Was Nathan Davis The Greatest Flautist?

Jazz Concert in a Benedictine Monastery is hard to find but worth the search

I can face facts. I know that jazz flute has a bad rap. It's easy to understand why. Maybe that god awful album cover of Herbie Mann's Push Push was the final nail.

You've told me that most people find it difficult to relate to that upper register that doesn't have that same soul as a saxophone. It's not easy to swing on a flute. Maybe you're right.

But friends, Nathan Davis could do it. The man could play any sax too. He could probably rock a kazoo.

If you're doubting me, and I know at least one of you is, have a listen to Uschimaus (from the album 'Jazz Concert in a Benedictine Monastery' (1972) or on the collection 'The Best of 1965-76') and your doubts will be cast aside.

The recording quality is pretty poor, but the band is stellar and they cooked in that Benedictine Monastery. They probably had some of those monks realizing that God was right there, in jazz all along.

yikes. someone toss this man a shirt

Well, Nathan Davis died yesterday, and that's another Great who's moved on. It makes me wish that I was religious like those monks and then I would have some solace in thinking that he's jamming in the great beyond. It would be a great band up there, or down there, wherever.

Who knows. Maybe I'll be lucky and the afterlife is a jazz club in permanent happy hour. Dollar a drink, top shelf only.

Listening to Miles With Sadness in My Heart

So goddamned cool

She went quickly and much too soon and of course, we were all heart-broken. You know the details so I won't get into them. I imagine you got an invite to next weekend's memorial gathering.

She didn't think much of jazz, but I liked her anyway. This weekend, since I needed as much comfort as possible, I turned to an old friend, Miles Davis's Prestige recordings.

It's a debate I've had many times in many cities and hope to have another debate soon: namely, what is Miles' best musical period. It's a great debate since there is, clearly, no BEST period. It's all a matter of taste. I love his earliest recordings with Bird as well as his fusion recordings, especially In A Silent Way.

Admittedly, I've never met anyone who would argue that the recordings from his final decade are the cream of the crop, though I still like his recording of "Time After Time" from You're Under Arrest, (or how about this live version?) but maybe that's just because I'm partial to that Cyndi Lauper tune. Now I know that many of you are groaning from much of what I've written in this paragraph, but I'll stand by Cyndi.

As I'm sure I've told you before, I'm partial to Miles' Prestige recordings. Great bands, great songs. Jazz doesn't get much better than albums likeas the classics Cookin', Steamin', Relaxin' and Workin'. The familiarity of these great recordings helped get me through this tough weekend. I could offer up a dozen tracks to prove my point, but how about "Ahmad's Blues"?


Enjoy. I hope to raise a glass with you again soon. Call me.

Excuses

Friends, I'm sorry it's been so long. I don't really have a good excuse. I could say that writers are typically self-isolating, or that I've been writing more fiction lately and less about jazz, but those aren't good excuses.

I've still been listening to a lot of jazz, which will not surprise you. I promise to be better at keeping in touch because I have so much to tell you. Nothing remains the same.

I forgot to tell you the name.

It was good to finally see you but I only have a moment before I catch this train. His name is John Young and it was his trio we listened to last night.

Also, I neglected to complement your delphiniums.

Say hello to Larry.

Let's Talk About Jim

the greatest guitarist in jazz?

It has been too long, friends. Yet even as I write these words I don't have enough time to express everything I want to say about the great Jim Hall, who I have been listening to almost exclusively for the past few weeks. We shall discuss him soon, okay? Over a nice cup of Kicking Horse or a pint of Sleeping Giant perhaps.

For now, be sure to listen to Jim Hall Live as soon as possible for it is truly a work of beauty.

Let's talk soon, okay?

A lovely one from Jack Sheldon

I understand if you've never heard of him.

