Jazz Spotlight: Kurt Rosenwinkel - Intuit (1999)

Intuit is Kurt Rosenwinkel's second album as band leader. It was released in 1999 and features a number of jazz standards. Kurt Rosenwinkel plays the guitar on the album. Michael Kanan plays the piano, Joe Martin plays the bass, and Tim Pleasant plays the drums.

Intuit for the most part is an album full of jazz standards. The exception to this is "Epiphany" by the group's pianist Michael Kanan. The group is able to do a wonderful job and work together seamlessly.

The first track "How Deep is the Ocean"is a jazz standard by Irving Berlin. This track does a wonderful job of showcasing both Rosenwinkel's and Kanan's skills. Kanan has a wonderful piano solo about halfway through the track. It's a wonderful start to the album and also happens to be the longest track on the album.

The second track "Conception I" is by jazz pianist George Shearing. This track is certainly a lot faster than "How Deep is the Ocean". The group does a wonderful job on this fast take. The third track "Darn that Dream" is co-written by Eddie DeLange and Jimmy Van Heusen. The track returns the album to the similar feel of the first piece. Rosenwinkel's playing on "Darn that Dream" is particularly worth noting.

The fourth track "Dewey Square" is a piece by the legendary Charlie Parker. The group does a wonderful job of making the piece their own. The fifth track "When Sunny Gets Blue" is by Jack Segal and Marvin Fisher. The piece is also my personal favorite on the album. An interesting piece of trivia is that this track was also used on the show Hey Arnold!

The sixth track "Sippin' At Bells" was written by the legendary Miles Davis but was wrongly credited to Charlie Parker on this album. The track also happens to be the shortest on the album but the group makes the most of it with their fast playing. The group is certainly able to do the piece justice.

The seventh track "Epiphany" is the sole original on the album by Michael Kanan. The track is the second longest on the album and returns it to it's slower pace. The eighth track "Segment" by the legendary Charlie Parker livens things up a bit. The group does a wonderful job on this Parker piece as well.

The ninth track "Summertime" is by the legendary George Gershwin. The track showcases some of Rosenwinkel's skills and makes for a beautiful addition to the album. The tenth and final track on the album "Conception II" is by George Shearing. The track is an excellent listen and nice way to end the album.

Overall, Intuit is an excellent album and an album where the listener really begins to see how great of a musician Kurt Rosenwinkel is. The album makes for a great listen on a clear sunny afternoon or just when you would like to relax. The album is available for listening on Spotify.

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Jazz Spotlight: Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

A Charlie Brown Christmas is the soundtrack to the beloved Christmas television special of the same name. It was released in 1965, the same year as the television special. The album is by the Vince Guaraldi Trio. Vince Guaraldi plays the piano, organ, and does the arrangement for the album. Jerry Granelli plays the drums and Fred Marshall plays the double bass.

A Charlie Brown Christmas is a mixture of original pieces by Guaraldi and traditional ones. The album primarily features the playing skills of Guaraldi. The album itself can best be categorized under the cool or west coast jazz subgenre. Although it would also fall under the holiday jazz subgenre as well. A Charlie Brown Christmas also holds the distinction of being the first jazz album that many children listen to.

The first track "O Tannenbaum" is a traditional cover that starts off as most versions do but then breaks into the jazz piano playing of Guaraldi. The trio does a wonderful job showcasing their skills right away on the first track and work together seamlessly. The second track "What Child is This?" is also a traditional cover that heavily features Guaraldi's piano.

The third track "My Little Drum" is the first Guaraldi original on the album and an arrangement by Guaraldi of "The Little Drummer Boy". Guaraldi and company are able to do justice to the original while making a wonderful version of their own.

The fourth track "Linus and Lucy" may arguably be Guaraldi's most well-known and well-beloved track. Even those who do not consider themselves fans of jazz often not only find themselves knowing this piece but loving it. Although originally used on the album Jazz Impressions of a Boy Named Charlie Brown a year prior, it's A Charlie Brown Christmas where this piece was first introduced to millions. It's difficult to not love this upbeat track but it's not difficult to see why this piece is so beloved. This wonderful piece was co-written by Guaraldi and Lee Mendelson.

The fifth track "Christmas Time Is Here" was also co-written by Guaraldi and Lee Mendelson. This piece is used twice on the album, the first here as an instrumental. This track is such a wonderful listen and it's certainly no disappointment that this also happens to be the longest track on the album. Guaraldi and the rest of the Trio really shine on this track. It's not difficult to see why this track has also become a beloved classic.

The sixth track "Christmas Time Is Here" has Guaraldi playing on the piano in the background as children add lyrics to "Christmas Time Is Here". The lyrics are beautiful and make it an instant Christmas classic. Marshall's playing on both versions of this piece deserve recognition as well.

