WHAT AM I LISTENING TO THIS WEEK?

This post and more to follow each week will bring to your attention some of the albums I’m currently listening to. Check them out. You may find something you like. That is my hope.

This week brings my most varied list so far. Hope you’re feeling particularly adventurous.

R+R=Now – Collagically Speaking

Reflect+Respond=Now, featuring Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah on trumpet, Derrick Hodge on bass, Taylor McFerrin on synthesizer, Justin Tyson on drums, and Terrace Martin on synth and vocoder.  This group was a brain child of jazz pianist and producer Robert Glasper ( who also plays keyboards on the album). This one is a contemporary mash of R&B, 1970s jazz-funk fusion, cosmic soul, and instrumental hip-hop. And it works well because these guys are well rounded and accomplished players who are pushing the bounds of todays jazz.

Porcupine Tree – Deadwing

This is one of those groups that when you hear them for the first time most people will say this group sounds like….(name a famous group). They manage to take all the good vibes and flavours of groups like Tragically Hip, Tool, Linkin Park and Rage Against The Machine (to name just a few) and melt them together to come up with some very interesting and thoughtful music. This album like most of their albums give a range of softer more contemplative songs to more metal tinged high intensity tracks. I love it.

Pat Metheny – We Live Here

Metheny is one of my all time favorite jazz guitarist and composers. This album though released in the early 90s still rates as one of the best in the last 30 years. It’s just pure class. From the compositions to the performances. I guess I could say that about all his albums and groups over the years. This one is about as ‘pop’ as you’re going to see from Pat but man did he knock it out of the park.

Lee Morgan – The Procrastinator

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiG-HvmkBs4

Lee Morgan is a household name among jazz fans. He is one of the most revered trumpet players of all time. I’m including this because I just purchased an original vinyl copy of this double album. And I’m loving it. Here you get a glimpse of early Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Ron Carter from Miles Davis’ 60s group. Other greats on this include Billy Higgins on drums, Bobby Hutcherson and George Coleman.

Stravinsky – The Rite of Spring, Petrushka, The Firebird and Appolo – Simon Rattle w. City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

This release is monumental for a few reasons. First it’s 4 Stravinsky works and 3 of them hugely famous. Second, its regarded as one of the best performance and recording of these pieces. Stravinsky is my favorite classical composer and Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) is my favorite symphony of his (written for a ballet). Stravinsky is from the modern era of classical music and his pieces tend to be quite dramatic. I tend to like that sort of music. If you can find this particular recording then you’ve hit the gold mine. I couldn’t find it on Youtube so I give you a taste of a similar recording done by the same symphony and conductor. You can find it on Spotify or Tidal for sure.

Until next time. Happy listening.