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WHAT AM I LISTENING TO THIS WEEK? Week 6

June 28, 2020 No Comment

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

This week, as it’s been every week, we have a wide range of styles. You should know me by now. That’s how I roll.

ILL CONSIDERED – ILL CONSIDERED

Ill Considered by Ill Considered — 7 Tracks — 37:13 Released 06/14/2017

This group is the definition of a jazz group without sounding too much like a jazz group. Even though their music is more edgy, more raw and less straight ahead they do embody the art of improvisation. Their aim is to create music that is unique to the moment. They create a loose structure or theme then improvise the hell out of it. Seems to be working for them. The first 3 tracks are standouts on this album.

TROY ROBERTS – NU-JIVE

Nu-Jive by Troy Roberts — 8 Tracks — 55:04 Released 03/10/2011

I really like Troy’s playing, especially from his Nu-Jive recordings. They tend to be more on the funky fusion end of his vocabulary while his newer stuff is more contemporary. This album and the follow-up Nu-Jive 5 are great examples of a tight, talented and well rounded group playing some sophisticated stuff that doesn’t sound sophisticate. Standout tracks include Brotherlation, Shavon and Mademfalselle.

HIATUS KAIYOTE – CHOOSE YOUR WEAPON

After winning a Grammy with a track from their first album, this was the follow-up album. This Australian (future soul) group plays some very interesting music. I like that they add lots of variety and changes within each track. Stand out tracks include Shaolin Monk Motherfunk, Breathing Underwater and By Fire.

BEN WENDEL – WHAT WE BRING

What We Bring by Ben Wendel — 8 Tracks — 46:26 Released 09/09/2016

Ok here is one for you jazz heads but with a little twist. His music is very contemporary but not so straight ahead. There is something structurally different about his music but in a very good and refreshing way. Very creative tracks. Stand out tracks include Spring and Song Song.

HARVEY MASON – CHAMELEON

Chameleon by Harvey Mason — 11 Tracks — 52:12 Released 04/29/2014

Harvey Mason has been around a long time. There aren’t many jazz musicians past and present who haven’t had drummer Mason as a sideman (to name just a few; Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Ahmad Jamal, Eddie Henderson, The Headhunters, Chick Corea, Michel Legrand,  Lee Ritenour & Larry Carlton, John Legend, George Benson, Herbie Hancock and he was a member of Fourplay. Now he’s making waves with the today crowd.

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WHAT AM I LISTENING TO THIS WEEK? Week 5

June 20, 2020 No Comment

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 I have a mixture of new, older (not old), Jazz, jazz funk, Soul jazz, rock and fusion. Just trying to keep y’all well rounded.

SOULIVE – DOIN’ SOMTHING

Doin’ Something by Soulive — 11 Tracks — 1:02:58 Released 03/13/2001

I’m still in my funky mood so I came across this group. I remember hearing some of their tunes back in the day. This jazz funk group is made up of Eric Krasno (guitar), Alan Evans (drums) and Neal Evans (Hammond B3 organ, bass keys, clavinet). These guys are from Woodstock New York and the band started in the late nineties. This was a 2001 album from their Blue Note recordings.



STEVE COLEMAN AND FIVE ELEMENTS – RHYTHM PEOPLE (The Resurrection of Creative Black Civilization)

Rhythm People (The Resurrection of Creative Black Civilization) by Steve Coleman, Five Elements — 10 Tracks — 56:21 Released 10/03/2014

This album kicks ass. It’s a mixture of funk and jazz fusion with an edgy dose of underground black soul rebelliousness (don’t ask me to explain that). This 1990 album was saxophonist Steve Coleman’s 5th album and 4th with Five Elements. This is one of my favorite albums period.

KING CRIMSON – BEAT

Beat by King Crimson — 10 Tracks — 49:54 Released 06/18/1982

One of my favorite rock groups of all time King Crimson still sounds relevant even in the saturation and mishmash of todays rock genre. These guys were at times very weird but hugely talented. But their music was always on the edge and pushing boundaries. This is just one of their many excellent albums. It’s featured here because I recently purchased an original vinyl copy.

YUSSEF KAMAAL – BLACK FOCUS

Black Focus by Yussef Kamaal — 10 Tracks — 43:42 Released 11/04/2016

This group encompasses two people, Kamaal Williams (keys) and Yussef Dayes (drums). You may remember back in my blog week 4 we listened to Kamaal’s New Heights/Snitches Brew mini LP. This 2016 date was their only release together. They toured extensively with guest artist following the release. They have since split up but separately they’ve moved on to become promising artist on their own.


DONNY McCASLIN – FAST FUTURE

Fast Future by Donny McCaslin, Jason Lindner, Tim Lefebvre, Mark Guiliana — 10 Tracks — 55:28 Released 03/31/2015

Donny McCaslin, more recently known for his role on David Bowie’s final album Blackstar, is a saxophonist who has been recording jazz since the early 90s. I find this album to be one of his more creative and accessible releases. If you are a vocal fan you can check out Blackstar or his 2018 release Blow.

