A side note Midnight Jazz
The feature for the April 2023 issue of WAY OUT WEST was "Jazz to Listen to at Midnight," when the world has fallen asleep.
I chose "12 Stars," a Blue Note release by Chilean female saxophonist Melissa Aldana. Like the album "First Move" by Aaron Seeber (ds) that I wrote about last time, this was a purchase I made specifically for Sullivan Fortner (p).
Since I don't make a living writing, my work is always a bit rambling, but since it wouldn't make sense without reading the published text, I'm posting it here, however embarrassing it may be.
I'm not good with alcohol, but on the night before my day off, I like to sip my favorite Scotch and stay up late... Guided by the inward-turning tone of Melissa Aldana (ts), I drift softly toward the entrance of my subconscious. A pink woman drawn by my friend, the singer Cécile McLorin Salvant, appears solemnly holding a tarot card. When I timidly flip over the card I chose, it shows a starry sky. It is a meditative album that makes you feel as if you are in deep space.
The atmosphere has changed completely from her previous work, "Visions." I think this album became a turning point as her own childbirth and child-rearing coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. She also learned about tarot, which became the theme of this album, around that time. I intended to turn the story into a narrative, starting with an introspective, dark mood and ending with the sparkling image of the stars in the title track, "12 Stars."
I like "Visions," which also features Joel Ross (vib), and the cover illustration is also by Cécile McLorin Salvant (vo). Like Miles Davis, talented musicians often draw with a unique flair. Since it was published on a monochrome page, I regret that it was hard to convey things like the "pink woman." Haha.
I was really into Scotch whisky at the time, and I was drinking a lot at night. As you all know, the combination of night, alcohol, and jazz is outstanding. I used to stay up late and drink heavily, especially on the night before a day off, so please enjoy this as the fantasy of a drunkard.
I have since reviewed my lifestyle habits and no longer drink every night. There is nothing wrong with my health, so don't worry. If there is a problem, it's that when I get drunk and feel bold, I end up clicking away and buying CDs and audio equipment! I felt like throwing up when I woke up in the morning and saw that I had won a record player in an auction. By the way, that record player is now in use at the shop. Haha.
Since I'm basically sober now, impulse buys and wasteful spending have decreased, but I might actually be spending more money just because I'm buying things after careful consideration.
Midnight doesn't just mean alcohol. Other contributors have each introduced wonderful jazz albums that accompany the late hours, such as Jakob Bro (g)'s "Bay Of Rainbows" and Avishai Cohen (b)'s "Duende."
Jakob Bro (g)'s "Bay Of Rainbows" or
Avishai Cohen (b)'s "Duende," etc.
They have introduced wonderful jazz albums that accompany the late hours.
Please try thinking about jazz that suits the middle of the night, too.
This is my fourth time writing for Note, and I intended to write something serious, but it's already becoming a terrible piece of writing rather than just a rambling one...
jazzbarber