Sunday Music Muse Day - Brad Mehldau Trio, Julian Lage

On this sunny and warm Sunday Music Muse Day, it actually seems like spring has finally arrived. The grass is turning green, trees and flowers are blooming.  All in all, it's a good day to enjoy new music.  First up, Brad Mehldau Trio Live, a two CD set recorded at the legendary Village Vanguard in NYC, October 11-15, 2006.  With Mehldau on piano, Larry Grenadier on bass, and Jeff Ballard on drum.  Mehldau once came to my attention with his jazzy renditions of rock tunes, like Beatles' songs. He has esoteric style with a hint of avant-garde in his playing, but never too much to be off-putting, just adventurous.  Worth a listen.

Next up is Julian Lage The Layers. This EP  CD featuring the guitarist teaming with guitarist Bill Frisell on five of the six tracks, all six originals of Lage.  It's nice mellow affair, which could fall into the modern Americana music Frisell is known for, with lot of acoustic guitar playing by both.

I hope the weather is nice wherever you are, and you get to enjoy it.

For Robot Sunday - Pacific Rim Wooden Model

For Robot Sunday, I finally got around to building this wooden model kit my son gave me for Christmas. I just put on some music and dived in. It also took me away from Doom Scrolling on internet. I feel much better, now. I might paint it later.

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.

Updated Superman - Dragonfly Toon Flip Book Youtube Video.

I finally got to post a HD quality video of my Superman Dragonfly Toon Flipz Book. A lot of my old original videos on Youtube have become almost unbearable to view. This is an adaptation of the entire Mechanical Monster Superman short, into my comic book/flipbook format. One of my Dime-A-Dozen idea that still sticks with me. Enjoy. If you can "like" and "subscribe", it could use the help.

Enjoy.

April Fools Day - Eternal Warrior Comic Book title expose'

I had a whole plan for a YouTube video of the exclusive expose’ on how I had the title “Eternal Warrior” first, before Valiant. Comics, and wanted to post it on April 1 to show it is more a tongue-in-cheek story than anything else. But, here’s a preview image.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Charlie Christian, Kenny Burrell.

For this fine spring Sunday Music Muse Day two jazz guitar that were included in the CD set Progressions: 100 Years of Jazz Guitar.  First, jazz guitar pioneer Charlie Christian, The Immortal Charlie Christian. It's mono recording of after hours sessions.  It has a very relaxed feel to it. 

My second selection is Kenny Burrell Blue Muse.  Kenny Burrell came into his own in the 1960s.  This CD was recorded 2002.  Burrell is still alive (91 years old) but due to poor health hasn't performed in years, to my knowledge. He certainly has earned his place in the ranks of great jazz guitarists.

Again, you can find Christian and Burrell in this collection of jazz guitar greats.

Good music will brighten up any day. enjoy.

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.