Sunday Music Muse Day - The Record Store Day

Here's my Sunday Muse Day post.  I took part in the National Record Store Day activities by visiting two local stores and making some nice buys.  First stop was the Record Archive, where there was a big celebration with live music inside and food trucks outside.  The place was packed and everyone was having fun. I only picked up two albums for a $1 each, only for the covers, and CD of Jeff Beck's Blow by Blow. 

 The Stewart Copeland The Rhythmatist album cover is actually the second cover for record. The first featured masai warriors. Compare them below.

I have to assume the record company felt a photo of Steward was needed on the cover instead of leaping africans.  Go figure.
The Slave Stone Jam album was picked up for Ben Grimm "The Thing" on the cover.

 No, not really, but I thought of the  art of DE ES Schwertberger, Austrian artist and painter, when I saw the latest Fantastic Four Movie images.  His work has been shown in exhibitions in New York City, where he lived for a short time, and Switzerland.  I first saw his painting in Omni Magazine back in 1970s.   I actually visited his studio in NYC for UFO discussion.

My second stop was the HI-Fi Lounge, were Jazz 90.1 DJ, Derrick Lucas​, was spinning some jazz vinyl.  My thanks to Derrick for bringing HI-Fi Lounge to my attention,  It's just a few minutes from my home.  I made most of my Record Store Day purchases there.

 These include CDs by local talents, Bob Sneider​ and  Mike Melito​.  I've heard these guys live and it's nice to have their music in my collection.

 The other buys were Theo Croker - Afro Physicist, young hot trumpet, who will be featured in upcoming Rochester Jazz festival, and a Charlie Hunter Quintet CD, feature Charlie on his unique sounding 8 string guitar.

 All in all, a great music day. Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Miles Davis helps cure my ills.

This Sunday Music Muse finds me nursing a cold.  It started Friday but I still went to work.  But as I was cleaning music CDs at my library Tech aide job, I came across the Mile Davis Cellar Door CD set.  I haven't heard it before so I'll be taking out after repairing the disc.

So, Saturday morning my cold is hitting me pretty hard.  To help ease my pain I played Miles Davis In a Silent Way complete session.  The made me feel better.

For extra health booster I popped in Miles Davis Sorcerer CD.

Still not 100%, but good music helps a lot.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Pat Metheny - The Orchestrion Project, Stanley Clark and Bobby McFerrin - Medicine Music

Here's this week's Sunday Muse Day selections, purchased at my local record shop, Record Archives.  First up is Pat Metheny The Orchestrion Project.  I first came across this as a DVD of the film Pat made of his performing solo with this vast array of mechanical instruments.  It reminded me those Animusic videos, but much more enjoyable.  Pat Metheny's musicial journey continues to amaze me.  Check out the youtube video below, you won't be disappointed. 

My second purchase was, in some ways to correct a buying mistake I made on my last trip to record shop.  I passed on buying the Stanley Clarke CD and regretted it.  Happily it was still there.  This is Stanley Clarke's first solo effort, while he was still with Return to Forever.  I forgot it featured Jan Hammer, on keyboards, and Tony Williams, on drums.  Bill Connors, was the first Return to Forever guitarist. (I featured him in my last week's post).  This is a favorite Fusion Album of mine, but I can't hear the tune Lopsy Lu without thinking of Jimi Hendrix' Third Stone from the Sun.  I have several of Stanley Clarke solo albums in my collection, I'll have to pull them out again for a listen.

My third purchase was Bobby McFerrin's Medicine Music CD.  My wife had this on cassette and I remember blasting it in the minivan driving from the airport years ago.  It's great music to greet  a Sunday with it's sense of warm and humanity.  A true favorite, in a category  by itself.   There are so many good cuts on this CD, you just have enjoy them all.  Enjoy

Sunday Music Muse Day - Bill Conners and Meltdown Birth of Fusion

This week's Sunday Music Muse Day selections are rooted in the Jazz Fusion of the 1970s.  First up, guitarist  Bill Conners' Theme of the Gaurdian, which I own on vinyl LP and CD.

 Bill was the original guitarist for Chick Corea's Return to Forever, but Bill left after the first album and tour.  The picture of him on the back cover was probably from a RTF concert.  After leaving RTF, Bill Conners switched to acoustic guitar and released several solo efforts.  This being the first.  In the mid-80s Bill returned to the electric guitar with three CD's using a power trio, guitar, bass, drum, format.

Next up, today , is Meltdown - the Birth of Fusion, a nice sampling of well known 70's Jazz Fusion classics.

Truly  a good way to spend the afternoon.  Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Jazz Club, Jazz lounge

This week's Music Muse Day celebrates the places we like to hear Jazz.  Well, at least in the title of these Jazz compilation CD at played today, Jazz-Club Guitar and Jazz Lounge 2.

 Jazz Club Guitar features a nice collection of guitar base groups from 1945 to 1979.  Just check out the song list.

 Nothing sounds or feels better than listening to jazz in a club setting where you're up close and personal with the players.   Whether it's top-flight talents or local up and coming musicians shsaring intimacy of the a jazz club to a treasured experience.

 Jazz Lounge 2 is more eclectic collection  "representative of ongoing fusion of Jazz and Electronics".   It's a nice entry point for Alternative Music crowd.

The Jazz lounge generates a different vibe.  I imagine it as a place where a piano trio might have a standing nightly or weekly gig that draws a regular crowd of local friends and patrons who see the jazz lounge as a second home.  Again, an experience a Jazz lover should have at sometime in their life.  Find that local Jazz club or lounge  and settle in for music and make new friends.  Enjoy.

R.I.P Mr. Spock

I honor of Leonard Nimoy, who passed away yesterday, here are some of pics of a Star Trek convention book I have. Mr. Spock was my favorite character on Star Trek. The episode when he hooked up with Mariette Harley (I had a crush on her) was one of my favorites. Live longer and prosper, his words and spirit will be with us forever. R.I.P. Leonard Nimoy.

 

In further tribute to Leonard Nimoy here's some poster art from the book The Art of Juan Otriz - Star Trek. These are cool retro-style posters he envisioned for each episode title. I picked some featuring Mr. Spock. As Spock would say you might find them, "fascinating".

Sunday Music Muse Day, Farewell to Clark Terry

First and foremost we bid a heartfelt farewell to the great Clark Terry, who passed away today.  Here is announcement from his family:

RIP CLARK TERRY - December 14, 1920 - February 21, 2015.
"Our beloved Clark Terry has joined the big band in heaven where he'll be singing and playing with the angels. He left us peacefully, surrounded by his family, students and friends. Clark has known and played with so many amazing people in his life. He has found great joy in his friendships and his greatest passion was spending time with his students. We will miss him every minute of every day, but he will live on through the beautiful music and positivity that he gave to the world. Clark will live in our hearts forever.
With all my love, Gwen Terry."

  I'm happy to know that Clark considered my father, Sam Woodyard, as a close friend for many years.  I had the opportunity to meet Clark once in NYC about after Sam passed away.  He was very  a gracious and warm person.  His music will continue to enrich our lives for an eternity.
   Here's a favorite CD of mine by Clark Terry's that contains two re-issues albums, Clark Terry: Out on a Limb and Paul Gonsalves: Cookin', on which my father played drums.  The liner notes has a very funny story told by Clark about inviting Sam to the stage during a gig in Paris, when Sam was very sick.  It's very funny, and shows the love and respect the had for each other.
 

  So, I'd like to offer my deepest sympathies to Clark Terry family and friends.  I'll keep them and my thoughts, and my heart.  Rest in peace, Clark