Ring

Found this today while out and about and rummaging through the vinyl bins. On the ECM Records label. I was under that false assumption at one time that I was closing in on being an ECM completest. I have around 250 ECM and ECM New Series releases. I asked Alexa how many there are ..... well I still have approximately 1550 releases to find. Preferably in record stores and antique shops.

Jazz fusion here from the year I graduated from high school .... 1974. (Which along with my year of birth, always sparks my interest.) Gary Burton plays vibes. Pat Metheny is on this record playing guitar, one of his earliest appearances on records.

Playlist #3257

In younger years I made countless mix-tapes. Still have many of those cassette tapes in shoe boxes in a closet. In the compact disc years, I continued with cd mixes. All are playlists of some sort. Here's another playlist with the weekend approaching, with no themes and intentionally mixing genres. Just going by feel and not worrying about what came before or what follows. What I feel like listening to at the top of the hour might be completely different five minutes after. Hope that's ok with ya'll .... 

• Ambrose Akinmusire - Piano Sketch (Beyond Enclosure)
• Arve Henriksen - Abandoned Cathedral / Shelter From the Storm

 

• Leif Vollebekk - Elegy
• Mark Orton - I Bring Music? 
• Matthew Halsall - Upper Space
• Peter Mayer - The Birthday Party
• Rare Monk - Warning Pulse 
• Richard Souther - The Fourth Man In the Fire
• Jonatha Brooke - Because I Told You So 
• Justin Townes Earle - Can't Hardly Wait 
• King Creaosote & Jon Hopkins - Your Own Spell 
• Red House Painters - Shadows 
• Glowfriends - Be Surprised
• Blood Oranges - Gathering Flowers for the Master's Bouquet 
• Willy Porter - Paper Airplane  ..... "People say I lost my footing, they should look into your eyes."                  

Theoretical Planets

From the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble label. George Colligan and Theoretical Planets .... the album 'Zero.' A grouping of Portland, Oregon jazz musicians. On the initial listen, I went straight to the last song, 'Blues for Total Insanity.' From 2024. Pacific Northwest jazz directions. George Colligan is a pianist but is primarily playing drums on this recording. 

George Colligan can be heard in a variety of PJCE and other recordings. A great jazz composer, more people should be aware of.

Vinyl Jazz Haul

Cleaned up on some classic jazz records today. Releases by mostly familiar names, but titles that I've never seen before. Alerted to the possibility of a haul by a facebook posting. My old local record store, now closed but still dealing in vinyl, cd's and more through a space in an antique mall. Took home eight records. Left much more behind. I'll likely be returning very soon.

My assignment for the rest of the week is to take in all these sounds. I have little choice but to accept the challenge.

Glanced at the vinyl on this one and it's in mint condition. The cover design caught my attention. Big band jazz from the early 1960's.

The vinyl taken home is a mono copy. Max Roach is a drummer. 

A few words taken from the Dusty Groove online stores website: "A cool piano-less group that hits some really unusual notes!"

From 1964.

I've always enjoyed coming across lesser known titles on obscure record labels. This is free jazz and featuring saxophonist Arche Shepp. It's a 1971 reissue on Barnaby Records of a record originally released in 1960 on Candid Records. Cecil Taylor plays piano.  

Again, I love the cover design and photo.

McCoy Tyner - Echoes of a Friend. From 1972. Solo piano tribute to John Coltrane. There's a cover of 'My Favorite Things' along with a couple songs that were composed by Coltrane including a personal favorite, his ballad, 'Naima.'

Another great cover design and photo!! From 1959 on the Contemporary Records label. Great condition for a nearly seventy year old record. 

While searching for information on this, I came across a great looking jazz blog ....

The London Jazz Collector

I thought I had acquired all the early Keith Jarrett recordings, even posting about it here two weeks ago upon stumbling upon what I thought was the missing piece ..... but wait!! There's more!! Released in 1968 on the Vortex Records label. 

I have no memory of ever seeing this record or even a photo of this record in either physical vinyl digs or online searches or jazz blogs. Hearing on the radio one late night, Jarrett's 1975 improvisational solo piano 'Koln Concert" is what I trace the beginnings of my interest in jazz back to. More than excited to discover the erroneous nature of my belief of having all things early Jarrett. So maybe there's more out there in the wilds of the vinyl jungle??

Ornette Coleman - 'Twins.' From 1971. Another great cover image. On Atlantic Records, a label that produced beautiful cover photos in the 1960's and 70's.  Free jazz. 

NMA Tonight

From 2022. 'Set Sail' by the North Mississippi Allstars. Influences, sounds and ideas from several sources .... Blues, funk, soul, gospel, roots, rock. Each song a gem.

