Jerry Granelli, MarcJohnson

Still enjoying the warm afterglow of our trip  to "The Dome",  Airbnb, in Cooperstown, NY.  I didn't get a chance to visit a local record/CD shop there, but I had these CDs planned for this Sunday Music Muse Day, already. First up, Jerry Granelli Dance Hall. The drummer and leader's name didn't ring a bell with me at first, but seeing guitarists Bill Frisell and Robben Ford listed as side men, made this CD worth a try. (On second look at my blog posts I do have one of his CDs, "One Day at A Time", with a group including Robben Ford and Ralph Towner playing only keyboard synthesizer)  It seems this 2017 release was a follow-up to a Granelli recording, "A Song I thought I Heard Buddy Sing" they did together in 1992. They recalled, "there was spark for this work - wanting to hear them play rhythm and blues." After hearing this, I want to hear more, too. This is a great CD, with a nice mix of tunes and excellent playing.

Next up, Marc Johnson's Bass Desires Second Sight. Somehow, with apologies to leader & bassist, Marc Johnson, I used to always regard this as a Frisell or Scofield recording, mainly due to my guitar music bias.  I had the first Bass Desires album, and this 1987 release, but sold both when I sold my vinyl collection.  I have a CD of the 1st, so getting this CD was a no-brainer,   I'm happy to say, I've learned to appreciate Johnson's bass playing and his strong writing talents on his follow-up recordings. I like this second outing, but don't think it's as strong as the debut release.  Still, this CD was worth buying.

Again, when ever possible take a break from the chaos, and clear your mind and calm your soul.  Music it is a great help.  Peace.

Dave Burrell, David Murray with Dave Burrell - Windward Passages

This Sunday Music Muse Day post is a coda to my father's, Sam Woodyard, The Lost Session - Paris 1979 with pianist Dave Burrell session CD release.  The music on The Lost Session was mostly from "jazz opera" Burrell was developing titled Wildward Passages. So, as a follow-up, I found and bought two recorded versions of Windward Passages.  Frst is Dave Burrell - Windward Passages, a solo piano performance recorded live on Thursday, September 13, 1979 at the Stadtheater Basel/Switzerland.  A month after the Lost Session recording. To be honest, it's not my taste in jazz, without the connection to my father, I wouldn't seek this out. But, if you're into Avant-Garde and free jazz, you might give it a listen.

                                        

                                        

Next, is David Murray with Dave Burrell - Windward Passages.  This was a duet recording made in 1993, with Murray on tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, Dave Burrell on piano, voice, and Monika Larsson, voice.  Monika Larsson was Burrell's collaborator on Windward Passage opera.  I found this recording more accessible for me.  Oddly, none of the tunes directly tie-in to the original opera music. They do offer two takes of the John Coltrane classic, Naima, that are worth giving it a listen, if you're curious.

That is my coda to the Lost Session.  Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Joel Harrison - Guitar Solos: Vol.1 & Guitar Talk Vol.2 : Classical & Jazz Duos

This Sunday Music Muse Day, I'll give you some insight into my method of finding new music.  On a current stop into The Bop Shop Records store, I browsed the used CDs, but found nothing to buy, So, I turned to new jazz releases, and this first pick caught my eye, Guitar Solos: Vol. 1 - The Middle of Everywhere, an anthology of alternative guitarists.  From the names on the cover, I recognized several, Nguyen Le, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Nels Cline, and Henry Kaiser. This CD was project started during the Covid era by guitarist Joel Harrison, who oddly doesn't have a track on it.  It's recording of solos performances share online by guitarists that become The Alternative Guitar Summit, "now in existence for 14 years".  I'm not crazy about of all the players, but it's worth a listen to open your ears to new sounds, and players.

Being a lazy reader, it was only after I bought the next selection, Joel Harrison Guitar Talk Vol. 2 -Classic Duos - Jazz Duos, on the recommendation Tom Kohn's (owner of Bop Shop)., that I noticed Harrison was the producer of my first selection. Tom mentioned he know Harrison had him perform for a Bop Shop concert. Two of the guitarists, Fareed Haque, and Nel Cline on the Solos CD, join him on duets on the Vol. 2 . I enjoyed this 2-disc set more than the Solo CD. But, that's just one opinion. 

We're having a heatwave here in upstate NY state, that hopefully it will pass soon. Until then, an AC cooled room, a cold drink, and some cool jazz is the order of the day. Peace.

Surprise Sunday Music Muse day Update: The Dave Burrell & Sam Woodyard -The Lost Session CDs have ARRIVED!

The title of this blog post says it all, The Dave Burrell & Sam Woodyard -The Lost Session 1979 CDs have ARRIVED! This was totally unexpected. When I placed the order, they estimated my delivery date would be in mid-August, but to my delight they arrived two days ago.  In addition, I ordered two copies, but received 3 copies. There was an odd extra charge in the checkout, I couldn't figure out.  I thought it was tariff related. But, I didn't have energy to argue about, so I paid it, since I just wanted the CDs.  The recording had a mythical legacy concerning it's lost status.  I'm including the complete liner notes to give the full story.  I was not familiar with pianist Dave Burrell, and the liner said most of the music is from a jazz opera he was developing titled "Wayward Passages".  Looking online, he did release a live album of the music, and there is a studio version with saxophonist David Murray. I'm thinking of picking up both of them, just out of curiosity. The liner notes gives me a glimpse in Sam's early days in Paris, musically, and personal, such as his "being a well-known alcoholic" (I knew that, so not a shock to me).  As I said, before, I plan to keep a copy for myself, and donate one to Jazz90.1 for their library, but with having a third one, I donate that to them also, as one they can use as a special premium for the next fundraiser.  

