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Wednesday, August 31, 2016


In spite of the metal, punk, alternative, and film-score music lover in me, I also have a great love for  jazz.  But not necessarily all jazz, but old-school type jazz.  The greats like MILES DAVIS, JOHN COLTRANE, DAVE BRUBECK, and so many others.   Their cool vibe is infectious and just makes me want to climb behind my drums, start playing until I'm deep in a fugue state, and just hope I'll never come up for real-world air again.  Simply live out the rest of my life wearing black turtlenecks, grooving with amazing & abstract musicians, and lusting after svelte beatnik beauties in dark basement clubs the world over. 

The first time I fell in love with the fantasy of dark, smoky, jazz clubs was when I saw the film (a thousand years ago now) WHERE THE BOYS ARE (1960), starring CONNIE FRANCIS, et al.  But it was the inimitable actor FRANK GORSHIN as BASIL the jazz band leader who, in one classic scene (scroll down for link below), expounds prophetically on "Dialectic Jazz".  Wow, I thought, what is Dialectic Jazz?  Well, simply put, it's the style I really enjoy listening to and love to play (even if only alone in my room).  But still, what is it?  The dictionary describes the word "dialectic" as:

dialectic |ˌdīəˈlektik|Philosophy
noun(also dialectics ) [ usu. treated as sing. ]
1_the art of investigating or discussing the truth of opinions.
2_inquiry into metaphysical contradictions and their solutions.
• the existence or action of opposing social forces, concepts, etc.

OK!  Makes perfect sense, right?  Hmmmmm…maybe only if you've experienced Dialectic Jazz first hand.  Now, at this point you're probably asking yourself, "Why the hell is this guy really running on and on in this blog post, about Dialectic Jazz?"  And you'd be correct in doing so.  Well, let me tell you why.  Several weeks ago, while slaving over my new novella, the GORSHIN scene from WHERE THE BOYS ARE just popped into my head.  I tried to remember exactly, what is the definition of "dialectic" again?  So I looked it up.  Then I immediately launched off on a writer's procrastination tangent (anything to escape a bit of  the relentless writer's doldrums ) and Googled the virtual world for real Dialectic Jazz bands, if they even existed anymore, or ever really did under the Dialectic Jazz label.  By pure chance an album popped up called DIALECTIC by the MIKE ALLEN TRIO.  I kept following my nose until I found the album, released back in 2003 (and on iTunes in 2006).  I sampled the music in iTunes and instantly fell in love with the sax-driven, standup bass & drums, MIKE ALLEN TRIO and the album DIALECTIC!  Just wonderful, groovy, slick, finger snapping cool, and outrageously tasty!  I immediately purchased and downloaded DIALECTIC, and have been listening to it on a regular basis ever since.

For anyone that loves jazz in the style of DAVIS, COLTRANE, and BRUBECK, do yourself a favor and check out DIALECTIC and the MIKE ALLEN TRIO.  Follow and enjoy the links below!

MIKE ALLEN's Official Website (for bio info and more recordings, etc.):
http://www.mikeallenjazz.com/

Listen to and/or purchase DIALECTIC here:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dialectic/id542504808

Read the AllAboutJazz.com Review of DIALECTIC here:
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/mike-allen-trio-dialectic-by-david-a-orthmann.php





Now Enjoy Some Video Of The MIKE ALLEN TRIO on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj_u5Fx157Q
 
*********

 
As A Great Companion Album to DIALECTIC…

NO COVER

by
JULIAN MacDONOUGH, JOSH COOK & CHUCK KISTLER



JULIAN MacDONOUGH is the drummer playing on DIALECTIC with the MIKE ALLEN TRIO and he is outstanding!  Listen or purchase NO COVER on…

CDBaby.com (I Listened):
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/joshcookchuckkistlerjuli

Or

iTunes.com (I Purchased):
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/no-cover/id625442322
 
 
Enjoy the JULIAN MacDONOUGH TRIO
Performing UNSQUARE DANCE by DAVE BRUBECK here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKJfVCwPAbY



********

 Now enjoy a little of me with my

jazz new-wave band ABOUT 9 TIMES
from way back when...

 
LIFE IS CHEAP IN THE MIDDLE EAST
From The Album
THERE IS NO...:

https://soundcloud.com/christopher-alan-broadstone/life-is-cheap-in-the-middle-east   

 &

HUMAN THING (Demo)
From The Album
BEYOND BLUE SKY NOTHING:
https://soundcloud.com/christopher-alan-broadstone/human-thing


 

********
Check Out the "Dialectic Jazz" Scene From
WHERE THE BOYS ARE (1960):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8RA3yIMegc

And Also Enjoy The Classic Theme Song To
WHERE THE BOYS ARE, sung by CONNIE FRANCIS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqgl0VRJW0E




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