Sunday Music Muse Day - Jan Garbarek, Egberto Gismonti, & Charlie Haden - Magico, Larry Coryell

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds our local weather ranging from blueskies with bellowing white cloud to sinister dark clouds, to heavy down pours, or as we call it, typical Rochester weather, it changes by the minute. I'm finding comfort in listening to two enjoyable CD finds. First up, Jan Garbarek, Egberto Gismonti and Charlie Haden - Magico - Carta de Amor.  It's a long title for a trio generally known a Magico, from the title of their first outing in 1980 with Charlie Haden credited as leader. I remember buying the album back then and remained a fan ever since. Carta de Amor was recorded live in Munchen, Germany, in April 1981.  The beauty of their music in timeless.  This two CD set has one of my favorite  Magico tune, "Palhaco", but there is only paid versions online from this CD set. I'm happy to say I got to see Egberto Gismonti in duet with Nana Vasconcelos, in the '80's in a Brazilian club/disco in NYC. I was attracted to Gismonti's playing of a 10-string classical guitar, and his amazing piano performances.  I think he single-handedly introduced me to another side of Brazilian music, besides bossa nova, coming from the region of Bahia, Brazil. Any Magico trio CD is worth giving a listen.

My second selection is actually a repeat posting, due to my being a visual person, in that I thought, by the cover, it was one I didn't have, but actually Larry Coryell Shining Hour is a CD I already have.  I'm glad I do,  because I find the 32 Jazz release cover info to be totally lacking, just stating the band personal, and the song titles, but not tunes authors, or even the recording date info.  This is a nice straight ahead jazz session for Coryell and company to shine, recorded in 1999 at the Van Gelder Recording Studio, with the legendary Rudy Van Gelder, engineering. It doesn't get better than that.

Here's the original CD Cover.

As The rain continues, on and off. I'm happy to be indoors and listening to these tunes.  Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - John McLaughlin, Stephane Grappelli with Larry Coryell and Philip Catherine

This Sunday Music Muse day has me visiting several favorite guitarists and a true legend of jazz violin with a French connection.  First up, John McLaughlin The Heart of Things - Live in Paris.  This is live date featuring the material and almost the same personal of the studio CD of the same name.  I have to admit it's not the most memorable of McLaughlin's recordings, but still worth a listen.

My second selection is Stephane Grappelli Young Django, a CD in tribute to Django Reinhardt, the legendary gypsy jazz guitarist that with Stephane Grappelli performed in the Quintette du Hot Club de France in the 1920s and 30s as the most influential band in history of  European jazz. Django's playing definitely inspired the two guitarists here, Larry Coryell and Philip Catherine, who "chose the tunes for this record...some of Django's and Stephane's most beautiful compositions." I remember seeing a vinyl record of this in a import section back in the 70's but it was too expensive for my poor starving artist budget at the time. It's nice to finally own.

Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Larry Coryell, Ron Affif

Today's Sunday Music Muse Day selections feature two  jazz guitarist leading groups through some great playing of Bebop and Post-Bebop tunes that will be familiar to anyone who follows jazz.  First up, Larry Coryell Shining Hour, a session by the late guitartist recorded in 1989.  Best known as a pioneering jazz fusion player, this CD highlights his deep straight head jazz chops.

 

Next is Ron Afffif Vield Blues, has second release as a leader recorded in 1994.  Again, this session is full of tunes that will bring a smile to any  jazz lover's face. I admit I've only came upon Ron Affif by chance in the last few years, but I've enjoy every CD I've found. I'll keep my eye out for more.

So, what better way to spend a winter afternoon or evening than to enjoy some swinging jazz guitar music.  Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Larry Coryell, Ketil Bjornstad, David Darling

On this Sunday Music Muse Day we're having a chilly, but sunny day. There are still patches of snow to be found, but not enough to stop a walk around Cobb Hill Reservoir.   I started day with a quiet selection Ketil Bjornstad and David Darling The River.  This 1997 ECM release is meditative duet recording with Bjornstad on piano and Darling on cello.  David Darling passed away on January 8. 2021.  He had make 15 recording on ECM, as a leader and sideman.  I picked up this CD on the strength of ECM's reputation for interesting music as I never hear Bjornstad's music.  I figured how wrong can you go with piano and cello.  I have a vinyl album Eos with Terje Rypdal, guitarist, in duet with David Darling which ranges from avant garde, sonic noise, to mediative wails and moans. (I'll have to pull that out and give it another listen).  If you like classical music The River might be a good intro to the ECM style of European jazz.  Well worth a listen.  I plan to search out the other selections in the "Further Recording" liner note page.

