Normally I wouldn't immediately recommend you download jazz and world music albums. Unlike other genres, jazz, world and classical have so much intricacies that you really need to hear it on a stereo to get the full meaning of the music. Listening on your computer speakers (no matter how expensive) just doesn't cut it. But since the demise of the record store there are few places to actually get physical CDs. So downloading is the best and only way to go.
I wanted to suggest a couple of albums you could download from iTunes that would satisfy your listening pleasure for awhile and give you a little more insight on what to discover next. I've tried to list titles that I haven't talked about before. I hope you have the time to check this out soon.
1) Old and New Dreams Playing (ECM Records)
2) One For All Upward and Onward (Criss Cross)
3) Lars Danielsson & Leszek Mozdzer Pasodoble (ACT Music)
4) Fred Hersch Trio+2 (Palmetto Records)
5) Nine Horses Snow Borne Sorrow (Samadhisound)
6) Sam Yahel Hometown (Positone)
7) Eric Alexander Primetime (High Note)
8) Polar Bear Polar Bear (Tin Angel Records)
9) Jon Hassell Last Night The Moon Came Dropping Its Clothes In The Street (ECM Records)
10) Femi Kuti Day by Day (Mercer Street Records)
Since you will have a chance to listen to a sample of each song on iTunes I think you will get a good idea of the entire album. Have fun and happy listening.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Dave Brubeck's Time Out: Why It's Important
Dave Brubeck (piano)Paul Desmond (saxophone)
Eugene Wright (bass)
Joe Morello (drums)
Time Out
Dave Brubeck is widely known for two jazz standards, "Take Five" and "Blue Rondo A La Turk" from the album Time Out (Columbia), which celebrates 50 years this year. And with 50 years comes the question, "Why is it so relevant?" I'll tell you why. His style is quiet, composed and complex while still illuminating everyone around.
Dave Brubeck is a delight at the piano. I have seen him at least six times in recent history and I have met him as well. He is a wonderful person and an even more amazing performer. In my brief (and I do mean brief) conversations with him he did mention this recording and how it came about.
Not much is different from what you would read in the liner notes to the album. But it is important to note that Time Out includes some of the most complicated arrangements for the time period. Brubeck specifically wanted to record and album that went beyond the traditional jazz meters (4/4 for those who don't know). An experimental album if you could call it that. He integrated the strange but beautiful 9/8 into "Blue Rondo A La Turk" which makes it so recognizable.
Then there is "Take Five." The unbelievable saxophone performance from the hugely underrated Paul Desmond (who on his own never made a bad recording) make this a monumental track aside from the entire album itself. As Desmond and Brubeck have mentioned in the past, the song was meant to be a showcase for the drummer, Joe Morello. It turned into the signature chords and possibly curse for Paul Desmond.
"Pick Up Sticks," the closing track on the album, is the highlight for both Brubeck and bassist, Eugene Wright. The building pattern in rhythms and dominance of Brubeck's delivery on piano to the close out the album are perfect for this true masterpiece of American music.
There is currently a 3 CD set of Time Out celebrating the 50th anniversary of the album that includes live material and a DVD documentary. I normally don't go for these kinds of things but since I own all three of these separately I can say it is all worth it in one place. The documentary includes conversations with Brubeck--an insightful piece of jazz viewing and of course highly recommended. If you don't want to shell out the 20 something bucks for the 3 disc set there is always the single disc which will end up on repeat in your stereo and on your ipod for years to come.
Dave Brubeck tours regularly so you should check him out the next time his in your town.
Paul Desmond would go on to create his own quartet which as previously mentioned never recorded a bad record. He recorded some fantastic albums with Gerry Mulligan (sax) and with Jim Hall (guitar) as well as phenomenal recordings with The Modern Jazz Qurartet.
