2017-09-11 The Mockingbird

The Mockingbird

The Mockingbird by John Zorn.

Trio for Guitar, Harp, Vibraphone, and occasional Tubular Bells. Bill Frisell, Carol Emanuel, and Kenny Wollesen, respectively.

I find it interesting that Zorn, known for much of his early career for making difficult, dissonant music, is spending much of his later career making carefree, pleasant music, that wouldn’t be out of place in an elevator or airport.

This is arpeggio based music that brushes up against Aaron Copland, Ennio Morriocone, and Frank Zappa. If I had to put it anywhere, I would swear it was a long lost release from the almost new-age Penguin Cafe Orchestra.

With the exception of “A Mystery”, most of the tunes here eschew tension and dissonance, instead, playing with modes of major scales.

Dedicated to the character “Scout” in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “Mockingbird” is a pleasant diversion in strife filled times.

#TodaysCommuteSoundtrack #JohnZorn #CarolEmanuel #BillFrisell #KennyWollesen

2017-06-01 Duopoly

Duopoly by Kris Davis.

A set of 16 composed and improvised duos between Kris Davis and a variety of collaborators: Don Byron, Tim Berne, Marcus Gilmore, Billy Drummond, Angelica Sanchez, Craig Taborn, Julian Lage, and Bill Frisell. All the pieces have their own charm, but I am especially fond of the piano duos with Craig Taborn.

#TodaysCommuteSoundtrack #KrisDavis #TimBerne #DonByron #BillyDrummond #BillFrisell #JulianLage #AngelicaSanchez #CraigTaborn