Sunday Music Muse Day.

 I'm back after a two break from posting a Sunday Music Muse Day item, so not to compete with the CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival. Lisa and & I were part of it as street team volunteers for the Jazz 90.1 radio station booth.  My first selection for today's post was a feature act, Pat Metheny Dream Box.  I didn't get to see his performance this year.  This release is a solo effort of basic private recording idea between and during gig dates. I've included his inner notes. It's a nice intimate look into his creative process. Check them out.

My second selection was a pleasant surprise. The Charlie Byrd Trio I've Got the World on a String.  This is a remastered reissue of a session recorded and released in 1994, with Joe Byrd on bass, Chuck Redd on Drums, and Charlie Byrd on guitar and vocals.  Vocals? That surprised me because of all the CDs I have of legendary guitarist, I don't recall him singing.  Lisa commented that she immediately liked his singing.  Like I said, a pleasant surprise.

So, I hope everyone is enjoying our ever-changing summer weather.  Enjoy

Sunday Music Muse Day - Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell

This Sunday Music Muse Day, first day of Daylight Saving Time,  finds us returning to winter after it hit 70 degrees a few days ago here in upstate NY. This morning started with snow flurries, which soon melted away and the skies are clearing.  Still, it's a great day to chill out and listen to some good tunes. First up is Pat Metheny Road to the Sun. This is a new release showcasing Metheny the "composer" as opposed to the "guitarist".  There are two multi-part suites and a solo track that Pat Metheny plays on.  The first suite Four Paths of Light is a four movements for solo guitar was composed by Pat Metheny to be performed by classical guitarist Jason Vieaux, a 2015 Grammy award winner for Best Classical Instrumental Solo.  Vieaux begin his musical training in Buffalo, NY, which makes him sort of a local talent. The second suite, Road to The Sun is a six movement composition performed by the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. The last tune is written by Arvo Pärt titled “Für Alina and performed by Metheny on his insane 42-string guitar.  This CD might confuse fan of high energy Jazz-fusion, but I really enjoy this excursion into more classical "guitar fusion".

I break into a sweat changing six-strings, so I'd have a nervous breakdown changing and tuning this 42 string instrument.

My second selection is Bill Frisell Is That You, a 1990 release that finds the eclectic guitarist ripping through a range of styles from soft down home Americana to near avant-garde electric fusion, and a wild version Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools".   Bill Frisell CDs alway surprise and entertain on so many levels.

I'm enjoying these tune knowing tomorrow morning will be hell getting up for the first workday after  the time change.  Stay safe, stay healthy, get a vaccine shot as soon as you can, and still wear a mask.
 

Sunday Music Muse Day - John Sneider, Pat Metheny

This will be a fun Sunday Music Muse Day post featuring two new releases.  First up,  John Sneider The Scrapper. The talent trumpet player with a long list of credits from his extensive experience in the New York jazz scene, and brother of guitarist and local hero Bob Sneider.  The title tune, "The Scrapper", John's nickname, kicks off this swinging set in blazing fashion.  I'm totally enjoying this and recommend it whole heartedly.  I got to see John play with Bob at New Year Eve gig at the Little Theatre Cafe several years back, where I got to meet his 20 year son Ben, who is on a tune, he wrote, on the CD.  Fruit doesn't fall far from this talented family tree.  I hope John brings his group to Rochester someday.  Until then, I 'll have to keep spinning this CD. (This CD cover is going become a jazz classic)

Next up is the latest by Pat Metheny From this Place.  It another fine example of his excellent guitar playing and his strong composing.  This session feature intimate small group interplay and full blown orchestral arrangement.  I was really struck by the crispness of the drums on this CD.  The artistry of Pat Metheny never ceases to amaze me.  I also highly recommend this.

What is left to say but, find yourself some music, and enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Pat Metheny, Quartet with Joe Locke

Having a pleasant, warm day as Fall officially arrives.  What better way to celebrate than with some good music. First up is Pat Metheny One Quiet Night.  This is a solo effort with Pat playing and exploring a single guitar, a baritone guitar.  He states in the liner notes,"...this (recording session) started and ended with just a single guitar and a mic.  This record is about essentially one sound, basically one mood, and taking the to go deep inside a single world."  That sums it up nicely.  This is intimate record, like ease dropping on a private conversation Metheny is having with himself.  I was glad he let us share the moment.