Jack Sheldon was part of that great West Coast scene that produced tons of amazing music that would take a lifetime or two to get through. Let me just say that his early recordings are wonderful. Maybe he isn't a cutting edge innovator, but I'm not sure that was the intent of those West Coast Cool guys (with Gerry Mulligan being one exception...). I like to think that they just wanted to make great music. Have a listen to "Ahmoore" by Jack Sheldon.



The cool and fabulous Jack Sheldon

I first heard this track many years ago when I picked up "The Progressive Al Cohn" at a used CD shop in Toronto. I liked his version, but there's something about Sheldon's version that I prefer. I suppose debating the merits of each version would be a delightful topic of conversation the next time we are together. For now, enjoy this wonderful song that seems perfectly suited for a warm and sunny spring day.

The Name is Gildo Mahones

Busy, busy. I wish I had more time to chat with you but today won't work. Just the same, I felt the need to share with you, if even for a moment. Gildo Mahones is the man's name, my friends, and may I present Blues For Yna Yna. I don't know much about him yet, but this song says a lot.

Albums That All Humans Should Own #8

The trombone gets a bad rap these days. I mean, everyone loves the sax and trumpet, but friends, let's be honest, how many of you could claim to love listening to the trombone? How many of you could name three trombone players? Or even two? I would hope that most of you could name J.J. Johnson, especially since I have played so much of his music for you over the years... but today I would like to present another trombone master, who followed in J.J.'s ellustrious footsteps: Curtis Fuller.

He played with some of the greats (surely you noticed his playing on John Coltrane's "Blue Train" album) and was part of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the 60s and made several incredible albums with them.

I could list some of those albums as essential, but for today, I'm proud to announce that:

'Blues-ette' (1959) by Curtis Fuller is my eighth pick of essential albums that all humans should own.

How many times have I mentioned that the band often makes the record? Often, I know, but how about this line-up?

Benny Golson - tenor sax
Curtis Fuller - trombone
Tommy Flanagan - piano
Jimmy Garrison - bass
Al Harewood - drums



Great player, great writer.

A stellar line-up. There is a ton of great grooving music on this disc. Have a listen to the classic Five Spot After Dark and tell me that all of a sudden the trombone doesn't seem as staid as you previously thought... Besides, you know I'll listen to anything Benny Golson played, especially his recordings from the 50s and 60s.

If you have $30 to spare, and spending money on music is an investment in life-enrichment, I would recommend you head over to iTunes and pick up Curtis Fuller's "Complete Savoy Recordings" on which "Blues-ette" is featured. Killer music friends.

You're welcome. Happy listening and see you soon, okay?

Another Bit of Shepp

Archie Shepp in and out of focus

Yesterday's post had me in an Archie Shepp frame of mind so I thought I'd share something a bit more adventurous than yesterday's groove. Have a listen to 'Lybia'. It's 20+ minutes of dynamite. Shepp has something special, though I admit he may not be to everyone's taste. I like to pull out tracks like this when people argue that they like jazz because it helps them relax. Not all jazz, baby! I say, and then turn this number up.

(and to avoid doing it tomorrow, here's 'Blase', another classic energized track.)

Archie Shepp And George Jackson

Great album, great cover

Now I don't want you to think I don't value our friendship, but if "Blues For Brother George Jackson" by Archie Shepp from his wonderful album Attica Blues (Impulse Records, 1972) doesn't make you want to move, then sorry, our friendship is done.

No pressure, but enjoy this one, okay? It's a great groove and I know you'll love it. It was my ringtone for awhile, but then you got offended that everytime you called I'd let it ring and ring...

Fabulous Flamenco on a Winter's Morn

Miles & Bill - I wish they had recorded 100 albums together...

Friends, I know I've spoken a great deal about spending a lot of time listening to lesser known jazz musicians and while this is true, the track that accompanied me through my drive to work on this unseasonably mild January morning (what happened to northern winters?) was the absolutely lovely "Flamenco Sketches" from Miles Davis' seminal recording Kind of Blue. You know that I am in love with Bill Evans and to hear him playing with Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Paul Chambers, Cannonball Adderley and Jimmy Cobb... well it doesn't get much better than that, does it?