The seventh track "Skating" sees the Trio performing a piece that can best be categorized as swing. This piece is also co-written by Guaraldi and Mendelson. Marshall's playing on this track is rich and Granelli really shines on this track especially. The eighth track "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is a beautiful cover of the traditional piece with just Guaraldi's organ and the children singing.

The ninth track "Christmas is Coming" is another piece that brings the swing. The piece is a Guaraldi original and the last original track on the album. Guaraldi and the Trio make the most of it and certainly pull no punches as they perform brilliantly.

The tenth track "Fur Elise" is a quick cover of the original by Beethoven. The eleventh track "The Christmas Song" will be almost instantly recognizable to people of all ages as the song also known as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire". Guaraldi does a terrific job giving justice to the original piece while making it own at the same time. The song is a personal favorite of mine so I find the use of this piece as an excellent way to end the album.

Overall, A Charlie Brown Christmas makes a strong case as the greatest Christmas album of all time on top of being a superb album in general. I personally consider it to be my favorite Christmas album and the type of album that represents everything great about this time of season. If you have never fully listened to this album then do yourself a favor and find the time to do so. This album is worth listening to anybody of all ages that enjoys good music. The album is available for listening on Spotify.

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Jazz Spotlight: Jaco Pastorius - The Birthday Concert (1981)

The Birthday Concert is an excellent live album from American bassist Jaco Pastorius. This concert was recorded on December 1, 1981. The significance of this date is that it was Jaco's 30th birthday. It is also significant to mention that this album was not actually released until 1995, six years after Jaco's death. The majority of the tracks on the album are originals from Pastorius.

Jaco played alongside the Peter Graves Orchestra and drummer Peter Erskine. Michael Brecker and Bob Mintzer also play the tenor saxophone. The album itself is very upbeat as Jaco is playing in his prime before his problems unfortunately began to impact his career. The Birthday Concert can be classified under the jazz fusion subgenre and it's jazz fusion at some of it's finest.

The album opens up with a wonderful intro and then the first track "The Chicken" begins. The track is very upbeat with the horns firing on all cylinders. Jaco also does a wonderful job on the track and it was co-written by him. The second track "Continuum" is a Jaco original and slows down the pace with Jaco's fantastic playing.

The third track "Invitation" does a wonderful job of showcasing the skills of everybody on stage. The track also clocks in as the longest on the album. The track even has a conga solo at one point by Don Alias. The fourth track "Three Views of a Secret" is a Jaco original and a bit softer than the previous track.

The fifth track "Liberty City" is a Jaco original and returns the album to its upbeat tempo. "Liberty City" is definitely one of the best tracks on the entire album and features some of Jaco's best playing. The sixth track "Punk Jazz" is also a Jaco original and simply outstanding. The horns once again are heavily featured on this track and do an excellent job.

The seventh track "Happy Birthday" is a jazz cover of the famous song as they perform it for Jaco. The eighth track "Reza" is a Jaco original and is the second longest track on the album. Jaco and company are magnificent and the track is an enjoyable listen.

The ninth track "Domingo" is the last Jaco original on the album. All of the originals by Jaco on the album really showcase his stellar composing skills and why he still has such a large influence today despite dying at the age of 35. After that follows the band intros. The album ends with the track "Amerika". The track is essentially Jaco performing the song "America" on the bass alone and doing a wonderful job of it.

The Birthday Concert is a magnificent live album and showcases some of Jaco's greatest work. Jazz fans that enjoy jazz fusion will definitely enjoy this album. Although the album is worth listening to for any jazz fan. The album is also available for listening on Spotify.

Jazz Spotlight: Stephane Grappelli - Afternoon in Paris (1971)

Afternoon in Paris is a wonderful and unique album from french violinist Stephane Grappelli. The album also features drummer Kenny Clare, bassist Eberhard Weber, and pianist Marc Hemmeler. Although the album features no original tracks from Grappelli, his own versions of these ballads and other pieces are fantastic. Afternoon in Paris was released in March 1971.

Afternoon in Paris heavily features Grappelli's violin and Hemmeler's playing on the piano. It is difficult to categorize the album into one category or genre but the album as a whole has a swing feel to it. The instruments on the album for many of the tracks are played with an uptempo and are done wonderfully.

The first track "This Can't Be Love" quickly starts off with Grappelli's playing and quickly establishes the tone for the album. Grappelli does a brilliant job and the rest of the band does as well. The second track "Time After Time" starts off slower than the first track and has a heavy emphasis on the piano to begin the track. Grappelli's playing on this track is slower and softer but it works perfectly. The group's sound as a whole mixes beautifully especially on this track.

The third track "Undecided" immediately reestablishes the album's swing feel as Grappelli and the band get back in full swing (no pun intended). Grappelli's playing on the track is consistently great throughout. The fourth track "Vous, Qui Passez Sans Me Voir" returns the album once again to it's slower pace with Hemmeler's playing taking emphasis alongside Grappelli. The band does a stellar job of making it work.

