Charlie Jefferson:bretty:
Thanks Simon. I'll get that.
I've been looking at Davis' other releases. 'Bitches Brew' and 'Sketches of Spain' seem to divide opinion. They are either 'Genius', or, they don't work and the people that say they do, only do so to make themselves seem high-brow. So, i'm on the fence with those two.
'In a silent way' seems less divisive. Does anyone have it? Is it good?
I've got "Sketches" and "In A Silent Way".
Sketches is, as the title suggests, based around Rodriguez's Concerto De Aranjuez and other Latin-flavours. I find it a little ponderous, to be honest, and prefer the classical version. I've got it on CD and don't seem to recall it sounding too great, sonically. It's awhile since I listened to it though.
In A Silent Way, is closer to A Kind Of Blue in terms of mood and instrumentation. I really like it, and I'm a complete jazz "novice" too.
Things I've had recommended to me when I've asked the same kind of question, include EST, various other artists on the ACT label (there's a great, and cheap sampler called 30 Years Of. . .or something like that), Stan Tracey, Guy Barker and for voice, Lianne Carroll. There's loads of great stuff out there.
Away from jazz, but in the next door field, as it were, are Steely Dan. Who I'm sure you know, but a lot of people settle for a Best Of, and miss out.
Everything they did from Can't Buy A Thrill(1972) up to Gaucho (1980) is essential. Jazz-flecked, arch, lovely, complexly arranged, smoothly filtered, deadpan pop-rock. Very hifi-friendly too. Too hi-fi friendly, perhaps. After a twenty year gap and a few solo projects, they reconvened with Two Against Nature and Everything Must Go. Not bad, but not from their golden period.
One to avoid or seek out, depending on your taste and levels of curiosity, is Pat Metheny & Ornette Coleman's Song X album from 1983. Unlistenable racket or experimental genius. I always put it on every year to check my reaction. I bought it on vinyl at the time of release, and it's now become my annual litmus test for tolerance of strange sounds. Mostly, I fail.
I've not been a massive jazz fan over the years ( I own Kind of Blue, Sketches, and one or two others on CD) but with the advent of Spotify I've been listening to more and more to broaden my horizons.
Lots to choose from on Spotify, and then if you like something you can investigate the vinyl option if its available. E.S.T. falls under that category. What I've heard really does it for me. Modern 3 piece (Piano/Bass/Drums) jazz. Their "Live in Hamburg" recording is just sensational on Spotify, one can only imagine how good the vinyl could be!
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