Tag Archives: Free Jazz

Yusef Lateef – The Blue Yusef Lateef

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★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Hip bluesy jazz with some eastern experimental mixed in

Moods

East meets west on this hip bluesy hard bop LP with moments of eastern experimental

Thoughts

The bluesy rocking tracks are great, thankfully this makes up most of the album. Unfortunately there are these eastern experimental interludes that disrupt the flow creating an uneven listen.

The Good

'Like it is' centers around a particularly effective 'sad' sax solo with a piano and intimate percussion.

'six miles next door' is swinging blues jazz.

'Othelia' is a swinging blues thing with a blazing sax solo, harmonica. As much a blues track as it is jazz. The swing borrows from a specific type of rock and roll of the era.

The bad

'Moon cup' is a let down after. Eastern in influence with cringey Cantonese singing that just doesn't work.

'Back home' continues the Eastern sound and I'm just not a fan.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Yusef-Lateef-The-Blue-Yusef-Lateef/release/376373

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3z7853uxgw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVhov-Y6ToI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSMVJTrUS4M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXN-P4qPl5U

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

Spotify


Schema Info

Yusef Lateef – The Blue Yusef Lateef

Description: Album Review of Yusef Lateef – The Blue Yusef Lateef


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

The Nels Cline Singers – Macroscope

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★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

modern jazz with rock and free jazz ethos

Moods

Accessible experimental jazz for guitar shredders

Thoughts

Lots of guitar here. Earlier tracks are loaded with face-melting jazz guitar solos, with Cline coming out swinging; enlivened by percussive pushes. Middle tracks like 'red before orange' showcase his sweet tone.

Later tracks break away from structure, becoming more textural with bits of percussion and electronics. Really like the track 'seven zed heaven' which starts off with a swinging thing that turns into a tension building piece (Cyro's on this! Awesome weird percussive textures for this not familiar (see Hairy Mother intro).

Great album that rewards repeat listens.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/The-Nels-Cline-Singers-Macroscope/release/5631195

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoVY6M8fTXc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzQCQbso-dY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixk6zST2nM0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZXAIbKNA0o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF2PaUA79ao

Spotify


Schema Info

The Nels Cline Singers – Macroscope

Description: Album Review of The Nels Cline Singers – Macroscope


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Various – Spiritual Jazz Volume 7 – Islam

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⭐⭐

It’s an OK collection but not worth seeking out in my opinion. I prefer tracks by the individual artists to what was located here in some cases ie Yusef Lateef.

More Info:

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Spiritual-Jazz-Volume-7-Islam/release/9974207

Listen!

Spotify:

Youtube: