Sunday Music Muse Day - Happy New Year 2023 - Vince Guaraldi Trio, Tony (Anthony) Williams

This Sunday Music Muse Day marks the start of the New Year, 2023.  I'm hoping everyone had a wonderful, and peaceful holiday with friends and family. My first music is a musician you heard during the Christmas season, Vince Guaraldi from the music of A Charlie Brown Christmas TV special fame. Vince Guaraldi Trio is a CD of the album he recorded in 1956, about ten years before the Charlie Brown special aired. You can feel some of the same laid back elegance of his music in this trio recording.  I'm glad I found it. It will be fun to enjoy it all year round. 

My second selection is Tony Williams Spring, a CD re-release of the late drummer's second album under the name "Anthony Williams", which may have been an attempt to make the 19-year-old, at the time, seem older. Of course, Tony went on to a long and illustrious career as a pioneering jazz drummer, best known for his time with Miles Davis.  Two of his future Miles bandmates, Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock, are sidemen on the recording.  The original compositions border on free jazz and offer hints to the music of the Lifetime group he later formed with guitarist John McLaughlin and organist Larry Young (and later bassist Jack Bruce of Cream fame).

Again, here's wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Tony Williams, Larry Young

This Sunday Muse Day find us remembering the birthday of the late jazz legend Tony Williams born December 12, 1945,and died February 23, 1997, much too soon at the age of 51.  Many tributes are popping up my Facebook feed. I was a fan from his days with Miles Miles and then his solo career as leader and pioneer of jazz fusion with his group Lifetime with John McLaughlin on guitar, Larry Young on organ, and later Jack Bruce (of Cream) on bass, and New Lifetime with Alan Holdsworth on guitar. I was lucky to see the New Tony Williams Lifetime group live at the Bottomline in NYC.  Today's selection Arcana Arc of the Testimony, with Tony Williams, bassist Bill Laswell, saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, and others. This was William's last project as the liner notes states he died before it was completed.  Putting Arcana in perspective in Tony long disography, it is more in the early Lifetime recording in it's edgy more free-jazz leanings. You'll have to be in an adventurous mood for this one.

My second selection is Larry Young Of Love and Peace. The late jazz organist was member of first Tony William Lifetime.  He also had releases as a leader. Of Love and Peace released by Blue Note in 1966 was a year after his best know Unity album.  Young, too, die much too soon, at the age of 37. This recording has a touch of free jazz the Young and others were exploring in the 1960s.  His sense of adventurous playing shows why Tony Williams sought him out for Lifetime.

Sadly, this weekend find the country wishing the best for survivors recovering from the deadly tornadoes the ripped through the midwest.  Our hearts goes out to all families of the victims them.

Sunday Music Muse Day John Scofield, Trio Beyond with Jack DeJohnette, Larry Golding, and John Scolfield

This Sunday Music Muse Day turns out to be a perfect autumn, and the first day of Daylight Savings Time. 

I celebrated by starting my day at the Southwedge Record Fair, where always manage to good selection or two.

Plus, I get to run into Derek Lucas of music director of Jazz90.1 our listener/member supported jazz station. It just finished another successful fund drive.  I renewed my membership Saturday, last week, during the Tom Pethic, Artistry in Jazz show.

Back to the music, as I run errands, I played one of the CDs purchased the Record Fair, guitarist John Scofield This Meets That.  I just featured Scofield's last CD, Combo 88, in my last Sunday Muse Day post, but you can never get enough of Sco's music. This Meets That is a solid, fun, outing, with a wicked version of the blues standard, House of the Rising House, it was reminding me of the Americana styling of Bill Frisell.  Later, when checked the liner notes, I discovered Bill Frisell played tremolo guitar on the that track. Scofild employs a group of horn players to compliment his trio (himself on guitar, Steve Swallow on bass, and Bill Steward on drums) in this 2007 release.  Giving the music will party favor. It well worth seeking out.

The secod CD I bought Trio Beyond Saudades also has John Scofield in a trio with Jack Dejohnette on a drums and Larry Goldings on Hammond organ and electric piano.  This is live double CD set dedicated to music of the late Tony Williams, legendary drummer and fusion innovator with his group Tony Williams Lifetime, which he formed after leaving Miles Miles in the 1969 with John McLaughlin on guitar, and Larry Young on organ.  DeJohnette  followed Williams on drums in the Miles Davis group playing on the classic Bitches Brews sessions. Saudades is an interesting record, as it does capture the essence  the raw energy those Lifetime recordings, but I'm not sure it will be everyone cup of tea.  Lifetime's music has a chaotic mix of jazz and Rock bordering on avant-garde. So be prepared for the sonic assault.

