Sunday Music Muse Day - Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas, Fred Hersch & the WDR Big Band with Vince Mendoza.

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds me stretching concepts of art and music to make a connection to one of my choices. First up, Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas, Other Worlds.  It was the comic book like art on the CD that caught my interest at once. I've heard of saxophonist Joe Lovano from his work as a co-leader and sideman on other CDs I have.  So, Other Worlds was worth a try.  Again, the art reminded me of my idol, Jack Kirby, the late legendary comic artist, and creator of so many Marvel, and DC comic characters.  Today would have be Jack Kirby's 195th birthday,  Many comic book nerd friend, and myself,  have been posting tributes to him, all day. The music is Post Bop and adventurous. Well worth a listen.  The cover art was done by Dave Chisholm, a Rochester artist, who has done several graphic novels focusing on jazz musicians.   Ads for them pop up in my Facebook feed, often. 

My next selection, Fred Hersch & the WDR Gig Band, Begin Again, arranged and conducted by Vince Mendoza, was also more a pick for the CD graphic, more than the musicians.  Although, I had seen Fred Hersch name before, I could say I remember the musical context.  Plus, I've heard of the WDR Big Band. The bigger draw for me was Vince Mendoza who I know from an ECM CD with John Abercrombie, Animato, also Mendoza has written tunes played by the Peter Erskine trio on ECM.  Mendoza wrote my favorite tunes on the Erskine CDs.  Begin Again has modern big sound, that is enjoyable, but nothing really stands out to me.  It's still worth a listen.

So, I hope today finds you in fine spirits, in these chaotic times.  Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Alice Coltrane, Scolohofo ( SCofield LOvano HOlland FOster)

This Sunday Music Muse Day find us experiencing a very peasant weather day after several days of high temps and humidity. But the news out of Afghanistan adds a heaviness to the day.  Some how my first selection compliments the news.  Alice Coltrane Ptah, The El Daoud, the classic Impluse record.  Maybe it's just the Egyptian scarb imagery on the album cover reminds me of the Middle East.  The classic tune Blue Nile is a must.  It's well known Alice Coltrane is the wife of the legendary John Coltrane, but Alice gained fame and recognition on her own musical merits, most notably for her use ot the harp in jazz.

My second selection Scolohofo oh! is a group named for first letters of last name of it's members.  John SCOfield, Joe LOvano, Dave HOlland, and Alex FOster. Their Post-Bop (hard Bop ?) music can be driving and mellow with an edge to it.  It fits the mood of the day, too.

There is bound to be a lot of reflection on the Afghan situation, that is way beyond my grasp.  All we can hope is a evenual peaceful outcome for the people of Afghanistan, and a better future.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Bill Frisell, Paul Motian with Bill Frisell

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds us enjoying a sunny day after several days of fairly heavy rainfall.  My two selections have two things in common, a musician, and being live recording.  First is Bill Frisell East/West, a 2-disc trio set with Viktor Krauss and Tony Scherr on bass,  and Kenny Wollesen on drums.  This set was recorded live at Yoshi's the famous jazz club in Oakland, CA, in May 8-11, 2004. This eclectic mix of tunes, from Motown, jazz standards, and folk tunes, are we come to expect from Frisell with his Neo-Americana  leanings. Frisell playings alway gives these tunes a freshness worth listening to.

My second, is The Paul Motian Trio - Sound of Love, with Bill Frisell, guitar, and Joe Lovano, tenor saxophone, joining the leader Motian, on drums, on this live date at the Village Vanguard, June 7-10, 1995.  The tunes selection includes classics from Thelonious Monk, Charlie Mingus and originals by Motian.  There is a real sense of intense intimacy in the group's playing. Well worth seeking out.

All in all, the weekend is ending on a positive note.  Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Sound of Wood & Steel, Jim Hall, Alan Holdsworth

Sorry, I skipped a week (for no particular reason), but I'm back with another Sunday Music Muse Day.  This week features all guitar music, I admit that's my preference most of the time.  First up is two CDs slightly outside of my jazz leanings, Sounds of Wood & Steel (1) & 2/  A Windham Hill Collection of acoustic guitar music produced in partnership with the Taylor Guitars company.  All the performers used Taylor guitar on the CDs. Windham Hill used to be described as New Age label, mostly presenting instrumental acoustic music. I picked up some Windham Hill albums ages ago. Most of the guitarists on these CDs are new to me, except Michael Hedges, Will Ackerman, and Leo Kottke/  I have albums by all three.  Generally this is a nice set of music, pleasant, but not memorable.  It is nice background music for a lazy, peaceful afternoon, or quiet dinner party, so it's not all bad.

Next is, Grand Slam,Live at the Regattabar, with Jim Hall on guitar, Joe Lovano on saxophones and alto clarinet, George Mraz on Bass, and Lewis Nash on drums. I sure Tom Pethic influenced this purchase.  I'm sure I've hear Joe Lovano played on his radio show many times.  Great stuff, getting a 4 1/2 out  of 5 star rating on the All Music web site.  This is one for serious listening.

Finally, Alan Holdsworth All Night Wrong, a live set recorded at a venue in Japan during a 2002 tour. This is 4 out of 5 star rated CD by the great fusion guitar, and a favorite of mine, who passed away just a few months ago.  I'm glad to add this to my collection.

With the passings of Holdsworth, Larry Coryell, and the recent death of John Abercrombie, all long time favorite guitarists of mine, those sad events pushed me to buy tickets for John McLaughlin's farewell tour this November.  I'll be seeing at University of Buffalo, and I'm taking my son, who is just starting to play guitar.  I hope he like the concert.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Henri Texier, Lars Moller Group, & John Abercrombie

Today's Sunday Music Muse Day post features two European artists.  While clearing some CDs from my office desk I came across these discs,  Henri Texier - Colonel Skopje and Lars Moller Group - Colors.  The musicians on the Texier CD are well know American artists, guitarist John Abercrombie, electric bassist Steve Swallow and multi-reedman / percussionist Joe Lovano.  Plus, drummer Aldo Romano, a native Italian and resident of France.   Although I have several vinyl albums of Henri Texier from the mid-1970s.  I hadn't come across one of works in a long time.   I wasn't familar with the Lars Moller group, including the leader.  The common thread in both groups is guitarist John Abercrombie.  In all likelihood, that's probably the reason I picked these up.  It's part of the fun of discovery finding new music by using band personal connections to lead you in different directions.  Sometimes it's dead end, and other times it leads to whole new vistas of music.  These were worth listening to.