Sunday Music Muse Day - ( a day late) Ralph Tower, John Abercrombie

Here's this Sunday's Music Muse Day post, a day late.  Weather was rainy and gloomy, and I found myself drawn to pull out some vinyl of two favorite guitarists, Ralph Towner and John Abercrombie. These are two of my favorite LPs, both on ECM records, that I don't have on CD. Ralph Towner Batik is a trio outing with Eddie Gomez on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on Drums.  The second is the Towner, Abercrombie duet album, Five Years Later, there second recording together, obviously.  I remember listening to them constantly in my old NYC apartment back in the late 70 and early' 80s.

I've been sharing old pics with friends this weekend, these albums offer a great soundtrack.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Ryo Kawasaki RIP, Lee Konitz - RIP

Sadly, this Sunday Music Muse Day find us remember two musicians who passed away in the past week. First up, I was very sad to hear about the passing Ryo Kawasaki ,jazz fusion guitarist. He was a great guitar player, and guitar synthesizer  pioneer.   I got to see him perform live several times in NYC in the 70s and 80s with his Ryo Kawasaki and the Golden Dragon group. The performances include elements of modern dance and giant puppetry,  Ryo lived and worked in NYC, so  I even ran into him playing video games in a arcade off Time Square.  I've been spending  today just playing his albums and CDs.  I'm trying to remember how I first got introduced to Ryo's music. I'm thinking it was article in the Village Voice, or Guitar Player magazine, or I picked up the 'Juice' album just for the cover art and his playing guitar synthesizer on it.  RIP Ryo, and condolences to his family and friends. 

These four albums featured Ryo's guitar synthesizer playing. Here's a link to to a fuller description of his gear,  it's really impressive. http://www.ryokawasaki.com/gs/

 The Gil Evans project was originally planned as collaboration with Jimi Hendrix.  But never realized because of Hendrix untimely death.  Gil Evan completed the project as a tribute to Hendrix with Ryo on guitar.

 Also, this week marked the passing of jazz saxophonist, Lee Konitz.  I had featured him in post about a year ago.  Again, my condolences to his family, friends , and fans.

As we note the passing of these musicians, we continue to honor their lives and memory being joying and appreciating what they share with us.  Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day Howard Alden, George Van Eps, Hittin' on All Six

This Sunday Music Muse Day has all of us asking ..."What day is it?" The social distancing directive to stay home, because of the Coronavirus outbreak,  has the days blending into each other.  I tend to listen to music more than binge watch TV, so here my first pick, Howard Alden and George Van Eps Seven and Seven, jazz guitar duo session.  The title refers to the use of seven string guitars (extra bass string) by both players. This was recorded in 1992 around the time of Van Eps' 80th birthday (he passed away in 1998 at 85 yrs old) and was a follow up an early 1991 release,  13 String, where Alden play a 6-string guitar and Van Eps his 7-string. George Van Eps is credited with inventing 7-string guitar back in the 1930. He inspired jazz guitarists like John, and Bucky Pizzarelli, and Howard Alden  to pick up the 7-string.  The tradition continues with young players Charlie Hunter.  This CD is nice collection of jazz standards.  Well worth giving a listen.

Listen to George Van Eps reminded me of a collection he's that I featured before, Hittin' on All Six - A History of the Jazz Guitar, covering the early pioneers from the 1920 to 1950.  These are all great players recording before I was born. Hearing them gives a deeper appreciation of jazz guitarist like Bob Sneider who carry on the jazz guitar tradition.

The social distancing gives us all a chance to step back and maybe take stock of our hectic modern life and maybe re-order a priorities.  Lets hope we all come out the other side of this in a better place, socially, spiritually, and culturally.  Find some good music to accompany your journey.  Stay safe, stay clam, stay healthy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Revisiting Bill Frisell

This Sunday Music Muse finds us up deeper into the mandatory social distancing as the result of the growing Covid-19 virus crisis.  If you have to be restricted from going out except for food, or an emergency, lets find some music to enjoy.  My first pick is one I featured before, but I pulled it out to fill a request from my mother-in-law who is visiting us while she recovers from hip problem.  She heard me play this several years ago and liked this Bill Frisell Ghost Town.

On another past visit, my mother-in-law, heard Bill Frisell Disfarmer CD, and liked that too.

Actually, Bill Frisell's 69th birthday, March 18, was just this week. He still playing, and going strong.  So, lets celebrate that, too.  I encourage you to find some music to feed you soul.  Stay safe, stay calm, stay healthy. 

Sci-Fi and pin-up beer labels.

While doing my weekly grocery shopping, I browsed the beer section a spied these sci-fi and pin-up labels.  I haven't tried any of these yet. but I might soon.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Art Blakey, Joe Gordon, Robert Glasper

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds the whole world in the grips of the Coronavirus crisis. I'm hoping a little music will help manage the growing stress from all sides.  My only trip of out of the house, Saturday, was to the Bop Shop Record store for these selections.  First up is Art Blakey-Blakey.  I admit the first thing that grabbed my eye was the classic jazz cover art, by Burt Goldblatt. This CD is a reissue of two ten-inch albums recorded in 1954 for EmArcy label. 'Blakey' by the legendary drummer, is a important quintet session as (from the liner notes) "Blakey was on the verge of starting a new career as a bandleader....By the end of the year Blakey would team with (Horace) Silver in the cooperative group, the Jazz Messengers, which would be his artistic expression until his death in 1990".  Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers is the group I associate Art Blakey with.  It was renowned for launching the careers of countless jazz artists.  The liner notes states the trumpeter Joe Gordon and Alto Saxophonist Gigi Gryce, are sometimes  forgotten but were "extremely well respected" in their time. It's fun re-discovering classic jazz played in the 1950s.  I immediately recognized the first tune, "Minority as played often by the Bob Sneider Trio in live gigs.

My second selection is a new player to me, probably because only I've stepped out of my guitar-centric bubble and started to seek out piano trio music in the five last years.  Robert Glasper Canvas recorded 2005, so this isn't exactly new.  I came across him on youtube video and was impressed, so I'm glad found this.  I'll have to look for more of his work.

So, with all the stressful craziness in the world, be safe, be kind, and learn to unwind.  Good music does help. Peace.

Retro Toys - Sunday Grocery Shopping

Heading to the checkout after finishing my grocery list I turn down a random aisle and found myself stopped in my tracks by theses retro toys. I resisted buying the paratrooper, but went for the Space puzzle. It’s stress reliever. 🤖

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