Favorite Blue Notes, One More Time
So, speaking of my radio show/podcast, I’ve been thinking for a while about doing a show titled “My 10 Favorite Blue Notes.” Three things have stopped me so far: 1. It’s not so easy to identify my 10 favorite Blue Notes; 2. Even if I did identify them, would I want to take them out of the house, bring them in the car, and place the vinyl on the turntables/needles in the radio station’s studio; and, 3. I recall a Downbeat issue from several years ago in which a variety of musicians were asked to name their 10 favorite Blue Notes. I wanted to consult with that issue before doing the show. It would give me more interesting fodder to discuss. My Downbeat collection is sitting up in my attic and combing through them all to find a single issue would be a bit of a hassle. Of course, it might not be necessary to comb through all of them, now that there is this thing called the internet and this other thing called artificial intelligence. So this morning I got up early and did a search: Downbeat 10 Favorite Blue Notes. What came back was fascinating.
First was the AI overview. It started out like this: “A list of ten favorite Blue Note records can be compiled from various jazz enthusiast lists, such as one from HifiZine, which includes titles like Wayne Shorter’s Adams Apple and Horace Silver’s “Cape Verdean Blues.”
OK, fair enough.
Here’s the next sentence: “Another source, jazzcollector.com, presents additional favorites, often highlighting specific artists and albums based on expert recommendations.”
All right. I feel like I made it to the big time. AI and all that. Right at the top.
Not only that, there was a link in the AI overview to a Jazz Collector article from February 2010. I’d forgotten about the article completely. Even better, the very first reference sited in the Google search was that very same article from February 2010, titled “More Blue Note Favorites, Courtesy of Downbeat.” And If you click on the link, as I did and as you should do as well, you will find the article describing a Downbeat issue from March of 2009.
While I had the general gist right, the premise was a bit off: It wasn’t a list of my TEN favorite Blue Notes, it was a list of MY FAVORITE BLUE NOTE ALBUM. As you will see if you clink the link, they asked a bunch of jazz musicians. Fascinating replies, with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, and Horace Silver leading the way. In that post, I was the one who corrupted the concept by listing my seven “Finalists” for my favorite Blue Note, but not necessarily making a decision on a single one. There are also 13 comments on the post. And perhaps we will get more comments here, if anybody is still watching.
Anyway, that solves one of my challenges in doing the show on my 10 Favorite Blue Notes. I’m make progress on solving the other challenges as well and I hope to be doing the show on the radio in the next few weeks. How am I resolving those challenges? Choosing the 10 records and playing them in the studio?
Stay tuned.
My favorite Blue Notes are probably all not on your list, Al, as we have slightly different taste focuses, but as far as taking them out and playing them… it’s a risk, but you’re a careful guy. I believe in you!
Yes, GTF, but what are they?
Great to have you back with the forum. As to the “greatest” outfielders of all-time, all must agree that Mantle, Mays, Aaron,and Ted Williams would be on the list. As someone who has lived and loved the music for over 65 years the omission of Mobley, Morgan, Bud, Rollins, True Blue, and even Davis Cup , is incomprehensible. Universal truths do exist and one shouldn’t demean the Blue Note list with the exclusion of so many iconic albums and artists.
Calls for a vote maybe? AI is really bad at these things IMO.
I would at least include True Blue, Undercurrent, City Lights, AfroCuban, Song for My father, Speak No Evil etc. Mobley ST 10″
Anders — When you look at AI, as in artificial intelligence, it looks like Al, as in my name. 🙂 I assume you were saying artificial intelligence is really bad at this, instead of me being really bad at this, although that could be accurate as well.
Robert — yes, I get what you’re saying, and if this little diversion had any real meaning, that would be something else. But it’s just a bunch of us fans having some fun and, what I like about it is that I get to hear other opinions and perhaps try on some records that I haven’t listened to in a while. Such as Anders mentioning City Lights by Lee Morgan. I never had that record when I was building my collection and, when I finally got a copy, I maybe listened to it once, or maybe not at all. So, in addition to having fun playing, doing this little diversion has some other value, at least it does to me. Not to mention Roberto Clemente. And what to do about Barry Bonds?
Since you asked, in no real order:
Grachan Moncur III – “Some Other Stuff”
Eric Dolphy – “Out to Lunch”
Larry Young – “Of Love and Peace”
Wayne Shorter – “Juju”
Lee Morgan – “Live at the Lighthouse”
Duke Pearson – “The Phantom”
Andrew Hill – “Point of Departure”
Bobby Hutcherson – “Total Eclipse”
Don Cherry – “Symphony For Improvisers”
Cecil Taylor – “Conquistador”
There are plenty I haven’t heard, but those are the tops for now!
Al, correct I was pointing my finger towards AI here. But of course as you said AI can dig in old info that you have written (and forgot about) to compile some perhaps useful info. AI does not, and cannot, have have a personal opinion and/or favourites it’s own – as all of you know.
A question like this is highly personal and for instance Gregory’s very thoughtful and curated list above reflects his personal taste and preference. I myself would not have picked any of these to be near my top 10. I own and tried “Out to lunch” several times and it just does not do anything good for me. But I know that many many just loves it and calls it essential.
PS. Forgot to mention “Blue Train” in my previous post…dang!