More wot I have heard…

Wishful Thinking by Hot Club of Cowtown

This was the album that the band was promoting as part of their tour that we caught in Brighton recently. We have an earlier album (Continental Stomp – 2003) and this new one is similar but with a few more variations and is very enjoyable – I listened to it twice through on the way home on the weekend.

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I have been into some aspects of the jazz genre for a while as my dad introduced me to traditional acts and I found acid-jazz/jazz-fusion later on. A friend in NZ gave me a list of his top jazz albums and I have recently tracked them down and bought them online.

Brilliant Corners by Thelonious Monk

This was the first album to be delivered, and it is described as challenging, provocative and disturbing. I know some jazz can be pretty weird, but I can’t say found it this album all that bad, in fact I found it was perfectly fine as background music.

Kind of Blue by Miles Davis

This is probably my favourite of this jazz classics group, and the one I was most familiar with. It has a smoky, late night club feel to it and is great to let it flow over you.

A Love Supreme by John Coltrane

I lot of these artists were familiar with each others work and often collaborated together and Coltrane features on the Miles Davis album. This, though, is one of his most celebrated albums and where it is a bit more ‘out there’ it is still well worth a listen to and has a lot going on in it.

Mingus Ah Um by Charles Mingus

Another very interesting jazz classic album, and for those keen on the genre it is full of really good stuff.


Also recommended by my jazz loving friend is this interesting album…

The Very Best of Play Bach by Jacques Loussier

I was unaware of his work until it was pointed out that he performed the ‘Hamlet Cigar’ music. This album is an easy listening joy that washes over the listener and gently carries them away. It is an antidote to the other albums above that require more active concentration on the behalf of the listener to get the most out of them. Where they are smoky jazz dive beats, this is a sophisticated cocktail bar soundtrack.

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Made in Dakar by Orchestra Baobab

We saw these guys at the last Womad we went to and were impressed with their Afro-Cuban rhythms and beautifully orchestrated instruments and harmonious voices. For anyone who has an interest in World music and expanding their listening horizons this group would be high on my list along with the Buena Vista Social Club.


Sweet Fast River by Suntrap

We saw this group at our local folk club and were very impressed with their lovely songs. You can also find them on their own MySpace site.