Zydeco Saturday Night

A short little playlist for a Zydeco state of mind ....

• The Bluerunners - Rhode Island
• Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band - Casanova
• J. Paul Jr. & the Zydeco Nubreedz - Stronger / Bounce Like a Rebel
• Clifton Chenier - Release Me

Well that's it for now. Just needed to hear a little accordion music.

Keith Jarrett

I am nearing completest status on the recordings of a few musicians. Jazz pianist, Keith Jarrett falls into that short list. The other day, I stumbled upon one (of two) from his 1970's-early 1980's recordings that wasn't in the collection.

Beyond excited to find this. 'Changes' by Keith Jarrett (piano), Gary Peacock (bass) and Jack DeJohnette (drums). From 1984 on ECM Records and on near mint condition vinyl. 

Usually in his trio settings he's recording jazz standards. On this record though, the trio is playing Jarrett's original compositions. And I always prefer musicians performing or expressing their own unique visions and creations. 

That leaves the massive 'Sun Bear Concerts' which I doubt I'll ever find in the local shops. And if I did happen to come across it, I'd probably have a heart attack right there where I stood and never make it home. In all my years of collecting, I've only seen photos of it. 

While often difficult to reach the level of completist and exciting to be nearing the goal, there's also something a little sad in that there won't be more to seek out .... or blindly and excitedly stumble across on a random Sunday afternoon.

Hillbilly Pleasures

'Hillbilly Erotica' by Sir Richard Bishop. From 2026 on Drag City Records. Solo acoustic guitar improvisations, often frenetic. As I listened, I kept thinking: 'John Fahey on steroids/" The notes on Bandcamp calls it: "Imagined American music at its most gorgeous and violent."

Vacation Day Away from Work Listening Choices

This is a vinyl bin digging find from last week. I had heard of the band, Appliance and their record, 'Manual'. From 1999 on Mute Records. Drawn in by the album cover and took a chance. Read a little about it in the record shop that mentioned, 'Krautrock' and Stereolab. Appliance was a three-member British band and this was their debut album. What a debut! Played it through this morning and loved it. There are a couple instrumentals mixed in with the songs with vocals and inventive sounds from the long list of instruments and electronics that were used. I don't know if they had a follow-up, but I will be researching.  

Another find from the same store, a month earlier. Again it was the cover art that grabbed my attention. 'The Vanishing' by Oren Ambarchi, Martin Ng and featuring Ensemble Offspring. From 2018 on the Hospital Hill recording label. Very Experimental. Two violins, percussion and various effects. There are sounds of what I identify as steel rubbing against steel and low distant rumblings of thunder and I'm at a place in my record collecting and listening life where I can appreciate and enjoy this. That likely wouldn't have been true three years ago.

'It's Always About Liberation' by Ancient Infinity Orchestra on Gondwana Records, a UK jazz label. Just released this year. On compact disc.