TL;DR = Coltrane and fire pair well. It was September of 2024, so a few months ago. I was having a bad time in my head. My wife generously suggested I spend a weekend at the family cabin in the great Northwoods of Wisconsin. After making sure no one else had reserved the place for … Continue reading RRR005: “Coltrane” // John Coltrane Quartet
Author: A. James Brawner
Sportsman, aficionado.
RRR004: “Like Someone In Love” // Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
Recorded 1960 by Rudy Van Gelder. Players: Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Timmons, Jymie Merritt, Art Blakey. Version reviewed: Blue Note Classic Vinyl, released January 2025. Mastered from original tapes by Kevin Gray. Like Someone In Love kicks off with a nice take on the title track, a standard I know best from Sinatra’s Songs … Continue reading RRR004: “Like Someone In Love” // Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
RRR003: “Here To Stay” // Freddie Hubbard
Blue Note kicked off its 2025 Classic Vinyl Reissue series this month with two titles, and I'm proud to say I own them both. "Big spender!" you say. "No," I say. More like, "Big seller." That's right, I finally broke down and sold my original pressing of Soundgarden's Superunknown. I vividly remember purchasing that record … Continue reading RRR003: “Here To Stay” // Freddie Hubbard
Analog Stuff
I was asked recently to talk briefly to my coworkers about “three obsessions.” I chose Bill Evans, “analog stuff,” and physics. “Analog Stuff” is a lazy bit of language, but I wasn’t sure how else to refer to a category that includes listening to music on vinyl versus digital; recording music on tape instead of … Continue reading Analog Stuff
RRR002: “Speak No Evil” // Wayne Shorter
Merry Christmas Eve, jazz lovers. I should just say Merry Christmas Eve, Charlie Brawner, as he’s the only person who even might be reading this. And he's a jazz lover. So consider that a successful venn diagram situation right there. I used to proudly proclaim Speak No Evil the third best jazz record of all … Continue reading RRR002: “Speak No Evil” // Wayne Shorter
On Bill Evans, Part 1
When I’m deep in the Bill Evans zone (let’s say late at night, earbuds in, lying next to my toddler who’s just fallen asleep in his bottom bunk, his orange night light creating a distinct vibe), I’m hypnotized by the way one chord melts into the next, as though I’m being led through some magical … Continue reading On Bill Evans, Part 1
RRR001: “Gateway” // John Abercrombie, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette
The Owl Head Shoe Horn would like to warmly—but not too warmly—welcome you to a brand new and long-awaited-by-absolutely-no-one feature: Random Record Reviews. When I attended college, back around the time of the Magna Carta, I wrote record reviews for the student newspaper. I just about got myself killed. In my mind I was calling … Continue reading RRR001: “Gateway” // John Abercrombie, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette
Film Ritual
In November 2021 we moved from Seattle to Chicago. I felt so much unease leading up to the move and struggled to make peace with it. I asked a friend for advice and he said that, if it were him, he’d do something ceremonial to help the transition. I liked that idea, so I decided … Continue reading Film Ritual
Homefish
If my geographical life were represented via pie chart, the largest slice would be labeled MIDWEST. I grew up in and around Green Bay; went to college in Marquette, MI; had stints in Milwaukee and Madison. But then there was that nine year stretch when I lived 2,200 miles away in Seattle and played at … Continue reading Homefish
D’Angelo Verilli / “Spanish Joint”
I’ve decided to take on a preposterous challenge. I will write about a D’Angelo song every day. Or, at least, most days. Or, at least, some days. To be honest, I don’t know where I got the idea to do this. I’m just the kind of guy who comes up with cool ideas like this … Continue reading D’Angelo Verilli / “Spanish Joint”
THE OWL HEAD SHOE HORN 