It’s cold. So damned cold it’s making headlines around the
world. It got me thinking about winter-themed jazz and I think I found the
album for this Polar Vortex (which sounds like the name of a 1970s jazz combo, maybe one featuring one of the Brecker brothers...).
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| one of my favourite album covers |
Let’s take a look at the Ornette Coleman Trio’s “At the
Golden Circle, Stockholm” volumes 1 & 2 (Blue Note, 1965). It was the cover that came to
mind.
I’ll say that I know some of you won’t go for this. It might
push too many boundaries for you, and that’s okay. No judgement from me. I’m
fine to follow Ornette on this musical journey. I’m listening to “Faces and Places” right now. Yeah, this music cooks and will help warm you from the ears
on down. Your feet will be tapping and blood will be flowing to your icy appendages.
The trio is unusual in a Sonny Rollins kind of way, Sax, bass,
drums. No where to hide here. It takes a tight group to make it work and
Ornette and company have what it takes to make this album cook.
The band:
Ornette Coleman-alto saxophone, violin, trumpet
David Izenzon-bass
Charles Moffett-drums
Like any great rhythm section, Izenzon and Moffett are so
good that I’ll listen to the two of them on their own, like on the last half of
the track “European Echoes.” They might not be known to you, but they are brilliant musicians and free jazz specialists who played with a who's who of that sub-genre.
Aside from Ornette Coleman, David Izenson also recorded with Jaki Byard, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Steve Kuhn, Paul Motian, Yoko Ono, Archie Shepp and Sonny Rollins.
Charles Moffett recorded with Archie Shepp, Prince Lasha, Ahmed Abdullah and Joe McPhee.
If you really want to push things, you can listen to Ornette
screech away at the violin on “Snowflakes and Sunshine.” I’m always up for a
bit of adventure, but I admit I didn’t quite follow Ornette on that violinistic
journey. He also pulls out the trumpet on that song and fares better.
The album is good, adventurous stuff and worth a listen if
you need to expand your mind and concept of what jazz can be.
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| a trio pushing the limits |
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