My second selection is Larry Coryell Bolero.  This is a 1993 duet outing with Brian Keane and Coryell playing acoustic and electric guitar.  Although best known for his pioneering jazz fusion work with groups like his own Eleventh House, I actually prefer his later work in a guitar duets and trios mainly on acoustic guitar, which this is one.  His love for classic music shows through strongly on this CD, starting with the first cut Improvisation on "Bolero", the famous Ravel's Bolero. This is a fine addition to my Coryell music collection.

So. stay warm, stay safe, stay health and wear a mask.  Even as the number of friends and family getting vaccinations increases we're still not out of the wood yet. Take care. 

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 - Father's Day Edition - The Guitar Trio - John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Paco De Lucia, Warped Sky - Stray Clouds

Happy Father's Day to all dad of all kind, shapes, and sizing.  All the best, on this Sunday Music Muse Day.  My buddy Rodney Mean shared a concert video of a version of the super charged acoustic Guitar Trio of John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, and Paco DeLucia from 1979.  I inspired me to pulled a two albums with Al Di Meola, which I think was the original lineup and the on that recorded and toured in the U.S.  :The Friday Night In San Francisco - Live, (1981) and Passion Grace & Fire.  and later The Guitar Trio CD (1996) I remember attending a NYC concert with McLaughlin, Di Meola, and De Lucia, probably about the late 70s. The blazing speed and shear barrage of notes never seem to diminish the high quality of the music.

Keeping with theme of Father's Day, here's a song about children. (Actually another (embarrassing) attempt to clear the backlog of undeveloped and unfinished music ideas.) "Flowers" is an original tune written by friend Peter Grosett back in 1982. Peter and I met at the Guitar Center in NYC, where we were taking lessons and started practicing. Peter was pursuing a career in Jazz guitar, and I was just trying to justify having a guitar. He was always a more accomplished player than I, but somehow we clicked and we liked playing together. We even did a couple of pay-for-tips gigs a East Village cafe, La Figero, and at an uptown venue. One of the joys of playing with Peter was his sharing his original tunes. "Flower; was actually performed in public, vocals and all. (There is reel-to-reel of it I need to transfer before it rots) 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, "Flowers". I hope it give a hints of the good song Peter wrote. This backing track was 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 admit the version came out more "smooth jazz" than I would like, and BIAB sound can be clunky and rough, but thats Jazz.

Peter and I are still in touch and his creative paths has turned to photography. I'm glad I was able to incorporate one of photo in this video. I hope my Peter like it as a tribute to his all around creative spirit. old and new. Enjoy

Sunday Music Muse Day Larry Coryell, Johb Abercrombie, Badi Assad, and Pat Metheny.

This post-Thanksgiving Sunday Music Muse Day finds me recovering from overeating at the family holiday dinner. All the leftovers are gone, thanks to college kids home for the holidays.  But the four days off from work allowed a lot time for music.  First up, Larry Coryell, Badi Assad and John Abercrombie Three Guitars. This is a wonderful CD featuring two late great guitarists, Coryell and Abercrombie, teaming with a rising young Brazilian Badi Assad, a guitarist/composer/singer/flutist/body-percussionist (not sure what that is) recorded in 2002.  Although Coryell had met Assad during a concert in Miami, this acoustic guitar set was their first recording together, and John Abercrombie's. In the liner notes Abercrombie remarked his first thought when asked to do join the session was he had to practice on acoustic guitar since he hadn't touch one in three years.  Each artist contributed compositions to the session.  It's nice to hear pieces of Abercrombie's (I'm more familiar with) in this new context. His practicing was well worth it. 

My second selection is another favorite guitar/musician who thankfully is still with us, Pat Metheny Orchestrion is a concept CD of music basically in the tradition of player pianos and larger instrument arrays in the late 1800s and 1900s called orchestrions, but taken to the extreme.   This a studio session of music Metheny did as part of film/live performance project.  It an interesting to note the music hold up without the visuals. Pat Metheny's talent as a composer comes is highlighted in every tune.

Here is the cover of first project, The Orchestrion Project

All those CDs are worth seeking out. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Enjoy.