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Post by monasterymonochrome on Sept 29, 2022 7:31:20 GMT -6
First time hearing this and maaaan it's everything great about Pharoah Sanders' music distilled into a nice 15-minute piece. One of the best pieces of cosmic, spiritual jazz I've ever heard. Beautiful piano work by Lonnie Liston Smith, yodeling vocals by Leon Thomas, Cecil McBee on bass. And then Pharoah, patiently weaving melody lines for the first 10 minutes, unleashes an absolutely blistering solo to bring to the song to a climactic peak. Check it out!
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Sept 30, 2022 11:33:32 GMT -6
Another day, another startling Pharoah Sanders track. The first song on this record is all rhythm - an unrelenting flourish of hand drums that move away from the more laconic style of Roy Haynes on previous records. But this track - the second of two - is my favorite. It is all peace, settling into a waterfall of sound. Once again, Lonnie Liston Smith is the star, and his solo that culminates around the 8-9 minute mark is the album's highlight. Cecil McBee then plays a stirring section on cello and Pharoah takes it home with a beautiful, non-skronky lead. Would recommend this one to folks who are skeptical of 'free jazz' or atonal sections. It's beautiful through and through.
Also, seems I'm gonna check out some of Lonnie's stuff next. Dude is a force on these Pharoah records.
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Oct 1, 2022 15:47:34 GMT -6
Another day, another phenomenal Pharoah Sanders track. This one from the Live at the East, recorded in 1971 with a mostly new lineup. One of the remaining sidemen is Cecil McBee, who joins with future fusion star Stanley Clarke on a double-bass showpiece. Seriously, their solo and locking into the groove around 7 minutes in is a masterwork. They playfully trade the spotlight with new pianist Joe Bonner (who plays a hypnotic, droning harmonium on the next track "Memories of JW Coltrane") and vamp on the groove for several exhilarating minutes. The helm cedes back to Pharoah at 11-minutes and he comes up with another deep, moving solo - and then the song descends (ascends?) into a communal celebration. Handclaps, shouts, joyful trumpet soloing. All the hallmarks of a great party. Some say this song was a funereal celebration of Coltrane, Pharoah's mentor. If so, it more than lived up to the occasion.
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Oct 3, 2022 11:08:33 GMT -6
Pharoah Sanders of the day: the final and longest track on 1972's Wisdom Through Music. This is an enigmatic record to me. It seems to be a relatively minor release for him. It's again with his new band, so Cecil McBee but no other big names. It's just barely over 30 minutes long. And - though it's on Impulse - it's the first of his LPs to not have a wikipedia page. And yet, the second track, "Love Is Everywhere," has more than 6 million streams and places the album second in Spotify's recommendations. Is this another funky glitch of The Algorithm, i.e. is Love Is Everywhere Pharoah Sanders' "Harness Your Hopes." Or is this album undergoing some form of popular reconsideration?
Either way, it's another good release for Sanders, though definitely a mark below his best. This one is again heavy with percussion - and group vocals take a much larger presence than ever before. This track, "Selflessness," is anchored by a chorus mournfully(?) crooning the title lyric in and out of time and harmony. It's a little offputting at first, but I found it hauntingly moving by the end. Sort of reminded me of Phosphorescent's "Pride." And then, once again, Pharoah's pianist Joe Bonner lays down a gorgeous, soulful foundation for the saxophonist to swirl around. Once Pharoah and his piano player (be that Bonner, Liston Smith or whoever) get cooking, there's truly nothing better.
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Oct 4, 2022 9:02:39 GMT -6
A shorter (only 9 minutes!) Pharoah cut this morning. This album starts off with a 3-part title suite, but I think it really gets good on Side B. This track has such a light, welcoming groove. Definitely Pharoah at his friendliest. Once again I'm fixated on the delicate bass interplay, and - no surprise - it's Cecil McBee and Stanley Clarke on double duty. This track was actually recorded in 1971, two years before the rest of the album and is, as far as I can tell, the last time McBee and Clarke duetted for Sanders. The next track is great too. "Memories of Lee Morgan," a tribute to the legendary trumpeter who was shot and killed between sets at Slug's earlier that year. Joe Bonner shines on the flute - check it out!
