Blue Note re-issues:
Some of the stuff that they've re-released hasn't been about for a long time, and instead of re-releasing them both on CD and vinyl they've gone for the more profitable option of vinyl. Problem is that the quality is, in my opinion, incredibly variable. Some have been lovingly remastered, some remastered from the original tapes and frankly, some of them have been resurrected when they should have been allowed to be a fond memory. It's really hard to decide in advance which falls into which category and they are, for the most part exactly as they were originally released. This is a shame, because as the CD re-issue series showed earlier in the century, there is quite a lot material that was worth hearing, but will not fit easily onto a vinyl format. So I've enjoyed some of the Bobby Hutcherson releases, but if you're tempted to buy them research what others have to say about them before you lob out the 22 odd quid. If I can help, do get in touch.
New stuff:
Kandace Springs: The Women who raised me: I'd have to say this already a major contender for the end of year Top 10 albums. It's a wide ranging tribute to a selection of female artists who contributed to her development. I think it's stunning, not only because her voice is so right for the material but because she breathed life into the tunes with sympathetic support from a wide range of other artists (listen to track 1 with Christian McBride as an example. It also sent me back to the originals (after I had remembered who they were!) Stunning.
Jose James: No beginning no end part 2: I don't think that Blue Note had the faintest idea what to do with James after they'd signed him. This is out on a label called Rainbow Blonde and is a return to what he does best which is to interpret strong songs, and in the case of this album with a range of guests from Christian Scott to Laura Mvula and onto Erik Truffaz. A welcome return to form, and one which sent me back to "The Dreamer" which he released on Brownswood in about 2010. It's very laid back, with sparse accompaniment but with some wonderful piano playing from Nori Ochiai. It's well worth checking out.
Lakecia Benjamin: Pursuance: The Coltranes: It's a work through some Coltrane music, both John and Alice by a saxophonist who is new to me. It's beautifully created and takes the Coltrane tunes as a starting point, so it's not about copies but also adding to the heritage. There's an interesting set of contributions from Reggie Workman who played bass with both John Coltrane and Art Blakey and here adds bass to some tracks and helped out with production. A great debut.
Wolfgang Muthspiel: Angular Blues: Stripped back and beautiful. Much aided by Scott Colley on Bas and Brian Blade on drums and recorded in Japan I guess it's a style of jazz that you either like or you don't -sparse and, yes, angular, but consummately played. The sound is somehow different to the normal Manfred Eicher production, and the album sent me back to Manu Katche: Third Round: where Jacob Young adds some guitar playing. Although the style is very different it was an interesting thought transferral process that took me back to it.
Old stuff:(!)
I'm currently going through a re- appraisal phase of some of the 'jazz funk' albums that were moving established jazz artists into new musical realms at the end of the 70's and 80's. I've started with Freddie Hubbard from his CTI/Elektra Musician and Columbia albums and will be moving on to look at late Donald Byrd material which perhaps I'll reflect on in the next set of msuings.
