mjzee

I remember when Agharta came out. It was like the fifth consecutive 2-LP set from Miles; such an odd release pattern. It was hard to tell which ones Miles was committed to, and which ones were Teo & Columbia trying to make back their money (though the economics of releasing cheap 2-LP sets seemed to defeat that purpose). I really really loved Get Up With It, and loved the groove and bite established by Agharta. Pete Cosey was it!

Artur Rodziński - New York Philharmonic, The Complete Columbia Album Collection, disc 9.

Riccardo Muti - The Complete Warner Symphonic Recordings, disc 25.

The Library of Congress presents the National Jukebox, which makes historical sound recordings available to the public free of charge. The Jukebox includes recordings from the extraordinary collections of the Library of Congress National Audio-Visual Conservation Center and other contributing libraries and archives. Recordings in the Jukebox were issued on record labels now owned by Sony Music Entertainment, which has granted the Library of Congress a gratis license to stream acoustical recordings. At launch, the Jukebox includes more than 10,000 recordings made by the Victor Talking Machine Company between 1901 and 1925. Jukebox content will be increased regularly, with additional Victor recordings and acoustically recorded titles made by other Sony-owned U.S. labels, including Columbia, OKeh, and others. https://www.loc.gov/collections/national-jukebox/about-this-collection/?loclr=blogadm As an example, I did a search for Fletcher Henderson: https://www.loc.gov/collections/national-jukebox/?q=fletcher+henderson

Artur Rodziński - New York Philharmonic, The Complete Columbia Album Collection, disc 8: Gould, Copland, Gershwin.

Riccardo Muti - The Complete Warner Symphonic Recordings, disc 24.

Cool!

Amazon has Dave Brubeck Quartet - The Complete Columbia Studio Albums Collection (19 CDs) for $92.07.

Interesting essay: https://www.city-journal.org/article/when-heroin-hit-jazz

I've started participating in a number of these BFTs and haven't completed them, because they take so much time, especially to do them correctly: give each tune a full hearing, see how the arrangements and the soloists move me, identify the tunes, craft my replies... An 80-minute BFT could easily take 3 hours. But I wanted to plow through this one, so I listened to the heads, skipped around the tunes themselves...a Cliff Notes version, if you will. The obvious feature is the doubling up on tunes: Daahoud is #1 and #9, Billie's Bounce is #2 and #8, whatever that tune is is #3 and #10, Broadway is #4 and #11, "Lester Leaps In" is #5 and #12, whatever that tune is is #6 and #14, and Django is #7 and #13. Cute. Some random impressions: #1: I liked the enthusiasm and the trumpeter, and noted the elaborate arrangements precisely executed. Given the iffy sound quality, I'm guessing #2 and #4 are from the West End Cafe. #5: Odd that there's no drummer. #6: Ahmad Jamal? Overall, these are musical styles I often listen to at home. Well done.

Yes, also part of the Mothers of Invention - Freak Out crew, and The Fraternity of Man. RIP.

Very sad news. I would label him a genius. Throughout the Dylan Live 1966 box, I could absorb myself in his playing alone. He was a rock version of a great jazz improvisor. RIP.

Artur Rodziński - New York Philharmonic, The Complete Columbia Album Collection, disc 7.

That is pretty incredible. I wish him well, and the album much success.

Riccardo Muti - The Complete Warner Symphonic Recordings, disc 23.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6367080781112 Famed Zorthian Ranch burns in California Eaton fire.

Artur Rodziński - New York Philharmonic, The Complete Columbia Album Collection, disc 6.

Riccardo Muti - The Complete Warner Symphonic Recordings, disc 22.

I bought some of the Jazz Icons DVD boxes many years ago when they were rumored to be disappearing, but I never got around to watching them before now. Tonight, I watched the first disc: Blakey Live in '58 with Morgan and Golson (great performance, btw), and was pleasantly surprised to find it contained a long essay by Cuscuna that was typically him: perceptive, informative, thorough regarding Blakey's career, the circumstances of this band (including an interview with Golson), and info about this '58 tour.

Artur Rodziński - New York Philharmonic, The Complete Columbia Album Collection, disc 5.

Release date February 21: To mark the 40th anniversary of his debut recording as a bandleader in 1984, alto saxophonist Jim Snidero set out to create something special with his 28th album-and his second trio project to date with jazz masters Peter Washington on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums. Fresh off the success of For All We Know (Savant), particularly the standout track "Parkers Mood", Snidero felt the time was right to pay tribute to Charlie Parker, an artist he regards as "the king of the hill." Ranked among the top five alto saxophonists in Down Beat's 2024 Critics Poll, Snidero is more than qualified to honor one of the bebop pioneers. Richard Baratta has worn many hats over the decades; master drummer, Grammy nominee, film producer, musician, but his latest headwear takes us down a nostalgic road of classic rock and soul recordings from the mid to late 1960's. Here on his most recent recording Baratta, together with his working band, explores such tunes as "Blowin' in the Wind," "Purple Haze," "I Feel Good," "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds," "Whole Lotta Love," "Respect," and other rock mega-hits. With a real all-star ensemble on hand, the arrangements by pianist Bill O'Connell, are thoroughly swinging affairs with a fresh, unique approach and a funky Latin Jazz feel. As with his Music in Film series, Richard Baratta proves himself to be a gifted innovator at transforming familiar, and often surprising, material into vibrant jazz performances that bring new concepts to these truly iconic tunes and underline their timeless appeal.