"Music doesn't go seasonable to me." Rolling Jazz Dm7♭5 Thread 2017

'16 had its day, now it's passé

Lol @ thread title

I am still afraid the flat sign will break someone's browser, or even zing.

Actually it did seem to kill zing when I linked to other thread.

Finally, keep wanting to follow it with a G7b9.

I'll let you resolve to the (minor) tonic.

Linked FROM other thread

First BA review of the year, up tomorrow, will be of the Anna Högberg Attack album, which I totally missed in 2016. (Came out in April.) An all-female Swedish sextet led by a saxophonist who guested on the most recent album by The Thing, and is also a member of Fire! Orchestra.

I like it, although I'd totally forgotten about it until recently when quite a few people on blogs I read were voting it no.1 on their eoy lists.

Anna Högberg Attack review. Short version: It's not paradigm-shifting or anything, but it's enjoyable if you like '60s style free jazz.

been working with a sax & woodwinds guy for two years now and as we've worked closer together, my jazz listening has been rekindled (I grew up on jazz, my dad played in combos all through my youth). ran across this yesterday via the Fuckin' Record Reviews Tumblr, it was on their giant year-end list of links -- to my ears, it's really good, really just jamming but...I like me some jams

https://gospelofmars.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-trans-pecos

Steve Swell trombone | Gebhard Ullmann tenor saxophone and bass clarinet | Fred Lonberg-Holm cello and electronics | Michael Zerang drums

^^
this band aka The Chicago Plan have a killer album on Clean Feed. Good review of it here.
http://jazzandblues.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/the-chicago-plan-self-titled-clean-feed.html

gospel of mars is awesome! that fuckin record reviews list is a treasure every year

Who else is doing Winter JazzFest this weekend in NYC? I'm planning out Friday and it's packed. Saturday less so.
http://www.winterjazzfest.com/marathon1/
http://www.winterjazzfest.com/marathon2/

I never do it, can't really stay out that late, but I know many musicians love to go see as many of the other acts as they can.

my current plan on the 6th (and I'll likely miss a lot of these but i'll try) is Dayme Arocena, Dave Douglas/Shigeto, Andrew Cyrille, DeeDee Bridgwater/Theo Bleckmann/Jason Moran does Monk, Jim Black's Malamute, Battle Trance

There are some groups I'd really like to see, like Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Donny McCaslin's quartet, the Andrew Cyrille/Bill McHenry duo (I've seen them together before, as part of McHenry's quartet with Orrin Evans and Eric Revis), and Melissa Aldana's trio, but I don't think I'm gonna make it. Winter Jazzfest is just too manic for me.

I would go to all of those as well but yeah too much too soon.

there's a gazillion shows and tons of stuff (especially on Friday) that's counter-programmed against other things i wanna see. I think i'm just gonna walk around on Saturday and try things i don't know anything about.

Here's an incredible clip I've never seen before: Archie Shepp guesting with the Duke Ellington band in 1969.

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

They would have made a great duo or trio for def, in fact some of my fave Shepp stuff recently is his duo records with Mal Waldron.

i was looking something else up and this was on youtube and someone mentioned them here so i started to watch it but its really terrible. but maybe they are better now. or maybe it's one of those brian eno kinda things where it's an orchestra of amateurs and people who can't play. but why are there like 30 of them? are they indie rock people? i was gonna make a godspeed you black emperor joke but someone already did two years ago in the comments. i always think people should practice more before they play live but i'm old-fashioned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FC7-NWlTp8

There's a pretty good article about Winter Jazzfest in the Voice. (In related news, the Voice is starting to get good again. Yes, Christgau and SFJ are writing for them again, but I mean in spite of that.)

wow, don, that youtube channel is a goldmine. that footage of victoria spivey performing black snake blues... just completely amazing! what a lady! and then there's a whole concert by capt. john handy... subscribed!

Wait did don post recently? Oh you mean "Don"?

https://www.otrcat.com/images/Jack-Benny-Don-Wilson-otrcat.com.jpg
Oh, Don!

Wait did don post recently? Oh you mean "Don"?

― The Magnificent Galileo Seven (James Redd and the Blecchs)

you know i never figured out how to tell the difference between display names and real names, mr. blecchs.

