Landolt-C Blog

An African-American jazz cornetist/trumpeter known for his acts with Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry's 1969 recordings (BYG). The first and second parts were released as 2 LPs separately, and reissued as a single CD. Performed by the duo of Don Cherry (pocket trumpet, piano, indian flute, bamboo flute, voice, bells, percussion) and Ed Blackwell (drums, percussion, bells), who also had acted with Ornette Coleman. Avant-garde free jazz influenced strongly by Middle Eastern, African and Indian ethnic music. One of the earliest albums in the genre later called world music or world fusion.

An American rock band formed in 1994 and based in Chicago, Illinois, Wilco's fourth album (#13 on the US album charts). Alternative rock having both experimental sound and pop vocal melodies, and including elements of country rock like Neil Young. In an introspective and melancholy mood, like Radiohead. Mixed by Jim O'Rourke. A hit album that sold over 670,000 copies.

An American jazz guitarist known for his sense of harmony influenced by Jim Hall and virtuoso playing like John McLaughlin, John Abercrombie's debut aslbum as leader (ECM). Fusion in the style of jazz rock/prog-rock, by the trio of John Abercrombie (guitar), Jan Hammer (Hammond organ, piano, synthesizer), who is a Czech keyboardist from the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Jack DeJohnette, a drummer who had joined Miles Davis' band. Lyrical and aesthetic sound with a tranquil mood. Produced by Manfred Eicher.

Includes the early-1980s two pieces composed by Pierre Boulez, a French composer/conductor of contemporary music, in collaboration with IRCAM/Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique (Deutsche Grammophon). "Répons" (1981-1984) is an electro-acoustic work for a chamber orchestra with six soloists (two pianos, harp, vibraphone, xylophone/glockenspiel, cimbalom) and live electronics. Originally for the performance space, in which the audience surrounds a chamber orchestra and conductor, and six soloists and speakers surround the audience. The acoustic sounds are transformed electronically in real time, and their responses give a beautiful sense of color, like a kaleidoscope. Pierre Boulez conducts Ensemble InterContemporain. "Dialogue de l'ombre double" (1985) is a piece for a solo live clarinet and another one on prerecorded tape. The clarinet played by Alain Damiens. Won a Grammy in 2000 for best contemporary classical album.

An English blues singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, John Mayall (vocals, piano, Hammond organ) and his band, the Bluesbreakers's second album (#6 on the UK album charts). The only studio-recording album featuring Eric Clapton (guitar) who had left the Yardbirds. A classic of British blues/electric blues based on American blues. The overdriven, distorted guitar sound by Gibson Les Paul through an Marshall amplifier was innovative. "All Your Love" is a cover of Otis Rush. "Hideaway" is a cover of Freddie King. "What'd I Say" is a cover of Ray Charles. "Ramblin' on My Mind" is a cover of Robert Johnson.

An American jazz pianist and composer known for his unique feel of melody/time signatures, and rhythmically/harmonically complex compositions, Andrew Hill's fourth album as leader (Blue Note). Abstract and avant-garde jazz in a strange mood like Thelonious Monk's works, by the sextet of Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Eric Dolphy (alto saxophone, bass clarinet, flute), Joe Henderson (tenor saxophone), Andrew Hill (piano), Richard Davis (bass) and Tony Williams (drums). Recorded after a month of Dolphy's masterpiece "Out to Lunch", and three months before Dolphy's death. Dolphy's solos are prominent and impressive.

A hip-hop group formed in 1988, Scha Dara Parr's debut album. Released on the independent label Major Force. The trio of Bose (MC), Ani (MC) and Shinco (DJ). Light hip-hop influenced by A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul, featuring Bose's humorous Japanese rap, Shinco's exquisite samplings and rhythmic beats. Includes a single-cut track "N.I.C.E GUY". The sampling sources are Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive", TV anime theme songs such as "Heidi, Girl of the Alps", "Sazae-san" and "Shin Obake no Q-taro" and others. One of the Japanese hip-hop classics. Produced by Kan Takagi and S.D.P.

An American rock band led by Paul Westerberg (guitar, vocals) and formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1979, The Replacements' third album. Roots music-oriented (rock & roll, blues, country) alternative rock, focusing on songwriting. Influenced by The Rolling Stones, Big Star, The Clash, Hüsker Dü (from the same city) and others. Includes jangly guitar pop ("I Will Dare"), hardcore punk ("We're Comin' Out"), acoustic ballads ("Unsatisfied", "Sixteen Blue") and others. "I Will Dare" features Peter Buck (R.E.M.) on guitar. "Black Diamond" is a cover of Kiss.

A British mixed vocal ensemble, the Tallis Scholars, especially known for their clear, heavenly female voices in treble part, sing William Byrd, an English composer of the Renaissance (a set of 2 CDs, Gimell Records). Sacred choral music basend on the style of imitation (composition technique of the Renaissance polyphony since Josquin des Prez), featuring English homophony-oriented writings, lyrical, soft melodies, and deicate, beautiful harmony. Includes three masses based on the Latin liturgical texts, "Mass for three voices", "Mass for four voices", "Mass for five voices", Latin motets, English anthems, and "The Great Service" (with English texts, for the Anglican Church) and others. Although lack of floridness, good healing music can be listened to in a calm and relaxed way.

An American jazz pianist and composer, also known for his music theory book "Lydian chromatic concept of tonal organization", George Russell's 1961 album (Riverside). Performed by the sextet of George Russell (piano, arrangement), Don Ellis (trumpet), Dave Baker (trombone), Eric Dolphy (alto sax and bass clarinet), Steve Swallow (bass), and Joe Hunt (drums). Modern and atonal avant-garde jazz arranging and contemporizing the traditional jazz (swing, bop). Dolphy's solo is good in any track. The highlight is the extraordinary arrangement of famous "'Round Midnight" (composed by Thelonious Monk).