Sunday Music Muse Day - Joe Zawinul, David Darling

I missed doing my Sunday Music Muse Day post, last week (sorry, Kevin), but I'm back with two gems. First, is Joe Zawinul Stories of the Danube.  The sticker on the 1996 CD states it's the "World Premiere Recording of Joe Zawinul's First Symphony".  It's really engrossing. Of course, Joe Zawinul is best known for being a co-founder of Weather Report, the pioneering jazz fusion group, with Wayne Shorter, Jaco Pastrious, and others. Also, for playing with Miles Davis, and before that, writing the Soul Jazz hit "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" while playing with Cannonball Adderley. Zawinul was a complete musician.  This is a really great CD.  You can hear musical quotes from music he wrote for Miles Davis and Weather Report that will bring a smile to your face. This is worth seeking out.

My second selection is David Daring Eight String Religion. I'm most familiar with cellist David Daring as an ECM recording artist. This CD is on the Hearts of Space label, which I gathered, is a more New Age music company.  This CD does exhibit some of that sound, but not in a bad way.  The label also released the music of Tim Clark - Tales of the Sun People. Clark did music for Ruby the Galactic Gumshoe, audio play series, a favorite of mine.  Eight String Religion is a pleasant collection, and fitting for a quiet afternoon, or evening.

We're getting a cool preview of fall here in upstate New York.  It's getting chilly enough to turn on the heat in the house, and throw a heavy comforter on the bed at night.  All the more reason to squirrel away some good music for the winter.  Enjoy. 

Sunday Music Muse Day - David Darling, Mats Eilertsen Trio

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds me sampling some very retrospective CDs.  First up, David Darling Dark Wood. This solo outing by this cellist released by ECM records, and I admit that was the main reason I picked it up, as I'm a huge ECM fan from when I first heard albums by Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, John Abercrombie, Ralph Towner and others.  An ECM release is always worth a listen to step out my comfort zone.  This CD is sparse as you can imagine a solo cello would be.  Almost as sparse as the CD packaging. When in a introspective mood this can hit the spot,

My second choice, Mats Eilertsen Trio Sails Set is a trio outing lead by the bassist. Although not a ECM release Eilertsen has a connection to ECM Record as his other recordings were produced and released on ECM. Plus, he was a sideman on Tord Gustavsen's ECM CDs.  My first knowledge of  Eilersen was on the ECM facbook page. Again this is introspective music, perfect for cloudy winter day of reading and reflection.

A little calming music before the rush of the holiday season might be a good thing.

 

Sunday Music Muse Day - Larry Coryell, Ketil Bjornstad, David Darling

On this Sunday Music Muse Day we're having a chilly, but sunny day. There are still patches of snow to be found, but not enough to stop a walk around Cobb Hill Reservoir.   I started day with a quiet selection Ketil Bjornstad and David Darling The River.  This 1997 ECM release is meditative duet recording with Bjornstad on piano and Darling on cello.  David Darling passed away on January 8. 2021.  He had make 15 recording on ECM, as a leader and sideman.  I picked up this CD on the strength of ECM's reputation for interesting music as I never hear Bjornstad's music.  I figured how wrong can you go with piano and cello.  I have a vinyl album Eos with Terje Rypdal, guitarist, in duet with David Darling which ranges from avant garde, sonic noise, to mediative wails and moans. (I'll have to pull that out and give it another listen).  If you like classical music The River might be a good intro to the ECM style of European jazz.  Well worth a listen.  I plan to search out the other selections in the "Further Recording" liner note page.

My second selection is Larry Coryell Bolero.  This is a 1993 duet outing with Brian Keane and Coryell playing acoustic and electric guitar.  Although best known for his pioneering jazz fusion work with groups like his own Eleventh House, I actually prefer his later work in a guitar duets and trios mainly on acoustic guitar, which this is one.  His love for classic music shows through strongly on this CD, starting with the first cut Improvisation on "Bolero", the famous Ravel's Bolero. This is a fine addition to my Coryell music collection.

So. stay warm, stay safe, stay health and wear a mask.  Even as the number of friends and family getting vaccinations increases we're still not out of the wood yet. Take care. 

Another Belated Sunday Music Muse Day post - Terje Rypdal, David Darling, Jan Garbarek with Bill Conners.

Here's another belated Sunday Music Muse Day, featuring some vinyl records, which I don't have on CD.  First up is saxophonist Jan Garbarek Places, an 1977 ECM release, featuring Bill Connors (post Chick Corea's Return to Forever) on acoustic guitar, Jack DeJohnette on Drums and John Taylor on organ and piano. I'm almost positive I picked this up because of Bill Connors.  I think I appreciate it more now than when I first bought, as I was still into the heavy guitar fusion style. My tastes have mellowed over the years and ECM recordings helped.

My second choice is another ECM release (1984) Terje Rypdal David Darling Eos (note the album title doesn't appear on the front cover). By the 80's I was interested in picking up any by ECM, and had several by guitarist Rypdal, a very esoteric player. This duet album with cellist David Daring definitely fits that description.  I still need to explore it more.

I think I'll be digging into my vinyl stack in the coming weeks.  It's like visiting old friend, who you lost touch with.