I've really been on an Ornette Coleman kick for the past week or so. After listening to Spy vs. Spy by Zorn I looked more into Ornette and found Free Jazz, which is becoming one of my favourite albums. I've listened to this and the first take about five times today, I love it.

Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman" is lovely, it partly inspired a short story with a character named Bird Ornette i wrote, though i don't listen to much Yardbird.

Steve Kuhn - Trance

right now I'm listening to Euge Groove. Love that sax!

A couple weeks ago, when I was on vacation, I had the opportunity to do something I've wanted to do for a long time: go to a jazz club in Paris. We knew nothing about the person playing except that his music was described as "flamenco jazz". As it turned out, that person was the pianist Dorantes, accompanied by drums, bass, and on one song, a flamenco guitarist. They were fantastic! The club was absolutely packed and I was sitting behind Dorantes, so close I could have patted him on the back, totally transfixed by the way his hands flew across the keys. Amazing, amazing playing. Even aside from the guest guitarist the music really did sound like jazz with a distinct flamenco influence, both in terms of the rhythm and the way he plays piano.

Anyway, here's an example of him playing with a much larger band that's also pretty damn good:



Also, this:

That's really good Jansz, never heard of that guy. I'm going to have to check out some of his work.

And I am listening to the complete sessions for Bitches Brew. Really, is there anything else that needs to be said?

Probably my favourite Jazz artist.

Maybe a bit of a while ago but I'm glad you posted that Jansz. Totally great! :)

I also really like this one:



__________



Pharaoh Sanders - You Got To Have Freedom.

Bop bop bop doodle do doo. Great. Classic Jazz. Just classic. Knows how to catch you, and swing to it.

For good reason. Mingus is great, both as a musician and a band leader.

Right now, Gillespie. That solo is perfect, it really is.

Two of the greatest jazz musicians of all time. An excellent song. Makes me long for a cup of black coffee in a seedy, smoke filled diner, some time in the early hours of the day or late hours of the night, recovering from losing my girl after a bad bender. I only wish the song was longer.



And I was listening to Neneh Cherry & The Thing earlier. On a first listen, pretty damn good. It's like an old lounge band (similar to the one I described above) started listening to free jazz, punk, and hip hop. Good ****.