Beauty Within

A Sunday, late afternoon - early evening find on compact disc. 

Edward Simon Group - 'Beauty Within'

And to think that just a few minutes earlier, there was a debate raging inside my head whether to stop and go into the record shop.

It's from 1994. A piano-jazz trio with trumpet added on three of the nine songs. 

Eight of the nine songs are original compositions. That was huge in deciding to take a chance. I don't care to hear albums full of cover tunes. I want to hear new voices doing new things!! 

The album review at All Music Guide mentions a Chick Corea influence and it's definitely heard through-out. 

The shop owner asked if I had heard of this artist before. "Well no, just taking a chance."  ..... "Ok I'll take two dollars off the price and if you don't enjoy it, bring it back for a 75% credit towards something else." .....  It doesn't appear that I'll be taking him up on that offer. It's a keeper for the collection. 

The Schramms

The Schramms - 'Rock, Paper, Scissors, Dynamite'

A 1992 recording on compact disc and on the Okra Records label.

Americana. Ringing guitars. Rock with little hints of alternative-country. Or perhaps obvious hints. 

From All Music Guide:                                              "Melding pop, folk-rock, and alt-country sounds with quirky wit and a keen intelligence, the Schramms were the brainchild of guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Dave Schramm, who debuted the group in 1987. The band's sound is built around Schramm's guitar work, at once tuneful and wiry, but he and his collaborators create a sound that's edgy but welcoming, with a warmth in the performances that rivals the subtle intelligence of Schramm's lyrics. "

Listening To Bob!!

Can't believe that I've done it but I've opened my wallet for the six disc, deluxe edition. I'm justifying it as an early 60th birthday present. Fascinating sounds for me!! Plus extensive liner and song notes and a 120 page hardcover book with rare photographs. It'll take a few days or weeks to get through it all.

After seeing this 12th Volume in the Bootleg series, you wonder if there's anything left in the Bob Dylan catalogue/vaults to release? It's amazing the amount of time that went into all the various takes on the songs on his records and how they evolved from beginning of the process to what made it to the records and how Dylan is willing to share it all, all these years later. I find even the short false starts to be fascinating.

If I had been approaching my 70th birthday, I might have sprung for the 18 disc, Collectors Edition for $600. Reportedly includes every note he recorded for these sessions.

The Nurturer

Contemporary Jazz (1990) with tradition in mind from pianist, Geri Allen and bandmates. A fifty cent find at the Salem Public Library's, Friends Store annual book sale. Occasionally you find a treasure or two at these crowded events. The compact discs set out for sale were overwhelmingly recordings for children but hidden among all the kids titles was this recording.

Also found ..... Evolver by The Mammals. Their first studio album. An Americana-Folk sound.

Giant Steps

John Coltrane's album, Giant Steps, was a transitional record for me but not in the way that one might think, though I do enjoy it's sounds. But it was the record where I made the switch from vinyl records to compact discs in 1989. I had joined one of those record clubs where you could choose ten albums for $1.99 and was lured in by those two magical words, "bonus tracks." Or maybe it was "alternate versions" but those words and that previously unknown concept sounded like heaven to me. I was floored at the idea of getting a half dozen extra tracks that couldn't be found on the vinyl and at that time, vinyl records were well on their way to nearing extinct status in record stores. I held out as long as I could but it was becoming obvious that I was going to have to give in to progress or do without new music in the 1990's forward. By then I had this compact disc in my possession for a month or two and those bonus tracks were taunting me with their very existence.

I had discovered "Trane" several years earlier through one of his records stumbled across at a flea market. I can't recall if I had some basic knowledge of his music at the time or if it was one of many chances taken over the years on a record that looked interesting even though I had no prior knowledge of what I would discover upon that first listen. I soon found in his music, a path to getting lost in contemplation. Upon getting hooked, a bonus discovery was that most Jazz musicians were far more prolific than the average rock or singer/songwriter variety of musician. For someone who struggled with anxiety while waiting for new releases from favorites, this was like discovering a gold mine. And here was John Coltrane with a existing sizeable cataloguie of music done over a relatively short amount of time before his passing away.

"Giant Steps" was another step in this process of discovery. Maybe his most easily listenable record but equally fascinating as the others. And did I mention that the compact disc has BONUS TRACKS!!!