Sunday Music Muse Day - John Scofield, Ralph Tower with Wolfgang Muthspiel and Slava Grigoryan

This post-Halloween Sunday Music Muse Day finds me enjoying two of my favorite guitarists who both record for ECM Records.  First, a new release by John Scofield Uncle John's Band.  Obviously, the title is a play on his name and a nod to the Jerry Garcia tune on the CD.  The late Jerry Garcia was a guitarist and leader of the Grateful Dead, the legendary Rock band. Being about the same age, I get his musical references when he includes versions of a Bob Dylan (Mr. Tambourine Man), Neil Young (Old Man) and Jerry Garcia tune (Uncle John's Band). Those were definitely songs of my youth, too. I'm liking this 2 CD trio session much more than the disappointing  solo CD released last year. I think has returned to his musical comfort zone.

Next, is a 2013 ECM by Ralph Towner, Wolfgang Muthspiel, and Slava Grigoryan  Travel Guide.  This is a guitar trio session of quiet, gentle, music. Perfect for those introspect moments, or listening while curled up with a good book.  I'm a long time fan of Ralph Towner, but fairly new to Muthspiel, only seeing he mentioned on posts in a ECM FB group.  Grigoryan is totally new to me. But, now I'll keep an eye out for their other works as sideman, or leaders.  That's how I've always discovered new music.

In these chaotic times, please take time to take care of yourself, may music be a part of that.  

Sunday Music Muse Day - John Scofield, Nels Cline & Julian Lage

Today Sunday Music Muse Day  presents guitar three guitarists, one solo and a two in a duet.  First is John Scofield in his self titled solo outing for ECM, his first for ECM and his first solo release in his nearly fifty year professional career.  This is much anticipated release, by me and other long time fans. It is a introspective  collection showing Scofield eclectic taste in his tune selection, a jazz standard, traditional, country, and pop, plus originals.  He choose to use just electric guitar and looper (a device for live performance over dubbing).  Over all,  I can't say this solo effort is totally engaging. It feels more like a afternoon of noodling. It maybe be unfair to it compared to John Abercrombie first solo ECM album, Characters, (one of my all time favorite albums) make with full studio overdubbing, this Scofield session come off as nice but not memorable. I would like to hear as more fully realized solo effort from Scofield, I think he still it in him.

The duet CD is Nels Cline & Julian Lage Room. This too is more introspective listening experience,  a 4/5 star online review states, 'Each track has its own character, but the entire album is permeated by the two guitarists' inventiveness and sensitive accompanying ability."  I would agree this, this intimate session at times reminds me of John McLaughlin solo pieces on his My Goals Beyond. Well worth seeking this out this 2014 release.

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 - Larry Coyrell Twin-House and Tributaries

This Sunday Music Muse day finds us again suffering from a overcast cloudy day.  Still, the best way to survive it is with good music.  This week's selections are two CDs by Larry Coryell bought to replace vinyl records I plan to sell in my continuing effort to declutter.  I'm trying to refrain from buying CDs of many of the records I  have since doing so would be counter to decluttering.  There is the issue that some of my favorite vinyl were nothing released as CDs, as least in the U.S.  Both of these Coryell CDs as a examples of that. Larry Coryell - Philip Catherine Twin House features the full original record plus five cut from duo's Splendid record, so this like is getting a double album.  The CD was produced and released on a German label ACT, and they mentioned "the records were never before released on CD".  Twin-House and Splendid are two of my favorite Coryell records.  In many ways prefer his duet and trio recording, many acoustic, over his electric group recordings.

Next is Larry Coryell Tributaries with John Scofield and Joe Beck.  Scofield is one my favorite jazz guitarist, and Joe Beck in a legend in jazz guitar. As with Hot-House this CD is a foreign release, produced in Japan, although there was a domestic CD but it didn't have the original cover graphic I liked.  The only downside of being foreign release is I can't read the Japanese liner notes. The music is as great as I remember and that the most important thing. 

