Red Mosquito

This thread got Tragged.

He, I have too much of a head of steam. We’re good.

Lester Young Trio

These guys sound pretty big and full for a trio. I was excited for this to hear Lester Young but also Buddy Rich, and I had a different album pegged but it wasn’t on Spotify and there’s only so much chasing I have the patience for. The sound quality does wax and wane a bit, but it’s still a very good album. The one that immediately stuck out to me is I’ve Found a New Baby, which along with the first tracks shows each of these guys going a little nuts and having some fun.

The Essential Track: I’ve Found a New Baby

Up Next: Thelonius Monk - The Genius of Modern Music (Vol. 1)

Thelonious Monk - The Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1

All it took was a couple of seconds into Humph and I just instantly knew that THIS is what I was looking for. This group is so loose and can do just about anything here and it’s just completely captivating. Much of this is sitting at the edge of your seat as they take all sorts of liberties with their timing and delivery. Rather than the cool embrace of Duke Ellington, you get guys just seeing how far they can push. And yet, for every Humph, Who Knows, Evonce, In Walked Bud or Thelonious, you also get the range with Ruby My Dear, Monk’s Moor, and the stunning ‘Round Midnight. This just feels like a game changer.

The Essential Track: (I am having a real hard time with this) Humph (for the immediate impact it creates right at the start)

Up Next: Charlie Parker - Bird: The Original Recordings of Charlie Parker

Monk is the best! And those early Blue Note recordings are great. Glad you dug them!

Kevin Davis wrote: Monk is the best! And those early Blue Note recordings are great. Glad you dug them!

This was something I wanted to listen to for many many years and I just never dedicated myself to listening to a steady stream of jazz. And Monk has always been on the wish list. Same with some of the others that I was able to listen to intermittently. And there’s much more to come.

excited for this, let's go

Charlie Parker - Bird: The Original Recordings of Charlie Parker

These recordings are Charlie Parker playing with a bunch of folks in various parts, but there’s the familiar sense of folks who are really good taking the lead at points. I really like how the personalities are coming out on these instruments and it’s a treat to see these superstars collaborating. The top track here for me was Bird, but even with the disparate lineups, this felt pretty cohesive as a whole.

The Essential Track: Bird

Up Next: Dizzy Gillespie & Charlie Parker - Bird & Diz

Charlie Parker & Dizzie Gillespie - Bird and Diz

This one lived up to its billing as this is certainly the Bird and Diz show. It shocked me to learn that Thelonious Monk is on here because you can’t hear him at all. That said, these guys play off each other pretty hard for the duration of this, with each take seemingly working harder than the next. It’s really quite a whirlwind of notes with Leap Frog really showcasing the chops. Not a weak track or take on this thing though. So enjoyable.

The Essential Track - Leap Frog (Master Take)

Up Next: Thelonious Monk - The Genius of Modern Music Volume 2

Thelonious Monk - The Genius of Modern Music, Volume 2

Simply put, this is one of the most brilliant pieces of music I have ever heard. It’s in part off kilter, challenging, and inventive - thrilling to listen to - and on the other hand, Monk is simultaneously able to demonstrate mastery of the basic foundations of jazz music. If Volume 1 is a revelation, volume 2 is its apex, the next logical and confident step to do what is meant to be done. Everything here is absolutely essential, but I was to point out the obvious a bit: Four in One and Criss Cross are like nothing we’ve covered yet, and their adventurousness at the start set the table for a unique listen - they are brilliant in ways I can’t fully explain. And yet when he moves on to Straight No Chaser, much more in the realm of jazz expectations, or the almost ballad like (in comparison) Ask Me Now, they are no less brilliant. And even if none of these 4 pieces were on this, it would STILL be one of the best albums I have ever heard.

The Essential Track: Four in One

Up Next: Hank Williams - Moanin’ the Blues

liebzz wrote:

Thelonious Monk - The Genius of Modern Music, Volume 2

Simply put, this is one of the most brilliant pieces of music I have ever heard. It’s in part off kilter, challenging, and inventive - thrilling to listen to - and on the other hand, Monk is simultaneously able to demonstrate mastery of the basic foundations of jazz music. If Volume 1 is a revelation, volume 2 is its apex, the next logical and confident step to do what is meant to be done. Everything here is absolutely essential, but I was to point out the obvious a bit: Four in One and Criss Cross are like nothing we’ve covered yet, and their adventurousness at the start set the table for a unique listen - they are brilliant in ways I can’t fully explain. And yet when he moves on to Straight No Chaser, much more in the realm of jazz expectations, or the almost ballad like (in comparison) Ask Me Now, they are no less brilliant. And even if none of these 4 pieces were on this, it would STILL be one of the best albums I have ever heard.

The Essential Track: Four in One

Up Next: Hank Williams - Moanin’ the Blues

So glad you are digging Monk!

So so good.

Yeah, Monk is still awesome after all these years, all the time something new happens when i listen to his albums.

Hank Williams - Moanin’ the Blues

And now for a very short break from the jazz classics. Here we have what I rudimentary read as a foundational album for country music. What’s surprising, sort of, here is that I can hear some of the bass and drum patterns from the jazz albums I have been powering through, the blues chords (with quite a bit of twang added), and what can best be described as intentionally broken note singing that is a caricature of old school country music. That said, I found much of this pretty enjoyable, from the more straight forward Low Down Blues, the dark and moody Alone and Forsaken, and the title track which is pretty outstanding. I’m not converting to a pure country fan per se, but I will sample where I can, and this seemed like the right place to start.

The Essential Track: Low Down Blues

Up Next: Louis Armstrong - Plays W.C. Handy

The connection between jazz and early country is way closer than it might seem based on where those genres ended up — same swinging rhythms, as you point out. Check out Louis on “Blue Yodel” by Jimmie Rodgers!

*sways shoulders and snaps fingers*

Kevin Davis wrote:The connection between jazz and early country is way closer than it might seem based on where those genres ended up — same swinging rhythms, as you point out. Check out Louis on “Blue Yodel” by Jimmie Rodgers!

That’s a much more direct case for that proposition. You are right though, who woulda thought? I would have pegged country with blues and folk, not so much jazz. But there it is plain to see.

Louis Armstrong - Plays W.C. Handy

This is such a joyful treat, even with much of this playing off the blues. Louis Armstrong’s playing is so very distinctively his, and his personality just exudes enthusiasm whether on trumpet or through his singing. He’s got a fabulous band with him on this, with a particularly strong addition of Trummy Young on trombone. This is pure fun, and the addition of the rehearsals show a bit of insight too. The reality is the main studio set is phenomenal, with the 9 min opening St. Louis Blues setting the table and leading the pack.

The Essential Track: St. Louis Blues

Up Next: Clifford Brown and Max Roach

Gonna check out those two monk albums..

Thanks

Clifford Brown & Max Roach

I think one of the things that might be a little odd for me is that typically by now I will have found something in a journey I flat dislike. Hasn’t happened yet and this is no exception. In fact, this one brings something new in this experience to the table - this one features longer tracks giving the musicians a bit more space to work through these songs. They are nearly all, again, spectacular. Parisian Thoroughfare and The Blues Walk are both on another level, the former really demonstrative of a city streetscape in the throes of heavy traffic, while the latter is one of those classic jams where everyone gets to shine in turn, the kind of stuff that’s always turned me on to jazz music.

The Essential Track: Parisian Thoroughfare

Up Next: Miles Davis - Blue Moods