Sunday Music Muse Day - John Abercrombie with Kenny Wheeler, Jim Vivian

This Sunday Music Muse Day selections have a solid common factor, the late great jazz guitarist John Abercrombie.  First up, is Kenny Wheeler It Takes Two with Abercrombie, another guitarist John Parricelli, and bassist Anders Jormin. From the lineup and music you could easily assume this was ECM release, but it is from CamJazz. In statement from their webpage, "A refined jazz label, launched in the year 2000, dedicated to releasing jazz recordings performed by some of the most outstanding Italian and international jazz performers of our times."  This ranges from a cool laid back rendition of Love Theme from "Spartacus" to Avant Garde  free improvisations.  If CamJazz other releases are of this quality, I'll definitely put them on my watch list.

The second selection is Jim Vivian Sometime Ago.  John Abercrombie  joins the Canadian bassist and leader as online reviewer Stuart Broomer states, "This session, led by bassist Jim Vivian, was recorded in Toronto in 2016 following a series of performances at Jazz Bistro. Five of the tracks are trio performances with drummer Ian Froman; three tracks add tenor saxophonist Mike Murley. It’s eminently listenable music, low-key modern jazz that possesses depths and details that reward close attention. Abercrombie, Vivian and Froman weave complex webs of subtly inflected lines, often on jazz standards."  I totally agree with the review. Again, the international appeal of jazz shines through.  I hope to visit Toronto soon, and plan to pay a visit to the Jazz Bistro, if it is still there.

Today had nice enough weather for us to take a walk in the park, and it was nice to return home to an afternoon snack, while enjoying these two CDs.  Hope you find time to enjoy some good tunes, also.

Sunday Music Muse Day - John Abercrombie, Marc Copland and Kenny Wheeler, Trio East, Astral Project.

This week's Sunday Music Muse Day selections finds me picking up three CDs, one featuring  an old favorite player, a group with a guitarist recently featured in a post, and a nod to a local musician I met over the holidays.  First up is a CD titled That's for Sure,  featuring guitarist John Abercrombie, a favorite of mine for many years.  Here, he's playing in a trio setting with leader Marc Copland on piano and Kenny Wheeler on trumpet and Flugelhorn.  This music has the earmarks of a ECM recording, but it was released by Challenge Records, and actually Abercrombie and Wheeler appear courtesy of ECM records.

The next selection is Astral Project, VooDooBop. According to wikipedia, "Astral Project blends styles of jazz, funk, rock and world and have been referred to as one of New Orleans' "premier" jazz groups".  I picked the CD up because of guitarist Steve Masakowski, who's CD, What it was, was featured in a post back in December.  I always read the personal of groups I may not familiar with, if a player I like in on the CD, I'll give it a chance.  It's a way to discover new music outside my comfort zone of favorites.

Another great to find new music is to be introduced to the musician in person, as was the case with drummer Rich Thompson, and the group Trio East.  On the CD, Trio East Stop-Start, Rich plays with Clay Jenkins on trumpet, and Jeff Campbell on bass.  I was introduced to Rich by drummer Mike Melito at Mike's New Year Eve gig with the Bob Sneider Trio at the Little Cafe.  I'm flattered that Rich also a fan of my father Sam, as Mike is. 

I enjoy meeting local jazz musicians and supporting them by buying their CDs and getting out to see them play live.  I hope I can catch Trio East and Rich Thompson in the near future.  Until then, I have this CD to enjoy.