Fall is here, but it’s still a bit warm. Fiona and I had a little walk. . . walking a deaf and blilnd dog is a bit of a challenge, but rewarding when she returns and settles into a happy nap and I get to listen to the warmed up stereo.
Started off with
Miles Davis “Quiet Nights” Sony Blu-Spec CD2 2023
Followed by
Tony Williams “The Story of Neptune” Blue Note cd
Miles Davis “Sorcerer” Mobile Fidelity Lab SACD
Beautiful weather this morning. Stayed up later than usual last night watching a historical event, and up earlier than usual today. Will fade later!
This SACD sounds so good!
FOLLOWED BY
Count Basie “Basie Jam” Pablo/OJC cd
Louie really stands out on this one for me this time around. No wonder he’s featured on the cover.
The Basie swing is a nice propellant for the day.
A cool, still morning. One of “our” owls is making his distinctive call in the wooded side lot we have. I love to hear these birds! Fiona the dachshund is a bit fiesty, but indicates she’ll settle down soon. As I listen I’m finishing up selecting about 35 (mostly Japanese Blue Note) cds for sale. I need the space and new versions have come in or will be soon arriving from Japan.
Joe Lovano “Bird Song” Blue Note cd
This is a session I really enjoy–the two drummers are really well arranged and add a special sauce to this. And the focus on Parker material is successful and seems innovative. The lovely Ms Spalding sounds great here too–her bass is deep sounding and her playing precise.
Joe Lovano, Saxophones
James Weidman, Piano
Esperanza Spalding, Bass
Otis Brown III, Drums
Francisco Mela, Drums
FOLLOWED BY
Joe King Oliver “Centennial” Archaeophone Records box set
I’m re-listening to disc 1 of this excellent box set. This does not sound that different than the Off the Record cds sound, but man this box set is a TREASURE TROVE for any Joe King or Pops fan!
Another cool morning. Fiona the dachshund let me go back to sleep a few hours, a welcome thing.
Re-listening to this release from this year. I really like it–it strongly reminds me of Dizzy Gillepsie’s “Portrait of Duke Ellington” from decades ago.
Brian Landrus “Plays Ellington & Strayhorn” Palmetto cd
Woke up looking forward to a dinner tonight with my two brothers, their wives, and my two youngest nieces. Never see them enough!
It’s beautiful outside! Nice brief walk with Fiona the dachshund.
Starting the listening off with a new arrival, Matt Wilson “That’s Gonna Leave A Mark” Palmetto cd
Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Andrew D’Angelo
Bass – Chris Lightcap
Drums, Vocals– Matt Wilson
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet – Jeff Lederer
Vocals – Felicia Wilson, Henry Wilson, Karlie Bruce, The Swayettes, The Wilson Family Singers
Followed by
Neil Young “Time Fades Away” Reprise cd
This is the most recent cd version, to improve listening compared to my worn LP. This is a sentimental favorite. . . I was at one of these shows.
A nice cool morning, after a great dinner with my brothers and sisters-in-law and my two youngest nieces. Never get enough evenings like that!
Starting the day off with. . . .Sun Ra “At The Showcase: Live In Chicago 1976-1977” Jazz Detective 2 cd set, disc 1
I’ve grown less and less interested in Sun Ra in the mid-to-late 'Seventies and beyond, picked this one up because I suspected the sound was good and to check out the performances.
It’s. . . okay. Not the worst of this vintage I’ve heard performance wise, and the sound is quite good. May go on the trade/sell pile, we’ll see.
FOLLOWED BY
“Lena & Gabor” Skye/Muzak Japan cd.
The seeming (to me) unusual pairing of Lena Horne with Gabor Szabo–which is interestingly arranged by Gary McFarland and features a proto-“Stuff” personnel.
Over time I’ve learned to appreciate what McFarland was up to which is integral here. I confess. . . I do like this one and this Muzak reissue sounds phenomenal on the system this morning.
Lena was such a beauty with a wonderful voice.
Lena Horne – vocals
Gábor Szabó – guitar
Eric Gale, Cornell Dupree – guitar
Richard Tee – organ
Chuck Rainey – electric bass
Grady Tate – drums
Gary McFarland – arranger, conductor
Unknown strings and horns
The Howard Roberts Chorale – vocals
Howard Roberts – vocal arrangement
Bill Charlap “Somewhere: Songs of Leonard Bernstein” Blue Note cd
Nice and cool morning. So quiet–not even nocturnal birds are vocal.
This disc will show you how accurate and dynamic your system is–beautifully recorded.
FOLLOWED BY
Tom Jobim “My Soul Sings”
I love this disc of tracks that Jobim recorded for the Lumiar series of songbooks by Brazilian composers.Tom in his final years interpreting the work of others. Magnificent!
It was my wife’s birthday yesterday and I didn’t get much listening in but helped her have a fun day.
This cool morning I wanted to sleep in late but Fiona the dachshund had other plans. Certainly was a nice little walk and I’m starting off the listening with disc 3 of this interesting “anthology” tribute 4 cd set:
Jazz Celebration: A Tribute to Carl Jefferson
Followed by
Mali Obomsawin “Sweet Tooth” Out of Your Head cd
A very interesting cd from this lovely woman.
Got a little more sleep before the old dog woke me up. Nice cool, quiet morning.
I have been revisiting a few Armacost discs that I never played much and then filed away. . . .
Tim Armacost “Fire” Concord cd
FOLLOWED BY
Bill Holman “In A Jazz Orbit” Andex/Muzak Japan lp facsimile cd
A beautiful morning!
Jerry Gonzalez And The Fort Apache Band “Fire Dance” Milestone cd
What a live performance!
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Joe Ford
Bass – Andy Gonzalez
Drums, Percussion – Steve Berrios
Piano – Larry Willis
Tenor Saxophone – John Stubblefield
Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Congas – Jerry Gonzalez
