the jazz thread

[monasterymonochrome]

Listening to this for the third time in a row today. There's something incredible on pretty much every track. My fave is "Yearnin," especially the amazing chords that Nelson arranges

[monasterymonochrome]

Read the 1955 oral history book Hear Me Talkin To Ya over the last week or so, been accordingly listening to lots of 1920s-50s jazz. Have focused the majority of my attention this time on three of the great tenor saxophonists of the era: Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, and Ben Webster. Hawkins in particular was really moving me this time. I listened a bunch to his duets album with Ben Webster and also dug through some great comps of his career, the best of which is undoubtedly this Body and Soul collection. Dude had an amazing, pure tone. I got chills walking around the city at night listening to Hawk. I also wanted to find some great Lester Young stuff outside of his early sides with Count Basie, with which I was already familiar. Found this Jazz at the Philharmonic concert from 1949 featuring Charlie Parker, Roy Eldridge, Buddy Rich, and others - and *goddamn* the version of Lester Leaps In here is remarkable. I also stumbled on The Atomic Mr. Basie for the first time and have been absolutely obsessed. Instantly my favorite big band record not by Sun Ra. Count Basie was fucking awesome.

[monasterymonochrome]

Oh yeah! I also explored Charlie Christian's output for the first time - and wow - these live recording with Dizzy are incredible. Sometimes it's like listening to a 1974 Eyes of the World... except 30 years earlier.

[monasterymonochrome]

Been downright obsessed with the title track to this one lately. I think I've listened to it like 10 tens over the last 3-4 days.

[monasterymonochrome]

Incredible Black Jazz reissue that Aquarium Drunkard hipped me too - the debut record for guitarist Calvin Keys as bandleader. Blissful, grooved, soul-filled. You hear this one yet chvrchbarrel?

[chvrchbarrel]

I have not but I’ll be listening to it + selections from your jazz list today

[chvrchbarrel]

alright that calvin keys record is reeeeeal good, im gonna have to pick that up. black jazz wins again.

[monasterymonochrome]

Bought this on a whim at my record store last weekend - and it's amazing. Pat was a real guitar god, I'd previously only checked out his perfect record, East!, after he passed last year. Trey Anastasio namechecked him as a huge influence, if that convinced anyone here to check him out. Or maybe it'll turn people away? Eh, whatever moves you.

[monasterymonochrome]

I also listened to this last night and adored it. Trying to get into more Jarrett's studio albums, as I only know his famous long-playing live records. The turn he takes a few minutes into the opening track was jarringly beautiful. Love this guy.

Gonna try and post more consistently in here this year - jazz has definitely consumed about 20-30% of my regular listening, and I wanna highlight the great stuff I find somewhere. Might as well be here!

[monasterymonochrome]

Not sure if this is a proper "jazz thread" post, but it's close enough, so I'll include it here. Amazing album from French bassist Henri Texier. Dude played with Bud Powell, Dexter Gordon, Donald Byrd, and others. Dropped this solo record in 1977 and it's incredible. Amazing grooves throughout, often layered with other string accompaniments, lots of gorgeous cello counterparts, hooky melodies, some oud playing. Check out the first track on it, I'd bet most of y'all would like it.

[monasterymonochrome]

Incredible classic Chicago record. Melvin Jackson was the bassist in Eddie Harris' 60s band, and this was his only LP as bandleader. He uses all sorts of weird-ass amps and effects on his upright bass, making this record sound like jazz-funk from Mars. A host of Chicago giants play on this one, from Roscoe Mitchell to Wadada Leo Smith and Lester Bowie. Equal parts James Brown and Sun Ra. This record rules.

[teekoh]

Jan 4, 2022 11:49:07 GMT -6 monasterymonochrome said:

I also listened to this last night and adored it. Trying to get into more Jarrett's studio albums, as I only know his famous long-playing live records. The turn he takes a few minutes into the opening track was jarringly beautiful. Love this guy.

Gonna try and post more consistently in here this year - jazz has definitely consumed about 20-30% of my regular listening, and I wanna highlight the great stuff I find somewhere. Might as well be here!

I listened to this the other night and dug it. Really great stuff. 

[monasterymonochrome]

Trying my hand at Bill Frissell's imposing discography. The music contained herein tho, is anything but. Bill's guitar gently weaves through these passages with more or less intensity, as the tune demands it. Sometimes this reminds me more of electric William Tyler or Steve Gunn than other jazz guitar giants - but maybe those guys' music should also be considered on this jazz guitar spectrum of sorts. Highlights were the title track, "Lonesome," and "Blues for Los Angeles." Sometimes he sounds like Jerry Garcia - sometimes he sounds like Jeff Parker. It's obviously very 90s (the super crisp production, the reverbed snare hits), but if that's your bag, it's a great listen.

I'm seeing Bill at Big Ears in March - god-willing - so I'd love to hear any recommendations if any of you are familiar with his discog. The only other place I've heard him is in John Zorn's Naked City, which is... very different from this here record lmao.

[monasterymonochrome]

It's Herbie Hancock Day here at Monastery's Spotify account! Mostly b/c he (may?) be at Bonnaroo this year, which is a bizarre but very cool billing. Come back and play NYC, Herbie! Anyways, first time listening to Inventions and Dimensions and it was pretty good. Very straightforward early 60s post-bop with a smattering of latin jazz. Not totally my thing, but it's a very pleasant listen - would throw it on with company over or something. "Succatash" is the highlight for sure. Empyrean Isles is not new to me, I've heard it a handful of other times, and find something new to appreciate in it with each listen. "Cantaloupe Island" is the big hit here, with its undeniably catchy, rhythmic melody. My ear was caught this time by Ron Carter's fat, groovy basslines anchoring and propelling "Oliloqui Valley." A classic.

