Sunday Music Muse Day - John Scofield, Ralph Tower with Wolfgang Muthspiel and Slava Grigoryan

This post-Halloween Sunday Music Muse Day finds me enjoying two of my favorite guitarists who both record for ECM Records.  First, a new release by John Scofield Uncle John's Band.  Obviously, the title is a play on his name and a nod to the Jerry Garcia tune on the CD.  The late Jerry Garcia was a guitarist and leader of the Grateful Dead, the legendary Rock band. Being about the same age, I get his musical references when he includes versions of a Bob Dylan (Mr. Tambourine Man), Neil Young (Old Man) and Jerry Garcia tune (Uncle John's Band). Those were definitely songs of my youth, too. I'm liking this 2 CD trio session much more than the disappointing  solo CD released last year. I think has returned to his musical comfort zone.

Next, is a 2013 ECM by Ralph Towner, Wolfgang Muthspiel, and Slava Grigoryan  Travel Guide.  This is a guitar trio session of quiet, gentle, music. Perfect for those introspect moments, or listening while curled up with a good book.  I'm a long time fan of Ralph Towner, but fairly new to Muthspiel, only seeing he mentioned on posts in a ECM FB group.  Grigoryan is totally new to me. But, now I'll keep an eye out for their other works as sideman, or leaders.  That's how I've always discovered new music.

In these chaotic times, please take time to take care of yourself, may music be a part of that.  

Sunday Music Muse Day - Jim Hall, Gary Peacock & Ralph Towner

We're having a period of rainy days starting today, my Sunday Music Muse Day, and continuing for most of the week.  I won't complain too much as my selections are perfect for this weather.  First up, Jim Hall Leader & Sideman - Three Classic Albums Plus. It's a two CD set featuring re-issue of three Jim Hall Trio albums and a Paul Desmond album with Hall as a sideman. These are a nice 50's era recording featuring guitarist, Hall, playing some tasty licks, leading solid groups.  Hall's playing with legendary alto-saxophone player Paul Desmond of the Dave Brubeck Quartet fame, before heading out on his own, is an added plus.

My second selection, keeps the mellow mood going, the duet of Gary Peacock and Ralph Towner Oracle CD.  This ECM recording is as excellent as you've come to expect from the label.  Towner switches between classical and 12-string guitars. Towner maybe the first to come to my mind, and finest 12-string player alive.  There will always room in my collection for another Ralph Towner CD. Gary Peacock is an excellent bassist, who appeared on many ECM recording as leader and sideman.

For my local friends, stay dry, and keep you spirits up with some good music. Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Mike Melito, Ralph Towner

This sunny Sunday Music Muse Day, I'm happy to share two new releases I've been looking to. First, from friend Mike Melito To Swing is the Thing. The title says it all.  This is a swinging set by one of the hardest swinging jazz drummer you'll ever hear. Mike is a fan of my father's drumming, and I've told him after hearing him play many times, I can hear Sam's legacy in his drumming. Keep swinging, Mike. (P.S. Tom Cohn at the Bop Shop Records store, I bought the last copy of your CD, so he'll need more.)

Next is the new release by Ralph Towner At First Light.  This is a solo guitar recording on ECM.  Towner remarks in the liner notes how he met ECM founder Manfred Eicher in 1970, "...and to have done my first recording for ECM in 1972.  It is a rarity for an artist to remain with the same recording company for an entire career, and I am grateful to be one of them".  I'm truly grateful I discovered ECM and Ralph Towner in the 70's, also. Ralph is now 83 and still performing, and touring. Towner's playing and music has always been a favorite of mine. His playing was sort of a bridge between classic guitar and jazz for me. The ECM recordings were always had the feel to them. This is another wonderful addition to the Towner/ECM legacy.

It's Easter Sunday, and Passover, so to all who observe, I wish you peace, love, and joy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - David Grisman Quartet, Oregon with Ralph Towner

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds that winter has took a holiday, it's still the first week in March and it's 74º, sunny, but with extremely high winds.  Lisa and I started to take walk and changed our mind because so much stuff was being blown around.  So, instead I listen to these two selections, both outside of my jazz comfort zone.  First up, David Grisman Quartet Dawgwood. I have other CDs by mandolinist  Grisman and his drummerless acoutic groups.  His music is hard to catagorize, I think of it as Americana blend of folk, swing, and jazz.  Grisman just calls it "Dawg Music". Just dawg on good foot tapping music.  Worth a listen.

My second selection is Oregon 45th Parallell, with Ralph Towner on 12 string and classical quitars, piano nand syntheszers,  Trilok Gurtu on percussion, Glen Moore on bass, and Paul McCandless on saxopne and windwoods.  Oregon is another group that is not easy to catagorize.  As a instrumental group the music you could think of them as playing world folk-fusion.  Three of the members, Towner, Moore and McCandless have their roots from the Paul Winter Consort of the 70's, and all have established solid solo careers, which is testiment to musicanship. Oregon over the years his had several changing line ups, but the music remains fresh and enjoyable.

Hopefully the wind will die down and we can enjoy a litte of the warmth of the day, before forecast of snow, again, in day or two. Enjoy

Sunday Music Muse Day - Julia Hulsmann Trio, Ralph Towner

Today's Sunday Music Muse day selections are from ECM records were the perfect to counter the dark gloomy skies of the weather.  Julia Hulsmann Trio The End of a Summer is nice introspective session well worth a listen.  This pianist's music was new to me.  I just picked up this CD on the strength of ECM's reputation. I'm glad I did.

My next is an old favorite I had on vinyl for a long time, but since I sold all my vinyl records this week I didn't mind buying this as a replacement.  Ralph Towner Solo Concert has several favorite tunes, his rendition of John Abercrombie's Ralph's Piano Waltz and Timeless, and Miles Davis' Nardis. You can't go wrong in seeking out this music in any format.

Happily, the sun actually came out late afternoon, in time for a nice walk around the neighborhood. This evening will still be a good time to give these two CD another listen.

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 - Ralph Towner, Mark Isham

 This Sunday Music Muse Day find us getting a our first real touch of winter. Friday saw a light blanket of snow covering the lawn, although it didn't last long, Saturday was cold cloudy and gloomy.  Sunday start overcast and grey, gave way to scattered clouds and patches of blue sk, but still chilly.  I tried pick some music to reflect the weather, introspective and sober,  First up is Ralph Towner Batik. This a favorite Towner album of mine, released in 1978.  In considering selling my record collection I bought a new CD of it.  I admit I like the original album cover, front and back, more than the updated CD package.  At least the music is as great as I remembered.  It a trio set with Towner on 12-string and classical guitars, and piano (which was actually his first instrument),  Eddie Gomez on bass, and the amazing Jack DeJohnette on drums. I know this was one of the records that hooked me on ECM records. If you don't own I highly recommend it.

Here's the vinyl album cover front and back.  The hand lettering give it more character.

My second selection is Mark Isham Blue Sun, a trumpeter with a extensive and varied discography ranging from rock, pop, and jazz, and to children's Rabbit Ears Storytime Classics.  I first came to know him as New Age artist with his first album Vapor Drawings on Windham Hill records label.  Lisa, my wife, even got permission from him to use one of his tune for a animation short she did in the '80s.  Blue Sun is pleasant CD with some nice laid back tunes and upbeat selections to round it out as soundtrack for a gloomy winter day.

Here's his Vapor Drawings album on the Windham Hill record label, know for acoustic New Age music.

Hope everyone finds tunes to help through these chaotic time as we move toward the winter holidays.  Stay safe, stay healthy, wear a mask.