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.

Sunday Music Muse Day - James Blood Ulmer, Stanley Clark & Lenny White.

This Sunday Music Muse Day post will be short and bitter-sweet, after a severe thunderstorm the passed through n the area yesterday with high winds, dumping heavy rain and hail.  Luckily, it didn't last long, but it was impressive. My first selection is James Blood Ulmer Third Rail - South Delta Space Age.  The music of guitarist Ulmer can be an acquired taste, being a mixture of deep South Delta blues and avant garde and free jazz.  This session is almost subdued compared to some of his other recordings.  It well worth listen for the adventurous.

My next selection, Stanley Clark & Lenny White Vertu is a disappointment. I'm a fan of their bass and drum wore, respectively, in the legendary jazz fusion group Return to Forever, led by pianist Chick Corea, with Al Di Meola on guitar (Yes, I know Bill Conner was the group's first guitarist). Unfortunately Vertu offers the worst of the 80's jazz/rock fusion, sounding muddled and unfocused.  You might want to avoid this.

  

Well, the short bitter-sweet Sunday Music Muse Day, proving you can't win them all, but all storms pass.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Ella Fitzgerald, Sylvain Luc

This Sunday Music Muse Day, find us celebrating Mother's Day. (I posted a tribute to my late mom, on Facebook, so I won't repeat it here).  My first selection is special, but a better late than never one.  Ella Fitzgerald The Moment of Truth - Ella at the Coliseum.  This is a previously unreleased recording of live date featuring Ella accompanied by members of the Duke Ellington orchestra, with a core trio of Jimmy Jones on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and my father,  Sam Woodyard on drums. Sam, also famously played with Duke. I had for years known that Sam played with Ella, but never came across any recordings, except ones she did with Duke.  When the CD was announced, I planned to buy several copies to donate to the Jazz90.1 radio station to use for their fund drive.  But the CD's didn't arrive in time, but I will still donate copies to the station to use as they please. I admit I'm not a big jazz vocals fan, but who doesn't love Ella.  I'm really proud to share this with everyone.

Next is Sylvain Luc Joko.  This is the second CD I have of this French jazz guitarist, who unfortunately died March 14, 2024, at the age of 58..  Ironically, I only found a CD of his when I picked it up while my friend Dev Ramsaran in Ottawa, Canada, in July 2024. This CD, Joko has an pleasant, eclectic feel to it, spanning styles. It's worth checking out.

  

Again, Happy Mother's Day to all.  Peace.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Dorothy Ashby, Alice Coltrane

May the 4th Be With You, if you're inclined to celebrate the opening of the first Star War movie.  Being a Sunday Music Muse Day, I add this musical tidbit, my sons were born in the mid-90's around the time the pre-sequel Phantom Menace came out. I remember rocking them to sleep as babies while humming the Darth Vader theme.

This week's featured musicians are somewhat of a rarity, not that they are women playing jazz, but that they play the jazz harp.  First up, Dorothy Ashby The Jazz Harpist.  This is a recording from 1956.  I had come across mention of Dorothy play, in passing, on the internet. It's nice to be able to give her playing a solid listening. I can't say the recording quality brings the harp to the forefront, that I would like to hear but, it's there.

Next is perhaps the foremost jazz musician on harp and, as well as jazz harp recording, Alice Coltrane Ptah The El Daoud.  This is a true jazz classic recording. AI Google AI describes her: "Alice Coltrane was known as a jazz musician, composer, and spiritual leader. She was particularly recognized for her pioneering work in spiritual jazz, blending elements of gospel, Indian classical music, and her own spiritual awakening. She was also the wife of the influential jazz saxophonist John Coltrane."  You definitely should own this album/CD if not other. Just look at her side men, all legends in their own right.  "Blue Nile" alone is worth it.

So, just to round off the harp theme. My most clear memory was hearing and seeing Harpo Marx play the harp in Marx Brother movies on TV as a kid.   But, there is a harpist on my iTunes play list, with a wistful number by Joanna Newsom, titled, "On a Clear day".  It just struck in my head from first listen.

So, always, go enjoy some music.  Peace.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Horace Silver, Charlie Byrd

This Sunday Music Muse Day, I'd like to present toe legendary and highly regarded jazz veterans,w ho need no introduction.  First Horace Silver  Silver's Serenade, This remastered Blue Note CD release of the original session recorded at the Rudy Van Gelder Studio, on May 7 & 8, 1963. The classic jazz sounds as toe-tapping fresh as if it was recorded yesterday. 

Next is Charlie Byrd Latin Byrd. Like the Silver CD, this is a reissue of two sessions from May, 1962, and April 1963.  The music was released on two Riverside Records albums, "Latin Impressions " and "Once More! Charlie Byrd's Bossa Nova".  Two notes highlighted in the liner notes, one, Charlie Byrd, along with Chet Atkins, was featured in the first issue of Guitar Player's Magazine.  I had subscription to it for many years. Secondly, it's noted in that Byrd plays his nylon-string Jose Ramirez guitar "unamplified", unusual in era of growing electrification for recording guitar music. I like finding these little musical culture tidbits.

So, again, I hope this weekend find everyone in good spirits.  Peace.

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.