First posted on Mark Is Cranky:
A View From The Chair
I did something a couple of nights ago that I haven't done in about eleven months: I went up to my listening room and ingested a pile of records. Yes, records. Vinyl. Black circles. Albums. Use any description you like.
For a bunch of reasons...work, moving to a new house, getting a new dog, cognitive dissonance and the presence of one or the other stepkid at various points, I just have not been able to carve out enough 'me-time' to make it back to the listening chair.
Much of that has changed recently so I've allowed myself to wade back into the world of used vinyl exploration. The list below was purchased at a new record shop over in Brattleboro, Vermont. In The Moment records has a fine selection of jazz albums. In fact, I had to restrain myself as I like to buy only as many records as can be dealt with in one listening session.
Vive la vinyl!
Pierre Dorge Quartet - Ballad Round The Left Corner
This was a near-total crapshoot. I've never heard of guitarist Dorge, but the names Billy Hart (drums) and John Tchicai (soprano and alto sax) were familiar. This is mostly straight ahead jazz with a fair bit of angularity. Dorge's playing goes from the ethereal to way out there. He has a Jim Hall-type tone, but even less electric. Gorgeously recorded, it sounds like just a couple of mics. It sounds like you're right there in the room.
Paul Motian Quintet - Jack Of Clubs
A huge find. Drummer Motian employed two saxes (Joe Lovano, Jim Pepper), bassist Ed Schuller and Bill Frisell (before he was really Bill Frisell, if ya know what I mean). OK, that's not quite right about Frisell. He does use a volume pedal to get that attackless sound. But there's no distortion and not much in the way of those mile-long tones. Still, you can hear where he was headed. Lovano and Pepper kill on this disc. Leader Motian ties it all together with interesting compositions and supremely melodic drumming.
Article comments
1 - Michael J. West
WOW!!!!! You found a copy of Steel Guitar Jazz on vinyl?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Was it expensive?
2 - Mark Saleski
unfortunately, yes: $15.
3 - JR
Bet it was less than a dollar when it was new.
Should you be letting those albums lean like that? I thought that was bad.
4 - Mark Saleski
it's ok as long as they don't lean too far over. i'm in the middle of a giant reorg so what you see is temporary.
i usually try to 'split' them, as in the top left crate.
5 - Mary K. Williams
Mark - your love of music, especially jazz comes through with these writings. Also because you refuse to let vinyl die out as a listening medium. Bravo!
6 - Mark Saleski
two (but not the only two) reasons for vinyl:
-all sorts of stuff vanished, never making it to cd
-sounds better
7 - Mark Sahm
Don't forget it's also the primary diet for turntablists! Or would that be considered sacreligious to the vinyl purist?
8 - Mark Saleski
nah, as long as they're not doin' it with MY records.
plus, one you see the movie "Scratch", you fall in love with what that's all about.
9 - Red C.
you have the ugliest feet in the world!!!