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1000 results for “dnanian”
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Ben Webster - At the Renaissance
(Good follow-up since Hall is one of Lage’s inspirations.)
This re-master/re-press from last year is a gem: great playing by Webster, Jim Hall (guitar), Jimmy Rowles (piano), Frank Butler (drums), and Red Mitchell (bass); great recording and mastering (hard to believe it's from 1960); and a nice selection of standards.
Alway fun to listen to Webster fit his growling tone around sweet melodies.
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Art Tatum & Ben Webster - The Tatum Group Masterpieces
Since we're already on Ben Webster, here's a 1956 recording of Webster and Tatum (it was Tatum’s last recording), playing together in their only album together.
A bit different than you might expect, since (as Allmusic points out) Tatum often continues playing the melody under Webster during his solos.
Anyway, originally on Verve, but reissued on Pablo by Granz (so he retained some LPs).
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Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster
1959 set, but might has well have been recorded yesterday, bringing together two great sax players, Mulligan on baritone and Webster on tenor.
They're joined by Jimmy Rowles (piano), Mel Lewis (drums), and Leroy Vinnegar (bass).
Swinging, "cool" jazz; good stuff, and another example of these “x meets y" series, playing styles against each other, which often works.
#nowplaying #vinyl #jazz #GerryMulligan #BenWebster #MelLewis #JimmyRowles #LeroyVinnegar
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Johnny Hodges and his Orchestra - Blues A-Plenty
Hodges, away from the Duke, focusing on a bunch of great blues numbers with great sidemen like Billy Strayhorn, Ben Webster, Jimmy Woode, Roy Eldridge, Vic Dickenson, and Sam Woodyard.
Given a new mastering by Bernie Grundman, and a great pressing by QRP…this is a definite winner.
#nowplaying #vinyl #blues #jazz #JohnnyHodges #johnnyhodgesandhisorchestra #BillyStrayhorn #benwebster
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Ben Webster in Hot House
This 1972 recording, made in Leiden, captures Webster towards the end of his career. Even though he’d pass the next year, his distinctive tone and feel shines through.
This was originally released as a fan club press in 1979, but is now available in a very short run of 500 on white (mine is quiet and flat), distributed by LiTA, and it’s on sale for $15:
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The Ben Webster Quintet - Soulville
Seems like this is actually Webster playing with the Oscar Peterson Trio, from 1957. Really great playing from everyone, especially Webster. Some blues, some ballads, all good.
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Fred Jackson - Hootin' 'n' Tootin'
Although this comes from 1962 (Jackson's only session as a leader), it sounds more like later Blue Note, given the soul-jazz focus.
Regardless, lots to enjoy across the two sides.
Features Jackson (tenor), Earl Van Dyke (organ), Willie Jones (guitar), Sam Jones (bass), Wilbert Hogan (drums).
#nowplaying #vinyl #jazz #hardbop #souljazz #FredJackson #EarlVanDyke #WillieJones #SamJones #WilbertHogan
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Walter Davis Jr. - Davis Cup
1958 session by Davis, and his only as a leader for Blue Note…which is hard to believe given the quality of the release. Davis didn’t lead another session until…1979.
He’s joined by Jackie McLean (Alto), Donald Byrd (trumpet), Art Taylor (drums), and Sam Jones (bass).
#nowplaying #vinyl #jazz #WalterDavisJr #JackieMcLean #DonaldByrd #ArtTaylor #SamJones #BlueNote
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Chris Isaak - Forever Blue
It's been 10 years since this has been in print...and 30 years since it was released.
Chris (& the Silvertones) had basically perfected their thing by this time, and all that was needed was some heartbreak to level up the material.
Seems like that was delivered. Baby did, indeed, do a bad bad thing.
(Also, sheesh, real glass does a much better job a this than even the newest iPhone.)
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Thad Jones - The Magnificent Thad Jones
Jones' Blue Note follow-up after Detroit - New York Junction ( https://mas.to/@dnanian/110804823059419518 ), this release part of the Classic Vinyl Series.
This is an even better set than the last one, with great playing by Jones, Percy Heath (bass), Max Roach (drums), Barry Harris (piano), and Billy Mitchell (sax).
#nowplaying #vinyl #jazz #hardbop #ThadJones #PercyHeath #MaxRoach #BarryHarris #BillyMitchell #BlueNote
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Heaven & Hell: A Tribute to the Velvet Underground
Oh dear god, not a tribute album.
Well, yes. But, collected in 1990, we have RIDE, Nirvana, Screaming Trees, Buffalo Tom, Chapterhouse, The Telescopes, The Wedding Present, James, The Motorcycle Boy, and Terry Bickers/Bradleigh Smith.
Given the participants, and the music, you gotta cut them some slack. It’s pretty good!
#nowplaying #vinyl #tributealbum #TheVelvetUnderground #RIDE #Nirvana #Chapterhouse #ScreamingTrees #James
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Dave Edmunds (Rockpile) - Twangin’
And here ends the Rockpile saga. They were in the process of exploding during the making of this album, and don’t appear on all tracks. (The Stray Cats back him on one…)
Still a good record, but definitely tilting heavily Edmunds, and it’s probably the last really good album he made, unfortunately.
Well, Rockpile had an exceptional run…and the players continued to matter later.
#nowplaying #vinyl #rock #RootsRock #DaveEdmunds #Rockpile #NickLowe
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Neil & Liam Finn - Lightsleeper
The Finn family is so ridiculously talented that even a relatively minor (and, as indicated in the title, "sleepy”) record, like this one, has much to offer.
#nowplaying #vinyl #rock #NeilFinn #liamfinn #somanyfinns #newzealand
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Lee Morgan - Cornbread
Given this was recorded in '65, it starts off sounding more "late 60s" to me, for some reason.
Morgan, here, is joined by Hank Mobley (tenor sax), Herbie Hancock (piano), Jackie McLean (alto sax), Larry Ridley (bass), and Billy Higgins (drums). The set is four Morgan tunes and one standard (Ill Wind). Ceora is, indeed, a standout.
#nowplaying #vinyl #LeeMorgan #jazz #bop #HankMobley #HerbieHancock #JackieMcLean #LarryRidley #BillyHiggins
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Hank Mobley - Third Season
Yet another one of those “recorded in 1967 but released years later” Blue Note albums, this strong set by Mobley, Lee Morgan (trumpet), Cedar Walton (piano), Billy Higgins (drums), Walter Booker (bass), Sonny Greenwich (guitar), and James Spaulding (alto) is well worth seeking out.
I’m not sure the last track works, but the rest is a very enjoyable, swinging hard bop set.
#nowplaying #vinyl #jazz #HankMobley #BlueNote #LeeMorgan #CedarWalton #BillyHiggins
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Real vs Fake bokeh is always interesting…
#nowplaying #vinyl #jazz #hardbop #DonaldByrd #HerbieHancock #ButchWarren #BillyHiggins #PepperAdams
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Donald Byrd - Royal Flush
I guess it's 1961-day here.
An enjoyable hard bop session, and Herbie Hancock's Blue Note debut, accompanying Byrd (trumpet), Butch Warren (bass), Billy Higgins (drums), and Pepper Adams (sax).
Nice, un-limited remaster has that distinct RvG sound (including putting Hancock's piano in a cardboard box).
#nowplaying #vinyl #jazz #hardbop #DonaldByrd #HerbieHancock #ButchWarren #BillyHiggins #PepperAdams
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Milt Jackson - At the Kosei Nenkin
1976 live album on Pablo, recorded in Japan, playing a swinging set with Ray Brown (bass), Teddy Edwards (sax), Cedar Walton (keys), and Billy Higgins (drums).
Japanese pressing retains most of the Pablo style, but without the huge Pablo Live top.
Interesting to note that Japanese gatefolds always come with the first LP in the 2nd (back) location.
#nowplaying #vinyl #jazz #miltjackson #japan #raybrown #teddyedwards #cedarwalton #billyhiggins #pablorecords
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Cooper wishes you a happy snootsday.
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Ali Farka Touré with Ry Cooder - Talking Timbuktu
A Grammy-winner for a reason, this wasn't available on vinyl for a long time. And it's a really beautiful recording of the Malian desert blues player, with Cooder playing along with a few known players (eg Jim Keltner) and a whole lot of African masters.
Anyway, no doubt you've heard it. And if by some chance you haven't...you really should.
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Ali Farka Touré - Green
Mark Knopfler's distinctive guitar work made me think of this Malian musician, who is typically remembered for Talking Timbuktu, a 1994 album made with Ry Cooder.
Both Red and Green are terrific examples of north African proto-blues, and the great music that comes out of Mali in general. Unavailable for a long time, it was a great RSD pickup.
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Ivy - Guestroom
2015 (? - I forget) re-release of Guestroom, Ivy's 2002 album of covers. Songs from The Cure, Steely Dan, the Go-Betweens, etc.
Always bittersweet listening to them. Good album, though.
#nowplaying #vinyl #ivy #DominiqueDurand #AndyChase #AdamSchlesinger #pop
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tricot - T H E
Debut from tricot, a mostly-female math-pop band from Kyoto, recently re-released.
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A live track from the BBC 6 music festival:
#nowplaying #vinyl #MandyIndiana #industrial #noiserock #dancerock
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Mandy, Indiana - Urgh
Long awaited follow-on to I've seen a way - along the same industrial/dance/noise lines as before, but MORE, and better. Most lyrics are still in French to challenge your comprehension, but as before, they go with the music...clearly cathartic for them.
Not for everyone...but pretty great.
First single video released a little while ago:
Sacred Bones Society variant.
#nowplaying #vinyl #MandyIndiana #industrial #noiserock #dancerock
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Hey, one more thing. After Adam died, the rest of the band - and Sharon Van Etten - did a live version of Hackensack for Jersey 4 Jersey. While the download is no longer available, the video of it is:
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And finally, here’s a Tiny Desk Concert in support of this album:
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That was from the song "The Summer Place”, and here's the video:
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OK, not done with Fountains of Wayne.
A lot of bands write great melodies, and there are many skilled musicians who can play beautifully. But when you combine that with observational specificity and carefully crafted lyrics that push well past the “girl/guy makes me sad” line:
She ran away back in ‘78
Just down the beach to the neighbors’
They brought her back after sunset
Her dad said "Don't do me any favors”So much there, in so few words.
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Fountains of Wayne - Sky Full of Holes
Speaking of people who had talent absolutely pouring out of them… Fountains of Wayne put out only five albums, but every one is a power pop gem.
This, their last (RIP Adam Schlesinger) is no exception. It's chuck full of catchy, clever, well performed pop songs.
For whatever reason, that's out of style, and FoW never got the success they deserved...but don't let that stop your own enjoyment of their work.