Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein, & Bill Stewart "Ramshackle Serenade"

The trio of Larry Goldings on Hammond organ, Peter Bernstein on bass, and Bill Stewart on drums, playing the composition "Ramshackle Serenade" at an Italian jazz festival circa 2015.  In the middle of the performance, there are snippets of an interview, with the musicians sharing their thoughts on what jazz is, and how they perform it in order to tell stories, speaking a language that is music, and how watching and listening, is maybe a better way to go about it, than analyzing (through listening), how the musicians play, in a cerebral sense, and thinking, "oh man!  How do they do that?!"   

Paco de Lucia - Live At 31st Leverkusener Jazztage (2010)

Another Full Concert Friday, featuring the late, great jazz guitarist Paco de Lucia.  This performance is taken from the 31st Leverkusener Jazztage circa 2010, so, from a decade ago.  The band lineup is:

Paco de Lucia: Guitar
Antonio Sanchez: Guitar
Antonio Serrano: Harmonica, Keyboards
Alain Perez: Bass
El Piranha: Percussion
Duquende: Vocals, Palmas
David de Jacoba: Vocals, Palmas
Farruco: Dancer

Guest star: Al Di Meola: Guitar **

The set list:

1. Callejon Del Muro
2. Antonia
3. Soniquete
4. Cancion De Amor / Volar
5. Cositas Buenas
6. Convite
7. Luzia
8. Zyryab
9. Mediterranean Sundance / Rio Ancho **

Return To Forever "Vulcan Worlds"

Studio and live versions of Return To Forever's composition "Vulcan Worlds" from the "Where Have I Known You Before?" record circa 1974. 

Johnny Cash & Earl Scruggs "My Ship Will Sail"

Two late, great country music masters.  Johnny Cash, and Earl Scruggs, the master of the banjo and one of the greatest in the bluegrass genre, tackle a gospel song, "My Ship Will Sail".  Check it out. Sharing this, today, on what would have been Johnny Cash's 88th birthday.  Rest In Peace, Johnny Cash and Earl Scruggs.  Two legends who will be remembered, always. 

Elvin Jones "Destiny"

Another tune from his "Is On The Mountain" recording, from 1975, here's Elvin Jones with "Destiny".  Jones, the legendary jazz drummer, is joined by Gene Perla on bass, and Jan Hammer, on Minimoog synthesizer and Rhodes electric piano. 

Oscar Peterson & Clark Terry "No Flugel Blues"

A great description of this tune, from the uploader on YouTube, MrMusicismagic.

Pianist Oscar Peterson and flugelhornist Clark Terry always made for a perfect matchup. Their duet set (one of five Peterson made during this period) is quite friendly, witty and hard-swinging. C.T. generally sets the joyous mood and on numbers such as "On a Slow Boat to China," "Shaw 'Nuff," "No Flugel Blues" and "Mack the Knife," the warm-toned flugelhornist shows that he was one of the few who could truly keep up with the remarkable pianist.

Warren Haynes & The Ashes & Dust Band (feat. Chris Stapleton) "Desperados Waiting For A Train"

From a performance at Stage AE in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on September 30th, 2015, here's Warren Haynes and the Ashes & Dust Band (the band that played with him on his 2015 roots music album of the same name, released that summer), featuring Americana/outlaw country/Nashville superstar singer/songwriter/guitarist Chris Stapleton, taking on Guy Clark's "Desperados Waiting For A Train".  Check it out.

Alphonse Mouzon "Nitroglycerin"

The final track on Alphonse Mouzon's 1975 "Mind Transplant" album with Mouzon on drums, keyboards, production, vocals, arranging and more, and the talents of guitar maestros such as Lee Ritenour, Tommy Bolin, and Jay Graydon, here's the final track on the record, entitled "Nitroglycerin".

Dave Holland Big Band "Overtime"

Another one for Full Album Friday.  Dave Holland's big band, and their album, "Overtime", recorded in 2002, which won a Grammy Award in 2005 for Best Large Jazz Ensemble album.

Holland arranged and produced the album.  Here's the track listing, and the credits.

