Sunday Music Muse Day - Astro Project, Pat Martino.

This Sunday Music Muse Day find Rochester, pleasant warm and sunny day, not boiling as my friend on the West Coast.  Having lived in LA,  I feel for them.  I'm enjoying the weather with two good musical selections.  First is Astral Project Elevado, a modern jazzy group that I was attraction the 7-electric guitar playing of Steve Masakowski.  I have several releases by the group, and is a nice set of original tunes members of the group. I hope to hear more.

Next, is the late, great jazz guitarist, Pat Martino Desperado.  This 1970 session was Martino's fifth release as a leader.  Most striking thing to me, is he's playing electronic 12-string guitar.  Pnly two other jazz players come to mind for using a 12-string and that John McLaughlin with the 12-string being on his famous double-neck guitar he used with Mahavishu Orchestra, and the other is Ralph Towner, although I think his was an acoustic 12-string with maybe an internal pickup. This definitely has a raw, early jazz fusion sound, like early Larry Coryell on his "Barefoot Boy" album.  It's great to listen to this for it's jazz guitar historical context.  It's always nice to find a gem like this that fills a gap in my Pat Martino collection.

So, if you're in the areas experiencing the blazing heat, stay cool, hydrated, and safe.   

Sunday Music Muse Day - Astral Project, Dominic Miller

For this Sunday Music Muse Day, I have an addition to a group I have in my collection already, and a follow up to one of last week's entries. First up, Astral Project The legend of Cowboy Bill, with 7-string guitarist Steve Masakowski. This is a 2003 release, that follow their 1999 VooDooBop  CD.  Sandwiched between is Steve Masakowski 2000 solo CD, For Joe, in tribute to Joe Pass.  Cowboy Bill is a fine outing by a group I'd like to live, if they're still playing. Definitely worth a listen. 

Next is a followup with two CDs by Dominic Miller. First, Dominic Miller Vagabond, an 2023 ECM  release I passed on, and bought his Second Nature CD, instead. The second is Dominic Miller Shapes, a 2003 Decca release, that features many classic tunes and a version of String's Shape of My Heart, with String on vocals, and actually based on a musical riff by Millar.  So, they share song credit and probably a ton of royalties.  Of the two CDs,   I prefer the ECM, as it seems less commercial in the material. That said, Shapes is nice to listen to on a quiet afternoon, or evening.  

Feel free to check these artists on youtube at your leisure.  I still like buying CDs, as you can see enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Paul Hofman with Mike Melito, Steve Masakowski

This Sunday Music Muse Day find me just returning from a trip to Portland, Maine for a little R&R (rest and relaxation).  I had hoped to scope out some CD/records stores in the area but only managed to visit one that didn't yield any great finds.  So, a visit to one of my local favorite shops, Record Archives, proved more productive. First up is local talent Paul Hofman Topsy Turvy, with my friend Mike Melito on drums. Hofman actually states this 1999 release "Topsy Turvy is on several levels an extension of Mike's My Conception (1997). The studio is the same, the rhythm section is identical, and Grant Stewart (tenor saxophone) returns to play on a few tracks".  It will be nice to play both CDs back to back. Topsy Turvy offer a nice showcase of Hofman's talent in separate settings of solo piano, duets (piano-drums, and piano-bass), trio (piano-bass-drums), and quartet (tenor saxophone-piano-bass-drums).  Fans of Bop and Hard-Bop jazz will find plenty to like in the CD.

Just for reference, here's Mike's 1997 CD.

Next up is Steve Masakowski (for Joe) is inspired by, and dedicated to, legendary jazz guitarist Joe Pass.  Masakowski plays the 7-string electric guitar and relates how his hearing the record "For Django" by Joe Pass "would have a humbling seemingly life-altering effect" on him as a young know-it- all guitar student. This very tasty CD shows he learned his lesson well. I think Joe Pass would be honored and proud at the result.

These selections will make for a pleasant afternoon of jazz listening. 

Sunday Music Muse Day - John Abercrombie, Marc Copland and Kenny Wheeler, Trio East, Astral Project.

This week's Sunday Music Muse Day selections finds me picking up three CDs, one featuring  an old favorite player, a group with a guitarist recently featured in a post, and a nod to a local musician I met over the holidays.  First up is a CD titled That's for Sure,  featuring guitarist John Abercrombie, a favorite of mine for many years.  Here, he's playing in a trio setting with leader Marc Copland on piano and Kenny Wheeler on trumpet and Flugelhorn.  This music has the earmarks of a ECM recording, but it was released by Challenge Records, and actually Abercrombie and Wheeler appear courtesy of ECM records.

The next selection is Astral Project, VooDooBop. According to wikipedia, "Astral Project blends styles of jazz, funk, rock and world and have been referred to as one of New Orleans' "premier" jazz groups".  I picked the CD up because of guitarist Steve Masakowski, who's CD, What it was, was featured in a post back in December.  I always read the personal of groups I may not familiar with, if a player I like in on the CD, I'll give it a chance.  It's a way to discover new music outside my comfort zone of favorites.

Another great to find new music is to be introduced to the musician in person, as was the case with drummer Rich Thompson, and the group Trio East.  On the CD, Trio East Stop-Start, Rich plays with Clay Jenkins on trumpet, and Jeff Campbell on bass.  I was introduced to Rich by drummer Mike Melito at Mike's New Year Eve gig with the Bob Sneider Trio at the Little Cafe.  I'm flattered that Rich also a fan of my father Sam, as Mike is. 

I enjoy meeting local jazz musicians and supporting them by buying their CDs and getting out to see them play live.  I hope I can catch Trio East and Rich Thompson in the near future.  Until then, I have this CD to enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, ans Steve Masakowski

Just a short Sunday Music Muse Day post as we enter the meat of the Holiday Season.  I was listening to Miles Davis In a Silent Way this morning and happen to find this Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter 1+1 CD while shopping today.  Of course Herbie and Wayne played on the In a Silent Way sessions.  1+1 is a duet outing that presents them in a introspective, be adventurous mood.  All the tunes are new to my ears, but the don't have every CD or album they've recorded.  Well worth a listen.

The next selection is a CD by guitarist Steve Masakowski, What it Was.   This is the second CD I own of his, the first being Direct AXEcess (his spelling, pun on axe being slang for guitar)  I like his playing, there a hint of Pat Martino in it.  He plays a 7-string guitar, which always interest me.   Although I'm not familiar with his career, his wikipedia page
is very impressive.

So that's it for this week entry.  Enjoy the coming holiday season.