Today in Music – 1967 – John Coltrane passed away (not)…. and the jazz world still mourns..

According to About.com/Oldies Music, on this date in 1967, the jazz world lost a legendary figure when John Coltrane died from liver cancer at the age of forty. (The actual date of his death is July 17th) Coltrane was and still is one of the most influential jazz musician, ever. I have never been a big fan of the sax, most of my jazz listening revolves around guitar, organ and vibes, but every time I hear Coltrane’s music I love it. From Wikipedia: John William Coltrane, also known as “Trane” (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967[1]), was an American…

Continue reading

Blue Mitchell, Wynton Kelly and Hank Mobley a Great Jazzy Night!

  So tonight I turned the sound down on the Phillies game and turned up the stereo and spent a jazzy Saturday night listening to albums from  Blue Mitchell, Wynton Kelly, and Hank Mobley. Of the three Hank Mobley is the musician I know the least about, but his album Soul Station was my favorite of the evening. The link between the three albums is the piano artistry of Wynton Kelly. First Up- – Blue Mitchell – Blue’s Moods I first heard Blue Mitchell’s trumpet when he played on two John Mayall albums in the early 70s. The album I…

Continue reading

Nighttime Jazz – Freddie Hubbard – Open Sesame – (1960)

So not that long ago I lied, and said that the focus of my musical listening was going to be jazz and New Age,  since then I don’t think I’ve really written about either genre! That doesn’t mean that I haven’t been listening to artists in those genres because I have, I just haven’t written about them yet. One of the albums that I’ve been listening to is the début album of Freddie Hubbard Open Sesame  which was released way back in 1960, when Freddie was 22 years old. I listened to this album because it was on a list…

Continue reading

“Into the Night” with Latin Jazz Masters – Jane Bunnett and Hilario Duran

So on Monday while I was exploring new jazz artists, I read a forum thread about flutists and someone included Jane Bunnett among their favorites. I knew nothing about Jane, but here’s what I found about this accomplished musician at her website : Multiple Juno Award winner, Jane Bunnett has turned her bands into showcases for the finest talent from Canada, the U.S.and Cuba. She has been nominated for Grammy Awards, numerous Juno Awards, and most recently, was honoured with an appointment to the Order of Canada. An internationally acclaimed musician, Jane Bunnett is known for her creative integrity, improvisational…

Continue reading

New Age – “Into the Morning” with Peter Kater and Nawang Khechog

I first heard Peter Kater’s piano coupled with R Carlos Nakai’s Native American flute on the album Honorable Sky and the album quickly became a favorite. Several years later I picked up the album Karuna by Tibetan artist Nawang Khechog, which I admit to not listening to as often as I should, hum, does that sound familiar! From his website: Nawang Khechog is first Tibetan Grammy Nominee and the most renowned Tibetan Flutist in the world. He is one of the Tibet’s foremost world music & spiritual music composer and also one of the first Tibetan musicians to be able…

Continue reading

Climbing the “Cosmic Distance Ladder” with Sound of Contact!

So the other day, I wrote that Andrew told me that, along with The Winery Dogs, I should listen to Sound of Contact, and not to read about the band until after I listen. So I did as instructed and about mid-way through the album, the band started to remind me of Genesis. After listening , and enjoying the album I went to read about the band and I found out the reason that they sounded a like Genesis was their drummer…. his name is Simon Collins, yup he’s Phil’s son!!Collins has released three solo albums but he always wanted…

Continue reading

Beware of the Winery Dogs…. Good rockin’ headed your way!

So two of my all-time favorite power trios, (guitar, bass and drums) are Cream (Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton) and The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Hendrix, Noel Redding(bass) and Mitch Mitchell (drums)). Saturday, Andrew told me to be on the look out for a new power trio, The Winery Dogs, composed of the ubiquitous drummer from Dream Theater, Mike Portnoy, guitarist Richie Kotzen, and bass player Billy Sheehan from Mr. Big. He says the advance press from the youtube videos that are on-line is pretty good! The Winery Dogs’ self-produced album is set for release on on Jul 23rd on Loud…

Continue reading

2013 Jazz – Aaron Diehl’s – The Bespoke Man’s Narrative

So last night I had the television on and there were no games on the Phils played in the afternoon and the NBA playoffs start tonight so a surfed a little, and then switched to the Music Choice jazz channel. I listened for a bit and heard two artists that sounded interesting, so I turned off the TV and went to MOG to find them. The first was jazz pianist Aaron Diehl and the second was drummer Jordon Young. Both of their albums were very, very good. particularly  Diehl’s début album   The Bespoke Man’s Narrative, which was released by Mack…

Continue reading

Life’s Soundtrack – A tough run – but an Introduction to Pendragon makes it better!

This year has been a bad running year, I just find myself finding other things to do than ponding the pavement. But today I talked myself into getting out there and running for only the second time this  month! I don’t know if it’s because my knees don’t feel right or I’m disappointed in how slowly I run. What I really have to do is just remember that Nike slogan and “Just Do It!” Like I’ve done over the last few runs is plot out a new course one where I get to run over the same roads, just in…

Continue reading

Lunchtime Music from David & Steve Gordon!

The Relaxing Drums of Dave & Steve Gordon Often at work and, well, anywhere for that matter and I just need a little relaxing music, on goes the music of David & Steve Gordon usually, it’s the Garden of Serenity album and sometimes it’s Sacred Drum Visions. Today I tried their 2012 release Celestial Zen and it was a perfect fit for today as I worked in the soils lab! For those of you who do not know them., from Wikipedia   David & Steve Gordon are a Billboard-charting New Age music and chillout music recording artist duo, record producers…

Continue reading