The recent reissue of the
Heshoo Beshoo Group - Armitage Road
was a recent game changer for me.
I'm a big fan of African Music but this reissue of the only studio record put out by this short lived South African Jazz Ensemble is really cool. Despite the age and quality of the recording options they had in Joburg in the late 60's early 70's, it still come across and a wonderful exploration of American jazz & South African rhythms merged.
The cover is an awesome play off Abbey Road.
I also listened to Duke Ellington's Money Jungle (w/ Mingus) recording from decades ago. I am used to listening to tight jazz trio, quartets and quintets, so this took some getting used to. Couldn't quite figure out Duke's playing. Then it struck me - his playing in a small group created a much bigger sound to the music. It wasn't intended to be a Bill Evans-esque solo, but a layer to the music that resulted in a wonderful band sound, ala big band without the big band. I now get Duke.
I'm a big fan of African Music but this reissue of the only studio record put out by this short lived South African Jazz Ensemble is really cool. Despite the age and quality of the recording options they had in Joburg in the late 60's early 70's, it still come across and a wonderful exploration of American jazz & South African rhythms merged.
The cover is an awesome play off Abbey Road.
I also listened to Duke Ellington's Money Jungle (w/ Mingus) recording from decades ago. I am used to listening to tight jazz trio, quartets and quintets, so this took some getting used to. Couldn't quite figure out Duke's playing. Then it struck me - his playing in a small group created a much bigger sound to the music. It wasn't intended to be a Bill Evans-esque solo, but a layer to the music that resulted in a wonderful band sound, ala big band without the big band. I now get Duke.