Today's #DrewsPicks features a #jazz classic, Point of Departure by Andrew Hill.

All-time front line and all-time rhythm section.

Kenny Dorham – trumpet
Eric Dolphy – alto saxophone, bass clarinet, flute
Joe Henderson – tenor saxophone, flute
Andrew Hill – piano
Richard Davis – double bass
Tony Williams – drums

https://youtu.be/tPkyAs3na1Q?si=5ZZeMZFbC2y6lNIg

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Haven't done a #DrewsPicks in a while and a classical one in a long while.

This is the Montreal Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Charles Dutoit doing Prokofiev Symphony No. 5.

The first movement is dark and brooding but sweepingly melodic. The entire symphony is wonderful - ominous while still feeling hopeful somehow.

And Montreal sounds so good under Dutoit.

https://classical.music.apple.com/us/album/1452534615

Today's #DrewsPicks is my favorite pianist of all time, Glenn Gould*, and the New York Phil conducted by Leonard Bernstein performing Brahms Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in D Minor at Carnegie Hall on 4/6/62.

Brahms weaves effortlessly between settled and unsettled passages. It's an incredible piece. Hopeful but filled with angst.

https://classical.music.apple.com/us/album/344579057

https://youtu.be/zuxPKikM0NI

*But if you made me choose between Glenn Gould and John Medeski for the desert island I would just cry.

Today's #DrewsPicks is the 6/26/95 Bathtub Gin - one of my favorite short and sweet Type I jams.

It's kind of remarkable how much they pack into these 8 minutes. And I love the curveball right before the end.

Like a quad shot of espresso! #phish

https://relisten.net/phish/1995/06/26/bathtub-gin?source=162777

Today's #DrewsPicks is the 6/13/95 Foam. #phish

This song used to dance! A playful bounce and swing while playing incredibly intricate and complex composed lines.

Don't miss Trey's rhythm playing under Page's solo and Fishman's periodic reactions to it. Trey goes from angular with lots of space to strumming whole notes right before his solo starts.

In Trey's solo at 5:33 he starts a run of nothing but dotted quarter notes which gives a rhythmic sense of floating.

https://relisten.net/phish/1995/06/13/foam?source=163905

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Today's #DrewsPicks is a 2nd set closing Tweezer from 14 years ago tonight in Camden. #phish

This Tweezer gets lost in the shuffle and is overshadowed by the fantastic Sand jam that opened the set.

But it is noteworthy because the jam is essentially one patient, drawn out, massive crescendo. It's like the last five minutes of Mahler 3 and Tweezer had a baby.

It ends in a brief peak before they walked off the stage and it was awesome. Still holds up!

https://relisten.net/phish/2009/06/07/tweezer?source=162959

Today's #DrewsPicks is the 1959 Charles Mingus album Mingus Ah Um.

At least listen to the opening track, Better Git It In Your Soul. It's a burner.

Not exactly a hot take but Mingus was a genius! #jazz

https://youtu.be/z0A_Ik6TTn0

Apologies for the Facebook link for today's #DrewsPicks but this clip is straight fire.

A slew of Mexican #brass players and a couple of drummers that sound like they are being operated by one brain.

The uniform sizzle of the sound. The precise matching of the line, the articulation, the releases. The percussive groove of the sousaphone.

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

https://fb.watch/j_iqAIB8Fc/?mibextid=YCRy0i

Today's #DrewsPicks features legendary pianist Artur Rubinstein.

This dude had *swagger* and this piece, Grieg's Piano Concerto in A Minor, shows off his personality well.

The piano cadenza that starts at 9:37 is something to behold.

Orchestra: RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Alfred Wallenstein
Piano: Artur Rubinstein
Engineer: Lewis Layton
Producer: Max Wilcox

Recorded March 10, 1961

https://youtu.be/1Iqc8wh7VDo

Today's #DrewsPicks is bittersweet as it comes on the 4-year anniversary of the passing of my mentor, Sam Pilafian.