I know my buddy Rodney Means will enjoy revisiting the Larry Coryell gems.  It was Rodney who introduced me to Larry Coryell's music. That's what good friends are for, sharing good music and opening our horizons.  I hope I can be a friend like to all of you.  Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - John Scofield, Charlie Haden & Jim Hall

This Sunday Music Muse Day I get to celebrate my first visit to one of my favorite record shop since the pandemic hit four months ago.  I finally returned to the Bop Shop Record, yesterday, they're on limit 3 day schedule and are following all the proper covid-19 guidelines for retail store.  Actually, Tom, the owner, had called me earlier in the week about a special order I placed back in January.  Unfortunately, since I wasn't sure when the shop would  open, or if he found the CD, I bought it online. But, Tom was good about it, and I was able to get one of this week selection instead.  I picked up John Scofield Swallow Tales, his new release from ECM.  The is special CD as it celebrates and is a tribute to Steve Swallow, legendary jazz bassist and composer, who plays on the set, and is long time friend and playing partner of Scofield. You can tell the music is a labor of love by Scofield.  Well worth checking out.

My next selection is Impulse release of Charlie Haden and Jim Hall, a live duet CD including several favorite Haden tune I associate with records with Pat Metheny.  This CD is a real treat by two giants in the world of Jazz.  I can easily highly recommend it. 

As part of my Dragonfly Views blog I have a Sunday Music Muse Day post where I always hoped to present original music that I had filed away mostly unfinished and unheard, always putting it off because my playing leaves much to desired. But as I get older it becomes apparent waiting for perfect has become an excuse not to do anything. But, sometimes you just have to get things out of your system. So, rough edges and all here is the song, "November Night 2020". November Night is one of my favorite original tune, written in 1980. The original version is included at the end of this video. This was actually the first time we, my friends Rodney Means and Richard Miceli, played it together. That version was posted back in 2008.

This "2020" version was made using a backing a backing track created in Band in a Box music software. You write in chords and a lead line and it creates a backing track and even a solo performance, with varying degrees of success. I'm often surprised how my simple tunes sound fleshed out by a full band, even an artificial one. One area I need to work on is sound mixing in Garageband, I'll get there. Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - John Scofield, Chick Corea, Paul Motian

This Sunday Music Muse Day found us suffering the Daylight Saving Time change.  The old reminder saying "spring ahead, fall back" really means stumble around for few days as your body clock adjust to the time change.  I picked an appropriate selection to ease into the day, John Scofield Quiet.  This is a favorite Scofield CD  of mine, a little different from his usual sessions as he plays nylon string acoustic guitar throughout and the adds a full horn and woodwind section to accompany the basic quartet.  The tunes are thoughtful, adventurous, and slightly off-kilter, in a fun way. I love his nod to the library setting in the CD photos.

I continued the day with more mellow selections, both ECM Records releases. Pianist Chick Corea Trio Music Live Europe, with Miroslav Vitous on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums.  Vitous was founding member of Weather Report but left when they move into more electric fusion they become famous for. Haynes is legendary jazz drummer both as leader and sideman.

My final selection is drummer Paul Motian I Have the Room Above Her, with Bill Frisell on guitar and Joe Lovano on tenor saxophone.  Mellow but a little more angular than the other two, but still very enjoyable.

As much as I feel slight off the time change, I know getting up for work Monday morning will be worst. I'll definitely need more music to ease the pain.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Steve Khan, John Scofield

On this bright and sunny, near perfect summer day, after a productive morning of attending to the lawn, cleaning the car, and weekly grocery shopping, I'm enjoying the sounds of long time favorite guitarists.  First up, Steve Khan The Green Field, a 2006 release that was his first solo release in ten year, although he was busy with other projects as a sideman.  One reviewer described it as "latin tinted progressive jazz" (Greg Prato of Allmusic). I would agree, but found it not as focus as his earlier solo sessions.  One minor disappointment is the lack of Folon cover art.  Still, it was great to find this CD.

 Here are some of his earlier covers. This would be excellent set to pick up.

My second treat of the day is John Scofleld A Moments Peace.  A nice laid back collection of tunes played with Scofield unmistakable guitar tone.  He's one of a handful of guitarists you can recognize with just a hearing a few notes. I've been a fan since the '70s and this outing welcomed addition to my collection.

It been pleasant day with pleasant music.  I can't ask for more.  Enjoy.