Dan – Donald Byrd – “Poco-Mania” (Live at Montreux July 5, 1973) – Incendiary! I have been generally warming to the Funk/Soul side of Fusion over the past few years. In earlier times I was dismissive and found most critical writing to disparage Music from that side of things, because it isn’t purist Jazz. And like almost everything else in Life, discovering something on its own terms and embracing the beauty of its virtues creates freedom of taste. This track has so much to like and reminds me of some of Odean’s 70’s concepts – the highly rhythmic intro and the patchwork, layered groove are the most prominent features. At its heart The Seshjawn is about being exposed to new sounds and learning how to enjoy them.
Nawi – OFF! – “War Above Los Angeles” – One of Nawi’s favorite new bands and he loved their recent show. A lot of 90’s wall of sound heaviness. Keith Morris is from Black Flag and there is a bit of an updated Rollins Band sound going on + an old school video, I guess in 2023 videos are still a thing. I was expecting something more local from Nawi’s lead in, but this reminds me there are still lots of big name bands rolling around I don’t know about.
John – Joshua Redman – “Jazz Crimes” – John’s first Seshjawn play (Welcome!) and he continues with the visual content, playing another live performance. I have often stated my general issues with Jazz of the last 2 decades and Joshua Redman has been on that issues list before. This track I enjoy, perhaps because I love Brian Blade. The music gets into a level of modern virtuosity that combines the purist improvisational ethos with the Organ combo (which is, at least, partly responsible for birthing Soul Jazz). Collectively they perform with an amazing sense of dynamics, Blade sometimes plays so quietly it offers a range rarely explored (avoided?) in live performance. The organ player too. Redman sounds brilliant as always, for me I can never hear him and not appreciate his Father. Generally with contemporary improvisors I feel they gain a Classical level of improvisational technique and it assassinates the audible thrill of discovery that I desire in my favorite improvisation. But truly he is giving everything you would want, so its really just my crotchety old head opinion.
Travis – David Mathews – “Sandworms” – This could fit into my “previously dismissed” category too with the added Sci-Fi crossover layer suggesting disaster, but hear what you would be missing! In particular the FAT Bass work, but it’s all grooving along nicely. I can’t really imagine the Sandworms with this music as the score, but give them some swanky disco attire and I’m sure they could shake their worm tails. This was a complete unknown to me (album, leader, Dune influenced fusion…), suggesting most had already dismissed it, despite the excellent players. It seems like it’s going to be the bassist’s album but its not, “the other David Mathews” is a keys player.
Bart – Bob Marley – Rehearsal – “Bad Card” 17:54 – Me & Bart often geek to the captured preparation moments of great individuals. In the past I’ve been known to offer parts of my body if I could just go back in time and watch an Ellington rehearsal. And I have found some mind-blowing Marvin Gaye rehearsal tapes that add to his story. Marley sounds unreal here and we hear some of his process and refinement occurring in the moment. In addition, I recommend the radio outtakes on Talking Blues. They offers another perspective on familiar music, live but in a contained venue. I continual forget Marley has a lot of significant 80’s music, I mentally file him into the 70’s and forget that he was still active at the beginning of the decade.
Found Sounds 