Kenny Wheeler

'Gnu High' from jazz trumpet and flugelhorn player, Kenny Wheeler. On vinyl. A 2023 reissue of a 1976 release on ECM Records. Part of their new Luminessence Series, reissuing classic recordings from their extensive catalogue. The gatefold sleeve includes fascinating liner notes, an extra that as far as I know, ECM has never done, at least to this degree, with its records. 

It was waiting on my doorstep yesterday. I don't know which is more exciting. Finding it in random searching of record store bins or having it delivered and waiting my return? 

And now I'm becoming obsessed with collecting Kenny Wheeler recordings. 

Rockin' the Suburbs

A 'Rockin' the Suburbs' radio/podcast, playlist, where it appears that listeners call in and submit songs to share .....

• Sean Rowe - What Are We Now .... The name was vaguely familiar. Or at least something rang a bell.  I had to search a bit but I have a Sean Rowe cd in my collection. I'll have to pull it out and give it a spin. 
• Ratboys - Black Earth, Wisconsin ..... Indie-Rock. I need to hear more from this band. 
• Cable Ties - Time for You
• Guardian Singles - Chad and Stacey
• Lankum - Lord Abore and Mary Flynn
• Jenn Grant - How I Loved You
• Mirrors - Sinistry
• The Clean - Drawing to a Whole / Stars
• The Chills - Soft Bomb

Irreversible Entanglements

Released in 2020. Free and experimental jazz sounds with spoken word .... if you like that sort of thing. 😉

I think the idea that I've been rebelling against is the tendency in jazz to play and fill albums with cover versions of jazz classics. 

There's none of that here. Original tunes, new directions, fascinating listening.

I'd love to know the story behind settling on Irreversible Entanglements for the bands name. 

Mike Gordon

Mike Gordon from the band, Phish, and a video from his new album. The song is titled; 'Tilting.' Enjoyed the animation. 

Charles Mingus

On the turntable tonight .....

Stumbled across this in an antique mall where my longtime local record store (now closed), keeps a booth.

From 1966 on the Fantasy Records label. 'Right Now,' a live recording from one of the greatest names in jazz history, bassist, Charles Mingus. 

Jazz Playlist

A jazz playlist. What you might hear if I had my own late night, radio program. 

For this rainy evening session, a heavy emphasis on contemporary jazz or new jazz directions. 

• Ambrose Akinmusire - Piano Sketch (Beyond Enclosure)
• Wolfgang Muthspiel - Triad Song
• Thomas Stronen - Time Is a Blind Guide
• Christian Scott - The Eraser
• Makaya McCraven - The Fifth Monk / Universal Beings
• Eri Yamamoto Trio - Wonder Land
• Matthew Halsall - Music for a Dancing Mind / Song for Charlie ..... Trumpet player from England. He's become my favorite. He's the reason that I've been engaged lately in a trumpet obsession. He started it.
• Colin Vallon - Cendre

I do not pretend to know much about any of this music. I do though, find my senses and emotions responding in ways I can't describe, to these sounds. And I've felt for quite a few years that jazz has the most interesting song titles, inviting a closer listen.

• Jacob Young - Minor Peace
• Gabor Szabo - Fire Dance ..... An oldie but goodie. From 1968.
• John Abercrombie - Excuse My Shoes
• Lisa Hilton - Adventures and Alibis
• Danny Green Trio - Katabasis ..... My first thought was: "The basketball player?" 😉

Several of these choices are recordings from the ECM Records label. 

Saturday Evening iTunes Playlist

Just scrolling looking through my iTunes library, choosing this and that. No particular theme or goal in mind.

• Ola Podrida - Run Off the Road ..... A band from Austin, Texas. Heard this song somewhere and downloaded it. Don't know anything else about their music. 
• Other Lives - For 12 ..... Another tune heard somewhere, enjoyed, and purchased the single. 

And now for something completely different ......

• Oliver Schroer - The Tears of Mary / The Light of Day / Field of Stars ..... Violinist. This is not what I think of as classical, and it doesn't resemble jazz in any way. But it is beautiful. 
• Rachel Portman - Ask the River / Still Here ..... Solo piano, then eventually a violin joins in. I recall hearing an interview and song samples, a few years ago on NPR. I think some, or maybe all of this music was a score for a film. Also, neither classical or jazz. Reflective and contemplative though.

And just as suddenly again, something going in a completely different direction ..... 

• Rare Monk - Warning Pulse ..... It says "alternative" for the genre. It has a little of what I call, "that late Saturday night, faraway guitar vibe" that I like so much.
• Red House Painters - San Geronimo / Shadows

Is it obvious that I'm browsing (and stuck in) the O and R sections of my iTunes library? So I guess that's the theme of this playlist. 

• Rogue Wave - Publish My Love
• Ry Cooder - Straight Street