 

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 lively 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.

Jean-Luc Ponty

Used bookstore find from earlier this evening. Always a thrill to stumble across surprise finds like this in person. 

French violinist, Jean-Luc Ponty Experience. His 1972 album, 'Open Strings' on what looks to me as mint condition vinyl. And a gatefold sleeve with liner notes inside.

I've never seen this one before out in the record bins. Early 1970's jazz fusion. Sounds I've been specifically looking to add to my collection lately.

I hear a little experimentation, a bit of minimalism, a little spacey here and there, some free jazz moments, plus a little frenzied violin. I can appreciate these sounds in my senior years. 

An album review from the All About Jazz website ..... All About Jazz

And with each glance at the album jacket, the more I'm loving the artwork.

Julius Hemphill

'Dogon A.D.' by Julius Hemphill. This is a 2026 vinyl reissue. Recorded and originally released in 1972. Avante-garde or free jazz. About the art and culture of the Dogon people of West Africa. The 'A.D.' in the title stands for "adaptive dance,"

Julius Hemphill plays alto saxophone and flute. 

I was initially drawn in by the cover art. That seems to be a common theme in my discoveries and choices of music. It's a wild listen. 

Mott the Hoople

Engaging in a little record store bin digging this afternoon. Found a seven-inch vinyl 45rpm of an obscure punk band, a R,E.M. tribute recording on compact disc and this .....

Mott the Hoople - 'All the Young Dudes.' From 1972 and on vinyl. 

I was so focused on the singer/songwriters like Jackson Browne, Neil Young, Cat Stevens, etc., in those years that I never paid much attention to bands of the time. These days, I'll occasionally hear something that grabs my attention and think that I have some catching up to do. I'm only half a century behind.

David Bowie produced this and wrote the title song.

The 7-inch vinyl 45 that I unearthed. I know nothing about this record. Purchased because the cover photo caught my eye. I read that they were a garage rock / punk band. from 1995 on the 'Rip Off Records' label .... which caused me to smile. I'm a big fan of the existence of all these small independent record labels with interesting names. There ought to be a reference book or two or a corner in the library with works listing all these labels with bios, label logos and history. Maybe there is?

Music for the Other Head

'Music for the Other Head' by Brother J.T. & Vibrolux. From 1996 on the Siltbreeze Records label.

I see it classified as Psychedelic Rock. I'll need another listen, this time distraction free. There were some sounds that had me thinking or reminded vaguely of 'In-a-gadda-da-vida' by Iron Butterfly though not as hard as that. Like I said, I need a more attentive listen.

It's one of these weird finds I've been seeking out lately. I would have never listened to this up to a year or two ago. Part of my golden olden years evolution.

Don't know if this will help or confuse but it's a description copied from the albums Bandcamp page ..... "Somewhere between the Rama Lama sonic assault of MC5 & the Cosmic Tones of Sun Ra's Myth-Science Arkestra these guys carved out their own serendipitous expression." 

Mary Lou Williams

 

My latest listening obsession .... where you excitedly discover the music of someone you should have been listening to all along, with a long career and extensive catalogue of recordings to catch up on .....

'Zoning' from Mary Lou Williams. On compact disc and the Smithsonian Folkways label. Recorded and originally released in 1974. This is a 1995 reissue with a couple of previously unreleased tracks added. Piano jazz quartet with a second pianist. 

Thought it was a lifeless and mediocre audio quality recording initially, not the performance or original song writing, but the actual engineering quality .... until I corrected my erroneous ways of worrying about what the neighbors would think and playing it at a low volume. Upon turning it up, the sound just washed over me and blasted open my senses. Beautiful and unique stuff, often reminding me of the years it comes from.

So as a result, and while feeling incredibly unaware and unlearned, I added this recording to my collection. From 1964. There's much more to discover. Looking forward to the adventure.

She had recently converted to Catholicism and this was a work of 'sacred jazz' with styles sometimes leaning towards spirituals, blues and avant-garde jazz.

Late Night Listening Party

Mountain In the Clouds by jazz bassist Miroslav Vitous. From 1972 on vinyl, recorded on the Atlantic Records label.

1970's free jazz - early jazz fusion, centered around the acoustic bass playing of Miroslav Vitous. Herbie Hancock contributes electric piano sounds, Joe Henderson on saxophone with Jack DeJohnette and Joe Chambers playing drums. 

Perfect selection for this Saturday late night moment and a 2:00am low volume listening party after awakening from a few heavily tossing and turning hours of restless sleep. Sounds that I wouldn't have given much chance to or appreciated even two or three years ago. Sounds that I prefer these days. There are a few benefits that come with turning seventy.

