Kenny Drew - If You Could See Me Now

I've never listened to Kenny Drew before... I don't know much about him. This record has great repertoire ("In Your Own Sweet Way," "Oleo"), great sidemen (Tootie Heath & NHøP), and was recorded on a great label (Steeplechase). As one could expect, the band takes Oleo at 7,000 MPH.

I like that Tootie Heath's snare drum is not set up how one is accustomed to hearing snare on modern recordings. I feel like the trend of designing "jazz" instruments is a new occurence that came out of the late 90's and throughout the 2000's. It seems like in the past, if you were a drummer, you would just get a really nice drum kit and not worry about the dimensions. Nowadays a jazz drummer typically tunes up all the drum heads as tight as possible (yuck), and must have a 18" bass drum (20" is acceptable, but is pushing it...)

Eric Dolphy - Iron Man

Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Bright Moment

This is my first Rahsaan Roland Kirk album. It is a great recording, right now I'm enjoying Jitterbug Waltz on side 4. I like it a lot, except the percussionist is going hog wild with the bell tree:

The opening tune "Pedal Up" is a great Rahsaan original, which I first heard on youtube:

I wish Downbeat still would have a televised award ceremony with outstanding live performances like the one above from the mid 1970s...

Weather Report - Live in Tokyo

Joe Zawinul is Lord of the Distorted Rhodes! This album includes some music that was on I Sing The Body Electric... I love early Weather Report. Miroslav on bass, Eric Gravatt on skins.

I've heard a story that Weather Report wanted Airto in the group (He is on their first record), but he decided to play set with Return To Forever or do his own record, or something. So Zawinul hired a brazilian named Dom um Romao and claimed he was Airto's teacher.

Osibisa - Woyaya

This album cover is designed by Roger Dean. This is Afro-pop, but sounds like a variety of early 70's rock groups with horns. I like this group, and I like imagining them as the African Yes.

Just purchased.

Freddie Hubbard - Straight Life

Do something funky. That's the simple motto of this cast of players:
Freddie - Trumpet
Joe Hen - Tenor Sax
Herbie Hancock - Fender Rhodes
Ron Carter - Fender Bass
Jack Dejohnette - Sonor Drums
George Benson - Guitar
Richard "Pablo" Landrum

Note: To anyone that performs "Straight Life," please play it at the tempo on this record. Any slower becomes laborious and loses it's sense of adventure.

Freddie Hubbard - Sky Dive

Freddie Hubbard CTI classic (not as classic as Red Clay, or the album I am now listening to...)