"Mingus Dynasty" by Charles Mingus on Columbia CL 1440

4 Comments

"Mingus Dynasty" by Charles Mingus on Columbia CL 1440

Mingus at his most splendid self.

Fresh and just in is this masterpiece by Mingus. Got it today and just finished listening to it. I think I’ve mentioned the obvious on previous posts when talking about Mingus’ albums; he was a bona fide genius. The compositions are so beautiful, such attention to detail, the different layers of instruments playing over each other and blending together (amazing how it all works and comes together in total harmony), the multiple time signatures, the contrasts between different passages and the soulful, bluesy, explosive, moody and beautiful aspects of his ideas are mesmerizing. Like I said, it’s a genius at work here.

Favorite tunes at this moment are “Diane”, “Song with Orange”, “Gunslinging Bird”, “Far Wells, Mill Valley” and another take on Ellingtons “Mood Indigo”, which is also featured on Mingus x 5. The entire album is like a candy shop, so many flavors and sweet surprises. The level of musicianship that all the cats on this album possesses is absolutely top tier.

This is a Mingus album that you definitely should check out if you haven’t already. Highly recommended.

Top 3 Mingus albums guys?

Cheers!

4 Comments

"Let Freedom Ring" by Jackie McLean on Blue Note BLP 4106

2 Comments

"Let Freedom Ring" by Jackie McLean on Blue Note BLP 4106

Classic McLean album, on which he starts to explore some new sounds.

There are so many great Jackie McLean albums. I have managed to acquire a few so far. I enjoy both his early hard bop period as well as his later stuff where he stretches out more into post bop and incorporated at bit more of a freer approach. “Let Freedom Ring” started the period of this more innovative style of composing and playing. There are many great albums from this period and I have plenty more to try and find. I’m looking at “One Step Beyond” for example, which is another one rooted in hard bop but blending in post bop and the avant-garde.

McLean plays with his usual hi-energy approach. He uses high register “screams” as well, which is quite unique and special. For example, there’s a spot on the Bud Powell-penned ballad “I’ll Keep Loving You”, where he uses this technique (it’s used all the way through the album though), and it pierces through everything, in a good way. It’s harsh and beautiful at the same time.

I’m quite excited to dive deeper into his later stuff, I’ve listened to some of it of course, but far from everything. I’m taking things slowly as per usual.

“Let Freedom Ring” is one of those classic Blue Note albums and I’m very happy to have been able to find an original. Overall, I’ve been trying to focus on other labels and to try and get some real gems, cheaper ones, into the collection. But some great titles that I’d like to add, like this one, are on Blue Note, and then you’ll pay the price for that, literally. I will continue my explorations into other labels, cause there are so many great titles to discover that you don’t have to break the bank for. Lets me get more stuff into the collection faster as well. I have a couple of titles on the way from Japan that are superb and not that expensive. Looking forward to receiving those.

Have a great week, cheers!

2 Comments

Booker Little 4 and Max Roach on United Artists UAL 4034

6 Comments

Booker Little 4 and Max Roach on United Artists UAL 4034

Booker Little is one of my absolute favorites.

For me, the hunt is on for every title that Booker Little is present on, and that has been going on for quite a while. I’ve found some of them, but plenty still remains to be found. Many titles are quite difficult to track down. This title on United Artists is great and it’s also quite the rare find. My copy is a beautiful white label promo and I’m very pleased to have been able to file this back in the spring.

Booker Little was of course a superbly gifted trumpeter who died far too young. That theme is very familiar, unfortunately. But in his short time on earth he recorded some outstanding stuff, most notably with Max Roach, and he was also part of, for me, one of the greatest assembled jazz groups of all time, the one with Eric Dolphy that performed live on the Five Spot albums. He also recorded “Far Cry”, released on New Jazz, with Dolphy, and that is a brilliant album as well.

On a top 5 list of favorite trumpeters of mine he ranks 2nd. I absolutely love his style of playing, which is very technical and lyrical at the same time. He also was a great composer. His original compositions are very interesting and feel fresh still to this day. A lovely brand of jazz that is right up my alley. It’s so tragic that he didn’t get to live longer and play on more albums and compose more music. I’m sure he would have created some unbelievable stuff.

Regarding the recording quality on this session; it’s not the best. The entire group sound quite muted, the trumpet sounds good though. The drums sound soggy. But the quality of the music makes up for that in spades. Sometimes you find that certain albums just weren’t recorded that great, it’s just the way it is, and for me that just brings an element of charm. I put on Donald Byrd’s “The Cat Walk” on Blue Note straight after and my lord, what a difference in sound! Unreal. Such punch, attack, clarity, definition and volume.

Anyway, highly recommended stuff if you haven’t heard this one. I hope to be able to find the titles on Time and Bethlehem next. Let’s see if I get lucky.

Do you have a favorite Booker Little album? Please share.

Cheers!

