Sunday Music Muse Day - Gary Burton, Pat Martino

This Sunday Music Muse Day selections of two jazz giants who need no introductions.  First up, Gary Burton of Friends Departure. The legendary vibraphonist's friends include John Scofield, on guitar, and Peter Erskine, on drum. It pleasurable session recorded in 1997, and sounds fresh as ever.

From the first flurry of guitar notes, there is no mistaking the artistry on display on Pat Martino Live at Yoshi's.  This trio outing with Joey DeFrancesco on the Hammond B-3 organ, and Billy Hart on drums makes you envious of the jazz lovers in the club audience.  I'm glad to share their excitement and pleasure when listening to this CD.

It's a cool, but sunny spring day, so it might be good to take walk in the sunshine and return to enjoy an afternoon cup of tea, and some good tunes.  Enjoy.  

Sunday Music Music Day - Bill Frisell Thomas Morgan, Gary Burton.

Today's Sunday Music Muse Day founds me recovering from the annual madness of Record Store Day.  I hit my favorite shops, Bop Shop Records, Record Archives, and Hi-Fi Lounge, just to soak in the excitement, and ran to Derrick Lucas, and a co-worker friend hosting a brewery sample table at the Bop Shop.  Although,  I didn't pick up any vinyl this year I did make a purchase in each shop.  I'll share a couple here, and in the coming weeks.

First up, Bill Frisell Thomas Morgan Epistrophy,  a new release this week, This duet set seems to be from the same concert  "recorded live at the Village Vanguard" as the Small Town CD released in 2017.  Frisell and Morgan delivers the intimate neo-Americana music feel I like in Frisell's music, plus as they did on the Small Town with Goldfinger, there's a dreamy version of James Bond movie title, You Only Live Twice.  This is music perfect for a quiet evening, or rainy afternoon.

Next up, is Gary Burton: For Hamp, Red, Bags, and Cal has Burton paying tribute to "four legendary and influential jazz vibraphonists", Lionel "Hamp" Hampton, Red Norvo, Milt Jackson (founding member of the Modern Jazz Quartet) and Cal Tjader (an important voice in Cool Jazz and Latin Jazz)   Regarded as a vibes master himself, "Gary Burton at once honors the jazz vibraphone legacy, while steering it headfirst into the creative, new territory".  One of the strongest traits of great jazz players is their respect for the important players who came before, and their desire to keep the tradition moving forward.  Burton shows that spirit fully on this CD.

I have more Record Store to listen to and digest.  I'll be sure to share them.  Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Dave Holland Qunitent Gary Burton.

Again, this Sunday Music Muse Day find us with ever changing weather. we woke up with light layer of snow, which melt by midday sunshine, but the temperature stat dropping.  After some weekend chores like grocery shopping it nice to kick back and enjoy these tunes.  Dave Holland Quintet Prime Directive, a stellar outing on ECM. It get a 4 of 5 star on most review posts, and it lies up to every star.

Next is a nice follow up to to a CD I featured recently.  Gary Burton Next Generation is the the follow his Gary Burton Generations CD, where he introduce guitarist Julian Lage.   Gary again exhibits his well talent for presenting raising young talent nad discoveries.  This CD also features tunes written by guitarist alums Pat Metheny and Mick Goodrick, and plus showcase tunes by the current members. Going with the theme of alum's tune, I wish Gary had included one by  Larry Coryell, the late great guitarist who was in Burton's early classic group.  Gary Burton is very much a fine example of the band leader/mentor in the jazz tradition of drummer Art Blakey and Miles Davis.  You can expect good things from the young players who pass through his group.

Spring should be just around the corner, at least that what the calendar  says.  Lets just hope for the best and welcome it with good music. Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - John Scofield, Gary Burton.

The week's Sunday Music Muse Day finds me spending time with two favorites who need no introduction.  First is John Scofield Combo 66, his latest release.  First bars of music his playing just hits my soul. I find John playing like watching a tightrope walker, who seems like he's losing control, shaking the wire as he moves, but in the end you realize he's in complete control.  He one of those guitarist with a original sound and style of playing.

Next is vibrophonist Gary Burton New Generations.  With this outing Gary continue his tradition of featuring new phenomenal young guitar player, as he did with Larry Coryell, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, and Kurt Rosenwinkel. This time it is Julian Lage, who at the time of this recording (2003) was only a high school sophomore and a child prodigy.  Julian Luge has since established himself in the New York  Jazz scene.  This CD comparsion nicely with the early  Gary Burton Quartet recording with Larry Coryell.

