Art Blakey

Live recording from 1958. On compact disc. 

I really don't know much about jazz, its history and various styles. Oh sure, I know many of the names of the players and have a few where I search for their recordings, but I mostly sit and listen without attempting to analyze or describe what I'm hearing. I think I know swing when I hear it but the difference between bop and post-bop, I have no clue. 

I do know that Art Blakey is a drummer. And Lee Morgan, who is also on this recording, plays trumpet. 

I'm fascinated with the album cover photographs on jazz recordings from the 1950's and 60's. It's an art form that I wish were employed more often these days. If only producers, musicians and record labels felt the same about the everlasting power and beauty behind photographic images as I do.

Chico Hamilton

'The Dealer' by Chico Hamilton. From 1966 on the Impulse! Records label.

I saw it described as, Post-Bop. It certainly sounds different to my ears than most jazz from those years. That's not meant to diminish it. I enjoyed it very much. 

There are rewards to looking up. I spotted it up high on the wall in the record store. With eyes drawn to the image on the album cover, took a photo and headed for home to listen to a few quick samples, sent a message to the store owners, inquiring about the asking price, debated with my inner voices for two days while trying to decide if I was willing to pay that price .....

.... And eventually the voice saying, 'go for it,' like it usually does, won out!! 

And now I'm going through the same process with another record. A radical departure from what I generally post about here. 'Molotov Solution' by Modern Action. Punk-rock from 2010. Again, drawn in by the album cover art.

Captured image as seen in "the wild" of my local record store.

I have nothing in my collection that could be considered, 'Punk Rock.' I've been wanting to change that status. This sounds and feels like a good place to start.

You may chuckle but when Tom Petty's first record was released, 45 years ago, I remember thinking of it as punk. I must have heard someone on the radio or in a magazine, call it that. 

Looking back, I had so much to learn. Still do.