There are a number of decent compilations that are widely available including The Best Of Paul Desmond (Columbia) and The Best Of The Complete Paul Desmond (sampler from a larger boxed set). But for specific albums you should also check Pure Desmond (CTI), Two Of A Mind (RCA), Live (Verve) and Take Ten (RCA). The aforementioned are more available online than at record stores. I hope you check out these master performers at some point soon. It's history we should all share.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Tony Bennett: The One And Only
Tony Bennett (vocal)The Essential Tony Bennett
There are so many things I can say about Tony Bennett. He truly is the one and only for me. He is compared to Frank Sinatra a lot and while justified (he even acknowledges and appreciates the comparison) I tend to enjoy Bennett's interpretation of the American Songbook more than Sinatra's. You can feel the heart and emotion in every note Tony sings.
Tony's most recent albums have revolved around themes (the blues, duets, etc.) more geared at gaining a mass appeal audience. That's fine but I think many would prefer to hear Tony in the more comfortable role of jazz singer and interpreter of great standards. With that said I would suggest two records that cover this perfectly, The Essential Tony Bennett and The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album both on Columbia Records and Fantasy Records respectively.
The Essential covers everything up to the early 2000s and includes exactly the material you are looking for "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," "Rages To Riches," "The Best Is Yet To Come," and recent collaborations with K.D. Lang. Bennett Evans is a "core collection" type album, meaning you should definitely own it. Recorded at a time when Tony was very influenced by bebop, he went into a session with pianist Bill Evans and they came away with one the best vocal jazz albums of all time. If you really want to hear Tony in a different setting this is the album to listen to.
In recent years Tony Bennett's celebrity has overshadowed his musical contributions but there is no denying that he is a living legend and will be acknowledged as one of the best jazz singers of the last two centuries. A little raspy but consistently smooth, Tony Bennett continues be the embodiment of cool. Below are two cool clips featuring Tony with Bill Evans and a colloboration with Paul McCartney, K.D. Lang and Sting.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Great Entertainers
Michel Petrucciani (piano; b. 1962 - d.1999)
Musicians and entertainers come and go. Great entertainers and communicators touch the heart, the soul and will live with us long after their passing. Michel Petrucciani embodies that marvelous combination ever time he sat down to play the piano.
Michel was born with a bone disease which also contributed to stunting his growth - But this did not stop him from recording over two dozen albums and becoming one of the most entertaining live performers of the last 25 years.
A delightful mixture of fun and technical brilliance which at times brings to mind a young Bill Evans, Michel Petrucciani is greatly missed on the jazz scene. He had worked with such legendary performers as Lee Konitz, Jim Hall, Stephane Grappelli, Joe Lovano and Wayne Shorter to name a only a few. His music connected with people immediately and you could feel the emotion and vigor in every note.
For many who may not be familiar with him, you should check him out. We are lucky enough that while he has huge catalog of releases, two of the labels he recorded for have made available two well developed compilations which together give a good overview of his superior talent at the piano. Both The Best Of The Blue Note Years and The Best Of Dreyfus Recordings are available online from J and R in New York. One additional recording that even if you bought as your first, you would still find satisfying will be The Complete Solo Live In Germany (2CDs; Dreyfus Recordings).
...Live In Germany is a defining moment for Petrucciani. To me, it's one of those albums that solidifies an artist among critics, fans and musicians. These three albums would be all you need if you choose to go no further, although I would highly recommend that you do.
Here are two wonderful videos showcasing one of the greatest entertainers of the last two decades. I think you will enjoy them as much as I do.
Mongo Santamaria (drums; b.1922 - d. 2003)
To many, the name Ramon "Mongo" Santamaria will mean nothing. But you have heard his music for years. The famous John Coltrane piece "Afro Blue" was written by Mongo. Ramon "Mongo" Santamaria was a monster on the drums. Another true entertainer who is dearly missed. His infectious blend of jazz, Latin and R&B yielded a career spanning almost 4 decades.