6 Comments

"Looking Ahead!" by the Cecil Taylor Quartet on Contemporary M3562

3 Comments

"Looking Ahead!" by the Cecil Taylor Quartet on Contemporary M3562

Genius at work…

I’m only at the very beginning of my explorations into the body of work of pianist Cecil Taylor. This early album on Contemporary is a good way to start the journey I guess. It’s very much an easily accessible session to me. It has a good dose of adventurous and unique qualities, but never hard to grasp or abrasive in any way. On the contrary, it’s very mellow in it’s own way, with delicately composed tunes highlighted by Taylors imaginative and highly sofisticated playing, and the lyrical vibraphone of Earl Griffith. Never heard of the guy but he plays superbly. There’s a nice contrast and at the same time symbiosis between Taylors piano and the vibraphone..

I really enjoy the drums and double bass work of Dennis Charles and Buell Neidlinger as well. Extremely capable guys who doesn’t shy away from really applying their own distinct flavors to this session. The drumming is very tasteful and interesting, it’s a beautiful sounding kit (the ride cymbal is heavenly) while the double bass work is top tier, with a lovely round and warm tone to the instrument and impressive runs throughout. Got to look up more work by those two cats as well as Earl Griffith. There you have jazz in a nutshell, you always have more to discover and explore.

The sound of this original mono pressing is nothing short of magical. Such clarity and organic splendour. You usually find that Contemporary albums have that. The vinyl and jacket are in archival condition.

Taylor was a genius, there is no doubt about that. I’m excited to dive deeper into his world and it will be interesting to see if I find any other session as enjoyable as I found this one to be.

Do you have a favorite album by Cecil Taylor? Please share. Cheers!

3 Comments

"The Quest" by Mal Waldron with Eric Dolphy and Booker Ervin on New Jazz NJLP 8269

6 Comments

"The Quest" by Mal Waldron with Eric Dolphy and Booker Ervin on New Jazz NJLP 8269

Took a while but now this beauty is on the shelf.

At long last. The quest for The Quest is finally at an end. I’ve searched for this one for a long time. It’s an extremely hard album to find as a true 1st pressing in top shape, with the Abbey ring on one side and the wide deep grooves. I can’t believe it’s on my shelf now. Got it yesterday and listened to it today. It sounded fantastic. I truly hold it in very high regard. If I had to make a list right now today of my top 5 jazz albums this would be on it, together with Basra, Far Cry etc.

The Quest is a beautiful album with so much soul, superb musicianship and outstanding compositions. Waldron wrote all the tunes which says a lot about his level as a musician. He is one of my favorite piano players, if not THE favorite. He plays with such sparse, dark delicate beauty. He was a unique player with his own voice. Love his choice of notes, always chosen with care. Always very interesting to see where he goes with his ideas. I tend to focus more on the piano when he plays. Not your regular hard bop pianist. The rest of the group is top notch, with the brilliant Dolphy on alto and clarinet, Booker Ervin on tenor, who I really have been growing very fond of through exploring his various releases for Prestige, Ron Carter who plays cello on this which I love, Joe Benjamin on double bass who I actually haven’t heard a lot from previously, and the wonderful Charlie Persip on drums who plays absolutely outstanding throughout. Been diggin’ him since I first heard BLP 1540.

Regarding favorite picks, the beautiful “Warm Canto” is the stand out tune, with it’s mellow, moody and reflective nature. It has to be one of the greatest jazz tunes ever written. I never get tired of it. It always puts me in a mellow state, which is good. Love the propulsive “Status Seeking” as well, full of energy and impressive solos. All the tunes have their very own highly enjoyable quality. It’s a very complete album with plenty there that you want to revisit and explore again. Couldn’t recommend this album more.

Stay tuned for more vintage beauties from the collection. Cheers!

6 Comments

"Study in Brown" by Clifford Brown and Max Roach on Emarcy MG-36037

4 Comments

"Study in Brown" by Clifford Brown and Max Roach on Emarcy MG-36037

All time classic by one of the greatest jazz trumpeters of all time.

This is actually my first original pressing which features Clifford Brown which is completely nuts, considering I love his playing. Well, I’ve tried to secure both this title and Brown & Roach Incorporated, also on Emarcy, for a very long time. So it’s not like I haven’t tried, but it’s been difficult to find these titles in top condition and with all the 1st pressing details present, like the blue tinted back slick. I finally found this copy a few months back and it’s in absolutely top condition and sounds lovely. So happy to now have one of the very best Brownie titles secured and filed. The search continues after more titles in his catalogue. Excited to try and find some of them.

The music is so well executed and the original compositions are top notch. Clifford Brown is of course a jazz trumpet legend and to me, one of the very best trumpeters of all time. If I had to make a top 5 list of my favorite jazz trumpeters he would definitely be on that. Max Roach, another jazz legend, is a drummer who plays with such finesse, love him. The whole group is so good. Dig the individual styles of all of them and especially the chemistry they share with one another. They sound so tight and overall it’s a pity there aren’t more titles available except for the handful they recorded together before the tragic deaths of Brownie and Powell.

Favorite picks from this album include “Cherokee”, ”Lands End” and “George’s Dilemma”. All tunes on here are wonderful and highly enjoyable.

Enjoying the new listening space and the new house. It’s so nice to have my own space, never had that before. Will try and post more regularly and also begin to make some more YouTube videos. Hope you are all enjoying your collections, cheers!

4 Comments