Sunday Music Muse Day - Booby Hutcherson, Jaco Pastorius

This sunny Sunday Music Muse Day find me highlighting two CDs I picked on our short trip to Saratoga Springs, NY and a little R&R, this past week..  First up is Bobby Hutcherson Un Poco Loco, was recording originally released in 1980 on the Columbia label, but no exact recording dated is listed. It has leader Hutcherson on vibes & marimba, leading a quintet, each playing electric and acoustic instruments, with John Abercrombie on guitars, George Cables on pianos, Chuck Domanico on basses, and Peter Erskine drums, and percussion.  This inclusion of Abercrombie and Erskine made picking this up a no-brainer. The late guitarist, Abercrombie, remains one of my favorite musicians.  Erskine also ranks hight as a favorite from his work with Weather Report and post-WR trio work as a leader. I like the sound of the vibes and marimba, so this is enjoyable session, with Jack DeJohnette's "Silver Hollow" being a standout tune.

Next up is Jaco Pastorius Ultimate. There isn't much I can add that hasn't been said about the late Jaco Pastorius since his playing defined the jazz-fusion bass playing with his bands as a leader, his playing with Weather Report and work as a side man with artists like Joni Mitchell.  The music speaks for itself. This CD is a nice overview of his work. I intentionally grouped these CDs together because Peter Erskine played with Jaco in Weather Report.

So, looks like spring has finally arrived, so enjoy.  Peace.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Herb Ellis, Gene Bertoncini.

This Sunday Music Muse day features two stellar veteran masters of the jazz guitar. First, Herb Ellis An Evening with Herb Ellis.  This is a live recording from 1995 quartet performance, that sound as fresh, laid back as you can imagine.

Next up, is Gene Bertoncini Acoustic Romance.  This is mellow trio set with Gene, on guitar, Akira Tana on drums and Rufus Reid on bass. This might just the thing for a quiet escape from the chaos of current events.  I must admit, I'm rather embarrassed, I've discovered Gene Bertoncini playing since 2020, a little after I moved to Rochester, after picking up a CD he did with guitarist Steve Green, who I'd seen playing with the White Hots at a Jazz90.1 event.  Since then, I've picked up any Bertoncini CD I've come across, five so far, and counting.

So, in closing, be kind to yourself, find the time and space to be at peace with music to help lead the way.  Take care.

Sunday Music Muse Day. - Steve Lacy with Sam Woodyard, Lorraine Feather

This Sunday Music Muse Day, finds me relating a wonderful personal story of music collecting. A new release by the late, great Ella Fitzgerald was coming out this week.  It is a live recording date in my father, Sam Woodyard, and other Ellington sidemen accompanying her on Los Angeles date (more details later, when I receive the CD).  In any case, I went to Bop Shop Record store to purchase a copy.  Owner, Tom Cohn, didn't have it, yet, so I order three copies.  One for myself, and two to donate to Jazz90.1, my local listener supported jazz station.  (I also volunteer with them.)  Jazz90.1 is having their spring fund drive. They can offer the two copies to sweeten their gift package of a new supporter.   My slight disappointment in Ella CD not being there, ended with an unexpected find.  My first selection, Steve Lacy The Door. This is a recording I've heard of, and wanted for a long time. It has the last session my father played on, four months before he died.  Sam played on the last cut of the CD, "Virgin Jungle", a Duke Ellington tune, Sam probably played with the band.  The cut is unique in that there are two drummers and two saxophonists on it.  The added bonus is Sam's pictured with Steve Lacy on the back cover.

My next selection is Lorraine Feather The Green World.  I was introduced to Lorraine by Derrick Lucas, program director at the Jazz90.1 radio station at a CD release event at the Before Your Quiet Eyes Book store in Rochester, host owner Ken Kelbaugh. Sorry to say I missed most of Lorraine's talk, due to attending the protest yesterday.  Lorraine is the daughter of the famous jazz writer Leonard Feather, giving her a connection to Duke Ellington, socially.   But, I did purchase a sighed copy of her latest CD, although her music is totally new to me. My understanding is she's primarily known as a singer and songwriter.  Her promo flyer says: "Feather has been compared to Tom Waits,  Kurt Weill, Jon Hendricks, and Laurie Anderson". After several listenings, I can relate to the comparisons, especially Laurie Anderson.  I'd add she also reminds me of singer/pianist Patrica Barber. The Green World is deep, and dense music experience, worth diving into.

