Friday Five

January 30, 2026

  1. Warren Zevon, "Mohammed's Radio" (1976): My friend Tony wasn't particularly taken with the live version of "Jeannie Needs a Shooter" that I posted a couple weeks ago. He asked me what I thought the "best" of Warren Zevon was. This was the first item on the list. Stevie Nicks is very recognizable on background vocals.
  2. Peter Martin and Emmet Cohen, "Summertime" (2026): This performance starts off really great and then just keeps getting better.
  3. The Bad Plus, "Anthem for the Earnest" (2005): The Bad Plus announced that they will be disbanding after this year. Everyone knows them for their covers of songs like "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in their first incarnation with pianist Ethan Iverson. But I love the way their original compositions are so individual. Dave King's pieces definitely do not sound like Reid Anderson's who in turn has a very distinct voice from Ethan Iverson. This is a Dave King tune and it definitely sounds like it.
  4. Mal Waldron, "Dans La Cuisine D'Alibi" (1983): The Mal Waldron album this comes from, Breaking New Ground, is unusual in Waldron's catalogue. He covers songs like "Beat It" and apparently it was a bit of a model for The Bad Plus in some ways, or at least Ethan Iverson. I don't think most Waldron fans or jazz fans hold those covers in very high regard, but this original waltz is sublime.
  5. Craig Taborn, "When Kabuya Dances" (2025): Craig Taborn has played on and off with the two constant members of The Bad Plus (Anderson and King) since high school. Here he is on a very recent release playing Geri Allen's signature song (or at least what I think of as her signature song) in an unusual trio with cellist Tomeka Reid and experimental drummer Ches Smith. It's beautiful.
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