Sunday Music Muse Day - Gene Bertoncini, Jame Blood Ulmer, Pierre Bensusan

This Sunday Music Muse Day find us in the northeast still recovering the effect of the smokey air caused  by the massive Canadian forest fire.  The effects of climate became a reality for everyone.  With a warning to stay in doors for many, it might have been a good time to settle in with some good music. This week I offer three different players from the spectrum of guitar music. First up Gene Bertoncini Quiet Now, a solo jazz guitar CD, featuring some classic jazz tunes from great jazz composers. This is one CD I'll be revisiting often.

Next is James Blood Ulmer, Memphis Blood - the Sun Sessions. This CD really intrigued me, since I know as an avant-garde jazz guitarist whose music can be challenging to most casual listeners.  Here he's going back to his blues roots with tunes by blues masters Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, and John Lee Hooker.  If you like raw down home blues, this is worth a listen. Vernon Reed,of the black rock group Living Color, joins him on guitar, and produced the session.

My third selection is a CD by Pierre Bensusan, simply titled "2". Bensusan is French acoustic guitarist/singer, whose music I was introduced to by my Paul Kovit back in NYC in the 80s.  I even attended a Bensusan club date in NYC., with Paul.  His music is definitely on the folk side of things, but he's an excellent guitar player. His vocals are all in French, so I can't give an opinion on the lyrics.

We're hoping for a little rain to help clear the air in the region. Keep your fingers crossed and keep listen to good music.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Vince Mendoza, Whirligig with Paul Kovit.

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds us preparing for Thanksgiving, which may prove to be more stressful and confusing in these day of rising covid-19 surge and post-election chaos. Lets use music to get us through these crazy days.  First selection is pulled from an artist featured in my November Jazz Birthday Celebration video, Vince Mendoza.  John Abercrombie Animato features Vince Mendoza as composer and on synthesizers, with Jon Christensen on Drums and percussion.  Mendoza composed six of the eights on this CD.  It's Mendoza's composing the caught my ear with tunes of his on some Peter Erskine trio sessions, especially the tune, Esperanca on the Peter Erskine As It Is CD.  The Abercrombie Animato CD is very subdued, like whispered elegance, and a floating musical mystery, perfect for a cloudy moody afternoon.

Here's version of of Esperanca played by other group, not as good as the Erskine version, but well done.

Esperança (Vince Mendoza) - Emilio Mendonça Trio

My second selection is a connected to my Paul Kovit & Audience of One video posts, which featured the solo recording of friend's playing I recorded on Sony Walkman back in the 1980's.  I shared the videos with Paul and he loved.  After years of being out of touch we caught up over  a Zoom meeting. He told of the group he was in, Whirligig. I admit England, Irish Traditional folk music is not something I'd seek out, but Paul introduced and give me better understanding of music of Richard Thompson and Fairport Convention.  He also introduced me the music French acoustic guitarist Pierre Bensusan (we attended a concert of his in NYC).  Paul sent me a CD of the group, Whirligig.  He played guitar, mandolin, vocals composed some tunes, and toured with them in the 90's.  Whirligig Spin will be a welcomed and treasured addition to my music collection. I hope I can encourage him to pick up the guitar again.

Happy Thanksgivings to all. Stay Safe, stay healthy, and wear a mask.