William's Song a Day Blog - est. September 2007

From: Prepare Thyself to Deal With a Miracle ; Year: 1973; Genre: Jazz/Jazz Fusion/Hard Bop Jazz/classical This has to be one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have every heard written by musical master Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Whilst most would immediately think of "Black Classical Jazz Hard Bop" that he is most noted for; this one is an in-your-face fusion of Hard Bop and Contemporary Classical music. So many interesting and delightful sounds to be heard in this uplifting music.   Hear Seasons: One Mind Winter/Summer/Ninth Ghost on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Kinks - Death of a Clown     My song pick 2 years ago today: Faith No More - A Small Victory   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Offspring - Pay the Man   My song pick 4 years ago today: Marillion - Living in F E A R   My song pick 5 years ago today: Black Label Society - The Day That Heaven Had Gone Away   My song pick 6 years ago today: Electri...

From: Triple Threat ; Year: 1957; Genre: Hard Bop Jazz I think I have said it before, but Hard Bop is by far my favourite Jazz form out there, and Roland Kirk was a true master on the cutting edge. I've had people ask me what exactly is Hard Bop and the easy definition is that it's an evolution of Bebop that emphasizes the melody over all else rather than improvisation you see with many other forms in the "Bop" family. By no means is this at the expense of virtuosity and exhibition of amazing players; it is just very polished and more like, as Rahsaan Roland Kirk stated: "Black Classical Music," which is very apt description. It is technical jazz music that most would sit through and enjoy, hanging on every note played.   Hear Slow Groove on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Sly Stone - His Eye Is on the Sparrow   My song pick 2 years ago today: Roy Eldridge and Benny Carter - Close Your Eyes   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jigsaw - One Wa...

From: Introducing Wayne Shorter ; Year: 1960; Genre: Hard Bop Legendary jazz composer and musician Wayne Shorter passed away a couple of days ago; his contribution to not only jazz in but music as a whole cannot be overstated. I thought I would choose one from his albums as a bandleader today, from his debut album as well. Blues a la Carte was the first track, (as well as the title-track on some releases), that you'd hear when playing the record the first time.   Hear Blues a la Carte on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Sam & Dave - Soul Man   My song pick 2 years ago today: Hawkwind - The Phenomenon of Luminosity   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Cure - A Forest   My song pick 4 years ago today: The Temptations - I Wish It Would Rain My song pick 5 years ago today: The Eagles - Desperado My song pick 6 years ago today: Megadeth - Poisonous Shadows My song pick 7 years ago today: Miles Davis - Aïda My song pick 8 years a...

From: Head Hunters ; Year: 1973; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Funk/Hard Bop Jazz Had this one pop into my brain today whilst recovering from the Holiday and I thought it was an absolutely perfect pick. I originally heard a Latin/jazz cover of this exquisite piece of music from one of my Dad's instrumental super hit records; I still cannot find that exact version out of the over 200 covers of this classic. Really though, nothing can beat the original, or rather "originals;" he later re-imagined the hit song in a Jazz Fusion/Funk. Personally, I cannot choose which version I like better; they both are great. The original recording from his Takin' Off record is an excellent recording done in the hard bop style of jazz and probably more "accessible"to the regular listener, whilst the newer version is based around funk and jazz fusion, and while just as excellent, it evolved along with Herbie Hancock's musical proclivities and his overall tastes a decade later.   Hear ...

From: Study in Brown ; Year: 1955; Genre: Hard Bop Jazz This is one of Clifford Brown's main big compositions that he authored and is a great piece of music all around and then some. It still amazes me his skill as a musician, writer and band leader; I could only imagine where jazz music would be if he had not died in that car accident at such a young age.   Hear Sandu on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Rush - Between Sun & Moon   My song pick 2 years ago today: Styx - Superstars My song pick 3 years ago today: Kajagoogoo - Too Shy My song pick 4 years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Summer and Lightning My song pick 5 years ago today: Cheap Trick - Surrender My song pick 6 years ago today: The Kinks - Autumn Almanac My song pick 7 years ago today: Stevie Wonder - Skeletons My song pick 8 years ago today: The Grass Roots - Sooner or Later My song pick 9 years ago today: Felix Mendelssohn - Op. 56 - Symphony No. 3 (Sco...

