Sunday Music Muse Day - Anthony Willson, Patrica Barber

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds us enjoying a set of perfect fall weather days, slightly cool in the shade, warm in the sun.  When not outside enjoying the weather, I'm inside enjoying these two selections, slightly the beaten path for me.  First up is Anthony Wilson self-title debut album Anthony Wilson (1997) — featured a nine-piece “little big band” and received a Grammy nomination for Best Large Ensemble Jazz Recording. He is son of legendary jazz trumpeter and bandleader Gerald Wilson and it's obvious talent doesn't fall far from the family tree. This is a fully realize effort and worth checking out. (One odd note: It did play correctly on my old 1980's CD player, sound scratchy. But it play fine in my Playstation 3, it could have a manufacturing defect, but I'm blaming my old CD player)

My next selection id Patrica Barber Nightclub, which again, I not usually into vocal jazz as much as guitar-centric instrumental, but I like her laid back smokey jazz club style. She can be slightly pretentious, and cerebral in seductive way. This is exclusively a eclectic selection of jazz standards and movie themes. The several of her sideman caught by eye including Charlie Hunter on 8-string guitar, Marc Johnson on bass (made Bass Desires with John Scofield, Bill Frisell, Peter Erskine), and Adam Nussbaum on drums (noted sideman with John Scofield, and the late John Abercrombie groups) When I'm in the mood Patrica Barber can satisfy my desire for some off beat jazz vocal music. Also, worth a listen.

I hope our nice fall weather continues, but if not there are always good to enjoy.

Inktober 2019 #13- #19

Here's the next batch of Inktober 2019

I'm actually one day behind.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Tom Rizzio, Grant Green

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds me enjoying a beautiful picture perfect fall day. I must admit I was not inclined to anything but relax and enjoy it with a heavy amount of laziness.  To aid in my desire, I picked Tom Rizzo Day and Night.  Guitarist Rizzo is totally new to me, I picked up this CD on blind faith, him being a guitarist and my being familiar with some of the tunes, like Infant Eyes by Wayne Shorter.  Checking online after listening to it, I discovered Rizzo was a west coast musician, but with a solid Rochester connection. A radio profile states: "Rizzo’s passion for the guitar led him to teach as well as to perform with many of the jazz greats who were faculty members of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Then at age 25, he hit the road with the Maynard Fergusson Big Band. That gig lead to a 10-year dream job as one of the youngest members of "The Tonight Show" Orchestra with Doc Severenson"  I'm wondering if my musician friends who are Eastman instructors have crossed path with him.  This is a pleasant sounding session with solid playing.  I good find by any measure.

By second selection, find me rediscovering a jazz guitar legend, Grant Green First Session.  As the title notes this is a CD release of Green's first recording session on November 16, 1960. but the producer Alfred Lion shelved this session, and recorded Grant in January 1961, and released First Stand as his official debut album.  It hard to imagine what the producer found lacking in this.

All in all, a fine fall day.  Hope you got to enjoy it, too

Inktober #4 -12

Here are my Inktober drawing # 4 to 3

I don't feel I'm knocking it out of the park with any of them, but I'll keep at it.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Ginger Baker RIP

This Sunday Music Muse Day started on a sad note the passing of Ginger Baker, founder and legendary drummer for Cream, one of the foremost Rock groups of 1960s.  With Eric Clapton on guitar and the late Jack Bruce on bass, Cream, along the Jimi Hendrix Experience, defined the Rock power trio for all that followed.  Cream's double album Wheel of Fire was one of the first vinyl records I bought as a teenager.  I remember listening to early FM radio, late at night, while drawing at the kitchen table, to the extended albums cuts of 'Crossroads' and 'Spoonful'.  Cream covers introduced me to the music of blues legend Robert Johnson, and others. 

I'm glad I got a chance to see Ginger Baker play live on the only tour of Blind Faith, with Clapton and Steve Winwood (of Traffic), the band formed after Cream broke up.

One of my personal thrill was Ginger Baker mentioning my father, Sam Woodyard, as one of the classic jazz drummers who inspired him in his youth.  This was printed in the liner notes of CD he did with Bill Frisell.

Ginger Baker's  musical legacy is secure and his music will always beat on.  Rest in peace, Ginger, and thanks for the music.

Inkober 2019

I'm attempting Inktober 2019, where you do a ink drawing everyday of October based on a daily one word prompt.

Here's my results so far. Nothing spectacular so far. 

More to come...