the red branch of the slow autumn at my window,

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

Alyn is very very appealing this week not just Mr Pepper for El Senor Blues but Sir Charles T with that rhythm section!

Geoffrey keeps up the happy work

In 1936, The Count Basie Band came sweeping out of the West, to amaze America with great soloists such as Lester Young, and the most swinging rhythm section in jazz. In the first of two programmes, Geoffrey Smith celebrates the Basie effect with that original band, followed next week by the Count's famous crew from the 1950's and 60's.

Julian leads us in an appreciation of Graham Collier

Julian Joseph presents a special tribute concert to celebrate the music of the late British bandleader & composer Graham Collier. It features members of the BBC Big Band plus many of Collier's closest associates, including musical director Geoff Warren. Graham Collier was a key member of a seminal generation of British jazz composers in the 60s, and his creative spirit continued until his untimely death in 2011. 2012 would have marked his 75th birthday and tonight's performance, recorded at the BBC Maida Vale Studios, includes the British premiere of Graham's penultimate work, The Blue Suite, as well as a selection of his and the musicians' personal favourites from the Collier canon.
Band are:- Steve Waterman, Martin Shaw, Mike Lovatt (Trumpets); Jonathan Williams (French Horn); Andy Grappy (Tuba); Gordon Campbell (Trombone); Art Themen, Andy Panayi, Graeme Blevins, Julian Siegel (Reeds); Roger Dean (Piano/Laptop); Roy Babbington (Bass); John Marshall (Drums); Ed Speight (Guitar); Geoff Warren (Musical Director).

Jon3

Jazz in the Round celebrates the incredible breadth of contemporary jazz and improvised music, bringing together bands you might not usually expect to sit on the same billing. This time is no different, with contrasting sets by British, European and American musicians. Israeli pianist Yaron Herman is a rising star whose latest quartet, featured here, filters his Middle-Eastern heritage through Latin and post-bop sounds. Chris Dave, meanwhile, is one of the most in-demand jazz, R&B and hip-hop drummers around, performing with everyone from pop mega-stars Beyoncé and Adele to the jazz/nu-soul Experiment outfit led by pianist Robert Glasper. Whatever the genre, he lights up the stage with an eccentric approach to the kit and an amazingly elastic rhythmic feel, so this set with his Drumhedz outfit should be a real treat! Also on the programme, a new band - London-based six-piece Fofoulah, led by Loop Collective drummer Dave Smith, which blends modern African praise song and Gambian sabar drumming with electronic grooves.

[Anna]

Interesting, I bought that Gregory Porter cd, then wondered ... why did I? It's so much smooze-quasi lounge jazz. In my opinion of course.

[Old Grumpy]

Interesting, I bought that Gregory Porter cd, then wondered ... why did I? It's so much smooze-quasi lounge jazz. In my opinion of course.

I agree - that track was nice enough on its own - not sure I would want the whole CD though.

Could be an interesting thread: CDs I wonder why I've bought.

OG

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Another agreement, I find that Greg Porter track cloying...Jazz FM thought it was wonderful and played it to death.

Really enjoying the rest tho!

BN.

[cloughie]

Interesting, I bought that Gregory Porter cd, then wondered ... why did I? It's so much smooze-quasi lounge jazz. In my opinion of course.

Should be on OG's new thread or is your line the idea for his thread?

Had I progressed down I would have noticed that it is - your unconscious predictions are becoming worrying, Anna.

[Ian Thumwood]

Anna / Old Grumpy

Curious to read the comments about the Gregory Porter CD. I don't regret buying it although I admit that I was sceptical until I was totally converted after hearing him sing live. The music on the disc is generally excellent but it suffers from having the tracks set out in an unbalanced fashion with too many ballads / similar material in the middle of the disc. The tunes 5-9 are well performed but maybe edge too much towards a more popularist approach - although I don't mind this and would suggest that the jazz quotient is far higher han with someone like Bill Withers. Having said that, the opening four tracks are terrific especially "Painted on canvas" which is, in my opinion, something of a masterpiece.

The strangest thing on the record is the strident "Bling, bling" which is probably the least song-like of all the pieces on the disc and features some wonderful piano by Chip Crawford. It is almost as if he is influenced by Andrew Hill it is so spikey - not at all the kind of piano you'd expect to hear on a vocal record. The following "Work Song" is probably the definitive version of this Nat Adderley composition. It is a crackiong version of this tune.

