Rolling 2011 thread where I buy and listen to jazz albums for the first time ever

That self-titled 1962 album has become a favorite

Yeah, that's one of my favourites too! 'Out of this World' is absolutely gorgeous.

Also, I recently picked up a vinyl copy of Coltrane's "Om". Woah. That is some ish for which I am not quite sure I am ready...

Jealous

Coltrane's Meditations is popular, but I don't see First Meditations (For Quartet) mentioned much. I think I like that one even better, up there with 1964's Crescent, with Transition just behind it, and then The John Coltrane Quartet Plays and Sun Ship. All are essential 1965 Coltrane. The 1962 Coltrane is nearly perfect too. Hard to go wrong with him.

lol I thought everyone hated Om. For some reason it is the only Coltrane I have on vinyl

the Impulse Space is the Place (assuming that's what yr talking about - several different records have been released under that title) is great. hits a bunch of his different styles, with the Arkestra arguably at their peak

http://www.united-mutations.com/r/sunra_spaceistheplace2010_sutrolp.jpg

^^^like I just got this recently and it is entirely different from both the official film soundtrack and the Impulse album

I Like Om a lot

"Space is the Place" on Impulse! was my introduction to Sun Ra. It's lots of fun, especially the title track, but I wouldn't say it's his best album.

I don't think it's his best either - but it's not a bad sampler/overview

The actual soundtrack on ESP or whatever is better.

wouldn't even really call "maiden voyage" hard bop, more post-hard bob or something, more open, less bluesy. it's fantastic, of course.

so happen to be listening to Ascension at the moment... is it me or does the beginning quote Blue Train...?

My copy of Space is the Place (yes, on Impulse) looks like this:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41YZSKZHCRL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

great album

Good old Space 15 The Place

Strange Celestial Roads is still one of my favourite Sun Ra records. It's also one of the most laid back things I've heard him do. It lacks the overt out-thereness of a lot of his stuff and it all potters by at quite a sedate pace, but I'm really quite happy to just sit and listen to it and drift off into the far reaches of the galaxy. What else did he do along the same sort of lines?

^^^great album. in a similar vein:

Sleeping Beauty
On Jupiter
Lanquidity (altho this does get a little out/uptempo in places)

i recommend you get http://cgi.ebay.com/SUN-RA-ANGELS-DEMONS-PLAY-THE-NUBIANS-NEW-CD-/130489873842?pt=Music_CDs&hash=item1e61cd75b2

Cool, thanks guys!

that was to ilxor btw

I was gonna say - that is not a particularly mellow/lilting pair of Sun Ra albums...

haha yes, I hope he didn't rush out to buy it expecting some quiet disc

Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil (1964)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Ezi4gCqxL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

I've not had enough time for jazz in February (finally picked up some new releases, started a small writing gig that's eaten up some of my time, etc.) but here's a quick review of a very nice album that I've been playing.

This is a really gorgeous album. Overall an easy listen: there's a sense of relaxation, cool and confidence throughout. The playing is well-paced, never forceful. Strong melodies abound. To hear Shorter playing alongside Herbie Hancock (whose playing here sounds similar to his same-era Blue Note album, Maiden voyage) is a treat.

I get a strong sense of composition from these songs. Everything seems very much thought out and measured, not in an overcooked sense, but in a master songwriting way. I could be wrong (and I've not read any background on this album yet) but this doesn't have a sense of meandering improvisation like Coltrane or Ornette Coleman do on many of their recordings. And this is in no sense "masturbatory" jazz: Shorter never seems like he's showing off his chops, even though he's clearly got them. This is a master of his instrument using his skills toward something far more measured, elegant and beautifully restrained than others would have the discipline to do.

Beyond all of that, I get a very real sense of joy from these recordings. It sounds like Shorter, Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Herbie Hancock (piano) and the other fellas are having fun here. It makes me happy to hear these songs. I don't hear much tension in this album... simply the joy of playing music.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰

Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Herbie Hancock (piano)

Haha, can't believe I listed this stuff out at the END of the review. I think I wrote this part first, then added to the beginning and forgot to take out the lol obvious full name + instrument statements here.

Nice review, ilxor. Glad you're keeping this thread going. I need to hit the shop and pick up that used copy of Juju I saw recently. I read somewhere that with Speak No Evil Shorter was really branching out with new players, as he was trying to disprove those who dismissed him as simply a Coltrane-acolyte (on the preceding Juju he is backed by Tyner/Garrison/Jones).

NP: Alice Coltrane, Ptah The El Daoud (this is really doing it for me this am)

Cool, I'm watching for Juju... pretty sure that's counted among his "great" records, right?

Love that Alice Coltrane album, need to post some thoughts on it. Played it endlessly the night before a 50 mile trail run a few wks ago... perfect way to get in the right frame of mind to run for 12 hours. :)

Woah, that is some intense running! So have you found any jazz albums in particular that are well suited for a running playlist?

