and all that jazz
of course my 100th post would be about some great raw jazz. I was reading an article on NPRmusic that really caught my attention. Its an overview of some of the best jazz to come out this year from solo artists. In a time when bigger is better ( in jazz this means 18+ people ensembles and tons of arrangements) this article took a moment to celebrate some of the best jazz to come out this year paired down to the bare bones.
I love the fullness of jazz. the big sounds and attitudes that come from the music are so very alluring, yet I can be drawn in to the hugeness of the sound and lose sight of the heart of the piece. Thats why I love solo Jazz records. Its all about the heart, and there is nowhere to move but closer. The intimacy from hearing just that one voice is completely captivating to me.
My favourite tune featered on this NPR piece is entitled “Come Love” by Theo Bleckmann. He recorded his solo album in a monestary and accompanied himself with random percussion instruments and toys he brought along. In this piece he plays Indonesian frog buzzers which sound really cool. The other two pieces featured in the article are by a sax soloist and a solo pianist and both tracks are quite dynamic and great listens.
Check out the article and see what I mean! What do you think of the pieces? Would you rather listen to this kind of jazz, of big band jazz?