from a blog i follow: This Shape of Jazz:http://thisshapeofjazz.blogspot.com/

December 31, 2008

"The Night of The Cookers" - Freddie Hubbard

As we all know, the passing of Freddie Hubbard has tragically occurred this week. He was a true legend and the jazz world will be sad to see him go. He played his trumpet with an incredible amount of passion, and weather it was a ballad or an uptempo track, you could always hear it. He was also incredibly universal, stepping out of his element with avant-garde on Ornette's Free Jazz and Dolphy's Out to Lunch, and a hard bop soldier for Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, as all as a sideman for more post bop-esq recordings with Bobby Hutcherson and Andrew Hill -- this is just a conservative list of what he was able to achieve, and he was successful with all of it.

The Night of the Cookers: Live at Club La Marchal was originally issued in two volumes on Blue Note. A dual disc CD reissue appeared containing the whole set which I was able to pick up used way back. I believe it may have been the second Hubbard album I obtained with him as a leader. This is an interesting set and I was not really prepared for it being the jazz novice that I was years ago. The compositions are long, requiring a serious ammount of stamina and attention, and the recording quality is fairly good.

The best thing about this recording is Lee Morgan and Hubbard playing off of each other. Having two of the best trumpeteers from the 60s is a rare treat for the ears. Pensativa is the first track clocking in at over 22 minutes. Its aesthetic resembles sort of a coctail party sound; smooth and mellow. Big Black's rhythms on the congas and James Spaudling's flute playing are a perfect complement to Hubbard and Morgan as well as Harold Mabern's vamping on the keys. Following this tune is the classic composition Walkin'. Filled with energy and excellent accompaniment by Pete La Roca on drums. The solos are powerful and extensive. Two thirds into the track the Morgan, Hubbard, and Spaudling trade forths with La Roca and Big Black.

I enjoy the second half of this date the best. Jodo, a composition written by Hubbard, is fierce on its intent, and Hubbard and Morgan take advantage of that with their solos. About nine minutes into the track, you can hear Hubbard trying to direct Spaudling's alto solo by playing quick cord vamps. The band returns to a more mellow, repetativie tune with Breaking Point, also written by Hubbard, to end the set. With a grooving chord progression the tune can make anyone at least tap their foot without them even realizing it.
1965 - Blue Note.
Freddie Hubbard - trumpet; James Spaulding - alto saxophone, flute; Lee Morgan - trumpet; Harold Mabern - piano; Larry Ridley - bass instrument; Pete La Roca - drums; Big Black - congas.

just for laughs...love nick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHjFxJVeCQs

An Overload of Records

So this week I decided to write a little bit of whats been on my mind as opposed to another "get this CD because it kicks ass" post.
So first off if there is anyone other than my colleagues on this blog and my girlfriend who actually read this I would like to say Merry Christmas and a Happy and (coming) New Year. (Jamie behave yourself). I hope everyone was able to enjoy their holiday with the celebration of a ton of new music, I know I am.
As I am writing this I am listening to the Children's Corner Suite by Debussy and whats driving me crazy is that after all the new albums I purchased over the last week, some I haven't opened, I am listening to early 20th century music. I should be bathing in new indie music and modern jazz records that I spent my first professional salary based pay check on. I guess what I am aiming to say here is that music makes me fucking nuts. I have serious ADD when it comes to music, but I can't help but love every minute of it.
I am currently engaging my ability to read books in a great novel about 20th century music and can't help but think how everything I am listening to is all connected in some manner more in depth than the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon.
One such genre I always obsess over is jazz. Most recently the contrasting sounds of Brian Blade's Fellowship Band and Gerry Mulligan with Chet Baker. The Fellowship Band wouldn't even be considered 'jazz' by some moldy figs but I can't help but get it out of my CD player and iTunes most played list. What I love about this band's most recent record is the interplay of all the musicians on record. In most cases the drummer has his role, the sax player, the bass, etc, etc, but I feel like there is so much more of a 'glue' that binds this bands sound together.
"There's an energy there that I can only wish to just barely duplicate with my own band and compositions. "The musical range of this group is vast, as are the influences that inform its individual members, but as a unit they sound like no one else. Their long-term working relationship has paid off handsomely here; these tunes are all bravely voiced and beautifully articulated compositions of modern jazz." (T. Jurek, allmusic.com)
Is it the time these players have spent together that makes them create such a sound, or is it because they are all sick at what they do?? Either way it drives me mad. The last time this band recorded was 8 years ago so maybe there lies some kind of answer.
The Gerry Mulligan reference is only that for the longest time I never listened to Chet Baker because I thought of him as the white Miles Davis but since lately I have been trying to broaden my trumpet playing palette and it turns out I like his playing. That and lately I have been obsessed with piano-less groups especially with trumpet. ( the album I am referring to is bari sax, trumpet, bass and drums)
Now the connection to 20th century music....nothing too deep. Just that music is suppose to make one wonder and listening to some of the music the book I am reading mentions and listening to my current jazz obsessions just make me wonder. How does it work?
We need to constantly be keeping our ears open because you never know what you're going to hear next.
Peace,
Nick

Phil's Album Recommendations

Passion Pit - Chunk of Change EP (2008)
(Indie dance music = Valentine's Day gift? oh noes)
I don't know what it is, but somehow I've latched onto a lot of dance-type music this month. This is a really efficient EP, and it leans just far enough towards that indie quirkiness that those of us who decide to stand over by the punch bowl and nod our heads will still enjoy ourselves. Oh, and I totally lose it when "Better Things" comes on the radio. Yeah.


