Song of the Week: A Love Supreme (Santana and McLaughlin)

So I'm hopefully back for a weekly basis, my apologies for the absence.  This week's song is a track off a new purchase of mine.  Love Devotion Surrender is a stellar collaboration by two guitar greats:  Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin. The album also pays tribute to a jazz great;  the first two tracks and subsequent bonus tracks are takes of famed saxophonist John Coltrane.  "A Love Supreme" covers "Acknowledgment" from Coltrane's 1964 release A Love Supreme.  It features a blaze of solos from both guitarists.  They constantly feed off each other and dance around the center of the song.  The song, like a lot of fusion, has a constant build up.  Although it didn't receive praise when first released, Love Devotion Surrender has been enshrined as one of the great fusion albums of all time.  Enjoy.

  

..a great way to spend a Sunday.

"I think in the old days they would've called this selling out, but you know I think its a great way to spend a Sunday," Robert Plant said after winning his third Grammy tonight.  He received them for his brilliant work with Allison Krauss on their album Raisin Sand.  

Although I saw many things that confused  (Stevie Wonder performing with the Jonas Brothers), and excited me (BB King, Buddy Guy and John Mayer saluting Bo Diddley); seeing this album win three major awards gave me a renewed feeling about America's taste.  The fact that such a drastically retro sounding album could emerge victorious among contemporaries is refreshing.  Although I don't condemn their competition (Coldplay, Radiohead etc.) it is nice to see the oldie but goody take the gold home.  

So Congratulations Mr. Plant and Ms. Krauss.

Song of the Week: I Wish.

So in my absence from this blog (which will be less frequent), I have been listening to many different songs from many different artists.  From Bob Marley to Bill Withers, I have enjoyed some good stuff.  

This week I bring you a great track, from one of the best.  "I Wish" comes from 1976's Songs in the Key of Life.  It has such great momentum in it.  That's one of the biggest aspects that Stevie brings to his music, momentum.  The bass kicks it off and from it and ensemble of keys, horns, and blaring, irreplaceable vocals.  Hope you enjoy.

Hello President Obama, good bye Mr. Bush.

That headline was such a release.  I am finally be proud of the president I have.  Not the president I will have.  Not the president I had.  The president I have.  

I remember 8 years ago on September 11, my English teacher told our class what had happened that morning.  I remember it so clearly.  She said, "This will probably be the biggest event of your life."  I can say now, that September 11 has lost it's title.  As of noon today, I can now say that I have witnessed the first African American President.  Although I did not intend today's ceremonies, I can say that I was a part of them.  What our country has done today will echo

throughout history.  Like I said in my first post, I am finally proud of my country.  

For at least the next four years, we get to hear the name "President Obama."  How lucky are we?  I know it gets better every time I hear it.

Song of the Week: Stolen Moments

OK folks, this week I've chosen what I feel is a jazz classic. It's from Oliver Nelson's Blues and the Abstract Truth and it's called "Stolen Moments." It's one of those tracks that will get you into jazz, and puts you in a trance. On top of that, I feel that it has a melody comparable to "So What" and "Take Five." It features Oliver Nelson on tenor sax, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Roy Haynes on drums, Eric Dolphy on flute, and Paul Chambers on bass. Hope you enjoy. If you do, buy the album!

Song of the Week: Birdland

Hello all, I hope this post finds you full and content after the holidays.  Following the trend from the last, this is a song with great bass.

Birdland is the first track from Weather Report's album Heavy Weather.  The album put the jazz fusion band on the map with hit's like "Birdland" and "Teen Town".  Weather Report revolutionized fusion jazz.  Formed by saxophonist Wayne Shorter and keyboardist Joe Zawinol, they laid the foundation for future jazz rock.  And of course, the lineup featured famed electric bassist Jaco Pastorius.  Jaco was an unparalleled member of the jazz community and one of the most influential and innovative bassists of all time.  The opening melodies come from pinch harmonics on his bass.  

Anyways I won't bore you with fancy technical terms.  I hope you enjoy the track.  The above is a live version from 1978.  

For the song of the week, I chose Power of Soul by Jimi Hendrix.  I recently entered a contest that was sponsored by the music networking site Jamsbio.com.  It was a contest in honor of the 40th anniversary of Jimi's album Electric Ladlyand.  The following was one of my entries for the contest.

There is no need to come up with a flashy title for this post because the song says it all. Power of Soul is an exquisite song that displays. Jimi's ability to reinvent himself.  In the time leading up to his untimely death, he was seeking to find a new sound.  As all great artists do, he wanted a change.  He formed Band Of Gypsies with drummer Buddy Miles and bassist Billy Cox, and a whole new Jimi was born.  He was seeking an R&B sound for an R&B audience, and he was largely successful.

This track is steadily funky and complex. From the start, you hear the difference in the production, the music and the playing. The first 50 seconds changes constantly, to a new lick and a new key; a new musical idea. One could say that it reflected Jimi's musical direction at the time: changing constantly. He then gets to a main riff that he stays on, and as usual, explores all the possibilities. The song, like it's composer, is always on the turn around and always has something new to offer. Its verse comes in and Jimi preaches his message of love and it’s power. With the chorus, comes the famed line and the source of the song's title, "With the power of soul, anything is possible. With the power of you, anything you wanna do." What a powerful message within those two lines.

Jimi's soul was clearly boundless, and he was able to clearly channel it through his music. He is without a doubt, one of the largest influences on popular music. His ability to speak to the soul, and express himself through his instrument is nearly unparalleled. He defined and redefined himself and his music much like the great Miles Davis, a friend and peer of Jimi's. He makes it clear that anything is possible. So I say this to Jimi, thank you once again. The sky is the limit for you. Give it a kiss for me.