Sunday Music Muse Day - Anthony Willson, Patrica Barber

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds us enjoying a set of perfect fall weather days, slightly cool in the shade, warm in the sun.  When not outside enjoying the weather, I'm inside enjoying these two selections, slightly the beaten path for me.  First up is Anthony Wilson self-title debut album Anthony Wilson (1997) — featured a nine-piece “little big band” and received a Grammy nomination for Best Large Ensemble Jazz Recording. He is son of legendary jazz trumpeter and bandleader Gerald Wilson and it's obvious talent doesn't fall far from the family tree. This is a fully realize effort and worth checking out. (One odd note: It did play correctly on my old 1980's CD player, sound scratchy. But it play fine in my Playstation 3, it could have a manufacturing defect, but I'm blaming my old CD player)

My next selection id Patrica Barber Nightclub, which again, I not usually into vocal jazz as much as guitar-centric instrumental, but I like her laid back smokey jazz club style. She can be slightly pretentious, and cerebral in seductive way. This is exclusively a eclectic selection of jazz standards and movie themes. The several of her sideman caught by eye including Charlie Hunter on 8-string guitar, Marc Johnson on bass (made Bass Desires with John Scofield, Bill Frisell, Peter Erskine), and Adam Nussbaum on drums (noted sideman with John Scofield, and the late John Abercrombie groups) When I'm in the mood Patrica Barber can satisfy my desire for some off beat jazz vocal music. Also, worth a listen.

I hope our nice fall weather continues, but if not there are always good to enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Keith Jarrett, Ben Goldberg wtith Charlie Hunter, The Bad Plus.

During a tough personal time,  the Sunday Music Muse day is a change to take my mind off things and feel slightly more normal  First up is the trio of Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette,  Always Let Me Go - Live In Tokyo.  I found this ECM 2 CD set to be a little uneven to me.  Some tunes are solid, but then other are unfocused, bordering aimless doodling.  Not a great outing in my opinion, so I checked the reviews on Amazon and the CD gets ratings from 1 star to 5 stars, with plenty of disagreements.  Most who like it championed its "Free Jazz' moments,  I guess those are the moments I don't like.

Next is a CD I picked up more for the 7-string guitarist, Charlie Hunter, than the leader Ben Goldberg.  The CD is titled Go Home, clarinetist, Goldberg, wrote and co-wrote all the tune.  The All about Jazz website finds Goldbergs music, "Eclectic and loose, but with grooves that will make believers out of even the most improv-averse, Go Home is the perfect combination of music for the head, the heart...and the feet."  I'd agree with that, this a bunch of young guys exploring new sounds, and worth a listen.

Last Item is the Bad Plus "Prog".  This trio is a very progressive jazz group who likes to cover rock tunes and turn them inside-out.  As they do with Tears for Fears "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", the first track on this CD, and others.   I definitely have to be an active listener for this CD. It's not a easy-listening CD by any stretch, but well worth the challenge.

So, went I need momentary escape from current life issues, there is always music.