From: Blue Train ; Year: 1958; Genre: Hard Bop Jazz Been thinking about choosing a song from jazz legend John Coltrane and this hard bop album just spoke to me and my mood as a perfect song to pick. This is a great song and album from some of the greatest musicians ever to pick up instruments. Everything and every movement in this piece is just flawless; it would've been amazing to have been there to see John Coltrane and his band live.    Hear Moment's Notice on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: James & Bobby Purify - I'm Your Puppet   My song pick 2 years ago today: The (Detroit) Spinners - Four Hands In The Fire My song pick 3 years ago today: Pearl Jam - Can't Deny Me My song pick 4 years ago today: Helloween - Hocus Pocus My song pick 5 years ago today: Foreigner - Juke Box Hero My song pick 6 years ago today: AC/DC - Touch Too Much My song pick 7 years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - Find Out About Love My s...

From: Blue Haze ; Year: 1956; Genre: Hard Bop Jazz/Blues I've been in the mood for some bluesy jazz for most of the day; I figured I could not go wrong with something from the great Miles Davis. This is one you could easily get lost in just listening, so much beauty and technique.   Hear Blue Haze on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Bootsy Collins - Hyper Space   My song pick 2 years ago today: The Cure - Lovesong My song pick 3 years ago today: Steeleye Span - The Lofty Tall Ship/Shallow Brown My song pick 4 years ago today: Powerwolf - Sanctus Dominus My song pick 5 years ago today: Simple Minds - Alive and Kicking My song pick 6 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Love Story My song pick 7 years ago today: Primus - My Name is Mud My song pick 8 years ago today: Styx - Mr. Roboto My song pick 9 years ago today: Carmen - High Time My song pick 10 years ago today: Stahlhammer - Strom Der Zeit My song pick 11 years ago today: Ally K...

From: Clifford Brown & Max Roach ; Year: 1954; Genre: Hard Bop Jazz Thought I'd go ahead and pick another one from this incredible quintet since they were on my mind. This is their rendition of a song originally written by Victor Young; I absolutely love what they did with it. Hear Delilah on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Queen - My Fairy King My song pick 2 years ago today: Foo Fighters - Baker Street My song pick 3 years ago today: The Supremes (Diana Ross & the Supremes) - Back in My Arms Again My song pick 4 years ago today: Toto - Hydra My song pick 5 years ago today: Soundgarden - Hunted Down My song pick 6 years ago today: The (Detroit) Spinners - Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl My song pick 7 years ago today: John Fogerty - Rock and Roll Girls My song pick 8 years ago today: Dream Theater - On the Backs of Angels My song pick 9 years ago today: Hawkwind - Right to Decide My song pick 10 years ago today: Survivor - ...

From: Blue Haze ; Year: 1957; Genre: Hard Bop Jazz I have had Miles Davis' Blue Haze album on my mind; this rendition of Miles Ahead in particular. There's some great musicianship throughout this piece; truly landmark music in the extreme. Hear Miles Ahead on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Grace Slick - All The Machines My song pick 2 years ago today: Of Monsters and Men - Black Water My song pick 3 years ago today: Blondie - Union City Blue My song pick 4 years ago today: Candlebox - Change My song pick 5 years ago today: Pallas - Atlantis My song pick 6 years ago today: The Beatles - Blackbird My song pick 7 years ago today: Vaughn Monroe - (Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend My song pick 8 years ago today: Bob Dylan - Knockin' on Heaven's Door My song pick 9 years ago today: Frank Zappa - Dumb All Over My song pick 10 years ago today: Django Reinhardt - I'll See You In My Dreams My song pick 11 years ago today: Q...

From: Jazz in 3/4 Time ; Year: 1957; Genre: Hard Bop Jazz/Blues I wanted to listen to some jazz from my favourite era: which is around the mid 50s or so. Max Roach has always been a jazz composer and player that I like to listen to a lot. It's really fun to hear some jazzed-up blues in a waltz time. Hear Blues Waltz on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: David Bowie - After All My song pick 2 years ago today: Asia - Never in a Million Years My song pick 3 years ago today: Duran Duran - My Own Way My song pick 4 years ago today: The Doors - Break on Through (To the Other Side) My song pick 5 years ago today: Megadeth - Seven My song pick 6 years ago today: Stratovarius - Under Flaming Skies My song pick 7 years ago today: Genesis - A Winter's Tale My song pick 8 years ago today: Chet Atkins - Drive In My song pick 9 years ago today: Letzte Instanz - Für Immer Und Ewig My song pick 10 years ago today: Ian Anderson - A Raft of Penguins My son...

