Flux Music [Jazz] Essentials … [Harris, Steps Ahead, Wilson & Sample]

Tags

African American, Cassandra Wilson, Jazz, Joe Sample, Stefon Harris, Steps Ahead

Flux Music Essentials

Greeting’s jazz connoisseurs, I’m back with yet another intriguing palette of creative music from some of today’s most unique, adventurous and inspiring voices known and unknown artists alike in the world of jazz.

Stefon Harris - African Tarantella

Stefon Harris -//- African Tarantella – [BLUE NOTE, 2006]

Prior to buying this album, I was fortunate enough to hear Stefon Harris and his mallet play the music live. It was one of the best live jazz performances that I have heard lately, and the album is as good or better!

Several things stand out. First is Harris’ obvious virtuosity. I have seen Milt Jackson live and Harris doesn’t take a back seat. He plays the vibes and marimba simultaneously, and at amazing tempo. He isn’t just a virtuoso though, but a very creative arranger and improviser.

The instrumentation is very interesting: viola and cello, trombone, flute, clarinet, drums, bass and piano. This gives the album a wonderful tonal palette. The musicians are wonderful too; Terreon Gully on drums may be the best drummer that I have heard live, and I’ve been lucky enough to hear Buddy Rich, Jeff Hamilton and some of the other top drummers in jazz. Also outstanding is pianist Xavier Davis and trombonist Steve Turre.

My favorite tracks are adaptations of Duke Ellington creations: three numbers from the New Orleans Suite and two from the Queen’s Suite. I am less enamored of Harris’ compositions.

Harris is terrific as an improviser, arranger and performer. He, along with some other young jazz titans, give me comfort that jazz is still alive and vital for years to come. —Rick Loves Jazz | Amazon.com

Flux Music Essentials … [Redman, Scott, Glasper, Steps Ahead, & Sample]

Tags

African American, Christian Scott, Jazz, Joe Sample, Joshua Redman, Robert Glasper, Steps Ahead

Flux Music Essentials

Greetings jazz aficionados, I’m back once again this time with five spellbinding jazz titles from the shelves of Flux Music Essentials! The following recordings fit perfectly into the mold of what I view as being the usual suspects … at least from my perspective. Pull’em off the rack and take them for a spin. Although similar in context, these gems where originally recorded to create an atmosphere with just enough complex nuances and innovation painted on the canvas to make these jewels a worthwhile listening experience.

Joshua Redman Quartet - Moodswing

Joshua Redman Quartet -|- Moodswing – [Warner Bros, 1994]

This recording in my opinion is the freshest and finest work that Joshua Redman has produced. Considering that the band make-up of Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride and Brian Blade are three of the baddest young jazz musicians today, they have also become major band leaders in their own right. I think this was the recording that set them all on their way. The songs vary from melodic to sonically intense. McBride and Blade blaze a rhythmic trail followed by the creative yet subtle piano stylings of Mehldau, all giving way to the superior improvisational skills of Redman. The songs seem almost lyrical in their expression. Whether you are a Joshua Redman fan, or someone who has never experienced his music before, this is the beginning (although he had two prior quality releases prior) of the spectacular career of one of the finest tenor sax players of these times…