Music Monday: Some Summertime Tunes

Last week was pretty odd here on the Northern Plains. Rather than the usually dry, dusty, and pleasantly warm late July, we’ve endured cool temperatures, too much rain, and a kind of annoying humidity that reminds me of my childhood on the East Coast. The good news is that with weather like this, I had plenty of opportunities to get work done and listen to music before the semester drops on me.

I’ve been enjoying Freddie Redd’s Shades of Redd (1959). It’s a classic late 1950s Blue Note date that captures the spirit of jazz music at this crucial juncture in the form’s development. Jackie McLean’s alto saxophone is just edgy enough to reveal his future directions while Tina Brooks, Paul Chambers, and Louis Hayes keep the operation locked into the classic Blue Note hard bop groove.

I’d be remiss not to include the late Chuck Mangione’s classic album Feels So Good (1977) this week after we learned of his passing. It’s not an album that I would find myself playing. There’s no denying Mangione’s sense of style and chops, but the mid-1970s production is just too schmaltzy. That said, it’s still a fun listen: 

Finally, I’ve continued to listen to Korean jazz music and really enjoyed Kim Oki’s Saturn Meditation (2018). Oki manages to be both cosmic in his composition and down to earth in his breathy saxophone playing. It’s a great listen:

One last thing, I read this article on a band called The Deslondes. Their most recent album, Roll it Out (2025) is worth a listen.