December 12th, 2024 - The Prophetic & the Odd

 

Good evening!  Here's something a little different for you.  The Meista here tonight pairing "The Prophetic Herbie Nichols, Vols. 1 & 2" by Herbie Nichols and a unique and flavorful Odd Brewin' from my buddy Dwight at Gossorino Brewing for ya!  This pairing goes out to my friend Jared, who shared this wonderful album with me, as shared this wonderful brew with him!  Cheers brother!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Herbie Nichols
• Title: "The Prophetic Herbie Nichols, Vols. 1 & 2"
• Recorded: May 6th and 13th, 1955 at Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey
• Release date: 1955 (1st and 2nd studio albums by Herbie Nichols)
• Record company: Blue Note
• Production: Alfred Lion
• Album cover art: Martin Craig
• Personnel: Herbie Nichols (piano) with Art Blakey (drums) and Al McKibbon (bass)
• Musical style: Jazz
• Sound: Wonderfully original, timeless, and ground-breaking, the tracks on "The Prophetic Herbie Nichols, Vols. 1 & 2" are everything you want and need in jazz piano!  Nichols blends old school jazz with more modern be-bop and swing.  And boy does he swing!
• Major themes: As these are all instrumental jazz compositions, themes are open to interpretation, though the song titles may give some clues to their meanings.  I leave that to each listener.
• Note: Obscure at his time, Herbie Nichols is now heralded by listeners and critics as a phenomenon.  Sadly, Nichols died in 1963 of leukemia at the age of 44.
• Tracks: 

1. "Dance Line"
2. "Step Tempest"
3. "The Third World"
4. "Blue Chopsticks"
5. "Double Exposure"
6. "Cro-Magnon Nights"
7. Amoeba's Dance"
8. "Crisp Day"
9. "2300 Skiddoo"
10. "It Didn't Happen"
11. "Shuffle Montgomery"
12. "Brass Rings"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Gossorino Brewing (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://gossorinobrewing.com/
• Brew: Odd Brewin'
• Style: Flanders Oud Bruin
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7.0%
• Pour: The Odd Brewin' pours a with lacing.
• Nose: The nose is a wicked blend of tartness, wild yeast, fruit ester, and earthy funk.  There are aromas of vinous grapes, cherry juice, horse blanket, aged leather, cocoa, light lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and oak.
• Taste: Like the nose, the Odd Brewin' tastes vinous, tart, sweet, slightly boozy, woody, earthy, and funky.  There are notes of Pinot Noir, tart cherry and lemon juice, Tootsie Rolls, oak, wild yeast, plum, and leather.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Odd Brewin' is tart, sharp, funky, and woody with a dry finish with lots of lingering sour notes.

Overall pairing: The compelling nature of the Odd Brewin' from Gossorino Brewing is perfect for the uniquely compelling and mesmerizing sound of Herbie Nichols' keys on his amazing "The Prophetic Herbie Nichols, Vols. 1 & 2" albums!  There are complexities in both the brew and the album that are very difficult to pin down... true originals, but with an essence of things that came before... brilliant!

Cheers!!