The Art of Bop Drumming

Esbjorn Svensson Trio (e.s.t.) - Leucocyte (2008) {ACT 9018-2}
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© 2008 ACT Music | ACT 9018-2
Jazz / Modern Jazz / Post Bop / Progressive Jazz / Piano Trio

It's a damn shame that Leucocyte is the final studio album by the Esbjörn Svensson Trio. Svensson died in a tragic diving accident in June of 2008, shortly after this set was finished. More than any other recording issued by this excellent band, Leucocyte captures the art of music making at the moment of conception; it was recorded as live-in-the-studio improvisation over two days in an Australian studio. It was completely finished, post-production and all, with a release date before Svensson's death. The words "post-production" mean plenty when it comes to E.S.T.'s music. The trio often recorded and added sonic effects to their structured, composed pieces. It underscored their hip sophistication and accessibility. It made them a hit with both jazz fans and younger audiences who listen to Radiohead, Sigur Rós, and even heavy metal more than jazz.

Genius Of Modern Music Volume One (1952). Volume 1 of the two-volume Genius of Modern Music set comprises the first sessions Thelonious Monk recorded as a leader, on October 15 and 24 and November 21 of 1947. It's impossible to overstate the importance of these sessions. They include some of the earliest recordings of Monk compositions that would become standards, despite their angularity and technical difficulty: the strange, sideways chord progression of "Thelonious"; the bouncy and cheerful but melodically cockeyed "Well, You Needn't"; the post-bop Bud Powell tribute "In Walked Bud"; and, of course, "'Round Midnight," which is now one of the most frequently recorded jazz compositions ever…

Earl Rudolph "Bud" Powell (September 27, 1924 - July 31, 1966) was an American Jazz pianist. Powell has been described as one of "the two most significant pianists of the style of modern jazz that came to be known as bop", the other being his friend and contemporary Thelonious Monk. Along with Monk, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, Powell was a key player in the history of bebop, and his virtuosity as a pianist led many to call him "the Charlie Parker of the piano". ~ Amazon

Mostly Other People Do The Killing - This Is Our Moosic (2008) {Hot Cup 082}
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© 2008 Moppa Music / Hot Cup Records | Hot Cup 082
Jazz / Post-Bop / Avant-Garde Jazz

Mostly Other People Do the Killing (yes, that's the name of the group) are mainly inspired by towns or villages in the state of Pennsylvania, and the music of Ornette Coleman. This is evident when you look at the cover art of this CD, a direct reference to Coleman's legendary album This Is Our Music. Nicely dressed young men in suits and ties, MOPDTK look only slightly like mad jazz pioneers, but in fact they seize the precepts of Coleman and are making inspired new music beyond others in their peer group. Moosic is also the name of a city in Pennsylvania, and there are others to which the band dedicates these selections. The stars of the group are trumpeter Peter Evans and saxophonist Jon Irabagon, both leaders in their own right and contributing exponentially to the brash soul and extroverted solos that identify the group sound.

Volume 1 of the two-volume Genius of Modern Music set comprises the first sessions Thelonious Monk recorded as a leader, on October 15 and 24 and November 21 of 1947. It's impossible to overstate the importance of these sessions. They include some of the earliest recordings of Monk compositions that would become standards, despite their angularity and technical difficulty: the strange, sideways chord progression of "Thelonious"; the bouncy and cheerful but melodically cockeyed "Well, You Needn't"; ~ AllMusic

Gil Melle Quartet - Primitive Modern/Quadrama (1957) {Prestige OJCCD-1712-2 rel 1991}
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© 1957, 1991 Prestige / OJC / Fantasy | OJCCD-1712-2 (P-7040/PRLP-7097)
Jazz / Bop / Cool / Third Stream / Saxophone

I was refreshingly suprised the first time I heard this album. I had been bored with most of my music collection when I stumbled upon this "nugget of pure gold". What's even more exciting is when you find out more about the man himself. Gil Melle is a true original, still going strong. His art will surely last the test of time. I write this based on my somewhat worn vinyl copy of "Primitive Modern". I found it in a thrift store for 50 cents and have thanked the powers that be every day that I had such luck. As the quote above indicates, Gil Melle and his outfit were serious about rhythm and doing interesting things with rhythm. Listen, for instance, to "Ironworks."

One of the most revered virtuosos in jazz would be 100 in 2009. Celebrate his innovations in dexterity and harmony as you hear his dazzling piano versions of Moonglow; Yesterday; This Can't Be Love; Tea for Two; In a Sentimental Mood; How High the Moon; Where or When and more!