Sunday Music Muse Day - Rich Thompson, Rale Micic

Sorry, I missed last week's Sunday Music Muse Day post, the family celebration of September birthdays, fulled up the time.  Let's continue this week with The Trio United, RichThompson, Bill Grimes, and Bill Dobbins - One More Time. This s wonderful live record of three jazz musicians who are also jazz educators.  My friend drummer, Rich Thompson, and pianist Bill Dobbins, are both highly respected jazz instructors at the Eastman School of Music, in Rochester, while bassist, Bill Grimes was an instructor at the LSU School of Music. This talented trio dispels that disparaging quote by  “Those who can, do; those who can't, teach” from George Bernard's Shaw's 1903 play Man and Superman  implying that teaching is a role for people who failed to achieve their desired vocational goals.  These gentlemen obviously fill both roles very well. A plus, is that with the exception two of the 12 cuts, all the tunes are originals from trio members. I like hearing original compositions from group members.  This is well worth a listen.

My second selection is a guitarist I just discovered by chance last month, Rale Micic Only Love Will Stay.  Again, this how I build my music collection, with one chance listening leads to me buying more of a musician's work.   This session is just as enjoyable as his last.  I'll keep looking for more.

The weather has been wonderful and we got to attend some event of the annual Fringe Festival, here Rochester, NY, but I still have to catch up on my live music. Hope you do the same.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Bob Snieder with Steward Copeland & the RPO, Rich Thompson

This Sunday Music Muse Day has me celebrating the achievements of two of our local musician friends.  First, Lisa and I attend the concert by Steward Copeland, with Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, on his The Police Deranged for Orchestra Tour.  Friend, Bob Snieder, local premiere jazz guitarist, and instructor, played guitar as part of the core trio.  Copeland's take on the music of the Police was given an added twisted by his post-Police development as a TV and movie soundtrack composer It was great seeing Bob perform with Copeland, since the Police was one of my favorite modern pop/rock band. I think they were one of the last main stream rock bands I really followed. I was also a fan of the individual members solo career projects, especially Steward Copeland's The Rhythmatist album, which featured African musician Ray Lema.  I wished I could have gotten Bob Snieder to ask Steward why the album had two different covers, the first with African warriors, and the second with Copeland holding a field microphone boom. Just curious.  I hope this concert shows up on the Jazz at the Eastman radio show.  I would be great to heard it again. 

(Photos by Rob Man)

My second friend selection is Rich Thompson Who Do You Have to Know CD that was released on Friday.  I made sure to pick up a copy at The Bop Shop Record store. Owner Tom Kohn had some readily available. This is a solid outing by leader and drummer Rich, who I'd seen play many times which group Trio East, Generations.  In fact, he played a track from the CD on the last Generation gig I attended last month.  This group maybe the first I've seen Rich with a guitarist, and organist.  I like the classic jazz feel of the music.  Definitely a nice additional to my jazz collection.

It's really an honor to have these talent gentlemen as friends.  Their dedication and contributions to Rochester Jazz in their performing and teaching through Eastman School of Music is inspiring to so many. The least I can is support their music, without reservation.

SUnday Music Muse Day - Kim Richmond/Clay Jenkins, The Dave Brubeck Quartet

Another snowy Sunday Music Muse Day finds me warming up with these two selections.  First, Kim Richmond/Clay Jenkins Ensemble CrossWeave  With Kim Richmond on alto saxophone and Clay Jenkins on Trumpet, the ensemble includes Jeff Campbell on bass and Rich Thompson on drums. Jenkins, Campbell and Thompson later performed as Trio East, a favorite on the local Rocherst jazz scene. CrossWeave is a nice collection of originals by Richmond and Jenkins and several tunes by some jazz greats.

Next is a CD of previously unreleased tracks by The Dave Brubeck Quartet Buried Treasures,  This is a live set featuring Paul Desmond recorded in Mexico City in 1967.  It's alway worth giving this classic jazz group a listen. Included is the trademark tune "Take Five".

I need to take brief comfort in listening to music, but with the intense events playing out in the Ukraine, we can only hope the death and destruction is held to a minimum, and the state of Ukraine preveils over the Putin's unlawful invasion.  The world stands with Ukraine.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Rich Thompson

This Sunday Music Muse Day, as we're recovering from our first heavy snowfall and extreme cold weather, I was happy to find this gem in my brief CD shopping trip.  Definitely a case of quality over quantity,  Rich Thompson Eventually.  This was Rich first album recorded in 1988.  This CD has two cut not on the original vinyl release.Rich is one talent local musicians and music educators I've had the pleasure being friends with.  I'm having fun exploring this debut outing and comparing to his many follow ups.  This made my day brighter.

I'll be keeping my eye out for Rich's next local gig.  I'm aways interested it attend his live performances.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Rich Thompson, Charlie Byrd

Another great fall day for this Sunday Music Muse.  First up is Rich Thompson Less is More. Listening to this CD is my consolation prize for missing Rich's gig this past Friday at the Little Theatre Cafe.  Fridays are alway tough for me get energized to go out after getting home from work.  This session is a nice mixed of solid jazz tunes written by well known artists and a original from Rich and bassist Jeff Campbell.  I hope to catch Rich live soon.