Track Listing:

1. Monterey Suite I. - Bring It On
2. Monterey Suite II. - Free For All
3. Monterey Suite III. - A Time Remembered
4. Monterey Suite IV. - Happy Jammy
5. Ario
6. Mental Images
7. Last Minute Man

Personnel:

Double Bass & Producer: Dave Holland

Rhythm Section:

Dave Holland: double bass
Cookie Vera: electric bass
Steve Nelson: vibraphone, marimba
Billy Kilson: drums

Saxophones:

Antonio Hart: alto, soprano
Mark Gross: alto
Chris Potter: tenor
Gary Smulyan: baritone

Flute:

Antonio Hart

Trumpets & Flugelhorns:

Alex Sipiagin
Taylor Haskins
Duane Eubanks

Trombones:

Robin Eubanks
Jonathan Arons
Josh Roseman

Marcus Miller "Mr. Clean"

Marcus Miller on his 'Renaissance" record from 2012, tackles a cover of Freddie Hubbard's "Mr. Clean". 

Lyle Mays "Something Left Unsaid"

Continuing to remember Lyle Mays, his career, and his music.  Here is Mays' track "Something Left Unsaid" off of his 1993 release, "Fictionary". 

Lyle Mays & Alex Acuna "Duos #1 & #2"

Two duos from Lyle Mays on piano and Weather Report percussionist, Alex Acuna, published in 2010 to showcase and demonstrate the Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments company and digital instrument technology being blended into the composition, triggered via a MIDI keyboard which Mays is controlling via the grand piano.  In the second video, Mays uses the MIDI keyboard itself, to provide a bass line to the tune, an upright or fretless bass sound, which is an example of what MIDI and also, the synthesizer, has brought to the world of music in our modern age.

So, a showcase of musicianship, and a demonstration of musical technology is what these two videos represent.  From a technical standpoint, you can see that the piano is run through the MIDI keyboard and also into a computer, which is a standard production and recording method, while Alex lays down a great drum groove.  A demonstration, of how the fantastic and sometimes complex world of recording and engineering brings musical ideas, to fruition.  We will miss you, Lyle Mays.  Your contribution to the world of music is a great one. 

Stanley Clarke "Lisa"

From the 1992 soundtrack to the movie "Passenger 57" on the Epic Records label, here's Stanley Clarke with the tune "Lisa".  Clarke did the music for the film and is a contributor to the soundtrack itself.  "Lisa" is the second track on the movie soundtrack.

https://www.discogs.com/Stanley-Clarke-Passenger-57-Music-From-The-Original-Motion-Picture-Soundtrack/master/393202

 

Mitchel Forman "What Makes It Special"

Another solo piano composition from Mitchel Forman on his 1985 Windham Hill release "Train of Thought".  This tune is called "What Makes It Special".  Watch the video and listen to the track, on YouTube.

Chet Baker "My Funny Valentine"

I know it is a day late.  Valentines Day, was yesterday.  But, nonetheless, here is a wonderful tune with Valentine in the title.  Studio and live versions of Chet Baker, the famous jazz trumpeter and vocalist, with the standard by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, "My Funny Valentine". 

Lyle Mays concert, live in 1992

This week, it is a Full Concert Friday as opposed to a Full Album Friday, as we continue remembering always, Lyle Mays, the great keyboardist who played with Pat Metheny and had his own musical ambitions and projects that were also very successful.  Here is one of those.  This is a 1992 concert featuring Lyle Mays on piano, Michael Sagmeister on guitar, Dave Samuels on vibraphone, Steven Rodby on bass, and Yellowjackets' drummer, Will Kennedy.  The track listing is:

1. Fictionary
2. August
3. Mirror of The Heart
4. Loose
5. Unspoken Words
6. Oslo
7. One Step Ahead
8. My Luxury Depression
9. Spring High
10. Hanging Out

Lyle Mays "Before You Go"

Rest In Peace, Lyle Mays.  Here's the sixth tune from his 1988 solo record "Street Dreams".  The tune is called "Before You Go." 

Lyle Mays "Street Dreams"

The title track to Lyle Mays' 1988 solo record "Street Dreams".  Rest In Peace, Lyle.  Your music will live on forever in our hearts.

In Memoriam: Lyle Mays

Another great musician, has left this world, for the next one.  We fondly remember Lyle Mays, keyboardist for, and collaborator with (as composer, arranger, and performer), jazz guitar legend, Pat Metheny on so many projects of his over the years, and someone who also had his own prolific career as a solo keyboardist.  Stay tuned for more musical tributes to Lyle.

Noted jazz keyboardist Lyle Mays dies at 66

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/noted-jazz-keyboardist-lyle-mays-dies-at-66/2020/02/11/896ce19e-4c97-11ea-967b-e074d302c7d4_story.html

The Brecker Brothers "Jacknife"

From 1981, another tune from The Brecker Brothers, the late Michael Brecker on tenor saxophone, and his brother, Randy Brecker on trumpet, playing the tune "Jacknife". 

