What Jazz are you listening to now?

[Jazzrook]

Sonny Rollins Trio 'At The Village Vanguard' with Wilbur Ware(bass) & Elvin Jones(drums) recorded 60 years ago on November 3, 1957:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4t1g2esXbU

JR

[Stanfordian]

'Brilliant Corners'
Thelonious Monk with Ernie Henry, Sonny Rollins, Oscar Pettiford, Max Roach, Clark Terry & Paul Chambers
Riverside (1956)

For tonight!

[Ian Thumwood]

I have been listening to the solo Pat Metheny album "one Quiet Night" which I had almost forgotten that I had. This record is something of a revelation insofar that the recordings were not initial made for public release, consisting of rehearsal tapes Metheny had made in his studio. In many ways, this is perhaps the most revealing recording the guitarist made , no only because of the fact that he was using a custom made acoustic guitar with no overdubs, but because it is the clearest example I am aware of that reveals his harmonic language.

There are a few musicians whose harmonic vocabulary is so advances that I would have to admit that I can't even begin to understand what is going on. Herbie Hancock is perhaps the best example but I would also add the likes of Mike Brecker and John Taylor to that list. Having heard Metheny perform live on countless occasions, I have always been a fan no matter what context he is playing in. This includes a solo set a Vienne when the French orchestra backing him went on strike - I got the distinct feeling he was pretty non-plussed about that. This record is a prime example that really demonstrates Metheny to be in the same class. What is interesting is that jazz has traditionally been about the complexity of the harmonic line and using rhythm, harmony and phrasing to break down the barriers that exist within bar lines, meter and even form. What I love about Metheny's playing on this record is that he is also exploring how the music may be augmented by total re-harmonising tunes . A great example on this is Norah Jones' "Don't know why" which is a brilliant pop song to begin with but the tune is almost buckled to destruction when Metheny re-harmonises it whilst remaining totally true to the spirit of the origin. In it's way, it is as radical as anything you could hear in jazz even if the devil is in the detail - the chords riding the knife-edge of dissonance with usual roots used to underpin the tune. A similar vibe to the Martin Taylor set on JLU the other week. The last chorus is pretty fascinating.

[Serial_Apologist]

I have been listening to the solo Pat Metheny album "one Quiet Night" which I had almost forgotten that I had. This record is something of a revelation insofar that the recordings were not initial made for public release, consisting of rehearsal tapes Metheny had made in his studio. In many ways, this is perhaps the most revealing recording the guitarist made , no only because of the fact that he was using a custom made acoustic guitar with no overdubs, but because it is the clearest example I am aware of that reveals his harmonic language.

There are a few musicians whose harmonic vocabulary is so advances that I would have to admit that I can't even begin to understand what is going on. Herbie Hancock is perhaps the best example but I would also add the likes of Mike Brecker and John Taylor to that list. Having heard Metheny perform live on countless occasions, I have always been a fan no matter what context he is playing in. This includes a solo set a Vienne when the French orchestra backing him went on strike - I got the distinct feeling he was pretty non-plussed about that. This record is a prime example that really demonstrates Metheny to be in the same class. What is interesting is that jazz has traditionally been about the complexity of the harmonic line and using rhythm, harmony and phrasing to break down the barriers that exist within bar lines, meter and even form. What I love about Metheny's playing on this record is that he is also exploring how the music may be augmented by total re-harmonising tunes . A great example on this is Norah Jones' "Don't know why" which is a brilliant pop song to begin with but the tune is almost buckled to destruction when Metheny re-harmonises it whilst remaining totally true to the spirit of the origin. In it's way, it is as radical as anything you could hear in jazz even if the devil is in the detail - the chords riding the knife-edge of dissonance with usual roots used to underpin the tune. A similar vibe to the Martin Taylor set on JLU the other week. The last chorus is pretty fascinating.

Modulating up a semitone is a pretty routine device for last chorus repeats though, but I'll have to check out theoriginal before taking your word about the extent of Mehteny's re-harmonisation, Ian!

[Ian Thumwood]

S.A.

Here is the original. The final chorus does modulate by the chords ae al supported but different , unrelated notes at the bottom. It would be interesting to see a transposition of this.

[Jazzrook]

Trumpeter Baikida Carroll's 1982 album 'Shadows and Reflections' with Julius Hemphill(alto & tenor sax); Anthony Davis(piano); Dave Holland(bass) & Pheeroan Ak Laff(drums):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6tDMH6-RXs

JR

[Stanfordian]

‘Open Sesame’
Freddie Hubbard with Tina Brooks, McCoy Tyner, Sam Jones & Clifford Jarvis
Blue Note (1960)

Taken out for later!

[elmo]

David Hazeltine Trio with George Mraz and Billy Drummond "Alice in wonderland" on the Venus label - very classy

elmo

[Serial_Apologist]

Trumpeter Baikida Carroll's 1982 album 'Shadows and Reflections' with Julius Hemphill(alto & tenor sax); Anthony Davis(piano); Dave Holland(bass) & Pheeroan Ak Laff(drums):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6tDMH6-RXs

JR

Absolutely fantastic! - There was a woman pianist around that time (maybe still is) - Michelle Rosewoman - whose stuff I held in high regard in the mid-80s. I'll see if I can find any youtube of her tomorrow when I've got a mo. Thanks for that "reminder", JR.

[Stanfordian]

'Face to Face'
'Baby Face' Willette with Fred Jackson, Grant Green, & Ben Dixon
Blue Note (1961)

[Serial_Apologist]

Absolutely fantastic! - There was a woman pianist around that time (maybe still is) - Michelle Rosewoman - whose stuff I held in high regard in the mid-80s. I'll see if I can find any youtube of her tomorrow when I've got a mo. Thanks for that "reminder", JR.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIjm3i5bAnY

Shame the clip ends there, but there's lots more of her stuff on the links (and I don't mean the golf course!).

[Stanfordian]

'Jazz Contemporary'
Kenny Dorham with Charles Davis, Steve Kuhn, Jimmy Garrison, Butch Warren & Buddy Enlow
Time Records (1960)

[Jazzrook]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIjm3i5bAnY

Shame the clip ends there, but there's lots more of her stuff on the links (and I don't mean the golf course!).

Thanks for that, S_A

For some reason Michele Rosewoman is conspicuous by her absence in my record collection but hope to remedy that soon.

JR

[Jazzrook]

Grachan Moncur III's 2004 album 'Exploration'.

Here's 'New Africa' suite:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYnUHj7y1bE

JR

[Stanfordian]

‘Now's the Time’
Sonny Rollins with Herbie Hancock, Thad Jones, Ron Carter/Bob Cranshaw & Roy McCurdy
RCA Victor (1964)