Kenny Wheeler

'Gnu High' from jazz trumpet and flugelhorn player, Kenny Wheeler. On vinyl. A 2023 reissue of a 1976 release on ECM Records. Part of their new Luminessence Series, reissuing classic recordings from their extensive catalogue. The gatefold sleeve includes fascinating liner notes, an extra that as far as I know, ECM has never done, at least to this degree, with its records. 

It was waiting on my doorstep yesterday. I don't know which is more exciting. Finding it in random searching of record store bins or having it delivered and waiting my return? 

And now I'm becoming obsessed with collecting Kenny Wheeler recordings. 

Rockin' the Suburbs

A 'Rockin' the Suburbs' radio/podcast, playlist, where it appears that listeners call in and submit songs to share .....

• Sean Rowe - What Are We Now .... The name was vaguely familiar. Or at least something rang a bell.  I had to search a bit but I have a Sean Rowe cd in my collection. I'll have to pull it out and give it a spin. 
• Ratboys - Black Earth, Wisconsin ..... Indie-Rock. I need to hear more from this band. 
• Cable Ties - Time for You
• Guardian Singles - Chad and Stacey
• Lankum - Lord Abore and Mary Flynn
• Jenn Grant - How I Loved You
• Mirrors - Sinistry
• The Clean - Drawing to a Whole / Stars
• The Chills - Soft Bomb

Irreversible Entanglements

Released in 2020. Free and experimental jazz sounds with spoken word .... if you like that sort of thing. 😉

I think the idea that I've been rebelling against is the tendency in jazz to play and fill albums with cover versions of jazz classics. 

There's none of that here. Original tunes, new directions, fascinating listening.

I'd love to know the story behind settling on Irreversible Entanglements for the bands name. 

Mike Gordon

Mike Gordon from the band, Phish, and a video from his new album. The song is titled; 'Tilting.' Enjoyed the animation. 

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. 

Jazz Playlist

A jazz playlist. What you might hear if I had my own late night, radio program. 

For this rainy evening session, a heavy emphasis on contemporary jazz or new jazz directions. 

• Ambrose Akinmusire - Piano Sketch (Beyond Enclosure)
• Wolfgang Muthspiel - Triad Song
• Thomas Stronen - Time Is a Blind Guide
• Christian Scott - The Eraser
• Makaya McCraven - The Fifth Monk / Universal Beings
• Eri Yamamoto Trio - Wonder Land
• Matthew Halsall - Music for a Dancing Mind / Song for Charlie ..... Trumpet player from England. He's become my favorite. He's the reason that I've been engaged lately in a trumpet obsession. He started it.
• Colin Vallon - Cendre

I do not pretend to know much about any of this music. I do though, find my senses and emotions responding in ways I can't describe, to these sounds. And I've felt for quite a few years that jazz has the most interesting song titles, inviting a closer listen.

• Jacob Young - Minor Peace
• Gabor Szabo - Fire Dance ..... An oldie but goodie. From 1968.
• John Abercrombie - Excuse My Shoes
• Lisa Hilton - Adventures and Alibis
• Danny Green Trio - Katabasis ..... My first thought was: "The basketball player?" 😉

Several of these choices are recordings from the ECM Records label. 

Saturday Evening iTunes Playlist

Just scrolling looking through my iTunes library, choosing this and that. No particular theme or goal in mind.

• Ola Podrida - Run Off the Road ..... A band from Austin, Texas. Heard this song somewhere and downloaded it. Don't know anything else about their music. 
• Other Lives - For 12 ..... Another tune heard somewhere, enjoyed, and purchased the single. 

And now for something completely different ......

• Oliver Schroer - The Tears of Mary / The Light of Day / Field of Stars ..... Violinist. This is not what I think of as classical, and it doesn't resemble jazz in any way. But it is beautiful. 
• Rachel Portman - Ask the River / Still Here ..... Solo piano, then eventually a violin joins in. I recall hearing an interview and song samples, a few years ago on NPR. I think some, or maybe all of this music was a score for a film. Also, neither classical or jazz. Reflective and contemplative though.

And just as suddenly again, something going in a completely different direction ..... 

• Rare Monk - Warning Pulse ..... It says "alternative" for the genre. It has a little of what I call, "that late Saturday night, faraway guitar vibe" that I like so much.
• Red House Painters - San Geronimo / Shadows

Is it obvious that I'm browsing (and stuck in) the O and R sections of my iTunes library? So I guess that's the theme of this playlist. 

• Rogue Wave - Publish My Love
• Ry Cooder - Straight Street

Thursday Afternoon Vinyl Finds

A few vinyl finds from a sudden Thursday afternoon trip to the record store. The result of a doctor visit where bad news was feared and where the opposite outcome happened. I was driving by the record store on my way home and thought: "Why not?" 

I spotted this Ella Fitzgerald - Duke Ellington record, the previous time I was in and had been regretting not taking it home. Thankfully, it was still there. I've been bitten by that bug more than once when I put off the purchase for another day.

Female jazz vocals and a great cover photo on near mint condition vinyl. Released in 1966, (I think), but recorded in the 1950's. 

In the past five years, I've come to appreciate and enjoy, big band jazz sounds. Flipping through the bins of used vinyl, I came across this Woody Herman Big Band offering. A moment later, I uncovered a J.J. Johnson - Kai Winding album .... as if it needed more trombone, (I'm not going to argue against it). there's three or four additional trombonists listed in the credits. 

. 

Unexpected Playlist

Just a drive-by and unexpected playlist .....

• Tommy Malone - We Both Lose .... If you don't know the name, Tommy Malone, then you probably don't know The Subdudes, the group he was part of, but it would be well worth getting to know both.
• North Mississippi Allstars - Set Sail Part I / Didn't We Have a Time
• Perpetual Groove - Three Weeks
• Widespread Panic - Ain't Life Grand
• North Mississippi Allstars - Kids These Daze

Switching up direction and genres a little .....

• Tom Rush - Rockport Sunday / Child's Song ..... "It was long ago you must remember, you were once as young and scared as me."
• Dave Van Ronk - Green, Green Rocky Road
• Phil Ochs - Celia
• Gene Clark - On Her Own / On Tenth Street

I saw a Phil Ochs record the other day but refrained from purchasing it, unsure if I didn't already have it at home. Now that I've verified that it's not part of my collection, I can't remember where I saw it. But I only remember two or three places I've visited recently. It must be one of those right? Aging and memo0ry .... hmpff!!

• Dry Branch Fire Squad - Midnight on the Stormy Deep
• Railroad Earth - Long Walk Home

12-Tone Compositions

'12-Tone Compositions & Arrangements' by composer and band conductor, Lyle Murphy. From 1955 on Contemporary Records. 

I came across a vinyl copy just a few days ago. The cover caught my attention and nullified any initial hesitation upon discovering the participation of multiple saxophonists .... I've been attempting to get into other jazz sounds lately rather than saxophone dominated recordings. I enjoyed the listen though. 

My knowledge of jazz styles is basic and limited. I comprehend and interpret this as a cross between swing and bop. A short review found on the Dusty Groove website calls it: "A rare bit of mid 50's modernism."

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.

King Creosote

'Diamond Mine' by King Creosote & Jon Hopkins. From 2011 on compact disc.

I heard two or three songs a few years ago and was intrigued. Then somehow failed to follow up. Until now that is. Beautiful melodies that melt into the next. Jon Hopkins adds splashes of sounds and atmospherics.

Upon first reading the name, 'King Creosote,' I assumed it was primarily a Cajun or Zydeco recording. But King Creosote, aka Kenny Anderson, is an indie-folk based effort.