El Rego is a legendary musician from Benin that is getting some much needed attention outside of Benin and Nigeria. Daptone recently released a compilation of his work from the 60s and 70s. It really is a nice entry point for all things El Rego. His music has been on other West African compilations, but this is the first one solely dedicated to him. Get it.
El Rego today. He’s amazed, and touched that people in the West are finally digging what he did over 40 years ago.
Here is Arnett Cobb. In the video, he’s old, and on crutches. Despite that, he’s still swinging like his life depended on it. His performance still has a pulse, and it’s full of life. Many guys full of vigor, in their prime will never sound half this good. Past and present. I’m not comparing folks, but it’s just something we need to accept. Just like we accept that a Honda Civic is not a Lamborghini Murcielago. There are also a lot more Civics than Murcielagos on the road. Problems only arise when Civics begin to believe they are Murcielagos.
Critics like Terry Teachout have said that jazz is dead, or dying. Maybe things are the way they are because some of the cats playing, and getting all the attention these days suck. Really, some are just playing abysmal crap. Did we ever think of that? They’re boring everyone to death. I was once at a Spyro Gyra show (long story, but I didn’t pay to see them) where people in the crowd were yawning. When people are yawning at your show, maybe it’s time to pack it in.
These days, the latest trend for some “jazz musicians” is disassociating themselves from tradition entirely. I’m not talking about playing avant-garde instead of bop. I mean playing Radiohead and Nirvana covers instead of actual jazz music. If Kurt Cobain takes precedence over Charlie Parker for you in your music, then are you a jazz musician at that point? When The Bad Plus becomes the new face of jazz, then we’re in trouble. This piece from Bill Milkowski in Jazz Times from 2004 hit the nail on the head. We need more brave journalists like him. Believe me, writing this way is not met with open arms. It’s much easier to just go with the flow, and laud every mediocre band that comes your way. Especially if you want to remain employed. Read the rest of this entry »
Short documentary (produced by Blue Note as an EPK) on the Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane Carnegie Hall tapes discovered at the Library of Congress in 2005. Film directed by Kim Fields. (Source)