This is an arrangement of Simple Gifts by Aaron Copland that starts serene, will lift you out of your chair at its peak, and ends like a gentle exhale - all in 4 minutes.

Hard to believe this peak is just five players plus timpani. The greatest brass quintet the world has ever known.

I would recommend using headphones with your eyes closed for this one.

https://youtu.be/ESrUyN0OsM4

Today's #DrewsPicks is There Comes a Time by Gil Evans.

This album is eclectic, out there in spots, and wonderful. The writing, playing and communication are all great.

A high-level musical conversation that is profoundly deep grooves mixed with esoteric weirdness is right in my wheelhouse. #Jazz

https://youtu.be/KSUoRRpozaA

Today's #DrewsPicks is East Broadway Run Down by the great Sonny Rollins. #jazx

This is quite the lineup:

Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone
Freddie Hubbard – trumpet (track 1 only)
Jimmy Garrison – bass
Elvin Jones – drums

https://youtu.be/opMGArDXEYE

Might as well make this a #DrewsPicks because this album is a vibe my goodness.

Rhythm section is bananas:

Gil Evans - piano
Ron Carter - bass
Elvin Jones - drums

Opening track is some of the tastiest playing I've ever heard from Elvin Jones which is quite a statement. #jazz

https://youtu.be/ht55OL1vemo

Today's #DrewsPicks is an alternate mix of Rock Steady by the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

Rock Steady made it to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971.

The horns on the original are incredible and one of the best parts of the song. But leaving them out of this alternate mix really puts the spotlight on one of the greatest drummers to ever live, Bernard Purdie.

I'll never forget the first time I heard this groove. It left me slack-jawed.

https://youtu.be/RjRGI_FdWnk

Today's #DrewsPicks is the 7/9/94 Split Open and Melt.

This Melt has one of the biggest curveball endings for any Type I jam in #phish history.

Jam has a frantic but steady energy right from the first measure and slowly proceeds to maniacally builds in intensity for 10 minutes until the curveball ending.

This jam had me literally muttering to myself.

https://relisten.net/phish/1994/07/09/split-open-and-melt?source=163278

Today's #DrewsPicks is one of the best #jazz trombonists to ever live, John Fedchock, who I am interviewing today for The Brass Junkies.

Listen to this solo. Parts understated/sparse and parts blazing technique.

And it's his big band and his arrangement.

Dude is a legend!

https://youtu.be/ZpkqeJNHcfE?t=93

Today's #DrewsPicks is a #jazz album that is packed with an all-star cast:

Art Pepper + Eleven

Phenomenal arrangements of standards from Dizzy Gillespie, Horace Silver, Charlie Parker, Gerry Mulligan, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis and more.

Entire band is world-class but you'd be hard-pressed better drumming than what Mel Lewis does here.

Incredibly nuanced drumming but you can easily not notice because it is not at all flashy. But a phenomenal groove for everything!

https://youtu.be/jyibvJS5qQI

Today's #DrewsPicks is a song that I bet every single person reading this has heard many times. It is a pop masterpiece and is close to the perfect pop song for my tastes.

Drive by The Cars seems like a straightforward and simple song but there's a lot going on rhythmically.

https://youtu.be/xuZA6qiJVfU

Today's #DrewsPicks is from a genre I don't frequent much: #bluegrass.

This set from Sierra Hull is intimate and special. Lots of high-level communicating happening in this performance.

And this band swings its ass off! The pocket in the first tune is deep and the second tune is blazing fast while still emphasizing groove (the hard part of super fast playing.)

Finally, I appreciate the drum. Adds a lot to the groove.

https://www.youtube.com/live/bHEhzmQvI1k?feature=share

Today's #DrewsPicks is a filthy live version of Use Me by Bill Withers.

This is not the Live at Carnegie Hall version that I've heard a hundred times (which is amazing.)

This was from a 1972 episode of the British TV show called The Old Grey Whistle Test.

This pocket is *deep*

https://youtu.be/LuzlbR5V_hc