Influenced by recent musical genre threads, I wanted to talk about jazz. I listen to all kinds of jazz every day at work but my favorite recording has always been Love Supreme. I don't think there has been a more jazz album ever recorded. I think that no matter my mood or time of day or whatever I can get lost in it, discover something new, etc. I mean I love Sarah Vaughan but I can't always go to her. Gerry Mulligan is definitely a mood, etc. But Love Supreme is and always will be. HOWEVER, I am wondering if Kurt Elling has messed it up a bit. Shortly after it came out I heard his vocal version of Resolution. I thought it was very cool and immediately bought the album on which it appears. Since then, however, I have noticed that every time I listen to Love Supreme, Resolution, I have to stop myself from having lyrics come into my head. Kind of annoying. In any event, here is what I am talking about: <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/O6pSffe4k60" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Aj8lnzS-aPw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> So anyone else have anything similar happen? I know of many songs where vocals get turned into instruments - long tradition of that - and it doesn't seem to feel as negative to me. Maybe it was a closeness with the original? Does anyone know anything else where instrumentals were turned into vocals in jazz? Do they ever improve upon the original?
I don't feel that they ever improve on the original, frankly...but I recognize some of that is probably just bias. Like you, Love Supreme is my favorite piece of jazz. There's no improving on it to me. It stands alone.
^^^^^^^^^^ I'm coming, I'm coming. I don't mind Elling's version at all. In fact, I really dig it. An interesting note on A Love Supreme is that Coltrane wrote a poem for "Psalm" and on the the record, he just plays the poem through his horn as if he's speaking. Very cool. It's hit or miss for me. I don't think it's a matter of improving on the original, it just matters if it sounds good and is interesting. Sometimes I dig it, other times I don't. I'm a big Cannonball Adderley fan (hence my screen name). "Work Song" had lyrics put to it by Oscar Brown, Jr. I'm not too fond of it. But as you can see in the first video, Cannonball seemed to approve. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VBxAC4ywaJ4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YpewUVqowHE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross were famous for vocalese. Sonny Rollins' "Airegin" <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ul54NWmwLxs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Charlie Parker's "Parker's Mood" <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vhYvDjMxTTY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> I'm not to fond of those. But I really dig Carmen McRae singing Thelonious Monk tunes. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/M8E82zEujEA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qYADfnI-iSs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> And here's Cyrille Aimee doing Monk's "I Mean You" (Jon Hendricks from above wrote the lyrics) with Joel Frahm on sax (one of my favs). This is also on the Carmen McRae album. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CT4Zadzy28o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> And then there's James Moody's sax improvisation on "I'm in the Mood For Love" that was set to lyrics by Eddie Jefferson and recorded by King Pleasure, re-titled "Moody's Mood For Love". That became a hit. James Moody later started singing it himself. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/u0KN4_99qEM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cTAwg-lvy5w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Cannon all - thanks for all the info. I will need to absorb and listen later. I did want to clarify that I dig Elling's version. Perhaps because I enjoy it and it stays with me is why I have trouble forgetting about it when listening to the original. I am mock angry/annoyed that he messed with my reading of the original. I will respond more after listening.
my problem with Elling is the voice, which i find grating, and all the "hep cat" stuff sounds forced- i don't dig. amongst vocalist, in addition to Sassy and Ella, Abby Lincoln has stretch the boundaries of what it means to be a jazz vocalist, as well as being an accomplished composer in her own right. and if you like the idea of vocal settings of jazz classics, this is a fabulous record. thegary, try the "meaning of the blues/lament next time a german nanny is around- guaranteed to get you what you're looking for. http://www.amazon.com/Now-Dig-This-...qid=1351197135&sr=1-1&keywords=dennis+rowland Rowland replaced Joe William in the Basie band; you can get a feel below: <iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9buywJXFo_A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
more Mr. Rowland: <iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qUuuvRfoseU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZsAIx1wr6Zs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Charles Mingus Eric Dolphy Rahsaan Roland Kirk Oh...and this happened: <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mE4kPbMwXbA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Also, I think Dannie Richmond was an underrated drummer. Carry on.
I will admit Elling can be hot and cold for me, too, but when he is on he is great and I respected him taking on Resolution. On the other end, I couldn't find it online for an example, but his version of "Too Young to go Steady" is so simple and controlled and brilliant. Similar feeling but not as impressive as Sarah's live recording of "Speak Low". I can't remember where/when it was recorded but man that is killer.
I can go on for days discussing the greats and pioneers but I had to throw my two mentors on the kit on here (Tain Watts and Chris Dave) Overall some of the best live jazz/fusion performances I've seen. Branford Marsalis: A Love Supreme <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qmE4mAOMbhc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> These next two were shot last year or the year before. The 1st one on 9-11, the 2nd on 9-12.....Versatility = beast mode............H-Town represent Robert Glasper Trio f/Bilal <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kScYtiy4PEs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Robert Glasper Tribute to Roy Ayers <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZkgwLz8Bqig" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> I'd suggest checking out parts 2 & 3 to view the whole concert......Sick (smh) <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8m7GEREmu2s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
No. I would but I'm sick and I have gigs on Saturday and Sunday that I'll need all my energy to get through. Since we're posting clips, here's one of me I don't think I've ever posted. I used to play with this little trio at the Chocolate Bar in Rice Village every Thursday. Sadly, that gig dried up almost a year ago. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qWcBIN9AdGs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Not to diminish my performance in the clip but I feel like I've grown a lot as an improviser over the last year and a half since that vid was taken.
Love jazz, especially bop, fusion, and even free jazz. Hate vocal jazz - why I don't know, but I always have. I've gone back and forth on what was my all-time favorite jazz album (Coltrane has been up there with not only "A Love Supreme" but also "Blue Train" and "My Favorite Things") but right now it is a toss-up between Ornette Coleman's "A Shape of Things to Come" and Sun Ra's "Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy". I also really dig Miles Davis's "Get Up With It" - a very insulated type record.
the weather turns justly slightly cooler, and I fire up Holiday Jazz channel on Pandora. too early for an accompanying Christmas Ale?
Haven't listened to Elling's take yet, but I can tell you that he is one of the nicest musicians I've ever had the pleasure to deal with.
