Songs from some of the best live releases of 2007Live Set #3 - After Hours Till Morn
Total time: 94:01
Funny how time slips through your fingers when you think you have everything under control. A day late, but the following is the third set of music here at like rain whispers mist documenting some of the best live releases in jazz released over the course of 2007. Flowing from the Trios (here) to the Ensembles (here), today we proceed into the after hours. From bands that have worked over time in various configurations like Omer Avital's Room To Grow to meetings of the minds however familiar like Lafayette Gilchrist & Hamid Drake or Joe Lovano & Hank Jones, these are those performances that sound incredibly tight yet loose and in the moment.
These are more expansive tunes as well. This time around, seven songs totaling just over an hour and a half so hopefully you can provide more than a minute or two worth of time to these fantastic sounds.
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.
Omer AvitalRoom To Grow (Small's Records)
"Kentucky Girl"
Flat out have not had time to record even a simple introduction to this podcast today. But if you listened to the other two, you will recognize that I have been using Avital's solo bass introduction of "Kentucky Girl" for the backing. Of all the bassists currently out there, few reach me the way Avital and his bands do and I hope it is only a matter of time before 'the in the know' jazz public catches on to him, much less the larger jazz audience. Here is a signature tune (to me at least because it was the first one I ever heard from him) stretched out to well over twenty minutes. Myron Walden is ripping on this album and check out Grant Stewart! Souls run deep...
Myron Walden - alto saxophone / Gregory Tardy - tenor saxophone, clarinet & flute / Grant Stewart - tenor saxophone / Charles Owens - tenor saxophone / Omer Avital - acoustic bass / Joe Strasser - drums
Paul MotianLive At The Village Vanguard, Volume 1 (Winter & Winter)
"Standard Time"
Osby and Potter on the front line of a band led by a drummer who uses time as more of a reference than a guide? This album works surprisingly well and Osby fits like a glove in Motian's compositions. But the real driving force for me throughout is the other guest, pianist Masabumi Kikuchi - a leader in his own right and part of Tethered Moon. His playing really sets up the soloists and his comping is spot on. While it may not reach the overall heights I was hoping for, a strong strong record.
Greg Osby - alto Saxophone / Chris Potter - tenor saxophone / Masabumi Kikuchi - piano / Larry Grenadier - acoustic bass / Paul Motian - drums
Lafayette Gilchrist & Hamid Drake
Duets: Live At The Vision Festival 2006 (Hyena Records - Digital Release Only)
"The Shadow Knows What The Shadow Do"
Lfayette Gilchrist seems on the verge of similar notoriety as Robert Glasper and his infectious groove along with Jason Moran's inside outside tendencies. Here is a fifteen minute cut culled from a duet performance with Hamid Drake that extends Gilchrist outside of the sounds I know of his personal releases, but the results are no less fascinating. Hamid Drake, of course, is the perfect foil.
Lafayette Gilchrist - piano / Hamid Drake - drums
Jeremy PeltShock Value: Live At Smoke (Max Jazz)
"Blues"
This release flew low missing just about every radar I know of. It's an interesting set of music from a trumpeter who has the chops to become a major, major player but still seems to be finding his flagship sound or project. Think of On The Corner era vamps and blues sounds updated to today and directed through the blues based pen of the leader. A friend said it came across as similar to Russell Gunn, personally I don't think so. What do you think?
Jeremy Pelt - trumpet, flugelhorn & effects / Al Street - electric guitar / Frank LoCrasto - fender rhodes, hammond B3 organ & effects / Gavin Fallow - double-bass & electric bass / Dana Hawkins - drums / Becca Stevens - vocals (4)
Dennis GonzálezAt Tonic: Dance of the Soothsayer's Tongue (CleanFeed)
"The Matter At Hand"
Wow. I listened to this album repeatedly as soon as it arrived. Dennis González has quickly raised up on my radar, give this album a listen and I bet you will agree. For the song here, recorded at the now defunct Tonic, everyone has a chance to shine without losing the flow of the moment. And listen to Mark Helias, good gracious!
Dennis González - trumpet / Ellery Eskelin - tenor saxophone / Mark Helias - acoustic bass / Michael T.A. Thompson - soundrhythium percussionist
4 Corners (Broo / Vandermark / Lane / Nilssen-Love)4 Corners (CleanFeed)
"Lucia"
If you know the names besides Vandermark, you know this is a super group of sorts. Thankfully, it is one that delivers on what one would expect. "Lucia" in particular with Vandermark's bass clarinet is outstanding, but the album is a highlight onto itself making it a legitimate top ten release for the year.
Magnus Broo - trumpet / Ken Vandermark - reeds / Adam Lane - acoustic bass / Paal Nilssen-Love - drums
Joe Lovano & Hank JonesKids: Duets Live at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola (Blue Note)
"Lazy Afternoon"
Following two acclaimed quartet albums comes this duet live performance from the stable of Blue Note. What one expects, but nonetheless entirely enjoyable. It's hard not to smile when you hear Hank Jones perform.
Joe Lovano - tenor & soprano sax / Hank Jones - piano
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?
Download the like rain whispers mist mixtape by clicking below.
6 comments:
Love the pod cast, I can either listen to it on itunes or my Ipod instead of through the browser, I still like the the browser option as well but it great to have options.
Thanks for putting this together.
No problem, hopefully you'll find something you didn't expect...
So much great music, so little time to explore it all, but sound is the quickest way to find out if you dig something.
Nice selection. I'm particularly interested in picking up the Gonzalez and the Pelt. The Gonzalez seems to be really popular over at AAJ at the moment.
And I'm with you, I don't really hear the Pelt/Gunn similarity. Love his tune "Scorpio."
I just wish I had a better connection so I could keep up with all these tastes you're providing us!
That Motian sounds kind of slopppy.
Thanks for putting this together though! The podcast is great.
Nice! You should do these podcasts for everything!
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