[teekoh]

Saw Herbie with Kamasi opening at Northerly Island pre-covid. Terrace Martin was in Herbie's band and it ruled.

[monasterymonochrome]

Jan 11, 2022 11:36:35 GMT -6 teekoh said:

Saw Herbie with Kamasi opening at Northerly Island pre-covid. Terrace Martin was in Herbie's band and it ruled.

Hoolllyyy fuck that sounds incredible - good catch making that show

[nanatod]

Hancock plays the Chicago Jazz festival every ten yrs or so; I've seen him there twice, and I think symphony center books him every so often.

[monasterymonochrome]

Somehow it was my first time listening to this today too. Very very cool album, giving it another listen now since I got interrupted a few times over the back half. Favorite moment was the climax of Freddie Hubbard's solo in the title track, culminating in a swelling tide of Herbie piano rolls (about 3:50 in).

[monasterymonochrome]

Closed off Herbie Hancock Day with a double-feature from his funk-fusion era. Headhunters - for those unfamiliar - is undoubtedly his biggest record, and is, in my opinion, one of the jazz records that I'd immediately recommend to almost anyone new to the genre. It's an infectious, alive, honestly perfect album.

Sextant was new to me today. It came out the same year as Headhunters, just a few months before. And maaan it's a weird one. The whole thing is drenched in early Moog and synth action so heavy that I swear I'm listening to Seastones at times, especially in the opener, "Rain Dance." But Herbie is a master of rhythm, and he carves these otherworldly sound textures into transcendent grooves all over this album. "Hidden Shadows" was revelatory for me, today. Herbie is damn near avant-garde here, especially with his killer solo midway through. But the whole thing grooves so fucking hard, it's like "On The Corner" - which Herbie played on the year prior - blasted into space. It maps the same terrain that Sun Ra would get to six years later for Lanquidity. It's not always for the faint of heart, but it's incredible and so worth your time.

[monasterymonochrome]

Time to dust off the ol' jazz thread! I just started Love Goes To Buildings on Fire, so expect a lot more 70s experimental / loft jazz in this space coming soon. Decided to spend some time this morning with the Cecil Taylor catalogue, though, as I'm seeing Andrew Cyrille at Big Ears and he drummed on lots of Taylor's mid-60s and beyond work. Started with the former record - which doesn't feature Cyrille - but does feature some of my favorite free piano runs. Try "Port of Call" for a sub-5-minute burst of what to expect here. The opener, "Air," with Archie Shepp also goes hard.

Now I'm pecking away at Unit Structures, generally considered a landmark free jazz record, but one that I just can't seem to crack. Lack of melody isn't a problem for me, nor typically is density of playing. But something here just doesn't do it for me. Cecil's Unit-era band seems renowned for his mathematical arrangements, so maybe if I new more/any theory, this would hit harder. For now, I'm just gonna say it's one for the nerds. That said, I am gonna try his next record, Conquistador, and see how I feel.

[nanatod]

east coast snowstorm turned the kenny garrett quartet into a trio, and the cecil taylor trio became cecil playing solo for his whole hour and a quarter set:

chicagoreader.com/arts-culture/cecil-taylor/

[monasterymonochrome]

Bought this from my neighborhood record store a while back and revisiting it again this morning. Incredible record from a ridiculously stacked band: Lloyd, Keith Jarret, Jack DeJohnette, and Cecil McBee. DAMN.

Would recommend listening to the title track, "Dream Weaver," it's spellbinding. Eat shit, Gary Wright.

[monasterymonochrome]

(I've been away from regular jazz listening for a lil bit but I feel the winds shifting back yet again - hopefully there'll be more regular posting in this thread going forward)

[thebosma]

This is more classical than jazz but since it’s Keith Jarrett I’ll count it for this thread




I’ve listened to this like 50 times in the last two months, it’s so goddamn good

[monasterymonochrome]

Apr 13, 2022 9:18:21 GMT -6 thebosma said:

This is more classical than jazz but since it’s Keith Jarrett I’ll count it for this thread





I’ve listened to this like 50 times in the last two months, it’s so goddamn good

Hell yea - please do direct any and all Keith Jarrett posting to this thread

[monasterymonochrome]

Spending an evening with my LP of this perfect record. One of my favorite piano album - Ahmad's playing here is simple when it needs to be, complex in short bursts, and always playful - never overwrought. A genuinely joyful record. And an easy one to find on the cheap at a decent used store.

[claypoolfan]

Taking the future MiL to the Green Mill tonight. We had this planned before they announced their acts for this month, it's a singer named Karrin Allyson tonight. I am more of an instrumental jazz fan and am kind of bummed about this but apparently she has had some renown in the past, anyone know if I should be excited?

[thebosma]

Not crazy familiar with her catalogue or anything but I do know she has a gorgeous voice and will probably do a lot of old standards, so there are definitely worse ways to spend an evening

[monasterymonochrome]

Spending a lot of time with this one yesterday and today. It's a really beautiful document full of stunning performances from some of the era's best sidemen (Sonny Sharrock! Henry Grimes! Dave Burrell!) - Sharrock and Sanders' interplay on the final medley are breathtaking.

[monasterymonochrome]

I've also been working my way through the Art Ensemble's catalogue, and this one was particularly thrilling today. Malachi Favors' bass work here is unreal at times. A free jazz classic - hopefully it comes into print again.