Klarcnova — Klarcnova

• Artist: Klarcnova
• Title: Klarcnova
• Year: 2007
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: All of us
• Acquired: Andy gave it to Mars earlier this year.
• Keeper: Yes

It’s K day! OK, I know, it’s been K day for over a week. But this one is worth waiting for. Klarcnova is an Asheville trio that includes Andy John, our kids’ guitar teacher. Yes, Andy is the guitarist in the band. I just got around to listening to this album about a week ago and it’s all I’ve been playing since. I love the whole thing, including the sweet “naked” production, the excellent playing, and tasty songs. My favorite is probably “Thumbprint.” It’s a spicy Latin jazz number, complete with a fast-tempo jazz odyssey in the middle. Klarcnova is a very eclectic and excellent album. This is one for you Jazzy G.

Check out the Klarcnova MySpace page.

Andy is currently on the road playing with The Lithuanian Empire in Canada.

Steve Weisberg — I Can’t Stand Another Night Alone (In Bed With You)

Steve Weisberg -- I Can't Stand Another Night Alone (In Bed With You)

• Artist: Steve Weisberg
• Title: I Can’t Stand Another Night Alone (In Bed With You)
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988? – I think I got this at the record store my brother and I had.
• Keeper: Yes

I wasn’t sure this was going to be a keeper, but after playing it again, several times, I now remember how good it is. I can’t really remember how I got the record. Steve Weisberg is from the same town our record store was in so there must’ve been some awareness of him, maybe one of our customers told me about it. Anyhow, I Can’t Stand Another Night Alone (In Bed With You) is a very ambitious record. It’s hard to believe he was only 22 when this was recorded. And the list of contributing musicians is just as impressive. There are lot of jazz world big shots and just generally famous musicians like Hiram Bullock and Anton Fier. The music sounds somewhat like a film score, similar to The Cat by Jimmy Smith. It combines big band and jazz with Bullock’s shredding guitar and doesn’t sound the least bit pure. Which is great.

More about Steve Weisberg at Wikipedia.

Sade – Your Love Is King

• Artist: Sade
• Title: Your Love Is King
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: Yes

I played this before we hit the road for Christmas. I remember liking “Your Love Is King”, but I have to admit that right now I can’t remember anything else about it. On the back is “Love Affair with Life” and I don’t even remember if I like that one. It’s Sade; it probably sounds like all the rest of her songs, which isn’t a bad thing.

And for something totally different check out Fuel.TV. They call themselves “action sports television” but believe me, Fuel is the best music network on the air. Last night they were running a marathon of the excellent show Check 1,2 and I stayed up way too late soaking it in.

Joe Jackson — Breaking Us in Two

• Artist: Joe Jackson
• Title: Breaking Us in Two
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: She doesn’t know.

Smooth jazz, less talk… Stay tuned to FM 1-0-whatever…

Just kidding. But this 12 inch single of “Breaking Us in Two” is a smooth ballad sort of thing. I do like it, despite the odds. The flip has “El Blanco” and “T.V. Age.” “Breaking” was on the “Night and Day” album and “El Blanco” is the Spanish version of the original album track “Target.” The last song is extended version of “T.V. Age”, also from the same album.

You can do your own fact checking at The Joe Jackson Archive.

Joe Jackson — Blaze of Glory

• Artist: Joe Jackson
• Title: Blaze of Glory
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1989 – Our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

Joe Jackon’s “Blaze of Glory” is very much an “adult” album. And I’m not usually in a very adult mood. The first time I played this the other day I was distracted, but also stunned by what I initially perceived as over-production and even some… cheesiness. At first I didn’t get it at all, despite being an adult, sorta. After a couple more proper listens it’s starting to make sense. This is a very complex, some might say “concept”, album. There are few if any audible gaps between the songs, and the lyrics move from youth to the reality beyond it. It feels almost like a musical.

It seems the single “Nineteen Forever” made it up the charts, but I don’t remember hearing it on the radio.

“This album is dedicated to my generation.” — Joe Jackson (from the liner notes)

Joe Jackson — Will Power

• Artist: Joe Jackson
• Title: Will Power
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1987 – Promo Mary got when she worked at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

The first time I played Joe Jackson’s instrumental album “Will Power” the other day I didn’t quite get it. And I couldn’t help thinking it was going to take some will power to play it again. Since then I’ve played it a number of times and like most good, but challenging, music it has grown on me. I don’t know if I’m sophisticated enough to describe it accurately. This isn’t The Joe Jackson Band; he’s working with a full orchestra here. Let’s call it “symphonic.”

I think the original album artwork was just the pattern of red and blue circles on fabric, but at some point the label must have insisted on that circular sticker with his name on it. Or, maybe it’s just that way on the promo since they don’t usually come with shrink wrap.

More about Joe Jackson at Wikipedia.

Charlie Parker — History Of Jazz

• Artist: Charlie Parker
• Title: History Of Jazz
• Year: 1973
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2005 – Inherited from my friend Bob Bobala.
• Keeper: Yes

It’s Charlie Parker. What else can I say? Maybe that this is the isn’t the best recording or pressing, but it’s decent. Perfect music for when it’s time to chill, or when the parents are over for dinner, or when I’m staring at the fish tank, or when I’m not sure what I should be doing, or when…

Joe Jackson — Body and Soul

• Artist: Joe Jackson
• Title: Body and Soul
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1984 – Unknown origin.
• Keeper: Yes

Uh… When I first played this yesterday I told Mary it sounded more like Billy Joe(l) Jackson than I expected. I got the stink eye put on me for that comment. Just sayin’…

That said, “Body and Soul” has one of my all-time favorite songs on it: “You Can’t Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want).” Once that gets stuck in my head it’s there for a long time. “Cha Cha Loco” is another winner; I had forgotten about that one. Some of the other songs are just a little too “grand” or something. too fancy, too Lawrence Welk. I rated it high with an “8” because the great songs are just so great. This is not rock and roll, it’s a collection of sophisticated songs and arrangements. Am I just too unsophisticated to get it?

The John Handy III Quintet/Quartet — In The Vernacular

• Artist: The John Handy III Quintet/Quartet
• Title: In The Vernacular
• Year: 1976
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2005 – Inherited from Bob Bobala when he decided to book it to Cali.
• Keeper: Yes

My friend Bob Bobala gave me a nice stash of records when he moved. I think he even inherited some of these from an uncle. This double album is one of the good ones. It appears to be part of a series of jazz “best-of” records that were issued or re-released in ’70s.

It starts out sounding like some typical restaurant jazz, but as it goes on and you start to pay better attention you realize this is quality. Swinging and weird enough to keep me interested, but not too spazzed out that I can’t play it when the in-laws are visiting. Thanks Bob.

Gamalon — Self-titled

• Artist: Gamalon
• Title: Self-titled
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1987 – Promo when I was working at Mother’s Records & Tapes in Hampton, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

Just got back from house hunting in Oregon. Oh, yes. I think we’re moving there.

If you’re a guitarist you really should check this out. This is an instrumental jazz/rock or “fusion” album. I’m not usually into that kinda stuff but these guys shred. It’s hard to explain the sound, but once you’ve heard this record it’s even harder to not like it.