What Are You Listening To? February 2023

Horace Parlan ~ Up & Down (1963)



There I was - actually, here I am - shuffling through my Jazz CDs for a likely listening successor to Duke Pearson and right next to it to the left is Horace Parlan, who interestingly enough or not, is another bandleader who plays piano So, there is - or, here is - method to my madness.

Solid and rhythmic solo explorations by Parlan, Grant Green, and Booker Ervin adorn this Cool Jazz Hard Bop program.

Now, I gotta get Happy Frame of Mind. Why did nobody tell me?
 
Buck Owens - Buck Owens Sings Tommy Collins (1963)

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Miles Okazaki - Thisness (2022)

Strange funky meadering Jazz that feels like a progression/evolution of what Steve Coleman started with M-Base. But there are significant differences, to me at least, including that the lead instrument is Okazaki's guitar instead of Coleman's alto. The piano comping really absorbs me as I'm following the soloists. Matt Mitchell really contributes a lot to this album.

https://www.milesokazaki.com/ Click here for a link to a page on Okazaki's site that has a list of review quotes about this album. It made several "best of 2022" Jazz lists.

Definitely not a "for everybody" album. But pretty good for those who might be inclined to enjoy it.
 
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Horslips - Happy To Meet, Sorry To Part (1972)

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Zeeba mentioned this group a while back and I thought I'd check 'em out. Glad I did!

Prog Archives sez:

Founded in Dublin, Ireland in 1970 - Disbanded in 1980 - Regrouped intermittently since 2004

This creative quintet is considered Ireland's most critically acclaimed folk-prog band ever and possibly the genuine purveyors of the term 'Celtic Rock'. At one point, they enjoyed a bigger fan base (domestically) than Rory Gallagher, THIN LIZZY and The BOOMTOWN RATS put together. Often likened stylistically to STEELEYE SPAN and FAIRPORT CONVENTION, they drew on their distinctly Irish roots to combine traditional Celtic mysticism with driving hard rock. They consisted of Barry Devlin (bass, vocals), Sean Fean (lead guitar, vocals) Eamonn Carr (drums, vocals), Charles O'Connor (violin, mandolin, vocals), and Jim Lockhart (flute, tin whistle, keyboards, vocals). As opposed to bands such as JETHRO TULL, for example, who were a vehicle for one performer's antics, no single member of HORSLIPS really dominated the group. Long after their break-up in 1980, they have (and still) maintain a strong cult following.


This is their first album and it's a winner. "Irish folk-prog" pretty well covers it.

:5.0: on the Sam-O-Meter.
 
Bruce Springsteen - Nassau Coliseum, New York 12/29/1980

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - Nassau Coliseum, New York 12/29/80 - album cover


Listening to a concert from each of Springsteen's tours building up to my three concert tour next month (North Carolina, Boston, Denver) and today is from the original River Tour. I have the Coliseum shows from December 28, 29, and 31 of that tour - all were great so touch choice today. Gonna be funny when my office staff hears "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" playing from this Dec. show :)
 
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