Sunday Music Muse Day - Jim Hall & Ron Carter, Bill Frisell, Ron Carter, and Paul Motian

We had nice weather this Sunday Music Muse Day, made more enjoyable with a short to the Brighton Farmer's market to catch part of the jazz music set by friends, Bob Snieder and Mike Melito, with Jimmy Highsmith, a local saxophonist. We hadn't seen Bob and Mike in over year.  Lisa and I picked some lunch from food truck to take back home. At home, I played today's selections, a sort of double play with Ron Carter in common, while I worked on my Inktober drawing for today.  First up, Jim Hall and Ron Carter Duo Alone Together.  This is just a classic 1973 Milesstone Records released album that should be in any jazz lover's collection. I never owned the original vinyl record, but remember taking it out of the Lincoln Center Music Library in NYC. I'm not sure I appreicated the quiet beauty of it in my mid-twenty, my Jazz Fusion period.  I'm happy to enjoy it now, helped by listening to the music of Bob and Mike.

My next selction, Bill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul Motian, is trio session from 2006. Again, there is an enjoyable mix of what I call "Jazz Americana" in Bill Frisell music, that is just a pleasure to listen to and enjoy. The playing of veterans Ron Carter on bass, and Paul Motian on drums, make this a outstanding CD.

All in all a great day. 

Sunday Music Muse Day - Bill Frisell, Paul Motian with Bill Frisell

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds us enjoying a sunny day after several days of fairly heavy rainfall.  My two selections have two things in common, a musician, and being live recording.  First is Bill Frisell East/West, a 2-disc trio set with Viktor Krauss and Tony Scherr on bass,  and Kenny Wollesen on drums.  This set was recorded live at Yoshi's the famous jazz club in Oakland, CA, in May 8-11, 2004. This eclectic mix of tunes, from Motown, jazz standards, and folk tunes, are we come to expect from Frisell with his Neo-Americana  leanings. Frisell playings alway gives these tunes a freshness worth listening to.

My second, is The Paul Motian Trio - Sound of Love, with Bill Frisell, guitar, and Joe Lovano, tenor saxophone, joining the leader Motian, on drums, on this live date at the Village Vanguard, June 7-10, 1995.  The tunes selection includes classics from Thelonious Monk, Charlie Mingus and originals by Motian.  There is a real sense of intense intimacy in the group's playing. Well worth seeking out.

All in all, the weekend is ending on a positive note.  Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Paul Bley, Bill Brufold

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds me featuring two CD coming from different direction the jazz spectrum.  First up, Paul Bley, with Gary Peacock and Paul Motian Not Two, Not One. Pianist Paul Bley (November 10, 1932 - January 3, 2016) was well known as part of the Free Jazz movement of the 1960s.  This ECM 1999 release was reunion of the classic Paul Bley Trio, with Peacock on bass and Motian on drum. At the time, they hadn't performed as a trio in 35 years. On line reviews give this a 4 star.  It's a introspective but adventurous, and engaging session.

My second selection is Bill Bruford's EarthWorks A Part, and Yet Apart. Drummer Bill Bruford maybe best remembered as a member of progressive rock groups like Yes (a founding member), King Crimson, and his own group Bruford. He formed this jazz group Earthworks in 1986.  In 2009 Bruford retired from public performances, but operates two record labels.  Bruford playing does show his swinging jazz drumming on this CD.  It a nice sample from his varied career.

On a side note, one of my favorite CD is the Bill Bruford with Ralph Tower and Eddie Gomez, If Summer had its Ghost.  Well worth checking out.

There enough good music to get you through a fine spring day. Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - John Scofield, Chick Corea, Paul Motian

This Sunday Music Muse Day found us suffering the Daylight Saving Time change.  The old reminder saying "spring ahead, fall back" really means stumble around for few days as your body clock adjust to the time change.  I picked an appropriate selection to ease into the day, John Scofield Quiet.  This is a favorite Scofield CD  of mine, a little different from his usual sessions as he plays nylon string acoustic guitar throughout and the adds a full horn and woodwind section to accompany the basic quartet.  The tunes are thoughtful, adventurous, and slightly off-kilter, in a fun way. I love his nod to the library setting in the CD photos.

I continued the day with more mellow selections, both ECM Records releases. Pianist Chick Corea Trio Music Live Europe, with Miroslav Vitous on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums.  Vitous was founding member of Weather Report but left when they move into more electric fusion they become famous for. Haynes is legendary jazz drummer both as leader and sideman.

My final selection is drummer Paul Motian I Have the Room Above Her, with Bill Frisell on guitar and Joe Lovano on tenor saxophone.  Mellow but a little more angular than the other two, but still very enjoyable.

As much as I feel slight off the time change, I know getting up for work Monday morning will be worst. I'll definitely need more music to ease the pain.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Keith Jarrett, Vijay Iyer Trio

Today's Sunday Music Muse Day finds me spending time with two piano trios.  Keith Jarrett At the Deer Head Inn, with Gary Peacock on bass, and Paul Motian on drums. Not much you can say but that it's the top notch playing you'd expect from this these well-known players. It's a live recording, made in September, 16, 1992. Jarrett relates in the liner notes that Deer Head Inn, in Allentown, PA. was where he had his "first serious trio job on piano" thirty years early, and also a reunion playing with Paul Motian, who he hadn't play with for 16 years.  It goes to show that sometimes there a lot more behind a gig then just the music.

My next selection is Vijay Iyer Trio Accelerando, with Stephen Crump on bass, and Marcus Gilmore on drums.  This 2012  release by the young pianist was named jazz album of the year in 3 jazz critics polls.  Besides the 2013 MacArthur Fellowship Iyer has won a ton award and honors. His music is adventurous, engaging, and challenging for the listener.  Iyer states,"this ablum is in the lineage of American creative music based on dance rhythms."  I was draw to last tune on this CD, The Village of the Virgins" written by Duke Ellington for his ballet "The River".  I had saved version to my youtube music collection.  I'm glad to have the full CD.

Yesterday's morning snow melted quickly, hope it's the last of the season.  Everyone hoping for day of sunshine and good music.  So do I.  Enjoy.