Library Pick-ups cont'd

So Today I have another of my albums from the library, and it is a great one. If you know anything about Jazz, you have probably heard of Bill Evans. The pianist is one of the most influential performers in the history of the music.

His style and skill influenced scores of artists who came later, including McCoy Tyner, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock. He has a wonderful sound, and spent years touring with his trio, featuring the very famous Scott LaFaro, an incredibly influential jazz bassist in his own right.

Today I have one of the most famous live albums ever created. After a two week stint at the Village Vaguard in Greenwich Village in NYC, Bill Evans Trio performed their last sunday night show, and this album is the recording of this monumental night. It is regularly ranked as one of the best live jazz albums in history.

I recommend you listen to the whole album. Don't put it on while you're working or reading. Put it on, lay down, and listen. Evans' piano work with LaFaro on bass and Paul Motian on drums is a great combination. Evans' work is rather understated, and the brilliance isn't apparent unless you really listen. Unfortunately, I can't post a song from the album since it's in the wrong format, but here is a youtube clip to satisfy.



And since I think Evans was a cool dude, here is the album cover so you can check it out yourself.

Unfortunately Evans and LaFaro are no longer with us. Evans due to a life-long battle with drug addiction and LaFaro to a car accident just ten days after this album. But please enjoy the great work they did in their short time on this earth. RIP.

And here is the Album! ( Sunday at the Village Vanguard)

My Favorite Things

So I recently checked out the Petit Library just off Westcott St. here in Syracuse. It's actually not to bad, sure I have access to the HUGE SU Bird Library, but I kind of dig smaller public libraries.

I got a couple books (one of which was Anthem by Ayn Rand, and was actually really good), and three new albums. I want to post each of these albums, and the first is "My Favorite Things: Coltrane at Newport" by John Coltrane. This album finds Coltrane at the Newport Jazz fest, playing in a quartet. I started listening to the album and thought, my god, that piano is stellar. Low and Behold...it's McCoy Tyner, one of my favorite Jazz pianists! Tyner was actually at the festival with his own trio, and they managed to schedule Coltrane, Tyner, Jim Garrison on bass, and ROY HAYNES on drums!

For those of you who don't know who Haynes is, here is a video of him being awesome at 85 years old:



But, this post isn't about Haynes, it's about Coltrane. So here is a sample from the album; a clip from his very famous "My Favorite Things". The song is 17 minutes long, so I couldn't upload the whole thing, but if you'd like to check it out get the album below!





My Favorite Things: Coltrane at Newport

Time to Confess

So I know it's been a while. I apologize, but I have been trying to study for a few exams, just started teaching some summer students, and have been jamming to my new stereo. That's right, I got a sick receiver and have been blastin' great tunes ever since!

If you're interested I got a Harman Kardon HK-3490 3 channel receiver. Right now it's just hooked up to a pair of my buddies speakers until I can save some extra money to buy new ones. But...the sound is insane. This is my unabashed, shameless endorsement of this receiver. It is so clear, and loud, and wonderful. I am hearing new things in the music I've been listening to for years. If you're ever in the market for a stereo, check this one out; you won't regret it!

Now, on to some music. Today I have a wonderful Rolling Stones number. I think people group blues so closely with the American South that they forget these Brits put out some great blues tunes. This soneg "Confessin' the Blues" is arguably the best British blues cover of all time (although we will hear many, many more..Eric Clapton and John Mayall anyone?).



With Mick Jagger on Vocals (duh!?), Keith Richards on Guitar, Bill Wyman on Bass, and the rest of the Stones, what's not to love. The song was written by Jay McShann and Walter Brown and is a blues standard. This is off the album 12 x 5, and I recommend you all check it out below!

And Here is the Album! (12 x 5)

King of Slide Guitar

Today, as I drove to the local market, my buddy Dann and I were cruising through town listening to Elmore James. James has a very distinctive style and voice, and he is known as the King of Slide Guitar.

Here's the man himself.

The music just made the ride perfect, it couldn't have been selected any better. Here is "Got to Move"



And here's the Album! (I Need You - 1967)

I can't wait to post this.

Below is a sick jazz tune by Woody Herman (Clarinet). He is accompanied by Buddy Tate and Al Cohn on Sax, John Bunch on The Ivories, Steve Wallace on Bass, and Jake Hanna on the drums.



I actually dig the song a lot and give a lot of props the the performers. But, come on, let's be honest....could they look any less like awesome jazz musicians? I die once they put the shot on the pianist. He's great and I really can groove to his sound, but I feel like he could also be teaching me Earth Science.

I just want this to show you guys that you can't judge a performer by his look. Jazz and blues are on the inside, not outside (even though Miles Davis is pretty much the definition of cool).

Rockin' Pneumonia

So I am in a new house, I finally moved out of where I was and now am living with a fellow Math Grad student named Dann. It's really nice; we live in a great house in a great location. We've got about a fifteen minute walk to campus and about a 10 minute walk to one of the really hip happenin' spots in Cuse.

But, the downside is Dann knows a lot about blues and I find myself regularly at a loss for what he's talking about when he mentions old blues tunes and it makes me feel inadequate. He mentioned a song at a bar-b-que yesterday that absolutely not a single other person had ever heard of; and when he showed me it actually existed I told him I'd put it on the blog to vindicate him. So without further adieu, here is "Rockin' Pneumonia and Boogie Woogie Flu" by Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns:



And here is a much better version by Johnny Rivers:



And now on to something a little more satisfying. I Think today I will post this concert, available for listening on the NPR website.

Joey Calderazzo and Branford Marsalis at the Newport Jazz Festival 2009

This is Joey Calderazzo (Piano) and Branford Marsalis (Saxophone). Marsalis had actually already performed a gig at the festival with his whole ensemble, but this is just him and Calderazzo, and from what I hear, it is pretty fantastic.

And lastly, a hot blues tune to get you moving on this Saturday morning.



Peace.

The Man Comes Around

Today is a rainy day. I haven't been having a great couple weeks; my dad had surgery, my girl broke her collarbone, and I've just been busy trying to hold on to everything. When I get feeling this way, I often turn to the blues to let off some steam. Today, though, I'm listening to Johnny Cash.

I don't need to talk much about Cash. If you've listened to his music, watched Walk The Line, or like me, just remember your dad talking about Cash like he was the greatest American musician to have ever lived, you should take a day now and then to remember his voice and the power of his songs.

I couldn't choose any one song to post, so I am posting a couple of my favorites. Two are from American IV: The Man Comes Around, and the others are just older tunes, I'm not sure from which albums.

First we have Give My Love To Rose:



Next is another from that album, I Hung My Head:



The next is actually a cover by Cash of a Soundgarden song, Rusty Cage:



And lastly Highwayman, which is actually a song by "The Highwaymen" a group comprised of Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson (probably best known for playing Whistler in the Blade film series), Waylon Jennings, and Cash. This is a great song: