Circle

I usually have a song taking up primary residence in my head. These days, it's "Circle," the Miles Davis song from 1967's Miles Smiles. As I said in my last post, I've been a little obsessed with Miles Smiles for a while now. The first three tracks are particularly addictive for me, and "Circle" might … Continue reading Circle →

Miles Behind

My brother and I were chatting about Miles Davis yesterday. I told him (my brother, not Miles) that if he ever finds a good copy of Miles Smiles on vinyl, he should buy it for me. I think I also told him I'd pay one million dollars for it. Part of the conversation revolved around … Continue reading Miles Behind →

SONNY CLARK versus COMISKI PARK WEST COAST IPA

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 →