Foreverandevernomore by Brian Eno. From 2022 on vinyl. Ambient and electronic. Spacey at times. Eno sings on most of the tracks. Found a week ago in Corvallis on a Fourth of July weekend vinyl hunting excursion. 

My two selections this evening, released half a century apart, with different styles but having the same calming impact.  

Friday Afternoon Listening Session

 

Lucas Gunn - "You Shouldn't Try to Barrow Other People's Skin.'

American Primitive acoustic guitar, mostly 12-string with a little 6-string guitar and synthesizer mixed in ..... with a sound and style reminiscent of John Fahey. Each song recorded live in the studio with no overdubs. Just released today by Carbon Records. The vinyl hasn't arrived yet so I'm listening to files.  

Lucas Gunn is Portland, Oregon based. It's difficult to pass on something from home.

Willard Grant Conspiracy

Willard Grant Conspiracy is Robert Fisher. A singer/songwriter will a huge deep voice. Sadly, he passed away in 2017. His songs are Americana / Alt-Country. His records have always filled me with traveling through a lonely American Southwestern desert intersecting with Jim Morrison vibe. But that's just me. Others may hear these sounds differently. You will hear acoustic guitar often mixing with sad, weeping violin .... And that powerful voice!!

A Saturday afternoon, observing the final official day of spring short playlist ..... 

Yo La Tengo - Before We Run .... with an exploring the universe guitar solo by Ira Kaplan.

Hiss Golden Messenger - Joyce & Joel 

The Valkarys - Fading Away

Toad the Wet Sprocket - Finally Fading 

Tony Joe White - Bad Mouthin'

And a little jazz change of pace as it moves into the evening ....

Tomasz Stanko Quintet - Terminal 7

Makaya McCraven - Time Travel / The Encore

Vinyl record in my mailbox today. Recorded in late 1969. Jazz acoustic bassist. A founding member of the jazz fusion group, Weather Report. This came before the Weather Report recordings and was considered to be 'groundbreaking' for the jazz fusion genre. Herbie Hancock plays electric piano.

Sun Ra at 3am

3am listening. Originally recorded in 1956 and released in 1957. I'm always drawn to music recorded in the year that I was born. 

This is a 2025 re-issue on compact disc and with a second disc of alternate takes. These fascinating jazz sounds are a bit easier on the imagination when compared with and placed alongside what would come later.

Jazzday Playlist

Thursday Jazzday playlist .....

• Collin Vallon, Patrice Moret & Julian Sartorius - Sisyphe ..... Piano and acoustic bass playing around a couple of repeated chords. Beautiful.
• Eberhard Weber - Closing Scene
• Keith Jarrett & Charlie Haden - My Ship
• Avishai Cohen - Behind the Broken Glass
• Matthew Halsall & The Gondwana Orchestra - Dawn Horizon / Badder Weather / These Goodbyes
• Pat Metheny Group - Dream of the Return
• Wallace Roney - Don't Stop Me Now
• Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - A Flat Minor Outtakes ..... Imagining my parents in their younger, pre-children days, around the living room radio listening to Duke Ellington.

Late Wednesday Afternoon Playlist

Late Wednesday afternoon and home from work scrolling through my itunes library and mostly hanging onto much younger days while struggling to hold back the tears playlist. (It is Wednesday, right?) ....

• Aimee Mann - Humpty Dumpty
• America - Ventura Highway ..... Flashbacks to times spent with old friends and being a teenager. I have to take and digest my nostalgia and earliest memories in small doses these days. 
• Amos Lee - Violin ..... At this pace, I may not get out of the A's.
• Arlo Guthrie - Deportees .... Singing along with the chorus.
• Barry McGuire - Eve of Destruction
• Ben Kweller - Free
• Benjamin Francis Leftwich - 1904 / Atlas Hands
• Benjamin Orr - Stay the Night .... Benjamin Orr of The Cars. In case it's not common knowledge.
• Big Head Todd & The Monsters - Imaginary Ships ..... There was a period where I was infatuated with this song. 
• Bob Dylan - Jokerman .... I rescheduled a doctor appointment earlier today and suddenly everything felt much lighter and brighter. Funny how that works.
• Booker T. Jones - Representing Memphis ..... Appreciating the organ sounds.
• Calexico - Fortune Teller
• Charlie Sexton & Shannon McNally - When We Were Younger ..... Exactly!!
• Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen - Wait a Minute ..... A late night, after midnight addition. If I were to imagine or create a hundred playlists of all-time favorite songs, this would be on each one.