Sunday Music Muse Day - Joe Pass, Chet Baker & Bill Evans

 

This Sunday Music Muse Day, I have three legendary jazz musicians to share with you. First, Joe Pass Joy Spring, a live quartet club performances recorded in1964.  This classic jazz guitar playing at its best. There's not much to said except, if you come across this CD buy it and give it a listen.

Next, is Chet Baker and Bill Evans The Complete Legendary Sessions.  I admit, although I've known of these jazz giants or since my twenties, it's only been in the last ten years or so that I've picked up their recording on a regular basis.  Maybe it was musical maturity or just stepping beyond my guitar-centric music listening comfort zone. As the liner note states: "...Chet Baker and Bill Evans were both Highly lyrical and introspective player." who I now can appreciate fully. This CD is the complete collection of their collaborations. Both musicians live troubled lives due to ongoing battles with drugs and inner devils.  The music on their CD make me wish they had more opportunities to play together. 

So, as we roll in to a new month, summer is near, and time for more summer festivals and outdoor music. In this stressful times, take a break and enjoy as much music as you can.  It's good for the soul. 

Sunday Music Muse Day Joe Pass, Dann Zinn, and Hanna-Barbera Classics

Happy New Year, and welcome to the first Sunday Music Muse Day of 2016.   In between Christmas shopping and family holiday celebrations I managed to pick up two new CDs to start the New Year on a high musical note.  First is the Joe Pass Resonance CD.  This Pablo CD finds the legendary guitarist in a trio setting with Jim Hughart on electric bass and Frank Severino on drums, recorded at Donte's in North Hollywood in December 1974.  Joe Pass always leaves me amazed at the artistry of his playing.  Just great music.

The next CD, Dann Zinn Shangri La is one of those leaps of faith.  I wasn't familiar with the leader, saxophonist Dann Zinn, but I love drummer Peter Erskine, of Weather Report fame, and his own solo projects, that made this a worth a try.  With mostly original tunes by Zinn, it a pleasant enough outing,  very modern jazz sound, I guess you can call it Fusion, with some processed sax sounds and guitar loops by guitarist Chris Robinson.  I still need to give it a few more listens to decide if it's a full thumbs up.

Here is an extra, a unexpected, Xmas gift, a student aide give me   The  CD, Hanna-Barbera Classic, Volume 1, a collection the opening, show title, and ending title music for lot of Hanna-Barbera cartoons from the late 1950s and 1960s.  You can't listen this without smiling at the memory of those old childhood cartoons.   Great fun.

So, again, Happy New Year, and let's hope it brings nothing but the best of everything.