Monday, August 31, 2015
Land Speed Records
I’m in the process of culling rather than expanding my music collection. Yet I couldn’t resist checking out an estate sale a few miles from my house last week. Targeted online advertisements promised that thousands of vinyl albums, compact discs and books would be available. I almost became physically aroused by what I encountered. A man- presumably departed, RIP- had amassed a comprehensive collection centered on mainstream jazz. My initial haul from the mother lode included the Mosaic box sets pictured here at $8 a pop. I truthfully told my life partner that we could resell the limited edition titles on the Rolls Royce of jazz reissue labels for over $80 each, but I don’t think I can part with these gems. I returned twice to scoop up several dozen obscurities by the likes of Morton Feldman, Lee Konitz and Steve Swallow.
---
I wrote an extended concert preview about Little Big Town for Ink and brief music previews for The Kansas City Star and Ink.
---
I contributed to a Local Listen segment about Shooting Star to KCUR. (For the record, my text was altered. I wouldn’t frame the band’s history in those terms.)
---
I document a pilgrimage I made while in New York at Plastic Sax.
---
Samuel Ramey may have been the primary draw at the Wichita Grand Opera’s production of Turandot at Yardley Hall yesterday, but it was Yunnie Park’s performance that floored me.
---
Delbert McClinton’s cover of Ray Sharpe’s “Linda Lu” filled me with joy at the Paola Roots Fest on Saturday. Shemekia Copeland also delivered.
---
I had a good time at Hmph’s instore at Mills Record Company last week.
---
Sie Lieben Maschinen created a video for ”Clever Work”.
---
I’m all about Charles Gayle’s Christ Everlasting. RIYL: Cecil Taylor, transcendence, Anthony Braxton.
---
The Weeknd’s Beauty Behind the Madness sounds like a Michael Jackson impersonator singing over watered-down Kanye West beats. While it’s better than the output of most pop stars, the album is hardly the important work of art many pontificators would have you believe.
---
Joell Ortiz’s Human is shockingly good. I suppose I should have gone to his show at the Riot Room earlier this month. Here’s "Lil’ Piggies".
---
The corny elements of Revive Music Presents Supreme Sonacy undermine the exciting aspects of the survey of young jazz artists.
---
Just as I was beginning to wonder if Myra Melford’s appearance at Take Five Coffee + Bar really deserved to top my June listing of My Favorite Performances of 2015 (So Far), I stumbled across her free (in both senses of thew word) Live at The Stone EP. It’s wonderful.
---
Folktronica (ugh) ensemble Haiku Salut manages to encapsulate much of what I intensely dislike in contemporary music. While I’m hating, I’ll add that Charlie Puth’s “Marvin Gaye” makes me want to throw myself under my lawnmower.
---
The good stuff on Eligh’s 80 HRTZ is really good. RIYL: Aesop Rock, words, Busdriver. Here’s ”808”.
---
I’ve dismissed Aaron Diehl as a young fogey in this space, but Space, Time, Continuum is undeniably nice. RIYL: Benny Golson, expensive suits, Joe Temperley.
---
Contrary to a headline I recently spotted, Maddie & Tae aren’t “Nashville rebels.” Start Here is RIYL: Hunter Hayes, radio hits, Florida Georgia Line.
---
Wild Dance, the latest effort of the Enrico Rava Quartet, is thrilling. RIYL: Terje Rypdal,ECM , Steve Turre.
(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)
Labels:
Charles Gayle,
Delbert McClinton,
Eligh,
Enrico Rava,
Hmph,
Joell Ortiz,
Kansas City,
Little Big Town,
music,
Myra Melford,
Samuel Ramey,
Shemekia Copeland,
Sie Lieben Maschinen,
Wichita Grand Opera,
Yunnie Park
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I assumed you were being overly dramatic about that Charlie Puth song. Gawd! I had to take it off halfway through, or else I would have thrown myself under your lawnmower too.
$8.00 a pop? Dang. You could have been generous and offered to pay a Hamilton apiece.
bgo
As if the sacrilegious use of Gaye's name wasn't bad enough, Steve. I'll keep my lawnmower idling for you.
I've since had a couple dreams about the sale, BGO.
Post a Comment