As a metalhead, I sort of had an internal self confession a while ago - this is it. The world of metal is so wide and tall, an entire lifetime can be spent and I would still be dancing around with sub par knowledge (if the pursuit of such is even meaningful?). There was a point where I was even considering to become a metal historian and maybe start my own zine or something. Or get a degree in sociology and write a thesis on metal subculture! I was digging deep into Peruvian underground metal scene and mixing my playlists up with the ones from Japan. And what a world of discovery it was becoming. There is so much amazing music out there. If only I could take it all. But the gongs of time only gets heavier and it has a tight leash on all of us. Years slip by and all the accumulated knowledge needs to be returned back.
Now, the self confession part - while pure and pristine at that point - was just plain wrong. You see, it was all an act to convince myself of the journey I was undertaking. While I have a fair tolerance of all kinds of music, metal dented me in ways I couldn't ever imagine. So what next then ?
Black Sabbath has been in heavy rotation since the prince of darkness passed away. What a career. Anyways, there was this particular track from their live album - Wicked World, which had a very unique effect on me. Bill Ward's drum solo was amazing and I was craving to find more such extended solos/improvisations which had the same mood as this one. Jazz was always in the periphery for me, and somehow I ended up in that part of the world. What began as a simple craving for a certain style of percussion ended up with me becoming a Jazzhead!
So for the past few months, I've been only listening to Jazz and its the only thing I want to explore. Occasionally I get tempted to just blast Slayer - but a mysterious force nudges me to start my day with Jazz.
As an "avowed dilettante" (a phrase I'm borrowing from somewhere I don't remember), these are the ones I thoroughly enjoyed. I keep coming back to Coltrane and Miles a lot. What an artist!
Somehow the usual recommendation of Kind of Blue didn't feel too accessible to me. I love music where percussion plays a big role as it keeps things tight and anchors the overall mood. But now that my ears is tuned to the sound of all these instruments - Kind of Blue does sound amazing. But I still prefer the middle to late years of Miles.
Miles Davis - In A Silent Way, Sketches Of Spain
Joe Henderson & Alice Coltrane - The Elements (trippiest jazz I've heard so far, especially the track - "Earth")
Rudresh Mahanthappa - Bird Calls
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme (Psalm was just amazing. A musical narration of a prayer and just showed how far Coltrane was taking his music)
Thelonious Monk - Straight, No Chaser
So far its been a very rewarding journey of exploration and diving deep into a native African American art form which has been embraced all over. Japanese and Polish jazz scenes are amazing too. I hope to one day pay a visit to one of Jazz Kissa when in Japan.
Tool, Opeth and Ne Obliviscaris live shows this year were amazing.
I now need to make time to explore local Jazz gigs too.
