The time has come. We need to talk about Explorations. I’m talking of course about the second of two studio albums Bill Evans made with Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian. Recorded in NYC, February 1961. Get that gauze out of there so I can hear the damn bass. I’m gonna say some things you might … Continue reading Explorations
Tag: writing
Evolution
The album we all need to be paying more attention to is Evolution by Grachan Moncur III. I won’t pretend to know how to pronounce the man’s name, but I sure as hell will tell you what I think about when I hear this record. The Soviet Union. The 1940s. Siberia. Rocky IV. Snow. Bombs. … Continue reading Evolution
Stan Getz Night
It is Stan Getz night here at the Brawner International HQ, Evanston, IL. It didn’t start out that way. I thought it might be Bill Evans night. My brother texted me today that he had fallen into the seductive gravitational pull of EXPLORATIONS, and I thought...yes. Let’s listen to Sir William. I had been listening … Continue reading Stan Getz Night
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
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
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