What are you listening to right now?

[BobM]

I'm listening to Pandora right now, at work. For those of you who don't know, you can actually make your own set of web radio stations. As many as you want and in any genre. Just specify a group of artists you like and give it a name. Pandora will shuffle songs by those artists and by other artists of the same ilk.

A really nice way to hear some other artists like the ones you enjoy.

[allenzachary]

Grover Washington Then & Now.  Fabulous take on traditional jazz/hard bop.  Unique album in that it reflects what I believe was Grover's actual taste in music.  He was an amazingly talented saxophonist who unfortunately tended to record "soft jazz" as it was an easier sell and had a wider audience appeal.  His albums lean towards "schmaltz," but this one has no fat at all.  One of my all time faves.

[richidoo]

First time I heard this today on Pandora. Track called Wheatleigh Hall, awesome Dizzy Stitt Newk, all in tip top form. Dizzy takes it - merciless.

[allenzachary]

I'm sure it smokes....

It's hard to tell what to expect when you get giants together.  Sometimes it's ineffable brilliance, other times insurmountable egos.

On the other hand I've never heard ego in anything Dizzy played.

[allenzachary]

The xx.  New band from London.  Rhythmic, moody, smoky, sexy. Kind of a latter day Cowboy Junkies, but with more energy and panache.

[richidoo]

Concierto - Jim Hall

Paul Desmond
Chet Baker
Jim Hall
Ron Carter
Steve Gadd
Roland Hanna

A Creed Taylor record, awesome sonics. Nice grooves, great vibe.

[Ecramer]

Born On Flag Day
Deer Tick

Samples

[richidoo]

This is a less heard album from Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. I have never heard a track from this album played on the radio. But it is my favorite Blakey album. Morgan, Shorter, Timmons, Merritt, Blakey, probably the most innovative and serious Messenger band ever, playing at their peak. It features the best solos of Shorter and Morgan during their Blakey chapters, upbeat and provocative original compositions by band members, as well as the often elusive total surrender power soloing from Blakey that he hints about, but rarely unleashes.  A lot of Morgan and Shorter originals. The emphasis here is on exploring the whole tone scale, or dominant sharp 11 scale, as Miles was doing with his moody dorian scales on Kind of Blue at the same time. This is harmonically sharper, angrier, intense, the tension is thick, then releases each chorus into a bluesy bridge or traditional bebop 2-5-1 sequence. Many of the tunes are built like that, so the album has a distinct vibe. The intensity is extreme, the musicians are clearly riding a spiritual vibe rarely heard on recorded bop, and similar to the vibration captured on other great blakey records like Moanin, Free for All, Birdland.

I was listening to this record a lot when Wynton joined Blakey. Blakey introduced me to Marsalis in 83 at a club gig in MA.  I thought all Messenger trumpeters should be at least as good as their predecessors, which made the job rather tough, but I wanted it, so I set high standards for myself, and practiced hard. I was woefully disappointed when Wynton would stop and buzz his lips looking at Blakey like he didn't know what to do while Blakey set up an atomic blast that Morgan, Brown or Hubbard would have surfed the shock wave in flaming glory. This is Blakey power at its peak, the young lions have no clue.

[ltr317]

Concierto - Jim Hall

Paul Desmond
Chet Baker
Jim Hall
Ron Carter
Steve Gadd
Roland Hanna

A Creed Taylor record, awesome sonics. Nice grooves, great vibe.

Steve Gadd, great drummer.  He easily transitioned from Jazz to Rock/Pop. 

[tmazz]

Joe Pass - My Song

[Bigfish8]

[Bigfish8]

[Ecramer]

Ace Of Clubs LP
by Dash Rip Rock

Found a sealed copy at the record store just broke it out going to fire it up

Ed

[Captain Humble]

Samples

[richidoo]

So beautiful.