Wildflowers The New York Loft Jazz Sessions vol 5

This is it. The last one in my collection (for now). This has been a nice way to track how many records I have in my collection, and a nice way to make sure they are not all just gathering dust. I'm sure a trip to the record shop will occur soon, and I may write about them when I get them.

Now, I can just enjoy what I have and listen to whatever I'm in the mood for, rather than what's next.

This Wildflowers collection (vol 5) sounds better today than when I first listened to it. I think you maybe have to be prepared for the amazing repetition of Roscoe Mitchell's "Chant." and the loosey-goosey Sunny Murray ensemble reading of "Something's Cooking." The metaphor (cliche) commonly used when a musician is on point is "burning." Well, burning and cooking don't often go together very well... but then again... they're cooking.

Neik Young - Trans

Not a great album (full of vocoder). Weird cover of Mr. Soul. Transformer Man is a great song, especially when it was performed "unplugged."

Neil Young - ZUMA

Zuma is not part of Neil's "ditch" trilogy that was "Tonight's the Night," "Time Fades Away," and "On the Beach." This album, is like the best parts of all of those... but with Crazy Horse... and the last track is CSNY... and Cortez Cortez... what a killer

Larry Young - Into Somethin'

Killer lineup. Sam Rivers, Elvin Jones, Grant Green, and Larry. This is up there with Unity. Unity is  a little more classic. If this is Larry Young's second best record, then LY's second best is better than most peoples' best...

Yes - Close to the Edge

I bought this one up in MQT. Sleeve is in rough condition, so is record. But it's not so bad that it's unlistenable. Actually, I was surprised that it sounds as good as it does.

World Saxophone Quartet - Revue

Woodstock

Stevie Wonder - Signed Sealed and Delivered

I don't think I've ever listened to this record, despite the fact it has been in my possesion for 13(ish) years?!! My best friend growing up, Mark, had brought this over to my house (along with the Star Wars record) and left it behind. Well, I've had it for a long time, and I'm listening to it for the first time. I didn't realize this came out in 1970, and it has a funky cover of We Can Work it Out by the Beatles.

I "Wonder" why I've waited so long to give this one a spin...

Lenny White - Big City

Nice outfit on the front cover, cartoonized Lenny White.

Lenny White - Venusian Summer

My one-time favorite drummer. Drummed with Chick Corea and Return To Forever. Drummed open handed. Very cool dude.

Played drums on Red Clay

This record has Larry Coryell and Al Di Meola on the same track.

Lenny played drums on Bitches Brew.

Favorite Lenny White album is Adventure of Astral Pirates (I have it on CD)

Love his production on RTF's Romantic Warrior.

Weather Report - Tale Spinnin'

W/ Alphonso Johnson on Bass. I have NO Weather Report records with Jaco... interesting...

Weather Report - I Sing the Body Electric

Umphrey's McGee - Safety in Numbers

In high school, all my friends loved jam bands. Mainly, Umphrey's McGee. This was my gateway into prog, which led to jazz fusion, which led to straight ahead jazz, which led to free improvisation, which brings us back to free improvisation, which is a unique thing that Umphrey's tries to incorporate into all of their sets. There is such a nostalgic push to this LP.

I could write forever and ever about this, but the main details I should get are this: This album came out in 2006. I bought the CD at Sam Goody when it came out, and later bought the RECORD at Best Buy (?). I rarely will buy a record if I already own the CD, but I guess I just was that into Umphrey's McGee at the time.

Storm Thorgerson (of Hipgnosis... i.e. Pink Floyd album artwork, some Zeppelin, others too) designed the album cover, which I guess flipped the role of a sleeping/counting sheep/ sleep?

I think Partyin' Sheeps would do it, no?

U.K. - U.K.

PROG PROG PROG PROG pop PROG PROG PROGGY MCPROGGERSON PROGRESSIVE ROCK PROG ROCK PROG POGS PROGPROGPROG PROG PROG prog PROG.

Billy Bruford - Alan Holdsworth - John Wetton - Eddie Jacobs.

Supergroup.

Kinda poppy, but true to prog. IS THIS WHAT THE BAND ASIA WAS TRYING TO DO????

U.K. What a band...


AND I FOUND THIS RECORD IN MARQUETTE MI. When I was in college, I was still riding high in the Prog Rock Helicopter.

McCoy Tyner - 4x4

Another McCoy 70's/80's concept record. This one is just as strong as Supertrios, IMO. Each side is the McCoy Tyner Trio + one; the trio is Tyner, Al Foster, and Cecil McBee. Side one features Freddie Hubbard, side two is John Abercrombie, side three is Bobby Hutcherson, and side four is Arthur Blythe. Pick yer poison here. Rather, pick yer nectar- each side is heavenly. Surprisingly enough, the John Abercrombie collaboration really works well. They play Backward Glance and Forbidden land. Abercrombie has his own approach to modality which slithers through the jungle storm that Tyner and McBee lay out. Foster's drums act as branches for Abercrombie to swing freely from... and Abercrombie plays ELECTRIC MANDOLIN ON THIS ALBUM. HOLY WAH.

McCoy Tyner - Supertrios

This is a double album of McCoy playing with two different trios. A brave concept, yet a concept McCoy tried frequently in this period (next review is for 4 X 4 (unless I've already reviewed it???)).

LP1 is Tyner, Carter, Williams. So much power. Coke jazz (?)
LP2 is a bit more mysteriously syncopated: McCoy and Dejohnette and Eddie Gomez. I saw Eddie Gomez live in Milwaukee. At the UWM recital hall. Venue was barely half full. I felt much shame that the place was not packed. UWM has a Jazz studies program. Where were the students???? JAZZ LEGEND!!!! PLAYED MANY YEARS WITH BILL EVANS!!!! WHAT COULD YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THAT WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HEARING EDDIE GOMEZ???????

Sorry for the rant.

Ethan Iverson has written about Supertrios. I agree with just about everything he has written.

Fun Fact: My copy of disc one is hella warped, but it still plays just fine!!!

Ralph Towner and Gary Burton - Mathbook

I wrote about this one before!

Cecil Taylor - For Olim

This one got a high recommendation from Ben Ratliff in his book "Essential Library of Jazz." I was happy to find a used record for sale at a WMSE event in 2011.

:)

Cecil Taylor - Dark to Themselves

Energy Music. Explosive journey led by Cecil. David S. Ware is on Tenor Sax on this one. Jimmy Lyons also on Alto. No bass, but no bass necessary.

Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz - Make it Reign

Uptown baby, uptown baby. We gets down, baby, for the crown baby.