Every once in a while I find an album that I end up listening to constantly for days. I finally get tired of it, but in the mean time I just can't get the music out of my system. A few months ago I was on a Gilberto Joabim / Bossa Nova kick and found a John Pizzarelli album that did that to me.
A couple of weeks ago I heard a song on the local jazz station. I liked it so I found out what it was and ordered the album. Sometimes I have done that only to find out that the album is junk except for that one song. This time I was pleasantly surprised, and I'm listening to the album over and over.
The album is The Music of Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays by the Bob Curnow L.A. Big Band. Turns out it was made almost 10 years ago. Where have I been? It has some great musicians in it, including Bobby Shew and Wayne Bergeron in the trumpet section. I really, really like tracks 1 (It's Just Talk), 3 (The First Circle), 7 (See the World), and 12 (Have You Heard). They are all of the “up” tunes. The slower tunes are good too, especially 4 (Letter From Home). Just something about it.
Some time I will have to compile a list of “Ken's Favorite Albums”. This one will definately be on it.