� Fire Approaches | Main | A Shift in Writing Direction �
October 25, 2003
Next Six
Continuing on talking about jazz albums has me thinking that I ought to do this a bit more. That is to say on a regular basis, I ought to talk about Jazz and the Old School. I haven't read any jazz criticism recently and I used to fulminate about it quite a bit. I'm at a significant disadvantage, not being a musician, but I have cultivated quite an appetite and taste for good music. But more on that later...
In This House On This Morning
Blood On The Fields
The Majesty of the Blues
I include these three works all as one, and will be all of the Wynton Marsalis I will talk about. There is so much of his work to admire not only because he is probably the most prolific jazz musician of his generation but because his gifts speak beyond the realm of pure music into the soul of the nation. Each of these works delves deeply into a theme which moves beyond the context of a jazz album per se. Tthe first two are more like concertos with a number of different movements. Revisiting 'In This House' this Sunday last I can't help but be drawn to the magic of gospel music without lyrics. It's a pure distilled kind of gutbucket celebration. It's the holy ghost without sweating ladies falling into the aisles, its the moaning rocking rhythm without the broken contrite faces of the darkling race. There's something deep here for me personally all evoked, like Shug Avery going back to sing in her father's church. God is trying to tell you something. Wynton lets you fill in the blanks. Blood On the Fields is deeper still, a three volume expedition into the days of the whip. The Majesty of the Blues is a complete album in the more traditional sense which contains, The Death of Jazz which is the song I want played at my funeral.
Beyond Words - Bobby McFerrin
This is the curveball I'm throwing. This is one of the most beautiful collection of songs I've ever heard. If you know Bobby McFerrin, you have an idea of what he is capable of creating. This album is far and away his most refined and well-balanced work as well as his most serious jazz compositions to date. If you are still thinking of the silly lightness of 'Play' or the antics of 'Spontaneous Inventions' you are in for a great shock. McFerrin goes straight to jazz roots with Chick Corea as well as with Omar Hakim and several other fine musicians. In a departure from his showcasing of vocal virtuosity, he truly collaborates with his musicians into a new kind of fusion. McFerrin has evolved scatting to a new plane and created an international platform for wordless lyricism. This is truly a remarkable achievement.
Birth of the Cool - Miles Davis
It's difficult for me to disaggregate my Miles Davis. Before I bought his complete Columbia box set, I had listened primarily to his newer stuff, the kind that all the purists hated, namely Tutu. I am still discovering Miles in an ass backward sort of way. I fall in love with a song and then come to discover Miles authored it 20 years before the cover I'm listening to. Birth of the Cool is one of the few Miles Davis single albums I have, but I know a classic when I hear one.
Romantic Warrior - Return to Forever
A lot of things about jazz fusion have soured over time. I was weaned on Stanley Clarke's bombast, halfway up that food chain, not quite ready for Mahavishnu. Four years after wigging out on Mannheim Steamroller and Earth Wind & Fire's jazzier pieces (like Sun Goddess) I ran smack dab into the sonic wall of RTF and was flattened. To this day, Romantic Warrior stands as a singular masterpiece. It seems almost impossible that musicians could play so quickly and intricately in synch, flare out to improvisation and slam back to the improbably complex choruses that they do. But this is the essence of this complex music, and you don't want to miss that.
I've been told apropos RTF that I need to check out the tangent that leads to King Crimson, Emerson Lake & Palmer and Yes. I am fortunate not to listened to any of these bands, so I know good times await me.
Posted by mbowen at October 25, 2003 09:41 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.visioncircle.org/mt/mt-tb.cgi/850
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Next Six:
� Baby's Got Sac from suburban blight
Hello and welcome to the Cul-de-Sac, my (almost) weekly list of linked-up love for my people in the blogosphere. Usually, the Cul-de-Sac is presented as a linkfest of posts from literally hundreds of bloggers, sort of a "meet the... [Read More]
Tracked on October 26, 2003 11:00 PM
Comments
Return to Forever--my parents play this one over and over again. I'm going to put it on my wishlist.
Posted by: Juliette at October 25, 2003 04:32 PM
I went to Yoshi's in Oakland last week. As always, it was fab. Do you recommend any jazz clubs in LA or Orange?
Posted by: irishlass at October 27, 2003 01:27 AM
The Jazz Bakery is the most consistent joint to find fine jazz musicians in the southland. Every once in a while there are big events, like Jazz at Drew and of course the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Bowl. But if you're like me, the best Jazz of all is a quartet in a smoky joint.
I don't get out as much as I used to but the scene hasn't changed much. If you ever hear about a jazz musician at Lucy Florence in Liemert Park, get there. It's guaranteed to be good. It's the perfect little atmosphere, although there's no smoke. Be early, there aren't many seats.
Catalina Bar & Grill is the old standby. Last time I was there, George Duke tore it up. Good food, good drinks, good crowds.
You're going to get your best performances and best audiences at UCLA's Royce Hall. I saw Andre Watts there last, though he didn't do anything jazzy. You'll pay for tickets but it's worth it.
The new Disney Music Hall will have a jazz series sooner or later. I wouldn't miss that for the world.
Out in Pasadena, Twin Palms is a great venue. Actually, just about anything in Pasadena will probably be of good quality.
Hermosa and Manhattan Beaches will have jazz, but it's more likely to be faux, like the kids. Save your money.
There's one more joint that's very popular in Seal Beach. I kick myself for not remembering it. 94.7 The Wave broadcasts from there all the time. It's the smooth jazz capital, and a rather nice venue. It get's crowded so prepare to get your flirt on.
In OC I hear there's a cool joint called Steamers in Fullerton, and I forget the name of the place in San Juan Capistrano, but then again, so did they. I wouldn't call Orange County a cultural wasteland, that would be plaigerism.
Posted by: Cobb at October 27, 2003 08:16 AM
Funny you should mention Tutu, It's actually one of my favorite albums. Just about anything Miles did with Marcus Miller was the s***.
If you haven't already, you gotta get Porgy and Bess. The orchestral arrangements by Gil Evans are incredible. Miles's cover of My Man's Gone Now defies words. He adds a great swing to Summertime - classic.
Romantic Warrior - masterpiece just about sums it up.
Posted by: Robert at October 27, 2003 07:36 PM
The Coachhouse was the name of the joint in San Juan Capistrano. I saw Miles perform there in the days after Tutu before the release of Aura, which I didn't like. He performed Georgia On My Mind with a guitarist named Foley. It was absolutely the single most mind-blowing performance I've ever experienced. I need to find more Foley. He's amazing.
I just listened to my only copy of 'My Man's Gone' by the Gil Evans Trio, at the Village Vanguard. It seems empty and screaming out for a trumpet.
I've got about 8 versions of 'Summertime' including one by the Fun Boy Three, but no Miles Davis. Good lookin' out.
Posted by: Cobb at October 27, 2003 08:05 PM
I also have a few different versions of Summertime. Tim Weisberg does a particularly goo d job on his cover. I'd never heard it done with a flute until I'd heard him.
BTW, speaking of Pasadena, every July is the Old Pasadena Jazzfest I missed this year's show, dammit.
Posted by: Robert at October 28, 2003 04:33 PM