Sunday Music Muse Day - Galactic Cowboy Orchestra, Musica Orbis

 This Sunday Music Muse day finds me exploring my more eclectic taste in music. This was fuels by m impulse buy of indie band's CD offer that popped up in my Facebook feed. The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra Earth Lift. Here's their pitch: "We’re Galactic Cowboy Orchestra. We’re an Art-Rock/Jazz-Fusion band that started back in 2009 to make music that challenges us — complex, spontaneous, and built for the edge of the stage. If you like music that takes some chances, you deserve a treat! Our DownBeat-nominated album Earth Lift is yours, just cover $5 shipping and we’ll mail you the CD.

Five dollars is what I usually pay used CDs, so I after a watching a performance clip I ordered the CD.  It arrived fast, and giving it a listen, I can hear definite hints of Robert Fripp's King Crimson and a hint of McLaughlin's Mahavishu Orchestra (which founding member/bassist John Wright names as influences). I also admit Lisi Wright, the violin player, does have an "engaging stage presence" (hey...that's their words). I'd like to seek out their 2025 release for a listen.

Actually, buying the Galactic Cowboy Orchestra's CD reminded me of maybe my first indie band album buy. Back in 1977, I was subbing as MC at the Basement Coffee House for my friend Don Shanley, and a group Musica Orvis, "an American electric chamber music quintet with instrumentation included voices, harp, flute, cello acoustic and electric bass, drums, marimba, vibes, synthesizer, organ, pump, knee harp, wooden recorder, bells, hand percussion, fender Rhodes, and piano." - Wikipedia.  The Basement had a tiny stage, I don't think the full band was there, I remember the harpist being there, and singer Kitty Brazelton, who also had a "engaging stage presence". After the show, she mentioned their next gig was a place in my neighborhood, "Home Bar", East 92nd & 3rd Ave.  First time I had heard of it. I went to the gig at Home, and it became my "Cheers" bar, where I met many lifetime friends.  I ordered Musica Orbis self-produced vinyl record, and received a autographed letter with it. Sorry to say, I sold the vinyl two years ago and left the letter with the record. I liked the music's eclectic nature. It seems the band broke up two years later in 1979.  But, I still owe singer Kitty Brazelton a world of thanks. You can find the full record on Youtube.

So, that it for different  Sunday Music Muse Day post.

Sunday Music Muse Day - John Abercrombie Quartet, Paul Motian

On this post-Halloween Sunday Music Muse Day, we start the Daylight Saving, again.  The chilly, rainy Halloween didn't dampen the spirits of young Trick or Treaters who came to our door step. It was a nice feeling to welcome them.  Our first selection this Sunday is the John Abercrombie Quartet Within A Song. This is a rather mellow, low-key, but very pleasant session, with leader Abercrombie on guitar, Joe Lovano on Tenor Saxophone, Drew Gress on double-bass, and Joey Baron on drums. It's perfect listening for autumn afternoon, or evening.

My next selection is Paul Motian in Tokyo, with Bill Frisell and Joe lovano, again.  This live 1991 recording presents a more free-jazz, avant-garde performance, not really my taste, but I'll try any recording with Bill Frisell, as he's one of my favorite musician for his eclectic range of playing. The CD has interesting package graphic art.

I'm happy I don't have to deal with the Monday morning struggle to get up on time after the time change.  That's one perk of being retired. Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges & his Orchestra

This Sunday Music Muse Day is a double serving of Ellingtonian music. Both were picked in part because my father, Sam Woodyard plays drums on both selections.  First up, the maestro himself, Duke Ellington - Private Collection - Volume One Studio Sessions Chicago 1956. In the liner notes by Stanley Dance, noted that "big band business was by no means healthy in 1955", but this session was financed and recorded by Duke for what he called his "stockpile".  As luck would have it: "After four years...the nonpareil johnny Hodges came back to him (Duke).  And on the same day a great new drummer, Sam Woodyard, entered the band.'" He adds, "They were certainly an inspiration to Ellington himself, and with a year he had scored the greatest single triumph of his career". Of course, Dance is referring to the legendary 1957 Newport Jazz performance of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. That gives this excellent record in a deeper importance, as this may have been Sam first recording session with the band. Earlier this year, I finally found the last recording Sam played, on a month before his birth.  

My second selection is the perfect follow-up to the first, Johnny Hodges and his Orchestra Not so Dukish. This 2 CD set features three separate albums recorded in 1958 by Hodges as a leader, with a roster of Ellington band members.  Blues-a-plenty (which I have on CD), Side By Side, and Not so Dukish, plus "Bonus Tracks" from 1952 and 1954 sessions with Ben Webster and Roy Eldridge.  An added personal side note for me is that the Not so Dukish session was recorded in NYC on September 10, 1958, my 8th birthday.  Wow.  This is truly the music to enjoy for the ages..

I'm not completist when it comes to collecting anything, even jazz recording of my father, but these will be treasures to pass on to my sons.

Stephane Wrembel, Carl Amundson & the Modern Guitar Quintet

Welcome to this Sunday Music Muse Day.  First up, Stephane Wrembel Introducing 2001-2010. The first strum of his guitar immediately bring to mind Django Reinhardt, the legendary jazz from the 1930's & 40's most well for his Quintette du Hot Club de France, an dhis recording with violinist Stephane Grappelli.  The two CD set has twist, in the both CD  have the same tunes, just played ten years part. Definitely worth a listen. Wrembel just finished a week of local performances at the  Lovin' Cup, near in Rochester.  I'm sorry I missed him.

My second selection is Carl Amundson & The Modern Guitar Quintet. I admit. I never heard of guitarist, Amundson or the Quintet, but the cover art interested me, and reading the song list, many of the tunes were by classic jazz guitarists from the 1950 and 60s, like Herb Ellis, Jim Hall, Wes Montgomery, and others.  The group sound presents the tunes in the favor of the era.  Again, it's an enjoyable listening experience.

This Sunday Music Muse Day find us enjoying the pride of having done our civic duty and exercising our right to free assembly in joining together to take part in the No Kings Day protest. I left the protest with a sense of hope. I hope you did, too.  Peace
 

Milton Nascimento & Esperanza Spalding, October Jazz Birthday Celebration

Sorry, I missed a couple of weeks' post.  Life gor tin the way. This first October Sunday Music Muse Day,find my first selection, Milton + Esperanza, by Milton Nascimento and Esperanza Spalding to be a slight disappointment.  I felt it was a will meaning effort, but for in the end, nothing grabbed, or stand out.  In my mind, I was imaging it in  comparison to the Wayne Shorter and Milton Nascimento collaboration Native Dancer (1975).  Spalding often played with Wayne Shorter, and I know they had many fruitful offerings.  It may be worth listening to this CD just to form your own opinion.

My second selection is my October Jazz Birthday Celebration. Sadly, I must note the passing of bassist Palle Danielsson, who passed away in May 18, 2024. (It's too hard to re-edit the video, sorry)

Fall is here, and the leaves are turning to autumn colors. Hope everyone get a chance enjoy them. Peace.

Return to Forever, Les Arbuckle

This Sunday Music Muse Day find me doing sometime I try not to do, buy a CD of a vinyl album I sold with all of my record collection two years ago. It's the CD of the Return to Forever Romantic Warrior. This is the jazz fusion classic by the pioneering group led by pianist Chick Corea, with Stanley Clark on bass, Lenny White on drums, and Al DiMeola on guitar. Besides the music the album cover art, by Wilson, McLean is one of my all-time favorites. Listening to the music is like being visiting by an old friend, and embracing warm memories.

My second selection is Les Arbuckle The Bush Crew. I admit I knew nothing of the leader, tenor saxophonist, Arbuckle, but picked this up on of the strength of the names of guitarist John Abercrombie  and Mike Stern, who's playing I've known for decades. This is a solid session, worth giving a listen.

With the arrival of September, some evenings start to feel Fall in the air.  I sort of welcome it, as I like the change of season. No matter the season, it always a time to listen to good music. Enjoy.

Tord Gustavsen Quartet, Rez Abbasi Acoustic Quartet

First, apologies for skipping a Sunday Music Muse Day post last week.  I just wasn't up for it.  So, let's move ahead to this week.  First up is Tord Gustavsen The Well.  This is a 2012 ECM release and in the ECM tradition, it's an introspective piano music experience, which, when you're in the mood, it is nice to listen to. 

Next is Rez Abbasi Acoustic Quartet, actually a rerun of an old blog post. I missed a live solo gig at he proformed at Eastman Museum last week, so I put this on my CD player to make up for That. I'll forgive Res, who wrote the CD  liner notes, for sounding like a pretentious jerk in thinking he doing anything but reinventing the wheel. I was at the beginning of jazz fusion, which he wrote on the liner, that he skipped that period when he was studying jazz.  When you're late to the party, you don't get to disrespect the pioneers who came before you.  Time will tell if Abbasi's music stands the test of time. I like the tunes Rez selected, all are instantly recognized and associated with the jazz-fuzion musician who wrote them. . It's worth listening to.

 So, that it for this week Sunday Music Muse Day.  Have a great week. Peace.