548. Water From an Ancient Well

Water From an Ancient Well
Abdullah Ibrahim
1985

Tracks
1. Mandela 
2. Song For Sathima 
3. Manenberg Revisited 
4. Tuang Guru 
5. Water From An Ancient Well 
6. Wedding 
7. Mountain 
8. Sameeda

Well that was a bit of a mixed bag, with some of these tracks being quite good while others sounded like they would be played at a rather dreary dinner party. It's been awhile since we have had a jazz album, but hey, I guess the 80s are all about being retro.

I listened to this while reading Strindberg; the only thing missing was a pipe. I am not sure which author to pair with our next album, Hunting High and Low. Maybe I'll do James Joyce, just to annoy him.

RATING: 3/5

331. The Koln Concert

The Koln Concert
1975
Keith Jarret

Tracks

1. Part I 
2. Part IIa 
3. Part IIb 
4. Part Iic

Between recovering from clavicle surgery and returning to work, I haven't had a lot of time to work on the album list.  However, I streamed this record a couple of days ago and I couldn't ask for a better welcome back album.  I have officially found a jazz album that I enjoy and one that I will insist on playing at my next dinner party (you know, if I am ever invited to a dinner party or, an even more laughable idea, if I have one).

Jarret plays the piano like no one I ever heard before.  It is not slow and sad or upbeat and quick.  It hovers somewhere in the middle, so instead of having an emotional reaction, I had more of a thoughtful one.  I am probably not doing a good job of explaining this, but this album made me feel mellow and pensive.  These are particular welcome feelings after brooding and not feeling good for two weeks after my surgery.

I would definitely recommend this album for anyone who thinks jazz is strictly for stuffy intellectuals (ahem..me).  I assure you: it is highly accessible and incredibly beautiful.

RATING: 5/5

177. Bitches Brew

Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
1970

Tracks
1. Pharaoh's Dance
2. Bitches Brew
3. Spanish Key
4. John McLaughlin
5. Miles Runs The Voodoo Down
6. Sanctuary


Real classy title, Davis.  It made me fall in love with this album from the start!!!


Seriously, though, this was torture.  The tracks are SO LONG!!  The first one is about twenty minutes and the next one is twenty seven minutes.  I don't know how long the others ones are because I haven't listened to them yet.  Don't worry, non existent readers who never comment >:<, I am finishing it right now but I just got so bored!!  First of all, I am not a jazz fan to begin with so I knew this would not be very pleasant.  Couple that with really repetitive tracks that all blur together and you know I am hooked.  Yikes.  Maybe I hated it even more because it is Wednesday.  I could never get the hang of Wednesdays.

RATING: 0/5

174. Hot Rats

Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
1969

Tracks
1. Peaches En Regalia
2. Willie The Pimp
3. Son Of Mr Green Genes
4. Little Umbrellas
5. Gumbo Variations
6. It Must Be A Camel


WE ARE DONE WITH THE SIXTIES!

Okay, so I am having a phenomenal day.  The kind of day that I will remember.  It even inspired me to have a spontaneous dance party during the album.  Seriously.  That was something that no one wants to see, ever.  Look at me; getting along with Frank Zappa.  It is like if Joan Crawford and Bette Davis made up and were happy for each other's career.


I need to settle myself down to write this review though I can't stop smiling.  Frank Zappa realized that he sucked and decided to go in a different direction with jazz.  And you know what?  It was awesome.  You don't even have to hear his voice!


Now, I know that my review may be slightly colored by the amazing mood I am in.  But isn't that what music is all about?  I like the idea that I am putting a little bit of myself into each listen and later I can go back to an ordinary album and remember different parts of my life.  So I will remember this album as being the best damn album there is!

RATING: 5/5

146. In a Silent Way

In a Silent Way
Miles Davis
1969

Tracks
1. Shhh/Peaceful
2. In A Silent Way/It's About That Time


Amanda: Jazz, once again.  I feel like the European monarchs whenever Napoleon returned.  Thankfully, this album was actually really enjoyable.  It was a really soft and smooth.  I think only a couple of instruments were used.  I don't have too much more to say about this album except that it was a nice reminder of the 50s. So listen to it; it is only two tracks!


