That's what it sounds like when Cannonball Adderley pronounces Joe Zawinul's name on Mercy, Mercy, Mercy. Zawinul had an unmistakable sound, from his early career with Maynard Ferguson, through the time he initially came to prominence with Cannonball, the incomparable Weather Report, and his later solo work. A very strong influence for many keyboardists, he was producing hip, vital music well into his seventies. Take a listen to one of his last recordings "Brown Street", with his group and the WDR Big Band...
CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS AH UM - BETTER GET IT IN YOUR SOUL
AMANDA TOSOFF QUARTET - STILL LIFE - THE LOOK
BRAD TURNER TRIO - QUESTION THE ANSWER - THE STAR-CROSSED LOVERS
CHET DOXAS - BIG SKY - THE WALK WILL DO YOU GOOD
RANEE LEE - LIVES UPSTAIRS - FIRE AND RAIN
THE CRIMSON JAZZ TRIO - KING CRIMSON SONGBOOK, VOLUME ONE - 21ST CENTURY SCHIZOID MAN
PAUL DESMOND - THE BEST OF - TAKE TEN
KEITH JARRETT - SHADES - SOUTHERN SMILES
CANNONBALL ADDERLEY - MERCY, MERCY, MERCY - GAMES
RICHARD "GROOVE" HOLMES - THE VERY BEST OF PRESTIGE RECORDS - MISTY
CRASH - THE DOCTOR IS IN - NICK'S KICK
GORDON GOODWIN'S BIG PHAT BAND - ACT YOUR AGE - WATERMELON MAN
THE BUDDY RICH BIG BAND - BURNING FOR BUDDY VOL. II - BASICALLY BLUES
THE HUGH FRASER QUINTET - RED & BLUE - THANK YOU VERY MUCH
JOE ZAWINUL - BROWN STREET - BLACK MARKET
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
June 5, 2010 - Ron Allen (a.k.a. Ashtar Ron Allen)
Where to begin...I've got to go back to where I first encountered Ron Allen...as a precocious 9th grade student playing in the Senior Stage Band at Applewood Heights Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario. Carbon dating of DJ Doc (or jumping into Mr. Peabody's Wayback Machine) puts us back in 1973. By the way, that's Ron, not Doc in the Senior Stage Band as a 9th grade student...Doc had to wait until grade 11 for that.
Ron was ahead of the curve, even back then. By the time he left AHSS in 1977 for a short stint in the jazz program at Humber College, Ron was playing solos and music that your humble correspondent is only now beginning to understand. He recorded his first album "Leftovers" in 1980, with such notable musicians as Claude Ranger, Buff Allen, and David Piltch. Later he moved into fusion with "Strangeness Beauty", his own solo project "Saxart Sees the World", and more of a new age bent with many of his flute-based recordings with the Avalon label. His musical journey has been long and varied, with a number of reinventions along the way.
If you get a chance go to YouTube and do a search on Ron Allen...there you will find a number of recordings of Ron on flute, tenor and soprano sax that will simply astound you with their musicality and technique. Thanks Ron, for sharing your encouragement and immense talent over the years...
Bright moments!
CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS AH UM - BETTER GET IT IN YOUR SOUL
HUGH O'CONNOR - FOR THE FIRST TIME - IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS
STEVE KALDESTAD - BLOW-UP - A FLOWER IS A LOVESOME THING
RON ALLEN - TEMPTATION - BODY AND SOUL
TYLER HORNBY - ROCKY MOUNTAIN JAZZ COMPILATION - SIX MONTHS 'TIL FOREVER
MODERN JAZZ QUARTET - THE VERY BEST OF PRESTIGE RECORDS - DJANGO
DAVE TURNER - EARTH TONES - SKIP
OSCAR PETERSON - NIGHT TRAIN - HAPPY-GO-LUCKY LOCAL (AKA NIGHT TRAIN)
CASSANDRA WILSON AND JACKY TERRASSON - CBC'S AFTER HOURS 3 - COME RAIN OR COME SHINE
CHARLES MINGUS SEXTET WITH ERIC DOLPHY - CORNELL 1964 - FABLES OF FAUBUS
Ron was ahead of the curve, even back then. By the time he left AHSS in 1977 for a short stint in the jazz program at Humber College, Ron was playing solos and music that your humble correspondent is only now beginning to understand. He recorded his first album "Leftovers" in 1980, with such notable musicians as Claude Ranger, Buff Allen, and David Piltch. Later he moved into fusion with "Strangeness Beauty", his own solo project "Saxart Sees the World", and more of a new age bent with many of his flute-based recordings with the Avalon label. His musical journey has been long and varied, with a number of reinventions along the way.