Sorry, that was more about my own thought process than about you.

no apology necessary :)

You may call me Galileo.

king of night vision, king of insight

thank you shari lewis

Lol

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/files/2014/01/55825624.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p4drWtJ0Ug

hey scott, here's an overview of the Fire! lineup

Fire! Orchestra (since 2012)

Mats Gustafsson – baritone and slide sax, conduction
Johan Berthling – el bas
Andreas Werliin – drums
Mariam Wallentin – voice
Sofia Jernberg – voice
Anna Högberg – alto sax
Mette Rasmussen – alto sax
Lotte Anker – soprano and tenor sax
Jonas Kullhammar – braithophone, slide and bass sax
Goran Kajfes – cornet and slide trumpet
Niklas Barnö – trumpet
Mats Äleklint – trombone
Per-Åke Holmlander – tuba
Hild Sofie Tafjord – french horn
Andreas Berthling – electronics
Finn Loxbo – guitar
Julien Desprez – guitar
Martin Hederos – keyboards and violin
Mads Forsby – drums and electronics
Mikael Werliin – sound

not your average amateurs

how do you like this https://youtu.be/VE-w9kPIhg8 ?

i was actually looking up a mats gustafsson thing when i found that. i have heard stuff of his that i liked. but that live clip is terrible. it really is. so sloppy. the singers are sad. they need to lock themselves in a room for a decade and just play or something. it just sounds like a sad approximation of another time. surprised they don't have a sleigh bell virtuoso. i can't believe that they can listen to audio of that and think that they sound good. if it were just some ramshackle punk d.i.y. approach to "fire music" done as a lark it would be one thing, but it sounds like they have "ideas".

The Fire! Orchestra isn't for me either tbh, but I did like the Fire! trio album they recorded last year though. I'm not against big bands either, just not Them type ones.

that Matt Wilson's Big Happy Family release from last year is more like the modern type of big band I can get into.

i was looking something else up and this was on youtube and someone mentioned them here so i started to watch it but its really terrible. but maybe they are better now. or maybe it's one of those brian eno kinda things where it's an orchestra of amateurs and people who can't play. but why are there like 30 of them? are they indie rock people? i was gonna make a godspeed you black emperor joke but someone already did two years ago in the comments. i always think people should practice more before they play live but i'm old-fashioned.

This reminds me of the London Jazz Composers Orchestra's late '80s/early '90s stuff: "We need a JAZZ section! We need a COMPOSED section (some midtempo unison lines will do the trick)! We need a FREE IMPROV section! Or multiple FREE IMPROV sections! Different small groupings doing FREE IMPROV broken up by the COMPOSED unison lines!" To be fair, the LJCO stuff is pretty decent (and you might like them, Scott -- their much better rehearsed than Fire! Orchestra), but this is a chronic problem in this music, composers/bandleaders trying to desperately shoehorn as many of their "influences" as possible into long/large-scale works to the extent that it ends up as a clumsy collage of half-assed pseudo-homages.

when the one singer busts out a bad yoko impression i had to laugh a little. it was just lacking some yoko at that point.

maybe it just bugs me when i get the impression that people think it's EASY to do something like that. i mean it's hard to be a quartet and be in sync with the people you are playing with. or a trio! but 30 people....

i could definitely see them opening for someone like radiohead though. blowing minds.

Mention of the LJCO semi-reminded me of Gil Evans' The London Orchestra, actually The British Orchestra, who took it on the road in '83---this might be best suited for later tonight, but don't sleep on it---if don't show, they're doing "Little Wing", without trying to beat Hendrix at his own game, performance-wise anyway (they catch the vibe and pass it right along: no bogarting, despite the length). With John Surman and Ray Russell soloing, Mo Foster on bass, drums uncredited on my LP of 'em and here, other horns are into it without horning in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC6ERO815Bg

Here's the album I have---think performances of all these songs, from this set or other gigs, are currently on the 'Tube:

https://www.discogs.com/Gil-Evans-The-British-Orchestra/release/1650253

And speaking of Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, NPR's still got several of his Newport sets, starting with this one from 2010, my first DJASS experience: http://www.npr.org/2010/08/07/128982169/darcy-james-argues-secret-society-in-concert-newport-jazz-festival-2010

first and best, if my memory serves me well

Hard to imagine something less appealing to me than a big band arrangement of a song from Hendrix's worst studio album.

