Sunday Music Muse Day - Lionel Loueke , Paul Silbergleit

This day's Sunday Music Muse Day has me basking in the glow of a happy  event coming this week, a online reunion with friend and family from the youth.  I'll relate details later.  First selection is Lionel Loueke, Close Your Ryes.  It a trio session to Loueke on guitar and vocal, Reuben Rogers on acoustic bass, and Eric Harland on drums. Interestingly, the playlist has several well known tunes from Wayne Short, Miles Davis and John Coltrane, but not any originals by any of the band members.  That's a minor disappointment for me, still is a good CD, as the trio offers good takes on classics.

Next, we have Paul Silbergleit, January.  Generally, I just bought this on the picture of him holding a jazz guitar, although checking  my CD list I do have an earlier CD of his.  Reading the liner notes it seem he is part of the local jazz scene in Milwaukee ILL.  It made me think of guitarist  Bob Sneider and our local jazz scene, proving good music can be found outside major cities like New York and Los Angeles.  Silbergleit strong set of straight ahead jazz originals would fit nicely in the Rochester Jazz Festival line up.

So, I hope everyone can find a way to stay safe, cool, sane, in these still chaotic time. The right music well help, enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Oran Etkin, Marius Neset, and Lionel Loueke

This Sunday Music Muse Day has me featuring two young band leaders that are new to me, but shared a sideman in common, guitarist Lionel Loueke.  First, Oran Etkin kelenia, an Israeli musician who's group sound "developed over the course of a decade ...working with various African musicians in the US and in Mali'.." (from the liner notes). The core quartet is Etkin on tenor sax, clarinet, and bass clarinet, Balla Kouyate on balafon (West African gourd-resonated xylophone), Makane Kouyate, on calabash (large gourd), and Joe Sanders on bass. The CD also features musician guests, including Lionel Loueke on various tracks and plays various African instruments and a cello and violin.  Another incentive to try this CD was the label mentioning it was heard on "PRI's Afropop Worldwide" radio program, which alway a favorite of mine for modern African pop music not normally heard the on radio. Thus CD is definitely worth a listen on that point alone.

Next up, with a Lionel Loueke connection, is Marius Neset Circle of Chimes, a eight piece group lead by the Norwegian saxophonist and recorded on January 2016 in Copenhagen. Again, this group I may not have picked up on except for guitarist Loueke.  I'm glad I did it has some interesting ensemble music all composed and arranged by Marius Neset.  It's nice to step outside my usual tastes and try something new.

I'll be giving bot of these CD plenty of listening. 

Sunday Music Muse Day - Gilfema with Lionel Loueke, Santana

On the beautiful, sunny, Sunday Music Muse Day, I've enjoyed a nice bike ride with Lisa to visit my inlaws, followed by a simple lunch at back yard picnic table.  So, that leaves time to enjoy some new tunes, and old in new packaging. First up, is Gilfema, "The name of the group comes from the musicians' names: Gil (Lionel Gilles Loueke), fe (Ferenc), ma (Massimo). They met at Berklee College of Music, coming from different backgrounds: Loueke from West Africa, Nemeth from Hungary, and Biolcati, an Italian born in Sweden." - Wikipedia.  I picked this up mainly for my interest in Lionel Loueke, the guitarist.  This 2005 release, it seems,  is just one of many I failed to come across before.  I do have several Loueke CDs, and listening to this one makes me more eager to seek out more. I love his infusion of his African roots in his playing and vocalizing. I'll have to break out of my bargain bin shopping habit and pay full price to catch up.

My next selection was a good used purchased, as I'm a sucker for the cool packaging of CD sets. Santana Dance of the Rainbow Serpent is a three CD anthology of Carlos Santana long and storied career. Since I just sold all my vinyl albums including the Santana's, this will be a nice substitute. It's curious there are no tunes  from Borboletta, my favorite album, especially the song Promise of the Fisherman, but luckily I have that CD.

All in all, a nice way to spend the rest of the day. Enjoy your's.

Sunday Music Muse Day - John Stein, Kenny Werner Lionel Loueke

This Super Bowl Sunday edition of my Sunday Music Muse Day finds me skipping all the pre-game hype and enjoying the following tunes. First up, is a follow up one last's week selection with John Stein and Dave Zinno Wood and Strings. After enjoying my first intro to John Stein's music with his Color Tones CD, I picked up this one.  Wood and Strings is mellow guitar and bass outing squarely in the tradition and feel of legendary performances of Jim Hall (guitarist) and Ron Carter (bassist) as compared to in the liner notes by John Thomas, Field Editor of Fretboard Journal, a high end, high quality magazine for string instrument players. That very great compliment and worth earned with this CD.

