Sunday Music Muse Day (A day Late) Bill Frisell, Gerry Gibbs

Here's my Sunday Music Muse Day post, a day late. First up, Bill Frisell: Orchestras.  This is the latest release by one of my favorite guitarist.  I think of his music as  Neo-Amerciana, It always reminds me of a blend of jazz, folk, and American composer Aaron Copland.  This is a recording Frisell's trio with Thomas Morgan on bass, and Rudy Royston on drum performing with two full orchestras, the Brussels Philharmonic and the Umbria Jazz orchestra, orchestrated and arranged by Michael Gibbs. I'm really enjoying hearing old Frisell favorites of mine arranged for orchestra. It would be cool if the Bill Frisell came to Rochester and performed this with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.  One can dream.

My second choice is Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio with leader Gibbs on drums, and legends Kenny Barron on piano, and Ron Carter on drums.  It doesn't get better than this for power trio. This is actually the fifth release of Gerry Gibbs I have. I like his eclectic choice of material.  Besides sessions like this he does concept projects,  like his "Gerry Gibbs & Thrasher People -Weather or Not", an interpretation of Weather Report music, with Alex Collins on piano, and Hans Glawisching on bass.  Any Gerry Gibbs Dream Trio is well worth picking up. (I couldn't figure out if Gerry Gibbs was related to Michael Gibbs, the arranger on the Bill Frisell CD)

So, that's it for my day late post. Be sure to find some good music to enjoy, whatever your taste.  Peace.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Bill Frisell. The Nels Cline Singers

This fine Sunday Music Muse Day, finds us out of Thanksgiving leftovers. (We finished the last piece of pecan pie last night while watching a movie on Netflix)  So, today started with a normal weekly grocery shopping trip, before settling in for some afternoon jazz. Unfortunately, this will be brief, since both selections are less the enjoyable.  First is Bill Frisell Silent Comedy.  Believe me, if you buy, and  listen to it, you'll find the joke's on you.  I'm a big Frisell fan, and even got my 80+ year old mother-in-law into his music. But Silent Comedy sound like Frisell just doodling around with a new guitar effects rack without reading the instruction.  There is no real structure, or direction to the music. Only a hard core Bill Frisell completest, should go anywhere near this.  You've been warned.

I had to give my next selection a little bit of a break, The Nels Cline Singers Instrumentals.  I knew his music would be experimental and out there.  I'm not really familiar with vocal versions.  There is a musical concept here, free-form rock/jazz (?), but not one I lean toward.  So, this gets another pass for me, although there are some interest sections.

I'll give myself points for stepping out of my comfort zone in giving these both a full listen.  You win some, you lose some.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Bill Frisell, Stan Getz

This Sunday Music Day sees two major local events coming to close. The Rochester Lilac Festival, and The PGA Tournament at the Oak Hill Country Club. We, wife, son and friends, took in the Lilac Festival last weekend, glad we did then yesterday was very rainy. I have no interest in the golf tournament, whatsoever, but happy for the interest it generates for the Rochester region.  My music selections this week leaves me with mixed feelings, also. First is Bill Frisell When You Wish Upon a Star, this is a CD of movie related tunes.  Frisell has done other CDs featuring movie themes including two "out there" ones with John Zorn, "Naked" and "The Big Gundown - John Zorn plays the music of Ennio Morricone".  I like the concept of When You Wish..., but the final product falls flat to me.  Bob Sneider & Joe Locke's two Film Noir Project CDs, "Fallen Angel" and "Nocturne for Ava" are much better.  Check those out when you can.  Still, I'll always take a chance on a Bill Frisell release.

Here are the covers of Bob Sneider & Joe Locke's Film Noir Project CDs.

Today's second selection is Stan Getz Reflection. Again, I like Stan Getz playing, and music, and readily admit I didn't iget nto his music until his Captain Marvel record, which I saw more as a pre-flight for Chick Corea's Return to Forever group.  Reflections has some classic and legendary players, but the 1963 arrangements sound very dated to me (I was 13 years old back then, so it wouldn't have been on my musical radar.  The strings and background vocals reminded me of 50's "cool, hip" (aka lame), bachelor pad movies. But, to each, his own. 

