I feel like I've heard this, but I don't have it logged anywhere 🤔
Giving it a spin now.
Yeah, it's happened to me at least a couple of times and it's always somewhat annoying.
Anyway, hope you enjoy it as much as I did - or even more. _________________ Bob Dylan Charles Mingus
I've spent quite some time listening to 2020 albums due to the ongoing tournament, but found time for this.
Louis Armstrong / Duke Ellington - Recording Together For The First Time
These collaborations are often like that. Both of them have done better things, no doubt about it, but it has to be one of their most entertaining attempts.
Simply having the chance to enjoy those legends playing next to each other makes for a wonderful experience.
6.5/10. _________________ Bob Dylan Charles Mingus
Grant Green - Green Street
I don't know, despite trying my luck with some of the best (one of the first albums to feature in this diary was The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of Wes Montgomery by Wes Montgomery), I still feel that jazz and guitar, no matter how wonderful they are on their own, weren't meant to be together and this album, which is deservedly considered one of Grant Green's finest moments and a well-established classic, did little to convince me otherwise. Of course you can't forget Django Reinhardt in a discussion that revolves around jazz and guitar, but he is an anomaly, there's no point in comparing him with mere mortals, his guitar knew no limits. Anyway, back to Grant Green and this record, his playing is fine, don't get me wrong, no complaints in that department, but it's as if something's missing, at no point did I get a sense of excitemenent, maybe playing in a trio is another decisive factor and a bigger band would have yielded better results. That being said, I have to admit that as the album progressed, I started appreciating their somewhat minimalist sound more and more, so maybe it will be even better after repeated listenings.
6/10.
Harry Belafonte - Jump Up Calypso
This album is so much fun, his personality embodies the joy of life. This applies both to the more up-tempo tracks and the moments when he decides to slow down and hit us with a ballad, as the main unifying theme of every song here is that you shouldn't take it too seriously.
So, if you're in low spirits, give it a try, it should help tremendously.
7.5/10. _________________ Bob Dylan Charles Mingus
Tod Dockstader - Eight Electronic Pieces
Well, if you thought Interstellar Overdrive is an accurate representation of a disturbing yet captivating journey in outer space, this will rock your world. Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night. To think that this was recorded in 1961, well, words fail me.
7.5/10. _________________ Bob Dylan Charles Mingus
Donald Byrd - Free Form
After Clifford Brown, it's time for another legendary trumpeter, namely Donald Byrd. There's defintely some connection to be found - on the other hand and if we 're being completely honest here, who wasn't influenced by Brown? Anyway, I don't mean to imply that he is copying or anything, he uses this as a source of inspiration to form his own playing style and artistic identity. It's worth pointing out that it's not as free as its title would suggest, it remains very accessible for the most part. The closing track is the only exception to that and as a result by far the most intriguing part of this album.
7/10.
Jackie McLean - Jackie's Bag
Speaking of Donald Byrd, here he is again. Philly Joe Jones is too much of an attention seeker, so I like the second side more than the first (different line up in each of them), but overall this album straight up rocks - even though Jackie McLean has done better things.
7/10.
Freddie Hubbard - Goin' Up
Considering that there's no Tina Brooks this time and the interaction between those two was what made his 1960 album, Open Sesame, such a great record (which, by the way, I think I might have underrated, I will make sure to revisit it at some point in the not so distant future), I guess it can't be that much of a surprise that I'd rank this one step below.
6.5/10
Wanda Jackson - There's A Party Goin' On
And now something completely different. I like this more than her 1960 album, Rockin' With Wanda. Her performance is just as good, but the song selection was preferable, there's a party going on, indeed. It Doesn't Matter Anymore is one of my favourite things Buddy Holly ever recorded, so it's cool having the chance to hear another version of it.
7/10.
Stan Getz - Focus
I 'm starting to believe Stan Getz is not for me. I mean, this album offers more than you could ask, it's both entertaining and challenging, plus it's dramatic in a good way that should get you emotionally involved fairly easily. Despite its numerous virtues, it did very little to me, better luck next time, whatever.
7/10. _________________ Bob Dylan Charles Mingus
Etta James - The Second Time Around
Whenever I feel like listening to her, I will choose At Last without putting too much thought into it. This is also very enjoyable, simply not as memorable, which isn't as bad as it sounds, one has to admit it was hard to top her debut, which was my album of the year for 1960 after all.
7.5/10.
Aretha Franklin With The Ray Bryant Combo - Aretha (1961)
Keeping the pattern of phenomenal singers who are being given subpar material going, Aretha Franklin couldn't be missing. It's fair to say that her moment to shine hadn’t come yet – not her fault, her performance is fine, everything else on this record isn’t, at least compared to what followed. That being said, the opening track is excellent and stands out big time. She shows us that she can do jazz as well, but it’s not what she was meant to be doing.
7/10.
