post-bop Archives - JAZZ IMPRESSIONS

Routes: A Jazz Impressions Podcast – Episode 9

We take flight in Episode 9 with two classic live cuts: Joe Henderson’s ‘Junk Blues’ and Don Pullen & George Adams’ ‘Saturday Night In The Cosmos’. But what’s the best route? Via Italy and Japan? Or as the crow flies? Ornithophobics need not apply. Thanks for all your support in this first year of the podcast and stay tuned for more Routes in the new year. Keep watching the skies!

Also available on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.

Tracklists below (SPOILERS!)

Routes: A Jazz Impressions Podcast – Episode 6

In this tribute episode, we join the dots between Stanley Cowell’s heartfelt composition ‘Sienna: Welcome My Darling’ and Chick Corea’s swirling, impressionistic ‘Litha’. Plus we delve into Sweden, beekeeping and the discography of L. Ron Hubbard – and be sure to listen out for Ollie’s uncanny impression of a shakuhachi.

Also available on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts!

Tracklists below (SPOILERS!)

Duke Ellington – Money Jungle

Our last two posts focused on Max Roach and Charles Mingus, who (along with Mingus’ wife Celia) founded the short-lived Debut Records, designed to bypass the commercialism of major labels. Both musicians had played with the great Duke Ellington, though Mingus’ stint lasted a mere four days before being fired for – you guessed it – fighting.

Max Roach – Effi

The previous post focussed on ‘Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting’ from Charles Mingus’ political and earthy album Blues & Roots. Today, I look at the album Members, Don’t Git Weary, released on Atlantic in 1968 by a musical contemporary of Mingus, the great Max Roach, one of the most influential drummers in the history of jazz. Roach was a bebop pioneer and changed the way drummers played jazz, elevating the drummer from accompanist to major player.

Jackie McLean – Sweet Love Of Mine

At first glance, it could be easy to mistake Jackie McLean’s album Demon’s Dance as a close sibling of Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew. Both were released in the same year and sport psychedelic cover artwork by Mati Klarwein but the similarity ends there. Whereas Bitches Brew was a mind-bending concoction of jazz, rock and funk, Demon’s Dance is beautiful example of modal hard bop, recorded three years earlier in 1967 and was the last of 21 albums that McLean recorded for Blue Note Records.

Bobby Hutcherson – Maiden Voyage

In his last post, Dan focussed on the fantastic track ‘Ghetto Lights’ from Bobby Hutcherson’s debut album as leader on Blue Note. Today’s post is another offering from the master of vibes, this time from his third album Happenings (1966) which saw him taking more of a commercial approach in comparison to his previous two albums which were much freer and avant-garde.