Sunday Music Muse Day - Bill Frisell, Gilad Heselman, CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival

Since I saw Bill Frisell Trio at CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival, last night, it's a not brainer that I pulled out several Bill Frisell CDs to enjoy to today.  With Bill was Tony Scherr (bass) & Kenny Wollesen (drums).

I'll feature one, Good Day Happy man, because it has a favorite tune of the wife, Lisa, 'Poem for Eva'. I introduced Bill Frisell's music to my mother-in-law, during a visit last year.  She like it so much I gave her a copy for a Christmas present. Frisell's really can be enjoy by any generation.

The young guitarist Gilad Hekselman was playing at the jazz festival, also, but he was scheduled the exact time and day as Bill Frisell.  So, Bill had to be my first choice. Lisa and I, thought that if Frisell sold out we could to see Gilad Hekselman instead.  We actually considered going to the second Hekselman show, but two $30 a ticket shows in one night wasn't in out entertainment budget. So, I had to console myself with listening a a current release of his, Ask for Chaos.  Hopefully, he return to the Jazz festival sometime.

Lisa and I will be back at the festival next weekend as volunteers for the Jazz 90.1 radio booth,  on Gibb Street. Saturday 7 - 9pm.  If you come down, drop by and say hello.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Ben Wendel, Guilermo Bazzola

Today's Sunday Music Muse Day finds me inside as the cold snowy weather settles in before the Thanksgiving holiday this week. Just by coincidence, the first selection is Ben Wendel The Seasons, a concept album by the young saxophonist. (Rich Thompson, recommend this CD, Thanks Rich) It is a studio recordings based on his original series of twelve duets released over twelve months on youtube, in 2015. The project was inspired by the classical twelve piano pieces by Tchaikovsky called The Seasons. The music on this CD is performed by "a quintet made up of artists from the original video series.  The music is transformed from the intimate settings of duos to something much grander in the hands of these master musicians", writes Wendell in the liner notes. Although I enjoy these versions overall, I like the video version of the selection "October", a duet with guitarist, Gilad Hekselman, much better. Give it a listen and see of you agree.

My next selection is one of those leaps of faith, as I knew nothing about this guitarist, Guillermo Bazzola Hora Libre,  I picked the CD as it looked interesting,  I sampled the opening cut at the record shop, and it didn't sound bad so I bought it. After listening to it several times I glad I did. It a quartet with guitar, Hammond organ, saxophones, and drums.  Here's all the info could find on the CD, from the Apple Music Review:

"About Guillermo Bazzola

Argentinean jazz guitarist Guillermo Bazzola started playing as an amateur by the end of the 1970s, taking guitar classes in 1979. Two years later, the musician joined a band called Combop, playing along with Mariano Tito soon after. In 1986, Guillermo Bazzola composed the soundtrack for a cultural documentary broadcast by a local television station. In 1989, the artist was awarded by Partners of the Americas, getting a scholarship after participating in an international jazz seminar. In 1998, the guitarist, composer, and arranger had the opportunity to play along with Sid Jacobs while participating in a festival called Guitarras del Mundo (Guitars of the World). A year later, Guillermo Bazzola formed the Summer Quartet with drummer Hernán Mandelman, bassist Rodolfo Paccapelo, and Rodrigo Domínguez, recording an album called 3D, released by PAI Records. In the year 2000, the talented guitarist teamed up with pianist Ernesto Jodos, issuing Long Ago."  Basically that's it, but that's enough his music speaks for it, solid playing with an international jazz feel, proving music is our universal language. Worth listening to.

Winter is coming, maybe sooner than we like.  Keep warm, and keep listening to good music.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Al DiMeola. Gilah Hekelman, my Warped Sky - Stray Clouds

I back after a summer break in August, due to a vacation, and basic summer laziness.  But, I did manage to pick up some new music to share. So, first up is Al Di Meola Elegant Gypsy and More Live. This latest CD from the jazz fusion guitarist best known for his work with Chick Corea's Return to Forever, the pioneering Jazz Fusion group in the 1970's and beyond.  This CD finds Di Meola revisiting tunes from his early solo album, Elegant Gypsy, made after he left RTF. for the most part the material holds up nicely.  I not overly impressed with the drummer.  (Also, I think Al's cover pose is pretentious)

My second pick is from one of the new generation of jazz guitarists, Gilad Hekselman Ask for Chaos.  I think I came across him on jazz post spotlighting new talent.  This CD is actually is just being released next week, Sept. 7.  it must have been a reviewer's copy.  Lucky I found it.  I can heard strains of Bill Frisell and John Abercrombie in his playing, and that's not a bad thing.

