This week's playlist - April 2008

[Pumpkin-22]

Cyrus Chestnut, Cyrus Plays Elvis (Koch, 2007). Excellent jazz pianist, imaginative interpretations of Presley hits.

Alison Krauss, A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection (Rounder, 2007). Worth it for the Dumbo song alone. Going to see her and Robert Plant end of this month, can't wait!

The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Live at Monterey (Universal, 2007). Had the shorter version way back when with Jimi on one side and Otis Redding on the other. A must.

Randy Newman, Seabiscuit (Soundtrack) (Decca). Like Newman's scores, also the new one for the George Clooney flick "Leatherheads."

Todd Barry, From Heaven (Comedy Central, 2008). I haven't glommed onto a good comedy album since David Cross' "Shut Up You F------g Baby!" This guy is really funny, especially the bit about MySpace and Mick Jagger.

Hysterics (2008). Any of these 12 songs would qualify for Little Steven's Coolest Song of the Week.

Robert Plant, Now and Zen (2007 reissue). One of his best solo discs. Plant has always been pretty adventurous. Going to see him with A. Krauss later this month. Can't wait!

Blind Faith (1969). The one-hit wonders... got this and a bunch of Clapton stuff while reading EC's bio. "Presence of the Lord" is a must, the rest pretty listenable.

Hayes Carll, "She Left Me for Jesus." This track may still be "free" at iTunes, so go download it while you can. Hilarious.

 

[Rudyjohn]

Moby's "Last Night" is fantastic


I just listened to Allison Krauss's Baby Mine because I remember the Dumbo version. It used to stir such emotion I almost couldn't watch the movie when by son was a babe. Thanks for the mention.

 

[TreeFrog]

It's 2nd-tier classic jazz artist month at the Treefrog nest. No Miles, Coltrane, Bird, or Monk this month. But plenty of stirling artists who were in their groups.

Clifford Brown and Max Roach - self titled
The trumpet phenom, short-lived from a car wreck

Art Pepper - Meets the Rythmn Section
AP gets out of jail from a drug conviction and his GF lines up Mile's band

Wes Montgomery with the Wynton Kelly Trio - Smokin at the Half Note
WM live with Miles' "Kind of Blue" rythmn section. Before he became Muzak.

Wynton Kelly - Kelly Blue
Same guys as previous, less Montgomery

Paul Desmond - Take Ten
Brubeck's sax partner (not sex partner) with Jim Hall on guitar

All very listenable, mercifully free of tedious and busy bebop solos.


And on a wholly different note

Herbie Hancock - The River
The 2008 Grammy album of the year, the first jazz album to do so in ages. A Joni Mitchell tribute. You've got to hear Tina Turner singing "Edith and the Kingpin". So unlike her, yet unmistakeably Tina. Wayne Shorter on sax, Dave Holland on bass. And further to Miles' legacy, these three were in his pioneering group that opened up new directions in the mid-to-late 60s.

John R, not to worry. I'm keeping the live bluegrass downloads rolling in the FrogMobile. FLAC R us.

 

[Pumpkin-22]

And on a wholly different note

Herbie Hancock - The River
The 2008 Grammy album of the year, the first jazz album to do so in ages. A Joni Mitchell tribute. You've got to hear Tina Turner singing "Edith and the Kingpin". So unlike her, yet unmistakeably Tina. Wayne Shorter on sax, Dave Holland on bass. And further to Miles' legacy, these three were in his pioneering group that opened up new directions in the mid-to-late 60s.

I really like the Hancock album, too. I wasn't a huge fan of his solo work aside from "Rockit" and his seminal score for the 1974 film "Death Wish," but this is a true jazz record, like the guy said in The Beachcomber this week, "not some crossover jive."