LTL I am really curious about music and think you are right about the surprise element. I had a similar discussion with a friend about music a few years ago about music having lost it's ability to shock and startle. I have listened to a lot of modern jazz but there were two groups which really shocked me when I was a teenager which I have never experienced since. The first was from saxophonist John Suman's collaboration with the Norwegian singer Karin Krog when a track called "My friends" was played on their album "Such winters of memory" which must have come out around 1981/2. At the time, I was still in to more mainstream jazz and I had not expect jazz to sound anything like that, especially in the way that it employed the then contemporary technology such as sequencers and ring modulator. For me, getting in to John Surman's music felt like a real achievement several years later although these days I am a massive fan and his music presents not difficulty for me. I think it was understanding his duet album with Jack DeJohnette called "The amazing adventures of Simon, Simon" which got me hooked. This is a sypical Surman / Krog collaboration.... The other group which horrified me at that time was the Art Ensemble of Chicago and, again, I am a big fan of their music these days. The fact that they wore face-paint really shocked me but, once you start to listen, you appreciate just how much they come out of the jazz tradition. "Great Black music ancient to the future" indeed. Might be interesting if others posting clips of music which really shocked them at the time....... Might be worthwhile running
Always love this tune by the Art Ensemble of Chicago.Lester Bowie is one of my favourite trumpeters but the use of percussion on this track is mesmerising too.
Here's something that St Jabbo will love - Some Quantic featuring the excellent Columbia singer Nidia Gongora...
Here are a few tasters from local Lymington Indie Folkster, Birdy's brand new album, Young Heart. her singing sends tingles down my spine...
I love The Ramones and thought I'd heard most of their songs, especially the early stuff. Turns out that this one, Babysitter, had passed me by and it's a gem. The riff chugs along nicely and the key change is perfect. It's been in my head all weekend and I Don't Care.
Just watched the film The United States vs Billie Holiday - it's quite remarkable, and you really should watch it (if you hadn't already). Andra Day's performance as Holiday is just extraordinary.
Thanks, I’ll check that one out. Watched Nomadland on Saturday, a remarkably brilliant film which deservedly won tons of awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA’s etc.