Sunday Music Muse Day - Charles Lloyd, Miroslav Vitous

Today's Sunday Music Muse Day is presenting us with gloomy rainy weather, again, just right for listening to some good music. First up, Charles Lloyd Trios Sacred Thread.  It seems there are three separate "Trios" releases, this one, "Chapel", which I featured last week, and "Ocean", which I have not come across yet.  Sacred Thread features Lloyd on Tenor saxophone, alto flute, Tarogato (a Hungarian sax-like wind wood), and maracas, with Zair Hussain on tabla, percussion, and vocal, plus Julian Lage on guitar.  Although an impressive line up, I didn't enjoy this as much as the "Chapel" Trios CD.  On Sacred Thread the grouped play so softly as to be quietly distracting.  The music has a mystical feel, that's a positive. I'll have to give it more listenings, before passing any final judgement.

My slight disappointment continued with my next selection, Miroslav Vitous Music of Weather Report.  Vitous was a founding member of the legendary jazz fusion formed with Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter.  Vitous left the group when in his opinion it moved more commercial and less free-form avant garde jazz of it's roots.  Although I read reviews giving this 4/5 stars for his take on Weather Reports early tunes, I didn't  feel it lived up to the legacy of those early recording.  So that, the basic of my disappointment in this ECM CD, the playing didn't give me any new insight to the music. I plan to go back to early recording, especially the first two albums and see what I’m missing.  

                                     

These were slight disappointing, but as they say, "that's jazz". Of course, I could listen to them again a week, or year from now, change my mind. 

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.

Father's Day Sunday Music Muse Day.Oliver Nelson, Charles Lloyd, George Benson,and Weather Report.

Today is Father's Day, so first of all, Happy Father's Day to all of you dads.  What better way to enjoy and celebrate the day than with some good music. Let's start with a classic, Oliver Nelson, The Blues and the Abstract Truth.  The classic first track, Stolen Moments, alone makes this a must have.  (Actually I had a download copy from my friend Bruce Younger, that tied me over until I found this) It's nice to have the CD package, but they reproduced the original album liner notes so small, you'd need a magnifying glass to read it.

Next is real blast from the past, with a new release, Charles Lloyd Canto, on ECM.  I remember Charles Lloyd from his Waves (1972) and the cut TM, although critic didn't rate the album too well.  Canto receives high praises. I'm looking forward the exploring the music fully.

Next is, It's Uptown with the George Benson Quartet (The Most Exciting Guitarist On The Jazz Scene Today, according to the label), his second recording as a leader,and his first on Columbia Records. I like listening to early Benson more jazzier stuff.  And thought his album Breezzin' was the start of his pop vocal, but he sang on his early album, too.  So, I stand corrected.

Last, is a 4 CD set, I waited months to find at a reasonable price, Weather Report - The Legendary Live Tapes: 1978-1981.  I love Weather Report, and I'm always amazed that so much sound bring out of four or five musician depending on the line up. Their music is always a great addition to my collection Although, there are a couple of track where live show theatrics overshadowed the music, for example a Jaco solo the was very unfocused.  But, that nitpicking.

  Again, Happy Father's Day, and hope you make some good music part of your celebration.