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.