If you get a chance go to YouTube and do a search on Ron Allen...there you will find a number of recordings of Ron on flute, tenor and soprano sax that will simply astound you with their musicality and technique. Thanks Ron, for sharing your encouragement and immense talent over the years...
Bright moments!
CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS AH UM - BETTER GET IT IN YOUR SOUL
HUGH O'CONNOR - FOR THE FIRST TIME - IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS
STEVE KALDESTAD - BLOW-UP - A FLOWER IS A LOVESOME THING
RON ALLEN - TEMPTATION - BODY AND SOUL
TYLER HORNBY - ROCKY MOUNTAIN JAZZ COMPILATION - SIX MONTHS 'TIL FOREVER
MODERN JAZZ QUARTET - THE VERY BEST OF PRESTIGE RECORDS - DJANGO
DAVE TURNER - EARTH TONES - SKIP
OSCAR PETERSON - NIGHT TRAIN - HAPPY-GO-LUCKY LOCAL (AKA NIGHT TRAIN)
CASSANDRA WILSON AND JACKY TERRASSON - CBC'S AFTER HOURS 3 - COME RAIN OR COME SHINE
CHARLES MINGUS SEXTET WITH ERIC DOLPHY - CORNELL 1964 - FABLES OF FAUBUS
Saturday, June 5, 2010
May 29, 2010 - A Jazz Affair
Last night in Nanaimo was a very special evening...the 5th "Jazz Affair", this year following a "Chicago" (the city, not the band) theme. Starting off five years ago as the brainchild of Cynthia Cormier, this event brings professional musicians, high school bands, and an appreciative audience together to raise funds to support...well, here is the Mission Statement of the Friends of Nanaimo Jazz Society:
"Our mission is to promote arts and culture through music and to provide a nurturing environment for young jazz musicians to reach their full potential."
That says a lot, doesn't it? I had the honour and privilege of once again hosting the evening's proceedings, working with amazing volunteer organizers (thank you Tanya and Heather), sublime student musicians from the Jazz Academy at Wellington Secondary School (thank you Carmella Luvisotto and Steve Jones for the time and energy you share with the students), and stunning pros (Corey Christiansen, Christian Fabian, Ed Littlefield, and Ross Taggart...oh yes, Decadence too). It was a great night and very well-attended...thank you to all who support student musicians wherever you live!
Bright moments!
CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS AH UM - BETTER GET IT IN YOUR SOUL
FABIAN ZONE TRIO - ACROSS THE TRACKS - MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING
PJ PERRY CAMPBELL RYGA - JOINED AT THE HIP - I CAN'T GET STARTED
GUIDO BASSO QUARTET - SOUND OF JAZZ SERIES - IN A MELLOW TONE
STEVE JONES - CHESTER'S WALTZ - CHESTER'S WALTZ
GEORGE ROBERT QUARTET FEAT. MR. CLARK TERRY - LIVE AT THE Q-4 RHEINFELDEN - ON GREEN DOLPHIN STREET
FIVE PEACE BAND - FIVE PEACE BAND LIVE - SOMEDAY MY PRINCE WILL COME
HERBIE HANCOCK - HEAD HUNTERS - WATERMELON MAN
THE CLAYTON-HAMILTON JAZZ ORCHESTRA - LIVE AT MCG - SQUATTY ROO
GRP ALL-STAR BIG BAND - LIVE! - MANTECA
GORDON GOODWIN'S BIG PHAT BAND - ACT YOUR AGE - ACT YOUR AGE
THE HUGH FRASER QUINTET - RED & BLUE - THANK YOU VERY MUCH
NOJO - NOJO EXPLORES THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON - US AND THEM
"Our mission is to promote arts and culture through music and to provide a nurturing environment for young jazz musicians to reach their full potential."
