Sunday Music Muse Day (one day late) Trio of Doom, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Tony Williams, Jimmy Smith

Sunday's Music Muse Day post is a day late due to football playoffs, and a developing cold.  But, the music help me feel better.  The first two CDs were picked up in Toronto, Canada, during a lovely brief road trip with my wife.  These fusion jazz gems are connected in a way.  First up. Trio of Doom, the one time pairing of guitarist John McLaughlin, drummer Tony Williams, and bassist Jaco Pastorius recorded at the historic 1979 Havana Jam festival in Cuba. This CD contains all the material they record live, and in the studio shortly afterwards.  McLaughlin actually didn't want the material released at first because of poor recording of the live tracks, but 27 year later he relented, mainly in honor of his friends, Tony and Jaco, who had since passed away.  The music is rough and raw, but important considering stature of these musicians.

Next up. Mahavishnu Orchestra: The Lost Trident Sessions, which features John McLaughlin, again.  This CD is was supposed to the group's third album, but according to the liner notes, it was lost and forgotten due to internal strife of the band, as they split up soon after it was completed. I'm glad it be released.  Interesting, since it was to be an album, it only about 35 minutes long, as compared to today's longer music CD productions.

My next selection is also connect the Trio of Doom, with Tony Williams Angel Street CD.  I think I have the vinyl record of this but couldn't pass it up.  I think I appreciate Tony William's straight hard bop playing more now than when this was released on vinyl in 1988.

Finally, here's jazz organ legend, Jimmy Smith Prayer Meeting, with Stanley Turrentine on saxophone.  This is another reissue of a Blue Note Records session by Rudy Van Gelder.  I found myself picking up more jazz organ music in the past year.  Proving you're never too old learn to enjoy different sounds (I've always been very guitar-centric in my listening habits).

That's it for this week. But, I like to take a moment to remember, and honor, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr on this, his day.  We as a nation still have a long way to go to fore fill his dream, but I believe, together, "We shall over come".

 

Sunday Music Muse Day - John McLaughlin, Dino Saluzzi, and Turtle Island String Quartet

For today's Sunday Music Muse Day I liked to present a eclectic sampling of CDs starting with a true favorite artist of mine, John McLaughlin.  Instead of his usual high-powered fusion setting I picked a CD showing his vest talent in a different way with John McLaughlin Concerto for Guitar & Orchestra "The Mediterranean" with the London Symphony Orchestra, with MIchael Tilson Thomas conducting.  Plus, Duos for Guitar & Piano, with Katia Labeque on piano.  This is actually the second project Mclaughlin has performed with  Thomas and the London Symphony Orchestra, the first being John Mclaughlin Mahavishnu Orchestra Album "Apocalypse" back in 1974.  It was  performed with the second line-up of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, with Gayle Moran, keyboards and vocals, Jean Luc-Pont, electric violin and Baritone violin, Ralphe Armstrong, Bass guitar and vocals, Narada Michael Walden, drums, percussions and vocals, and of course, John Mclaughlin on guitar and vocal composer.

The second pick is "Rios" by Dion Saluzzi, Anthony Cox, and David Friedman.  I must admit this is one of those CD I picked mainly for the cover art.  I've heard Dino Saluzzi play on several projects with Al DiMeola, so it wasn't a total shot in the dark.  It's nice to heard different instruments exploring world music for change of pace.  The combination of bandoneon, marimba, vibraphone, and bass has a Old World favor, but is very hauntingly timeless in a way.

My third selection is perhaps straddles the Classical / New Age catagories.  The Turtle island String Quartet "Skylife" CD.  There are no strictly classical tunes on the CD, the two that were most known to me were "Senor Mouse" by Chick Corea, and "Crossroads", by famed bluesman Robert Johnson.  A tune most remember from Cream (Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, & Jack Bruce)  Wheels of Fire album. They have a full CD of Jimi Hendrix covers also, but I haven't picked that up yet.

Turtle Island String Quartet is worth checking out, as are this week's other picks.  Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Follow your Heart or Arjen's Bag - A triple Play

While doodling on my guitar Saturday I happened upon what sounded like the opening chords for John McLaughlin's composition Follow your Heart, one of my favorite McLaughlin tunes.   So I looked it up and there are at least three versions of note.   My first exposure to the tune was from his Mahavishu John McLaughlin My Goals Beyond album.

  I remember taking it out from the Lincoln Center Music Library, in New York City.   That was a great way to preview new music for a poor struggling artist, at the time.  I later bought my own copy.  

The second version was on his debut album Extrapolation, but the tune is titled Arjen's Bag.

This I think is the original version record in 1969 although it wasn't released in the U.S. until 1972 after John success with Mahavishnu Orchestra.  This predates the My Goals Beyond which was released in 1971.

  The third version in the triple play is on the Joe Farrell Song of the Wind album on the CTI label.

  This session features Chick Corea, Jack Dejohnette, and Dave Holland, and of course John McLaughlin.  That is a heavy group.  I don't own the album, but think it was one I also took out from the library.  That said, it's one that I need to add to my must buy list.