Here is an added bonus. Donny’s Fast future with the NEC Jazz Orchestra

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WHAT AM I LISTENING TO THIS WEEK?

April 24, 2020 No Comment

Everyone has different musical tastes. Many of you, like me, listen to different genres and sub genres. Of course there are those who only listen to one type of music and if that is the case well maybe this post is not for you.

I tend to lean most towards jazz. Thats my passion. However I do listen to everything from classical to heavy metal to hip hop to the blues. In so saying, in my listening voyages I come across some very interesting records that I would like to share with you. If you enjoy them great if not well then at least you’ve have listened to something different. No harm in that.

This post and more to follow 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.

Cameron Graves – Planetary Prince

8 tracks 1hr-18.08 Released 02/24/2017

This artist is new to me but he plays the type of jazz sub-genre that I love (funky fusion grooves with jazzy and technically forward overtones). That’s a mouthful. Cameron is a progressive jazz pianist coming out of the LA jazz scene. This group (Kamasi Washington (ts) Philip Dizack (tp) Hadrien Feraud (b) Ryan Porter (tb) Ronald Bruner Jr. (d)) come out swinging and don’t stop till it’s over. There is something cool in every track and each musician is top notch. This is Cameron’s first project as a leader. There is a follow-up album Planetary Prince – The Eternal Survival -EP released in 2018.

Nate Smith – Pocket Change

11 tracks 32:38 minutes Released 09/28/2018

Those of you who haven’t seen Nate Smith on YouTube have been missing out. This is one funky drummer. He reminds me of a Bernard Purdy of James Brown fame but on steroids. If you haven’t checked out Kinfolk where he is in a group setting you should. If you like old school down and dirty funk you will like that album.

On this album Nate is solo. I know, you’re thinking a whole album of just the drums? Well If you know Nate you will know that when he plays the drums solo he creates by piecing together arrangements and crafts a cohesive track out of that. This is a short album with pieces running from :59 to 4:46. You won’t be bored though. If you like funky technical rhythms this one is a kicker.

Herbie Hancock – Man-child

6 tracks 45:06 minutes Released 01/01/1975

Late last summer on one of my vinyl show voyages I was fortunate enough to find an original pressing of this gem. Previously I was more a Herbie Hancock fan from the Miles Davis days but this album really introduced me to the Hancock of the 70s and before the Future Shock thingy. I have since gone back to check out more 70s HH. This album gives a good image of the funky groovy music of those days without being too cliche or dated. The group is fantastic and very cohesive.

Charenee Wade – Offering – The Music of Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson

11 tracks 1:02:08 Released 06/23/2015

I have really never been a vocal music fan. No matter the genre. Never really followed it much. Ya I know shocking. Of course there are many great singers but in my collection of music there are very few vocal repertoire. This album struck me for a few reasons. I was actually looking for a good Gil Scott-Heron album and came across this. I enjoy this one because it showcases Gil’s music, the music and the mood has that jazzy R&B groove and Charenee has got enough feeling and class to pull it all together. This is really good sit and listen music.

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THE WORLD IS MY MUSIC

June 18, 2016 No Comment

gmg and the world

 

AND MY JOURNEY BEGINS.

So here it is. My first foray into the abyss. Into the electronically charged black hole filled with everything and nothing called the internet. Ok, maybe that’s not quite accurate. Of course I’m already engrained into the net but this time I’m doing it on my own (por mi cuenta).

This is my maiden voyage into running my own site. From the ground up its me. No professionals to fall back on. Just me. So be kind.

So what will you get? First I must tell you, there will be lots of jazz music on this site because, well, I love jazz. It’s my home when it comes to music. But that’s not all you’ll get. Along with Jazz and all its sub-genres you’ll also get, blues, rock, reggae, R&B, metal, classical and whatever can be called music.

good music

Of course it will always be good music from my point of view but as you well know, that’s the thing about music…it’s good to only those it can impart some type of meaning and in turn make you feel something. So listen. If you like it great. If not, that’s ok as well. There will always be something around the corner to tickle your ear.

Having said that, I hope to spark something in you with what I present on this site. I will say, however, because I’m new at this I may change the site a bit from time to time as I get better at it and learn more about what you guys like to see and hear. Make sure you drop me a line and tell me what you think.

 

MY PURPOSE

There is really two main reasons for this site. First, to promote yours truly (me). You will get lots of music written, arranged and produced by me. You will hear collaborations I’ve done with musicians from the far reaches of the globe (no kidding).  And if you ever want to collaborate let me know and I will create a track for you.   At some point, you will get, (eventually when the universe smiles upon me) to purchase and own your very own copies of my solo musical offerings (yeah).

Secondly, I will share musical happenings, news, commentary, reviews, videos and pics from the world of good music. All that presented to you regularly in my blog.

Take a quick tour of the site. See what I’ve got so far.

Ok, ‘nuf  yappin. It’s about the music.

me at work

Enjoy everyone.
And don’t forget to drop me a note.

 

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