That says a lot, doesn't it? I had the honour and privilege of once again hosting the evening's proceedings, working with amazing volunteer organizers (thank you Tanya and Heather), sublime student musicians from the Jazz Academy at Wellington Secondary School (thank you Carmella Luvisotto and Steve Jones for the time and energy you share with the students), and stunning pros (Corey Christiansen, Christian Fabian, Ed Littlefield, and Ross Taggart...oh yes, Decadence too). It was a great night and very well-attended...thank you to all who support student musicians wherever you live!
Bright moments!
CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS AH UM - BETTER GET IT IN YOUR SOUL
FABIAN ZONE TRIO - ACROSS THE TRACKS - MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING
PJ PERRY CAMPBELL RYGA - JOINED AT THE HIP - I CAN'T GET STARTED
GUIDO BASSO QUARTET - SOUND OF JAZZ SERIES - IN A MELLOW TONE
STEVE JONES - CHESTER'S WALTZ - CHESTER'S WALTZ
GEORGE ROBERT QUARTET FEAT. MR. CLARK TERRY - LIVE AT THE Q-4 RHEINFELDEN - ON GREEN DOLPHIN STREET
FIVE PEACE BAND - FIVE PEACE BAND LIVE - SOMEDAY MY PRINCE WILL COME
HERBIE HANCOCK - HEAD HUNTERS - WATERMELON MAN
THE CLAYTON-HAMILTON JAZZ ORCHESTRA - LIVE AT MCG - SQUATTY ROO
GRP ALL-STAR BIG BAND - LIVE! - MANTECA
GORDON GOODWIN'S BIG PHAT BAND - ACT YOUR AGE - ACT YOUR AGE
THE HUGH FRASER QUINTET - RED & BLUE - THANK YOU VERY MUCH
NOJO - NOJO EXPLORES THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON - US AND THEM
May 22, 2010 - Brad Turner, Esq.
BT has been here on campus at Vancouver Island University, working with the Fourth Year Bachelor of Music - Jazz Studies students in their final term before graduation. The students are gaining some valuable insights from Brad, both musically and professionally before they all head out on the next stage of their life adventures. Brad has performed in so many different settings (Trio, Quartet, Quintet, Metalwood, leader, sideman) and on so many different instruments (trumpet, piano, drums) tha tthe students cannot help but gain from those experiences.
Congratulations to the great group of music students at VIU, who are winding up their studies! Dates are TBA on the Graduating Recitals...
Bright moments!
CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS AH UM - BETTER GET IT IN YOUR SOUL
BRAD TURNER QUARTET - SMALL WONDER - 70 MILE
DON THOMPSON QUARTET - FOR KENNY WHEELER - ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE
JAMES CARTER - PRESENT TENSE - TENDERLY
ART ELLEFSON SEXTET - TIME TO WAIT - BEST UNSAID
MIKE ALLEN QUARTET - VANCOUVER - GROUSE GRIND
DOUG RILEY'S B3 QUARTET - CON ALMA - FILTHY MCNASTY
ROSS TAGGART QUARTET - THANKFULLY - DON'T CALL BEFORE TEN
DECADENCE - DEMO - MARCHING HOME…
JOHN COLTRANE - DAKAR - CATWALK
DIRTH DOZEN BRASS BAND - VOODOO - MOOSE THE MOOCHE
THE HUGH FRASER QUINTET - RED & BLUE - THANK YOU VERY MUCH
MAYNARD FERGUSON - LIVE FROM LONDON - GLENN'S DEN
Congratulations to the great group of music students at VIU, who are winding up their studies! Dates are TBA on the Graduating Recitals...
Bright moments!
CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS AH UM - BETTER GET IT IN YOUR SOUL
BRAD TURNER QUARTET - SMALL WONDER - 70 MILE
DON THOMPSON QUARTET - FOR KENNY WHEELER - ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE
JAMES CARTER - PRESENT TENSE - TENDERLY
ART ELLEFSON SEXTET - TIME TO WAIT - BEST UNSAID
MIKE ALLEN QUARTET - VANCOUVER - GROUSE GRIND
DOUG RILEY'S B3 QUARTET - CON ALMA - FILTHY MCNASTY
ROSS TAGGART QUARTET - THANKFULLY - DON'T CALL BEFORE TEN
DECADENCE - DEMO - MARCHING HOME…
JOHN COLTRANE - DAKAR - CATWALK
DIRTH DOZEN BRASS BAND - VOODOO - MOOSE THE MOOCHE
THE HUGH FRASER QUINTET - RED & BLUE - THANK YOU VERY MUCH
MAYNARD FERGUSON - LIVE FROM LONDON - GLENN'S DEN
May 15, 2010 - A la basse, Monsieur Alain Caron
I have had the good fortune to see Alain Caron in a number of different settings over the years. My first encounter with him and his music was many many years ago at the Forum at Ontario Place, back in the summer of 1983. They used to run a three day jazz festival there, and one of my most vivid memories was seeing Jaco Pastorius, UZEB, and Miles Davis on the same Friday night. UZEB, with Alain Caron on bass, was the real revelation for me that night. Of course, that started me collecting everything UZEB (and later Alain Caron et Le Band) ever recorded. I think I saw UZEB live on at least two more occasions after that Ontario Place encounter, and I've seen Le Band at least three times as well.
