On the one hand, there's the old line about how a good thing shouldn't be messed with. Yeah, there's some truth to that, but who wants that same old thing every...single...time? I enjoy comfort food as much as the next person but I also look forward to surprises — especially when a variation of an old favorite is involved.
What does this mean in the jazz world? It could mean a complete restructuring of a classic. It could also be a pop tune rendered in the jazz idiom. Some people hate the latter, but I've always been fond of songs like that. Some say we would be better off without things like David S. Ware's splatterfication of "The Way We Were." I disagree. Heck, where would we be without Coltrane's "My Favorite Things"? Exactly!
Enjoy.
Bill Carrothers - Joy Spring
Pianist Carrothers revisits the music of trumpeter Clifford Brown. With bassist Drew Gress and the great Bill Stewart at the kit, they interpret Brown (and Brown-related) classics like "Daahoud," "Gerkin For Perkin," and of course, that iconic title track. "Joy Spring" is definitely the not-so-secret ingredient of this recording, and it's such a fine interpretation. Carrothers stretches out the composition, presenting most of it on solo piano. You can hear him humming along, Keith Jarrett-style (though in tune), as the melody progresses. The bass and drums come in to anchor the final chords in a moment that seems filled with emotion. Great stuff.
Chris Green Quartet - Merge
I do like my jazz with some funk, and Chris Green delivers. The opening track "Good Riddance!" cooks right along as does "Coffee 'n Scotch," built on a simple ostinato that gets moved around in sly ways as the funk slips into and back out of straight swing. The album hits a couple of delicious peaks during incendiary covers of "Let's Get It Started" (Black Eyed Peas) and Madonna's "Borderline." Too much fun.
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Article comments
1 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
I didn't know where else to put these recommendations. I mean they aren't Jazz but I thought you might like'em:
SHOOTER JENNINGS & HIEROPHANT -
"Black Ribbons"
ALGERNON - "Ghost Surveillance"
2 - Mark Saleski
interesting. i'll have to check them out. i know who Shooter Jennings is, but not Algernon.
i'll listen tonight when i'm not in "don't you dare stream anything at work"-land.
3 - zingzing
borbetomagus-barbed wire maggots
(hard to find in stores, easy to find at mediafire.)