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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →