Music Monday: Some New Tunes for the Holidays

I’m really enjoying some recent releases and despite not being able to share the complete albums with me readers, I want to at least point them out to people as worth a listen or as a good stocking stuffer for people who like… certain kinds of music.

First, I’d be remiss not to point to the new Sun Ra Arkestra album, Lights on a Satellite. It sounds great and for folks used to listening to the vast discography from Sun Ra’s career, it is shocking how great these post-Ra albums sound. That said, they are also somehow less dynamic (not sonically, but in terms of the performance). The band is simultaneously too tight and not familiar enough with one another to allow for the incredible individual flights we come to expect from the best moments from albums during Sun Ra’s lifetime. That said, the album is good and enjoyable and continues the tradition of the Arkestra and celebrates Sun Ra’s legacy and compositions.

I’m more excited about Charles Tolliver’s Music Inc. Live at the Captain’s Cabin which I guess was some kind of Record Store Day thing. Since I don’t buy vinyls, I don’t really understand follow those releases, but I was really happy to see more early 1970s Charles Tolliver albums. This album was recorded in 1973 and it doesn’t have his better known early-1970s ensemble (of Stanley Cowell, Cecil McBee, and Jimmy Hopps). Instead it features John Hicks, Clint Houston, and Cliff Barbara. But don’t let that discourage you from giving it a listen! These guys are in the zone and sound great at a live date from 1973 in Edmonton, Alberta! Check out the first track here or listen to the entire album here. 

Just in case you haven’t heard Tolliver’s early 1970s band in full flight, here’s the album Live at Slugs’ (1972) which appeared as 2 LPs:

Finally, most of you probably have heard Sonny Rollin’s Freedom Weaver: The 1959 European Tour Recordings which was another Record Store Day special. It features Henry Grimes on bass and various drummers including Pete La Roca and Kenny Clarke. If you like 1950s Sonny Rollins with his lyricism and pure tone, then you’ll like this album.  Check it out here.

Finally, I’ve enjoyed the first few spins of Bill Evans’ In Norway: The Kongsberg Concert. The trios performance of “So What?” is worth the price of admission. I also enjoyed their performance of “Autumn Leaves.” The only beef that I have with it is that the stereo recording is pretty hard panned between channels with the piano on one side and the drum and bass on the other. It’s not for headphone listening!