There are several ways of thinking about "Turnaround," which means, essentially, an abrupt or unexpected change, especially one that results in a more favorable situation.
We begin this edition of the Thin Edge listening to the way Hank Mobley understand it. From his 1965 Blue Note The Turnaround we'll hear the title track, a tune in which he tries to merge "Boogaloo," a modern dance to rock-and-roll music, originally popular in the 1960s, with jazz. The tenor saxophonist enlists the aid of trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and pianist Herbie Hancock. Ornette Coleman, one of the major innovators of the free jazz movement of the 1960s, thought about the idea in a completely different way.
The Simple Acoustic Trio breathes new life into Ornette's conception from their 2000 20TH GETXO JAZZ FESTIVAL. Marcin Wasilewski - piano, Slawomir Kurkiewicz - bass and Michal Miskiewicz - drums perform Ornette's "Turnaround." Peter Fraize - Facts + Figures (2016) is next with "The Ides of March," referring to March 15 in the ancient Roman calendar by several religious observances and became notorious as the date of the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC.
Fraize plays tenor with a guitar, piano, bass and drums ensemble. A female trombonist gaining stature in the jazz milieu closes this half with her penned "It's Not Safe" from Break Open Records (2016) Shoebox View.
Warren and Dubin's "Summer Night" is next performed by pianist Antonio Cicca's Quintet's 2016 Cellar Live Volare featuring Cory Weeds' tenor and Benny Benack III's trumpet. From Juan we get a cover a Horace Silver's "Strollin'" as conceived by Greg Abate & Phil Woods with the Tim Ray Trio and their 2016 Whaling City Sound's Kindred Spirits' Live at Chan's. Joan Claver is next with his piano trio's take on The Police's "Bring on the Night" from Fresh Sound New Talent's 2016Triangle.
Before Quincy Jones introduced a jam on Dizzy Gillespie's "Manteca," he said, "On this day in 1990, my brother Nelson Mandela was released from Prison. I happened to be hosting Saturday Night Live that night, and we took that opportunity to celebrate in typical SNL fashion. I've never met another human being like Madiba (the clan into which he was born); he was one beautiful cat." I recorded that SNL episode and transferred the tune to mp3. Of the three soloists I can name only one: Michael Brecker, at the tail end.
Let's start the third half with Lee Konitz, a giant in the formulation of modern jazz, particularly in the late forties and early fifties. "Ice Cream Konitz," a tune I played as a guest host on Paul Smith's jazz show on KDYL a.m. radio back in the mid-fifties, is a track on Lee's Subconscious Lee released by Prestige in 1950 with bandmates Billy Bauer - guitar, Sal Mosca - piano, Arnold Fishkin - bass and Shelly Manne - drums.
I'm guessing Ryan Carraher is familiar with this outing, as well as the Lennie Tristano catalog, when he put together his 2016 Vocturnal, featuring the guitarist with Brandon Wilkin's alto in a performance of the title track. Hans Sturm, Tom Larson & Sylvain Rabbath's A Day in Paris (2016) RoJ Team is next with "LaFarora," which honors Scott LaFaro, whose pioneering approach helped Bill Evans invent the modern piano trio – but the name also alludes to the Pakistan city Lahore, “famous for Qawwali Devotional music,” says Sturm (which accounts for the eastern cast to the theme). Corey Christiansen wraps up this half with his 2016 Origin Records' Factory Girl in a bluesy take on Corey's "She's Gone."
Branford Marsalis Quartet's Upward Spiral (Marsalis Music 2016) GAB/RoJ helps us get twitterpatted with Antonio Jobim and Aloysio de Oliveira's "Só Tinha de Ser Com Você" (It Had to Be with You) as sung by Kurt Elling. Brand new to KZMU's library we'll hear "You're My Everything (Dixon/Young/Warren) from Miles' 1958 Prestige Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet featuring Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones, Miles first great quintet. Karrin Allyson is next with a clever cover of Coltrane's "Equinox" with lyrics added by Chris Caswell. They call the result "Long Way to Go, A." We'll hear Jon Hendricks and Nancy King help vocalizing and the tenor of Frank Wess. Tim Withee's request is honored with Monika Ryan singing her penned "The Night Before" with Chris Winters leading the way on the guitar.
This coming from her 2016 Fly. From RoJ's GAB we get Mike Melito's New York Connections (Weebop Records 2016) as he covers Warren and Gordon's "I Wish I Knew." The drummer gets help from Jack Weldon's tenor and Jeb Patton's piano. June Christy keeps us transfixed wrapping up this romantic titillation with her sultry take on Wolf and Landesman's "Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me" from her 1959 Ballads for Night People.
Let's have some fun!
A special thanks to KZMU's Music Director, Serah Mead and the troops @ RoJ for their help putting the show together: Agenor (BRA), Chris do Brasil (BRA), Domi & Victor (SPA), GAB (BEL), JR (SPA), Javi (SPA), Juan/Jazzzz61 (SPA), Lira (BRA), Luisa, Menos Que un Perro (ARG), Marcos (BRA), Melokan (VEN), Raz (ISR) and Sonia (SPA). Also friend, Raul Boeira, the Brazilian based in Passo Fundo and Spain's Javier Carrete.