So, that's this week's Sunday Music Muse Day, on a weekend that might be a turning point in our country's political history. Stay safe, and stand tall. Peace.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Ralph Towner Gary Burton, Wolfgang Muthspiel

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds me featuring two CDs from the ECM catalog. ECM records was instrumental in expanding my musical taste beyond Rock and Jazz fusion. My first selection can only be counted as timeless recording,  Ralph Towner and Gary Burton Match Book.  I had the original vinyl record, but decided to sell it with the rest of my record collection, as I have most of the music on compilation CDs.  I'm overjoyed to find this CD.  The music sounds as fresh and engaging as when it was recorded in the 1974, it spent repeated listening on my turntable.  

Next up, is Wolfgang Muthspiel Rising Grace. ("Wolfgang" sounds like Viking warrior, Prince Valiant might encounter) I have another CD with Wolfgang playing with Ralph Towner.  The session finds the Austrian guitarist leading a group featuring basically a trumpet and piano trio of Brad Mehldau. That not bad thing.  This is a very good recording. Worth checking out.

Both of these ECM releases are incredible finds and worth seeking out. Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Jeff Campbell, Charles Lloyd

 This Sunday Music Muse Day find us waking up to an overcast sky, and blustery windy.  Later in the day we were hit with a heavy driving downpour and a brief thunderstorm.  In some ways, a depressing weather day.  The titles of my two music selections, offer positive affirmations, supported my their music, as only music can. First up, Jeff Campbell Trio, A Declaration of Optimism.   I first heard the talented bassist with the local group, Trio East, with drummer Rich Thompson, and Clay Jenkins on trumpet, fellow jazz educators at the Eastman Music of Music, in Rochester, NY. The title tune, A Declaration of Optimism, hit the right tone for me today in the chaos of current events.  I included the first page of Jeff's liner notes, and his "About the Music" comment on the tune, from this 2009 release.    It's worth reading.  This CD will definitely find a welcomed spot in my collection.

Next up, is Charles Lloyd, The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow. Again, the title implies a confirmation that things will get better.  The of this 2-CD set supports this. Lloyds liner notes are very insightful.  The desire to make this CD came from the "imposed seclusion of COVID and the intense rise of violence over the Spring & Summer of 2020." He told his wife, he wanted "to make an offering of tenderness".  That's heavy.  I've included his full liner notes.  These CDs are just the tonic I need to get through these days. 

I plan to take inspiration from the music of these musicians and make "a declaration of optimism", that I'll try to remember "the sky will still be there tomorrow". It's how we act under that sky, cloudy, stormy, or clear blue, is what makes the difference. Peace.

Sunday Music Muse Day (day late) - Joe Pass, Jerry Granelli (with Ralph Towner)

Here's by day late Sunday Music Muse Day post.  (The start of the March of Robots online drawing event, threw me off schedule).  Both selection feature two favorite guitarists, but with slight twist.  First up is Joe Pass Unforgettable, there's not much to say about the late legendary jazz guitarist.  He remains at the top at any discussion of jazz guitar.  The twist of this CD is he's playing nylon-string acoustic guitar, not an electric jazz guitar, like a Gibson ES-175 (the CD's cover photo show him playing a thin body guitar, like my ES-175T).  There's a mystery for jazz guitar lovers. The music is classic Joe Pass, playing beautiful version of jazz standards.  

My next selection is one I picked for the side men, more that the leader.  Jerry Granelli One Day at a Time.   Leader, drummer Jerry Gannelli, is new to me, but seeing Ralph Towner, Charlie Haden, and Robben Ford, as side men intrigued me.  Especially as Ralph Tower is only playing synthesizer, not acoustic guitar.  I knew he was also an excellent pianist, but known for play the syn. The liner notes Jerry Granelli says the music was "...recorded over 3 days. There are no over dubs, only two written compositions. All of this music is what I call spontaneous composition.  So is a freewheeling session, interesting but not really exciting.

Please forgive the delayed, but late that never.  Enjoy

Return of a Random Blue Dot - DflyDen - Titanfall 2 Camping & Pistol Action Clips

Here's another video of my return to online video gaming.   I'm lousy at FPS (First Person Shooters), but Titanfall 2 is a blast to play. I can't do full game videos yet, until I get a capture card.