Unsomnambulist
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What are you listening to? April 2019
- Thread starter Ojai Sam
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Unsomnambulist
Staff member
Mekons - Deserted (2019)
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Joni Mitchell - Hejira (1976)
Here's a record that I absolutely hated when it came out. Joni had migrated so far from the articulate folkie that I had come to know and love that I was devastated. Moreover, I did not understand or appreciate post-hard bop jazz at all. Now, four decades later, I see this for the inspired work that it is.
More than anything, Hejira is a showcase for the bass of Jaco Pastorius and, to a lesser extent, the guitar of Larry Carlton. Mitchell dedicates a bag full of fine songs and her increasingly abstract vocals to the service of some jaw-dropping contemporary jazz. "Transitional" would be a massive understatemement; "transformational" is more like it.
Wiki says:
The album title is an unusual transliteration of the Arabic word more commonly rendered as Hegira or Hijra, which means "rupture", usually referring to the migration of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (and his companions) from Mecca to Medina in 622. She later stated that when she chose the title, she was looking for a word that meant "running away with honor." She found the word "hejira" while reading the dictionary, and was drawn to the "dangling j, like in Aja... it's leaving the dream, no blame".
The cover art echoes this motif, with the comfort of the woods receding into the background while the highway stretches ahead to the unknown horizon.
on the Sam-O-Meter. Joni has found the Refuge of the Roads.
Here's a record that I absolutely hated when it came out. Joni had migrated so far from the articulate folkie that I had come to know and love that I was devastated. Moreover, I did not understand or appreciate post-hard bop jazz at all. Now, four decades later, I see this for the inspired work that it is.
More than anything, Hejira is a showcase for the bass of Jaco Pastorius and, to a lesser extent, the guitar of Larry Carlton. Mitchell dedicates a bag full of fine songs and her increasingly abstract vocals to the service of some jaw-dropping contemporary jazz. "Transitional" would be a massive understatemement; "transformational" is more like it.
Wiki says:
The album title is an unusual transliteration of the Arabic word more commonly rendered as Hegira or Hijra, which means "rupture", usually referring to the migration of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (and his companions) from Mecca to Medina in 622. She later stated that when she chose the title, she was looking for a word that meant "running away with honor." She found the word "hejira" while reading the dictionary, and was drawn to the "dangling j, like in Aja... it's leaving the dream, no blame".
The cover art echoes this motif, with the comfort of the woods receding into the background while the highway stretches ahead to the unknown horizon.
on the Sam-O-Meter. Joni has found the Refuge of the Roads.
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Keith Richards - Live At The Hollywood Palladium (1988)
AMG says this "stands head and shoulders above most of the Stones' live records." Not sure what shampoo has to do with it, but this is one of my favorite live albums. The "X-Pensive Winos" backing Keith include Ivan Neville, Bobby Keyes and Waddy Wachtel, who earned some kind of medal for bravery by even walking onto the stage with Keef carrying a guitar.
on the Sam-O-Meter.
AMG says this "stands head and shoulders above most of the Stones' live records." Not sure what shampoo has to do with it, but this is one of my favorite live albums. The "X-Pensive Winos" backing Keith include Ivan Neville, Bobby Keyes and Waddy Wachtel, who earned some kind of medal for bravery by even walking onto the stage with Keef carrying a guitar.
on the Sam-O-Meter.
Nickyboy
Staff member
Wow! You hated it at first? I grew up with my parents playing Joni's albums and loved them all. And then "Hejeira" came out and I loved it more than anything else she had done! Part of that might be that I was greatly into Weather Report at the time and Jaco is ALL OVER this album. I still spin "Hejeira", "Run for the Roses", and "Blue" regularly. What an incredible talent Joni Mitchel was.Joni Mitchell - Hegira (1976)
Here's a record that I absolutely hated when it came out. Joni had migrated so far from the articulate folkie that I had come to know and love that I was devastated. Moreover, I did not understand or appreciate post-hard bop jazz at all. Now, four decades later, I see this for the inspired work that it is.
More than anything, Hejira is a showcase for the bass of Jaco Pastorius and, to a lesser extent, the guitar of Larry Carlton. Mitchell dedicates a bag full of fine songs and her increasingly abstract vocals to the service of some jaw-dropping contemporary jazz. "Transitional" would be a massive understatemement; "transformational" is more like it.