Gang Gang Dance - Saint Dymphna (2008)
(wtf, mate?)
Still digesting this one. Some of it is quite excellent, but there are a few lulls too. These guys were just in the DFW area; if only I had been a fan just a little sooner. Not much of the MySpace material is like this record, but it might at least give you an idea of what GGD is all about.


TV On The Radio - Dear Science (2008)
(high vocals, funky horns, opens with 50s "ba ba baaas")
This record will easily top many year-end lists, including mine too, I'm guessing. I saw some ridiculous reviews on Facebook calling this music "avant garde" or something. Wrong. Not boring? Yes. But avant garde? Nooooo.
I knew that I was mildly dissapointed with Return to Cookie Mountain, and now I know why - as good it is/was, it seems to grasp at ways to make TVOTR's music new and, while they are partially successful, the results also skew the original identity of the artist. Dear Science takes the winning formula of Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes and shifts it into hyperdrive. You can STILL stream the entire record on MySpace.


BAND TO WATCH:
GLASVEGAS

(kind of emo-y but they're from Scotland so it's all good)
Oh, this could go SO epically wrong (not on a Partie Traumatic level, but still...). Geraldine is a cute jam, but I could just see these guys turn it to a sad act in more ways than one. Their debut drops stateside in January...let's just hope I'm wrong. The good news is that the Nirvana cover is NOT on the record.

3 Albums You Should Get

Sam Rivers: Dimensions & Extensions
Sam Rivers Reeds
Donald Byrd Trumpet
Julian Priester Trombone
James Spaulding Alto Sax, Flute
Cecil McBee Bass
Steve Ellington Drums
Great Avant Garde Album. Impressive work from all players, especially Donald Byrd who usually doesn't fit in these contexts.
Tracks that Stand out:
Involution
Afflatus
Helix

MMW plays Masada Book Two
Awesome work by the trio interpreting John Zorn's music. Very focused jamming, great for anyone on the fence about MMW and John Zorn.
Tracks that stand out:
ALL
Brian Blade & the Fellowship Band: Seasons of Change
Loved the interplay between the melodic players. Jon Cowherd uses many keyboards so I was immediately sold. Fans of Kurt Rosenwinkel would like this album. Every tune is a great example of a musician whose composing sometimes seems to surpass his drumming.
Tracks that stand out:
3. Stoner Hill
8. Alpha and Omega

10 line record review: Marnie Stern - This is It and I am It and...

Marnie Stern - This Is It & I Am It & You Are It & So Is That & He Is It & She Is It & It Is It & That Is That (2008, Kill Rock Stars)


SOUNDS LIKE if a member of Sleater-Kinney fronted the band Battles, with a little bit of 80's guitar virtuosity resting on top.

APPEALS TO those with short attention spans.

FINDS SUCCESS IN Stern's virtuosic guitar technique, always used for good and never for evil.

FINDS DEFEAT IN some tracks lacking as much substance as the frenzied pace would suggest.

SONG TITLE THAT MOST APPEALS TO NICK "Roads? Where We're Going We Don't Need Roads"

TITLE is 30 words long, 60 shy of Fiona Apple's When the Pawn...

SKEPTICS BEWARE that this record is incredibly unique from any other female rock musician out there (this is no Liz Phair story or anything)

VIDEO PROVES that face paint is BACK, baby!


Marnie Stern - "Transformer"

PHIL'S STAND-OUT TRACKS are "The Package is Wrapped" and "Shea Stadium"

BEST OF 2008? This is a favorite to crack my Top 10.

cd review #1

This is an absolute great album. I feel it represents the 1960's avant garde really well in the "concentrated chaos" style. By this I mean the group improvisation is focused. You can tell that every one in the band is playing off of each other opposed to a full "freak out" session like an Albert Ayler album, and the conpositions are certainly rehearsed. Moncur writes great tunes, I am a huge fan of "Air Raid" and "Monk in Wonderland." The icing on the cake is the post jazz messenger, pre-Sidewinder Lee Morgan. This was his first record appearance for blue note since his leave from the messengers to overcome his heroin addiction. You can hear that this kind of playing isn't really his bag at the time but he sounds open to what he's hearing and plays remarkably well. I'm sure this session influenced him when he started with the area of style he worked on in the late 60's and early 70's. Jackie Mclean sounds great. Its nice to know that this session led up to his work with Moncur on his album Destination...Out! Bobby Hutch...man that guy makes any album come together. He takes up the chords job of the recording and supports well. Bob Cranshaw was the house bassist for Blue Note at the time and you can't help but think this is the same guy who in like 3 months goes from playing this style, to the funky sidewinder with Morgan and sounds comfortable in both settings.
Go buy this album. Especially if you are trying to get into the jazz avant garde or have mix feelings about it.

Grachan Moncur III- Trombone
Jackie Mclean Alto Sax
Lee Morgan Trumpet
Bobby Hucherson Vibes
Bob Cranshaw Bass
Tony Williams Drums
recorded 1963

Jamie's Album Recommendations

Heavy Rotation

Deerhunter - Microcastle (2008)
shoegaze, ambient, indie

One of my favorites this year.








Fuck Buttons - Street Horrrsing (2008)
electronic noise, ambient

Nick, this is what we listened to in Montreal that you said you liked (and I recall you wanted to start a band based on this style).






Flying Lotus - Los Angeles (2008)

They call this experimental hip-hop. Kind of sometimes ambient, tribal space beats. Very short ideas make it more tolerable than if they had been turned into top 40 rap beats.

Guilty Pleasures

Kings of Leon - Only By The Night (2008)
rock

It's kind of lame bro music but I like it every now and then.