RATING: 3/5

53. A Love Supreme

A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
1965

Amanda: More jazz.  I cannot honestly say that I missed it.  I did read some rave reviews on Johnny here which made me a little less apprehensive but still.  Instrumental...

This album felt very controlled.  Some of the jazz albums we have listened to have felt like they were all over the place.  Coltrane sounded like he was very sure of what he was doing and there was no improv.  This is hard.  I want to stop giving the same reviews on jazz albums but at the same time: I DON'T LIKE JAZZ.  Some people would say: don't do a music blog then.  I say: shut the fuck up, I will do what I want.

Better than most jazz albums I have listened to.  And short!  Yay!

RATING:

Brie: Amanda will probably roll her eyes when she reads this, but I already had this on my iPod. What? I really like John Coltrane! Our book calls the record label that Coltrane was signed to, "Impulse!" a "hip indie jazz label". That just sounds cool! Throughout this album, Coltrane infused what he took from previous jazz artists, such as Miles Davis, with different types of world music (Indian and Arabic). The sax is so soulful. *Aaahhh...*, she sighed contently.

I will probably get punched in the face for this, but I wish it was longer.

RATING:

41. Getz/Gilberto

Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto
1963

Amanda: So today was a rather ordinary day.  One of those days when nothing really bad happens but nothing good happens either which always leaves me feeling weird.  After having this day, I expected this album to make me go "meh!"  However, I was pleasantly surprised.  The music makes me want to speak Portugese, dance, and play instruments.  I can do none of the above, so I had to content myself by just giving this album a really good listen.  If this was a purely instrumental album, it would have been pleasing but since the two artists were quietly singing Portugese to you, it really came together and left me wanting more.  So ordinary day, extraordinary album (yes, I know that is lame but let it pass; it is only Tuesday).

RATING:

Brie: I am shocked. I never thought I'd see the day when Amanda liked a jazz album. (Is this considered jazz? Lounge?) I really liked the album (but I knew I would). I have always loved the song "Girl from Ipanema" and the rest of the album was just so pleasant to listen to. Even though I can't understand what they are saying, this was still one of the most enjoyable jazz albums so far for me. The songs are quite beachy in a way. I also really liked the female vocals on "Girl From "Ipanema". Lovely chanteuse.

RATING:

39. The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady

The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
1963

Amanda: Do you like this new font and color?  Brie, I was thinking we could both have a different look so our opinions don't blend together.  I also added a poll.  We are innovating!  Well enough bragging.  To the review!

So I was kind of dreading writing this review because frankly I don't know what to write.  I can't decide what my opinion on this was.  Did I like it?  It was definitely different.  Some of the tracks I felt could have been the music in a film noir.  It felt a bit jerky and I can't see giving this repeat listens.  I am perfectly indifferent.

RATING:

Brie: Yeah, I see what you are saying about the film noir thing. I was actually thinking more of a mobster/detective movie. Parts of "Solo Dancer" reminded me of the movie "Peeping Tom". (Is it a real movie, or is it just a figment of my imagination?) This was definitely very innovative, and Charles Mingus definaiely set himself apart from all of the other jazz musicians of his time. I think Amanda is so done with jazz music that she just tunes it out. You've come to a plateau, my friend. :)

RATING:

Did choosing this colour pink establish me as the "girly" one?

33. Jazz Samba

Jazz Samba
Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd
1962

Amanda: The title is interesting enough.  Unfortunately, the album is not.  Now, please do not think this is just my dislike of instrumental tracks showing through.  This album, for lack of a better word, had no pizzazz.  "Jazz Samba" makes it seem like you will want to dance and learn Portugese at the same time (which is not an easy task).  Instead, it just kind of makes you lethargic.  The instruments are played skillfully enough but like I said: lackadaisical.  Are you here yet Beatles???

