The Daily Guru

Monday, April 30, 2012

April 30: Daily Guru, "Something Old, Something New #71"

It’s Monday, and that means another edition of “Something Old, Something New.” Share and enjoy.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

April 29: Daily Guru, "The Playlist #01: April 29, 2012"

Today is the premiere of my brand new weekly segment: The Playlist. Share and enjoy.

April 29: Dizzy Gillespie, "Manteca"

Artist: Dizzy Gillespie
Song: "Manteca"
Album: Dizzy Gillespie And His Big Band
Year: 1948

Easily one of the most overlooked genres in history is that of the classic "big band" sound. This is the sound that was the standard for decades, and an overwhelming number of jazz, bop, and blues legends honed their skills within the confines of big band groups. Among these icons was by far the greatest trumpet player in history, as well as one of the greatest band leaders the world has ever seen, the one and only Dizzy Gillespie. Many would argue that Gillespie was so unique, and his playing so complex, that later artists took the "easier" route and copied artists like Miles Davis and Fats Navarro instead. After experiencing the extraordinary playing of Gillespie, this intimidation is quite understandable, as the speed and technique with which he played is truly stunning. While Gillespie is certainly known for his unique, bent trumpet, his puffed cheeks, and his far more relaxed, light-hearted personality, his talents as a composer, band leader, and obviously musician cannot be overlooked. All three of these skills are rarely more apparent that they were throughout the existence of what is largely considered Gillespie's "first great band," and this is certainly a group that lived up to that name. The stunning talent and power of the group is brilliantly captured on Dizzy Gillespie's tremendous 1948 release, the simply titled Dizzy Gillespie And His Big Band, and there may be no song that better defines the man than his classic, "Manteca."

Within the framework of the classic big band, it is often difficult to stand out, as well as assemble a group of musicians all of the highest standard. The latter is simply because, within the confines of the big band lineup, there are simply so many positions to fill, often times, a handful of "second rate" musicians are necessary. However, Dizzy Gillespie managed to forgo both of these hazards with this lineup. The musicians he put together for this band are truly the best in the land, and the lineup reads like a "who's who" list of the era. The combination of James Moody on tenor saxophone and Cecil Payne on baritone is nothing short of stunning, and the power and tone the two possess is beyond words. Moody has played with everyone from Miles Davis to Charles Mingus, and still records today, making him one of the most heavily recorded musicians of all time. Having backed artists like Sarah Vaughan, Cannonball Adderley, and Ray Charles, Payne was equally talented, and he remains one of the most highly respected players to this day. Lending a second trumpet to the group, Willie Cook played alongside Dizzy for nearly two decades. His presence allows Gillespie more musical freedom, and his playing in the album cannot be overlooked. The entire band on this rendition of "Manteca" are worth mentioning, as they are all truly amazing, yet these three artists stand out above the others.

Whether he is laughing with the audience, brilliantly directing his band, or taking center stage on his stunning compositions, there are truly few artists worth of being mentioned in the same breath as Dizzy Gillespie. Playing with more power and swagger then nearly anyone else in history, Gillespie's sound is immediately recognizable, and he is one of the few artists who clearly "have fun" playing their music. All across "Manteca," Dizzy is in top form, and one can hear the new directions he is taking, as the track remains today one of the most important building blocks in the "Afro-Cuban" jazz movement. He is outright dazzling as both a performer and a band leader, and one can also easily hear the chemistry between him and the songs' co-writers. Along with all of the other amazing musicians on the album, easily the most unique member of the group is conga player Chano Pozo. It is due to the relationship between Gillespie and Pozo that Dizzy began to explore and create the Afro-Cuban-Jazz genre, and this is without question their masterpiece. The song is an absolutely stunning combination of styles, and it has been covered by countless artists over the years, perhaps most notably by the jam-rock group, Phish. Though the pair would compose a number of other iconic tunes, due to its chronological timing, as well as its overall influence, one can easily argue that from a historical perspective, "Manteca" remains their most vital work.

When it comes to a unique, innovative approach to music, few excelled as well as Dizzy Gillespie. From his early days backing artists like Cab Calloway and Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy's power and style were like no other artist in history. Presenting a more powerful and far more loose approach than his contemporaries, he was constantly pushing into new territory and creating new, brilliant musical fusions. Largely responsible for the Cuban-jazz style of music, his relationship with conga player Chano Pozo ranks among the most important musical pairings in history. The interplay between the two is highlighted on this live version of "Manteca," and judging by the audience's reaction, the two personalities were just as dynamic as their musical interactions. The group that Gillespie had assembled as his big band were far and away some of the most talented musicians in the world, and the talent within this version of his band is easily one of the greatest big bands in history. Gillespie himself is absolutely stunning on every moment of "Manteca," and as he changes roles from musician to conductor to emcee, it is clear that he was easily one of the most amazingly unique talents in the history of music. Presenting a perfect musical picture of everything that makes Dizzy Gillespie one of the most well respected and revered artists in history, his 1948 live release, Dizzy Gillespie And His Big Band, is easily one of the greatest moments ever captured in the entire history of recorded music, and "Manteca" may very well be the highlight.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

