Long before Iceland gave the world Björk, they brought us Ellý Vilhjálmsdóttir. This haunting, wordless ditty was a massive hit for her in 1966.
Jazz
[Article] A Striking Exception
The Wall Street Journal do justice to the legacy of Manfred Eicher and perhaps the most amazing and success label you may never have heard of, ECM. From Stuart Isacoff’s article, a quote which sums up my personal opinion of him quite nicely:
“But the most striking exception at the Grammys belongs to ECM (Editions of Contemporary Music), nominated this time around for works by the little-known Polish-Russian composer Mieczyslaw Weinberg performed under the direction of Gidon Kremer. If anyone deserves an award for lifetime achievement, it is ECM’s founder, Manfred Eicher, a producer of over 1,600 albums—many of which have changed the course of recorded art
Here’s to Manfred and the crew at ECM, hoping they make another 1,600 wonderful albums.
[Video] Tuure Ara ja Dallapé-Orkesteri – Yksi Ruusu On Kasvanut Laaksossa
From progressive rock to atmospheric prog-metal to minimal techno, Finns place a creative spin on everything. Thanks to the Dallape30 channel on Youtube, I get to sample everything from big-band to tango from Finland during the 30s and 40s. Here is Tuure Ara (in Finnish, sorry) and the Dallapé-Orkesteri from a track done in 1942.
[Video] Pharoah Sanders – Greeting to Saud (Brother McCoy Tyner)
Incredible. One master pianist giving a hat-tip to another, as Pharoah Sanders tips his cap to fellow jazz piano demigod McCoy Tyner.
[Video] George Avramidis – Shadow Man
I’m very hesitant to call the music of George Avramidis jazz. It’s ‘jazz’ in the way that The Durutti Column is. It is, yet, not quite. There’s a dark vibe hiding underneath, which belongs to a class of musicians who I feel would include The Necks, among others. Really worthwhile listening here.
You can purchase George’s new album here, courtesy of Amazon.com.
[Video] Anouar Brahem – January
While working as a buyer at Aron’s Records in Hollywood during my youth, I came across ECM Records. Up until then, the only thing I had ever heard off of the label was Keith Jarrett’s The Köln Concert. As I was able to listen to promo versions of new releases, I came across Anouar Brahem, but forgot about him for over a decade. My friend, Max Franosch, whose photographs grace a few classic ECM releases, reminded by of his work via a post several years ago, and I’ve been following his music intently ever since.
[Video] Naná Vasconcelos – Saudades
Naná Vasconcelos is, perhaps, the finest jazz percussionist in the world. Having collaborated with the likes of Brian Eno, Jon Hassell and Don Cherry, among so many others, he has also been an extremely prolific composer and performer in his own right. This particular album is tonight’s soundtrack as I talk with my own Brazilian.
[Video] Peter Brötzmann / Shoji Hano / Tetsu Yamauchi / Haruhiko Gotsu – Dare Devil
Peter Brötzmann was my introduction to free jazz. The genre is full of brutal music, and it seems that Herr Brötzmann is its (vodka) king. It’s for a good reason. He is a tireless skronker, has more energy in his 70s that many fellow travelers do in their 30s. He also knows whom to collaborate with.
In this piece for the Japanese record label DIW (an old favorite of mine), he collaborates with Shoji Hano, Tetsu Yamauchi and Haruhiko Gotsu in a piece that melds free jazz together with a sort of broken blues. Yes, it’s a mess, but a lovely one.
[Video] Zoot Sims – A Time For Love (1984)
Though I love racket in all its forms, I’m also trying to wind down this evening. The gentle tenor sax of Zoot Sims has placed me into a very pleasant mood.
[Article] John McLaughlin on Miles Davis, Mahavishnu and More
For my money, John McLaughlin is the reigning king of jazz fusion. In this article for Relix Magazine, he speaks on his time with Miles Davis during what I feel was his coolest period, as well as with his own band, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and what he’s been up to since then.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 