What are you listening to? October 2021

[JazzyRandy]

J Cole - 4 Your Eyez Only (2016)

 

[JazzyRandy]

Donald Edwards - Prelude to Real Life (2016)

 

[JazzyRandy]

Jason Isbell - Something More Than Free (2015)

There aren't many artists I haven't seen perform live whom I want to see more than Isbell. When I do, hopefully he'll hit all my favorites.

 

[axolotl]

Human Television ~ Look at Who You're Talking to (2006)




Husky ~ Forever So (2011)



These two, side-by-side in my collection, are fairly-better-then-innocuous Indie Pop.

I like the vocals, and I like the first song on each album, and then the remainder follow suit.

Maybe I will get rid of one or both of them within 10 years, but for now, they stay, languishing away in the semi-darkness of my sliding door IKEA storage unit, until I bring them into the light, yet again.

 

[axolotl]

Joan of Arc ~ A Portable Model of (1997)

 

[Ojai Sam]

Vienna Philharmonic (Lorin Maazel, cond.) - Sibelius: Symphony No. 1 & Karelia Suite (1964)

Sometimes Scandinavian composers seem, well, a bit cold. But these works both bristle with subtle energy that manifests itself like the rolling of a powerful wave. Maazel's emotional reading brings out the best in these understated compositions.

 

[axolotl]

Low ~ The Curtain Hits the Cast (1996)


Slowcore, Dream Pop, Drone, Ambient

Pestrepeller ~ Isle of Dark Magick (2006)


Experimental Rock, Psychedelia, Drone

 

[JazzyRandy]

Jeremy Pelt - The Talented Mr Pelt (2011)

 

[Ojai Sam]

B.B. King - The Jungle (1967)

I may go and move to the jungle now
Way out in the woods
Yes, I think I'll move to the jungle people
Move way out in the woods
Yes, because the way things are here now
Well, I ain't doin' myself no good

 

[Ojai Sam]

Claudio Arrau - The Early Years: The Complete Pre-war Recordings (rec. 1921-39, Marston comp. 2000)



Ward Marston is the king of archival classical reissues. He hit the jackpot with this dazzling set. Let the king tell it himself:

The name Claudio Arrau (1903-1991) is familiar to all piano devotees. His legendary career, marked by extraordinary performances, accolades and recordings, spanned eight decades. And yet, the pre-war recordings of Arrau exhibit a completely different artistry than those he later made. Arrau's later work, the stereo LP recordings, reveal the seasoned, polished and philosophical master. The early recordings, with much repertoire never played later in his career, demonstrate a young artist taking risks, being spontaneous and displaying great virtuosity. The result is pianism with fire, vitality and drama.

 

[axolotl]

This, again.

MGR ~ Nova Lux (2006)



This, again?

 

[JazzyRandy]

B.B. King - The Jungle (1967)

I may go and move to the jungle now
Way out in the woods
Yes, I think I'll move to the jungle people
Move way out in the woods
Yes, because the way things are here now
Well, I ain't doin' myself no good

A couple of days ago, I had to set up an online account for someone who will never use it but needed it set up. The person was not with me when I set up the account in his name. The security question was "Who is your favorite musician?" Immediately BB King came to mind. I have no idea who this person's favorite musician is, but this is now the answer to his security question.

 

[JazzyRandy]

Joshua Redman - Spirit Of The Moment (1998) disc 2 of 2

 

[JazzyRandy]

Yusef Lateef - The African American Epic Suite (1994)

like Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus did before him, Lateef made an epic suite.
...
It all adds up to incredibly emotional music with spurts of turmoil.

These type of suites sometimes have me looking up at the television because it sounds like the soundtrack to some animated classic.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

The Doors - Morrison Hotel (1970)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. - Blues For Alleluia (2021)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Tom Waits - Closing Time (1973)

 

[JazzyRandy]

Last night before I went to bed, then this morning after I awakened
Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet (1988)
Public Enemy - Apocalypse 91 ... The Enemy Strikes Back (1991)

 

[JazzyRandy]

Just finished ... just started
The Repercussions - Heaven and Earth (1995)
Freddie Hubbard - Bolivia (1991)


Last night I stumbled across this blog by a guy (a music nerd geek like us) who decided to listen to each of the 1000s of CDs in his collection and write a blog post about each. He has every genre but I'm saddened to admit he's not really a Jazzhead. But when I read what he said about Heaven And Earth, I had to break it out and enjoy what might just be the best album of 1995.

this is better described as jazz/R&B - more groove oriented than dance oriented and much more melodic. The band was a 6 piece collective from NYC closely associated with The Groove Academy. Standout performances by bassist Jonathan Maron. I was previously unfamiliar with the group, but they've got some guest artists whose names I recognize: Joe Sample, Don Grolnick, and a horn section led by the legendary Jerry Hey. That horn section gives certain songs a particular sound that reminds me of early '80s Al Jarreau (the horn section is almost identical to that on Jarreau and other West Coast classics)

Then this morning I stumble across a live clip of Hubbard playing the title song from this album, and here we are...

 

[JazzyRandy]

Ezra - You Can't Steal My Joy (2019)