Sunday Music Muse Day (a day late) Terje Rypydal Miroslav Vitous Jack DeJohnette, Terje Rydal

This day late Sunday Music Muse Day post is a double spin of Terje Rydal, the Norwegian guitarist and composer, I first became aware of through his ECM recordings in the 70's, with an eclectic blend of Jazz, Free-Jazz and Classical music. My first selection, "Terje Rydal /Miroslav Vitous /Jack Dejohnette" is self-tilled untitled recording from 1979, and it has strong Jazz Fusion leaning with European flavor, with Rydal's angular and spacy electric guitar, and guitar synthesizer styling, and Vitous, the well-known Czech bassist, in Free Jazz and Jazz Fusion.  He was an original co-founder of Weather Report, with Joe Zawinul, and Wayne Shorter (reportedly he chose to leave Weather Report when the musical direction shift from more Free Jazz to a more commercial sound).  Jack Dejohnette is also highly regarded jazz drummer and composer, well-known for playing with Miles Davis, and for a long association with pianist Keith Jarrett.  This solid CD is for anyone with adventurous taste in music.  Definitely give it a listen with an open mind.

My second selection is Terje Rypdal Melodic Warrior. I'm at a lost to describe this CD, so I'll just quote a reviewer John Kelman from Jazz Online, " The lion's share of guitarist Terje Rypdal's Melodic Warrior is devoted to the nine-movement title suite, a 2003 recording with the Bruckner Orchester Linz and, most importantly, the Hilliard Ensemble, the vocal ensemble that leapt to greater fame with Officium (ECM, 1993), the first of three recordings with Rypdal's fellow countryman, Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek. The four-movement "And the Sky was Coloured with Waterfalls and Angels," from a 2009 performance with the Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra at Poland's renowned Jazztopad Festival, rounds out the record, a series of tone poem studies in contrast.   On repeated listenings, the best I could come up with is, it sounds like a soundtrack for updated 'Forbidden Planet", the classic 1950's sci-fi and New free-form Classical music.  I'm on the fence with this one, it can be challenging.

Take your pick, old  or newer, Terje Rydal.  Either way, not a dull musical experience.  Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse day - Jack DeJohnette, Bill Frisell

This rainy Sunday Music Muse Day finds me listening to two of my favorite musicians, but finding both selections less than satisfying.  First is Jack DeJohnette "Zebra", which finds the famed jazz drummer and piano player, on only synthesizers, and accompanied by Lester Bowie on trumpet. The music is kind of interesting, but unmemorable at best.  From online info it was a soundtrack to a video project.  Critics state it's only for "DeJohnette completists", I'll have to agree with that.

My second selection is Bill Frisell / Kermit Driscoll / Joey Baron LIVE. This is live set recorded in Sevill, Spain., in October, 1991. Again, it's a pleasant enough performance of all Frisell originals, but I can't say it's the best I've heard him play.  Well, I guess even the best has an off night.

Well, at least the sun has returned this afternoon, so I'll take that as a good sign. Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Terje Rypdal, Miroslav Vitous, Jack DeJohnette, Iro Haarla

This Memorial Day, belated Sunday Music day finds a weekend of ECM listening, a touch of old, Terje Rypdal, Miroslav Vitous, Jack DeJohnette, and new (at least to me) Iro Haarla Northbound. I had a vinyl record of the Rypdal & company CD, but I sold all my collection. I haven’t heard of Iro Haarla before a recent post to the group. I’m settling in to enjoy both.

This Iro Haarla is totally new to me. I just picked up on the strength of being a ECM release and having a harp on it. It definitely a ECM record introspective in a adventurous way.

Please take a moment to remember the true meaning of this Memorial Day, and commit to fighting for a better tomorrow to honor their sacrifice. Peace.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Keith Jarrett, Jack DeJohnette

This Sunday Music Muse Day is being shared with pro fooball's annual Super Bowl.  These two ECM trio CDs are a nice way to enjoy the calm before the storm of gridiron chaos (honestly the build up and all the constant game commentary wears me out).  First up. Keith Jarrett Standard in Norway, with Gary Peacock on Bass and Jack Dejohnette on drums. The CD title says it all, an excellent trio doing jazz standards.

Next is Jack Dejohnette In Movement, with Ravi Coltrane on saxophones, Matthew Garrison on electric bass and Electronics, and DeJohnette on drums, piano, and electronic percussion.  This has a nice Miles Davis Bitches' Brew vibe to it, worth checking out. I sometime forget what a great piano player and composer DeJohnette is.  One of my favorite tunes on his, Silver Hollow (not on this CD) , has him only on piano. He has playon on some many of my favorite ECM recordings.

