The Music Box.
Entries about the music I like.
Omicron Records // John Coltrane – Blue Train
Given my being down with what appears to be Omicron, if I were to write anything at all, it would have to require little to no looking at a screen. This is great for confessional rambling to the sound of John Coltrane’s classic, Blue Train, but useless if you actually wanted to know anything about Blue Train, other than the fact that it is among my favourite jazz records.
A journey through the Penguin Jazz Guide, King Oliver — King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band - The Complete Set
The Complete Set of King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band’s recordings is an archetypal record of this early era of jazz. It’s an album that is still intensely danceable, a quality King Oliver considered central to his band’s music, since they performed primarily to a dancing audience. This is the first in a series on the Penguin Jazz Guide, my exploration of the story of jazz.
A journey through the Penguin Jazz Guide
When it comes to song structure, the art of storytelling without words, how to write a good hook, and everything to know about why music is important, very few artforms come close to jazz. I’ve always wanted to chart the story of jazz from the standpoint of a non-American, Indian aficionado, who while in love with the music, is also cognisant of some of its history.
Miles Davis — Big Fun
In life, we all have musical soulmates, artists whose sound is just so immediate to us. Artists whose most insane experiments flow through our bodies with barely any hindrance. Whose most inane compositions sound endearing. Miles Davis is one of my musical soulmates. I have yet to hear something by any iteration of Miles Davis that I haven’t enjoyed. Added to that list most recently is compilations from his fusion era — Agharta, Pangaea, and most recently, Big Fun. I recommend a languorous weekend spent with Big Fun filling the spaces in your bedroom as you contemplate whatever big questions occupy your life. It’ll be big fun.
Tarun Balani — The Shape Of Things To Come
I spoke about GoGo Penguin’s latest album earlier this year. Spoke about enjoying empty-white-room contemporary jazz. I also spoke about New Delhi jazz drummer Tarun Balani’s electronic project, Seasonal Affected Beats earlier this year. His latest as bandleader, a 31-minute (empty-white-room contemporary) jazz EP The Shape Of Things To Come [1] is a lot more diverse than his material as Seasonal Affected Beats, while also being airy and very enjoyable. Check it out here.
John Coltrane — My Favorite Things
I’ve found comfort (once again, a bit, not too much) in one of my favourite jazz albums: My Favorite Things by John Coltrane and his quartet, consisting of McCoy Tyner on piano (in my view the standout performer on the album minus, of course, John Coltrane), Steve Davis on double bass, and the great Elvin Jones on drums. Released in 1960, this album is among the best starting points for listening to jazz, especially in the form it has taken since the 60s. Listen to it and wish me luck.
GoGo Penguin — GoGo Penguin
The tag cloud that forms in my mind when I think of this album contains the word jazz, but after many other words: bright piano, technical proficiency, tight yet jammy, instrumental fusion between rock and (then finally) jazz.
Thiago Nassif — Mente
Mente navigates seamlessly through avant-garde experiments, while also showcasing its pop sensibilities. There’s no wave infused with funk, pop infused with dissonant jazz. Melody + noise. Over its ten-track run, Nassif collaborates with 20 musicians from the Rio underground, chiefly Arto Lindsay, the album’s producer.