RATING:

Sorry this post is so short but that album did not inspire me to get off my ass let alone write lengthy paragraphs.

Brie: I liked this album a tad better than Amanda did, but not much better. I thought the guitar was very beautiful, but the music lacked the Portugese lyrics. Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd weren't Brazilian, were they? This album to me is a gray tribute album to Brazilian music compared to the vibrant colors of true Brazilian tunes. So, it was a good album, but when it comes down to it: why listen to an album that is a tribute to Portugese/Brazilian music when you could listen to the real thing?

RATING:

30. Sunday at the Village Vanguard

Sunday at the Village Vanguard
Bill Evans
1961

Amanda: My complaints about jazz are getting monotonous so just know that I am screaming on the inside for every jazz album we must listen to.  I mean, this is getting ridiculous.  Speaking of monotonous, how about some genre variety?  Moving on...

So the thing that sets Bill Evans apart is his skill with the piano.  The piano is the main focus of the album and it is completely absent of vocals.  This album is also unique in that there are different takes of some of the songs so you could see what was done differently.

All that being said, the album is a little bit too long in my opinion and towards the end I was longing for normality to be restored and for there to be just one take for each song.  I felt like this would be more interesting if I played an instrument (besides "Hot Cross Buns" on the recorder and "Heart and Soul" on the piano).  If you do, you could really study the music.  Personally, I thought it was rather boring.

RATING:

Brie: I kind of agree with Amanda on this one. That being said, I appreciate Bill Evans' talent on the piano and his skills at composing music. I liked  it, but the whole time I kept picturing a hotel lobby or something. This is pretty much background music compared to all of the other amazing jazz we have listened to (Kind Of Blue, Birth Of The Cool). The standout for me would be "Alice In Wonderland (Take 2)". Not bad, but not my favorite.

RATING:

29. Muddy Waters at Newport

Muddy Waters at Newport
Muddy Waters
1960

Amanda: So today instead of going about my chores and getting ready to an album, I had The Treasure of Sierra Madre on (my favorite Bogie).  So for this album, I listened to it without doing anything else.   It actually had a positive effect.

This was one of those live albums that enables you to hear people in the background.  I don't like these as much as studio recordings but it was still enjoyable.  This style of music felt immensely different and I have no idea what any of the lyrics mean (I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man?) but it still was rather pleasant.  Not great.

RATING:

Brie: I already had this album on my iPod. I really love the soulful, bluesy tone to Muddy Waters' voice. The fact that the album is live just makes it so much better. I can tell that Muddy makes quality music (not like the digitalized "music" produced today). Our International Studies teacher in high school actually had a poster of Muddy Waters framed on his wall. Very cool. If you haven't heard this album, I would definitely recommend giving it a listen. My favorite is "I've Got My Mojo Working".

RATING:  

28. The Incredible Jimmy Smith: Back at the Chicken Shack

The Incredible Jimmy Smith: Back at the Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
1960

Amanda: And our good music streak comes to a close with this album.  Well, it was fun while it lasted.  God, we had some good times.  Remember the Everly Brothers?

But alas, we are back to jazz.  This album, however, is unique because Jimmy Smith used an organ in his songs.  Up until then, organs were only used in church and not by cool cats like Jimmy here.  It certainly wasn't annoying or aggravating but it was purely background music to me while I made my bed and made calls.  I was also pretty sad today and this didn't really cheer me up.  Oh well.  At least it wasn't Billie Holiday.

RATING: 

Brie: Amanda. I love Billie Holiday. Try to be a bit more sensitive. When I saw the title "Back At The Chicken Shack" I thought this was going to be a country album. Boy was I relieved when I realized it wasn't. Jimmy Smith is one cool dude. This album keeps it coolie cool boy. Easy listening. LOVE the use of the organ. It is so jazzy and cool! I will be adding this to my jazz collection now.

RATING: