First music of the day

[weedeewop]

I’d like to think you would enjoy it.

[weedeewop]

[lonson]

A warmer, soggy morning. Got to sleep in! Happy about that.

Starting off with

Brother Jack McDuff “Who Knows What Tomorrow’s Gonna Bring?” Blue Note/Water cd

A large ensemble brassy and funky opus.

Drums – Donald McDonald*
Electric Bass – Tony Levin
Electric Guitar – Joe Beck
Engineer – Jon Child
Organ – Brother Jack McDuff
Percussion – Mike Mainieri, Ray Draper
Piano – Paul Griffin
Producer – Lew Futterman
Trombone – Dick Griffin, John Pierson (2)
Trumpet – Olu Dara, Randy Brecker
Tuba – Ray Draper
Vocals – Ray Draper

Followed by

Keeping it funky.

The Essence All Stars “Essence of Funk” Hip-Bop cd

[jghughes2]

This group of musicians was apparently assembled to celebrate Blue Note’s 85th anniversary…so this record might be a one-off. Majority of the compositions were written by Gerald Clayton. Very enjoyable post-bop, sounds really good.

[lonson]

Agreed. I buy anything with Joel Ross and/or Immanuel Wilkins and this does not disappoint.

[weedeewop]

Jorma Kaukonen Quah, his first solo LP released in 1974. Cover art by his wife Margareta, now residing with Tom Hobson at Fur Peace Ranch. Quah is an excellent blend of gospel, blues, and folk as only Jorma Kaukonen could do. Fans of Jorma’s work with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna as well as Leo Kotke and John Fahey may enjoy Quah.

[lonson]

Another warm soggy morning. I realized waking up I didn’t put the garbage out. . . will have to do that really soon before the trucks come at dawn (we share garbage with a widow friend up the street so I have to drive our bags up to her big container).

Since it was still in the transport, and I love it so, I’m re-listening to this one as my first disc of the day.
Such magnificent playing full of confidence and the joy of music-making. Such a personal touch and flow. . .I especially love how the introductions morph into the “tune.” Great recording as well.

Erroll Garner “Nightconcert” Mack Avenue cd

FOLLOWED BY

Charles Tolliver Music Inc “Live at the Captain’s Cabin” Cellar Live 2 cd set, disc 1

My second time listening to this one. I wish the sound were better, it’s okay. . . .

Quite a performance. My interest in this sort of jazz has waned over the years. . . I used to much more excited by Tolliver’s conception and execution before. But I’m glad this has been released. My esteem for John Hicks has grown over the years so I am quite happy he is in the piano chair.

[Craig_Burgess]

This was big when I was in college. The dorm cafeteria sound system played a radio station that had “Genesis” in heavy rotation (that, and “White Bird” by It’s a Beautiful Day).

[jghughes2]

Vocalist Sara Serpa wrote the compositions on this set. She quite often sings ‘out of tune’ with the (stellar) accompaniments and I find it really nice. Very well recorded.

Ingrid Laubrock - saxes
Angelica Sanchez - piano
Erik Friedlander. Cello

[RonP]

Good sound stage on this one. Playing varies with the performer but they’re all seasoned session guys.

[weedeewop]

It’s A Beautiful Day’s White Bird continues to get a fair amount of listening here. My wife frequently plays it.
Regarding Quah, well these days it is a special LP as my brother, a year younger, introduced me to it. As he is now in failing health this and several other LPs have a special meaning for me.

[weedeewop]

A bit of a late start this morning and wasn’t sure where to start. My system is in the process of being reassembled having reinserted my Gryphon Power Zone 3.10 late last night, as well as making room for a new addition. A Jay’s CDT3 Mk3 should be arriving sometime today.

As far as a first spin, as CD isn’t an option at the moment I thought I’d dig into one of a handful of Vinyl Me Please (VMP) LPs I picked up during the most recent RSD Black Friday. Having an MOV copy elsewhere, I thought I’d start with Nina Simone Sings the Blues. 1967’s recording is a first for Nina with the RCA Label after finishing up with Phillips on High Priestess of Soul, is a stellar performance covering many fine blues, tin pan alley, and popular songs. One standout is The House of the Rising Sun, there isn’t a turkey to be found on this release.

It may be due to fiddling with my system, it needing time to settle back in, and a proper morning warm-up, but this VMP LP sounds a bit thin in the lower midrange and upper bass, as the set benefits from a more guttural presentation that seems to be lacking at the moment.

[weedeewop]

Typically I try my best to stick to Vince’s intent of First Music of the Day, only referencing a single title. Nothing inherently wrong with posting more than one. After listening to Nina Simone, and being slghtly disappointed with the VMP LP sonics, I pulled a seceond VMP LP release, Abbey Lincoln it’s magic. Sounds just fine to my ear, indicating the Vitus needed additional warm-up time with the PZ 3.10 re-inserted, or the Simone Sings the Blues is actually a bit thin sounding.

As I listen I feel as though I have neglected Abbey Lincoln, as her presentation of standards is wonderful, and her voice in fine form. This LP is classic 1958 jazz standards.

Featured artists are a who’s who of 1950’s jazz:
Kenny Dorham
Sahib Shahib
Curtis Fuller
Benny Golson
Jerome Richardson
Wynton Kelly
Paul Chambers
Philly Joe Jones
Art Farmer
Sam Jones

[lonson]

Another cool morning. First in the player is Wayne Shorter “Night Dreamer” Blue Note 85th Anniversary SHM-SACD

After losing power to half of the house for some inexplicable reason things are back to normal now–Lucy and I tried everything we could for an hour or more and then the power company came, the tech touched the meter, and power came back. Going to have an electrician take a loot soon. . . but glad to have heat and water for the night.

Before that three boxes from cdjapan arrived and this is the first disc I’m playing. Sound is very similar to the UHQCD released of this title in the series, a bit mellower sounding . . . in my system SACD has a slight edge, always it seems. . . both discs sound very very good in comparison to other cd reissues of this title from the past.

Continuing my first session of the day. . . .

Another SHM-SACD in the Blue Note Japan 85th Anniversary series
Herbie Hancock “Empyrean Isles”

Sounds very good.

There seems to be a bit more bass. I find the high frequencies a bit more mellow–which is how SACD separates itself from redbook cd playback most in my system, the mellower highs and a bit less forward presentation. In general these SHM-SACD sound very similar to the UHQCD releases of the same material, which makes sense. If your system “likes” SACD a bit more and it’s a favorite title you might well enjoy the SHM-SACD version a bit more.

[RonP]

Wow! A great blast from my past.

[RonP]

I love this album and Charlie Rouse’s melodic style.

[lonson]

The expanded cd is fantastic!

[jghughes2]

[lonson]

First session of the day. . . a cold clear morning. Yesterday’s meager snowfall glistening in the moonlight.

Andrew Hill “Point of Departure” Blue Note Japan 85th Anniversary SHM-SACD

Another great sounding SHM-SACD

Continuing on with a quite different pianist. . . .

Kenny Barron “Innocence” Wolf Records/Solid Records Japan cd

This one is new to me, a re-reissue from last week. Nice! First released in 1978.

Kenny Barron – keyboards
Jimmy Owens – trumpet
Sonny Fortune – alto saxophone
Buster Williams – bass
–or–
Gary King – electric bass
Brian Brake
–or–
Ben Riley - drums
Rafael Cruz
–or–
Billy Hart - percussion

[DavidF]

I’ve been away for awhile