From: Clifford Brown & Max Roach ; Year: 1954; Genre: Hard Bop Jazz/Jazz In my opinion this is arguably one of the best jazz records ever recorded; or at least one of the best Hard Bop Jazz albums in existence. The well-defined melodies keep the instrumentalists from getting too out of control during solos; it's definitely a treat for the ears. Hear Parisian Thoroughfare on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Laura Branigan - Solitaire My song pick 2 years ago today: Simon & Garfunkle - Scarborough Fair/Canticle My song pick 3 years ago today: Uriah Heep - Easy Livin' My song pick 4 years ago today: Motörhead - Overkill My song pick 5 years ago today: The Guess Who - 6 A.M. or Nearer My song pick 6 years ago today: "Weird Al" Yankovic - Eat It My song pick 7 years ago today: Queensrÿche - Jet City Woman My song pick 8 years ago today: Frank Zappa - Mudd Club My song pick 9 years ago today: U2 - I Will Follow My song pick 10 yea...

From: The Charles Mingus Quintet + Max Roach ; Year: 1964 (1955); Genre: Freeform/Hard Bop/Jazz/classical It seems me that I haven't been picking any of the more avant-garde examples of jazz for a bit now; figured I would go ahead and do so. In this one you get to hear two masters on the bass and drums really put on a clinic. Wot's interesting is that they keep it very listenable even to the casual listener. Hear Drums on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Neil Young - Sugar Mountain My song pick 2 years ago today: Return to Forever - Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant (Parts 1+2) My song pick 3 years ago today: Ozric Tentacles - Plant Music My song pick 4 years ago today: Luther Vandross - Never Too Much My song pick 5 years ago today: Jethro Tull - Living in the Past My song pick 6 years ago today: Hawkwind - It Is the Business of the Future to Be Dangerous My song pick 7 years ago today: Earth, Wind & Fire - Fantasy My song pick 8 years ago t...

From: Cosmopolite ; Year: 1956; Genre: Hard Bop Jazz I haven't run into a song performed by Benny Carter I didn't like; he has to be one of my absolute favourite jazz masters from the 1950s and on. Boy, this is music for the depths of your soul and out, perfect for a cold winter day. Hear Pick Yourself Up on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Rush - Best I Can My song pick two years ago today: Waylon Jennings - I'm a Ramblin' Man My song pick three years ago today: Rage Against the Machine - Bulls on Parade My song pick four years ago today: Gentle Giant - The House, The Street, The Room My song pick five years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Something to Believe In My song pick six years ago today: Dizzy Gillespie - One Note Samba My song pick seven years ago today: Steely Dan - Josie My song pick eight years ago today: Joni Mitchell - Goodbye Pork Pie Hat My song pick nine years ago today: Big Country - In A Big Country

From: Walking in Space ; Year: 1969; Genre: Jazz Felt like some jazz today; after listening to a few other artists Quincy Jones just fit perfectly. This is a smooth piece of jazz with some amazing solos throughout; perfect for sitting down and being mellow to. Hear Killer Joe on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Blues Image - Lazy Day Blues My song pick two years ago today: Pendragon - The Pleasure of Hope My song pick three years ago today: Larry Graham and Graham Central Station - Scream My song pick four years ago today: Béla Fleck & the Flecktones - Stomping Grounds My song pick five years ago today: Mahavishnu Orchestra - You Know You Know My song pick six years ago today: The Kinks - Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues My song pick seven years ago today: Rush - Manhattan Project My song pick eight years ago today: Andy Taylor - When the Rain Comes Down My song pick nine years ago today: Arlo Guthrie - Alice's Restaurant Massacree

From: A Gentleman and His Music ; Year: 1986; Genre: Swing Jazz/Cool Jazz/Hard Bop Jazz I had an incline to pick something from the jazz maestro legend today. This rendition of the classic standard, which includes sounds and ideas from not only swing, but hard bop and cool jazz as well, just felt amazing for today's pick. Hear Things Ain't What They Used To Be on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: The Kinks - Destroyer My song pick two years ago today: Band of Horses - The General Specific My song pick three years ago today: Nightwish - Song of Myself My song pick four years ago today: Gustav Mahler - Symphony No.4 My song pick five years ago today: Saigon Kick - Chanel My song pick six years ago today: Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out My song pick seven years ago today: Return to Forever - Vulcan Worlds My song pick eight years ago today: Victor Wooten - Me and My Bass Guitar My song pick nine years ago today: Pink Floyd - Welcome to the Machine...

