Round 6 Blue Note

[rayge]

A Donald Byrd - Cristo Redentor



B Thelonious Monk - Criss Cross

[Deleted]

I may edit in some reasoning at some stage, but

A very easy B

[Crunchy Col]

Both great, but I prefer

B

[Deleted]

B has more life to it..Vote B

[toomanyhatz]

I love B, but A is a brave choice I want to reward.

I may change my mind and edit, but since B will likely win anyway, I doubt it.

[DarknessFish]

Hmm, jazz goes gospel, or vice-versa. These Blue Note ties are among the more interesting in this comp, there's some non-standard picks, many of them interesting, such as this. Like a New Orleans funeral, but of someone who could really afford the quality band. It does feel properly spiritual, so you can't deny the artist has got across the intended feel.

B is less non-standard, and a bit too be-boppy for me. I know it's just dated a touch, but this is too elevatory for me. Easy listening is never easy.

A

[Deleted]

You could accuse A of getting stuck on a theme and I wasn't wild about the vocals, however the central bluesy interplay between trumpet, sax and piano ( My man Herbie) is lovely and warm.

I've always struggled to really get Monk. My loss I'm sure, but there's an intangible quality about his music that always has me looking for a way in. This one washed over me rather I'm afraid.

A

[Sneelock]

I'm over familiar with Harvey Mandell's version of A so this is an easy call for B

[fange]

Superb tie. For me, this is a great example of how diverse and revolutionary BN could be without compromising one bit of their popular appeal. Monk during this period is pure jazz punk - taking on the established sounds of the time with tunes that were full of in-your-face energy and attitude, hard and fast and uncompromingly HIM. And while that Byrd record may sound dated now in hindsight, at the time it was innovative as anything. The mix of African-American gospel elements with Latin/Brazilian sounds - Duke Pearson was one of the GREAT jazz writers and arrangers of the 60s - still sounds incredible. It is not its fault it inspired thousands of mediocre copies.

[oleandermedian]

I really like both of these.

A

[osgood]

Yep, great tie. But this Monk piece is an old have of mine and I cannot deny it. With apologies to A

B

[Deleted]

Good picks. It's been quite a strong round all together, this one.

A -- really lovely mood setting, although the slight change in pace around the 5 minute mark seemed a bit too welcome.
B -- spirited interplay between Monk and Rouse on the sax. A joy. Played it a second time.

B.

[rayge]

I said in an earlier round that there were some Jazz greats I just didn't get – I think I was referring to Mingus, but Monk is in the same category, which is strange, as I'm very fond of piano. So I gave A a listen first, and I thought it was lovely. I listened dutifully to B, too, but it's definitely A

[neige]

Difficult choice, but A's closer to my heart today.