A nice compliment to the first selection is Quartet Live at the Deer Head Inn, featuring vibraphonist Joe Locke, a local musician I know from recordings with Bob Sneider.   This enjoyable live set  that the group stretches out on each of the five tunes, from 10-15 minutes each.  This is the second CD of Record for Deer Head Inn noted as "The oldest continuously running jazz club in the country", and it's still going strong.  If I'm ever in Delaware Water Gap, PA, I'll have to drop in there for a set.

Autumn Equinox has arrived and with it shorter day and longer nights.  Still, there will be good opportunities to listen good music.  Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Pat Metheny, Michael Brecker

The Sunday Music Muse Day lands on Easter Sunday and Passover holidays. Much peace and love to all my friends, and their families, who celebrate these holidays.  As for me I'll enjoy some tunes after a long walk grocery shopping trip with Lisa.  First up, is Pat Metheny Unity Band, a some what straight forward, muscular, group than some of his groups.  The playing borders on Hard Bop (?). Of course, I could be totally wrong on that.

My next selection is bitter sweet one, Michael Brecker Pilgramage.  I've knew late saxophonist mostly from the days of The Brecker Brothers Band the jazz/funk fusion group in the 1970s,  he had with his brother, Randy, who played Trumpet and flugelhorn. Pilgramage is a straight ahead jazz outing with stellar group of sidemen, including Pat Metheny.  That said, the music didn't grab me.  I found it unfocused. Music reviews on online gives this 5 stars, so what do I know. I admit the fact that this was his last session before passing away five months later is very sad.

Again, here's wishing everyone a peaceful and loving Easter/Passover holiday. Enjoy

Sunday Music Muse Day - Gary Burton Quartet, Bill Evans & Jim Hall

This Sunday Music Muse Day, find us in the western region of upstate New York bracing for a forecast of dangerous high winds of 50 to 65 miles a hour.  There be a chance of rain with that, but the real concern is overturned trees and downed power lines, resulting in blackouts.  We're hoping for best.  To ease the tension I'm listening to Gary Burton Quartet Live, with Pat Metheny (guitar), Steve Swallow (bass), and Antonio Sanchez (drum).  This live set record in 2007, is sort of a reunion of the classic Gary Burton Quartet of the 1970s, with the exception of Sanchez.  Burton relate in the liner notes how he is amazed at guitarist since he tried learning guitar as a teenager, and "never could figure out ...all the different fingerings."  By contrast he said, "most guitar players don't play the vibes, but the exception to that would be Pat Metheny".  It seems Burton lent Metheny a vibraphone one summer, before he join the band, and with a few months he was playing better than Burton's students.  That's a cool story.  The CD has the quartet revisiting old tunes with a fresh approach from experiences learned on musical paths they travel since playing in the original group.  It would be nice to pull out the original group recording for comparison.  On a side note, the cover is by Peter Max the quintessential artist of the hippie movement of the late 1960s and early 70's.  I like the art, but the type design and placement makes this look like a kid's music CD.

To further ease the tensions and enjoy the clam before the storm, I put on Bill Evans & Jim Hall Intermodulation. This CD is a re-issue of the follow up 1966 LP to their classic 1962 duet session, Undercurrent.  I had the good fortune to have picked up Undercurrent in the past year, so this is a great compliment to it.

As I write this, winds are picking up. So wish us luck. 

Sunday Music Muse Day - Pat Metheny, Philippe Kahn with John Abercromie

This second Sunday Music Music Muse Day of the year, finds me enjoying warm tune on very cold winter day.  Pat Metheny Day Trip helps warms the day.  This is a trio outing with Christian McBride on bass, and Antonio Sanchez on drums, released on Nonsuch Records in 2008.  Consisting of all Metheny compositions it's a solid CD, but I admit none of the tunes really stand out, except the tune the Red One which I remember from a John Scofield and Pat Metheny LP, I Can See Your House From Here. That said, I'm sure the music will grow on me.  The cover art paintings by Josh George, is very worth checking out.

My next selection is one of those picked up for the side musicians rather than the leader, flutist  Philippe Kuhn Walkin' on the Moon. This 1991 release on Pacific High Productions (indie label, I guess) features the late John Abercrombie on guitar, Peter Erskine on drums, Charlie Haden on bass, and several other name players.  It a pleasant enough CD, but again it not a stand out offings.  Reading the liner note the Kuhn heart seem to be in the right place. Again, I'll give this more listenings before giving up on it.

Winter is here, so try to warm and healthy.  Enjoy.