Jazz for aficionados

It’s a Chris’s Potter morning here. Eagles Point is playing now

Marc Ribot

Hi all, and Happy New Year to be spent with great music.

I've been away for some time, but reading Tom Moon's book "1,000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die", a comment raised a question I thought might be of interest here.  Tom is a music critic, contributor to multiple publications, and experienced as a professional musician.  His book covers jazz, rock, classical, opera, blues, world music and whatever else you might think of.  I found his comments on many recommended recordings I am familiar with to  be very insightful.

But one really jumped out at me.  Included in his list is "Take Ten" with Paul Desmond and Jim Hall..  In that review he references "Take Five" as one of the most important jazz records of all time.  But what surprised me was his statement that album "suffers from a fatal flaw.  Brubeck's piano playing."  He goes on to say, "The esteemed leader is revealed as something of a musical clod .  .  ."

Now as someone who has enjoyed various Brubeck albums for decades I was amazed by that opinion.  I do remember back in the '60s that Brubeck was put down by some jazz fans as being "too commercial", I suppose because of his sales and concert success.  But I do't remember him ever being disparaged to this degree.

I say this because I find Moon's other reviews to be so well considered and revealing.  So surprising to say the least.

I heard a young (36 years old) saxaphonist live recently. Her name is Melissa Aldana. I was very impressed because she had her own voice, with influences, of course, but like nothing I'd heard before. And it was a feminine voice in a genre of music that is dominated by strong male voices.

I was very happy to hear a new jazz voice that would be worthy of playing in your listening room, competeing with all the giants of the past. A breath of fresh air. I think we should all be on the lookout for these new voices and open our doors and windows to new sounds.

Two other fantastic female Brazilian jazz musicians: Tania Maria (now in her late seventies) and Flora Purim (also in her late seventies.) Flora Purim's abstract jazz album "Encounter" is in regular rotation on my turntable. As is Tania Maria's "Brazil With My Soul." 

In many endeavors, I think it is time that we men open the doors and windows to women . They are much stronger than you think.

Welcome to the thread audio bdog. We definitely discussed Ms. Aldana, earlier this year. I remember I liked her live music on YouTube better than her recorded work, but I have my eye out for her. A very good talent.