April 28: Anthrax, "Among The Living"

Artist: Anthrax
Album: Among The Living
Year: 1987
Label: Island

As the classic era of punk began to fade and then 1970's turned into the 1980's, a new style of music began to form. Taking the high octane energy of the punk sound and fusing it together with the volume and power of bands like Black Sabbath and Motörhead, a sound which was dubbed "speed metal" began to appear on the music scene. Along with the likes of Slayer and Metallica, one of the key bands in this new movement, and a band that remains a massive influence to this day was the New York City based band, Anthrax. Though the band went through a number of lineup changes, Anthrax solidified what would be their "classic" lineup before their 1984 major label debut. Both their debut and follow-up records remain cornerstones of the speed metal genre, yet it is their third album, 1987's Among The Living that is a true classic and contains their finest work. In many ways, Among The Living displayed everything that made Anthrax so brilliant, from the balance of socially aware lyrics with their trademark tongue-in-cheek musings, to some of the most fierce musical compositions that the world has ever heard. The band is absolutely in top-form on every moment of the album, and there are few records from the world of heavy metal that can even remotely compare to Anthrax's superb 1987 recording, Among The Living.

Truth be told, few songs so perfectly capture their title, as "Caught In A Mosh" quickly builds to a musical frenzy, and anyone who has ever been in a mosh pit can clearly feel the crowd moving around them. From start to finish, the song is masterfully deployed musical mayhem, yet the music remains focused and disciplined amidst the swirling chaos, much like the eye of a tornado. On many levels, this song perfectly displays everything that makes Anthrax so phenomenal, and it mirrors the entire album as a whole. After a series of rhythmically crushing chords, which almost serve as a warning siren of what's to come, Frank Bello drops into the song with one of the most wild and tension-fueled basslines that has ever been written. What follows across the remainder of the album is one of the most brain crushing and absolutely stunning displays of controlled chaos in music history. The drumming of Charlie Benante rarely sounded better, and the break-neck pace which he keeps throughout the recrod serves as a testament to his talents. Along with the fantastic work of the rhythm section, the dual guitars of Dan Spitz and Scott Ian remains today one of the most legendary sounds in the history of the metal genre. The fact that they are playing at such an amazingly fast tempo at every turn, yet never sacrifice any of the musicality of the song is one of the key aspects that sets Anthrax apart from the rest of the metal genre.

While many have tried over the years, few metal vocalists can present as much diversity, without ever losing the tone and energy as one finds in the singing of Joey Belladonna. From his aggressive spoken-word parts to his soaring singing, Belladonna is absolutely brilliant on every part of Among The Living. As the tension of the music ebbs and flows, so does Belladonna's vocal delivery, and the fusion of the two quickly sets the record far above the work of a majority of their peers. While the music is absolutely mesmerizing, and the vocals are truly perfect, as a whole, Among The Living also features some of Anthrax's finest lyrics ever. While at face value, the songs may seem little more than a a series of tunes to get the crowd energized, the metaphors of a person being fed up with their partner, or general frustration at the world runs through the entire record. Summing up the frustrations of the broken relationship in a manner with which all can relate, Belladonna roars, "...shut up, shut up, I don't wanna hear your mouth...your mother made a monster, now get the hell out of my house..." The fact that the lyrics are ambiguous in terms of gender makes the song even more universal, and it is a major reason why the song has become so iconic. Whether it is the blistering manner with which he delivers the words, or the lyrics themselves, there is simply no other vocalist in history quite like Joey Belladonna.

Not only presenting an album full of songs that can still make crowds explode to this day, but songs which brings both a universal sentiment and masterfully placed "sing along" moments, there are very few metal records that are as perfectly crafted as Anthrax's Among The Living. Standing today as one of the earlier "crossover"albums from the "speed metal" genre, Anthrax remains one of the few early bands that have not sold out to pop sounds in any way. While their entire 1987 release, Among The Living, is an absolutely genius body of work, "Caught In A Mosh" is clearly the stand-out track on the record, as it perfectly captures everything that makes the groups' music so fantastic, and it also contains one of the finest lyrics ever penned. With the rhythm section of Bello and Benante driving full speed ahead at an absolutely mind-boggling pace, there are truly very few albums that can keep such a tempo without becoming boring or simply sloppy. Similarly, both Scott Ian and Dan Spitz are in rare form on Among The Living, and the progressions and solos rank among the most ferocious and flawless in music history. Capped off my Joey Belladonna's sensational vocal delivery, the record truly embodies everything that there is to love about the entire speed metal genre. The fact that the group moves so magnificently as a single unit, along with the sheer power and energy of the album is the reason why Anthrax's 1987 record, Among The Living, remains a stunning musical classic to this day.