To truly enjoy tonight’s post you need to do one of three things:
1. Put on some noise cancelling headphones.
2. Wait till everyone is out of the house and turn up
the stereo.
3. Make a cup of your favorite drink and sit in a
comfortable arm chair with ears close to the speakers.
This is subtle, quiet music.
It is powerful but not loud. It deserves to be heard in its own right and not
as background musak at a dinner party.
It is acoustic music and you need to let your ears pick up the unrushed
notes.
Charlie Haden |
Charlie Haden, a country boy from Iowa, is a contemporary master of the double
bass. Although his early prominence in
jazz circles came through his association with some of the music’s most radical
free-jazz composers like Ornette Coleman, Haden has never been able to shake his
affection for the folk music and hymns he grew up listening to as a boy on the
farm in the Midwest.
In the 1970’s and 80’s
through his collaboration with Carla
Bley and a whole gaggle of other prominent jazz musicians Haden made several overtly political
recordings with a focus on the injustices and liberation struggles of the Latin
American people.
“No other instrument
in jazz is more essential than the bass, both backbone and heartbeat, and Haden
is its master.” (Francis Davis The Atlantic Monthly) Haden played a vital role in this revolutionary new approach,
evolving a way of playing that sometimes complemented the soloist and sometimes
moved independently. In this respect, Haden
helped liberate the bassist from a strictly accompanying role to becoming a
more direct participant in group improvisation.
Hank Jones |
Hank Jones
comes from one of the great jazz families, being the eldest of three brothers
who all were significant musicians in their own right. Hank began performing as a very young teenager and in the 1940s
moved to New York where he built a career as a pianist working with many of the
great names of the bebop era such as Charlie
Parker, Lester Young, Milt Jackson and Wes
Montgomery.
His ability to both
accompany and support band leaders as well as solo made him a very in demand
session player and he appeared on countless major and influential jazz
recordings in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.
Steal Away: Spirituals, Hymns and Folk Songs is quite simply one of my favorite records of all time. Given the
innovative and exploratory nature of Haden’s
musical journey and the straight ahead jazz Jones played for most of his career, the simple, almost humble tone
of this record comes as a pleasant surprise. These are some of the most famous
selections from the great American hymnbook played sincerely, with no trickery
or irony. Just an hour of wonderful piano and luscious double bass stealing you
away from your preoccupations, worries and exhaustions. Both men share the
limelight (if you can call it that), taking turns leading and soloing as well
as supporting the other when he’s got something to say. Listen once, and you’ll play this again and
again.
Track Listing:
01
It's Me , O Lord, (Standin' in the Need of Prayer)
02
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
03
Spiritual
04
Wade in the Water
05
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
06
Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Child
07
L'amour de Moy
08
Danny Boy
09
I've Got a Robe, You Got a Robe
10
Steal Away
11
We Shall Overcome
12
Go Down, Moses
13
My Lord What a Mornin'
14
Hymn Medley: Abide With Me/Just As I am/What a Friend We Have in Jesus/Amazing
Grace
Listen here.
1 comment:
To Anonymous,
Thank you for the kind words you apparently posted but which never appeared here. Send me your email and I'll be in touch.
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