So, this end a busy week end for me, and the perfect way wind down is listening to these CDs.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Memorial Day, Chick Corea and Gary Burton, Warped Sky Stray Cloud Update

On this Memorial Day weekend, I would first hope we are mindful of the true meaning of Memorial Day, a time to remember and reflect on the fallen who give their lives so we can enjoy the freedoms and rights they believed in.  With that I highly recommend the TV special Hollowed Ground which runs on PBS stations on Memorial Days sometimes. It's very moving.
Hallowed Grounds. 

This week music selection finds a double dose of legendary jazz vibraphonist, Gary Burton. First in one of my favorite duo pairing, Chick Corea & Gray Burton Hot House.  This a 2012 release and the seventh duo recording, that start from "spur-of-the moment encore at a jazz festival in Germany in 1972" as Burton states in the inner notes, "which led to our first recording Crystal Silence, a couple of months later."  Crystal Silence, the album, and especially the title tune, remain an absolute favorite of mine. Hot House finds the pair, choosing "a repertoire drawn form some of our favorite composers from the 1940's through the 1960s".  It a joy join these two great on their shared music journey.

The second select is Gary Burton A genuine Tong Funeral.  A CD reissue of a classic Burton  album featuring compositions by Carla Bley recorded in 1967 and released on the RCA label. Its subtitledDark Opera Without Words. Critics have called it one of Burton's most intriguing recordings.  This classic group includes guitarist Larry Coryell, and bassist Steve Swallow (who I believe was married to Carla Bley). This also include the Gary Burton Quartet Lofty Fake Anagram LP, recorded in 1967, with Booby Moses on drums.  Some consider the true start of jazz fusion, that maybe up for debate, but there is no denying the good listening  they offer. All the more appreicated since Gary Burton annouced his retirement a while ago.

Finally, there is no Warped Sky Stray Cloud, a combination of songs from old tapes and new renditions of original tunes written and played by me in the 1980s, today.  I waiting for some home audio equipment order to be delivered. I'm hoping it will up the ante on the quality of my recordings. I had Tascam 4-track cassette ages ago, but the digital recording market has really advanced.  The amount of tutorials online as mindblowing. 

Stand tuned for th next installment.  Enjoy the rest of your holiday.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Larry Young, John McLaughlin, Bill Frisell, and Gary Burton Quartet

Here's my Sunday Music Muse Day post on Easter Sunday/April Fool's Day.  I thought I'd be writing about the John Abercrombie Tribute Concert I had planned to attend last Monday in NYC, but that didn't happen (a tale share with friend elsewhere).  But during the New York trip was able to pick up my first two picks.  Larry Young in Paris: The ORTF Recording is the excellent 2 discs Resonance Records release of the late organist concerts in 1964-65.  This CD set is getting 5 star reviews for critics, and well worth every star.  This set is a much ore straight ahead jazz than my first exposure to Larry from the original Tony Williams Lifetime, Tony's high energy fusion group (with John McLaughlin on guitar) he formed  after leaving Miles Davis.  Only much lately did I realized he had stellar position the jazz world.  This is great set with Resonance's wonderful packaging including a 66 page booklet of info.

By next pick is slight embarrassment, as I actually already own a copy. John McLaughlin Trio Live at the Royal Festival Hall November 27, 1989.  The title sounded familiar, but the packaging was totally different, so I took a chance.  Only after opening the cardboard case and seeing the insert, that is the same as the other copy's CD cover, did I realize my error. Still great music from a favorite guitarist of mine.

Yesterday, I visiteda local Vinyl Record fair and found a Japanese CD release of The Gary Burton Quartet Duster album. Duster is often considered to be one of the first jazz fusion albums, with guitarist Larry Coryell, bassist Steve Swallow, drummer Roy Haynes, leader Burton on vibraphones, recording in 1967.  Even 51 years later the music still sounds fresh.

Rounding out my weekend CD shopping I was happy to find Bill Frisell Music IS, his latest release.  Bill played at the Abercrombie Tribute I missed, so I think of this as a consolation prize for missing him there.  If you're a guitar gearhead you'll have to check the efx boxes Frisell uses in this solo outing. It's really impressive, as is the music.

So, Happy Easter to all, hope your April Fool's Day was a pleasant one.