Cary Kilner
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Cary Kilner's Picks: Volume 65
September 2024 Dear Jazz Lovers, I’m going to feature some amazing Herbie Hancock to which I was recently listening. My first loves as a kid were Erroll Garner and Oscar Peterson, but I had forgotten that Herbie became my favorite later as I listened to much of the Blue Note library. My big three were Herbie, Chick, and Keith Jarrett, with McCoy Tyner as the Blue Note house pianist before Herbie. Now, with all the remarkable pianists, some of whom I have presented in this column, I can still go back to Herbie as THE genius of his generation, just as Art Tatum and bud Powell were early geniuses. Note his touch is gorgeous, he does interesting pedaling, his sense of harmony is unique, he plays equally well with his left hand as with his right, often playing counterpuntal lines (both hands play lines with or against each other). Other links I discovered follow after the ones with Herbie. Herbie Hancock – from Gershwin’s World – Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in G (Ravel) and Embraceable You – solo piano https://youtu.be/MXwS2YT7cGI?si=iErqpDfI8r9lY7kL https://youtu.be/lWG2TtgOpFE?si=fX9ZnGPsJMwjHh15 Herbie – his classic tune, Speak Like a Child A great live video in 1984 with some really nice Ron Carter. The drummer may be Billy Cobham. https://youtu.be/Ql34lFkH2J0?si=Xiyt_dCkP5ADJann Herbie – from Empyrean Isles with the Miles rhythm section and Freddie Hubbard – One Finger Snap & Oliloqui Valley The is perhaps the best Freddie on record (IMHO). He really kills, pushed by such a strong rhythm section. There is so much to say about this remarkable record but I shall let you discover all of it. https://youtu.be/yQgv5bRqmnk?si=nrL2YeulaS09g3N7 https://youtu.be/AY5-YRc_nMI?si=T7W43L-_7CkI_n2K Herbie – from Miles’ My Funny Valentine live (1964) – All of You (2 versions) Check out Herbie’s magnificent tag on his solo and how he develops it! Go directly to 8:00 and follow his whole solo from the end of George Coleman’s. Miles offered to do this concert gratis for the civil-rights work going on then. It is thought that they all played so forcefully because they were angry with Miles for doing it free, not paying them and then not informing them of this ahead of time. https://youtu.be/3QF2-uHi5D4?si=JUKi2NmrhmTgZ4Zv Note that this second link is an interesting video from another 1964 concert, but the sound quality and viedo is poor. Nevertheless, it is an interesting performance. You’ll hear a similar approach to that tune as in the earlier concert, like Miles’ quintets would do with their “war-horses” – Miles would have a format that they would tweak as they played concerts and clubs. This version is a bit faster than the previous one. Read some of the interesting comments about Miles and Herbie. https://youtu.be/OytaPsHWIT0?si=O5VmWVa7KBsuZa47 Herbie – Eye of the Hurricane & Speak Like a Child I just discovered this – amazing trio with Ron Carter and Billy Cobham. Apparently this is from a Prime Video of the whole 1984 concert. This first one is a bit frantic but you’ll like it. The second link is another version of one of Herbie’s most loved composition. You should find the original on the Blue Note record with that title. https://youtu.be/LZY__b1dGN4?si=CBFcQQq3s5ngb4Zs https://youtu.be/Ql34lFkH2J0?si=1xuqRpW7m1FcTCnm Here’s a trio 1983 video concert with Ron Carter and Cobham. https://youtu.be/LZY__b1dGN4?si=uqVzvYgWXdHDwqaV Now for some other interesting links. Rachel Z – Inamorata This is a very nice relaxed trio, but I don’t know her work at all. She has worked with Al Dimeoa and Stanley Clarke (the latter coming to Jimmie’s Sept 1 & 6). https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=SqzG0sNd-EE&si=lJB1-sRPTIzJRDYr Paul Desmond – Embarcadero I never knew of this album. The New Yorker called Desmond "A dry martini" to describe his unique sound. What's not to like about having Paul with Jim Hall? If you like this, go find Paul's albums with Ed Bikert and Ron Carter. Bikert is even more economical than Paul, and plays beautiful open chords in support. Here is what a friend wrote back about this album. “Paul wrote the liner notes and they were very funny and astute. Also, find another album with Jim Hall, "Polka Dots and Moonbeams;” which has a great selection of standards. But I agree; the LP with Bickert, "Pure Desmond," is the very best! Desmond is my main man. There are so many great players; but who can you listen to all day long?” https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=k4uvlHw_AMg&si=eelQbBQUqp_Qbpkv Bill Evans & Jim Hall duo – I’ve Got You Under My Skin Speaking of Jim Hall, this is some magnificant interaction. I’ve played it over and over, drinking in their great playing together. It’s from the 1966 album, Intermodulation. They also made a previous one called Undercurrent from 1962. https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=HqQir_EhJ-c&si=3rnz-3fWrapaAgv5 Bill Evans trio (1981) – We Will Meet Again Here is some classic late Bill on this mellow 6/8 standard with his early trio with Eliot Zigman and Eddie Gomez. Great interplay as we get with Bill and his classic trios throughout his career. https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=HuiEysgyri4&si=KhYkxtp2kkd-oH-T Jeff “Tain” Watts – 22 minutes of a 1990 concert video This is an excellent quartet with Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland & Robert Hurst. The first tune is a bit frantic but interesting. It is followed by a really nice medium swing tune with some outstanding trading of ideas between Kenny and Branford and wonderful extended ending you will enjoy. Be sure to visit this. https://youtu.be/sYK7qvOGW9Y?si=R8u4E69X7k0ws5gE Alexa Tarantino – Mindful Moments & La Puerta What a nice laid-back BN groove with vibes and piano. And with her on bass flute The second is with a trio with Steven Feifke accompanying on some very nice piano. Very sweet as well; I wish he would have had a solo so we could hear more of him. Fiefke arranged that great big band I sent a while ago. https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=VZLEoxObEbI&si=V8IhBvhHqS5Mbs3U https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=BnXLeRfxFuw&si=OfkgsLEivuZ2i0G8 Thelonius Monk Quartet – Rhythm-A-Ning (live video 1963) Let’s close with this amazing performance from a truly great quartet. Charlie Rouse is the perfect foil for Monk. Dig how Monk lays out after Charlie solos for a while, then stands up and dances around the piano. https://youtu.be/D3nkms4toYk?si=l8E61DYU0xzB74xv |
