musicology #419

AfterTheStorm #4

(John Coltrane – Equinox)

LISTEN

One from the ‘Trane…A Giant whose drive to communicate his feelings using the universal language is, (as far as I am aware), almost unparalleled. Technically there are other great musicians but something about John Coltrane feels unique. I am no Coltrane or Jazz scholar and his music only found me when I was searching for something that could define my deeply complex feelings about a deeply profound life experience, (musicology #6)

The piece that found me was from one of his masterpieces ‘A Love Supreme’ and since that day, (which inspired me beyond belief) his spirit sits among the pantheon of musicologists who I am honoured to call guide.

This cut, (recorded in 1960), was released in 1964 on an Atlantic album called Coltrane’s Sound and features the backbone of the quartet that took music somewhere new, pianist McCoy Tyner and drummer Elvin Jones, (along with bass player Steve Davis)

Hold this quote from Elvin Jones

“To me he was like an angel on earth. He struck me that deeply. If there’s any such thing as a perfect man, I think John Coltrane was one and I think that kind of perfection has to come from a greater force than is here on earth”

musicology #400

Sound&Fury #4

(Freddie Hubbard – Backlash)

LISTEN

Following on from the Ray Sharpe & King Curtis hold this ranking piece of 1966 Jazz Funk courtesy of legendary trumpeter Freddie Hubbard with a piece that swings so hard it could wake the dead.

Also featuring the collective talents of Ray Baretto on percusion, Bob Cunningham on bass, Ray Appleton on drums, James Spaulding on Sax and Albert Dailey smashing the ivories. This, the title track, is borrowed from his first in a series of sets for Atlantic and I noticed that ‘Pickett’ is credited with writing this one so I assume that it would be none other than the ‘Wicked’ Pickett (Wilson), himself? although whoever wrote it the credit here belongs to the players who are fluent in the universal language and communicate the message perfectly.

musicology #351

AlternativeSoundtrack4 #18

(Lavern Baker - Shake A Hand)

LISTEN

After the emotional plea yesterday from Sarah, Eddie asks her to join him on the Kentucky trip. They meet up with Bert who tries to belittle her, (but doesnt succeed), and the three of them board the train…

The music today is from one of the great female Rhythm & Blues singers, Lavern Baker whose recording career begun 1n the late 1940’s but had some big hits in the 50’s with cuts like Tweedle Dee and Jim Dandy. This one from 1960 was recorded for and released on the Atlantic label.

musicology #180

soulsearching #2

(Major Lance - Sweet Music)

LISTEN

day two finds us sliding out of the downbeat, (Yin), and countering with one from the upbeat, (Yang), selection. a fine piece of 1964 Soul from, as far as I’m concerned, the premier record label of the period, OKeh. big shout I know but one I’m sticking with.

part of my reasoning behind that shout is that OKeh was the label where the combined talents of Curtis Mayfield, Carl Davis, Johnny Pate and Gerald Sims came together to deliver a musical style that became the benchmark for a lot of the Soul that followed. of course there was Tamla, Chess and Atlantic, (as well as many smaller labels), and there are many fine cuts on these but of them, it can be debated, that only Tamla - Motown exerted as much influence as OKeh on the direction Soul was to take.

listen tune…

musicology #165

malevocals2 #3

(Ray Charles - Let The Good Times Roll)

LISTEN

Today's artist needs no introduction .. a first outing on themusicologist and definitely not the last.
this tune was BIG down Winforton Street in the early 1960's. a tune that epitomised 'The Golden Age' and one of my grandad's favourites...

"hey everybody....let's have some fun, you only live but once and when you're dead you're done.."

musicology #133

instrumentalsweek #6

(Eddie Harris - Listen Here)

LISTEN

finishing up the ‘players’ with this masterpiece from Eddie Harris who, in his own words, defines it as

“A Latin jazz tune for dancing”

taken from his final recording session for Atlantic in April 1967.. reduced from 30 minutes to just over 7, (a mistake in my humble opinion), featuring the combined skills of percussionist’s Ray Barretto & Joe Wohletz, Richard Smith on drums, Melvin Jackson on bass duties, Jodie Christian on Piano and the man himself blowing up a storm on Tenor Sax.

another BIG tune on London’s Rare Groove dancefloors back in 86/7, (as well as being a million seller on initial release)

by the way, tomorrow is the start of a new theme goodbad&ugly, an alternative soundtrack/tribute to one of themusicologists most loved films.