Billy Harper – Black Saint

by stan · August 13, 2019

★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

Sounds like?

Post bop

Moods

A dense, urban post bop masterpiece

Thoughts

Great album,has an energy that's very west village jazz: dense, subterranean, and fighting restraint. The constant crash symbol use adds this de-constructing vibe. Heavy swirling and dissonant solos provide a madness. These guys are on point and each bring this intensity here.

Typically I reserve a 5-star for music that is essential in the catalog of sound. Could the world live without this record? Absolutely but I think it's such a remarkable illustration of the genre that it's essential.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Billy-Harper-Black-Saint/release/12148892

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJOVUCEcsLg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edV6QIkWxr8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvTNnswzjhc

Spotify

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Billy Harper – Black Saint

Description: Album Review of Billy Harper – Black Saint

Written by: stan
Rating: 5 out of 5

Donald Byrd – Places And Spaces

by stan · March 6, 2019

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

energetic jazz funk, has a bit of disco too

Moods

70’s

Thoughts

I like the Donald Byrd + Mizell brothers brand of hip jazz funk that he was cranking out in the 70s (excellent article by bluenote that lays out the history http://www.bluenote.com/spotlight/disco-byrd-donald-byrd-in-the-70s ). This is one of the better albums if that era, sounds a little dated but the smooth soul still works.

There's an excellent interplay between the musicians. Even with Byrd himself, he'll drop in for a trumpet solo but it never feels fully focused on him; more just part of an overall vibe. Tracks feature super tight drumming, string arrangements, picking bass, Byrd's trumpet hovering around and sometimes cheesy lyrics (my only major fault).

Night Whistler is probably my favorite where an effect laden trumpet loop adds some interesting character.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Donald-Byrd-Places-And-Spaces/release/435058

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1vDcSPs_6I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3bdrBPFh2Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU1PyzEVPdg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chxtrT591oU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tFRIsRbEO0

Spotify

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Donald Byrd – Places And Spaces

Description: Album Review of Donald Byrd – Places And Spaces

Written by: stan
Rating: 4 out of 5

Jeff Beck – Blow By Blow

by stan · November 29, 2018

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?
Guitar driven classic rock

Moods
Collins Basement

Thoughts

The songwriting reminds me of prog rock due to a series of time changes and chops but at its core this is ‘classic rock’ through and through.

Songs are structured around Beck’s guitar playing and feature some great keys solos and impeccable drumming and bass. Beck’s style is fantastic: technical and precise while still maintaining a groove.

While later tracks like ‘scatterbrain’ kick things into full-on rock, I really like the easy-going, latin-tinged ‘she’s a women’.

Solid record.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Jeff-Beck-Blow-By-Blow/release/1929704

Listen!

Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwUq8ZE3d7c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcGlc45uHOo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_9C5MUJVHQ

Spotify

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Jeff Beck – Blow By Blow

Description: Album Review of Jeff Beck – Blow By Blow

Written by: stan
Rating: 4 out of 5

Terry Riley,Don Cherry,Karl Berger – Köln – February 23, 1975

by stan · August 27, 2018

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

What’s it sound like?
Spiritual organ and trumpet

Thoughts
A patient but effective piece of minimal spiritual jazz. Cherry’s trumpet playing is in top form with expansive but delicate solos (interesting in this context as I associate him with avant garde dissonance). Descending moonshine dervishes is the highlight as the two seem most in sync with Riley’s organ solos building into tasteful melodic lines that cherry tastefully solos over.

I heard this on the YouTube version which I think is incorrect. Sunrise of the planetary collective sees Riley playing solo on a more electric keyboard that provides an ominous tone. Koln improv falls somewhere in the middle with cherry returning but the keys continuing in their electric sound. Less spiritual, more jazz.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Terry-Riley-Don-Cherry-Karl-Berger-K%C3%B6ln-February-23-1975/release/8692739

Listen!

Youtube

Spotify

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Terry Riley,Don Cherry,Karl Berger – Köln – February 23, 1975

Description: Album Review of Terry Riley,Don Cherry,Karl Berger – Köln – February 23, 1975

Written by: stan
Rating: 4 out of 5

Cortex – Troupeau Bleu

by stan · May 1, 2018

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

What’s it sound like?

Classic jazz-rock fusion with a French touch

Thoughts

Exceptional Jazz fusion with strong keys playing. Unfortunately I really dislike the scatty female vocals featured throughout and found it tough to listen past them; they really date the album.

The second half is better starting roughly with ‘chanson d’un jour d’hiver’ through the end.

I don’t see myself revisiting this anytime soon.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Cortex-Troupeau-Bleu/release/934193

Listen!

Youtube

Spotify