Have you heard the jazz tribute to The Shaggs?

Ha, I have a copy of the whole Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix album. I remember liking it well enough.

Ken Peplowski, if he is playing.

Maybe the Ear Inn Earegulars or whatever they are called

Or something at Mona’s

Yeah, definitely Dennis Lichtman at Mona’s.

Tuesday’s at 11 til late

Thanks!

This story about Irvin Mayfield just keeps getting more remarkable, not always in a good way---The Great Jazzby doesn't say all of it, but (despite music, saga-wise it's better reading than hearing; I missed some of the audio version while some while trying to absorb previous):
https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/12/18/571718936/irvin-mayfield-new-orleans-jazz-pillar-indicted-for-laundering-library-funds

I saw Dave King w/the Chris Speed trio last night in a tiny gallery space, truly a great set. They had some tunes that operate in an interesting zone of 'free', but with a lot of rhythmic information. Honestly wasn't sure at times if there was a consistent pulse or if they were just playing shapes that would at times converge and stop on a dime.

I can't think of anyone else who I'd rather hear play drums in this context, DK just has so much intention and emotion behind it, he's a joy to watch even for civilians who would never normally mess with avant-garde gallery jazz.

I'm listening to their album and it's a good representation, but of course this sort of thing is much better in the room.

Funny, another writer I know was there and he hates King; he said on FB that his playing basically wrecked the whole set for him.

Haha, I would love to read that.

I'll quote him without naming him:

"Disconcerting for the almost instant visceral dislike I had to King's antics behind the kit, so much so [that at] this point I'm pretty sure it's me & not him. Chops are there, but in the service of this hyperactive compulsion to strike nearly every surface w/ dynamics & subtlety a distant afterthought. There were times when he outright drowned Speed out. Only a single energy improv piece that set several of the blue-hairs dining in the audience on edge & had King once again banging away w/ a goofy grin. The rest was open-ended, smoothly-contoured freebop salvaged by Speed's focus & Tordini's flexibility."

I liked the album, and wouldn't mind checking the group out live at some point.

i don't know if i can accurately judge King because he's such a "thing" in minneapolis

early happy apple was a force of nature

He was busy, sort of an uninterrupted free-time flow, but I thought it was extremely dynamic and subtle (which is not easy to do with that kind of density). Lots of brushes. Only the occasional bass drum or hi-hat bomb, which really stood out and was usually locked in with the bass or sax in a way I didn't see coming.

And god forbid someone seem like they're enjoying themselves playing jazz.

I have been heavily listening to that Jimmy Lyons & Sunny Murray Trio, Jump Up album this last week. He was one hell of a drummer, ffs! It was sad to read in an obituary that in his last years he was struggling to get by on benefits and bootlegging his own music for extra cash.

Not heard the Dave King album but another drummer bandleader I like at the moment is Billy Mintz, his Ugly Beautiful album is brilliant.

Sonny Rollins‏ @sonnyrollins 22h22 hours ago

On February 16, Craft Recordings will release a deluxe edition of Way Out West, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the recording session.

I also notice there is a campaign to name a bridge after him. I really love Way Out West, it's just perfect.

Wasn't there already a deluxe edition of Way Out West with a whole bunch of bonus tracks? How much more could there be?

quite correct really!

I really dig that Zara McFarlane album you put on your list unperson, reminds me of a more jazz, less reggae and more adventurous Hollie Cook

The track 'Crooked Teeth' on the Chris Speed record is a good example of their free interplay. I probably wouldn't like it as much if I hadn't caught a set. Everything else on the record is pulse-based for the most part.

CS has a really beautiful sound btw.

Everything else on the record is pulse-based for the most part.

Actually that's not true, Spotify was just playing tracks in an unexpected order, lol.

more jazz, less reggae and more adventurous Hollie Cook

Also for those compiling your year-end lists, this playlist includes all the available tracks on this thread, organized roughly chronologically in order of mention:

ILM's 2017 Rolling Jazz Thread Spotify Playlist

ulysses if you don't like it then i'd be shocked

it's good!

