Both for the slinks to click. Iām sure Iāve heard that recording of āCompared to Whatā before, and starting around 0:26 in that recording and going on for ~10 seconds or so it sounds like Les McCann is quoting or borrowing a phrase from āAquariusā (āWhen the moon is in the seventh house / And Jupiter aligns with Marsā). Thatās something I really like about listening to jazz: musicians pulling bits and pieces from other sources into their improvisation to give it an unexpected flavor. I feel like itās kind of a reward for paying attention, listening not only to the song at hand but also to other things and having awareness of diverse influences.
That kind of thing seems like a very human choice, too. Itās not one person regurgitating something he or she heard once: Itās an artist infusing his or her work with something that came before and including it with a personal touch.
I wonāt say I hate jazz but it isnāt something I would ever choose to listen to for enjoyment even for free, but I wouldnāt plug my ears and leave somewhere just because jazz was playing. It doesnāt bother me in that sense, and maybe Iād prefer it over silence in most cases, but there are tons of things Iād prefer instead.
Thereās a Thelonius Monk tune you may not like but itās kind of a litmus (my litmus.) Iāll try to find and post it and you can tell me what you think. If you want.
I think heās popped up in some SNL sketches in the past and also in movies, often playing a pianist, but for some reason I tend to think of him as Harry Connickās (Jr.) big band leader and arranger.
Hey, kids! Letās quote the Carver out of context!
Now letās get him sucked into The Talented Mr. Ripley! (I know there are plenty of other jazz-oriented movies, but that one popped into my head.)
I know he was responsible for others, but the one that always comes to mind for me is āWell, You Neednātā.
I was actually thinking about Monk the other day and decided that āFurlonious Monkā would be a good name for a cat, especially one who likes to walk across piano keys.
I donāt think Iād heard that recording before. I think I first heard that song on Wynton Marsalisās Standard Time, Vol. 2: Intimacy Calling, with Marcus Roberts on piano:
I really like that series of albums, especially Standard Time, Vol. 3: The Resolution of Romance, where some of the recordings are just Ellis Marsalis playing piano with his fine touch.
Honestly, ifi had to pick between this and my toddlers randomly hitting keys on the piano, it might be a toss up, since at least with my kids, theyāre my kids and theyāre enjoying themselves. But I donāt particularly like this music. Might be okay as ambience in certain settings and Iād desperately love it, say if I was bored out of my mind in solitary confinement or something. But since Iām not, and I have plenty of better alternatives, Iād prefer the alternatives.
Since @carverofchoice āenjoyedā that Monk tune so much, hereās one of my favorites, a Monk performed by Gonzalo Rubalcaba and his trio:
Man, those Cuban jazz pianists can fly! I once saw Nachito Herrera at the Dakota in Minneapolis. My table was on the second level, and I could lean over the edge and look down to watch him while he played. At times, his fingers were a complete blur. Amazing!
I havenāt listened to any of her music for a while (until I click slinks). I tend to think of her playing (and traveling with) a big olā Bƶsendorfer.
Yeah, and the bassist is no slouch. Then the next song on the album really shifts the mood:
That whole album is one of my favorites. Itās not Kind of Blue, but itās solid. I think the sixth track is named after his son.
for the slinks to click. Iām sure Iāve heard that recording of āCompared to Whatā before, and starting around 0:26 in that recording and going on for ~10 seconds or so it sounds like Les McCann is quoting or borrowing a phrase from āAquariusā (āWhen the moon is in the seventh house / And Jupiter aligns with Marsā). Thatās something I really like about listening to jazz: musicians pulling bits and pieces from other sources into their improvisation to give it an unexpected flavor. I feel like itās kind of a reward for paying attention, listening not only to the song at hand but also to other things and having awareness of diverse influences.
Cold!
