Kofi is on the menu; also one real McCoy, and Alina than ever harpist, in her Prime

[Serial_Apologist]

Sat Aug 18
5pm - Jazz Record Requests

Note the different starting time.

http://www.alynshipton.co.uk/blog

J to Z makes way for the Young Eurovisionaries, this week.

12midnight - Geoffrey Smith's Jazz
The work of American pianist McCoy Tyner

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bfxltp

Mon 20 Aug
11pm - Jazz Now
Soweto Kinch presents a live edition from the Edinburgh Festival, with music by guitarist Joe Williamson's quartet and harpist Alina Bzhezhinska.

I was fine once I got to typing her last two syllables!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bfy2c4

One supposes room will be made in one of these programmes for some form of tribute to Aretha, the great, late queen of Soul; and speaking of figures worthy of note on the fringes, Laura Mvula has a BBC commission titled Love Like a Lion, premièred at next Monday's 1pm Cadogan Hall Chamber Prom, among other choral works by stalwarts of British 20th century classical music - Frank Bridge, Vaughan Williams and Hugh Parry. Maybe I'll toddle along...

[Ian Thumwood]

I am really intrigued by the selection on JRR which was made by members from NJYO and am finding the reasons for the choices quite interesting. It is intriguing listening to what musicians under the age of 25 are in to. The choices are quite interesting and far more conservative than I might have anticipated. It is quite fascinating chatting with younger musicians I have bumped in to in Vienne and learning what kind of jazz they listen to, if at all. I feel that younger fans are looking for something totally different from the music than their older counterparts but the JRR result isn't quite the JLU "Light" that you might have predicted. I was surprised to see Sonny Rollins in the list, to be honest.

This has got be wondering whether it would ever be possible for JRR to experiment with this idea further and maybe have a programme where the requests are limited to anyone under the age of 25. I think it could be quite salutary if a younger generation of jazz fans could perhaps suggest the kind of jazz they believe the older generation should be listening to and what it is about the music that appeals. Not withstanding the effect that it might have on Bluesnik, it would be fascinating to learn what younger musicians are in to as well as the musical values they hold dear to making innovative jazz. A recent gig with the Southampton Youth Jazz Orchestra was interesting judging by the material they performed and maybe suggested they were quite savvy. Good to hear someone checking out Maria Schneider who is pretty special and going a lot to build upon the traditions of Gil Evans.

[Old Grumpy]

Sat Aug 18
5pm - Jazz Record Requests

Note the different starting time.

http://www.alynshipton.co.uk/blog

Remarkably conservative choices from the young Nyjonians in today's prog, so far. Not unpleasant though.

OG

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

"Young People" should have life experience before they are allowed to "elect" JRR choices. I went through Korea, Vietnam, Belfast, and a bar fight in Swindon before I was permitted to asked for Elmo Hope. And then only after rigourous testing. Mind you, and I missed the rationale for tonight's programme, Frank Sinatra would be more my elder brother's 'ting and he's 117. Although I'm not complaining. As has been said, surprisingly conservative selections (although maybe not from them? Which is why they won't mind National Service being brought back after Brexit.

[Ian Thumwood]

"Young People" should have life experience before they are allowed to "elect" JRR choices. I went through Korea, Vietnam, Belfast, and a bar fight in Swindon before I was permitted to asked for Elmo Hope. And then only after rigourous testing. Mind you, and I missed the rationale for tonight's programme, Frank Sinatra would be more my elder brother's 'ting and he's 117. Although I'm not complaining. As has been said, surprisingly conservative selections (although maybe not from them? Which is why they won't mind National Service being brought back after Brexit.

That made me laugh.

It is funny just how different your perceptions of various musicians tastes are from reality. About 15 years ago I had dinner with a load of music students plus the entire Village Vanguard Jazz orchestra. A number of the band members were discussing the people they had worked with and there was a general acceptance that Barbara Streisand was the most impressive. I was staggered that they were so enthusiastic about this singer and didn't seem do interested jazz musicians. I was expecting them to be quite snobby yet the reality was that the musical tastes of those musicians I sat with were quite square. The NYJO selections were no less surprising. Of the requests, the only two I could "understand" were the Schneider and Rollins pieces. I would love to see this concept opened out to the general public and see if JRR could have a programme whereby all the requesters were under 25. The gigs I tend to go to seem to attract diminishing numbers of younger people . From time to time, I have spoken to younger musicians in France and their tastes, whilst varied, seem to be more switched on. In the college bands, there is a genuine appreciation for composers like Ellington but you also get a lot of enthusiasm for records like Robert Glasper's "Black Radio" which have a wider and more commercial appeal. I am not sure that the small sample of tracks on JRR is that representative of what younger audiences are checking out but it was almost as interesting hearing the reasons for the selections. For me, they broadly fell into three categories which were "genuine" jazz, work that had been performed by musicians from NYJO or by former colleagues and stuff that was really in the fringes of jazz like the Sinatra and Ella tracks. It was fascinating in it's way . Shame too that there is no one younger posting on this forum who might offer the perspective from a contemporary of the requesters.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Without knowing that much about them, I always assumed that the NYJO/Bill Ashton set up was fairy conventional, if not conservative? I remember Steve and Julian Argüelles etc didn't stay around long. And JA infers he got far more out of the Euro youth jazz orchestra.