 Next up is a CD titled Coalition with Kenny Werner pianist-composer (noted in online reviews as nominally the leader), Lionel Loueke, guitar, bass, and vocals, Miguel Zenon, alto saxophone, Benjamin Koppel, saxophones, ans Ferenc Nemeth, drums.  Online reviewers praise the music for its international flavor. I picked this up due to guitarist  Lionel Loueke, as he was the only musician on the project I knew,  I've given it several listens and it doesn't quite jell for me, and I really can't put my finger on why not.  The over all feel is too choppy in a way.  That's the best I can describe for now.  But, I haven't given up on it totally.  Some times to let music grow on you.

So, as kickoff nears, lets hope for good game. no blow out by half-time. (Sorry, not picking a winner) I usually mute the half-game show, since they rarely have a good a jazz act (just kidding).  Enjoy the game.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Morrie Loudon, David Friesen, Herbie Hancock

Time for another Sunday Music Muse Day.  These weeks are flying by, ummer is almost over and fall is just around the bend.  Whatever the season, it's always a good time to share good music.  Two of my picks this week are leaps of faith, sort of. The first, is Morrie Louden Time Piece, which I picked up because it has guitarist Lionel Loueke, who's CD I picked up recently, and the drummer Adam Nussbaum, who I know from his work with guitarist John Scofield, on it.  Those were the only names I recognized among the large players list. Time Piece (as I researched) is Louden's debut album released in 2007 and it gets 3/4 stars on All About Jazz website.  I have to agree with the reviewer, "Time Piece turns out be a delightful mix of material, showing his writing skills as well as his chops on the acoustic bass."  I'm enjoying it, and especially like the title tune.  I'll have to look for more of his CDs.

Another small leap of faith is next selection of David Friesen, Airto Moreira, and Gary Barone  Anicent Kings.  Just a small leap, because I have albums of bassist David Friesen in duets with guitarist John Stowell, from back int he 1970's.  I just haven't come across his music lately.  The same could be said for master percussionist Airto Moreira, who played with so many legendary artists and group including Miles Davis (Bitches Brew era), Weather Report (first album), Return to Forever (first two album) and countless other.  Jazztimes said, "The album, recorded in 1994, makes its point eloquently without shouting...and the echoes of this session occasionally suggests a distilled Bitches Brew. Minor keys dominate."  There is one cut, Rooftops, that I heard echos of Jimi Hendrix' Third Stone from Sun, It well worth a listen.

My last selection is more of a no-brainer, Herbie Hancock The New Standard.  It would be hard to pass up a Herbie CD with the talented players on the session, Micheal Brecker, saxophones, John Scofield, guitars, Dave Holland, bass, Jack DeJohnette, drums, and Don Alias, percussion.  Most of these guys have lead their own groups in addition to having played together on other various projects over the length of their careers.   A nice addition to my music stash.

This is my first weekend as a empty nester, so it's nice to have good music to help fill the void.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Duke Ellington, Stanley Clarke Band,Ochion Jwell Quartet, and Bill Frisell

Here's my Sunday Music Muse Day, delayed 24 hours by football games and Downton Abby. My first selection is one should have posted last week to commemorate my late father's  birthday,  Duke Ellington Piano in the Foreground, with, my father, Sam Woodyard on drums.  I almost passed on buying this CD, since I already had a copy, but checking  the song list I saw it was a remastered collection with 7 bonus tracks.  That made it well worth buying.  I really enjoy the small group setting of Dukes. Plus, the cover is a favorite of mine, because Sam is on it.

Next, is the Stanley Clark Band which find the Jazz Fusion pioneer fronting a band of young talented players, including the popular pianist, Hiromi.  Stanley playing sound as fresh and daring as the early outings with Return to Forever, and his solo efforts.

My next selection is one of those leaps of faith.  Ochion Jewell Quartet, Volk, is group and CD I knew nothing of, but two cuts features the Lionel Loueke, a guitarist I recently started following,  So, I picked up the CD, and I can say I enjoyed. It's a very contemporary sound, with a leaning toward avant garde, but still accessible.  I'll keep my eye out for other releases from this group.

My last selection is head scratcher. Richter 858, Music by Bill Frisell, is a very abstract, experimental, project by the amazingly adventurous guitarist Bill Frisell with a string trio. The music is explorations inspired by the 8 abstract paintings by artist Gerhard Richter.   I admired the effort, but I don't know if can warm up to this CD.  Maybe someone into new modern Classical music that borders on avant garde will find this more interesting than I did.  That said I still will pick up a Bill Frisell CD, just because it's always a surprise.

That's week post.  Hopefully I'll get back on the track on next Sunday.  Enjoy.