Blues is the Preacher, Jazz is the Teacher

Lennie Tristano, blind & beautiful

Thinking about idiosyncratic pianists following the comments in the last post.  After Monk, my mind then turned to Lennie Tristano.  He was a genius of composition who taught everyone who played with him and made them that much better.  Lee Konitz, who played with Tristano for years and was a innovator in his own right, said:

'He was an overwhelming influence. I swear that ten years later I could identify someone who had worked with Lennie by the way they drank a glass of water.'

Have a listen.

I have a busy day ahead and I think that the upbeat music of Lennie Tristano will help energize me.  We could all use a little more genius in our life, don't you agree my friends?  It can help balance out some of the drudgery that surrounds us. Yesterday as I was going into a bookstore a man ahead of me leaned over, placed a finger over one nostril, and blew a line of grossness from the other.

Oh Lennie, help me rise up!

The Man With The Baritone

The Gerry Mulligan Quartet

It's hard to love the baritone saxophone - that ungainly twisted beast - but Gerry Mulligan, you got it going on, baby. 

Your piano-less quartet with Chet Baker on trumpet, the brilliant Chico Hamilton on drums and Bob Whitlock on bass is essential listening.

I am loving your California sound as I drive south through Thunder Bay on this cool spring afternoon.

Defending Aurora

Oregon, not the sexiest band in the world

Back when I was in film school I briefly dated a woman whose name I won't mention. I played her a song by the band Oregon called Aurora which may not seem very jazz-like to some of you but it is a lovely song nonetheless.  At 1:30 the band plays a beautiful refrain; that oboe!  Isn't it nice? So I played this song for her, wanting to share that moment of beauty and she hated it and even made fun of me for it!  Imagine that!

'Are you going to play that song for every woman you date and marry the first one who likes it?'

So rude! In defense of Oregon I stopped seeing her after that.  I didn't even like the band that much, just that moment of that song was a favourite at the time.  Just the same, she was out.

I should also point out that I just played Aurora for my wife and she didn't like it one bit and that's okay with me.

Silver's Spinning

the great Horace Silver

My wife and I are making pasta after an hour of pulling up carpet to expose 100 year old oak. Que Pasa by Horace Silver is playing. It's from his all-time classic album 'Song For My Father'.

'You love Horace Silver,' I say to my wife, 'Everytime he comes on you dance.'

'I know,' she replies.

Clifford Brown: Trumpet

Clifford Brown going for it

Busy today with literature.  It's a glorious burden.  Only stopped in to tell you that Clifford Brown is spinning.  One of the greatest trumpet players of all time.  Perhaps you've never heard of him.  There are several cliches in jazz and Clifford fits the bill on two of them:

1. He/she was under-appreciated as a musician.
2. He/she died before their time.

As mentioned yesterday, we dwell on the positive here.  Clifford Brown's trumpet playing is intense, smooth and extremely inventive so let's not talk about how his life ended on that rainy night. Instead let's talk about the fact that he put out some of the finest jazz of the 1950s.

Listen here and prepare to be converted.

How much MJQ is too much MJQ?

the modern jazz quartet

If I have one weakness it is Mosaic Records. Well... I also have a weakness for strong dark roast coffee.  I try to keep it at two cups a day but that 2:30 cup is often the best.

Mosaic Records puts out amazing jazz box sets full of rarities and unreleased material.  I could go on and on about some sets of the past but I will restrain myself.  Okay, I'll just mention that the Ahmad Jamal set is superb.  I will have to write about him soon.  His drummer Vernel Fournier! A revelation!

Coming soon from Mosaic is this:

The Complete Atlantic Studio Recordings of The Modern Jazz Quartet 1956-64 (7 CDs)

And here's what they say about the MJQ: "That sound. One group conceived it. Defined it. Perfected it. The Modern Jazz Quartet was certainly one of the most distinctive voices in the history of jazz, thanks to the unique qualities of personal expression and collective vision of its members."

And they are very good. They are one of the tightest bands in the history of jazz.  They preferred the concert hall over the nightclub.  These were skilled and serious men, serious about the music and about presenting it with class and dignity.  And the music is strong!  I admit, sometimes I miss a horn player... but Milt jackson sure can ring those bells.

So the question is this: is seven CDs of MJQ too much MJQ?  The set contains fourteen albums! MJQ is not in regular rotation in this house.  I listen to them for a few hours but then I drift away again.  I should admit that I already own MJQ: 40 which is a four CD greatest hits so there is bound to be some overlap...  Surely four discs is enough, right?

