Well, if you haven't already noticed, things around here are starting to take on a different appearance. There have been some sites that I have been meaning to add to the link section, I didn't like the look of the layout and the title was just lacking. Hopefully these changes are a step in a positive direction.
On to another thought I wanted to discuss here. One of my favorite parts of creating my own blog (besides sharing some of my obscure tunes) is the open discussion that has gone on here. I really appreciate the people who have taken the time to write down their own opinions of things (good or bad), give suggestions or recommendations for music that might follow a similar vein, and even post some of their own stuff here. There are many interesting and fascinating things going on around us, why not share your favs with others around? It's always cool finding something fresh to enjoy, or at least forming a new opinion. Exploration.
Okay, enough of all of that philosophising. Down to the meat and potatoes for this post--a hypothetical situation. If you were isolated somewhere for a year (hokey and overused I know, but bear with me here) and could only take one musical artist's complete discography (as leader and sideman) with you, who would it be? I don't know what spurred this question in my head, but I probably have spent too much time thinking about it lately (Perhaps a lull at work?). As the idea progressed, I realized that I would want someone who has a wide variety of recorded music under his or her belt. Too much of one style would burn me out. Big time names floated in and out until finally it hit me. The man pictured above. Max Roach. Who else could it be? Let's start off with all of his classic albums with Bird and Diz, or the Massey Hall date. In the mood for some trumpet? How about all of his recordings with Clifford Brown. Hmmm, too mellow and straight ahead you might think. Turn to 70's Max. The one who recorded with Cecil Taylor, Anthony Braxton and Archie Shepp. "Force" and "The Long March" (with Shepp) are two of my all-time favorites, and that "Historic Concerts" disc with CT is just something else entirely. No shortage of creativity there. Heck, I even like (thoroughly) his Paris concert recerded with Dizzy (1989), despite the somewhat mixed reactions. And those are just some of the standout albums that come to mind immediately.
To sum it up simply: Max Roach. The most talented individual? Definitely up there, but obviosuly not. Am I way off base here by choosing him? Who would you pick? What would be the defining factors in your choice? Inquiring minds want to know!
Here's an interesting link to a BBC site that follows along similar lines:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/desertislanddiscs.shtml
p.s. For all of you album junkies, I'll try and put up some Lester Bowie later this week...
