Bill Barron - Modern Windows Suite

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:10
Size: 169,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:43)  1. Men At Work
(7:40)  2. Tone Colors
(4:09)  3. Dedication To Wanda
(6:25)  4. Keystone
(9:37)  5. Blast Off
(7:33)  6. Ode To An Earth Girl
(7:07)  7. Fox Hunt
(6:24)  8. Oriental Impressions
(5:47)  9. Back Lash
(6:18) 10. Nebulae
(5:22) 11. Desolation (Previously Unissued Take)

When Bill Barron recorded "Modern Windows Suite," his first Savoy recording, he and Ted Curson both were fresh from the uncharted waters of working with Cecil Taylor. It shows. "Modern Windows Suite," the album of 1961 consisting of Barron's extended and interconnected works, joins the other 1961 Barron album, "The Tenor Stylings Of Bill Barron," to fill out the CD. Both conjoined albums exhibit a creative composer and saxophonist interested in challenging conventional approaches to the music by insisting upon dissonance in his themes, by tampering with tempos, by allowing soloists to improvise free in an extended fashion, by creating impressionistic musical descriptions of scenes or moods, and by interweaving various thoughts throughout the albums into a whole, dense fabric. In many respects, Barron's work reflects some of Mingus' approaches, but with a stripped-down, ironically conventional, instrumentation. While Curson went on to fame with Mingus, and especially his extraordinary work with Eric Dolphy on "Jazz Festival/Antibes July 13, 1960" for which he'll forever be remembered, Bill Barron continued in his modest way to explore the intricacies of the music with occasion recordings and teaching gigs, most notably and finally at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. The contrast between the two albums comprising this re-release is notable. "Modern Windows Suite," the vinyl album, is a challenging tone poem of four movements building upon shifting styles and unconventional intervals, most particularly major sevenths. 

According to Kenny Barron, his brother chose the major sevenths so that the soloists "can't use their standard licks." The inclusion of Cameron on baritone sax creates a dense fabric of sometimes unison statements and sometimes free concomitant improvisation. Seventeen-year-old Kenny Barron for the most part vamps behind the soloists, surely a prodigy able to accompany the free-jazz masters but not giving a hint of his mastery to come. On the other hand, "The Tenor Stylings Of Bill Barron" somehow was engineered for sharper and more assertive sound reproduction, clarifying the roles of the instruments within each piece. Furthermore, the compositions on the album are based upon single themes for the most part, instead of thed inter-connectivity that prevails on the "Modern Windows Suite" album. "Oriental Impressions," as expected, is based upon Far East intervals and modes; "Fox Hunt" unblushingly starts with Curson's announcement of the hunt; "Blast Off," referring to the interest in space travel at the time, allows, at last, Barron and Curson to improvise over blues changes. A part of the creative Philadelphia jazz scene of his generation, along with many other better-known artists, Bill Barron for too long has been overlooked as an innovator and contributor to the music. The Savoy re-issues may allow a new generation to recognize Bill Barron as one of the quieter but nevertheless valued sounds from that pivotal time. ~ AAJ Staff https://www.allaboutjazz.com/modern-windows-suite-bill-barron-savoy-jazz-review-by-aaj-staff__14847.php

Personnel: Bill Barron, tenor saxophone; Ted Curson, trumpet; Jay Cameron, baritone saxophone; Kenny Barron, piano; Eddie Khan, Jimmy Garrison, bass; Pete (Sims) LaRoca, Frankie Dunlop, drums

Modern Windows Suite

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Sylvia Herold - A Bowl of Crystal Tears

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:54
Size: 101,3 MB
Art: Frontb

(4:24)  1. Katie Cruel
(5:37)  2. The Plains of Waterloo
(3:58)  3. The Merchant's Daughter
(6:53)  4. The Banks of Claudy
(4:58)  5. The Widow's Promise
(5:52)  6. As I Roved Out
(4:56)  7. Courtin' Is a Pleasure
(3:03)  8. Mount and Go
(4:08)  9. When I Was In My Prime

Sylvia Herold is a singer’s singer. At home in folk, swing and Celtic genres, her passion is discovering and sharing the tale a song can tell. Her gift is in presenting songs with a clarity that is both honest and uplifting and yet remains refreshingly unvarnished. Her work in researching, performing and recording compelling songs for more than 25 years has earned her accolades from fans and critics alike. In each of the recordings, Herold’s style is distinct and identifiable: unaffected vocals married with spare instrumentation that provides unobtrusive support to appealing melodies and the stories they carry. “Songs are intriguing packages to be learned and sung. I find endless pleasure in examining them from different angles searching for hidden treasures.” Traditional Irish/British music was Sylvia's first love, and "A Bowl of Crystal Tears" (her first solo album) reflects that affection. In the hotbed of San Francisco's music scene, she met and found work playing with many talented Irish musicians. Her most consistent companion on the Irish music scene has been mandolinist and singer Marla Fibish; the well-partnered duo performed at the landmark Plough and Stars pub for 13 years. "A Bowl of Crystal Tears" is, in turns, poignant, hopeful and hilarious, and its songs lay bare the emotions of the stories' protagonists. All songs are traditional Irish, English, Scottish and American, save "The Widow's Promise," an artful and amusing tale about female sexuality written by Mick Ryan. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/sylviaherold1

A Bowl of Crystal Tears

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Dave Scott - In Search of Hipness

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:06
Size: 163,5 MB
Art: Front

( 2:53)  1. Ludwig
(12:20)  2. Igor
(15:19)  3. Time Dilation
(12:56)  4. Cognitive Dissonance
(12:21)  5. In Search of Hipness
( 6:52)  6. Coalescence
( 8:22)  7. Black Hole

Trumpeter Dave Scott’s 5th SteepleChase release here finds him leading his other New York ensemble “The Dave Scott Violin Band” which features some of America’s finest instrumentalists including Sarah Bernstein on violin. Dave Scott’s compositions allow each musician to fully engage in individual expression and the band as a whole to create distinctive tapestry of interactive improvisation. The group performs regularly in the New York City area. https://www.jazzmessengers.com/en/79768/dave-scott/in-search-of-hipness

Personnel: Trumpet, Composed By – Dave Scott;  Bass – Dave Ambrosio; Drums – Mark Ferber; Guitar – Nate Radley; Piano – Jacob Sacks; Violin – Sarah Bernstein

In Search of Hipness

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