My next selection is Charlie Byrd Byrd by the Sea, a CD of a classic set by the legendary guitar best known for his contributions to jazz Samba and Bossa Nova.  This CD contain the tunes from the original classic vinyl record, plus 7 bonus tracks  from the original live concert.  I believe there was a series of great artists that recorded at Howard Rumsey's Concert by the Sea, a famous jazz venue in Redondo Beach, CA.  I know when I've found a "keeper" when Lisa ask "who's that, and what kind of guitar is that?"  She liked the sound immediately. I'm happy to add it my our shared listening pleasure.

Hard to believe October is several days away.  Time to gather more good tunes like squirrels gathering nuts for the winter.  Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - John Nyerges, Gerry Mulligan Quartet

Again, this Sunday Music Muse Day finds us continuing our countdown to Holiday's big events.  Here's some good tunes counter the onslaught of holiday music.  First up is John Nyerges Jazz, Pictures and Poems.  I admit pianist Nyerges is new to me, but his sidemen on this 2007 session included  Rich Thompson (drums), Clay Jenkins (trumpet) and Jeff Campbell (bass) who make up the group Trio East, who I've featured many times before.  It's nice to hear them in solid support of Nyerges's originals.

Next up is an another Gerry Mulligan find, Gerry Mulligan with Chet Baker  Reunion.  This is an interesting collection of mono recorded tracks, and alternate takes, from the 1950s and 60's. You can't go wrong with Mulligan and Baker in any format.

Next week, we plan to get the Christmas tree, so I expect I'll post some holiday music favorites. Still enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, Triocity with Rich Thompson, Thelonious Monk

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds the starting weekend of the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival.  I hope to get to a few concerts and shows.  Unfortunately I'll miss my first selection performance tonight, Triocity I believe in You, with local drummer Rich Thompson.  I'll have to console myself with listening to this recent release, a solid set of post-bop playing.  I'll be sure to catch one of Rich's gig soon.

My second selection is a classic, Thelonius Monk Underground.  This CD is a nice reissue of the classic album with several added bonus track not on the original album.  The cover photo is amazing.  Listening  to Monk's music is always adventurous and intriguing experience. I'm sure a couple of Monk tunes will be played by some jazz artist during this week's festival.

 If you in the local area, do yourself a favor and get attend the Jazz Festival, many events are free. It looks Rochester at it;s best.  Lisa and I are Jazz 90.1 Street Team Volunteers and will be manning the booth during the last weekend. See you there.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Mike Melito Quintet, Rich Thompson Trio.

This Sunday Music Muse Day features two selections picked up the the South Wedge Record Fair, last weekend.  Both CDs are from local musicians, talented drummers, and educators, who keep the beat and the pulsing, swinging rhythm of jazz alive and well in Rochester.  (Also, who are friends I've seen perform often.)  First up, we count it off with Mike Melito Quintet The Next Step,  as the liner notes by C. Andrew Hovan, Jazz journalist, states about this 2004 session, "As a purveyor of the hard bop genre, he has been consistently deserving of wider recognition, mixing classy precision with a well-tuned drum sound and burnished cymbal accents". In short, Mike is hard swinging drummer.  I'm humbled that Mike considers my father, Sam Woodyard, who was a drummer for Duke Ellington, as a major inspiration.  There are times I can hear echoes of Sam's playing in Mike's, keeping the jazz tradition moving forward.  Thanks, Mike.

Secondly, we have Rich Thompson Trio Generations.  Rich is another local treasure. Ric Bang, of Jazz Scan, wrote, "This album is a mix of originals from Thompson and Brown, along with some great old jazz standards, I Hear a Rhapsody, Keep Me in Mind, and I Thought About You. The trio's version of that latter Jimmy Van Heusen tune is superb; you won't be able to keep your fingers or feet still".  Solid playing all around, on the standards, but to enjoy Rich including a tune, Keep Me in Mind, by John Scofield, a favorite guitarist of mine (as he does with his other group Trio East).  I'll be looking to catch Rich at another local venue soon.  Until I have this wonderful CD to enjoy.

As James Brown would said, this was a day to "give the drummer some".  They deserve every and all accolades.  Keep swinging gentlemen, I'll be there tapping my feet to music.

Easter Sunday Music Muse Day - Eastman Jazz Trio, Wayne Shorter.

On this quiet Easter Day, I have just two Sunday Music Muse Day selections.  First is the Eastman Jazz Trio "the question is...". For non-locals, "This recording presents performances by the Eastman Jazz trio, the in-house faculty rhythm section of the Eastman School of Music" , Harold Danko on piano, Rich Thompson on drums, and Jeff Campbell on bass, with guest Clay Jenkins on trumpet, a new member of the jazz faculty at the time, leading to the formation of the Eastman Jazz Quartet.  Besides being well-respected teachers, they each have a impressive resume of music experience in the jazz world. I'm continually amazed at quality and quantity the Eastman School of Music contribution to Rochester's musical culture.  I've had the pleasure of meeting several Eastman faculty members, like Rich Thompson, Bob Sneider, and Mike Melito, attending many of their live gigs.  Picking up another one of their CDs is always treat.

Next is jazz legend (and that's no overstatement) Wayne Shorter Alegria, a 4/5 star rated CD the one reviewer called, "-- at least to many critics who welcomed his return to highly cerebral acoustic post-bop".  This is very adventurous outing that will leave you excited at the twist and turn Shorter still presents in his music that begs for repeated listening. 

 So, if no one has said it, have a wonderful, peaceful, Happy Easter and Passover.