Return to Forever by Chick Corea

I knew it would come to this.  Chick  Corea was one of my Jim's favorite artists - often playing his tunes in the car as we drove along. But to be honest, I did not like or particularly enjoy the new jazz music.  Yes, there are many sections I enjoy, however the sections change quickly  without any rhyme or reason. To me, it is just a mish-mash of pleasant sounds thrown together. Splat!

There are four tracks on the album, first published in 1972 and later transferred to the then new CD format:

• Return to Forever
• Crystal Silence
• What Game Shall We Play Today
• Sometime Ago - La Fiesta. 

One moment I am enjoying Return to Forever. The next I can't understand why the tunes are yelling at me. Crystal Silence is enjoyable at first,but makes a quick change, and I feel like my once 4-year-old at his sister's grade four band concert.  "Make them stop.Make them stop!" he cried. What Games Shall We play Today is my favorite.  It carries on in a sing-song way, kinda' like it's title. Sometime Ago - La Fiesta  rattled me.  At first I am humming along, an then a quick change into - to me - discordant sounds.

Oh well.  I will have to just agree to disagree with Jim on this album.

Armando Anthony "Chick" was born in 1941 in Chelsea, MA and grew up in a musical family. He said, "There were always musicians around. My dad would come home from a gig...he'd bring the band back, they'd have their tuxes on and they'd loosen their ties and my mother would cook some pasta."

Chick began studying piano at age four.  His love for that grew as his love for jazz, and he became known as a piano and keyboard expert. He took jazz to new levels. Read more  about him. Learn more about the 23-time Grammy-Winning Jazz Legend, Pianist and Composer at his Web site.Dig in and you'll find schedules for concerts, training for professionals, a blog, and store for all your Chick Corea CDs and T-shirts. Or, listen to some of his music on Youtube.

I enjoyed listening to the music, and remembering how my Jim used to tease me with it. "Shall we listen one more time?"  Mwa ha ha?

Peter Buffett The Waiting

It's Peter Buffett, Mary.  Not Jimmy Buffett of Margaritaville fame. Glad I finally have that figured out. The abstract, down tempo tunes from the American musician, composer, author and philanthropist are enjoyable and relaxing. I don't remember Jim playing these tunes, but they are the kind that easily fit into the background .  So maybe he did play  The Waiting.  I just don't remember it.

The 1987 album, released on the Narada Mystique label, includes nine titles - each as smooth and enchanting as the next. Titles include:

• Empire Builder
• The Waiting
• Why
• Aberdeen
• Generation Prelude
• Generation
• New West
• One More Time
• Big Sky

The Waiting is my favorite.  The electronic music played ever-so-softly in the beginning reminds me of the sunrise eventually breaking forth in all its glory. Listen and see what you think. Or, you can listen to the whole CD album on Youtube  here.

Buffett, 61, is the youngest son of billionaire Warren Buffett. The keyboard artist adds emmy-award-winner, co-chairof the NoVo Foundation - established to help end violence toward girls and women- performer and composer to his description. His 30-year-plus career is capped with his Concert and Conversation with Peter Buffett. Attend one of the presentations to listen to his music, find out what it is like to grow up as the son of a billionaire, and various experiences.

Read more about Buffett at his Web site here. I hope you get a chance to listen to some of his music.  It is enjoyable.

Alphonse Mouzon Band: Back to Jazz

LAUGH OUT LOUD! I  could not believe what I was listening to and the memories it dragged  up. The bleeping blooping sound of the Alphonse Mouzon Band: Back to Jazz track Space Commander reminded me of a pre-personal-computer-day video arcade - which Jim loved!  He would spend evenings feeding quarters into the machines at the Electronic Zoo in Kent, Ohio playing some ridiculous game, until he realized quarters were running out and he better get a job.

Fortunately, there is only one piece on the CD, released in 1986 by L & R Records, which  sounded video arcade-ish.  The rest is very pleasant soul-jazz-funk.  I can even remember the tunes and  carry them around in my head all day. Sound tracks include:

1 St. Thomas,Written-By – Sonny Rollins
2 The Next Time We Love
3      Poobli
4 Space Commander
5 Peace On Earth
6 The Baker's Daughter
7 Just Because Of You
8     Step Into The Funk
9     When We Were Young
10  Hello, I must Be Going

Space Commander is of course, my favorite.  Listen here  on Youtube to the CD album. (Try not to dance....)

