Trio Da Paz & Joe Locke: Live @ JazzBaltica

Continuing the live flow from my last post, I bring another exciting recording by some more great musicians. The famous saying: "Jazz Is Dead" was most likely said by someone living under a rock and completely ignorant to all these beautiful records now being made. You might have heard of Joe Locke from his numerous NY albums but those Brazilian players just smoke! Fonseca's drums are wonderfully rhythmic and the acoustic "Brazilian" style guitar adds a really rich sound.

Title: Live At JazzBaltica

Performer(s): Trio Da Paz & Joe Locke

Year: 2008

Label: Max Jazz

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Uptown Lowdown!

*This live concert is about one thing and one thing only: SWING!*

*Sound is probably one of the best sounding live records you'll hear*

Title: Uptown Lowdown: A Jazz Salute To The Big Apple

Performer(s): The Nagel Heyer All-Stars

Year: 1999 (2000 Release)

Label: Nagel Heyer

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Kramar-Krommer Quartets & Partitas

Woodwind instruments are intimately associated with 18th century classical music and this Czech composer was no exception. As popular in his day as Mozart but unfortunately time has not been as kind to him as our good friend from Salzburg. Kramar-Krommer was quite a prolific writer, this music is really just the tip of the iceberg for a man that wrote everything from symphonies to sacred works. These small group settings have the tendency to really demonstrate a composers musical articulation because they require restraint and delicacy, sort of like the "pen is mightier than the sword" kinda thing. The sound and performance here are marvelous and these Czech classical labels always have such high standards.

Composer: Frantisek Vincenc Kramar-Krommer (1759-1831)

Title: Quartets & Partitas

Performer(s): Various

Year: 2002

Label: Supraphon

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Boccherini: Trio, Quartet, Quintet, Sextet For Strings

How long I've waited to get my hands on this fine recording that I've read so much about. Europa Galante's other Boccherini recordings are at the top of my list of Desert Island Favs, though I have to admit my list is getting pretty long :). In comparison to those other releases, this has a somewhat more sombre tone, almost like a lilting flower, still beautiful but more restrained. In particular, this recording really shows that the Maestro was a master of many faces, emotions and feelings - as well, demonstrating how lucky we are to have these musicians keeping this music alive so we never forget our brilliant artistic past.

Composer: Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)

Title: Trio, Quartet, Quintet, Sextet For Strings

Performer: Fabio Biondi & Europa Galante

Year: 2008 (2009 Release)

Label: Virgin Classics

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Richard Davis: The Bassist

A perfect addition to CJC that flows between jazz & classical like waves cresting and than retreating back into the ocean. A sonorous and eloquent sound is achieved by these gifted musicians throughout this entire recording, especially on the opening track 'Come Sunday/Warm Valley' they really shine with a real purity of tone. It's unique to hear the bass played like a violin and John Hicks' piano compliments that beautiful bass sound perfectly. The telepathy between Hicks and Davis is also a joy to experience, bouncing off each other and in addition each having their moment in the sun. The sound engineering on this album is rich and very well balanced between the two players - I really love these duet albums because typically the sound is very intimate, much like Andrew Manze's Corelli Violin Sonata recording with Richard Egarr (which you can most definitely find out there in Blog Land).

Title: The Bassist - Homage To Diversity

Performer: Richard Davis & John Hicks

Year: 2001

Label: Palmetto

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Mozart: PIano Variations

Another beautiful recording by Mr. Schiff.......of course its quite difficult not to enjoy any kind of Mozart for that matter, but his perfect touch hits all the right notes. I especially love the Glass Harmonika K356 that for some reason always seems overlooked by other major players past and present. Can a person go one day without Mozart? I know I've tried but I always end up singing some happy melody in my head and of course: IT'S MOZART AGAIN! I'm fairly certain that my Brain has been re-wired leaving permanent damage, but ultimately it's good damage.

Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Title: Piano Variations

Performer: Andras Schiff

Year: 1990

Label: Decca

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Sonny Clark: Sonny's Crib

Sonny Clark was an artist that perfectly suited the 'Blue Note Style'. His wondrous, sparkling sound was always captured with such realism and clarity by Rudy Van Gelder that Clark's piano practically jumps out of the speakers and does a little dance on your lap......okay...I'm over doing it a bit, but you get the picture. A partnership made in heaven between Sonny and Alfred Lion, Francis Wolff (the cats behind Blue Note). This album is a glorious example of that partnership that includes John Coltrane, Donald Byrd, Curtis Fuller, Paul Chambers & Art Taylor. Coltrane's 'Blue Train' is a very similar sounding session, but of course without that stupendously swinging piano of Sonny Clark (which makes one wonder why they didn't use him instead of Kenny Drew?) So to conclude this ramble, you couldn't ask for anything more than this.....well maybe being there when they recorded it!

Title: Sonny's Crib

Performer: Sonny Clark

Year: 1957 (1998 Reissue)

Label: Blue Note

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