Sunday Music Muse Day. - Mimi Fox, the Trip

This Sunday Music Muse Day afternoon finds an overcast and slightly dizzily day, just the perfect time for warm jazz.  First up, Mimi Fox Perpetually Hip, a two CD set featuring the guitarist on "Disc1: Band", featuring Harvie S., Billy Hart on drums, and Xavier Davis on piano.  "Disc 2: Solo", of course, with her on solo guitar.  The solo disc shows the influence of his mentor. Joe Pass, the late legendary master of solo jazz guitar. Sadly, there are still too few female Jazz guitarist that instantly come to mind.  The late Emily Remler being one of the few I can think of.  I was first exposed to Mimi Fox on the jazz magazine FB page. I was lucky to find this CD set on my trip to Utica, NY, and the Norman Rockwell art exhibit. This is definitely an enjoyable and solid jazz guitar CD. I'll be seeking out more of Mimi Fox's music.

My second selection is CD I picked up without knowing a thing about any of the musicians on it. It looked to be a European jazz quartet CD by the instrumentation, and being recorded in Italy, and mastered in Oslo, Norway. All the compositions are originals by band members, Gianni Gagliardi tenor saxophone, Odd Abrigtsen guitar, Tim Thornton bass, and Anders Thoren drums. No one member is noted as the leader. The music is modern post-bop feel and really enjoyable. I'm glad I took a chance on it.

Speaking of the late Emily Remler, today is her birthday (September 18, 1957, died May 4, 1990).  Gone, but not forgotten. Her legacy lives on in the music of female guitarists like Mimi Fox, and others.  RIP.

Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Emily Remler, Ron Afif

This Sunday Music Muse Day find me on the last day of vacation time.  I started the day volunteering, with Lisa,  at the Jazz 90.1 booth at the East Ave Art Festival.  That was fun with plenty of people watching.  Now I'm relaxing with some afternoon jazz.  First up is Emily Remler East to Wes, a excellent straight ahead jazz set by the late guitarist recorded in 1988, joined by a stellar cast of sidemen. Definitely an artist who left us way too so.

Next is a  new guitarist to me, at least, Ron Affif Solotude.  As the title hints at, it"s a solo guitar set featuring some jazz standards and several originals written by Affif.  It's an enjoyable session, on Pablo Record label, home of the legendary Joe Pass, the master of solo jazz guitar.  Affif does the tradition proud. I'm always willing to try new guitarist.  This one's a keeper.

Hopefully, some time spent with good music will help ease the pain of the news of the latest mass shooting in the U.S.  I heart aches with the families and friends of the victim.  Seems we're powerless to end the madness. 

Mother's Day Sunday Music Muse Day - Emily Remler, Leni Stern, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Snarky Puppy

Happy Mother's Day to everyone.  Just by chance today's Sunday Music Muse Day features two females musicians, who to my knowledge are not mothers.  First is the late Emily Remler This is Me, a posthumous release by this female jazz guitarist, who was gaining acceptance and prominence when she died at the age of 32, in 1990, unfortunately from a drug overdose.  This final recording was released two months after her death.  As stated on the Allmusic site, "On her final session, This Is Me the guitarist incorporates pop and rock elements on her own terms -- maintaining her musical integrity and avoiding radio-oriented smooth jazz drivel altogether". By my ears I have to disagree with the last statement.  This sound like smooth jazz to me, plain and simple.  I remember having a earlier album Concord recordings which were more hard bop outings, much more to my taste.  So it goes.

Leni Stern Like One is another CD that I think I like her earlier music I have of hers.  Leni's music on this CD is jazz fusion at its middle of the spectrum, rather hit or miss.  Good playing but nothing that really grabs you.

My next selection should clear the music palate, The Dave Brubeck Quartet Time Further Out - Miro Reflections.  As review Scott Yanow on All Music states. "Unlike most sequels, Time Further Out is a worthy successor to Time Out.  Among the numbers introduced on this impressive set are "It's a Raggy Waltz" and "Unsquare Dance" (the latter an ancestor of Don Ellis' "Pussy Wiggle Stomp"). The selections, which range in time signatures from 5/4 to 9/8, are handled with apparent ease..."  This release CD has two extra cut, including a live version of the It's A Raggy Waltz.  It a great follow up to the classic Time Out.

My selection is Snarky Puppy Culha Vulcha, the latest from this hard to define group, as it states on their website, "After a decade of relentless touring and recording in all but complete obscurity, the Texas-bred/New York-based quasi-collective suddenly found itself held up by the press and public as one of the major figures in the jazz world. But as the category names for all three of the band’s Grammy® awards would indicate (Best R&B Performance in 2014, Best Contemporary Instrumental Album in 2016 and 2017), Snarky Puppy isn’t exactly a jazz band. It’s not a fusion band, and it’s definitely not a jam band. It’s probably best to take Nate Chinen of the New York Times’ advice, as stated in an online discussion about the group, to “take them for what they are, rather than judge them for what they’re not.”  These young guys caught my ear about a year ago with their Sylva release, and I agree their music stands it own merits. 

Again, Happy Mother's Day.  Try to think of music you mother enjoyed, and maybe shared with you.