Must we?

It's officially here... The worst season of the year for music. Every place of business will now be playing holiday music for the next four weeks! Must we endure this? Not that there isn't any good holiday music. In fact, for people looking to spice up the holidays with something actually worth listening to I would recommend purchasing Chess Records' holiday compilation: Have A Merry Chess Christmas.

With two Chuck Berry offerings, you're already off to a good start. But, the gems may be "Christmas Ain't Christmas, New Year's Ain't New Years Without the One You Love" by the O'Jay's and "Blue Christmas" by the Meditation Singers. Truth be told, there really isn't a bad track on this album.

So, if you must play holiday music... and sometimes you must... this album gives the season a good twist!

Don't Follow

Prompted by a friend's post, I took a look at my 90s tunes. One of my all-time favorite songs quickly came to me..."Don't Follow" by Alice in Chains on their 1993 album Jar of Flies.

One of Alice in Chains' best-kept secrets, this song has a special place in my heart...

In 2006, I moved to Prague. One night myself, two English friends and a random guy I worked with were out at a very small bar. We were the only ones there so the young bartender let us pick out some songs on our guitars. After cycling through a handful of well-known numbers our Czech bartender could sing along with and throwing in a few obscure ones we each liked we began running low on ideas.

A moment of silence passed before Billy the Brit began picking out "Don't Follow". He very nearly stopped as he thought no one knew what he was playing. I urged him on and sang it (eyes closed) with all I had.

That was the spark that set the fire and we belted 'em out for another hour!

Page One; New Soil

Still diggin jazz...

Been listenin to Joe Henderson's 1963 record Page One and Jackie McLean's 1959 record New Soil all day. Literally, all day. Can't stop...

Avant-Garde

I'm really feeling jazz these days...

Dusted off some old Blue Note albums this weekend.

First, Elvin Jones' Live at the Lighthouse from 1972. This album is a great jam session. It's late for the Bop Era but retains many qualities associated with Bop. It's much more free form or avant-garde.

Besides Jones, who is always on time, there is a great crew of players. Each has time to stretch out on their own and they all produce. Dave Liebman has some exceptional moments on tenor and Gene Perla has a sweet rambling bass throughout. Well worth checking out if you're in a jazz mood.

Also, been jamming on Hank Mobley's Workout from 1961. This album totally grooves. One of my favorite drummers, Philly Joe Jones from Miles Davis' group, keeps the pace and the soulful guitar of Grant Green provides the vibe. Along with Wynton Kelly's piano and Paul Chambers' bass, this young group lead by Hank Mobley's impressive tenor sax steams through 45 minutes of great Hard Bop jazz! This is an essential recording.