What are you listening to? May 2019

[Old Uncle Toe]

indigenous - The Acoustic Sessions




Fun acoustic guitar work and not shoddy vocals. His electric albums are fine but this acoustic album stands out to me.

 

[axolotl]

Eric Harland ~ Voyager Live by Night (2010)

 

[JazzyRandy]

Tom Harrell - Sail Away (1989)

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

Eric Clapton - Money and Cigarettes

Ostensibly his first album after quitting drinking. There's something about the title that makes me want this to be a better album. But in truth it's a remarkably mediocre effort.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Eric Clapton - Money and Cigarettes

Ostensibly his first album after quitting drinking. There's something about the title that makes me want this to be a better album. But in truth it's a remarkably mediocre effort.

Interestingly, was thinking about reading a music biography recently and looked up some up candidates - Clapton's autobiography came up as an apparently honest assessment of his addition and what a jerk he was to many people, but also (and more importantly) describes his love of blues and blues artists. Hmm...still thinking

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Eric Clapton - Money and Cigarettes

Ostensibly his first album after quitting drinking. There's something about the title that makes me want this to be a better album. But in truth it's a remarkably mediocre effort.

Is the yellow on the walls supposed to be nicotine stains?

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

Interestingly, was thinking about reading a music biography recently and looked up some up candidates - Clapton's autobiography came up as an apparently honest assessment of his addition and what a jerk he was to many people, but also (and more importantly) describes his love of blues and blues artists. Hmm...still thinking

It was a good read. He is indeed pretty honest about being a complete jerk and how he never really stuck with any project, killing many successful opportunities for himself and others. I don't recall his talking as much about his blues role models but it's been a long time since I read it.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

Eric Clapton - Behind The Sun

Better than Money and Cigarettes but still in that pop/AOR era. I guess you can't blame a guy for trying to make a living off his talent.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

2 By Bukowski - Drink From My Bastard Grail (2003)

 

[JazzyRandy]

Esperanza Spalding - 12 Little Spells (2019)
flisten
As with her previous album, this is not a Jazz album that embraces elements of other genres -- this is an album of many other genres which gives Jazz a non-speaking role.

After a single listen, I'm disappointed with this album with a capital "D". It's not that this is not a Jazz album. It's simply not a very good album. I'm glad she's chasing her muse, but this is one pursuit that is running away from me. There are spots where I really like what is going on, but they are brief and before long I'm once again wishing the next song would start --- and hopefully be better. But the next song never is really any better.

The conceit is that these are twelve songs about body parts. It feels like an avant-garde off-off-off-off-off-off-off-Broadway play performed in the back room of a basement restaurant from an episode of Will & Grace where Grace is warbling about her toes while Jack and Karen playing random melodies and rhythms at a table behind her. Sure, the singing and playing are performed much better, but it's still something that seems too self-indulgent to be a serious production intended for public consumption.

I'll listen to this a few more times. I hope it grows on me. I love ES and I'd had to permanently feel this way about one of her albums.

 

[JazzyRandy]

Chris Potter - Circuits (2019)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Albaitil Ashwai - Nuun (2018)

This is great!

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Earth - Full Upon Her Burning Lips (2019)

 

[JazzyRandy]

Steve Coleman & the 5 Elements - Live at the Village Vanguard, Vol. 1 (The Embedded Sets) (2018)

Here, the emphasis is totally and completely on the groove, Coleman's unique funk-based approach to jazz that possesses plenty of intricacy and musical sophistication but is anchored to an irresistible rhythmic drive. It has always been Coleman's most accessible mode, and here it works perfectly.

source

 

[lpfreak1170]

Paul McCartney - McCartney (1970)

Seeing McCartney Thursday - first time and probably the last of the classic giants of music that I've never seen (not counting those unable to be seen) - excited! Gonna listen to some Macca!

You're gonna love it! I saw him for the first (and probably only) time in 2013, and it's still the greatest concert I've ever seen. Here's the setlist for my show: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/paul-mccartney/2013/fedexforum-memphis-tn-7bd9aa74.html

 

[JazzyRandy]

SFJazz Collective - The Music of Stevie Wonder & New Compositions: Live in New York 2011 (disc 1 of 3)

 

[JazzyRandy]

Freddie Hubbard - The Black Angel (1970)

 

[axolotl]

Antenna ~ Sway (1991)



With members of Blake Babies (John P. Strohm and Freda Love) and future members of The Mysteries of Life (Jake Smith and Love)

Not grunge

 

[Unsomnambulist]

The Bunny Tylers - Chance Meetings (2017)

 

[axolotl]

Shrift ~ Lost in a Moment (2006)



Downtempo, MPB, Ambient Pop

Lush, recessed female vocals over a rich, electronic landscape, with an artsy, glossy album cover to boot. What's not to like?