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Oct 13, 2022 9:34:29 GMT -6
Welp, here's the result of my month-long Pharoah Sanders deep-dive. I decided to keep it for now to his albums as bandleader, though I may add to it later to include some cuts with Coltrane (John and Alice), Sonny Sharrock, Larry Young, and Don Cherry. If you're interested in Pharoah, this is as good a resource as any. I mean, it's over 4.5 hours long in just 20 songs, so it's enough music to keep you occupied for a while. I'd highly recommend anything here - Pharoah is one of the all-time greats, and doing this deep-dive was a deeply enriching experience.
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Oct 20, 2022 12:28:25 GMT -6
William Parker is one of jazz's greatest living geniuses, and this is another massive release. Technically recorded live in 2002, it's nearly 2 hours long and features 16-players creating some beautiful, ferocious, and free music. I'd recommend last year's much more approachable Mayan Space Station for anyone new to him, but if you like avant-leaning jazz, this record rules.
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Oct 20, 2022 14:08:51 GMT -6
Extremely cool record from a new version of The Bad Plus. They're booked pretty highly on Big Ears, so I was curious to check them out. This record rules. Drums mixed extremely loud like a rock record, guitars and horns sear and squirm throughout the 8 tracks. Coolest grooves/moments are on "Not Even Close To Far Off" and "Sick Fire." The first track is pretty laid back, so wait at least until "Sun Wall" kicks in to properly judge what they're offering.
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Post by nanatod on Oct 20, 2022 15:21:13 GMT -6
William Parker is one of jazz's greatest living geniuses, and this is another massive release. Technically recorded live in 2002, it's nearly 2 hours long and features 16-players creating some beautiful, ferocious, and free music. I'd recommend last year's much more approachable Mayan Space Station for anyone new to him, but if you like avant-leaning jazz, this record rules. here's 1:29 of his set on the blue stage at pitchfork festival 2007, which a bunch of boarders beside me and the better half were at: |
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Oct 21, 2022 8:23:52 GMT -6
Pretty cool record that I stumbled across on Twitter - really one of the only good things about Twitter for me anymore
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Oct 21, 2022 8:27:40 GMT -6
William Parker is one of jazz's greatest living geniuses, and this is another massive release. Technically recorded live in 2002, it's nearly 2 hours long and features 16-players creating some beautiful, ferocious, and free music. I'd recommend last year's much more approachable Mayan Space Station for anyone new to him, but if you like avant-leaning jazz, this record rules. here's 1:29 of his set on the blue stage at pitchfork festival 2007, which a bunch of boarders beside me and the better half were at: Damn, that year's lineup looks incredible. Looked up Parker's band too and only recognized Hamid Drake on drums, that guy rules too. |
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Post by claypoolfan on Oct 21, 2022 10:34:49 GMT -6
Can anyone explain to me why all the youths are suddenly obsessed with Domi & JD Beck?
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Oct 21, 2022 10:39:24 GMT -6
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Post by claypoolfan on Oct 21, 2022 10:48:22 GMT -6
Love when I throw pretty much rhetorical passive aggressive questions into the ether and there turns out to be whole NPR articles answering them. |
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Post by Tweet on Oct 24, 2022 10:29:29 GMT -6
Today is jazz Monday in the tweeter-verse:
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Post by teekoh on Oct 24, 2022 10:37:48 GMT -6
Love that one.