Wiki says:
The album title is an unusual transliteration of the Arabic word more commonly rendered as Hegira or Hijra, which means "rupture", usually referring to the migration of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (and his companions) from Mecca to Medina in 622. She later stated that when she chose the title, she was looking for a word that meant "running away with honor." She found the word "hejira" while reading the dictionary, and was drawn to the "dangling j, like in Aja... it's leaving the dream, no blame".
The cover art echoes this motif, with the comfort of the woods receding into the background while the highway stretches ahead to the unknown horizon.
Unsomnambulist
Staff member
The Black Angels - Passover (2006)
Makaya McCraven - Universal Beings (2018)
axolotl
Nunquam non paratus
All of it?Makaya McCraven - Universal Beings (2018)
Nope. Like the other two or three multi-cd albums I've listened to lately, I listened to only one of the CDs. Yesterday with Kurt Rosenwinkel's double CD album, I listened to the first CD. Earlier in the week, I listened to two different SFJazz Collective albums, but only one CD from each. With this album, I'm listening to the second CD, which includes the suites "The London Side" and "The Los Angeles Side". Each "side" (there are four across 2 CDs) involves a different group of musicians joining Makaya.
SFJazz Collective - Live 2018: The Music of Antonia Carlos Jobim
Received this newest SFJazz Collective album a few days ago. Once again, the octet's lineup subtly changes, this time replacing the bassist and trumpeter. Members usually stay with the collective for 3-9 years (or even longer), but every year one or two move on. First listen.
Listening to disc 1 of 2. Sounding great so far. I'm listening to the CD with reworkings of Jobim songs. The other CD, in SFJazz Collective tradition, has each member craft a new composition in the style of that season's honored composer. I'll get to that disc tonight or tomorrow.
EDIT: One of these years I'm going to get to see the SFJC play in San Francisco. I've seen the band perform when they have infrequently visited locally, but my life won't be complete until I get to see them in Frisco!
Received this newest SFJazz Collective album a few days ago. Once again, the octet's lineup subtly changes, this time replacing the bassist and trumpeter. Members usually stay with the collective for 3-9 years (or even longer), but every year one or two move on. First listen.
Listening to disc 1 of 2. Sounding great so far. I'm listening to the CD with reworkings of Jobim songs. The other CD, in SFJazz Collective tradition, has each member craft a new composition in the style of that season's honored composer. I'll get to that disc tonight or tomorrow.
EDIT: One of these years I'm going to get to see the SFJC play in San Francisco. I've seen the band perform when they have infrequently visited locally, but my life won't be complete until I get to see them in Frisco!
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axolotl
Nunquam non paratus
I usually do the same for Kamasi Washington, Snarky Puppy...
...even Keith Jarrett.
Unsomnambulist
Staff member
Beastie Boys - Ill Communication (1994)
lpfreak1170
Well-Known Member
Noted and thank you!
Dave Holland - Prime Directive (1999)
Branford Marsalis - Four MFs Playin' Tunes (2012)
Volvo.
That's what comes to mind when I listen to any Branford album recorded in the last 20 years. High quality. Sometimes exhilirating, but mostly topping out at ... brisk. Well made and professionally presented. Virtually no complaints. Safe.
Ocassionally, It would be nice to feel some torque, even if that means something else might sputter every once in a while. feel it missing from
That's all folks
#neverownedavolvobutiwouldbehappyto
Volvo.
That's what comes to mind when I listen to any Branford album recorded in the last 20 years. High quality. Sometimes exhilirating, but mostly topping out at ... brisk. Well made and professionally presented. Virtually no complaints. Safe.
Ocassionally, It would be nice to feel some torque, even if that means something else might sputter every once in a while. feel it missing from
That's all folks
#neverownedavolvobutiwouldbehappyto
Unsomnambulist
Staff member
Branford Marsalis - Four MFs Playin' Tunes (2012)
Volvo.
That's what comes to mind when I listen to any Branford album recorded in the last 20 years. High quality. Sometimes exhilirating, but mostly topping out at ... brisk. Well made and professionally presented. Virtually no complaints. Safe.
Ocassionally, It would be nice to feel some torque, even if that means something else might sputter every once in a while. feel it missing from
That's all folks
#neverownedavolvobutiwouldbehappyto
Four merry fellows, indeed.
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