It was fifty years ago today…that the world was first introduced to Sgt. Pepper. It’s hard to imagine, at this point, that there was even a time when the album didn’t exist. Whether you consider yourself a fan or not, for the past two generations the album has become omnipresent. Two generations of people have loved it and hated it, while those who have yet to hear the record itself will still be aware of it’s presence. Visiting a record shop, there’s a good chance that its technicolor collage artwork will be seen. It’s always there; for most of us, it’s always been there.
Tag Archives: jazz
STANTON MOORE – Conversations
Over the years, Stanton Moore has cut a place within the jazz scene playing with various fusion outfits, including playing a vital role within Robert Walter’s 20th Congress (Walter, in turn, a vital member of The Greyboy Allstars). While Moore’s fusion and funk chops are without question, his devotion to jazz is just as strong and on his 2014 disc ‘Conversations’ he shows that his approach and sense of style behind the kit is smart and tight enough to channel the best work laid down by Art Blakey and Elvin Jones. Joining Moore on this release are bassist James Singleton and pianist David Torkanowsky – both legends within the New Orleans scene – to form a very impressive trio.
MATS INGVARSSON – Hope
Bassist Mats Ingvarsson is somewhat of a fixture on the Swedish jazz scene. Over the course of several years he’s released a string of albums, sometimes as a member of Un-x-pected Pleasure, sometimes solo, but often via the specialist label Kopasetic Productions. His 2014 release ‘Hope’ enlists the talents of labelmate Maggi Olin on the grand piano and a pretty mean Fender Rhodes. Joining them, session drummer Daniel Fredrikssen and Magnus Lindberg ensure this is an impressive gathering.
Hear new track from upcoming Booker T. Jones album
On August 12th 2013, Booker T. Jones unleashes his new album ‘Sound The Alarm’. Featuring collaborations with Estelle, Gary Clark Jr. and others, reports suggest the album marks a return to the gritty sound with which the legendary Stax musician originally made his mark.
As part of the launch for the album, Mr Jones is set to play a four night residency at London’s Ronnie Scott’s between August 14th and 17th.
DAVE BRUBECK: December 6th 1920 – December 5th 2012
Jazz legend Dave Brubeck died one day short of his 92nd birthday. Nobody could argue that ninety-something isn’t a decent age to see, especially when – by the time of Brubeck’s own passing – so many of his musical peers from the 50s and 60s (a fine era for jazz music) had long since left us, and at ages so much younger. Even Brubeck nearly didn’t make it: a near fatal swimming accident occurred in 1951, some years before he would record his best known material.
One of the finest pianists in jazz, possibly second only to Herbie Hancock, Brubeck’s most famous recording, 1959’s ‘Take Five’ (written by The Brubeck Quartet’s saxophonist Paul Desmond), remains one of the genre’s most instantly recognisable pieces, loved by many – and not just jazz aficionados. Beyond ‘Take Five’, his mammoth output, spanning six decades, yielding several dozen albums, included other great tunes, right up to his critically acclaimed swansong – 2001’s ‘The Crossing’. Right to the end, he could be heard always pushing his already distinctive style as he experimented with complex time signatures.
His music says more than a few paragraphs ever could. In tribute, here’s the complete Dave Brubeck Quartet performance from the BBC’s ‘Jazz 625’, recorded in 1964.