Enjoy the game.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Ron Carter, Keith Jarrett

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds most sport fans killing time before tonight's Super Bowl game. I'll probably watch part of it before switching over to PBS's Masterpiece Theatre, our normal Sunday viewing. Likewise, I'll rather spend the afternoon listening to some good jazz. First up. is Ron Carter Spanish Blue, a classic from the acclaimed legendary bassist, and Rochester native. This is "The Original CTI Recordings Digitally Remastered for Compact Disc" of an album released in 1976. Of the four tunes, three are by Ron Carter.  The liner notes states Carter "plans to intensify his writing efforts",  indicating he hasn't writing much for his previous records.  It also says two of the tunes, El Noche Sol and Sabado Sombrero, were inspired by a tour with Miles Davis to Barcelona, Spain in 1964. Of the two, Sabado Sombrero in my favorite, but more for the version by guitarist Jimmy Ponder on his Illusions LP  (unfortunately not on CD). Still Spanish Blue is a must have recording.

Here's the Ron Carter original, with flute by Hubert Laws. 

Here's the Jimmy Ponder version.

My second selection is another Keith Jarrett trio CD, Whisper Not,  with Gary Peacock (bass) and Jack DeJohnette (drums).  This is a two CD set recorded live in Paris in 1999.  I can't keep from finding more Jarret recordings, although enjoyable his vocalizing while playing can annoy me.  I love Jack DeJohnette's drumming.  He was one of the first drummers beyond Rock drummers like Ginger Baker, Mitch Mitchell, and fusion drummers like Billy Cobham, I became aware of for his various ECM recordings with musicians like John Abercrombie and Ralph Towner.

I have no picks for the Super Bowl, although I wouldn't mind seeing Tom Brady lose. 

Sunday Music Muse Day - Ralph Towner, Mark Isham

 This Sunday Music Muse Day find us getting a our first real touch of winter. Friday saw a light blanket of snow covering the lawn, although it didn't last long, Saturday was cold cloudy and gloomy.  Sunday start overcast and grey, gave way to scattered clouds and patches of blue sk, but still chilly.  I tried pick some music to reflect the weather, introspective and sober,  First up is Ralph Towner Batik. This a favorite Towner album of mine, released in 1978.  In considering selling my record collection I bought a new CD of it.  I admit I like the original album cover, front and back, more than the updated CD package.  At least the music is as great as I remembered.  It a trio set with Towner on 12-string and classical guitars, and piano (which was actually his first instrument),  Eddie Gomez on bass, and the amazing Jack DeJohnette on drums. I know this was one of the records that hooked me on ECM records. If you don't own I highly recommend it.

Here's the vinyl album cover front and back.  The hand lettering give it more character.

My second selection is Mark Isham Blue Sun, a trumpeter with a extensive and varied discography ranging from rock, pop, and jazz, and to children's Rabbit Ears Storytime Classics.  I first came to know him as New Age artist with his first album Vapor Drawings on Windham Hill records label.  Lisa, my wife, even got permission from him to use one of his tune for a animation short she did in the '80s.  Blue Sun is pleasant CD with some nice laid back tunes and upbeat selections to round it out as soundtrack for a gloomy winter day.

Here's his Vapor Drawings album on the Windham Hill record label, know for acoustic New Age music.

Hope everyone finds tunes to help through these chaotic time as we move toward the winter holidays.  Stay safe, stay healthy, wear a mask. 

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.

Sunday Music Muse Day - ( a day late) Ralph Tower, John Abercrombie

Here's this Sunday's Music Muse Day post, a day late.  Weather was rainy and gloomy, and I found myself drawn to pull out some vinyl of two favorite guitarists, Ralph Towner and John Abercrombie. These are two of my favorite LPs, both on ECM records, that I don't have on CD. Ralph Towner Batik is a trio outing with Eddie Gomez on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on Drums.  The second is the Towner, Abercrombie duet album, Five Years Later, there second recording together, obviously.  I remember listening to them constantly in my old NYC apartment back in the late 70 and early' 80s.

I've been sharing old pics with friends this weekend, these albums offer a great soundtrack.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Gene Bertoncini & Steve Greene, Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and jack DeJohnette

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds us enjoy a blank of fluffy snow and very cold morning.  Just the recipe for a these jazz choice to warm the heart.  First up is guitar duo Gene Bertoncini and Steve Green Gene with Green. This CD offers a selection of jazz standards played excellently by Bertoncini on nylon string classic guitar and Greene in steel string archtop guitar. They have a local contact as they meet at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester (Steve studied with Gene), forming a lasting friendship.  I'v had the pleasure of seeing Steve Greene play with the White Hots as will as having his Steve Greene Trio CD.  I hadn't seen Gene Bertoncini, yet, but hope he'll come the Rochester jazz festival, sometime.

To round out this quiet morning, Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette, Somewhere CD.  Another fine Live set on the ECM label.  Maybe it's a sigh of mellowing out in my old age, but I'm finding myself exploring a lot more piano trio music, than I used to.  Keith's music hits the spot as long his 'nee...nee...nee" vocalizing doesn't distract from the playing (sorry Jarrett fans, that drives me nuts).

All in all, it's a nice way to spend the day.  Enjoy