Caron is right up there in the pantheon of great electric bassists, and he's no slouch on the acoustic bass either! I encourage you to have a listen to the breadth of his work from his days with UZEB, his ongoing work with Le Band, and an intriguing release titled "Conversation", where he engages in a series of musical dialogues with various keyboardists. Very tasty stuff, and a great diversity of sounds!
Bright moments!
CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS AH UM - BETTER GET IT IN YOUR SOUL
ALAIN CARON - CONVERSATIONS - QUESTIONS
MILES DAVIS - KIND OF BLUE - FREDDIE FREELOADER
PAT METHENY - ORCHESTRION - SOUL SEARCH
THE ROSS TAGGART TRIO - PRESENTING THE ROSS TAGGART TRIO - TANARA
CHET DOXAS - BIG SKY - FOR JIM
MCCOY TYNER QUARTET - MCCOY TYNER QUARTET - WALK SPIRIT, TALK SPIRIT
MICHAEL BRECKER - PILGRIMAGE - THE MEAN TIME
DIZZY GILLESPIE - SWING LOW, SWEET CADILLAC - SWING LOW, SWEET CADILLAC
STAN KENTON - KENTON '76 - TIME FOR A CHANGE
THE TAYLOR - FIDYK BIG BAND - LIVE AT BLUES ALLEY - ANTHROPOLOGY
PRIME TIME BIG BAND - FOR OUR FRIENDS - EVIE
FRED STRIDE JAZZ ORCHESTRA - FORWARD MOTION - ODDLY ENOUGH
THE HUGH FRASER QUINTET - RED & BLUE - THANK YOU VERY MUCH
BLUIETT BARITONE NATION - LIBATION FOR THE BARITONE SAXOPHONE NATION - LIBATION FOR THE BARITONE SAXOPHONE NATION
Caron is right up there in the pantheon of great electric bassists, and he's no slouch on the acoustic bass either! I encourage you to have a listen to the breadth of his work from his days with UZEB, his ongoing work with Le Band, and an intriguing release titled "Conversation", where he engages in a series of musical dialogues with various keyboardists. Very tasty stuff, and a great diversity of sounds!
Bright moments!
CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS AH UM - BETTER GET IT IN YOUR SOUL
ALAIN CARON - CONVERSATIONS - QUESTIONS
MILES DAVIS - KIND OF BLUE - FREDDIE FREELOADER
PAT METHENY - ORCHESTRION - SOUL SEARCH
THE ROSS TAGGART TRIO - PRESENTING THE ROSS TAGGART TRIO - TANARA
CHET DOXAS - BIG SKY - FOR JIM
MCCOY TYNER QUARTET - MCCOY TYNER QUARTET - WALK SPIRIT, TALK SPIRIT
MICHAEL BRECKER - PILGRIMAGE - THE MEAN TIME
DIZZY GILLESPIE - SWING LOW, SWEET CADILLAC - SWING LOW, SWEET CADILLAC
STAN KENTON - KENTON '76 - TIME FOR A CHANGE
THE TAYLOR - FIDYK BIG BAND - LIVE AT BLUES ALLEY - ANTHROPOLOGY
PRIME TIME BIG BAND - FOR OUR FRIENDS - EVIE
FRED STRIDE JAZZ ORCHESTRA - FORWARD MOTION - ODDLY ENOUGH
THE HUGH FRASER QUINTET - RED & BLUE - THANK YOU VERY MUCH
BLUIETT BARITONE NATION - LIBATION FOR THE BARITONE SAXOPHONE NATION - LIBATION FOR THE BARITONE SAXOPHONE NATION
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