Thank you for the music, is a new blog for Jazz Jurassica fans. We invite guests to tell us about the music that’s important to them and why.
Thank you for the music – David Kitson
Here, DAVID KITSON, co-director of Jazz Jurassica, former promoter of London music venue, The Moonlight Club, and ex-owner of an independent record label, lists 10 of his favourite tracks.
You can hear his selection as a Spotify playlist (Thanks for the music – David Kitson) on Jazz Jurassica’s Spotify channel HERE
“We get used to identifying music styles as either jazz, blues, soul, funk, Latin and even disco. The reality is that no style is isolated, individual or insular.
Some argue that in western culture, “the blues” (Bobby Bland – Yolanda from Dreamer) was the jumping off point for jazz, soul, funk and so on. But all these styles draw hugely on the diversity of west African cultures, music and beyond (Weather Report – Nubian Sundance Live from Mysterious Traveller and George Duke – Omi from Reach For It). So, there are no boundaries!
1970s selection
My selection is inspired and drawn from the 1970s (with the notable exceptions of Jill Scott – Getting in the way from Who is Jill Scott? and Phronesis – Urban Control from Life to Everything). But, sadly it is also heavily male, a reflection of the music scene at the time – thankfully now changing.
Many said the 1970s was a musical desert characterised by sugar pop, novelty records and pompous rock. In reality it was a time when fusion and cross-over between styles really took off, here in the UK, US and parts of Europe (Miles Davis – ‘Round Midnight from ‘Around About Midnight, Herbie Hancock – Just around the Corner from Mr Hands, Billy Cobham – Stratus from Spectrum, Lonnie Liston Smith – Expansions from Expansions and John McLaughlin – Peace Piece from Extrapolation).
In the UK there were early pioneers – Chris Barber, Annie Ross, John Dankworth, Cleo Lane and Tubby Hayes. They broke down barriers then and still inspire.
Musical memories
Moreover, all the tracks have personal associations with particular times and places. That’s the power and joy of music.
I’ve been lucky. I was in on the ground floor when musical boundaries began to dissolve and became more exciting for it. And long may it continue”.
Featured artists:
Bobby Bland, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Billy Cobham, John McLaughlin, Lonnie Liston Smith, Jill Scott, Phronesis, Weather Report and George Duke
We’d love to know what you think of David’s picks. What would your list sound like. Join in the debate and comment below.
Checkout:
Jazzwise magazine’s 100 Jazz Albums that shook the world.
Gilles Peterson’s show on BBC Radio 6
Ronnie Scott’s for live and streamed music