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Post by Tweet on Oct 24, 2022 10:42:11 GMT -6
Probably had this saved for like a year on Spotify
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Oct 24, 2022 11:17:02 GMT -6
Today is jazz Monday in the tweeter-verse: An untouchable, perfect record that I - for some reason - also only got to for the first time a few weeks ago |
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Post by Tweet on Oct 24, 2022 11:30:25 GMT -6
Had this saved when it came out and never got around to it. So far the scratching on whatever tape this was pulled from that sounds like squirrels talking is the highlight but I’m only 4 minutes in
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Post by Tweet on Oct 24, 2022 11:37:09 GMT -6
Anyway this seems good as any thread to put this in- Daniel Villarreal, who put out a Very Good Album earlier this year, is opening one of those Whitney dates at Thalia. I am kicking myself for not going to the international anthem showcase this summer
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Post by Tweet on Oct 24, 2022 13:50:15 GMT -6
 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. enjoying this |
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Post by chvrchbarrel on Oct 25, 2022 8:55:43 GMT -6
on a jazz bender lately, here's what i've had on
the Bill Evans and Mulligan albums are absolutely serene nighttime-unwind listens...past couple nights, i've rotated between those two and Bill Evans' "Portrait in Jazz" while i'm scrolling through atrocious tweets. its a nice balance.
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Post by chvrchbarrel on Oct 25, 2022 8:58:49 GMT -6
also wow two discoveries of 'somethin' else' in such a short timespan, truly one of the most thoroughly great jazz records ive ever heard
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Oct 25, 2022 9:01:09 GMT -6
Huh, never heard of Grant Green but he seems like something I'd like a lot. Gonna queue that one up today.
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Oct 25, 2022 9:05:35 GMT -6
I'll contribute a new rec to this thread, that I think the residents here would enjoy. Nduduzo Makhathini, a South African pianist with some of the coolest playing I've heard on a new record in ages. Very rhythmic, energetic, and explores the reaches of "out there" without dipping far into free territory. One of my favorite / possibly my favorite jazz release of 2022.
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Post by chvrchbarrel on Oct 25, 2022 15:02:31 GMT -6
will give it a listen this evening!
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Oct 31, 2022 12:29:01 GMT -6
And just like that! A new contender for my favorite jazz record of the year. Mali was part of Lula Wiles, an indie rock band, before organizing this record as bassist and bandleader. It's awesome. "Lineage" has the tension/release of really great modal jazz, sort of like a "My Favorite Things" era Coltrane track. They also mix traditional jazz instrumentation and killer solos with Native American singing throughout the record, and it sounds incredible front to back. Highly, highly recommended.
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Dec 22, 2022 11:00:52 GMT -6
  Having a nice start to my day w/ one of my favorite jazz live recordings. Dolphy is the star here, but these are probably the most essential recordings of Booker Little, a Chicago legend who died far, far too young. Volume 1 is probably better all-around, but "Aggression" from Volume 2 is absurd. Booker is an ecstatic whirlwind during his features - an amazing trumpet performance to my ears. |
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Post by nanatod on Feb 1, 2023 18:36:15 GMT -6
Ravinia has yet to release its 2023 schedule, except it did recently show that John McLaughlin and a re-united Shakti are playing September 3rd, which is part of an international tour, including a bunch of US dates around that time.
This has moved into a must see show for me, because my only McLaughlin live was his [what I found to be a not very exciting ]trio at the park west. I'd prefer a reformation of Mahavishnu orchestra, but this has the making to be a spectacular show, even on the less expensive lawn. (Also, Bela Fleck is opening, although unlike the navy pier Flecktones show back in the day, he doesn't appear to have the Wooten brothers with him for this).
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Post by monasterymonochrome on Feb 1, 2023 18:44:51 GMT -6
Ravinia has yet to release its 2023 schedule, except it did recently show that John McLaughlin and a re-united Shakti are playing September 3rd, which is part of an international tour, including a bunch of US dates around that time. This has moved into a must see show for me, because my only McLaughlin live was his [what I found to be a not very exciting ]trio at the park west. I'd prefer a reformation of Mahavishnu orchestra, but this has the making to be a spectacular show, even on the less expensive lawn. (Also, Bela Fleck is opening, although unlike the navy pier Flecktones show back in the day, he doesn't appear to have the Wooten brothers with him for this). Oh SHIT. Yeah McLaughlin + Shakti would be a must-see show for me too. Hopefully that'll make its way to NY this summer. |
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