Leeway Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 The Carla Bley Band: European Tour 1977 (Watt) I was listening to this and thought that it worked better listened to as theatre music than as jazz. Then I realized that it's only dolts like me who categorize music. Musicians generally don't. One of the last Bley albums that I really warm to. I think it's partially that 'theatre' influence (a strong Weill/Brecht feel)- along with the influences/musicians from the free scene - that makes her earlier music so distinctive. Towards the end of the 70s her music, to my ears, starts to sound much more in the American tradition. The quirkiness sounds more mannered. I more or less agree with you both. When I listened to the album recently, I was struck by how fine the musicians were, and how good the music was ---when Carla was not larding in theatrical cliches. I think hearing it as "theatre" music is perfectly legitimate. I found her theatricisms (?) contrived, and more to the point, in the way of the larger boy of music. I think this tendency got much worse as Carla went on, but there is enough here to make the performances problematic. This era of her music (and probably most of the rest) could not have existed without the musical outline via Kurt Weill. Yes, there is definitely some Weill. I also pick up on some old style British vaudeville, and even a bit of circus music. None of this is bad (quite the opposite), just that I think what bothers me is the same thing that bothers me when every other saxophonist seemingly was quoting that "pop goes the weasel" riff. In a few instances it works, in most other instances, it comes off as unneeded, uninspired interpolation. Maybe I'm too hard on Carla. She is courageous enough to find her own way forward, and there is fine music to be garnered. But some of her mannerisms wear thin pretty quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 The Thelonious Monk Trio (Prestige Japan) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffcrom Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Rev. O. L. Holliday - If you Dance to the Music - You've Got to Pay the Piper (Jewel) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 John Rae 'Opus de Jazz, vol. 2' with Bobby Jaspar, Steve Kuhn... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaft Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Zoot Sims/Al Cohn/Phil Woods 'Jazz Alive! A Night at the Half Note' (US, stereo, gatefold cover) Any good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillF Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Zoot Sims/Al Cohn/Phil Woods 'Jazz Alive! A Night at the Half Note' (US, stereo, gatefold cover) Any good? Swings throughout. Recording quality what you would expect from a club date in 1959. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 The Last Metro - Original Soundtrack (DRG) Original music by Georges Delerue and late 30's/early 40's recordings by Lucienne Delyle, Rina Ketty, and Leo Marjane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 (edited) The Carla Bley Band: European Tour 1977 (Watt) I was listening to this and thought that it worked better listened to as theatre music than as jazz. Then I realized that it's only dolts like me who categorize music. Musicians generally don't. One of the last Bley albums that I really warm to. I think it's partially that 'theatre' influence (a strong Weill/Brecht feel)- along with the influences/musicians from the free scene - that makes her earlier music so distinctive. Towards the end of the 70s her music, to my ears, starts to sound much more in the American tradition. The quirkiness sounds more mannered. I more or less agree with you both. When I listened to the album recently, I was struck by how fine the musicians were, and how good the music was ---when Carla was not larding in theatrical cliches. I think hearing it as "theatre" music is perfectly legitimate. I found her theatricisms (?) contrived, and more to the point, in the way of the larger boy of music. I think this tendency got much worse as Carla went on, but there is enough here to make the performances problematic. This era of her music (and probably most of the rest) could not have existed without the musical outline via Kurt Weill. Yes, there is definitely some Weill. I also pick up on some old style British vaudeville, and even a bit of circus music. None of this is bad (quite the opposite), just that I think what bothers me is the same thing that bothers me when every other saxophonist seemingly was quoting that "pop goes the weasel" riff. In a few instances it works, in most other instances, it comes off as unneeded, uninspired interpolation. Maybe I'm too hard on Carla. She is courageous enough to find her own way forward, and there is fine music to be garnered. But some of her mannerisms wear thin pretty quick. I really like that LP in particular, moreso than some other Bley/Mantler/Watt LPs from the period. Just a related thought: I wish she and Robert Wyatt would have collaborated more. Edited January 24, 2012 by clifford_thornton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 3-LP set (Rhino) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 (edited) The Blues of Sleepy John Estes Volume Two 1938 - 1940 (Swaggie) Edited January 24, 2012 by paul secor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 Togashi Masahiko - Speed & Space - (Union) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 The Johnson Mountain Boys: Working Close (Rounder) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 Togashi Masahiko - Spiritual Nature - (East Wind) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffcrom Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 Togashi Masahiko - Spiritual Nature - (East Wind) Of course, I like Togashi's albums with Steve Lacy, but in some ways, this record (without Lacy) is the ultimate Togashi album. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 Jimmy Rowles 'We Could Make Such Beautiful Music Together"' (Xanadu/France) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 Duke Jordan: Lover Man (Steeplechase) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 Togashi Masahiko - Spiritual Nature - (East Wind) Of course, I like Togashi's albums with Steve Lacy, but in some ways, this record (without Lacy) is the ultimate Togashi album. I have about 10 Togashi LPs and though they're all excellent, this one flat out slays. It's so damn colorful. Story of Wind Behind Left is also a killer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinmce Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 I love this date, but just have the Fresh Sounds CD. What's the gatefold like? Zoot Sims/Al Cohn/Phil Woods 'Jazz Alive! A Night at the Half Note' (US, stereo, gatefold cover) Any good? Swings throughout. Recording quality what you would expect from a club date in 1959. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jostber Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 Grant Green - Solid (Blue Note reissue) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 I love this date, but just have the Fresh Sounds CD. What's the gatefold like? Zoot Sims/Al Cohn/Phil Woods 'Jazz Alive! A Night at the Half Note' (US, stereo, gatefold cover) Any good? Swings throughout. Recording quality what you would expect from a club date in 1959. Got a King Japanese pressing in a single-sleeve edition. Never seen the gatefold or its insides. Fine LP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jostber Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 (edited) Jimmy McGriff - Electric Funk (Blue Note reissue) Edited January 25, 2012 by jostber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted January 26, 2012 Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 Howard McGhee: That Bop Thing (Bethlehem/Affinity) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffcrom Posted January 26, 2012 Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 (edited) John Carter - Echoes From Rudolph's (Ibedon) Hadn't listened to this for awhile - I was prompted by colinmce's thread to spin it tonight. It's really wonderful; the unaccompanied clarinet solo "Angles" is one of the best things I've ever heard from Carter, and some of the most impressive clarinet playing I've heard, period. It's not for the faint of heart in terms of the avant-garde, though. My copy still has the folded insert sheet with Bobby Bradford's touching liner notes. Edited January 26, 2012 by jeffcrom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted January 26, 2012 Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 The Cecil Taylor Quartet: Looking Ahead! (Contemporary - black label stereo) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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