I am not quite sure why I bother with this blog.  Although my stats show plenty of readers, no one ever bothers to comment.  As a result, I don't bother much with it.  The thing is, I love jazz so much I just can't help talking about it from time to time.  I like a lot of musical genres, especially rock and roll, Celtic traditional, and Reggae.  Nothing, however, seems to dig deeper into my soul than jazz. 

Earlier this year I listened to Brad Mehldau and Joshuah Redman perform 'Hey Joe', a duet interpretation of Jimi Hendrix's great blues composition.  I still get shivers when I remember it.  I just downloaded Mehldau's new album Where Do You Start.   I am playing 'Hey Joe' from that album on my station.  It can't match what I heard, but it gives you a pretty good feel for it.  I am also playing 'Holland', an exquisitely pensive meditation.  I urge you to get this album.  Tell 'em I sent ya.

Meanwhile, Brad, post me a comment.  I have been pushing your music for a long time.  Push back.  And if your are reading, leave me a note.  It's lonely here.  

Joshua Redman & Brad Mehldau

When I was in Chicago recently, I enjoyed a magnificent concert at the Chicago Symphony Center.  It was a duet with Brad Mehldau on piano and Joshua Redman on sax.  I was in the nosebleed section of the hall, but that was not such a bad place to be.  The sound was great and I could look down on Mehldau's piano. 

I had intended to write a review of the concert before the memory had largely faded.  I didn't get around to it.  I will only say that it was an exquisite experience.  I especially remember their version of "Hey Joe".  It was so deeply compelling that I forgot where I was.  The clip above gives you a pretty good idea of what I heard. 

I am playing 'Belonging (Lopsided Melody)' from Redman's Beyond. 

• Bass – Reuben Rogers
• Drums – Gregory Hutchinson
• Piano – Aaron Goldberg (2)
• Saxophone [Tenor, Alto, Soprano], Producer, Composed By, Arranged By – Joshua Redman
• Tenor Saxophone – Mark Turner (2) (tracks: 4) 

 I am also playing 'Blackbird', from The Art of the Trio, vol. 1. 

• Bass – Larry Grenadier
• Drums – Jorge Rossy
• Piano – Brad Mehldau

So I will leave you with this:

Mark Turner

After I wrote the last post, I went back and listened to Mark Turner's recording, Yam Yam.  Wow, but was that worth a listen.  Pure joy.  The sound was evocative, but as usually I was not certain what spirits were being evoked.  I think I heard some Herbie Hancock here and some Wayne Shorter.  Maybe Shorter with Herbie Hancock behind him or vice versa. 

The album features a quartet, with Kurt Rosenwinkel on guitar, Brad Mehldau on piano, and Jorge Rossy on drums.  I note Rossy's presence on Reid Anderson's Dirty Show Tunes.  I also confess that I fell in love with Mehldau a couple of summers ago, but I have lost touch.  I have to go back to the Art of the Trio Recordings. 

I am playing 'Tune Number One' from Yam Yam.  That is enough for now.  

Jimmy Heath & Lee Konitz

No, not together.  Except in so far as I acquired two CD's last week.  Jimmy Heath is a tenor sax player.  His first album as leader was The Thumper, and it is thumpin' good bop.  If you are in the mood for straight ahead jazz boogie, this would be it.  Nat Adderley c, Curtis Fuller trb, Wynton Kelly p, Paul Chambers b, and Albert Heath d, play behind Jimmy.  Here is a sample:

Jimmy Heath/Two Tees/The Thumper

As for Konitz, I finally found Another Shade of Blue,  with Brad Mehldau and Charlie Haden.  It is a mostly live recording, and a companion to one of my favorite Konitz records Alone Together.  If you haven't got the latter, by all means pony up.  It is a superb horn, piano, bass trio recording.  You don't want to live without their interpretation of Round Midnight. The live album doesn't quite match up, but if you have the one you will want the other.  Konitz's sound is unique.  It's dry, to be sure, but that just pulls the passion out of the listener.  Here is a sample:

Lee Konitz/Everything Happens to Me/Another Shade of Blue

 Well, there's some straight ahead jazz for you.