MP3s: Jazz Or Stupidity, Art Or De-Evolution?
Jazz, as America's most original and enduring music, is also unfortunately the nation's loss leader in terms of sales. By jazz I don't mean Kenny G, Bobby McFerrin, or even Norah Jones and Diane Krall, but Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Maria Schneider, Louie Armstrong, Hank Mobley, Wayne Shorter, John Scofield, Joe Lovano, and Sonny Rollins. Music that challenges, entertains, soothes, angers, music that is full of actual emotion, unleashed from musicians who have given their lives to the music, regardless of MySpace stats or illegal or legal downloads. We're talking elemental American culture, as important and durable as Jack Keroauc's On The Road, the music of George Gershwin, the art of Norman Rockwell, and the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright.
But chances are, you've never heard any real jazz, or even considered it as part of your legacy as an American. You've got American Idol to watch, after all, and the cellphone to charge, pizzas to order, Britney videos to catch up on. Who played upright on Miles Davis' E.S.P.? Does Hank Mobley play soprano or tenor sax? Who were Elvin Jones' famous siblings that followed him out of Detroit to make their mark on the jazz world at large? Who is Elvin and why does he matter? Joshua Redman? Marion McPartland? Mary Lou Williams? Does any of this matter?
Charlie Parker's "Now's The Time," recorded way back in the ‘40s, still embodies the joy of living, plain and simple. Nothing is more life affirming than Parker spinning golden tones of sound like a thousand butterflies dancing in the summer sun. Jazz is life. Here's a couple slices.
Mitch Paliga's "Fall Night"
"Fall Night is comprised of all original music by Chicago-based soprano saxophonist/composer Mitch Paliga. The music goes from the melancholy ‘QP Doll' to the quasi-early electric Miles Davis sound of ‘Over and Over' to the old world natural minor tonality of ‘Blues for October.' Also included is a selection of tunes inspired by childhood memories of small town Montana. Paliga is a member of the Chicago jazz Composers Collective and he regularly appears around the country with actor Gary Sinise's ‘Lt. Dan Band.'"
Mitch Paliga
"Brittle" (mp3)
from "Fall Night"
(Origin Records)
More On This Album
Mitch Paliga "QP Doll" (mp3)
from "Fall Night"
(Origin Records) More On This Album
Tom Tallitsch's "Medicine Man"
"A mainstay in Philadelphia jazz clubs for over a decade, composer and tenor saxophonist Tom Tallitsch presents the first recording of his quintet - a forward looking yet mainstream grouping of some of Philly's finest musicians. Performing articulate, modern jazz, Tallitsch's band explores alternate sonorities with its vibes and guitar-led rhythm section, slightly reminiscent of Gary Burton's groups of the '70s. With Tony Miceli (vibraphone), Victor Baker (guitar), Paul Gehman (bass) and Dan Monaghan (drums) round out the lineup."
Tom Tallitsch "Medicine Man" (mp3)
from "Medicine Man"
(OA2 Records) More On This Album
Tom Tallitsch "Yellow" (mp3)
from "Medicine Man"
(OA2 Records) More On This Album
Okay, back to Miley Cyrus, American Idol, Desperate Housewives, TMZ.com and all the rest - slooshing down the chute into the garbage dump of history.
