Sunday Music Muse Day - Esperanza Spalding, Brad Mehldau

After a little break in weekly Sunday Music Muse Day, here's two selections worth checking out. First, Esperanza Spalding Emily's D+Evolution. If you're tuned in to the buzz about Kate Bush's tune "Running Up that Hill", used in the Netflix series Stranger Things, you'll enjoy this unique outing by a young multi-talented musician.  She's best know as a highly awarded jazz bassist and college music instructor.  This could be a concept album and "Emily" a alter-ego.  In any case, It a very densely produced modern style. I find the vocal styling hard to follow without reading the lyrics, but that could be my old ears. My favorite tune is the tune " Unconditional Love (Alternate Version) with blistering guitar solo by Matthew Stevens.

Second, is Another CD that could seen as  concept album, Brad Mehldau Jacob's Ladder.  Again, Brad Mehldau best known as jazz pianist, the music on this CD draw heavily from progressive rock music of the 70s, ike Rush's "Tom Sawyet", Yes "Starship Trooper, to take a journey in a different music direction.

So,  both my selection are taking a several listening explore, but they're growing on me.

Sunday Music Muse day - Pat Martino, Matthew Stevens, Bob Wijnen, Anthon Wilson

Today's Sunday Music Muse Day falls on Super Bowl Sunday.  What better way to fill the time before the BIg Game, than to listen to good music.

First up is Pat Martino Formidable, the latest release from the jazz guitar legend.  His music is amazing as ever and totally inspiring when you consider the tragedy of his brain injury, resulting in him having to learn to guitar all over again.  I remarkable story, and man.

As side note, I just joined a Facebook group Play Jazz Guitar and they are featuring learning to play the tune Sunny, which Martino's version is well known to all jazz lover.

The next selection of young players fairly to me. Matthew Stevens Woodwork is a CD by a young guitarist I read about in an article on a jazz site and look him up on youtude.  The video was of two tunes on this CD, Ashes (one and two). I like the tunes and feel the live youtube version, which combines the two parts into one take is the better version Hopefully he'll release it on a future CD.

Next is Bob Wijnen NYC Unforeseen, a quartet by the young pianist, featuring Peter Bernstein on guitar, Dezron Douglas on Bass, and Billy Drummond on drums.  Bernstein and Drummond I've heard of, the other players are new to me.  But I like group, and it good to try new groups.

Last is Anthony Wilson Goat Hill Junket, a young guitarist fronting a large ensemble offering a nice energetic mix of jazz standard tunes and originals by Wilson.

All in all, a nice group of CDs for pre-game entertainment.  Enjoy.