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 - July 4th - Keith Jarrett, John Taylor

Today's Sunday Music Muse Day find us observing the July 4th national holiday.  Like many, I find my myself in more reflective, than celebratory mood this year on the past, present and future of America. My selections mirror that feeling.  First is Keith Jarrett Selected Recording, a 2-CD collection in the RCM :Rarum series which his the artist "select their favorite performances on ECM". This is certainly a tall order for Keith Jarrett as his ECM catalog of recordings is massive and widely acclaimed.  Varied is a understatement, as got ten tunes in before I recognized a title I knew. It is interesting to hear what works hold special meaning to an artist. There is booklet with liner notes by Kieth Jarrett that gives some insight.

My second selection is John Taylor Rosslyn, another ECM session with Marc Johnson on double Bass and Joey Baron on drums.  This CD is so delicate in it's reflective tone, I have trouble imagining this being played in club setting.  The music seems to exist in an extreme quiet zone where you must hold you breath as to not drown out the music.  Worth a listen, in a very zen way.

Again, as I reflect on the meaning of July 4 in the current state of affair, I can only said we have a long way to go to live up to our ideas we've usually celebrate.  Lets work to make that day of honest truth and reconciliation for all come sooner, rather than later. Peace.

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 - 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

Sunday Music Muse Day - Bill Frisell, Keith Jarrett.

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds us heading into November and that downward slide to the holiday season.  Way too soon for Christmas music, so lets enjoy two well known musicians.  First up is a new release by Bill Frisell Harmony, his first release on Blue Note Record, the classic jazz label.  Its getting 4 star reviews from critics, but I have to admit, I won't be a favorite of mine.  The vocals just don't do much for me, I find them, well...annoying.  Frisell's eclectic Americana music styling is still a favorite of mine, and in full evidence, so it is still worth a listen.   I love to hear your opinion of it.

Next is a old release of Keith Jarrett Concerts, a solo outing on ECM from 1982.  Again, I'm not big Keith Jarrett fan, and prefer his trio and standards recording.  So, again, it maybe my short comings, not the musicians, or the music.  I'm throw this on as background music for dinner, or quiet evening home.  There no harm in that.

With the end of Day light Saving time the night come sooner and the weather turns colder.  Let keep our hearts warm with some good music.  Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Keith Jarrett, Vijay Iyer Trio

Today's Sunday Music Muse Day finds me spending time with two piano trios.  Keith Jarrett At the Deer Head Inn, with Gary Peacock on bass, and Paul Motian on drums. Not much you can say but that it's the top notch playing you'd expect from this these well-known players. It's a live recording, made in September, 16, 1992. Jarrett relates in the liner notes that Deer Head Inn, in Allentown, PA. was where he had his "first serious trio job on piano" thirty years early, and also a reunion playing with Paul Motian, who he hadn't play with for 16 years.  It goes to show that sometimes there a lot more behind a gig then just the music.

My next selection is Vijay Iyer Trio Accelerando, with Stephen Crump on bass, and Marcus Gilmore on drums.  This 2012  release by the young pianist was named jazz album of the year in 3 jazz critics polls.  Besides the 2013 MacArthur Fellowship Iyer has won a ton award and honors. His music is adventurous, engaging, and challenging for the listener.  Iyer states,"this ablum is in the lineage of American creative music based on dance rhythms."  I was draw to last tune on this CD, The Village of the Virgins" written by Duke Ellington for his ballet "The River".  I had saved version to my youtube music collection.  I'm glad to have the full CD.

Yesterday's morning snow melted quickly, hope it's the last of the season.  Everyone hoping for day of sunshine and good music.  So do I.  Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette. Al DiMeola

Welcome to another springtime Sunday Music Muse Day, although snow on the ground and cold weather (here in north western New York state) might confuse you. Today's two selections have has a common connection of personal and emotional issues for both artist. First, is a new release of a1998 live recording by pianist Keith Jarrett, After the Fall, with Gary Peacock on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums. This 2 CD set's title refers to Keith Jarrett’s “fall” into a bout of chronic fatigue syndrome in autumn (or fall) 1996.  The illness kept him from playing publicly for two years. This concert, recorded in Newark, New Jersey, near his home, was his first post-recovery attempt to play before an audience. In many ways a personal triumph for him.  I admit I'm not a giant fan of Keith Jarrett, but this is a joy to listen to, even without knowing the context.

Al DiMeola Opus, his latest release, also, finds the fusion-famed guitarist stating, "for the first time in my life, I have written music being happy.  I'm in a wonderful relationship with my wife. I have a baby girl and a beautiful family that inspires me every day.  I believe it shows in the music."  I have no details to fully understand what he's referring to. as being unhappy.  He adds in this music he sees himself furthering his compositional skills to become a "composer/guitarist" rather "guitarist/composer".  I'm more than happy to give this repeated listenings to figure the different.

Both these musician show that there has to be a attachment to the full experiences of life, the good, and the bad,  Those experiences help shape the music, whether the audience is ever aware of it.