From: Carter, Gillespie, Inc. ; Year: 1976; Genre: Jazz Had some jazz on the ol' brain this morning, so I indulged myself with a selection from Dizzy Gillespie. Broadway from his album with the incomparable Benny Carter was one that caught my mood to perfection. Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, and Joe Pass' soloing are all incredible throughout. Hear Broadway on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Muse - Invincible My song pick two years ago today: America - Ventura Highway My song pick three years ago today: Nick Gilder - Hot Child in the City My song pick four years ago today: Boston - Foreplay/Long Time My song pick five years ago today: Gerry Rafferty - Home and Dry My song pick six years ago today: Johnny Cash - One Piece at a Time My song pick seven years ago today: Traffic - John Barleycorn My song pick eight years ago today: The Moody Blues - Forever Afternoon ( Tuesday? ), Time to Get Away.

From: +4 ; Year: 1956; Genre: Hard Bop Jazz Since listening to a bunch of his music yesterday when on the road, I've had a great deal of drummer and composer extraordinaire Max Roach's music on my mind. This fun track starts out very strong, backs off slightly and comes back at you. I love the way the different instruments play off of one another in this one; it's definitely Hard Bop Jazz at its best. Hear Mr. X on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Styx - Queen of Spades My song pick two years ago today: Rush - Nobody's Hero My song pick three years ago today: Waylander - Echoes of the Sidhe My song pick four years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Macho City My song pick five years ago today: Bad English - When I See You Smile My song pick six years ago today: The Beatles - Love Me Do My song pick seven years ago today: Mr. Big - Green-Tinted Sixties Mind My song pick eight years ago today: ABBA - Our Last Summer

From: Live-Evil ; Year: 1971; Genre: Jazz Fusion/Funk Wow, I just noticed that, according to Google, my song a day blog just passed 100,000 page views. Actually that's only since April 2009 when I migrated this blog from my old MySpace account where I posted for the first two years; I guess that's kind of cool, eh. Anyway, back to song blogging; here's my ninth Funky Friday pick in a row, and I thought I'd pick something a bit more off the wall. I'd really love to know what was going on in the mind of Miles Davis' head. Every time I listen to his recording I wonder how he could've conceptualized this kind of music let alone bring it into reality; whatever the case, the man was a utter genius. Anyway, if you decide to listen to this one get ready for almost 24 minutes of being deluged in Miles' avant-garde mixture of Jazz, Bop, Funk, Rock, and whatever else you can pick out. Like I said before, he was one of those greats that pushed the very ...

From: Brown and Roach Incorporated ; Year: 1954; Genre: Jazz For a while now I haven't been picking any old-school jazz, so I thought I would. It still amazes me every time I listen to Clifford Brown; a great musician who only recorded four years before his tragic death at the age of 25, and in those four years elevated himself to that of a jazz great. Heck, how many can say they have written songs that went on to become full-blown jazz standards before the age of 25? I cannot even fathom where he would've been if hadn't gotten into that car accident. Anyway, this is the amazing duo of Clifford Brown and Max Roach and their band of renown's bop era take on the classic jazz standard Stompin' at the Savoy . I love how they mixed a few forms of jazz throughout their cover: you can hear bebop, hard bop, west coast (cool jazz), along with the swing of the original just to name a few. Hear Stompin' at the Savoy on YouTube. My song pick a year ago toda...

1375 Max Roach - Valse Hot From: Jazz in 3/4 Time , Year: 1957 Max Roach's Jazz in 3/4 Time album has been getting almost constant play from me for the last day of so. This is such a superb collection of experimental and Hard Bop Jazz; it's been so much fun to listen to waltzes that swing and bop all over the place. The album consists of both original material and reworked Jazz standards done in waltz time; this track in particular was written by the band's saxophonist Sonny Rollins. The whole band is truly awesome and inspiring throughout not just this song, but the entire album. Here is a live recording of the song performed by the Clifford Brown and Max Roach Quintet on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Nightwish - Amaranth My song pick two years ago today: The Grateful Dead - Alabama Getway My song pick three years ago today: Bob Seger - Night Moves +