Jazz for aficionados

Indeed a crime, Schubert. Strassmeyer is very fine; and you’re right, being a good doubler is a requirement for membership in a band with a repertoire like theirs which runs the gamut.

Speaking of Frank Wess, Maria Schneider, doubling and new Jazz. This tenor is one of the most interesting of the new (ish) crop of players on the scene. Member of Schneider’s band, he is an incredible multi instrumentalist who was taken under his wing by Frank Wess. Can play styles old and new at the highest level. Plays many unusual and exotic instruments, but tenor is his primary horn. Instruments as exotic as his wardrobe 😊. A bit like James Carter in that his tone concept is traditional, but can play very modern harmonically. Check out Frank Wess’ expressions while he listens to Scott.  No doubt in that old master’s mind whether Scott can play or not.  Frank Wess was 87! when this was done. I hope I can still pick my nose at 87:

https://youtu.be/YtY4WeNEQy8

What gets me with Wess in that clip is he still seems to not have lost his nuance factor which is remarkable at his age ,don’t have to cut any slack for him!

If WDR ever calls for you (very likely) don’t forget to see the Cologne Cathedral(Dom) , near their studio and likely the most beautiful church in the world .

Best Jazz I ever heard from a military band ! Bad ass Clarinet !
https://youtu.be/OXRZJIqqkJY?t=5

I found something in "Vocals" on the jazz critics page; Charenee Wade, Offering: The Music of Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson.

Acman pointed me in that direction and I like it a lot;


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMGME3Bvy9Y



Gil Scott was an idealist who made social commentary in a style that is now called "Rap", but I'm sure he wouldn't want to be called the first rapper. "Rap" is totally disgusting when compared to Gil Scott's social commentary; Rap is low life, but it is what it is, it's what life is about when you sell dope, rap or starve; look at Detroit, Cleveland, and a host of other cities. That's what life is about when all the jobs are shipped out to another country.

Gil Scott was before the working man had come to that state. He was about preventing what we see now. While some were left behind during his time, the "American Dream" was still alive and well; Detroit,  Chicago, (even the South Side) and a host of other cities were great places to live; this was in the late 60's and early 70's.

There is a song that paints a picture of a young working man's heaven, it's called "Summer Breeze";


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T88fbHOmvRk


See the curtains hangin' in the window
In the evening on a Friday night
A little light a-shinin' through the window
Lets me know everything's all right


Summer breeze makes me feel fine
Blowin' through the jasmine in my mind
Summer breeze makes me feel fine
Blowin' though the jasmine in my mind


See the paper layin' on the sidewalk
A little music from the house next door
So I walk on up to the doorstep
Through the screen and across the floor


If that same young man was living in that same house, he would be living in an uninhabitable crime ridden, dope driven neighborhood; that's what it is today.

***** Rok, the reason I keep going back to the 2015 jazz poll is because I'm trying to refute my own thesis that good jazz is no longer being created.*****

The Jazz you are speaking of is gone.  Gone.  Accept that fact.  Also we must accept that once Wynton is no longer with us, that will be the final nail in the coffin of Jazz as we knew it, as far as it being played at the highest level.

BUT, there is always a but, look what we do have to be thankful for:
The Compact Disc
The Internet
You Tube
Amazon
Very good and inexpensive stereo gear (once you get  pass the hype, marketing and ignorance,  this stuff has never been better or cheaper)
Smart phones

So, we will always be able to hear the good stuff.   And hear it in the best sound quality ever.   And the older and better it is, the cheaper it is.

So focus on the the bright side.   Besides,  we probably have not heard all the old stuff yet.

Cheers