Cary Kilner
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Cary Kilner's Picks: Volume 70
Before we begin, our friend, Greg Hopkins, has recorded his Berklee retirement CD entitled "Chronography; The Greg Hopkins Jazz Orchestra (Then & Now)." It is in a beautiful package and contains 10 selections; 7 are reworked standard tunes. YouTube has two songs on now. This cut is a very extended, "Spring is Here." https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=xGNuQQGLU-g&si=DUqK0BB4fzpgA2mf Now on to the other links...focus on guitar trios Normally I seek a wide variety of links in my columns to provide something of interest for every reader. However, in this column I will focus mostly on jazz guitar trios – no organ, saxophone, piano, vibes, etc., with a couple of exceptions. Some trios are more fusion oriented, with electric guitar and electric bass. Some are more similar to the acoustic piano trio, with string bass and acoustic guitar. There are also examples of trios combining acoustic and electric. I used to say, "A trio is..." in reference to jazz piano trios. And "Space is the place." Thus, my main interest is in the space accorded the players in jazz trios that allow the listener to hear all of the interactions clearly. This is more easily done with the guitar trio. The piano provides 88 keys with 10 fingers, while guitar only provides 6 strings and 5 fingers. Some pianists tend to treat the right hand as a horn with accompaniment from the left hand, while others play more of an orchestral approach with the two hands working together. Similarly, some of these guitarists play horn-like single-note lines while others utilize more of the unique properties of the whole instrument with chords and lines interspersed. This month I shall provide a variety of links with little discussion, and in no particular order. To begin, here is an informative YouTube discussion of jazz guitar trios with examples. You don’t need to log in to access this link. Just click on it. https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/everything-else/29020-conventional-trio-format-guitar-bass-drums.html Pasquale Grasso – Wig Wise, Cheryl & It don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got Swing The first selection is a classic Duke Ellington 32-bar head that turns into a blues for solos. The second is a classic bebop blues. The third is another Ellington tune and a very good example of the use of space. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzE_k6PMM2k https://youtu.be/3ZfWH03EjFY?si=jRfzQr2omsEHdhlw https://youtu.be/w7WdBZ8wNls John Abercrombie – Homecoming This is a very modern form of trio, with two other top-notch accompanists. It is a long performance to provide ample solo time for each member. https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=CQF9bJE800s&si=KBehYdQ0A5gFebsM Jim Hall Trio – Billy’s Bounce & Alive (the whole album) Here’s your mainstream monster playing so relaxed; he’s the friggin’ master! Great supportive rhythm section playing this classic bebop blues. Note his strumming of chords in the middle of his solo. The album shows his delicate use of space as well. https://youtu.be/pmmCM2BZsH8 https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=fTe-1aTNfpE&si=eXVBhYsuOof_X7lA Pat Metheny – Giant Steps – live & Bright Size Life This is our modernist, heard in many other contexts as well as with his own band. The original Coltrane version was medium swing, but Pat turns it into a bossa-nova. Note how he uses more of the instrument than some of these previous players, with lots of chords in his solo similar to a pianist’s use of block chords. The second link is his classic trio with Jaco that first brought him national attention. https://youtu.be/sjwStsKKpiE https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=iQANdnDFe4c&si=oAOMo1Rq9ZWWfpYf Pat Martino – Full House (w. organ bass), Oleo (live) & Sunny The first is a classic Wes Montgomery tune. I consider his playing to be more of the modern bebop approach. Note how effectively he uses repeated patterns as he builds up the energy. I include the pianist on Sunny to show how Pat kills this classic tune with exquisitely played lines. https://youtu.be/Pii9x-cE2IM https://youtu.be/Ql_bHgaQQZE https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=9rfTrS1hEFI&si=14hiNPkJLqxKQJJw Mark Elf – Nobody Else But Me – live Another example of beautiful economical soloing with priceless lines, and lots of space. https://youtu.be/Z3fNqgG6n8c Bobby Broom – Ask Me No, Evidence, No Bad Vibes, When the Falling Leaves, Can’t Buy Me Love The first is a classic Monk tune, where he lets the bass begin the solos instead of soloing first. And he plays the intricate head very beautifully. Followed by an up-tempo treatment of the second Monk tune. Note that he sings and is equally proficient in mainstream jazz as well as smooth jazz, hence several links. https://youtu.be/sk_Wc8VOMc0 https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=Z11QOdyavPU&si=P-yK0QAnVb17-Io0 https://youtu.be/-KwRkTL21PU https://youtu.be/beeW8eswd9c https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=7TA6dgJLjKQ&feature=share Bill Frisell, two videos: Live in 1995 (video w. no tune title) and On the Street Where You Live The first link is with Ginger Baker, the former Rolling Stones drummer. As you can see and hear, he is a competent jazz drummer. I believe from the video that the bass player is Charlie Haden, making this a very interesting trio. The second link is with Paul Motian and Ron Carter, certainly another solid rhythm section (Paul having been one of Bill Evans’ early drummers). https://youtu.be/AwBtJm7JiDI https://youtu.be/98sXa20693o Jim Raney – But Beautiful Here is a delicate treatment of a beautiful standard ballad. https://youtu.be/e2CtFvBdS50 Grant Green – Green Street & Plaza de Toros The first is a classic blues and shows him off in good form. You’ll find more of him on Blue Note albums with Larry Young and Sam Rivers. I include this non-trio example to show more of his beautiful line construction. https://youtu.be/Dv_s34KTNBE https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=p_L29Ic4LFg&si=UHEAOJNMkqPro0C2 Adam Rogers – I Hear a Rhapsody, Yesterdays & Without a Song We have some varied selections for this prodigious guitarist, who played frequently with Michael Brecker, as well as his thoughts on Michael. Adam Rogers Live! I Hear A Rhapsody https://youtu.be/gdvo8sBKd14?si=9mgrxqgNXzT4wDfF https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=Hai1yelnHWc&si=F0fvEtsAKXsrSDdh Adam Rogers talks about Michael Brecker Lage Lund – Rumspringa This is a very interesting and advanced player as you shall hear. https://youtu.be/ygBkxSceGCw |