Alphonse is known as an American jazz fusion drummer and the owner of Tenacious Records - primarily used to release his recordings. He was born in 1948 in South Carolina, and began his music studies in high school. The next step was moving on to New York for college where he began studying medicine.  But drumming eventually won out.

His career included acting, producing, voice-over work, composition and arrangement.  He performed in all four corners of  the world, and is listed in all major jazz publications.  Performances included acting alongside Tom Hanks in That Thing You Do! and other acting and musical performances on the movie screen.

He served as the original drummer for Weather Report in 1970-72, and gained even more notoriety with the fusion band Eleventh House, 1973-75. Mouzon's career also included stints with Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Jeff Beck, Tommy Bolin, Chubby Checker, Eric Clapton, Betty Davis, Patrick Moraz, Carlos Santana, Stevie Wonder, Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock, Lee Ritenour, Seawind Horns and Freddie Hubbard.  A very  busy, creative guy. 

Mouzon passed December 25, 2016 at his home in Granada, California. You may read more about hiim  at Wikipedia. I can see why Jim enjoyed him so much.

Yellowjackets Samurai Samba

Oh! So that's where those tunes originated from.

 Yellowjackets Samurai Samba was frequently heard from Jim's office. I admit I enjoyed the jazz music, but I never put a name to it. Now I have the name forever - Yellowjackets!

The 1985 album was produced by Tommy LiPuma and Yellowjackets, with: 

• Russell Ferrante, keyboards
• Jimmy Haslip, bass
• Ricky Lawson, drums/electric drums
• Marc Russo, alto sax
• Also, in later editions:
• Carlos Rios, guitar
• Michael Landau, guitar
• Paulinho Da Costa, percussion
• Bobby Caldwell, Marilyn Scott, Paulinho Da Costa and Carl Caldwell, vocals
• Bobby Caldwell, lead vocal on “Lonely Weekend”
• Paulo da Costa Jr., vocals on “Los Mambos”

Tracks include:

• Homecoming (Ferrante)
• Deat Beat (Ferrante/Haslip/Lawson/Russo) 
• Daddy’s Gonna Miss You (Ferrante/Haslip/Lawson/Russo) 
• Sylvania (Ferrante/Haslip/Lawson) 
• Silverlake (Ferrante)  
• Lonely Weekend (Ferrante/Curiale/Lawson/Caldwell) 
• Los Mambos (Ferrante/Russo/da Costa)  
• Samurai Samba (Ferrante) 

The jazz fusion band steps back to 1977 when guitarist Robben Ford was recording his first album.  He recruited to join him keyboardist Russell Ferrante, base guitarist Jimmy Haslip and drummer Ricky Lawson. The name Yellowjackets was selected by producer Tommy LiPuma from a list of suggestions from band members.

Band membership has changed over the years. Current members include Russell Ferrante, Bob Mintzer, William Kennedy and Dane Alderson. But the band remains true to its rasping saxaphone, deep bass, rythmic drums, and melodic keyboard sounds. Yellowjackets remains a popular jazz fusion band pleasing old and current generations of fans. Soloist Luciana Souza has added her own special flair.

The band has recorded close to 30 albums,been nominate for numerous awards, and evolved into its own jazz sound.  Check out the band's itinerary for a concert or workshop you don't want to miss.

Listen  to Yellowjackets Samurai Samba and more at its website, or take home some of its music from the amazon Buzz Store.      

Fruitcake Toss Day? Hmmmm

I was quietly remembering Jim on his birthday, January 3, when I discovered the date is shared by Fruitcake Toss Day. He would have liked that, probably going out and buying one on clearance just to toss.

Apparently this holiday was first created and celebrated in Manitou Springs, Colorado in 1995. It involves taking all the left over fruitcake - often given as presents - and chucking it. 

I know, I'm supposed to be writing about music.  But it was too tempting to  write about Jim having to share his birthday with fruitcake. I'm sure he would have been impressed.

And if you suddenly find yourself wanting a fruitcake, follow these instructions on Youtube.