The fifth track "Tangerine" has the piano returning to a more swing feel as Grappelli plays tremendously. The sixth track "Chicago" continues the swing with the entire group really doing a great job playing together. The seventh track "Manoir De Mes Reves/ Daphne" returns the album once again to it's slower pace on both the piano and violin. It's worth noting that this track was originally created by Django Reinhardt. Grappelli and company are able to do this track justice and pull off a wonderful version of their own.

The eighth track "Misty" originally was co-written by Johnny Burke and Erroll Garner. The track continues the slow pace as Grappelli's violin takes precedence on this track throughout. Grappelli does a brilliant job of showing his skills and range on this track. The ninth track "Afternoon in Paris" is also the title track for the album. The album returns to it's more upbeat tempo and there's also a solo for Weber on this track.

The final track of the album "Autumn Leaves" is also the longest on the album. The last track does a great job of showcasing the skills for the quartet and also is a great track to end the album.

Afternoon in Paris is unlike many of your typical jazz albums from this time period since the tracks range from the shortest at 3 minutes and 17 seconds to 5 minutes and 32 seconds. It's also unlike many typical jazz albums since it heavily features a violin as the main instrument. However, Afternoon in Paris is a magnificent album and some of Grappelli's best work in his career. This album is worth listening for any jazz fan. This album is also available for listening on Spotify.

Jazz Spotlight: Getz/Gilberto (1964)

Getz/Gilberto is one of the greatest jazz albums of all time and cemented bossa nova as a jazz subgenre.  The album featured American saxophonist Stan Getz, already known to many jazz fans at the time due to his previous bossa nova album Jazz Samba. The album also featured Brazilian guitarist/singer Joao Gilberto, who played a pivotal role in creating the style of bossa nova. The majority of the tracks on the album are at least partially written by composer/pianist Antonio Carlos Jobim. The album also features Joao's wife Astrud Gilberto singing on several tracks.

Getz/Gilberto was released in March 1964. The album garnered critical acclaim by both reviewers and audiences alike. This acclaim culminated in the album winning the 1965 Grammy Award for Best Album of the Year among several other awards. This would be the first time that a jazz album has received the distinction of Album of the Year in the history of the Grammy's.

The first track on Getz/Gilberto is perhaps the most famous, "The Girl from Ipanema". Ipanema is a neighborhood located in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The track does a wonderful job of combining the Portuguese lyrics sung by Joao with Astrud's singing in English. Meanwhile, Joao does a fantastic job on the guitar and Getz adds a great deal to the track with his saxophone.

The second track "Doralice" is one of the few tracks on the album not written at all by Jobim. However, Joao does a wonderful job singing and playing while Getz chimes in with a wonderful solo midway through the song for the rest of it. The third track "Para Machuchar Meu Coracao" heavily features Jobim playing on the piano and Joao's singing.

The fourth track "Desafinado" has become a jazz standard covered by several other jazz artists and it's not difficult to see why. The fifth track "Corcovado" features Astrud singing and once again she does a wonderful job. The sixth track "So Danco Samba" has some brilliant saxophone playing from Getz and the track itself is superb.

The seventh track "O Grande Amor" heavily features Getz playing the saxophone. The combination of his playing along with Jobim on the piano is terrific. The eighth and final track from the original LP is "Vivo Sonhando". It's an enjoyable track to end the album as it ends with Getz's playing.

Getz/Gilberto is not just a bossa nova staple but a jazz staple. It's a great example of the perfect combination of people coming together to make an album. It's not hard to see why Rolling Stone included this album on its list of the 500 greatest albums earlier this year. The album itself is an essential list for any jazz fan. The album is available for listening on Spotify.

Five More Introductory Jazz Albums

As a followup to my original post about introductory Jazz albums, this is a list of five more. This post is an attempt to help guide new listeners to jazz albums that anybody can find accessible and enjoy. It is certainly not a definitive introductory list and is merely one of opinion. The following five albums range from a short period of jazz's history (1956 - 1969) but all offer a great foundation for listening to jazz. All of the following albums can be found on Spotify or Youtube.

1.) A Love Supreme - John Coltrane

A Love Supreme is largely not only one of John Coltrane's greatest albums but one of the greatest jazz albums of all time. Released in December 1964, the album offers listeners a mixture of hard hop with some of Coltrane's earlier free jazz sound. The album is so widely popular that it was ranked number forty seven (47) on Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest albums of all time in 2003. A Love Supreme can largely be considered a spiritual album.

Coltrane is both the bandleader and plays tenor saxophone for the album. Jimmy Garrison plays the double bass. Elvin Jones is on the drums and McCoy Tyner plays the piano. A Love Supreme is a must-listen for any would be jazz fan.