Thanks for the playlist, ulysses.

Salute!

I like the Zara McFarlane one too, ty

I normally hate jazz vocals, but two vocal records really clicked with me this year - the McFarlane and the new Cecile McLorin Salvant. And Alicia Hall Moran (Jason Moran's wife) just threw an album up on Bandcamp tonight - Harriet Tubman is her backing band on at least 3 tracks. It's $20, like her husband's work, but I think I'm gonna spring for it just so I can write about it in January's Stereogum column.

Would FP you for disliking Jazz Vocals but I guess you’re not the only one.

Which reminds me, RIP Kevin Mahogany

wait, what?

oh man, i missed that. i really don't know anything about the guy, but i used to listen to a jazz radio station like 20 years ago that played mahogany's "oh! gee!" a lot, and i have a lot of residual fondness for him because of it.

My podcast interview with Stanley Cowell is live now.

two vocal records really clicked with me this year

ONE OF US, ONE OF US

Hilary Gardner & Ehud Asherie's The Late Set might be a bit too much of a mannered + polite Jazz Vocal album for some folk, but I find it quite elegant and lovely.

_two vocal records really clicked with me this year_


ONE OF US, ONE OF US

(whispers into the wind)
(I don't like most jazz vocals either...........)

A friend on FB has just posted "RIP Roswell Rudd" but without a confirming link at the moment.

Aw, fuck, I hope not but I wouldn't be surprised. When I was interviewing him last month it was like a whisper from the grave.

would like to see that cecile mclorin salvant on more people's best of lists.

Just heard a track from this on NTS (Beatrice Dillon) and now I need to track it down: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharoah_Sanders_Live...

Doesn't look like it's easily available digitally unfortunately.

Richard Williams
‏ @rwilliams1947
8h8 hours ago

RIP great trombonist Roswell Rudd, 82. Going to remember him by listening to School Days, Four for Trane, New York Art Quartet, New York Eye & Ear Control, Liberation Music Orchestra (“We Shall Overcome”!), JCOA, etc. A vital figure in the ‘60s new jazz. Even if reports of his death are wrong, this seems like a good list for the weekend.

Oh and just heard this, mostly re RR's 2016 album work:
https://www.npr.org/2017/12/22/572609610/trombonist-roswell-rudd-packs-a-lot-of-wisdom-into-every-note-of-embrace

this should be right up any spiritual hat head's alley:
https://open.spotify.com/album/7CRS4CTIm4E5uUcwSoQ2pL
^^Spiritual Jazz 7: Islam

This could be called chamber jazz, but these excerpts set off little lights in my morning fog, hocketing and all (beats the Radiohead I've heard, anyway): https://www.npr.org/2017/12/28/574044466/marta-s-nchez-creates-a-truly-international-sound-with-danza-imposible

Definitely; this is what I said about it for Stereogum:

Marta Sanchez, a pianist from Spain who’s lived in New York since 2011, recorded her third album with a great band: saxophonists Roman Filiu and Jerome Sabbagh, bassist Rick Rosato, and drummer Daniel Dor. Despite being written for a traditional jazz quintet, the compositions have a weird energy that reminds me of modern classical and/or abstract electronic music. The title track, “Danza Imposible,” begins with a just slightly off horn figure over a hypnotic piano melody. When the two saxophones begin to go their separate ways, coexisting without exactly harmonizing, Sanchez, Rosato and Dor create a lurching, fractured rhythmic bed for them. Her piano style is extremely delicate, but focused at the same time; she’s got a lot of power that she holds in reserve for just the right moment.

I see it has already been noted itt that ECM is streaming - it's fantastic!!

first albums I saved were Streams by Jakob Bro (with Thomas Morgan and Joey Baron), Swept Away by Marc Johnson and Eliane Elias (with Joey Baron and Joe Lovano) and One is the Other by Billy Hart Quartet (BH, Ethan Iverson, Ben Street and Mark Turner)

Crazy story about busted water pipe at Mezzrow.