Jamiroquai's .'Travelling without moving. '

Having been listening to Stevie Wonder recently, I think that Jamiroquai offer a version of pip music that will appeal to jazz fans. Only taken 30 years to wake up to this band ....

Wierd that no musician credits on the liner notes or not that I understand.

[teamsaint]

Apologies for being late to the party but listening to Jamiroquai's .'Travelling without moving. '

Having been listening to Stevie Wonder recently, I think that Jamiroquai offer a version of pip music that will appeal to jazz fans. Only taken 30 years to wake up to this band ....

Wierd that no musician credits on the liner notes or not that I understand.

There was a documentary of Jamiroquai on the road some years ago. I enjoyed the programme more than the music !!

[Jazzrook]

Yusef Lateef with George Arvanitas, Reggie Workman & James Black playing ‘Semiocto’ from the 1965 album ‘Psychicemotus’:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=Th3DyIb_3to

JR

[Tenor Freak]

Bobby Hutcherson - "Patterns" from 1968. Another nugget which, unbelievably, sat in Blue Note's vaults until Cuscuna came along and released it in 1980. A fine quintet with Jimmy Spaulding on alto and flute, Stan Cowell keys, Workman and Chambers on d 'n' b respectively. I originally had a dodgy download from a blog site years ago. This LP has a superb version of Cowell's "Effi" which was also more famously on Members, Don't Git Weary . Just superb.

[Jazzrook]

Hutcherson’s ‘Medina’ from 1969 is also a fine album with Harold Land, Stanley Cowell, Reggie Johnson & Joe Chambers.
It came out on a Connoisseur edition(1998) paired with the 1968 ‘Spiral’.

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

JR

[Jazzrook]

George Wallington Quintet with Jackie McLean, Donald Byrd, Paul Chambers & Art Taylor playing ‘Jay Mac’s Crib’ at the Cafe Bohemia, 1955:

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

JR

[Jazzrook]

Thelonious Monk’s wonderful 1954 version of ‘Hackensack’ with Frank Foster, Ray Copeland, Curley Russell & Art Blakey:

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

JR

[Tenor Freak]

Apologies for being late to the party but listening to Jamiroquai's .'Travelling without moving. '

Having been listening to Stevie Wonder recently, I think that Jamiroquai offer a version of pip music that will appeal to jazz fans. Only taken 30 years to wake up to this band ....

Wierd that no musician credits on the liner notes or not that I understand.

Pleased to say I was on to this at the time. Return of the Space Cowboy being a favourite.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Cootie Williams with "Buddy Powell", aged 20? "West end blues" Live 1944

Bud demonstrating his blues chops and more!

http://youtu.be/lzFZSf7DTn8?si=BAxA7z824zwBO9ig

[Ian Thumwood]

Never heard that track before. It is distinctively Bud. Cootie Williams' big band did not last long but I had forgotten that Powell was the pianist. This was also the first group
to record ' Round Midnight. Williams also had part composer credits as a consequence. The alto soloist was Cleanhead Vinson.

[Serial_Apologist]

Cootie Williams with "Buddy Powell", aged 20? "West end blues" Live 1944

Bud demonstrating his blues chops and more!

http://youtu.be/lzFZSf7DTn8?si=BAxA7z824zwBO9ig

Listening to that - and after the Bud Powell COTW - I am left wondering whether it was Bud who was the first off the mark with those rapid downward whole tone scale runs, or Monk!

[Ian Thumwood]

It has been great that ECM have now issued the balance of Keith Jarrett's Deer Head Inn gig. The first volume with Gary Peacock and Paul Motian has always been one of my favourite Jarrett records. In my opinion, the recent release of the rest of the gig is probably the most mainstream record i have heard by Jarrett and places him within a more orthodox context. I would have to say that i find both Jarrett and Motian to have been the last word on Broadway standards and don't think there is much to say afterwards.

This records features aome less familiar song with the exception of a poised and compelling 'Some day my prince will come .' That said, the two highlights are 'Straight no chaser' and 'The old country ' .... the former offering some lopsided and edgy dialogue between the bass a d drums. It really puts me in mimd of Hampton Hawes' ' Green leaves of summer.' There are a few ballads but i think the disc is at it's best when the trio start cooking.

All in all, the record is quite poignant. Motian and Peacock are no longer with us and Jarrett has retired through poor health. This is one of the best albums of 2024 yet it serves to remind how the spontaniety has largely gone from the piano trio format. Shame this kind of swinging jazz is not popular these days.

[LMcD]

Currently enjoying Julian Bliss & Co live from Wigmore Hall.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Roy Hargrove & Mulgrew Miller (duo) "Trieste" from a double album "In Harmony", live concert duets dating 2006 & 2007. I've just bought this from the States (on Resonance) and it's not just a wonderful momento of both of them, its a superb 2CD package in its own right, from a beautifully matched pairing. Recommended highly.

http://youtu.be/6oJmVJm4c2E?si=FkN1e39BUj4_wrLF

And "Never let me go"

http://youtu.be/1ypiR_U--C0?si=CM-rStx6q-xW_f-u