Rowhouse Logic - Breathtaking Inanity

I just recently found out that I can probably get away with putting up a few MP3 files for download without getting sued, just so long as I urge readers to buy the albums from which the tracks are taken. Consider yourself urged. I’ve probably mentioned that my educational background is in music, though I’ve long since given up any serious interest so I won’t embarrass myself with much in the way of theoretical discussion. I’ll just try to point you towards music that is worth listening to and buying. Don’t forget the buying part.

Anyway, I’ve often described listening to Chris Potter live as something akin to a very pleasant form of brain surgery. The depth and complexity of his lines is very nearly without parallel amongst saxophonists of his generation. The first time saw him play was at Ortlieb’s in Northern Liberties sometime in the late nineties and my jaw is still on the floor. Each one of his performances that I’ve witnessed, regardless of whether it is with a pick up band at a bar or with Dave Holland at the Painted Bride, has been absolutely stunning in it’s own right.

Unfortunately, due to my own distaste for the compressed sound of modern saxophone recordings, I haven’t enjoyed Potter’s albums nearly as much as I’ve enjoyed him live. Fortunately for me, and for all of us, Potter recently released a live album entitled Lift: Live at the Village Vanguard. The sound still comes through a speaker, and it has been mixed some, but it comes closer to anything I’ve heard before in capturing Chris Potter as he really sounds.

The track is 7.5 and features Chris Potter on Tenor Saxophone, Kevin Hays on Piano and Fender Rhodes, Scott Colley on Bass and Bill Stewart on Drums. The sound of the Rhodes at the begining of this track is a bit unsettling, but don’t worry it all works out in the end. Enjoy.

Click here to download.

No? Me either.

I thought I would take this opportunity to break away from politics and talk about something uplifting. I was recently introduced to the music of John Taylor. Not since the first time I heard the music of John Coltrane have I been so overwhelmed by a listening experience. In my mind, Taylor’s musical conception is a revolution in serious American art music. His music is the future and, I hope, the shape of jazz to come. His harmonic concepts and use of melodic development, are alone, enough to give him the status of giant. His intensely creative and tasteful use of metric modulation in their employ, puts him on a whole new playing field.

At some point I’ll be sure to review him more comprehensively. In the mean time, if you are feeling more than a little blue and have the ears to hear, I urge you to pick up a John Taylor record.

Despite my hope that you would buy music from a local retailer, I’m providing an Amazon link because Taylor’s albums are pretty difficult to come by.