Actually, it slipped my mind, but Sam's birthday (January 7, 1925) this year, 2025, would have been his 100th birthday.  This year is turning out to be a banner year for Sam's musical legacy.  Just two months ago, the Ella Frizgerald, "The Monment of Truth - Ella at the Coliseum", album/CD was released, featuring Sam playing in the trio supporting her. In addition, while I was searching for the Ella CD, I found a hard-to-find CD, "The Door" by saxophonist Steve Lacy with Sam playing on one tune, "Virgin Jungle", a Duke Ellington - Billy Strayhorn composition.  It was Sam last recording, he died two months later on September 20, 1988. 

This year, 2025, September 20th fells on a Saturday. I had a thought to ask Tom Pethic if I could join him as a guest on his Saturday radio show, "Artistry in Jazz" to celebration Sam's 100th year, with a program featuring performances from these three CDs and others. I've been a guest on his show before and we've had a good time.

This year, 2025, September 20th fells on a Saturday. I had a thought to ask Tom Pethic if I could join him as a guest on his Saturday radio show, "Artistry in Jazz" to celebration Sam's 100th year, with a program featuring performances from these three CDs and others. I've been a guest on his show before and we've had a good time.

 

Sunday Music Muse Day - Dave Burrell & Sam Woodyard, Pat Martino, John Scofield

Here's a quick Post- 2025 Rochester International Jazz Festival.  Although, I didn't get to attend any of the shows, I was there in spirit. In a show of support, I wore the Jazz 90.1 t-shirt to the Public Market yesterday, and got two shout-outs and thumbs up of approval, so the love of jazz was present.

I waited to share this exciting news, so not to be buried in the RIJF posts, that a long-lost recording of my father, Sam Woodyard and pianist Dave Burrell, has finally surface.  My thanks to Jean-Marie Juif for this notice on the Duke Ellington Society facebook page. I had read mentions of this studio session several times online over the year.  I've already ordered two copies of the CD, and plan to donate one to Jazz90.1.  It should arrive in August, hopefully sooner.

Now, for my regular Sunday Music Muse Day selections, first up, Pat Martino Remember - A Tribute to Wes Montgomery.  The title tell you all you need to know. The late outstanding Pat Martino playing the music written by, and associated with the legendary jazz guitarist, Wes Montgomery is a must-have.  I'm not a completist when it comes to collecting music, or anything else, but I'm always willing to pick up a Pat Martino recording I don't have.  You should to.

My second selection is John Scofield Piety Street. This isa fun and enjoyable recording. Scofield states he wanted to make a blues album, but turned to leaning toward gospel which he saw as "the fraternal twin to R&B, and I've been a huge fan of."  Scofield's down home playing hits the right tone.  It's well worth checking this out.

So, that's this week's Sunday Music Muse.  Again, I wait to share Sam's Lost Recording.  Until than, enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Charles Lloyd, Dizzy Gillespie

This Sunday Music Muse day, find me concerned we're on the verge of a Civil War, with the events in LA, but I still try to push those thoughts away with an afternoon of Jazz. First up, Charles Lloyd and the Marvels, this is a nice collection with some laid back renditions of tradition tunes, like Shenandoah", and a quiet reading of Charles Lloyd's jazz classic "Sombrero Sam", my favorite on the CD. One of the Marvels is Bill Frisell, a favorite guitarist of mine, and a guest player is Willie Nelson, on vocals and guitar. This is an eclectic outing, well worth exploring.

Next up, is Dizzy Gillespie Jazz in Paris. I, of course, know the music Dizzy Gillespie, and his rightfil  place in the history of jazz, but I never owned a Dizzy LP.  I decide to pick up this CD for the cover art design, I liked.  My only other Dizzy stand-alone CD is from the Ken Burns  Jazz anthology. Those cheeks of his and the bent horn are legendary.  (On a personal note, I was told by my grandmother, that it was a letter from Dizzy that informed her of my father, Sam's, illness back in the 1980s, that led to my going Paris, to visit him.) This is nice recording, I'm sure I'll revisit many times to come.

Again, chaos in tin the air, and we have to fight with all we have.  Stay safe, and peace to you all.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Manu Katche, Kenny Wheeler

Here's short Sunday Music Muse Day post, presenting two nice recordings.  First, drummer Manu Katche Neighourhood, with solid group of sidemen who's names would be a challenge for me to pronounce properly, except for Jan Garbarek, who I know from his ECM recordings as leader and side man. This is solid session, you come to except from ECM, a little laid back, but always interesting.

Next up, Kenny Wheeler All the More. I paired this Soul Note CD by the trumpet and flügelhorn player with Manu Katche's ECM disc because I associate Wheeler with ECM, also.  Actually, the liner acknowledges Wheeler and pianist John Taylor appears courtesy of ECM Records.  So, I'll consider this ECM outing.  In any case, it sounds wonderful.

So, that's it for this week Sunday Music Muse Day.  Remember to take a moment to honor the real meaning of Memorial Day, and fallen who give their lives for their country and all of us.  Peace.