After enduring the comments section of a few websites where atheists who wouldn’t know religion if it bit them on the ass, and Pentecostal/Evangelicals who are running a very close second, I needed a bit of a spiritual cleaning. Thank you, Archie Shepp. Perfect timing!
Jazz
[Video] Ganelin, Chekasin, Tarasov – Semplice (II)
I really owe all of my passion for Eastern European/Soviet Improvisational and Experimental music to one man: Leo Feigin of Leo Records. It was through his introduction, via his catalog and a few letters back and forth, that I was introduced to such artists as Vyacheslav Ganelin (the Ganelin Trio’s leader, now based in Israel), Sergei Belichenko and Roman Stolyar, a friend to this day.
Here is the Ganelin Trio near the peak of their improvisational powers. Vladimir Tarasov and Vladimir Chekasin join in.
[Video] Carlos Santana & Mahavishnu John McLaughlin – A Love Supreme
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.
[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] Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (cond. Riccardo Chailly) – Jazz Suite No. 1 III. Foxtrot (composed by Dmitri Shostakovitch)
Dmitri Shostakovitch managed, like his contemporary, Igor Stravinsky, to implement jazz into his compositions.
[Video] Carmen Souza & Theo Pas’cal – Cape Verdean Blues (live @Bimhuis Amsterdam)
From the island which gave the world Cesaria Evora comes another wonderful, husky voice in Carmen Souza, accompanied by bassist, composer and producer Theo Pas’cal, who is a hell of an arranger.
[Video] Charles Mingus – Prayer For Passive Resistance
Jazz. Where you can be a revolutionary without uttering a single word (maybe a few moans and shouts here and there, perhaps…).
Happy birthday to you, Charles Mingus. RIP.
Heartfelt thanks to ThE JaZzerZ for posting this originally.
[Video] Grateful Dead with Ornette Coleman – The Other One 2-23-93
I’m not a big fan of The Grateful Dead’s studio recordings. However, they were rather sublime live. And when they are paired with one of the giants of free jazz in Ornette Coleman, magic happens.
[Video] Firyuza – Firyuza (1979)
Firyuza were a prog-jazz-funk band from Turkmenistan. The album is a classic in the Soviet Rock world.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 