Sunday Music Muse Day - Lee Ritenour, Tal Farlow

This Sunday Music Muse Day will be a quick post.  I try to keep an open mind in my music listening, be sometimes, I must stay set in my ways.  So, concerning my first selection, Lee Ritenour Wes Bound, I was doubtful I'd enjoy this CD as, I haven't listened to a Ritenour record since his early vinyl albums, which I found too "smooth jazz" for my taste.  I respect him as a accomplished studio guitarist as a leader and sideman, but the over all smooth jazz production doesn't do it for me. I give a try for Wes Montgomery connection, but I think in comparison to Wes, it make my negative reaction strong.  I can't recommend this, UNLESS you like smooth jazz. You're welcomed to keep it next to your Kenny CDs.

I'm enjoying my second selection, Tal Farlow - Tal, I lot more than my first. I admit I may have first learned of Tal Farlow  from Guitar Player magazine in the 70s before actually seeking out his music, since he's major work was in the 1950s, of my childhood.  Tal is reissue of a classic 1958 trio release with bonus tracks of 1958 quartet recording added.  I just find this record more honest and clean,  

So, that's my spotlight for today. Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Grant Green, Tal Farlow

This very cold Sunday Music Muse Day is a celebration classic jazz guitar, Both of my selections are from players who I heard of, or maybe read about in Guitar Player magazine long before discovering their music for myself. That may have to do with the fact their recordings career where at in the 50s. and 60s.  In anycase, first up is Grant Green Born to be Blue a session of jazz standards recorded for Blue Note  in 1961 at the famous Van Gelder Studio, in Englewood, New Jersey. My biggest kick out of listening to this CD was finally being able put a name to the opening notes of tune, "Born to Be Blue", which is used for promo for Jazz90.1 a lot.  There is a plenty of bluey jazz guitar to like in Grant Green playing.

Next is Tal Farlow's Finest Hour.  Again, his name appeared in many Guitar Player Magazine features about influencial jazz guitar legends.  Since my interest at the time (mid-1970s) was jazz fusion, his music wasn't one I sought out.  It's never too late to learn about and enjoy a guitar legend like Tal Falow, and I'm doing my best to catch up.

As the east coast is getting slam by a heavy snow storm, we feel lucky to escape with only single digit temperatures.  To everyone, stay warm, stay safe. 

Sunday Music Muse - Tal Farlow and Lenny Breau, Dave Holland

Welcome to another Sunday Music Muse Day with a alternative suggested activity to watching football, listening to these jazz selections.  First up, is a meeting of two legendary guitarists, Tal Farlow & Lenny Breau Chance Meeting, as stated in this All Music review by Ken Dryden: "The one-time meeting between guitarists Tal Farlow and Lenny Breau came about because Lorenzo DeStefano, who was making a PBS documentary (Talmage Farlow) in 1980, wanted a meeting between the veteran and a rising star. Farlow suggested Breau, and an invitation was extended and immediately accepted by the younger man. After the musicians spent time conversing in Farlow's New Jersey home, they moved to The Sign of the Times, a small nightclub in the tiny town of Rumson, to weave their musical magic. Although this was their first and only performance together, they complement one another's playing as if they had worked as a regular duo."  Great stuff.  I'll have to look up the documentary.

Next up is a more progressive jazz CD, Dave Holland Prism. All Music reviewer Matt Collar said: "His 2013 album, Prism, finds Holland returning to his crossover funk roots with an able-bodied quartet. Featured here are former Tonight Show guitarist Kevin Eubanks, pianist/Rhodes keyboardist Craig Taborn, and drummer Eric Harland. All of these musicians have reputations for playing adventurous, genre-bending styles of jazz, making them perfectly suited for the project at hand."  I enjoyed the music but I found sound of the recording to be lacking to my ear, but I can't quite put my finger on the reason. I'll had to give it more listening.

 So, the TV football season ramps up try to find some time for good music, recorded, and live. Enjoy

Sunday Music Muse day - Jazz Masters of Acoustic Guitar, Tal Farlow, Charlie Haden, and Charlie Parker

Another Sunday Music Muse Day to share recent additions to my music stash. First up is an anthology CD that compliments the Hitting on All Six, Jazz guitar CD set I featured before.  Jazz Masters of the Acoustic Guitar, and some Bluesmen Too is a set of cuts featuring mostly pre-WWII acoustic jazz guitar players before guitarist were fully plugged in.  Besides Charlie Christian and Django Reinhardt, many are fairly new to me.  Listening to this CD is nice way to fill in a gap in my jazz guitar history.  (Someone should do a online course in history of jazz guitar)

Keeping in the jazz guitar vain, next up it is The Swinging Guitar of Tal Farlow, the legendary guitarist with his well regarded trio. This is a re-release of a Verve album produced my Norman Granz, the notable record producer of many classic records.  This CD has several additional cuts, and alternate takes, not on the original vinyl release. Being recorded in 1956, you can hear the be-bop influence.  The quick tempos take a little getting used to, for me.  Lisa felt the same way, and also mentioned she could hear where Bob Snieder picked up a few things.  I'm sure Bob studied Tal Farlow's playing at some point.

Next is a nice two CD set from the late Charlie Haden, the stellar bass player.  Charlie Haden - the Private Collection is a record of two concerts, first for his 50th birthday on August 6, 1987, and the second concert April 4, 1988, the following year.  One nice touch is that he played a Pat Metheny tune Farmer's Trust on both dates.  Metheny doesn't play on these dates, but the Haden and Metheny duets, and group outings, are  some of my favorite listening.

Last, but not least, is my filling a giant hole in my jazz collection, Charlie Parker - Yardbird Suite, The Ultimate Charlie Parker Collection.  Of course, I have Charlie Parker playing on Miles Davis records, and have heard him countless times on the radio, thanks to DJs like Tom Pethic. But as guitar-centric guy, I didn't have any Charlie Parker albums or CDs as a leader.  Now I feel a weight of jazz guilt has been lifted.  The package comes with a informative 59 page booklet which I plan to read as listen the music for added pleasure.

In these tense day in the era of Trump, I finding music is comforting safe haven from all the noise.  Hope you find your safe place to enjoy the music you like.