Here's another original tune as part of my Warped Sky - Stray Clouds project is Why Should I care? Warped Sky - Stray Cloud, is a combination of songs from old tapes and new renditions of original tunes written and played by me in the 1980s. . This started are just a collection of chords and no lyrics. This video has my first complete version played against a Band in a Box backing tracking. I have to admit musically it goes nowhere. I can't even label it "elevator music". I was trying for the feel of a Pat Metheny I like "Tell Her You Saw me", or Jeff Beck's "We Ended as Lovers, but I just couldn't pull it off. Still, it's another song off my incomplete list.

Hopefully I can stay on a better schedule with upcoming blog post, as Fall arrives. Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Gilad Hekselman, Medski Scofield Martin & Wood, Sonny Rollins

Time for another Sunday Music Muse Day.  First up, Gilad Hekselman, Homes.  Hekselman is of new crop of jazz guitarist gathering a lot to notice.  I recently featured CD that he was a quest on.  This is really solid record that his him leading a quartet, with eight of the twelve being original compositions.  Well worth picking up.

Next up is a slight disappointment.  It's Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood.  With this line up how could you go wrong?  I have several Medeski, Martin & Wood CDs and loads of guitarist John Scofield LPs and CD, plus I've seen John play several times with his own trios and quartets, and with Miles Davis back in the 80s.  But, after giving M, M & W every chance to impress me, with and without John Scofield, while listening to this CD, I finally have to admit I don't like the way they sound.  I find the tone of group harsh, and the compositions too fractured to be enjoyable.  It's like musical "in jokes", I just don't get.  This will be my last purchase of these guys.  (On the plus side, the CD package is a nice designed, three-piece fold out, diigipak  made with 100% recycled material.  That's something)

After the MSM&W CD, I cleared my music palate with Sonny Rollins classic Saxophone Colossus.  The first notes of St.Thomas always puts you in a good frame of mind.  I have that tune on many Jazz compilations, but it's great to the classic LP with features Tommy Flanagan, on Piano, Doug Watkins, on bass, and the legendary Max Roach on drums.   I  had a odd thought about another tune on the LP/CD, Strode Rode.  In the the liner notes, it states the title "Strode Rode" is in homage to Strode Lounge, a local jazz room, in Chicago.  My first thought was that it was a homage to black actor, Woody Strode, well known for his western movie roles.  But looking up Woody's movie credits most were made after this music was recorded.  But it still could be in honor of Woody riding a horse into a hotel lobby in Canada, In the 1940, when he played Canadian Football. In any case,  Saxophone Colossus lives up to its jazz classic status.

Hope every get to enjoy good music of their choosing this week, and always.

Sunday Music Muse Day, Super Bowl Sunday Edition, Duke Ellington, Gianni Gagliardi with Gild Hekselman, and Pace de Lucia

Today is Super Bowl Sunday, so here is my Sunday Music Muse post before kick off.  First up, the Duke Ellington Anatomy of a Murder, music from the Otto Preminger motion picture.  This is a nice re-issue CD with additional bonus tracks not on the original release.  As a side note, my father, Sam, doesn't play on this.

My second selection is Paco de Lucia, Antologia Vol. 2.  A collection of tunes by the late great Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist.  This CD has a few cuts of Paco playing with Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin.  I had a chance to see them perform several times.  Paco's playing was truly amazing.  He help introduce a new generation of listeners to flamenco inspired music.  I count myself as one of them.

My last selection was picked up on blind faith, Gianni Gagliardi, Nomadic Nature.  I picked up this tenor saxophone player's CD because of the guitarist Gilad Hekselman, who was mentioned in article about the new young, up and coming, jazz artists.  From first listen it's a good CD, a modern group sound, which leans toward avant garde at time, but not too much to be distracting.  Well worth a listen.

Well, looks like I finished, just the start of the Super Bowl.  If the half time show sucks, at least have these CD as fall back.  Enjoy.