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Greetings from Amazon.com Delivers JazzAugust 28, 1998 [Archive]
Editor, S. Duda
FEATURED IN THIS E-MAIL:
* Word for Word
* New Releases
* This Month's Top 5
* Three to Go!
* Advance Orders: The Future of Jazz
* Books on Music
WORD FOR WORD
*************
"So much historical significance can be implied in the music, especially from the standpoint of musical antecedents of music now. You ask the average rapper about Louis Jordan, and they're not likely to know anything about him. So if the full historical aspect of African American music would be kicked like the more obvious rhythmic aspects, it'd be a lot to freak on." --Saxist James Carter, on hipping cats to jazz history.
Read more of Amazon.com's interview with Carter at http://www.amazon.com/james-carter-article
NEW RELEASES
************
"The Original Quartet with Chet Baker"
Gerry Mulligan
As the bad boys of the early West Coast cool jazz scene, Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker had what could be called a "difficult" relationship. On the bandstand, however, the terrible twosome got down to the tricky business of manufacturing ineffably hep yet hopelessly romantic jazz music. Here's a two-CD set compiling the group's entire Pacific Jazz output, featuring the interlocking horns and simmering restraint that fueled this quartet's slow burn of sexual tension and graceful nonchalance.
"A Family Affair"
Christian McBride
On his third outing as a bandleader, Christian McBride exhibits the skills that make him one of the finest young bassists in jazz. Produced by George Duke and accompanied by Tim Warfield on tenor saxophone, Charles Craig on keyboards, and Greg Hutchinson on drums, McBride indulges in a mixed bag of styles. Jumping from straight-ahead jazz to funk and seventies soul classics, McBride's imposing ability unifies his diverse musical repertoire
"Perennial Favorites"
Squirrel Nut Zippers
Leading the modern day swing revival, the Zips are in fine form on this follow up to their breakthrough LP, "Hot!" "Perennial Favorites" covers a lot of ground: aching balladry ("Low Down Man," complete with pedal steel and intoned lovingly by chanteuse Katharine Whalen), hilarious show-tune homages ("Ghost of Stephen Foster"), and romping props to the past ("Pallin' with Al," a nod to guitarist Al Casey). Put some zip in your jazz library.
THIS MONTH'S TOP 5
******************
Amazon.com's Jazz editor, S. Duda, selects this month's best releases.
1. "Combustication"
Medeski, Martin & Wood
"Combustication" is the trio's finest of their six recordings. DJ Logic's warbling scratches enliven "Start- Stop" and "Church of Logic." Poet Steve Cannon recites some appropriately fried verses on "What Ever Happened to Gus," and the band takes Sly Stone's "Everyday People" away from Madison Avenue and into the Southern Baptist Church. But is it jazz? Well, as Lester Bowie once said to a similar inquiry, "It depends on what you know."
2. "Jazz A Saint-Germain"
Various artists
A whip-smart tribute to the sounds of Paris in the 1940s, this compilation features a few no-brainers (Jacky Terrasson rips on "La Javanaise"), some crossovers trying on the jazz cap (Angelique Kidjo singing "Summertime" in her native Yorba), and some new talent showing their stuff (Les Nubians's sultry take on "Autour De Minuit"). Everything old, as they say, is new again.
3. "Yo Miles!"
Henry Kaiser and Wadada Leo Smith
On "Yo Miles!," guitarist Henry Kaiser and trumpeter Leo Smith revisit the glory days of Miles Davis's mid-seventies electric jazz-fusion experiments. Accompanied by the likes of the Rova Saxophone Quartet, keyboardist John Medeski, and guitarist Elliot Sharp, Kaiser and Smith faithfully revive extended Davis compositions like "Black Satin" and "Theme From Jack Johnson." With a background of pulsing electric bass, percussion, a bustling reed section, and floating organ fills, Leo Smith does an admirable job emulating Miles Davis's distinctive trumpet sound. Kaiser's guitar consistently pushes the ensemble into a realm of heady improvisation, blending hard rock and deep funk influences into ambitious jazz structures.
4. "The Gathering"
Geri Allen
The Detroit-born pianist has recruited a jazz who's who to propel her Verve Records debut. Along for the ride are trumpeter Wallace Roney (Allen's husband, by the way), trombonist Robin Eubanks, and guitarist Vernon Reid. "The Gathering" is a wide-ranging affair, encompassing elements of bop, soul, and blues combined with Ms. Allen's lush, inviting tone. A must-have.
5. "300"
Briggan Krauss
Altoist Briggan Krauss hits his stride on the largely improvised "300." Whether it's blasting toward the cosmos ("Toy Boat"), creeping with trance-like mysticism ("First Grain"), or engaging in eerie, sputtering self-dialogue ("Tarantula"), a sense of purpose pervades Krauss's sound. Keyboardist Wayne Horvitz (Naked City, Zony Mash) and drummer Kenny Wollesen (Masada, Tom Waits) provide inventive compositional backbone, which spurs the collective effort beyond jazz concept into pure expressionism.
THREE TO GO!
************
Medeski, Martin & Wood are storming the jazz universe (and the rock, funk, and hip-hop universes) their own way--by touring, touring, and (you guessed it) more touring. It also helps that this fresh 'n' funky organ trio makes absolutely killer albums. We caught up with the trio and asked about their new LP, "Combustication," their sound and of course, touring!
http://www.amazon.com/mmw-article
ADVANCE ORDERS: THE FUTURE OF JAZZ
**********************************
"Songs We Know"
Fred Hersch and Bill Frisell
"Cyrus Chestnut"
Cyrus Chestnut
"Liberation for the Baritone Nation"
Bluiett Baritone Saxophone Group
BOOKS ON MUSIC
**************
As you may have heard, Amazon.com also sells books! Yep, it's true. There's more to our groovy little site than jazz CDs. Some of those books are even about jazz! Here are a few that have caught our eye this month.
"New Dutch Swing"
by Kevin Whitehead
"Central Avenue Sounds: Jazz in Los Angeles"
edited by Clora Bryant, Buddy Collette, William Green, Steven Isoardi, Jack Kelson, Horace Tapscott, Gerald Wilson, and Marl Young
"The Birth of Bebop: A Social and Musical History"
by Scott Deveaux
"Charlie Parker Played Be Bop"
by Chris Raschka
"Mysterious Thelonious"
by Chris Raschka
******
You'll find more great music, articles, and interviews in Amazon.com's Jazz Music section at
http://www.amazon.com/jazz-music
Copyright 1998 Amazon.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
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