Then, in recent years, the people who run Ravinia have started to increase the music selections at the venue. They have recently added rock acts, for example. But one of the things they do quite well, is jazz. Check out THIS particular concert coming up on June 21.

From their website:

Who’s playing: Dave Brubeck Quartet
Ramsey Lewis Trio Saturday
When it is: June 21, 2008
What time: 7:30 PM
The costs: Pavilion Reserved seats: $50
Lawn: $10

“THE RAMSEY LEWIS TRIO In a program that includes the world premiere of Ramsey’s tribute to love and inspiration: “Muses and Amusements” With special guests THE TURTLE ISLAND QUARTET

plus

THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET performing with an 18-piece big band conducted by Russell Gloyd

Hear Dave perform his biggest hit big-band style!”

Now, that is a classic team-up that you would not want to miss. So, my pick of this month, a sfar as jazz goes, and particularly this coming weekend, would be this concert. You can’t beat the venue and you can’t beat the performers.

Check out Ravinia’s other concerts when you click on the link above. They have a lot of great shows and there really isn’t a musical style they don’t have play there anymore. They do a lot of great things and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

As far as I am concerned, and as far as jazz goes, there are two songs that leap to mind. The first is from the notorious Concert of 1964 and is a classic live version from his album “Kind of Blue.” The tune is called “So What” and the way it is played live here will blow you away (and if the player won’t play, you can visit this link).

As for the second song you MUST have, well, there just isn’t any jazz collection that can be complete without Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five.” This comes from one of the greatest jazz albums of all-time “Time Out.” It was the tune that Dave and the rest of the band wasn’t even sure they wanted to put on the album, and then decided to do so at the last minute so their drummer would have a piece that featured him. So, of course, it became the biggest hit.

As for the others in the world of b5media, you should check out their suggestions for tunes you need to add. I am putting their links below:

Flyleaft and Nelly

Miles and Ella

Austin Sounds to Add to your iPod

Metal Martyr

Oz Music Scene

Big Apple Music Scene

Toronto Unplugged

Our Digital Music

Rock Dose

Christian Music Fan

Ear Sucker

Crooner Culture

Rock Relic

New Age Vibe

Industrial Addiction

She Plays Music

News in Punk

Hippie Sounds

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

This is why I love my jazz collection.  Nothing helps keep me sane more than my jazz music.  It helps me from getting out of my car and beating other drivers with a tire iron, for example.  So, here is my list of CDs getting regular rotation in my car:

1.  Sad Salamanders – Cigarettes and Fishnets.  Still the best new music that has ever been sent to me for free.  I still think you need to look it up and buy it.  You instantly feel more like a cool dude while listening to it.

2.  Miles Davis Concert from 1964 – One of the finest live jazz concerts you are likely to see.  This is the classic Miles Davis Quintet which includes Herbie Hancock.  This was from 1964 and released as two albums “Four and More” and “My Funny Valentine.”  Now they are together and it is a fantastic performance.  The concert was a benefit and just before the show Davis told the show promoters the entire band was working for free.  Sure, he made a lot of money, but his younger sidemen did not and they all got into a huge fight right before going on stage.  The results you can hear as they play with an intensity like you wouldn’t believe.

3.  Dave Brubek – I love listenig to “Take Five.”  I love this album.  I feel like I should be stalking someone whenever this tune comes on or something.   Again, you feel instantly cooler when it’s playing in your car.

That should get me through the weekend.  I think the double concert CD will take up the bulk of my listening this weekend.  I cannot recommend that one enough.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

It is a classic.  It is one that people probably know.  It is Dave Brubeck’s “Time Out” and it is a great album through and through.  You can actually find the album at the MusicIP site you can find through b5media. 

The album’s signature song is the track “Take Five.”  If you take a listen to it, you have probably heard it.  It has appeared in movies and commercials and was the unlikely hit off of the album.

The entire album was meant to be an experiment.  It was to be a bunch of tunes played in strange and abnormal time signaturesm particularly the 5/4 signature.  Brubeck and his Quartet of Paul Desmond, Gene Wright and Joe Morello created a  number of original compositions in that signature.  They had hopes that it would be well-received by other musicians and critics, but the label was reluctant to release the album.  It just didn’t seem to have any hits on it.

“Take Five” was the one song the group felt had the least potential.  It was meant to be a show piece for the drummer, Joe Morello.  Of course, this became the huge hit.

The other songs on the album have also become jazz classics and often covered by other jazz musicians.  “Blue Rondo a la Turk” is the song that kicks things off.  “Strange Meadow Lark” comes next.  “Pick Up Sticks” closes out the album.

It is an album that just doesn’t sound like any other of that time and really, doesn’t sound much like anything you can find now.  There is a reason that “Take Five” still gets played on the Chicago New Age Jazz station.  Brubeck’s piano as rhythm just has to be heard to be believed.

So, if you own no other jazz album, this one you really need to check out.  It’s unlike anything else you will hear in the jazz world.  It is a classic and it is great.

Brubeck went on to create some other great classics.  For example, he is the composer and performer of the “Charlie Brown Theme.”  So, some things he created may be better known at large, but little has surpassed the artistry and sound of “Time Out.”

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge