Re: yesterday's topic: Paul Desmond at 100. Many years ago New York Magazine used to devote the last page of each issue to some kind of competition for its readers. One was called "Higgledy Piggledy" and involved composing a few lines of doggerel to the nursery-rhymish scansion implied by that phrase. Desmond won the competition with the following submission:
For excellent and very easy listening (yet so tasteful) holiday music: "Steal Away" with Charlie Haden and Hank Jones 1994. Not easy to pull this kind of playing off but they do.
When Stanley Crouch joined the Village Voice in about 1980 I became an avid reader of his stylish and contrarian prose. A couple of years later I introduced myself to him at the Village Vanguard and when I told him I was an academic librarian he said I might be able to do some research for his Bird bio and took my number. One night Stanley invited me to sit at his table. Ed Blackwell, whom he greeted as maestro, was playing. Stanley pointed out the moral authority with which he addressed the drum kit. And when he told me to listen to the way that the shimmer of Blackwell's ride cymbal meshed with Ray Drummond's bass overtones I got my first lesson in swing.
I hadn't seen Stanley in 20 years when I went to a book signing for Kansas City Lightning at Minton's. When I told him that we had met years ago he peered up at me over his glasses and said, "the librarian. I remember." He signed my copy with a flourish and his trademark Victory is Assured.
Thanks, Ethan. I didn't mention that Stanley took me into the Vanguard's kitchen. I sat and listened with my mouth open as Blackwell, King Grease Drummond and the others shot the shit.
Just want to say how much I am enjoying the Playfair Sonatas. The guests are all fantastic on their instruments. The standout for me is the Carla Bley tribute, it seems imbued with some of her spirit. It makes me smile to think of how she might have responded to it.
Recently, I've really enjoyed some piano Trios that feature tony williams playing drums: george cables "phantom in the city", Don Pullen "New beginnings " and Mr williams own " young at heart".
I'm sure you know those CDs, if so, whats your take? Or Do you have a take own tony williams in non-hancock trio setting? You did a deep dive on the hank jones/tony williams/Ron carter Trios a while back, if i remember correctly, but these feature younger Pianists and different bass players....
Great records! GREAT. In fact the Pullen and Cables are among their best LPs, in part due to Tony Williams of course. I don't think Young at Heart is Miller's best, exactly, something seems a little careful on that date. But I transcribed a piano solo for my Mulgrew Miller memorial post.
Pullen in the 1970s Mingus band with George Adams on tenor sax was my intro to him, great stuff. especially Changes One and Two. At Carnegie Hall is fun too. Been too long since I listened to these... but will check out your Pullen recs first
I don't know if I really love any single Miller as a leader. It's all very good, of course, he was a master. There's a solo on "Stardust" with Bennie Golson/Freddie Hubbard that is amazing. When I told Mulgrew that, he replied, "You know, I never liked that song very much."
I use the term "Holidaze" all the time! Great to see it used here though I know I didn't coin it. That "X vs. BLUESKY" was devastatingly funny and sadly accurate at the same time. 2 questions: any thoughts on the Ellington "Nutcracker" suite? Since I found it 30 years ago, I have made it a point to blast it every year. I remember an ex getting bothered by it, so it's got special meaning lol Question #2; when do we get to her an Ethan Iverson Christmas?? Solo, trio, Quartet, big band, Orchestra, ANYTHING. I wanna hear you do to Christmas material what I heard you do to Darn That Dream! Or even just you playing Ives' Carol "Little Child of Bethlehem " I think is the title. Thank you!!! Love your works, madly!
I certainly dig the Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker, what a great album. Thanks for kind comments, I'll have to keep going on the carols for the socials at least....!
