After a brutal last 10 days trying to decipher what happened and why my head and my heart still hurt, I have yet to understand it all. I’m sure many may be in the same lifeboat wondering the same thing. What can we do? How do we move forward? I’m open to suggestions. Since my grandmother was born in Canada, I have citizenship, but is that the answer? Just giving up and packing our bags to move north? I absolutely love Canada — Montreal is one of my favorite places to visit, but it’s not that easy, nor should it be, to leave.
For now, there is less news coverage in my world, as it just stresses me out. I guess that means more time to listen to records…
Review: The Bad Plus
I visited Jimmy's Jazz and Blues Club last Wednesday evening in Portsmouth, NH, to watch and hear The Bad Plus perform. Their new album, which contains eight tracks, was just released. The lineup differs from the original one, but don’t let that concern you—these guys are tight. They’re so great to watch on stage, and each is a master of their instrument.
Initially formed in Minneapolis, the members of The Bad Plus live all over the country these days. In 2021, the group went from a trio to a quartet, adding guitarist Ben Monder and tenor saxophonist/clarinetist Chris Speed. Speed has played with many, including John Zorn, Jim Black, Mary Halvorson, and more… Monder, who played guitar on David Bowie’s last studio record, Blackstar, is a maestro, getting so many delicate notes and sounds from his guitar and keeping in sync no matter the tempo.
The new album, Complex Emotions (Edition Records), is available now on vinyl, CD, and digital. Jimmy’s is an excellent venue for jazz and blues. It is a very intimate setting with massive, beautiful sound and great staff.
amplified 003
Here’s playlist 003 for you to enjoy. This one is all about Soul Jazz and NuJazz, with many instrumentals. Most, if not all, was released this year, so it's all brand-new music. Let me know your thoughts.
Lastly, I’m on Bluesky. It’s like the old days of Twitter. Bluesky is an open network. If you were a fan, you’d also like it here. Follow me.
Thanks for reading. Until next time. - JB ❤️