Actually, I haven't uploaded my jazz albums to iTunes/iPod yet, for a few reasons. Mainly that I don't have enough hard-drive space at the moment (UGH) but also, I'm enjoying listening to them in long-form mode, not on shuffle.

dude, ilxor, i don't think i've ever heard a wayne shorter record that wasn't great. his initial run of 6 or so records is pretty flawless. my favorite is either the all-seeing eye or adam's apple.

OT: ilxor I haven't checked the running thread for a long, long time cos I've been injured and didn't want to fill it up with dreary moaning but this -> "50 mile trail run" is hardcore & props 2 U

his initial run of 6 or so records is pretty flawless.

Talking about his run of solo records starting in '64 or so, all on Blue Note?

hell yeah

ilxor, your description of shorter is very insightful and otm. I think he's always slightly underrated as a composer, and what he does as an improviser is always informed by senses of composition and restraint, even though it's also very searching and expressive.

shorter was pretty unstoppable in the 60s -- his stuff with the Jazz Messengers is great, too.

Need volunteers for the resumed http://www.ilxor.com/ILX/ThreadSelectedControllerServlet?boardid=41&threadid=79981#unread

that is ILX0RS: JAZZ IS THE TEACHER. YEAH, IT'S A JAZZ THING >> THE ILM JAZZ LISTENING CLUB! [NEW CHOICES EVERY WEDNESDAY!] btw

Question regarding Alice Coltrane: I have and love both Journey in Satchidananda and Ptah the El Daoud. Noticed over the weekend that my local now has used copies of The Monastic Trio, Universal Consciousness and the live one from the later seventies (Transfiguration, I think?). Anyone care to comment on the essential-ness of any of these titles?

I don't view Monastic Trio as particularly essential, 'cause a piano trio is a piano trio. Universal Consciousness, though, is fucking great. Worth it for "Battle at Armageddon" alone, an organ-drums duo with Rashied Ali which totally lives up to its title. Transfiguration is also pretty apocalyptic and totally worthwhile, if a little overwhelming at times. Of the three, I'd go with UC.

yeah Universal Consciousness is great

Noticed over the weekend that my local now has used copies of The Monastic Trio, Universal Consciousness and the live one from the later seventies (Transfiguration, I think?). Anyone care to comment on the essential-ness of any of these titles?

Not essential. No, none of them... not essential at all. Pick them up immediately and mail them to me. I'll do the listening so you don't have to waste your time.

shakey & co are you taking a week in the newly reformed jazz club?

Not essential. No, none of them... not essential at all. Pick them up immediately and mail them to me. I'll do the listening so you don't have to waste your time.

Haha. If it's any consolation, ilxor, the used prices you are paying seem quite a bit lower than what is available around here. I believe these were all priced in the $8.99 and up range. I know that UC is waaay out of print, though. And it just so happens that I had forgotten that a copy of that album recently....uhhh...fell off a truck and I have a copy in my iTunes to check out.

To be honest, I almost wanted to buy The Monastic Trio alone for its awesome typography:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/aa/A_Monastic_Trio_%28Alice_Coltrane%29.jpg/220px-A_Monastic_Trio_%28Alice_Coltrane%29.jpg

the two best jazz albums are

bill evans - sunday at the village vanguard
eric dolphy - iron man

so get those!

I don't view Monastic Trio as particularly essential, 'cause a piano trio is a piano trio.

I agree that it's not ranked with Universal Consciousness necessarily but I find Monastic Trio interesting precisely because it shows Alice doing her thing in the context of "just a piano trio," sessions like that really give a player the opportunity to make their style clear imo, so that's why I love it.

Phil, how does Monastic Trio compare to Schlippenbach Trio?

Found all of these at the record shop over my lunch hour (and can't recall any being discussed to date). Going back after 5pm this afternoon to get several. Which of these are most worth hearing?

Don Cherry - Symphony for Improvisers
Joe Henderson - In Japan
Thelonious Monk - Solo Monk
Thelonious Monk - Underground
Evan Parker Electro-Acoustic Ensemble - The Eleventh Hour
Sun Ra - Concert for the Comet Kohoutek
Cecil Taylor - Conquistador!
Cecil Taylor - Dark to Themselves
John Zorn - Elegy
John Zorn - Angelus Novus

Phil, how does Monastic Trio compare to Schlippenbach Trio?

I'm not much of a Schlippenbach guy; I've only heard one quartet disc (the trio you're talking about, I think, plus Evan Parker) and two discs of solo stuff. None of it particularly made me want to hear any more.

unperson: can you comment on any of those records above?

And where's AG today??

Out of those, I've only heard Underground, but that one's a true five-star album. It swings like hell, and it's a good showcase for both Monk's chops as a pianist, and his songwriting talent.