Ellington reworking tchaikovsky, Iverson reworking ( brilliantly) The R of S and did you know that those German big band dudes have even done it to Bruckner v!! Has to heard to be believed. Takes ‘crossover’ to another dimension.😂
I love the Ellington Nutcracker and the extension of the work done by David Berger for the Harlem Nutcracker of Donald Byrd and Co. - along with the Ellington-Strayhorn , Berger adds a tune borrowing “Things Ain’t what they used to be” and the beautiful “Midnight Stroll” that is a transcription of the snow pas de deux - my personal favorite of the original Tchaikovsky. https://youtu.be/kWdlJx3EOiw?si=4fGKANBue07Bremv
I thought Daniil Trifonov's new album of American piano music was unusually ambitious and I suspect you'd find a lot to say about it. To my ear he massacres a Bill Evans transcription but the rest of the album is outstanding. Your mileage may vary.
Two of my favorite releases so far this year are Micah Thomas' "Mountains", and Hayoung Lyou's "The Myth of Katabasis". Two of the most unique voices on the piano today with rich compositional concepts, maybe give them a shot!
Back during the no-gig covid days saxophonist Doug Webb and composer Ladd McIntosh collaborated on a studio project, three music videos designed to showcase the woodwind family in its fullness, all parts overdubbed by Doug on instruments in his extensive collection. The videos were posted to Youtube, one every few months. Starting with the link to Jobim's "Dindi" the others automatically cue up. Of particular interest to me is "Jellistico," an exotic piece I first heard performed by a string ensemble at a Henry Mancini Institute, UCLA concert. Doug's solos include a nod to the later, more rhythmic (Age of Steam) Gerry Mulligan on baritone and a Conn-O-Sax (attention soprano players) improv. There is also a George Coleman reference later in the piece. Maybe your only chance to hear all eight members of the sarrusophone family. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx9TV2qNUfE
Thanks for all the album and book recommendations—one stop shopping for the Holidaze! My two cents re: Paul Desmond…Easy Living is the epitome. The band, the song selection, the album cover. Not my fave sax man but the sound of that record is really fantastic.
The Eugene Ormandy Bach Album came out when I was in high school and was my introduction to the chorale Komm, süßer Tod (Come Sweet Death) which later became a staple in the repertoire of the Boulder Bassoon Band where it was known as Come Sweet Toad (courtesy of Bruce Orr).
How are you liking Bluesky so far? I noticed you are sometimes cross-posting. Do you plan to keep this up, or will you eventually pick one? It seems like Music Twitter is slow to migrate. As a non-professional musician, I've already had more interaction with my occasional music posts than I have recently on X. If Music Twitter does move over, your followers are going to increase exponentially almost overnight. That's what has happened with science on Bluesky in the past few weeks.
I don't have a clear opinion or a plan, I'm just trying to keep my career going with the tools that are available. It is hard to go back to 600 followers on Bluesky after building 30,000 on Twitter. I will stay on Twitter until my posts there don't get traction.
Yeah, it's not as good for creators engaging with their audience as Twitter once was. Yet. Instagram is probably the best place for that now, for better or for worse.
Good to hear regarding science. I had some extremely valuable scientific interactions on Twitter (substantive conversations that led to new insights and potentially part of a paper, invitation to give a talk in an excellent omline seminar series, that is influencing my research). I'm pissed at Skum for mucking this up, though it's hardly my biggest beef with him. Will have to check out the Sky as soon as time allows.
Re: yesterday's topic: Paul Desmond at 100. Many years ago New York Magazine used to devote the last page of each issue to some kind of competition for its readers. One was called "Higgledy Piggledy" and involved composing a few lines of doggerel to the nursery-rhymish scansion implied by that phrase. Desmond won the competition with the following submission:
"Higgledy Piggledy, Cannonball Adderley
Came on the scene like a bolt from the blue.
"His popularity, coincidentally,
Left me more time for women and booze."
truly perfect
For excellent and very easy listening (yet so tasteful) holiday music: "Steal Away" with Charlie Haden and Hank Jones 1994. Not easy to pull this kind of playing off but they do.
I agree, great album!
