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.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Artemis, Kevin Eubanks & Stanley Jordan

Welcome to my Sunday Music Muse Day post, First up is Artemis Arboresque, the third album by "a jazz group composed of seven renowned female musicians" (as if this still needs to be the first thing to said about the group). This is the second CD I have of them, and I enjoy their modern jazz sound. I hope to see them live someday.

Next up, is Kevin Eubanks and Stanley Jordan Duet. The simple title says it all, this is laid-back guitar music featuring original tunes and few jazz standards. Several tunes find each taking a turn at the piano.  I won't say it the most exciting session, but worth giving it a listen. Also, I like the simple cover art illustrations by Keith Henry Brown.

We're getting a little bit of heatwave, so grabbing a cold drink and settling in an AC'ed room listening to some cool jazz, might be just the thing.  Enjoy and Peace.

Jerry Granelli, Marc Johnson

Still enjoying the warm afterglow of our trip  to "The Dome",  Airbnb, in Cooperstown, NY.  I didn't get a chance to visit a local record/CD shop there, but I had these CDs planned for this Sunday Music Muse Day, already. First up, Jerry Granelli Dance Hall. The drummer and leader's name didn't ring a bell with me at first, but seeing guitarists Bill Frisell and Robben Ford listed as side men, made this CD worth a try. (On second look at my blog posts I do have one of his CDs, "One Day at A Time", with a group including Robben Ford and Ralph Towner playing only keyboard synthesizer)  It seems this 2017 release was a follow-up to a Granelli recording, "A Song I thought I Heard Buddy Sing" they did together in 1992. They recalled, "there was spark for this work - wanting to hear them play rhythm and blues." After hearing this, I want to hear more, too. This is a great CD, with a nice mix of tunes and excellent playing.

Next up, Marc Johnson's Bass Desires Second Sight. Somehow, with apologies to leader & bassist, Marc Johnson, I used to always regard this as a Frisell or Scofield recording, mainly due to my guitar music bias.  I had the first Bass Desires album, and this 1987 release, but sold both when I sold my vinyl collection.  I have a CD of the 1st, so getting this CD was a no-brainer,   I'm happy to say, I've learned to appreciate Johnson's bass playing and his strong writing talents on his follow-up recordings. I like this second outing, but don't think it's as strong as the debut release.  Still, this CD was worth buying.

Again, when ever possible take a break from the chaos, and clear your mind and calm your soul.  Music it is a great help.  Peace.