Ray Charles - Genius + Soul = Jazz
Cool title, though slightly deceptive, as it's mostly jazz and relatively far from soul - unless soul isn't meant in a technical sense, so it counts I guess. Anyway, the organ makes all the difference here and is good enough to make me give it the nod as Ray's best album - once it was over, it gave me the urge to go and listen to The Doors, which happens rarely, if ever, so that's quite an achievement.
7/10.
Chuck Berry - New Juke Box Hits
No big hitters here, if I'm being totally honest I’d recommend skipping this unless you are a hardcore fan- but if you are, you obviously don’t expect me to tell you if it’s good or not, you know it already.
6/10.
Wes Montgomery - So Much Guitar!
The album title tells you all that you need to know. I commented on the relationship between jazz and guitar a few days ago and this didn’t change my mind - but if this combination works for you, then this is as good as it gets.
6/10.
Carolyn Hester - Carolyn Hester
Shockingly enough, I quite liked her. I found her significantly more enjoyable than Joan Baez, who would be an evident point of reference. Her crystal-clear voice, delivered with an almost religious tone firmly grabs my attention and I don’t want to interrupt her at any point, I need to know what’s coming up next. By the way, it's noteworthy that in the very same year, 1961, she met a certain Bob Dylan and asked him to play on her next album, which must have been his first recording, so big props to her for that as well.
7/10.
Yeah, I always start with one or two records having the intention of checking out some new releases after that, but it almost never happens, the '60s are full of great music and 2021 being kinda meh so far - for me at least - has been a contributing factor for sure. As a result, 90% of what I've been listening lately has been the albums I've been posting here.
And the best thing is I'm barely scratching the surface, after completing 1961 there are 8 full more years to go - and maybe I'll move on to the '70s after that, which is a decade I know much better, but very few of my favourites came from it. Actually, if I were to make an overall chart at this moment, I think the '70s would be less represented than the '60s and of course any other decade after that.
Another thing I'm wondering is if and how this project will affect my perception of modern (i.e. post-'90s) music, but it's too early for that, we'll see how it goes. _________________ Bob Dylan Charles Mingus
Esquivel - Infinity In Sound, Volume 2
More of the same, which means it ranks slightly behind its predecessor, as the first one is bound to leave a bigger impression, you have to tweak the formula - on the other hand, was there any formula to begin with?
7/10.
Dion - Runaround Sue
Lovely and melodic pop as it was done back then, “Beatles before the Beatles” kind of stuff. The self-titled track, Runaround Sue, is the one that gets all the attention and it’s for good reason. The Majestic is interesting, one of the few instances where he isn’t the centre of attention. You could object that there were better ways to go at it, but it is what it is, a funny little mess, at least there was some effort involved. Maybe it’s the obsessive fan speaking, but parts of Life Is But A Dream reminded me a bit of – among other, arguably most obvious points of reference - Morrissey, so it goes without saying that I have to give it the nod as the best song of the album.
6.5/10.
Sonny Clark - Leapin' And Lopin'
Wow, this had some of the catchiest tunes I've listened in quite some time. If someone asks me how to get into jazz, this is one of the very first records I'll recommend, that's as beginner friendly as it gets.
7/10.
Lou Donaldson - Here 'Tis
Really liked the opening track, A Foggy Day - for real, how can you not like such a classic- which led to a mild let down as the album progressed, the rest of it was significantly bluesier, which many people would find enjoyable, but not me. However, it has to be said that the organ was a cool addition.
6.5/10.
Cannonball Adderley & Bill Evans - Know What I Mean ?
That's an interesting collaboration, I thought Evans might be too classy for Adderley - well, the truth is he is too classy for pretty much anyone- but their interaction is based more on the contrast between them than either of them trying to fit in. The way I describe it will probably have you thinking that's a disaster, but it somehow works.
7/10.
Count Basie - Basie At Birdland
The first half is so much fun it feels like a guilty pleasure, especially Whirly Bird is hilarious. Then the album decides it’s a good idea to take a breather and it’s not half as effective.
7/10.
Eddie Harris - Exodus To Jazz
The title instantly made me think of the book of Exodus - which is an inspiring story no matter one's views on religion. I tried to draw some parallels between this record and the book, i.e. imagining that each track represents a key moment (burning bush, ten plagues, crossing the Red Sea, etc.) but couldn't make it work, I guess I took it way too far, whatever.
7/10.
Jimmy Smith - Midnight Special
They really take their time to develop each song, but I fail to see a clear direction, neither do they adopt a loose, jamming style nor do they get you into a particular groove through the power of repetition. Somewhat middle of the road.
6/10.
Henri Pousseur - Electre
When I think I’ve listened all 1961 has to offer, something like this shows up and makes me reconsider. Of course it's easy to tell this has been a highly influential piece of art. This was just as trippy, but in a more engaging, if at times terrifying way than Tod Dockstader's album I posted a couple of days ago. I can't help but wonder how much better this would be if I had any idea what's going on in terms of the narrative.
7.5/10. _________________ Bob Dylan Charles Mingus
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RoundTheBend
