The Art of the Mixtape

Hittin’ The Blue Notes: “Deep Night”, Cool Struttin’, Sonny Clark, BLP 1588 (1958)

Thought I’d start off a series focused on one of the most important labels in jazz, in no small part due to its wonderful eye for design. The inaugural track “Deep Night” comes from the Sonny Clark Quintet’s album Cool Struttin’ and plays host to all five players with a hard-bop groove. Farmer and McLean shine with horn duties throughout, but it’s Philly Joe Jones part (if you stick around for the end) that really swung this one for me.

Cool Struttin’

BLP 1588

Sonny Clark – Piano

Paul Chambers – Bass

Jackie McLean – Alto Saxaphone

Art Farmer – Trumpet

Philly Joe Jones – Drums

Release Date: January 5, 1958

Quick Hits: “Buck”, Nina Simone Sings The Blues (1967)

Buck – Nina Simone

“Buck” is a strange entry into Nina Simone’s oeuvre, a booming beat floors a cyclical riff that dances around Simone’s trance-like vocal and wraps things up in a hasty 1:50. The whole album is worth tracking down, a gritty affair with simple accompaniment. That’s Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, session drummer extraordinaire, with the drum credits on this one. Andy Stroud, Nina’s then husband, has the sole writing credit.

Southland Summer- A Mixtape

Growing up, summer was synonymous with music in my house. The soundtrack was a mixture of the down home roots of Prairie Home Companion, Alison Krauss, Lyle Lovett, and the southern gumbo of Little Feat. I’ve probably heard the refrain of “Oh Atlanta” more times than I will ever set foot in the state of Georgia for a lifetime, and that’s a title that both Alison Krauss and Little Feat share.

So i guess it’s to be expected that I’ve always been partial to happy music, summer music that brings me back to childhood, and songs that seem to tug just a little tighter in the midst of summer. Now, with the dog days of summer upon us, I thought I’d put together a mixtape. Part southern barbecue, part sitting on the back porch watching the sunset, and incredibly warm. Track list, Spotify playlist* and link after the jump.

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Snapshots: “País Tropical” Jorge Ben, “Zé Canjica” Força Bruta

If you’ve never heard Jorge Ben Jor, don’t worry, you’re (mostly) not to blame.

The man who wrote “Mas, Que Nada!” is, after all, not the same man who popularized it, but despite being responsible for one of the most famous bossa nova songs, Jorge Ben is not a name that gets brought up frequently in the music world.

Continue reading Snapshots: “País Tropical” Jorge Ben, “Zé Canjica” Força Bruta