Old Jive and Dimers By Amanda on July 10, 2008 6:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Country and jazz wrestle on the back porch of Grammybait Haus. (more foster pups!)
My probably libellous and ignorant impression of Wynton Marsalis, based entirely on message board scuttlebutt, is that he is some kind of intense jazz purist who bags out other jazzbos for defiling the artform via crass commercial cross over. But here he is with the ever picky Willie Nelson for an album, Two Men With the Blues. The snippets there sound alright, although they stopped working for me after the first couple. "Georgia on My Mind" with solo trumpet can't be a bad thing. The YouTube DVD preview there is most enticing. Noice work as always, Mickey Raphael. Think I'll pick this one up soon.
PS. This is my 100th post on the new site.
By Francis Xavier Holden
on July 11, 2008 12:42 AM
I've heard a few songs on the radio - I picked Willie but wasn't clear who else was on it. Sounds ok a track at a time but I can imagine it might not stand up to serious album listening. It also sounded a little try hard for me. Willie is at his best when hes Willie laid back swinging slow.
I seem to remember it was recorded in a live concert back in January and broadcast on XM - so there should be a few high quality boots of the original show.
I can still can hardly fault Stardust after all these years. Willie has more jazz feel and sensibility in some of his country songs than one has a right to expect.
I have a lovely recording of Willie doing a live radio interview / gig with the delightful Marian McPartland. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100907
Marian has no doubt Willie is a jazz man and she treats him with enormous respect, as she does all her guests, and they play a few songs. I've never heard Willie sound so happy or jazzy. Swonderful.
By Francis Xavier Holden
on July 11, 2008 12:51 AM
ooh ahah - its on Torrent on Dimeadozen now - and it sin pristine non lossy FLAC -
Willie Nelson - Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland
Manhattan Beach Studios
New York, Recorded Summer 2001.Willie Nelson - vocals, guitar
Jackie King - guitar
Gary Mazzoroppi - bass
Marian McPartland - piano
01. Introduction & Interview - Willie Nelson & Marian McPartland 0:51
02. Heart of a Clown - Willie Nelson, Jackie King, Gary Mazzaroppi & Marian McPartland 4:09
03. Interview - Willie Nelson, Jackie King & Marian McPartland 1:00
04. Gypsy - Willie Nelson, Jackie King, Gary Mazzaroppi & Marian McPartland 4:21
05. Interview - Willie Nelson, Jackie King & Marian McPartland 4:14
06. Rainy Day Blues - Willie Nelson, Jackie King, Gary Mazzaroppi & Marian McPartland 4:17
07. Interview - Willie Nelson, Jackie King & Marian McPartland 2:28
08. Nuages (Django Reinhart) - Willie Nelson, Jackie King, Gary Mazzaroppi & Marian McPartland 3:42
09. Interview - Willie Nelson, Jackie King & Marian McPartland 2:52
10. All of Me - Willie Nelson, Jackie King, Gary Mazzaroppi & Marian McPartland 4:09
11. Interview - Willie Nelson, Jackie King & Marian McPartland 1:47
12. Stardust (Hoagy Carmichael) - Willie Nelson, Jackie King, Gary Mazzaroppi & Marian McPartland 4:25
13. Interview - Willie Nelson, Jackie King & Marian McPartland 0:57
14. The Great Divide (Willie Nelson & Jackie King) - Willie Nelson, Jackie King, Gary Mazzaroppi 4:20
15. Interview - Willie Nelson, Jackie King & Marian McPartland 2:54
16. Crazy (Willie Nelson) - Willie Nelson, Jackie King, Gary Mazzaroppi & Marian McPartland 4:08
17. Interview - Willie Nelson, Jackie King & Marian McPartland 2:13
18. There Will Never Be Another You - Willie Nelson, Jackie King, Gary Mazzaroppi & Marian McPartland 3:15
19. Conclusion - Willie Nelson & Marian McPartland 1:51