Sunday Music Muse Day - Jimmy Smith, Gerry Mulligan and Thelonious Monk

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds me enjoying two reissues of classic albums.  First up is Jimmy Smith Bashin' The Unpredictable Jimmy Smith, a 1962 recording by the  soulful organist.  I was 12 yrs old in 1962 and  I remember the first cut, "Walk on the Wild Side", the jazz cover of title song of the movie of the same name (Not to be confuse with the Lou Reed rock classic). I grabbed this CD just for that. The movie original have lyrics written by Mack David and music was by Elmer Bernstein.  The Smith version arranged by Oliver Nelson and features Nelson's Big Band, jumps in into high gear when Smith's organ solo kicks in in the later part of the tune.  It was released as single 45 rpm, with the tune split over both sides.  It reached #21 on the Billboard chart. The CD re-issue  has two cuts not on original LP.  An added plus to Walk on the Wild Side is the beginning jingling bells sound like it's going to be a Christmas,  It would great to slip in the Holiday music play list, to shake things up.

Next up is Mulligan meets Monk, as in Gerry Mulligan and Thelonious Monk.  A great pairing of the famed Baritone saxohonist and the legendary Pianist and composer.  Most of the selections are Monk tunes, plus there are three alternate takes not included on the original LP.  Personally I refer like sound the Baritone sax over the alto sax. So I find this very enjoyable.

So, soon I be picking the holiday tunes to play.  Just the thing to decorate the Xmas tree by.  Until enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day (one day late) Trio of Doom, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Tony Williams, Jimmy Smith

Sunday's Music Muse Day post is a day late due to football playoffs, and a developing cold.  But, the music help me feel better.  The first two CDs were picked up in Toronto, Canada, during a lovely brief road trip with my wife.  These fusion jazz gems are connected in a way.  First up. Trio of Doom, the one time pairing of guitarist John McLaughlin, drummer Tony Williams, and bassist Jaco Pastorius recorded at the historic 1979 Havana Jam festival in Cuba. This CD contains all the material they record live, and in the studio shortly afterwards.  McLaughlin actually didn't want the material released at first because of poor recording of the live tracks, but 27 year later he relented, mainly in honor of his friends, Tony and Jaco, who had since passed away.  The music is rough and raw, but important considering stature of these musicians.

Next up. Mahavishnu Orchestra: The Lost Trident Sessions, which features John McLaughlin, again.  This CD is was supposed to the group's third album, but according to the liner notes, it was lost and forgotten due to internal strife of the band, as they split up soon after it was completed. I'm glad it be released.  Interesting, since it was to be an album, it only about 35 minutes long, as compared to today's longer music CD productions.

My next selection is also connect the Trio of Doom, with Tony Williams Angel Street CD.  I think I have the vinyl record of this but couldn't pass it up.  I think I appreciate Tony William's straight hard bop playing more now than when this was released on vinyl in 1988.

Finally, here's jazz organ legend, Jimmy Smith Prayer Meeting, with Stanley Turrentine on saxophone.  This is another reissue of a Blue Note Records session by Rudy Van Gelder.  I found myself picking up more jazz organ music in the past year.  Proving you're never too old learn to enjoy different sounds (I've always been very guitar-centric in my listening habits).

That's it for this week. But, I like to take a moment to remember, and honor, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr on this, his day.  We as a nation still have a long way to go to fore fill his dream, but I believe, together, "We shall over come".

 

Sunday Music Muse Day - Walk on the Wild Side

Here's my Sunday Music Muse Day post. Still enjoying tunes from my CD buys from last week. The Classic Jazz- Jazz Masters CD has so many great songs. One of my favorite is the Jimmy Smith's Walk on the Wild Side. Not to be confused with the Rock classic Lou Reeds Wild on the Wild Side. Some of you may not know the original Wild on the Wild Side was a movie theme from the 1962 film of the same name, performed by Brook Benton, and written Mack Davis, with music by Elmer Bernstein. This version earn a Oscar nomination for Best Original Song that year. The Jimmy Smith version reached No. 21 in the Billboards Top 100, in June 1962. You should look up each version on youtube. Enjoy.