like rain whispers mist

Songs from some of the best live releases of 2007


Live Set #2 - The Ensembles


Total time: 84:38

From the trios yesterday (here), we move to the ensembles today.

You know, maybe I just haven't put two and two together in the past, but 2007 has been an incredible year for official live releases. And continuing the theme of spotlighting tracks form some of these standout releases, today he have the meat of the order, part two of our three part series. For the most part, these are all bands or ensembles that have worked and recorded together over a period of time. And the interaction and tightness shows, especially in the group dynamics of the larger ensembles like Jason Lindner's Big Band and the San Francisco Jazz Collective.

Eight tunes ranging form six to fifteen minutes. From the elegance of the vibraphone to the dirty dirty fender rhodes (Craig Taborn - damn!), this is the modern straight ahead jazz sound as I see it. What's your take?


Please note these tunes are not meant to represent the pinnacle of these releases as that changes from listener to listener and ear to ear. But the ones presented here are especially hitting my ear of late and hopefully inspire you the same way.

Below are the albums, tunes, and personnel for today's mixtape. If you click the album cover, it links you to Amazon's product page for purchase.

Dave Douglas
Live At The Jazz Standard (Greenleaf Music)
"Earmarks"

A two disc compilation released this year in response to those requesting cds of the 12 sets of music released digitally through Greenleaf and Musicstem. A perfect example of the tightness of this ensemble. Probably the best place to hear Donny McCaslin in my opinion...

Dave Douglas - cornet / Donny McCaslin - tenor saxophone / Uri Caine - fender rhodes / James Genus - contrabass / Clarence Penn - drums


Chris Potter
Follow The Red Line: Live At The Village Vanguard (Sunnyside)
"Arjuna"

Every song on this album is superb with no low point what so ever. Candidate for record of the year for many people I am sure and a great addition to his catalog. I still can't listen to his previous live album with Kevin Hays due the sometimes wacky sounding keyboards, but this group is lock step and downright funky in some places. No doubt Adam Rogers is on his way to Kurt Rosenwinkel type idolation if his solo albums continue this sound. Then again, Wayne Krantz never really cracked through somewhat inexplicably...

Chris Potter - tenor saxophone / Adam Rogers - guitar / Craig Taborn - Fender Rhodes piano / Nate Smith - drums


Avishai Cohen
As Is...Live At The Blue Note (Half Note)
"Bass Suite #1"

For Cohen, this album is in the middle of the pack when compared to the rest of his discography as far as overall consistency. The band here sounds more chops based and sometimes overcome the bombast, but not often enough for me. Still, the dvd component is fun to watch and when you don't mind flat out bass virtuosity, this is a good listen and hard to beat. The tune here though is representative of him on the acoustic bass, a beautiful melody from his debut release Adama.

Diego Urcola - trumpet / Jimmy Greene - saxophone / Avishai Cohen - acoustic bass


Jason Lindner
Live At The Jazz Gallery (Anzic)
"Rumors"

Modern big band jazz, only a few are pulling it off successfully now a days and after what I though was a misstep with Premonition on Stretch comes this album out of Anzic Records full of punch and unpredictability. Top to bottom, the two discs deliver some great music. Fans of Guillermo Klein, the wilder side of Maria Schneider, and Pablo Algeria should hunt this down. Zenon is (again) on fire...

Jay Collins - flute, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone & vocals / Anat Cohen - clarinet & tenor saxophone / Miguel Zenon - alto saxophone / Chris Karlic - bass clarinet & baritone saxophone / Duane Eubanks - trumpet / Avishai Cohen - trumpet / Joe Fiedler - trombone / Dana Leong - trombone / Rafi Malkiel - trombone / Jason Lindner - piano & various keyboards / Omer Avital - acoustic bass / Eric McPherson - drums / Yosvany Terry Cabrera - chekere


Wayne Escoffery
Veneration: Live At Smoke (Savant)
"Melody for Melonae"

Don't sleep on this guy. Along with Marcus Strickland, one of the most impressive younger tenors out there. The tune here is an homage to his former teacher Jackie Mac but the whole album is up to this taste level. Joe Locke is another of the many musicians who just can't seem to breakthrough to that wider audience. Here again he shines.

Wayne Escoffery - soprano & tenor saxophones / Joe Locke - vibraphone / Hans Glawischnig - acoustic bass / Lewis Nash - drums


SFJazz Collective
Live 2007: 4th Annual Concert Tour (SF Jazz)
"Brilliant Corners"

Kind of a shame that you can only pick this up from SFJazz because I think a lot more people would be lauding these albums if they heard them. Who can deny the group? The music is as good as one would expect. First disc is Monk, second is original. And though some may say they play it a little close to the chest on the former, the latter disc certainly doesn't. Included Monk's Brilliant Corners here simply because I love the arrangement so much. I wonder if Nonesuch will ever get around to releasing their compilation discs of this and the third set like they did for the first two, then at least people can find the discs more easily...

Dave Douglas - trumpet / Joshua Redman - tenor saxophone / Miguel Zenon - alto saxophone / Andre Hayward - trombone / Bobby Hutcherson - vibraphone / Renee Rosnes - piano / Matt Penman - acoustic bass / Eric Harland - drums


McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner Quartet (Half Note)
"Sama Layuca"

This album is one of the best of the year studio or live. Tyner has never really shed the Trane influence to my ears (I know many think I am wrong in this respect) but the music here just flows in that vein. Luckily, it is not derivative at all even though Lovano occasionally throws in some Trane licks here and there. This is a great and original set of music. Powerful, driving stuff. Good to hear McBride in this context as well.

Joe Lovano - tenor saxophone / McCoy Tyner - piano / Christian McBride - acoustic bass / Jeff “Tain” Watts - drums


Miles Davis
Live at the 1963 Monterey Jazz Festival (Monterey Jazz Festival Records)
"Stella by Starlight"

Nice that this sees the light of day. Not as perfect as the 1964 sets, but beautiful all the same.

Miles Davis - trumpet / George Coleman - tenor saxophone / Herbie Hancock - piano / Ron Carter - acoustic bass / Tony Williams - drums


You can hear the compilation or just a particular tune below by double clicking on a song title. You can find all of these titles easily enough at a brick and mortar near you as well as online. Also, I am attempting something new in providing this as a podcast download as well. Let me know what you think if you listen via this route (links below).

Support these artists and buy their albums if you dig the sounds! Do the sounds sound good to you?



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Labels: Listening Session, Musicians T - Z, podcast