A tribute to the late and criminally underrated Filipino jazz piano giant Bobby Enriquez (1943 - 1996) who was playing professionally by the age of 12. His playing embodies the reckless abandon, the joie de vivre that characterizes the best of jazz along with an unparalleled mastery of the keyboard and its nuances, a cross between Art Tatum and Erroll Garner and everything you care to throw in between - a must listen.
Talmage Holt Farlow (June 7, 1921 – July 25, 1998), better known as Tal Farlow, was a jazz guitarist born in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1921. Nearly as famous for his reluctance to play as for his outstanding abilities, Tal did not take up the instrument until he was already 21, but within a year was playing professionally and in 1948 was with Marjorie Hyams’ band. While with the Red Norvo Trio (which originally included Charles Mingus) from 1949-1953, Farlow became famous in the jazz world. His huge hands and ability to play rapid yet light lines made him one of the top guitarists of the era. After six months with Artie Shaw’s Gramercy Five in 1953, Farlow put together his own group, which for a time included pianist Eddie Costa. Late in 1958, Farlow settled in Sea Bright, New Jersey, became a sign painter, and just played locally. He only made one record as a leader during 1960-1975, but emerged a bit more often during 1976-1984, recording for Concord fairly regularly before largely disappearing again. Profiled in the definitive documentary Talmage Farlow, the guitarist can be heard on his own records for Blue Note (1954), Verve, Prestige (1969), and Concord. He died of cancer at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City on July 25, 1998 at the age of 77.
Pianist Monty Alexander did some of his finest recordings for the German MPS label with this one maybe being his best. This live trio set recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in June 1976 with bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton, features Alexander playing his usual repertoire of the period with blues, standards ("Satin Doll," "Work Song" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic") and even a version of schmaltzy "Feelings", so in vogue at the time, that uplifts the song quite a bit. The trio's soulful approach and extended improvisations to the generally familiar melodies make them sound fresh and swinging like mad. Bill Evans at the Village Vanguard it might not be, but it sure is one of the swinginest live piano trio recordings in all of jazz for my money, if the enthusiastic audience response is any measure.
this video is Night Mist Blues from the very same recording.
During humanity's beautiful musical journey every once in a while a rare individual appears who approaches music and communicates his musical vision through his instrument in ways that were deemed impossible heretofore.
Jaco Pastorius (1951 - 1987) was unquestionably one of those individuals and his seminal debut album is as relevant today as it was back then.
Floridian tenor sax player Willis "The Gator" Jackson (1932 - 1987) seen below on a rare 1955 clip, was a force to be reckoned with. With an instantly recognizable (and huge) voice, echoes of past master Illinois Jacquet can be heard throughout his playing. He recorded a string of landmark albums for the Muse label back in the 70s with this one maybe being the best of the lot, guaranteed to scrape the plaster off your walls. With Charles Earland on organ, Pat Martino on guitar and Idris Muhammad on drums in luscious APE, enjoy.
Two great guitarists, the first man to transform the guitar into a jazz solo instrument, Eddie Lang (1902 - 1933) whose influence over generations of guitarists cannot be overstated meets jazz/blues legend Lonnie Johnson in this set of virtuoso recordings -- timeless and priceless...
Ladies and gentlemen, pls meet Mr Ivan "Boogaloo Joe" Jones, the king of acid jazz guitar for my money - with Harold Mabern on piano and Ron Carter on bass.
An unstoppable swinging affair organized by famous producer Norman Granz who took his Jazz At The Philharmonic troupe across the Atlantic in Montreux, Switzerland to give us this gem. With Mess Milt Jackson on vibes, Ray Brown on bass, Clark Terry on trumpet, Monty Alexander on piano and Jimmie Smith on drums.
Joe Zawinul, at the age of 70, has brought forth an album that continues to celebrate his endless delight in exploring music from around the world.
Faces & Places mixes vocalists and instrumentalists with daring grace. “Rooftops of Vienna” is a wistful ode that’s tinged with the sweetly sad backward glances of a man growing older and finding his boyhood home darting through his dreams. It uses singers as part of the musical stew, rather than as a narrative component. With its blend of exotic acoustic instruments and contemporary electronics, this set is very much in keeping with the direction of Weather Report from the time of Black Market and beyond.
Another tribute to this giant of contemporary music who played world music some decades before the term was even coined. An amazing and truly international band, featuring the talents of some of the world's greatest musicians in the likes of Paco Sery, Manolo Badrena, Victor Bailey, Richard Bona et al. The music is beautiful, uplifting and transcendental at times, definitely not for the faint of heart.
The attitude of the gallant Six Hundred which so aroused Lord Tennyson's admiration arose from the fact that the least disposition to ask the reason why was discouraged by tricing the would-be inquirer to the triangle and flogging him into insensibility.
F.J. Veale,
Advance to Barbarism
(Mitre Press, 1968).
Music posted here is for information purposes only. I don't subscribe to the notion that record companies are ripped off by the proliferation of blogs like this one. It is my firm belief that quite the contrary happens i.e. by bringing awareness to hitherto virtually unknown artists to the general public the music benefits greatly and a new level of interest is created.
Listeners are therefore kindly requested to buy the original music and support artists if they fancy what they hear - remember: if you like it, buy it!