I going to enjoy my extra hour of sleep tomorrow morning, and try to forget it will get darker earlier in the evening. On the plus side it won't be pitch black when I'm leaving for work. But as always there is great music to listen to anytime, day or night.  Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Alan Holdsworth, a Tribute

Today's Sunday Music Muse day is in tribute to guitarist Allan Holdsworth who passed away unexpectedly this past Saturday , April 15, 2017.  He was one of my favorite Jazz Fusion guitarist, with a style and sound all his own.  This NPR radio post had a wonderful write up on him. http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/04/17/524332013/allan-holdsworth-revered-fusion-guitarist-dies-at-70

As I was visiting my local record shops for the 10th annual Record Store Day, Allan Holdsworth latest released Eidolon: The Allan Holdsworth Collection was a must have.  
 Eidolon is 2-Disc best of collection with the tracks chosen by Holdsworth himself form his solo group recording. It is curious to compare his best selection to your own favorites for his albums picks.

In sharing memories of him and his music with my friend, Rodney, I felt compelled to pullout all my Holdsworth LPs, CDs, with him as a leader and sideman.  I think I'm only missing three of his solo albums.  Seeing his name on other artists records lead me to pick them up.  Holdsworth also played with two of my favorite drummers, Tony Williams and Bill Bruford.

When I review my collection, I know I spend many hours of enjoyment listening to his music, and will continue to do so.  I guess that is the best legacy of any artist.  RIP, Allen Holdsworth, and thanks for the music.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Metheny Mehldau, Tony Williams, and RIP Larry Coryell.

Welcome to another Sunday Music Muse Day, where I share newly acquired music and old favorites, and this week to sadly note the passing of a music great.  First is a CD that its minimalist  title and cover art belies the great music of the two musician featured on it.  Metheny Mehldau is a duet CD of guitarist, Pat Metheny, and pianist, Brad Mehldau playing a set of originals by both.  The liner notes reveals their deep mutual respect for the each other, and they show that in their playing.   I've CDs of both, leading their own groups. and this CD is a nice addition to the list.

Next is an interesting find, Tony Wiliams (Anthony Williams on the original LP cover) Life Time. This was the legendary drummer's first recording as a leader, at age 19, and playing with Miles Davis, in fact the personal of this date include his Davis band mates. (I think Blue Note, the record company, used "Anthony" to make him seem more mature)  The music is more avant garde, spontaneous, and improvisational than his later Jazz Fusion group Tony William Lifetime that he formed in 1969 after leaving Miles. The word "Life Time" must have had held a special meaning Tony since he used it again for his New Lifetime groups in 1977, 1979, 1980.  His Blue Note recording definitely heralded great things to come.

On a sad note, this week marked the passing of jazz guitar great Larry Coryell.  Best known for his trailblazing jazz fusion playing. As eulogized in the New York Times, " Larry Coryell a virtuoso guitarist who in the 1960s was among the first musicians to bring a rock sound and sensibility to jazz, and who continued to blur the lines between genres throughout his career, died on Sunday in Manhattan. He was 73."  To me, he and his contemporaries, like guitarist John Mclaughlin and pianist Chick Corea bridged the gap between Rock and Jazz.  Once you followed these guys int the world of Jazz, it was hard to settle for a steady diet of Rock music ever again.  I featured an early album Spaces just a week or so ago, and his last recording Barefoot Man:  Sanpaku, currently, too. 

I really enjoy reaching his musical journey, and I'm sad it has ended, but he will live in the great legacy of music he has left us with. 

Sunday Music Muse Day (one day late) Trio of Doom, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Tony Williams, Jimmy Smith

Sunday's Music Muse Day post is a day late due to football playoffs, and a developing cold.  But, the music help me feel better.  The first two CDs were picked up in Toronto, Canada, during a lovely brief road trip with my wife.  These fusion jazz gems are connected in a way.  First up. Trio of Doom, the one time pairing of guitarist John McLaughlin, drummer Tony Williams, and bassist Jaco Pastorius recorded at the historic 1979 Havana Jam festival in Cuba. This CD contains all the material they record live, and in the studio shortly afterwards.  McLaughlin actually didn't want the material released at first because of poor recording of the live tracks, but 27 year later he relented, mainly in honor of his friends, Tony and Jaco, who had since passed away.  The music is rough and raw, but important considering stature of these musicians.

Next up. Mahavishnu Orchestra: The Lost Trident Sessions, which features John McLaughlin, again.  This CD is was supposed to the group's third album, but according to the liner notes, it was lost and forgotten due to internal strife of the band, as they split up soon after it was completed. I'm glad it be released.  Interesting, since it was to be an album, it only about 35 minutes long, as compared to today's longer music CD productions.

My next selection is also connect the Trio of Doom, with Tony Williams Angel Street CD.  I think I have the vinyl record of this but couldn't pass it up.  I think I appreciate Tony William's straight hard bop playing more now than when this was released on vinyl in 1988.

Finally, here's jazz organ legend, Jimmy Smith Prayer Meeting, with Stanley Turrentine on saxophone.  This is another reissue of a Blue Note Records session by Rudy Van Gelder.  I found myself picking up more jazz organ music in the past year.  Proving you're never too old learn to enjoy different sounds (I've always been very guitar-centric in my listening habits).

That's it for this week. But, I like to take a moment to remember, and honor, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr on this, his day.  We as a nation still have a long way to go to fore fill his dream, but I believe, together, "We shall over come".