I'm not that convinced by Anna's comment about being "Smooze, quasi-jazz." When he performed live there was no doubt that you were witnessing a singer with amazing presence and talent. The audience lapped on the music and he certainly out-stagged McCoy Tyner who was part of the triple bill who followed on from him. It is staggering that someone can arrive on the jazz scene almost unnoticed with such ability. i believe he has spent much of his career in music theatre yet he is 100% jazz. I think the problem is that you have to put him in the same box as a singer like Johnny Hartman . There is also the fact that "On my way to Harlem" is very much a celebration of Afro-American identity and maybe this could be an issue for some people. Personally, I like the fact that this record is slightly politicised albeit I agree with Anna's allusion to the fact that the tracks in the middle are a bit too "romantic." Not a bad disc but shame there was more up-tempo, political stuff on it. None-the-less, Gregory Porter is amazingly talented.

[Old Grumpy]

Anna / Old Grumpy

Curious to read the comments about the Gregory Porter CD. I don't regret buying it although I admit that I was sceptical until I was totally converted after hearing him sing live. The music on the disc is generally excellent but it suffers from having the tracks set out in an unbalanced fashion with too many ballads / similar material in the middle of the disc. The tunes 5-9 are well performed but maybe edge too much towards a more popularist approach - although I don't mind this and would suggest that the jazz quotient is far higher han with someone like Bill Withers. Having said that, the opening four tracks are terrific especially "Painted on canvas" which is, in my opinion, something of a masterpiece.

The strangest thing on the record is the strident "Bling, bling" which is probably the least song-like of all the pieces on the disc and features some wonderful piano by Chip Crawford. It is almost as if he is influenced by Andrew Hill it is so spikey - not at all the kind of piano you'd expect to hear on a vocal record. The following "Work Song" is probably the definitive version of this Nat Adderley composition. It is a crackiong version of this tune.

I'm not that convinced by Anna's comment about being "Smooze, quasi-jazz." When he performed live there was no doubt that you were witnessing a singer with amazing presence and talent. The audience lapped on the music and he certainly out-stagged McCoy Tyner who was part of the triple bill who followed on from him. It is staggering that someone can arrive on the jazz scene almost unnoticed with such ability. i believe he has spent much of his career in music theatre yet he is 100% jazz. I think the problem is that you have to put him in the same box as a singer like Johnny Hartman . There is also the fact that "On my way to Harlem" is very much a celebration of Afro-American identity and maybe this could be an issue for some people. Personally, I like the fact that this record is slightly politicised albeit I agree with Anna's allusion to the fact that the tracks in the middle are a bit too "romantic." Not a bad disc but shame there was more up-tempo, political stuff on it. None-the-less, Gregory Porter is amazingly talented.

I do think there are some artists who come across better live than on CD. Conversely I have sometimes bought a CD after a gig and enjoyed the studio sound even more than I did the gig*.

OG


* Obviously had I not enjoyed the gig, I would not have bought the CD!

[Anna]

Just to return briefly to Gregory Porter. I was so impressed at seeing him live (well, not actually live in the flesh but live on tv, I think on Jools Holland) that I bought the cd. I confesss I've only played it twice but will give it a whirl this afternoon. To cross reference the 'Wish I hadn't bought the cd' thread, I too have the Pat Metheny/Ornette Song X languishing, barely played. I'll give that a spin as well (seeing as there are polarised views on it)

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

love Song X .....

may i presume to urge all boredees to catch the Geoffrey show this weekend ... the first generation Basie Band ... heaven innit ...first track is a quintet with Lester 'Shoe Shine Boy'

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Llistening to Geoff Smith et Basie on download as I feed the ducks...banging their boots to Lester...

Btw...Song X...Freddie Green didnt use a amp then or a bloody synth, and his action was high enough to chop off Metheny's fingers...a cheese grater. I Wish.

BN.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

the ducks up here prefer the Chick Webb Band for dancing .. [can't afford boots]

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Excellent programme Calum...I really like Geoff Smith's quiet learning and enthusiasm.

BN.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

ain't it so El Senor

still flipped out from The World is Mad Pts 1 & 2 .....

[Tenor Freak]

Song x teh excellent

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Song Y Not...

...Sack Metheny and Denardo and make a very fine trio album?

But would they listen...No.

BN.