When Stanley Crouch joined the Village Voice in about 1980 I became an avid reader of his stylish and contrarian prose. A couple of years later I introduced myself to him at the Village Vanguard and when I told him I was an academic librarian he said I might be able to do some research for his Bird bio and took my number. One night Stanley invited me to sit at his table. Ed Blackwell, whom he greeted as maestro, was playing. Stanley pointed out the moral authority with which he addressed the drum kit. And when he told me to listen to the way that the shimmer of Blackwell's ride cymbal meshed with Ray Drummond's bass overtones I got my first lesson in swing.
I hadn't seen Stanley in 20 years when I went to a book signing for Kansas City Lightning at Minton's. When I told him that we had met years ago he peered up at me over his glasses and said, "the librarian. I remember." He signed my copy with a flourish and his trademark Victory is Assured.
you know I LOVE this comment!
Thanks, Ethan. I didn't mention that Stanley took me into the Vanguard's kitchen. I sat and listened with my mouth open as Blackwell, King Grease Drummond and the others shot the shit.
Just want to say how much I am enjoying the Playfair Sonatas. The guests are all fantastic on their instruments. The standout for me is the Carla Bley tribute, it seems imbued with some of her spirit. It makes me smile to think of how she might have responded to it.
How nice of you to write this! Thank you very much.
Hi Ethan,
Recently, I've really enjoyed some piano Trios that feature tony williams playing drums: george cables "phantom in the city", Don Pullen "New beginnings " and Mr williams own " young at heart".
I'm sure you know those CDs, if so, whats your take? Or Do you have a take own tony williams in non-hancock trio setting? You did a deep dive on the hank jones/tony williams/Ron carter Trios a while back, if i remember correctly, but these feature younger Pianists and different bass players....
Great records! GREAT. In fact the Pullen and Cables are among their best LPs, in part due to Tony Williams of course. I don't think Young at Heart is Miller's best, exactly, something seems a little careful on that date. But I transcribed a piano solo for my Mulgrew Miller memorial post.
Thats kind of what I thought....i don't know that much of pullens work, but new beginnings is really cool.
What is your favorite Miller?
Pullen in the 1970s Mingus band with George Adams on tenor sax was my intro to him, great stuff. especially Changes One and Two. At Carnegie Hall is fun too. Been too long since I listened to these... but will check out your Pullen recs first
And happy hollidaze, of course!
I don't know if I really love any single Miller as a leader. It's all very good, of course, he was a master. There's a solo on "Stardust" with Bennie Golson/Freddie Hubbard that is amazing. When I told Mulgrew that, he replied, "You know, I never liked that song very much."
Thank you for sharing!
Have you heard the newly released mulgrew miller/john clayton Duos?
Not yet, do you recommend the duo? I didn’t like the one with NHOP
I use the term "Holidaze" all the time! Great to see it used here though I know I didn't coin it. That "X vs. BLUESKY" was devastatingly funny and sadly accurate at the same time. 2 questions: any thoughts on the Ellington "Nutcracker" suite? Since I found it 30 years ago, I have made it a point to blast it every year. I remember an ex getting bothered by it, so it's got special meaning lol Question #2; when do we get to her an Ethan Iverson Christmas?? Solo, trio, Quartet, big band, Orchestra, ANYTHING. I wanna hear you do to Christmas material what I heard you do to Darn That Dream! Or even just you playing Ives' Carol "Little Child of Bethlehem " I think is the title. Thank you!!! Love your works, madly!
Johnny Provo
I certainly dig the Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker, what a great album. Thanks for kind comments, I'll have to keep going on the carols for the socials at least....!
Ellington reworking tchaikovsky, Iverson reworking ( brilliantly) The R of S and did you know that those German big band dudes have even done it to Bruckner v!! Has to heard to be believed. Takes ‘crossover’ to another dimension.😂
The Bruckner I don't know...will have to find that
I love the Ellington Nutcracker and the extension of the work done by David Berger for the Harlem Nutcracker of Donald Byrd and Co. - along with the Ellington-Strayhorn , Berger adds a tune borrowing “Things Ain’t what they used to be” and the beautiful “Midnight Stroll” that is a transcription of the snow pas de deux - my personal favorite of the original Tchaikovsky. https://youtu.be/kWdlJx3EOiw?si=4fGKANBue07Bremv
Thanks for the tip! I gotta check this out!!
