This is not a cover of the John Coltrane classic in a traditional sense, but Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin of the Mahavishnu Orchestra bring out the heart of the great master’s work here beautifully.
Seek out this album, as it’s a masterpiece.
Fusion
[Video] Vagif Mustafa Zadeh – Jazz Compositions
Those who know me well, say, for at least 15 years, know that I have tried throughout my life to be a champion for Soviet Jazz. They had something exquisite that the world didn’t have full access to until the end of Communism. One of these treasures hailed from Azerbaijan.
With the passing of B. B. King a few days ago, I was reminded of a story when the legendary blues guitarist came to the Soviet Union to watch a jazz festival. After seeing Vagif Mustafa Zade play, he named the stunned pianist as the ‘true king of the blues’. Vagif would die at age 35 in 1979, suffering a heart attack while performing onstage at a concert in Uzbekistan.
May his memory be eternal.
Many thanks to Funked Up East for their incredible selection of Soviet music.
[Video] Joe Zawinul – The Soul of a Village
This was a thoroughly unexpected find, though I’m indebted to my dear Rididillo Theitalian, who finds treasures like this on a daily basis.
Joe Zawunil cut this odd piece well before his triumphant work with Miles Davis during his fusion period, and fronting his own band, the ever-amazing Weather Report.
[Video] Egberto Gismonti – Selva Amazônica (to Villa-Lobos)
Egberto Gismonti was my introduction to ECM Records, believe it or not. Never has his work disappointed me. It is particularly wonderful to see that he dedicates this piece to Brazilian countryman and composer Heitor Villa-Lobos.
[Video] Мурад Кажлаев (Murad Kazhlaev) - Крутые Повороты (Sharp Turns)
Before Dagestan, in southern Russia, became a worthless subsidiary for radical Islamists, it was producing some rather amazing musicians and composers of note. Murad Kazhlaev (sometimes transliterated as Murad Kajlayev) hailed originally from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, from a Lak family. He moved on to Dagestan, and would work with the Melodiya Records Orchestra, churning out great jazz like this.
If anyone from Dagestan could give me information on more interesting artists, I’d be indebted.
[Video] Tõnu Naissoo Trio – Turning Point (Full Album)
Tõnu Naissoo is one of the best musicians in both Estonia and was among the leading lights the whole of the former Soviet Union’s exceptional jazz scene.
[Video] Mother Gong – Every Witches Way (Full Album)
With the passing of Daevid Allen, I’m monitoring a lot of Gong-related activity. Coming across this piece of weirdness, courtesy of Gilli Smyth, is both amusing and cringe-inducing in a wonderful way.
Special thanks to Dave Read who posted this.
[Video] Zao – Marochsek
Zeuhl at its finest, made by Zao, which included Magma alums Yochk’o Seffer (saxophone, clarinet), François Cahen (piano) and Didier Lockwood (violin).
[Video] Duo Ras Dashen – The Wonderful Sounds of Ethiopian Music
Singer and saxophonist Abate Berihun and pianist Yitzhak Yedid form the Duo Ras Dashen. It blends Yedid’s masterful jazz piano with the near liturgical singing style of Berihun. I look forward to hearing recorded product from this pairing soon.
[Video] The Durutti Column – Domo Arigato
The first live album I was ever blown away by.
When I was attending college in my teen years, I had a good friend, Fish, who had impeccable musical taste. He introduced me to the work of The Durutti Column, and if memory serves me right, this was the record which first turned me on to their oeuvre.
Nearly 30 years later, it still sounds magnificent. Hunt down this album, and hope that Factory will reissue this as a Blu-Ray one day.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 