Lunchtime Music from R Carlos Nakai and Will Clipman!

Awakening the FireSo yesterday I was all excited because I saw a R Carlos Nakai and Will Clipman album that I had neve seen before Awakening the Fire. I downloaded it and gave it a listen last night and like of all of the work of these two masters – I love it! Nakai is a master of the Native American flute and Clipman is an extraordinary percussionist! What I learned this afternoon is that the album is from 1995!! Hell, its still great! Some information from Carlos’ website. Read More

Life’s Soundtrack – Omer Avital – Suite of the East

Suite of the EastSo some times it takes me a couple of listens and also thinking about the music and what the musician is trying to accomplish to truly understanding and like an album. I believe that is the case with the latest release from bassist/composer Omer Avital Suite of the East I had never heard of this Israeli jazz bassist, composer and bandleader before the other day when his album showed up on my “Just for You” list on MOG. Here’s some background on Avital: Read More

Omer Avital – Suite of the East

Suite of the EastSo some times it takes me a couple of listens and also thinking about the music and what the musician is trying to accomplish to truly understanding and like an album. I believe that is the case with the latest release from bassist/composer Omer Avital Suite of the East I had never heard of this Israeli jazz bassist, composer and bandleader before the other day when his album showed up on my “Just for You” list on MOG. Here’s some background on Avital: Read More

Life’s Soundtrack – Running Smoothly with Neo-Prog from Wales’ – Also Eden

Also EdenSo back on Monday night (the warmest of this week) I put on my headlamp and ventured out for a four mile run, I created a new route that kept me from crossing or being on any major roads during the run. Overall the run was pretty good and though I always slow down when it’s dark my split times were really not that bad!  Overall the course measured  4.13 miles and my time was 41:48 for an average pace of 10:07 minutes per mile. The soundtrack for the run was  [Redacted] the latest release from a Neo-Prog Rock band that hails from Wales in the United Kingdom Read More

Morning Thoughts about Trumpet Players leads to Blue Mitchell and Who’s Your Favorite??

Blue MitchellLast night while I was listening to some music, various instruments and my favorite musicians who play those instruments. It’s not the first time I thought about that and I’ve even thought of starting a series of posts along that topic. The first instrument that popped into my head wad the trumpet. While the trumpet is not my favorite instrument I guess it made its appearance first in my ADD brain because I had listened to Marquis Hill the other day. Over the last few months I’ve listened to several younger trumpet players like Jeremy Pelt, Terrence Blanchard and Roy Hargrove and they have joined my musical library beside Miles, Chet Baker, and Freddie Hubbard. One player Blue Mitchell I know more from the two albums that he recorded with John Mayall in the early 70s than his earlier recording career. I have on occasion dipped into his earlier recordings and enjoyed his playing!! (oh and there are two other trumpet players in my 45 library Al Hirt and Louis Armstrong!!) Read More

The Other Half of this Morning’s Soundtrack – Prog Rockers from Wales – 25 Yard Screamer!!

25 Yard ScreamerSo like I wrote earlier today,  this morning’s soundtrack was a little eclectic, as I listened to two albums at the opposite ends of the musical spectrum. The first was Herb Alpert’s new album Steppin’ Out and at the other end of the spectrum was a progressive rock album from a trio from the UK 25 Yard Screamer. I found 25 Yard Screamer’s name among the new prog rock releases early this morning.. Their new album is titled Something that Serves to Remind or Reward. A quick trip to MOG returned only the band’s 2011 release Until All are One. So that one went on the iphone and played in the background as I worked away, and it certainly made trying to figure out how to get NJDEP approval for our client more pleasant!! A little about the band from the ProgArchives: Read More