The weather here in Rochester has turned perfect, sunny and comfortable for those enjoying the last day of the Lilac Festival and PGA Tournament.  So, all's well, that ends well.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Brad Mehldau Trio, Julian Lage

On this sunny and warm Sunday Music Muse Day, it actually seems like spring has finally arrived. The grass is turning green, trees and flowers are blooming.  All in all, it's a good day to enjoy new music.  First up, Brad Mehldau Trio Live, a two CD set recorded at the legendary Village Vanguard in NYC, October 11-15, 2006.  With Mehldau on piano, Larry Grenadier on bass, and Jeff Ballard on drum.  Mehldau once came to my attention with his jazzy renditions of rock tunes, like Beatles' songs. He has esoteric style with a hint of avant-garde in his playing, but never too much to be off-putting, just adventurous.  Worth a listen.

Next up is Julian Lage The Layers. This EP  CD featuring the guitarist teaming with guitarist Bill Frisell on five of the six tracks, all six originals of Lage.  It's nice mellow affair, which could fall into the modern Americana music Frisell is known for, with lot of acoustic guitar playing by both.

I hope the weather is nice wherever you are, and you get to enjoy it.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Bill Frisell, Charles Lloyd with Bill Frisell

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds us dodging a major snow storm to the west of us in the Buffalo, NY area, We're talking 6' plus of snow, and possibly more to come. Here in the Rochester area, the skies as most clear but cold. Our forecast of maybe 4" of snow hasn't panned out yet. While we wait, I'll enjoy these two CDs featuring Bill Frisell, as a leader and a sideman. First up, Bill Frisell Four, a quartet outing with Frisell on guitar, Gregory Tardy on Saxophone and Clarinet, Gerald Clayton on piano, and Jonathon Blake on drum. This is a new release this month on Blue Note Records label. A new Frisell CD is always a pleasure and it will get many of time on my player.

The second CD is Charles Lloyd Trios Chapel, with Charles Lloyd on tenor saxophone and alto flute,  Bill Frisell on guitar, and Thomas Morgan on bass.  The wonderful music present here was recorded live in a chapel, and another recent Blue Note Records release.  Charles Lloyd's liner notes states you can feel in this trio, that "3"is "the number of the divine.  I totally agree.  It's well worth a listen.

I feel for the western New Yorkers getting pounded by the snow.  We here know our time for heavy snow could be right around the corner, until then, stay warm, and stay safe.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Julian Lage, California Guitar Trio

The Sunday Music Muse Day finds me back into guitar-centric music.  First up, is the new release from Julian Lage View with a Room. It's tasty, subdued session, in that good way, with guitarist Bill Frisell added to the trio of Lage on guitar, Jorge Roeder on acoustic bass, and Dave King on drums. I think this CD will be spending a lot of time on my player.

My second selection was a leap of faith, as I liked the cover art, California Guitar Trio Pathways. This group is hard to categorize, it seems to come from music conservatory roots, with renditions of some well known classical pieces and modern compositions dropped in like Mason Williams "Classical Gas" and Dick Dale "Misirlou" used in the movie Pulp Fiction.  Lisa said it reminded her of the music played in the NYC Star Magic, a New Age gift shop. It's a worth giving it try.

A pleasant fall weekend comes to an end, but seek for and enjoyment of good music continues.

Sunday Music Muse day - Jack DeJohnette, Bill Frisell

This rainy Sunday Music Muse Day finds me listening to two of my favorite musicians, but finding both selections less than satisfying.  First is Jack DeJohnette "Zebra", which finds the famed jazz drummer and piano player, on only synthesizers, and accompanied by Lester Bowie on trumpet. The music is kind of interesting, but unmemorable at best.  From online info it was a soundtrack to a video project.  Critics state it's only for "DeJohnette completists", I'll have to agree with that.

My second selection is Bill Frisell / Kermit Driscoll / Joey Baron LIVE. This is live set recorded in Sevill, Spain., in October, 1991. Again, it's a pleasant enough performance of all Frisell originals, but I can't say it's the best I've heard him play.  Well, I guess even the best has an off night.

Well, at least the sun has returned this afternoon, so I'll take that as a good sign. Enjoy.