Love In Vain Blues

A sampler compact disc included with this months issue of Mojo Magazine. 

Old (and seemingly dusty), acoustic blues from various artists, both known and not so well known. There are times when pops and cracks in the recordings are good things. Plenty of acoustic slide guitar too, which should be its own genre. 

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. 

Gary Peacock

Gary Peacock - 'Voices'

On compact disc. A 1971 release originally. Part of the 'Jazz Collection 1000' series. Recorded and printed in Japan.

All original compositions by jazz bassist, Gary Peacock. It would fit in nicely with the recordings he later made for ECM Records with Keith Jarrett and Jack DeJohnette. It's focused on Peacock's bass playing (as it should be). There are occasional vocalizations that would cause one to think that Jarrett was present, but his sidemen here, are all Japanese musicians.

It can be listened to on Soundcloud. 

Soundcloud

With Understanding

'With Understanding' by Richard Davis. 

An incredible vinyl find from a few days ago. From 1975. A jazz bassist.  

Initially drawn in by Chick Corea's name on the cover. But it's the bass playing, often bowed here, and reminding personally of long-ago times and places, that is the exciting discovery.

This is why I often drive out of town to dig through bin and crates of previously owned records ....  in hopes of finding long hidden and unknown gems.

From Darkness and Big Vicious

'From Darkness' by Avishai Cohen Trio. Released in 2015 on compact disc and on the RazDaz Records label. 

Avishai Cohen is a bassist. This is not traditional jazz .... bebop or swing. And not improvisational, avant-garde or free jazz either. I suppose it would be labeled, contemporary jazz. Melodies that don't always go in the expected directions.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

More contemporary jazz from a second Avishai Cohen. 'Big Vicious.' On vinyl, from 2020 on the ECM Records label. This Avishai Cohen is a trumpet player.

And before anyone assumes that I knew there were two different Avishai Cohen's, I didn't. I just discovered as I was typing this. I thought to myself, "Ummmm wait a minute. Bass? .... Trumpet?"

Another case of learning something new, every day.

49th Parallel

Neil Swainson Quintet - '49th Parallel'

A recent vinyl reissue of this 1989 album arriving at my front door. I'm really loving when that happens.

I love the packaging on this record. Gatefold sleeve with liner notes and an interview. Just the way that it all is presented ..... catches my eye.

Previously unknown Jazz sounds. Neil Swainson is a bass player. Original songs except for one Joe Henderson cover. And there's a bonus download track to be found in the packaging.

It's amazing how there's always something old, especially with Jazz, that's exciting and unique to discover. That's new to one's ears.

Trumpeter Woody Shaw's final studio recording.

I do wish that they had kept the original 1989 album cover for this reissue. I would have purchased that upon first sighting, no song samples needed .....

London Jazz News Review