What Jazz are you listening to now?

[Beef Oven!]

The New Tony Williams Lifetime - Believe It (1975)

Although I’ve had this CD since about 1991 I’ve not listened to it more than about ten times. The first track, 'Snake Oil' is far too Rockist (ok, it’s a fusion album, but even so). Happily the next track 'Fred' features some impossibly virtuosic guitar runs by Allan Holdsworth, as do the next two as well. Tony Williams' drumming throughout is what you’d expect from one of the most talented drummers ever, but I can’t help thinking that he’s wasted playing rock, which is what a lot of this album is. Well I guess it’s what he wanted to do at that moment in time, so why not? I’m not putting rock, or rock drummers down, it’s just that jazz offers more breathing space.

Edit: Such a fluid solo from AH on Mr Spock, but TW’s amazing simultaneous drumming is distracting! (no pleasing some people!)

[Stanfordian]

‘Love, Gloom, Cash, Love’
Herbie Nichols with George Duvivier & Dannie Richmond
Blue Note (1957)

[Stanfordian]

‘Hi Voltage’
Hank Mobley with Jackie McLean, Blue Mitchell, John Hicks, Bob Cranshaw & Billy Higgins
Blue Note (1967)

[Jazzrook]

A recent discovery for me was drummer Specs Powell's 1957 album 'Movin' In'(ROULETTE).
It was his only album as leader with arrangements by trumpeter Ray Copeland and deserves to be more widely known.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybLuJ8tkDj8

JR

[Stanfordian]

‘Tom Cat’
Lee Morgan with Curtis Fuller, Jackie McLean, McCoy Tyner, Bob Cranshaw & Art Blakey
Blue Note (1964)

Late night listening!

[Stanfordian]

‘Reminiscin'’
Gigi Gryce with Richard Gene Williams, Richard Rylands, Reggie Workman, Eddie Costa & Bob Thomas
New Jazz (1960)

For later!

[Tenor Freak]

‘Hi Voltage’
Hank Mobley with Jackie McLean, Blue Mitchell, John Hicks, Bob Cranshaw & Billy Higgins
Blue Note (1967)

Was listening to this one on my vinyl copy earlier. Excellent.

Now playing: Hank Mobley - Roll Call

[Stanfordian]

‘Jug’
Gene Ammons with Richard Wyands, Clarence Anderson, Doug Watkins & JC Heard
Prestige (1961)

[Stanfordian]

‘The Complete 1960 Sextet Jazz Cellar Session’
Ben Webster & Johnny Hodges with Lou Levy, Herb Ellis, Wilfred Middlebrooks, Gus Johnson
Wax Time (1960)

[Stanfordian]

‘On the Spur of the Moment’
Horace Parlan with Tommy Turrentine, Stanley Turrentine, George Tucker & Al Harewood
Blue Note (1961)

[Stanfordian]

‘Jazz Contrasts’
Kenny Dorham with Sonny Rollins, Hank Jones, Oscar Pettiford, Max Roach & Betty Glamann
Riverside (1957)

[Stanfordian]

'Night Hawk'
Coleman Hawkins with Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Tommy Flanagan, Ron Carter & Gus Johnson
Swingville (1961)

For late listening!

[Ian Thumwood]

‘Jazz Contrasts’
Kenny Dorham with Sonny Rollins, Hank Jones, Oscar Pettiford, Max Roach & Betty Glamann
Riverside (1957)

I bought the Avid 2-CD set of Kenny D0rham albums which included the ballad album and another where he was unwise enough to sing. The ballad disc is ok but harldy essential whereas the second sic comprises two live set featuring Jackie McLean. These records are nothing short of sensational, a dream front line pairing with the second of the two sets including Bobby Timmons in excellent form on piano.

I would have to be honest that jazz trumpet in the fifties / early sixties is dominated in my opinion by the twin pillars of Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. Later on, I think that Freddie Hubbard truly added something to the possibilities but I just feel that Kenny Dorham is probably the most interesting trumpeter of that era. I know it is fashionable to praise the work of Clifford Brown and that what he produced was effectively the work on someone at the start of their career but I feel that Kenny Dorham is far more interesting on so many different perspectives. I find that he seems to think more about his solos and that he uses the timbre of his instrument to far greater effect than most of his contemporaries. In some respects, I don't think that he even thinks like a trumpeter when he solos. Dorham is pretty mesmerising as a soloist, a compelling improviser who was pretty switched on harmonically and also a terrific composer to boot. If you wanted to compile a list of under-rated jazz musicians, Dorham would be the first name you might put down.

[Stanfordian]

I bought the Avid 2-CD set of Kenny D0rham albums which included the ballad album and another where he was unwise enough to sing. The ballad disc is ok but harldy essential whereas the second sic comprises two live set featuring Jackie McLean. These records are nothing short of sensational, a dream front line pairing with the second of the two sets including Bobby Timmons in excellent form on piano.

I would have to be honest that jazz trumpet in the fifties / early sixties is dominated in my opinion by the twin pillars of Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. Later on, I think that Freddie Hubbard truly added something to the possibilities but I just feel that Kenny Dorham is probably the most interesting trumpeter of that era. I know it is fashionable to praise the work of Clifford Brown and that what he produced was effectively the work on someone at the start of their career but I feel that Kenny Dorham is far more interesting on so many different perspectives. I find that he seems to think more about his solos and that he uses the timbre of his instrument to far greater effect than most of his contemporaries. In some respects, I don't think that he even thinks like a trumpeter when he solos. Dorham is pretty mesmerising as a soloist, a compelling improviser who was pretty switched on harmonically and also a terrific composer to boot. If you wanted to compile a list of under-rated jazz musicians, Dorham would be the first name you might put down.

What are the titles please of those Kenny Dorham album(s) you refer to with Jackie McLean?

[Serial_Apologist]

I bought the Avid 2-CD set of Kenny D0rham albums which included the ballad album and another where he was unwise enough to sing.

Beautiful!!!

I know it is fashionable to praise the work of Clifford Brown and that what he produced was effectively the work on someone at the start of their career but I feel that Kenny Dorham is far more interesting on so many different perspectives. I find that he seems to think more about his solos and that he uses the timbre of his instrument to far greater effect than most of his contemporaries. In some respects, I don't think that he even thinks like a trumpeter when he solos. Dorham is pretty mesmerising as a soloist, a compelling improviser who was pretty switched on harmonically and also a terrific composer to boot. If you wanted to compile a list of under-rated jazz musicians, Dorham would be the first name you might put down.

I have to say I agree. Clifford Brown is sometimes cited as the man who stylistically bridged Miles and Diz, while at the same time perfecting Fat's Navarro's incompleted approach. There is a live CB quintet or quartet recording which I overheard being trialled in a record shop many moons ago, which suggested a harmonically adventurous player, but in general - maybe it's because I've only listened to studio albums - Brown comes across as just too safe as well as too clean in his timbre; there's also something I find irritatingly staccato in his manner of playing.