Natural splendour, real musics, wines, wordpower
In the Blue Light is his final new album, Simon says; it offers brand new takes on 10 of his previously-recorded songs.
Some are gently tweaked, others more substantially rewritten and/or rearranged.
One of the new versions is an absolute hoot…and a nice surprise.
One CommentHere are two albums you should hear.
They offer no tediously-roosterish displays of “technique”.
Neither are they lamely “hip”, or tepidly “smooth”.
Both are uncommonly beautiful.
Crucial to their success is something rarely mentioned by reviewers of “jazz” releases: real friendships, sustained over many years.
One CommentChapter Two is international, and includes a musical bonus – audio of two of my favourite rain songs. (one of them is an “unissued” version)
Comments closed…the same song, twice, nearly 44 years apart. Each version is equally acute, but very different. Neither involves an electric guitar!
Comments closed…and Ira.
George Gershwin wrote this song’s music, his brother Ira the words, for a 1932 opera. A flop on debut, it is now a landmark. Its most tender number – Summertime – is probably the best-loved 20th century song. Its sardonic song is less popular; I have heard only several hundred covers of It Ain’t Necessarily So!
Comments closed…wordlessly, but you can hear how acutely conscious he is of Woodstock‘s lyric.
Comments closedFor many years Fred Hersch has been an inspired interpreter of two of the greatest songbooks – Thelonious Monk’s and Tom (Antonio Carlos) Jobim’s. On his new album Fred does right by both. He also covers someone whose songbook I long have loathed…
Comments closedI was born in the middle of the sea…
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You could describe the British trio’s music as “chamber-folk”, the Norwegian tuba virtuoso’s as “chamber-jazz”.
I am wary of hyphenated “chamber” musics; recordings so-described oft prove anaemic, twee, wannabe.
No such problem here: two very different ensembles have each created something singular, beautiful, with spine.
One CommentWe have just lost one of the most consistently rewarding guitarists.
Musically speaking, many “guitar heroes” do not age well; John Abercrombie (December 16, 1944 – August 22, 2017) made some of his finest music after his 65th birthday.
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