Jazz for aficionados

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!

Thank you, pryso. Best wishes! I think I may be able to shed bit of light on the reason for Tom Moon’s comment. Hopefully without getting too personal. I know Tom Moon from when we were both students in music conservatory. Tom was (is) a talented, pretty good Jazz saxophone player with a remarkably enthusiastic, wide-eyed love of music, no matter the genre…..like his book (great title!). He also has very specific opinions about what is good and what is not, but with no genre boundaries. Rhythmic feel and nuance, level of Swing are important to him on a very nuanced and subtle level. As concerns Brubeck, I understand where he is coming from, even if I don’t agree with the ultimate relevance of it all! I would not refer to Brubeck as a “musical clod”. Brubeck has a sense of swing that is, generally speaking, not as relaxed, or “swingy” in an easy way as some expect from a high profile Jazz player. That is only one aspect of a musician’s musical personality, but for some (musicians and listeners) it can diminish their overall assessment of a musician in spite of other excellences. I like Brubeck’s playing and I like his compositions a lot even though, for me, his feel can come dangerously close to feeling a bit “square”.

In this interview, at the 24:50 mark you can hear Tom address this very issue:

https://www.npr.org/2008/11/03/96544112/more-recordings-to-hear-before-you-die

The tunes Take Five and Take Ten both have a 5 feel.  Very similar tunes.  Not easy to play in 5.  As Tom discusses in the interview, if one listens to the comping of Brubeck vs that of Jim Hall one can hear the difference in level of ease and relaxed feeling.

Take Five:

https://youtu.be/ryA6eHZNnXY?si=sJFffWfDfgBEKnIR

Take Ten:

https://youtu.be/rI7hArFCiR8?si=KBHyyv1hWFkK8yS6

Thanks @frogman for replying.  I always enjoy your sharing your knowledge and perspectives on music and this was helpful.  Tom Moon obviously has great love for and broad experience in music.  He is admittedly more inclusive than I am for types and styles he enjoys.  But in this case he was more restrictive, which was why I commented.

I've admitted here and elsewhere I don't have any training in music.  So many technical elements of style or performance escape me.  But I've been listening for decades and have formulated my own tastes.  I can appreciate that Brubeck often has a rather "heavy" rhythemic sense.  Quite different from someone like Basie who was so smooth and flowing while really swinging, if often minimalist.  But maybe that is why I and many others enjoy Brubeck playing with Desmond so much, they are opposite while complementary.

On the complementary side for Mr. Moon, I've been surprised by how many of his recommendations (not just jazz) are in my collection, and how often I appreciate and agree with his insights and picking those recordings.

@tyray 

Just listened to Gene Russell,  New Direction and it’s another great pick.

Thanks!

@stuartk, @jafant, @mahgister, @frogman, @tyray, @acman3 and all,

Here’s to a happy, Safe and Music filled New Years!

@curiousjim 

Back atcha !