I’d like to very insincerely welcome you to a new feature, brought to you by the good folks at THE OWL HEAD SHOE HORN. This is JAZZ VERSUS A BEVERAGE. Each installment promises a sort of shootout between a jazz record and a cup of something. If you’re thinking, “You goofy bastard, that doesn’t make … Continue reading SONNY CLARK versus COMISKI PARK WEST COAST IPA
But Only For Me
I decided I’d have to write it more like Ahmad Jamal plays piano. The Ahmad Jamal record I know best is called But Not For Me, and that’s a funny title because his playing feels strictly for him. He’s playing music the way he wants to hear it; he’s not concerned with communicating a song … Continue reading But Only For Me
RRR007: “Sweet Rain” // Stan Getz
On a night frozen through, bitter and solid, I listen to an album called Sweet Rain. It is what its title promises, the sounds of sweetness mixed with rain, happiness contained in flying, stinging droplets of water. Like water, happiness takes on the shape of its container. Like water, it flows according to physical laws … Continue reading RRR007: “Sweet Rain” // Stan Getz
RRR006: “Intensity” // Art Pepper
Tonight there is snow falling from the sky. And a full moon. The full moon is not falling from the sky. Not yet anyway. For reasons lost to history, I’m drinking a bit of brandy. And while it may be hard to reason out why I’m drinking brandy, it’s harder to understand why, of all … Continue reading RRR006: “Intensity” // Art Pepper
RRR005: “Coltrane” // John Coltrane Quartet
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
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
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