2.) Brilliant Corners - Thelonious Monk

Brilliant Corners is considered largely by many to be Monk's finest hour and it's not difficult to hear why. Released in 1957, the tracks on the album have such an energy to them. The album can be considered a great hard bop listen. The album also has a lineup of some legendary musicians. The album consists of mostly original pieces by Monk.

Monk plays the piano on the album and the celeste on the track "Pannonica". The legendary Sonny Rollins plays the tenor saxophone and Max Roach plays the drums. Ernie Henry plays the alto saxophone on multiple tracks and Oscar Pettiford plays the double bass on multiple tracks. Clark Terry plays trumpet on "Bemsha Swing" and Paul Chambers plays double bass on "Bemsha Swing".

3.) Count Basie at Newport - Count Basie Orchestra

Count Basie at Newport is one of the greatest jazz live albums of all time. It also happens to be a recording of one of the greatest sets at the Newport Jazz Festival that takes yearly in Rhode Island. Recorded on July 7, 1957, this album certainly does not disappoint as Count Basie and his orchestra give a roaring show for listeners. The album also consisted of a 21-man piece band to go along with Count Basie.

Count Basie himself plays the piano. Notable musicians in the band on the album include Lester Young on tenor saxophone. Roy Eldridge is also one of several trumpet players on the album. The album clocks in at 54 minutes including the almost 5 minute introduction.

4.) Saxophone Colossus - Sonny Rollins

Saxophone Colossus is one of Sonny Rollins's greatest albums ever recorded. Released in 1956, this album marked the high point for Rollins's time at Prestige Records. Out of the five tracks on the album, three are originals from Sonny Rollins. The other two are standards.

Sonny Rollins leads the group playing the tenor saxophone. Tommy Flanagan has piano duties on the album and Doug Watkins plays the bass. Max Roach plays the drums on the album as well. The album clocks in at a little under 40 minutes.

5.) A Boy Named Charlie Brown - Vince Guaraldi Trio

A Boy Named Charlie Brown is a unique album on this list since it is the only one that is actually a soundtrack used for an animated film. The album marks the first time that Guaraldi would do a soundtrack for Peanuts and would introduce many pieces that are beloved by millions today. The track "Linus and Lucy" is one of the most well-known jazz pieces of all time. The album itself is a delightful cool jazz listen for all jazz listeners and not just Peanuts fans.

A Boy Named Charlie Brown is an important album within the jazz genre since it is likely the first introduction to jazz for millions of children. Guaraldi composes all of the tracks on the album except for the last, which is a cover of "Fly Me to the Moon". The album consists of Guaraldi playing the piano, Colin Bailey playing the drums, Monty Budwig, and Gigi Gryce playing the alto saxophone. This album is certainly a classic that has stood the test of time.

You Should Watch: Enter the Dragon (1973)

Enter the Dragon is one of the greatest and well-known kung fu movies of all time. The film is best known to the average movie fan as Bruce Lee's final film. The film was actually released only six days after his death. The film clocks in with a running time of 98 minutes.

Enter the Dragon begins with Lee (Bruce Lee) receiving an invitation to a martial arts tournament on an island put together by a person known as Han (Shih Kien). Soon after, Lee is approached by a man named Braithwaite (Geoffrey Weeks) from British Intelligence. It turns out that Han is suspected to be involved in the drug trafficking trade and prostitution. British Intelligence is unable to do anything about Han due to the location of the island formally and request Lee's help to go undercover.

Lee learns from his teacher before he leaves that Han's bodyguard O'Hara (Robert Wall) had been involved in the death of Lee's sister a few years ago. Lee now must go to this mysterious island in order to not only compete in the martial arts tournament but also stop Han.

The film also stars John Saxon as Roper. Saxon is best known to moviegoers for his roles in A Nightmare on Elm Street and Black Christmas. The film also stars martial artist Jim Kelly as Williams. The film was directed by Robert Clouse.

Bruce Lee is not only the main character in the film but also had a part in writing the film and staged the fighting sequences. His fighting scenes are superb and certainly do not disappoint. Lee also manages to do a good job of acting. The film is excellent at making Han a formidable villain for Lee and company. Enter the Dragon does a great job in setting up the plot and therefore giving more weight to the important fighting scenes.

Lalo Schifrin composed the film's musical score. He is probably best known to other moviegoers for his work with the Dirty Harry films. He did a wonderful job of creating tension in fight scenes for Enter the Dragon. His score certainly adds to the film and make it more enjoyable to watch.

Overall, Enter the Dragon is a must see film for any fan of kung fu movies. It has some of the best action scenes of any film to-date. Lee does a fantastic job acting and the only downside to this film is that it was his last.

I would give Enter the Dragon a nine (9) out of ten (10).

Here is a trailer to the film on Youtube.

The film is available to be viewed on Netflix.