Sunday Music Muse Day - Modern Jazz Quartet, Charlie Mingus, Steps Ahead, and Mocean Worker

After a snowy start to the week, the temperature is now in the 70s for this week's Sunday Music Muse Day featuring a range of music from Jazz classics to Dance Club remixes.  First up is a Rudy Van Gelder remastered CD of The Modern Jazz Quartet Django, the album that put the group on the international musical map.   The music of the MJQ is classic and very classy, just a joy to listen to at any time.

Next Is the legendary jazz bassist Charles Mingus, Mingus at Antibes, a live set recorded July 13, 1960 at the Antibes Jazz Festival, Juan-les-Pins, France.  This pure fiery Mingus at his best.

For my next selection, I have to admit sometimes nostalgia bites you in the ass. I picked up Steps Ahead NYC, since I have other records and CDs by them, but this 1989 session smack of Smooth Jazz from the very first cut.  I can only assume my taste have changed over the years to where I can't take this sound.  This may end up a Spring Cleaning item or donation to the library.

My final selection is Mocean Wonker Cinco de Mowo! as described on the All Music website "...veers happily back and forth between funky reappropriations of old big band music (check out the archaic but hard-edged "Shake Ya Boogie") and gleeful Latin jazz (check out the fun, if slightly repetitious, "Olé Baby" and the more subtle and jazzy "Pretty")."  I have several Mocean Worker releases and enjoy how he uses samples of old jazz tunes. It's even music I can share with my college age sons.  I like to call out the original tunes for them.  I'm sure they appreciate it that fully now, but maybe later.

That's it for this week.  Hopefully, spring is here to stay.  I'm looking getting out and listening to more music, also our Rochester International Jazz Festival is coming up in June.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Duke meets Coleman Hawkins, Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um, Clark Terry, and Dave Brubeck Quartet

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds me sharing new purchases with classic appeal, and a personal connection.  First up is the Duke Ellington meets Coleman Hawkins CD of the classic Impulse album.  I've been looking for this CD forever since I my father, Sam Woodyard, plays on this with other members of Duke's band.  Plus, Sam's name is right there on the cover, like so many of the classic Impulse covers.  But, the biggest thrill is the first tune"Limbo Jazz", were Sam is heard vocalizing on the tune unaware the he's being recorded.  I'm so glad Duke release this cut as is.  I always get a kick out of hearing it. Of course the whole session is full of great playing by everyone.  I had a copy of Limbo Jazz on a Starbuck Jazz compilation, so it's nice to have the original set. An additional plus is I found this in the used bin for $5.00.  That's a true bargain, but having it is priceless to me. 

The next selection also has Sam playing with his close friend, Ellington band mate, Clark Terry, on Clark Terry and his Ocrhestra, featuring Paul Gonsalves. (I picked up another Clark Terry Cd, but I'l save that for next week)  This CD starts off swinging with a drum intro by Sam on the first cut, "Serenade to a Bus Seat".  I think Clark have a thing for humorous titles. The music swing so hard it brings a smile to your face.

Talk about a bargain, This 2 CD Legacy Edition set of Mungus Ah Um / Charles Mingus is just that.  It's full of classic Mingus tunes and many of my favorites. I'm embarrassed to paid $9.99 for this.  A real head-scratcher was that the record shop (that will remain nameless) had it in a miscellaneous section it call "not sure what to label these".  I think the staff needs a little music education, if they don't know  Mingus is a Jazz legend. In any case, their lost is my gain.  The CD set contains the entire album versions of the Mingus Ah Um and Mingus Dynasty LPs, plus alternate takes and bonus tracks, and a nice liner notes booklet.  Like I said, a real bargain.

My final selection is the Dave Brubeck Quartet - Jazz Impression of Japan.  The liner notes says this it was long out of print.  I looking forward to to enjoying this.  

You can never have too much Dave Brubeck in your music collection.  Enjoy