At a time when Latin jazz was not reaching the radar of music executives as well as the public, Mongo proved to them all that their was an insatiable desire for percussive driven jazz. And with that Mongo would conquer America and the world. All this before Carlos Santana was even signed to Columbia Records.
For anyone even remotely interested in Latin jazz you should look no further than starting with a Mongo Santamaria album. I would recommend two albums that are still widely available Skin On Skin (2CD Anthology; Rhino Records) and Afro American Latin (Columbia/Legacy). Skin On Skin covers his entire career and is well worth the money. Afro American Latin covers three very early albums he did for Columbia but do present the direction in which Mongo would eventually explore.
The dazzling and contagious beats coming from your speakers will keep you grooving for days to come. Then seat down on your next listen and really let the music sink in and you will understand his pure genius and wonder why he didn't receive more adulation that he surely deserves.
Mongo Sanatamaria was another true entertainer but also a pioneer for Latin jazz. Here's a burning set from 1985 included Tito Puente and Max Roach performing "Afro Blue."
Musicians and entertainers come and go. Great entertainers and communicators touch the heart, the soul and will live with us long after their passing. Michel Petrucciani embodies that marvelous combination ever time he sat down to play the piano.
Michel was born with a bone disease which also contributed to stunting his growth - But this did not stop him from recording over two dozen albums and becoming one of the most entertaining live performers of the last 25 years.
A delightful mixture of fun and technical brilliance which at times brings to mind a young Bill Evans, Michel Petrucciani is greatly missed on the jazz scene. He had worked with such legendary performers as Lee Konitz, Jim Hall, Stephane Grappelli, Joe Lovano and Wayne Shorter to name a only a few. His music connected with people immediately and you could feel the emotion and vigor in every note.
For many who may not be familiar with him, you should check him out. We are lucky enough that while he has huge catalog of releases, two of the labels he recorded for have made available two well developed compilations which together give a good overview of his superior talent at the piano. Both The Best Of The Blue Note Years and The Best Of Dreyfus Recordings are available online from J and R in New York. One additional recording that even if you bought as your first, you would still find satisfying will be The Complete Solo Live In Germany (2CDs; Dreyfus Recordings).
...Live In Germany is a defining moment for Petrucciani. To me, it's one of those albums that solidifies an artist among critics, fans and musicians. These three albums would be all you need if you choose to go no further, although I would highly recommend that you do.
Here are two wonderful videos showcasing one of the greatest entertainers of the last two decades. I think you will enjoy them as much as I do.
Mongo Santamaria (drums; b.1922 - d. 2003)
To many, the name Ramon "Mongo" Santamaria will mean nothing. But you have heard his music for years. The famous John Coltrane piece "Afro Blue" was written by Mongo. Ramon "Mongo" Santamaria was a monster on the drums. Another true entertainer who is dearly missed. His infectious blend of jazz, Latin and R&B yielded a career spanning almost 4 decades.
At a time when Latin jazz was not reaching the radar of music executives as well as the public, Mongo proved to them all that their was an insatiable desire for percussive driven jazz. And with that Mongo would conquer America and the world. All this before Carlos Santana was even signed to Columbia Records.
For anyone even remotely interested in Latin jazz you should look no further than starting with a Mongo Santamaria album. I would recommend two albums that are still widely available Skin On Skin (2CD Anthology; Rhino Records) and Afro American Latin (Columbia/Legacy). Skin On Skin covers his entire career and is well worth the money. Afro American Latin covers three very early albums he did for Columbia but do present the direction in which Mongo would eventually explore.
The dazzling and contagious beats coming from your speakers will keep you grooving for days to come. Then seat down on your next listen and really let the music sink in and you will understand his pure genius and wonder why he didn't receive more adulation that he surely deserves.
Mongo Sanatamaria was another true entertainer but also a pioneer for Latin jazz. Here's a burning set from 1985 included Tito Puente and Max Roach performing "Afro Blue."
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