Robben Ford & Miles Smiles "Jean Pierre"

Another Miles Davis cover from the tribute band Miles Smiles featuring Robben Ford, Darryl Jones, Omar Hakim, Joey DeFrancesco, Wallace Roney, and Rick Margitza.  This is "Jean Pierre", from a performance in 2012. 

Robben Ford & Miles Smiles "Maiysha"

Robben Ford and his band cover Miles Davis' composition "Maiysha".  The band lineup is:

Robben Ford: guitar
Wallace Roney: trumpet
Rick Margitza: tenor saxophone
Joey DeFrancesco: Hammond organ
Darryl Jones: bass
Omar Hakim: drums

More performances from Miles Smiles, to come.  Stay tuned.

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers "Blue Note 4003"

Full Album Friday this week features more classic jazz.  This is Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers with an album of which the title is actually the catalog number of the recording on the Blue Note label, the legendary Blue Note Records.  So, this recording "Blue Note 4003", and the track listing is:

1. Warm Up & Dialogue Between Lee
2. Moanin'
3. Are You Real
4. Along Came Betty
5. The Drum Thunder Suite
6. Blues March
7. Come Rain or Come Shine
8. Moanin' (Alternate Take)

The band lineup is:

Art Blakey – drums  
Lee Morgan – trumpet  
Benny Golson – tenor saxophone  
Bobby Timmons – piano 
Jymie Merritt – bass

Freddie Hubbard "Mr. Clean"

From his recording "Straight Life", circa 1970 or '71, here's jazz trumpeter, Freddie Hubbard, with the tune "Mr. Clean".  The recording was done on CTI Records, produced by Creed Taylor, and engineered by Rudy van Gelder.  The band lineup is:

Freddie Hubbard (Trumpet, Flugelhorn)
Joe Henderson (Tenor Saxophone)
Herbie Hancock (Electric Piano)
George Benson (Guitar)
Ron Carter (Bass)
Jack DeJohnette (Drums)
Richard Landrum (Drums, Percussion)
Weldon Irvine (Tabla, Tambourine)

Chick Corea Elektric Band “View From The Outside”

Studio and live versions of the Chick Corea Elektric Band playing the composition "View From The Outside", another track from their 1987 "Light Years" record.  The band lineup is Chick Corea on keyboards, Frank Gambale on guitar, John Pattitucci on bass, Dave Weckl on drums, and Eric Marienthal on alto saxophone.

Elvin Jones "Thorn of A White Rose"

From his 1975 record "Elvin Jones Is On The Mountain", here is the tune "Thorn of A White Rose", featuring Jones on drums, Gene Perla on bass, and Jan Hammer on keyboards (Rhodes piano and Minimoog synthesizer), and synthesizers. 

Novecento album promo

The promotional video of a 2013 Novecento album, that features a roster of fantastic players.  The album being promoted here, was Dennis Chambers' 2013 record, "Groove and More".  Yours truly hopes to dedicate a future Spotify Sunday, to this particular band, and their work.  They've worked with many great jazz musicians and given those musicians' recordings, a very funky twist. 

Dennis Chambers: drums Scott Henderson: guitar solo on " Virtual life " & " Time to time " Brian Auger: Hammond organ solo on " Running on line " & " Aircraft " Jeff Berlin: bass on " Practice what you preaching " Patti Austin: vocals on " Practice what you preaching " Stanley Jordan: guitar solo on " Past and future " Gregg Kofi Brown: vocals on " Fall out " Dora Nicolosi: vocals on " We don't know " Lino Nicolosi: rhythm guitars, guitar solos, percussion programming Rossana Nicolosi: bass Pino Nicolosi: keyboards, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes Dora Nicolosi: backing vocals & scat on " Fall out " and & scat on " Aircraft " Gregg Kofi Brown: backing vocals on " Fall out " Melissa Aldana: tenor saxophone on " Fall out " , saxophone solo on "Aircraft " Kyle Nasser: soprano saxophone on " Running on line " and Fall out Bob Crystal: tenor saxophone & flute solo on " Fall out ", tenor saxophone on " Aircraft "

Traffic "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys"

A live version of Traffic's "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys", circa 1972.  The band lineup is:

Steve Winwood - vocals/piano
Chris Wood - sax
Roger Hawkins - drums
Rebop Kwaku Baah - percussion
Jim Capaldi - percussion
David Hood - bass

A promotional picture of this lineup of the band can be found at the following link: http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd...

Jeff Beck "Star Cycle"

From his 1980 record "Here and Back", here's Jeff Beck with "Star Cycle".