Interesting side note on "conservatism", in their website memory lane they recall playing a "weird gig" at the Wembly Arena with Slade etc also on the bill, "sometime in 1972". "A workers benefit". This was the Socialist Labour League/Workers Revolutionary Party's big Right to Work March. I'm not sure if NYJO ever knew the organisers or the true revolutionary rationale! I was there that day!

[burning dog]

re:- Barbara Streisand

The Miles Davis Quintet was invited to play behind Barbara Streisand just after Wayne Shorter joined. Miles and Wayne didn't take part but the trio did.

At some time Herbie Hancock started recording all the gigs, not sure when.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

I think Herbie bought his Nagra tape recorder early on a European tour. That story of him still under the piano setting up the mikes as Miles launched into the first number. Miles glaring and having to restart the concert.

Re Barbara S, despite her diva reputation, quite a few jazz musicians who worked with her said she was excellent. Buell Neidlinger of Cecil T fame even

[Ian Thumwood]

I don't think the issue is with Streisand being a sham as a singer but more to the fact that her music is not very interesting. You just would have expected professional musicians to latched on to something else before easy listening music. After all, it is precisely this kind of stuff that jazz has to compete against . You almost feel that musicians who perform a style of music that needs to struggle to reach an audience who feel similarly partisan towards other musicians whose music struggles to get out there. Thinking back to when I was under 25, I had already explored jazz's past and was totally besotted with musicians like Paul Bley, John Scofield, Bill Frisell and the whole roster on ECM. I just wanted to listen to everything and would even go to gigs by musicians I knew nothing about because I was curious about their music. The NYCO selections intrigued me because I wondered just how many of those people were really in to jazz or just enjoyed the experience of playing in an ensemble / reading the dots. I can understand their point of view. When I played the piano back in the 1990's, there was an amazingly talented young pianist in Southampton who knew nothing of jazz piano beyond Oscar Peterson. Some people seem quite content to not explore any music too seriously and this goes for musicians too, I suppose. At 25, I would never have explored Frank Sinatra or Barbara Streisand for that matter. Neither would have been on my radar nor am I interested in either now. I suspect that that applies to most people posting here. The whole notion of "Easy Listening" is contrary to jazz I would have thought. I would have been more impressed if the NYJO musicians had chosen , say, Henry Threadgill or Andrew Hill. Can't see that ever happening though.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Funnily enough (at my age!) I have been recently playing catch up with Henry Threadgill, who was previously just "interesting" to me, and I am knocked out. Downloaded, bought a shed load of his "stuff". Fast becoming a soundtrack chez here.

BN.

[Tenor Freak]

Without knowing that much about them, I always assumed that the NYJO/Bill Ashton set up was fairy conventional, if not conservative? I remember Steve and Julian Argüelles etc didn't stay around long. And JA infers he got far more out of the Euro youth jazz orchestra.

There was an interview with the Argüelles bros in Teh Wire where Julian I think, said that in NYJO, "You were nobody until you stood up and played a solo." Great title for a song...

[Tenor Freak]

It would be great if the Proms organisers could get the likes of Threadgill (great choice BTW Bluesie) to perform at the RAH. I had rather hoped that they could have got Kenny Wheeler, or George Russell, in but that never happened.

I'd love to hear a Prom that featured a performance of "The Shoes of the Fisherman's Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers" just to hear Ian Skelly or Katie Derham announce it.

[Serial_Apologist]

Funnily enough (at my age!) I have been recently playing catch up with Henry Threadgill, who was previously just "interesting" to me, and I am knocked out. Downloaded, bought a shed load of his "stuff". Fast becoming a soundtrack chez here.

BN.

Threagill's 1970s trio, Air, is well worth investigating.

[Serial_Apologist]

It would be great if the Proms organisers could get the likes of Threadgill (great choice BTW Bluesie) to perform at the RAH. I had rather hoped that they could have got Kenny Wheeler, or George Russell, in but that never happened.

I'd love to hear a Prom that featured a performance of "The Shoes of the Fisherman's Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers" just to hear Ian Skelly or Katie Derham announce it.

[Ian Thumwood]

Funnily enough (at my age!) I have been recently playing catch up with Henry Threadgill, who was previously just "interesting" to me, and I am knocked out. Downloaded, bought a shed load of his "stuff". Fast becoming a soundtrack chez here.

BN.

I have been listening to "Dirt....and more dirt" throughout last week. At first I was a little underwhelmed but I think it is a composition which needs time to be assimilated. The second part "More dirt" is more rewarding but it is curious to see musicians like Thomas Morgan in the line up. I feel that labels like Pi are doing a lot to promote more adventurous styles of jazz. I would be really curious to see what Threadgill albums you have been listening to and what your favourites are. The "Old locks and irregular verbs" has been getting some serious reviews. Threadgill is someone you might consider to be under the radar even though the serious press has been paying them attention. I concur that it would be great to hear someone like Threadgill featured in the Proms but there is a wealth of impressive composers who could also fit that bill.

If you are keen to check out the more innovative side of jazz, Pi has produced a another cracking album that I would recommend. Last month I was listening extensively to Steve Coleman's exceptional Council of Balance's disc called "Synovial Joints". Th whole album is superb but the track "Nomadic" is staggeringly brilliant. I think this most be the most catchy tune that you probably wont be able to hum back I can think of.