Ahhh, who am I kidding. I'm going to buy it.

The Best Singer You've Never Heard Of

I am working today in our lovely sunroom/library and Beverly Kenney is singing.  She is yet another tragic story from the world of jazz, but in this site's ongoing effort to avoid dwelling on the numerous sad stories in jazz, let's focus on the music.  If you want the full tragic story, you can do your own googling.

poor sad Beverly

Kenney has a wonderful voice; relaxed, cool, and as easy to listen to as a Chet Baker trumpet solo.  Her best known album is 'Born To Be Blue' (listen to the gorgeous title track!) and if you can find it, I recommend it.  She only released seven albums (one consisted of demos and was put out forty years after her heartbreaking suicide - oops! I didn't want to get into any of that....) so all of them are worth getting.

It's perfect music to work to.  A shame her life went the way it did...  No, no, no, I won't get into it.  Let's just focus on the music my friends!

Poor Eric

It's been a busy day of babies with each spare moment dedicated to Emmerson Street Press and friends, there's been no time for jazz.

Sadness, yes, yes.

But jazz has been on my mind. I am trying to decide what I will listen to in a couple of hours once babies go to sleep.

Okay, I've made a snap decision.

yet another wicked Blue Note cover

I will listen to 'Poor Eric' as recorded by Jackie McLean's killer band from the mid-60s. It's on the album Right Now! (1965, Blue Note) 

The song, with it's oddly slow dirge-like tempo, was written by the band's pianist, Larry Willis, as an elegy to Eric Dolphy who at age 36 died suddenly from undiagnosed diabetes.

Sounds like a fun song, right?

Perhaps you think it odd that I would choose a song that seems so sombre after such a lovely day; and there is no shortage of sadness in this track, my friends.

Here: listen.

 Be honest, how many of you stopped listening after the first ten seconds?

Wait until 2:33 when Jackie starts his alto sax solo.  He's a genius at melody isn't he?
Bob Cranshaw's bowed bass.  Surely you loved that.  You gotta love a great bass player.
Larry Willis plays an exquisite solo before Jackie takes another solo (and when you can play like Jackie McLean you can solo as much as you want and trust me no one is complaining).

The skill with which this song is played transcends any sad motivation behind it.  By the end of the 10:13 min track, you travel from the sombre to the sublime to the divine.

Yes, friends, it's a great track played by a top-notch band and I look forward to it.

Dinner Music

cheesy photo of Bird

I am making risotto, my wife is exercising and babies are in bed. What shall we listen to while I fry onions in olive oil and butter? Charlie Parker's 'I Get A Kick Out Of You' is on at the moment. Parker is one of the giants of jazz, one of the top two or three most influential artists in the genre. It's also energized music rippling with melody. Parker it is. Did you know that his nickname was 'Bird'? One of the best nicknames in jazz. Give Bird a try, friends, and you're sure to love him as I do.

He had all sorts of problems (damn you heroin!) but let's not dwell on the negative as so many people do in this wonderful world. Instead let's enjoy those gorgeous flowing runs that sound so effortless.

By the way, is their anything that stimulates the appetite more than the smell of frying onions?

Charles Mingus

love the cigar!

It's been too long since we've talked about Mingus.

Have you been listening?

Black Saint and the Sinner Lady?


Mingus Ah Um?


The Clown?

What's Spinning Tonight

A lot of jazz heavyweights, Miles Davis among them, put down Chet Baker. They felt that he did not have the chops and was popular due to his good looks, coy vocals and for being white.

Say what they will, but Chet has something. On a night like this when our boy (who is almost two) had a few temper tantrums and my wife and I want to relax with a nice Australian red and read a bit (me a weighty French novel about an SS officer that angered many people a few years back, her a novel about an undercover PLO operative) Chet Baker's Paris Sessions are ideal.

great album, terrible colourization of photo

Sure, he was no match for Miles' virtuosity, but for chill music, Chet is tough to beat. I'll raise a glass to you, Chet!

Friends, have a listen to him playing one of his signature tunes 'Let's Get Lost'.  Enjoy!

So much to talk about!

Well friends, it has been too long. I have been busy but that hasn't stopped me from continuing to explore the wonderful world of jazz. In the coming weeks I will tell you about people like Ahmad Jamal, The Jazztet, Jackie McLean (his stellar 1960s band), Herbie Nichols, Anita O'Day (what a voice!), and so many more.

Are you looking forward to it my friends? So am I. See you soon!