Enjoy this classic, my friends.

Kind of Blue is the best-selling jazz album of all time for a very good reason, don't you think? After all, I named it an Essential Album That All Humans Should Own, so I imagine you've already bought it, listened to it constantly like I did upon first hearing it, then rushed out and bought as much Bill Evans as you could afford.

Eddie Costa, Another One Who Died Too Young

happy hipster

I've been on a real kick of exploring some of the lesser known lights of jazz, as my last few posts will attest. Have you heard of the incredible Eddie Costa? He was a West Coast player who was equally proficient on piano and vibes, he had a percussive attack on the keys that really is all his own.

He played some great music with Bill Evans handling the keys while Eddie played vibes. Another great group in the history of jazz.

Luckily Eddie left some fine music behind before his tragic car accident (wait, ignore that - we avoid talking about the details of the bad endings that came to jazz musicians, though perhaps if I am feeling particularly nihilistic one day I could write all about it) and one of my favourites, at least as of this morning as I drove to work, is his rendition of 'Get Happy'. Friends, listen for a few seconds and you'll see what I mean about his wonderful rhythmic talents. It's a gem of a song and I urge you to seek him out.

Bobby Timmons Is A Name You Should Know

well-dressed and amazing

If you are even a semi-fan of jazz, surely you enjoy the music of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. They went through many encarnations over the years but one of the best groups ever was the one he put together in the late 50s to early 60s.

Now I've always been drawn to this music for the front line of Lee Morgan on trumpet and Wayne Shorter on tenor, but there was someone in that band who I never gave his due: Bobby Timmons on piano.

Not only did he have an incredible acuity, he was also an incredible songwriter. Have a listen to the Jazz Messengers playing his classic 'Dat Dere'.

If that doesn't get your feet tapping you are no friend of mine. I know that must seem harsh, but even I, as easy-going as I am, have my limits. Wayne Shorter plays a killer solo doesn't he? Then Lee does his usual magic, then at 5:05 you've got Mr. Bobby Timmons himself. Incredible.

His solo recordings are equally wonderful and worth seeking out. How about another classic, 'Moanin' recorded in a trio setting? Man, don't you wish you could play like that? Well, maybe you are that good, I don't know. As for me, I'll be content to listen to Timmons and it will help warm me on this -40C day.

Like so many in jazz, he died far too young but let's think about the music he made during his 38 years instead of his early exit, shall we?


He could play, he could write.

Lou Blackburn on the Trombone

Lou Blackburn is a revelation. If you're going to download one album from iTunes this holiday season, may I suggest Lou Blackburn's "The Complete Imperial Sessions" which features the trombonist in partnership with trumpeter Preddie Hill. Never heard of either man? That's okay. He is newish to me too but don't let his lack of fame disuade you.

This is some killer music will be a perfect soundtrack to your holiday cocktail parties.

I know that by now you trust my judgement and are likely already downloading this album, but to alleviate any doubts, or to entertain you while the download continues, have a listen to Perception. That's a great groove isn't it? That's hard bop at its finest.

Regrets, Milt

I told you it would happen. I love 'Bag's Opus' but lately I have been listening to 'Bags and Trane', which is an incredible album Milt recorded with John Coltrane and an all-star line-up in 1959. Perhaps I should have named it the #7 album that all humans should own. Shall we call it #7.5?

two of the greatest

Have a listen to the title track and as soon as you hear the great Hank Jones play that opening riff you know you are in for something special. Milt and John have a great repoir. My man Paul Chambers plays some great bass as well and Kenny Clarke is great on drums, as he always is.

This really is a stellar disc and I can't recommend it highly enough. It was recorded the year before Coltrane released his seminal 'Giant Steps' and began to create one of the great bodies of work in modern jazz.