I thought Daniil Trifonov's new album of American piano music was unusually ambitious and I suspect you'd find a lot to say about it. To my ear he massacres a Bill Evans transcription but the rest of the album is outstanding. Your mileage may vary.
nice one
Two of my favorite releases so far this year are Micah Thomas' "Mountains", and Hayoung Lyou's "The Myth of Katabasis". Two of the most unique voices on the piano today with rich compositional concepts, maybe give them a shot!
right on. Hayoung was my student, I wrote liner notes for one of her earlier albums. I was impressed with Micah when I heard him earlier this year
Naturally you have already received more than enough fantastic suggestions, and normally its not my style to self promote in a situation like this - but I know you would deeply appreciate this recording ...https://auriclerecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-jazz-festival-willisau-2023
Back during the no-gig covid days saxophonist Doug Webb and composer Ladd McIntosh collaborated on a studio project, three music videos designed to showcase the woodwind family in its fullness, all parts overdubbed by Doug on instruments in his extensive collection. The videos were posted to Youtube, one every few months. Starting with the link to Jobim's "Dindi" the others automatically cue up. Of particular interest to me is "Jellistico," an exotic piece I first heard performed by a string ensemble at a Henry Mancini Institute, UCLA concert. Doug's solos include a nod to the later, more rhythmic (Age of Steam) Gerry Mulligan on baritone and a Conn-O-Sax (attention soprano players) improv. There is also a George Coleman reference later in the piece. Maybe your only chance to hear all eight members of the sarrusophone family. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx9TV2qNUfE
thanks for the tip!
Two for for possible review one classical one jazz:
Danaë Xanthe Vlasse - “MYTHOLOGIES II”
DAVE STRYKER STRYKER WITH STRINGS GOES TO THE MOVIES Jan 2025 release drop me an email jim@jazzpromoservices.com if you need links to listen.
OK, thanks Jim!
Don’t know if you got a chance to hear the posthumous Ron Miles album w/Frisell & Blade but it is a very human and beautiful creation.
Right on
Thanks for all the album and book recommendations—one stop shopping for the Holidaze! My two cents re: Paul Desmond…Easy Living is the epitome. The band, the song selection, the album cover. Not my fave sax man but the sound of that record is really fantastic.
Right on!
The Eugene Ormandy Bach Album came out when I was in high school and was my introduction to the chorale Komm, süßer Tod (Come Sweet Death) which later became a staple in the repertoire of the Boulder Bassoon Band where it was known as Come Sweet Toad (courtesy of Bruce Orr).
Love it
The Frisell, Kit Downes & Andrew Cyrille on red hook records (Breaking the Shell) is certainly worth a listen imo
Ok good to know
How are you liking Bluesky so far? I noticed you are sometimes cross-posting. Do you plan to keep this up, or will you eventually pick one? It seems like Music Twitter is slow to migrate. As a non-professional musician, I've already had more interaction with my occasional music posts than I have recently on X. If Music Twitter does move over, your followers are going to increase exponentially almost overnight. That's what has happened with science on Bluesky in the past few weeks.
I don't have a clear opinion or a plan, I'm just trying to keep my career going with the tools that are available. It is hard to go back to 600 followers on Bluesky after building 30,000 on Twitter. I will stay on Twitter until my posts there don't get traction.
Yeah, it's not as good for creators engaging with their audience as Twitter once was. Yet. Instagram is probably the best place for that now, for better or for worse.
Don’t worry I’m on Instagram too lol
Good to hear regarding science. I had some extremely valuable scientific interactions on Twitter (substantive conversations that led to new insights and potentially part of a paper, invitation to give a talk in an excellent omline seminar series, that is influencing my research). I'm pissed at Skum for mucking this up, though it's hardly my biggest beef with him. Will have to check out the Sky as soon as time allows.