Monday, October 19, 2020

Smewthé!

Creed Taylor gets a lot of bitter snark from jazzbos. Poor guy! He likes smewthe jazz. Not for him the brow-furrowing beardy stuff, the sweaty sheets of sound, the harrowing atonality. All the guy wanted to do was kick back poolside, a bikini babe bringing him a Daiquiri while he digs the sounds of the best musicians in the world laying down some cool licks and silky beats. Right? Sorta. This was the guy who founded Impulse Records, signing Coltrane. But mostly his tastes didn't coincide with anyone's except the record-buying public.

His ear was matched only by his eye - Impulse and C.T.I. covers were groundbreakingly classy and memorable. Shame the C.T.I. Fuse One albums have shit covers, then (Ice came out on G.N.P./Electric Bird).

Fuse One were a shifting mix of, yes, the world's greatest musicians, recording three albums of enjoyable, polished, subtly brilliant jazz-funk-lite of the type which gets jazzbos sneering elevator music, and sellout. I can't be assed to copy the long list of Fuse One alumni. Stanley Clarke, John McLaughlin, George Benson, Stanley Turrentine and an elevator-load of others sold their souls for money, and will go to hell for their betrayal of Jazz Principles laid down by college-educated white guys with hi-fi systems.


It's an elevator I'm happy to ride. Kreemé! More Daiquiris over here!

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23 comments:

  1. Farquhar Throckmorton IIIOctober 19, 2020 at 7:58 AM

    Favorite poolside beverages, please!

    ReplyDelete
  2. pmacOctober 19, 2020 at 8:53 AM

    While listening to CTI albums? A strychnine sandwich on Wonder Bread and a double dose of Kraft Mirwcle Whip, pureed in a blender with a 5th of MD 2020. Shaken, not stirred.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Farquhar Throckmorton IIIOctober 19, 2020 at 8:57 AM

      Kraft Miracle Whip? Wassup wit' Cheez Whiz?

      Delete
    2. pmacOctober 19, 2020 at 9:04 AM

      The whiteness of the Miracle Whip is needed to dilute the blackness of the MD in my CTI dacquari.

      Delete
    3. Farquhar Throckmorton IIIOctober 19, 2020 at 9:09 AM

      "Dacquari"? You need to slip on your Angels Flight™ slax more often.

      Delete
    4. pmacOctober 19, 2020 at 9:10 AM

      Who says I ever take them off?

      Delete
    5. Farquhar Throckmorton IIIOctober 19, 2020 at 9:10 AM

      *ulp*!

      Delete
  3. FiveGunsWestOctober 19, 2020 at 2:54 PM

    Either tuna coladas, ham gimlets or ketchup dacquiris.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. jonderOctober 19, 2020 at 6:38 PM

      OMG FGW -- do you like tuna coladas, and getting cod in the rain?

      Delete
  4. DEPRAVOS DE LA MOUROctober 19, 2020 at 6:12 PM

    CREED TAYLOR made 2 very edgy albums that were treasures of my monstrous youth. SHOCK MUSIC IN HIFI and PANIC THE SON OF SHOCK!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. rickOctober 20, 2020 at 12:18 PM

      'ove those

      Delete
    2. UncleBOctober 22, 2020 at 8:32 AM

      Worth noting...

      "The Creed Taylor Orchestra" was a nom du disc of Kenyon Hopkins...

      http://www.spaceagepop.com/hopkins.htm

      Delete
    3. UncleBOctober 22, 2020 at 8:50 AM

      I thought I'd remembered there was a 3rd...

      (Courtesy of the Wayback Machine's view of Basic Hip circa 20-or-so-years ago...):

      https://web.archive.org/web/20041009202139/http://www.basichip.com/kenyon_hopkins/kh000.htm

      This trilogy of atmospheric horror albums could be purchased from ads in monster magazines and combined Kenyon Hopkins familiar jazz beat with spooky sound effects, gasps, groans and blood-curdling screams. (Just like those heard by viewers and attendees of 2020 Presidential debates... - Ed., Jnr.) These are the most well known and collectible records he made appearing as a "limited edition" (bootleg) CD several years ago on a label called "Fear."

      Shock Music in Hi-Fi
      The Creed Taylor Orchestra; arranged and conducted by Kenyon Hopkins
      ABC Paramount ABC-259 (1958)

      Panic "The Son of Shock"
      The Creed Taylor Orchestra; arranged and conducted by Kenyon Hopkins
      ABC Paramount ABCS-314 (1959)

      Nightmare!
      Kenyon Hopkins; produced by Creed Taylor
      MGM SE 4104 (1962)

      Delete
  5. Clarence PuneOctober 19, 2020 at 9:44 PM

    Poolside, I have Minerva bring me Beefeaters, vermouth and stool softener. Stirred not shaken.

    ReplyDelete
  6. One Buck GuyOctober 20, 2020 at 2:17 AM

    All of this hipster shmipster stuff. Let me counter that with a cheesy artist selection but secretly great song:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omyG2wTLUOk

    Favorite poolside drink, unironically? You lived in France, Farq, do you know what a "gasoile" is?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Farquhar Throckmorton IIIOctober 20, 2020 at 5:09 AM

      Ethyl or Regular?

      Delete
    2. Farquhar Throckmorton IIIOctober 20, 2020 at 5:24 AM

      I don't dismiss the Bellamy Brothers. Know next to zero about them, but I am alwaya. always, respectful of anybody who's made music - actual, real, singing and playing - a career. That takes something I don't have. Talent, for one.

      Creed Taylor, now - I'd rather be him than me. Made a lot of music happen, made a lot of people happy. I never thought it a crime if he wanted his albums to sound polished and pleasant to the ear. That's not selling out - that's work. That takes skill and chops.

      But I still play Trout Mask Replica, a lot. I can hear the same professionalism in there, the same dedication, just to different ends.

      Delete
    3. One Buck GuyOctober 21, 2020 at 2:24 PM

      Ethyl or Regular? More like Berger or Duval in my case.

      It's Pastis and Coke, mixed together looking pretty much how diesel would look like were you to pour it into a glass..

      Delete
    4. Farquhar Throckmorton IIIOctober 21, 2020 at 2:35 PM

      Pastis n' Coca Cola? Why the heck did I never try that? Not a fan of either, so a mix might work.

      Delete
    5. One Buck GuyOctober 21, 2020 at 3:33 PM

      Re: The Bellamys

      And you would be completely right concerning the Bellamys in terms of talent. A lot of their stuff is too soft and poppy/soggy, even after my softening to soft rock type music, but these guys produced all of their own music and David Bellamy (sometimes helped out by his brother and some others) wrote almost all of it. So these guys were genuine musicians, goofy look and too cheesy songs aside.

      Here's probably all the Bellamys you need, resequenced and retagged for your listening pleasure:

      The anti-Trout Mask replica

      https://workupload.com/archive/ARjTxARu

      Delete
    6. Farquhar Throckmorton IIIOctober 21, 2020 at 3:43 PM

      Thank you kindly. It's easy to forget sometimes that being a pro musician is first and foremost a job, and that these guys have families and coke habits and blackmailing Eastern Bloc ladyboy hookers to support. Would I rather be thought of as a cheesy sellout and sell millions of records or be a Starving Artist With Principles (a bum, which is what I am)? Uhhhhh ... thinking about that ... not that I have any choice in the matter THANK YOU GOD OH SO VERY MUCH (shakes skinny fist at sky).

      Delete
  7. Farquhar Throckmorton IIIOctober 20, 2020 at 5:08 AM

    https://workupload.com/file/ctcrSJRyHqH

    This is some swell music. Great on earphones while you're watching the dumpster fire.

    ReplyDelete
  8. UncleBOctober 22, 2020 at 8:51 AM

    And quaffing a chilled bottle of Yoohoo.

    WhatamItalkinbout... Never had the stuff...!!!

    A Nehi...?

    Ditto!

    ReplyDelete

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