Rolling Jazz Thread 2023

If anything, everyone has reacted to say that his views were appalling and a disappointment. What more do you want ?

You and I are reading different threads— what I see here, largely, is a lot of people saying, “yeah but” or choosing to elide his views completely.

What I want is for people to strongly denounce his views and say that it absolutely and justifiably tarnishes his music.

Instead, we get anodyne statements like “yeah i saw him it was great, i was seated next to roscoe mitchell :-)”

I read a book by Ajay Heble, then-director of the Guelph Jazz Festival, which has a long discussion of his dilemma around booking a show by Charles Gayle. As I recall, his final decision is against - specifically because Gayle often expressed his views onstage, rather than privately or even just in interviews. Needless to say, such "delicate" distinctions would probably not be applied in the social media era.

Feel really bad for speaking against the new Fly or Die upthread, it’s a great album but I wasn’t in the headspace first it at first. I usually wait to give judgement in such cases but for some reason above I felt compelled to just blurt out my first thoughts without giving it a fair shot.

Ok fine, I'll give it another listen :)

yeah same! i think my feelings toward the previous record sort of badly colored my opinion of the newer one, so i will try again soon

The Irreversible Entanglements is appeased and almost playful at times, and trying new things. Stand out track Root <=> Branch moves abruptly from a contemplative first half to a second mocking half. Slow ballad Sunshine features demented vocals and electronics. Really feeling the bass that surging on the closer Degrees of Freedom with its slow swing, as the strings and horns agonize around it, beautiful track, Nina Simone is somewhere smiling proudly. I was less convinced by the first half, which was closer to Matana Roberts. Soundness made me think of Algiers Can we let the subbass speak though, that's cool. Good record.

Final thoughts on Charles Gayle.

was less convinced by the first half, which was closer to Matana Roberts. Soundness made me think of Algiers

Damn, Nasheet Waits:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkWdU-WeGFw

Damn, that smokes. Might have missed it, but didn't see much discussion about the New Jawn album from earlier this year, Prime, which is terrific.

Yeah, I love both that group's records. Didn't know McBride had that kind of energy in him!

I love the new Irreversible Entanglements. They're such a good band. I like them in both groove and freak-out modes.

And yeah I think that Jaimie Branch album is great, she was such a force. I like all the Fly or Die albums, but apart from the live album I think this one is my favorite.

Spoke to Jason Ajemian about the making of the album and jaimie's legacy.

https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/jaimie-branch-interview

I just purchased tix to see Daniel Villarreal in Brooklyn in Oct. Very excited.

My latest Stereogum column is up. I interviewed pianist Aaron Diehl, who's just released a recording of Mary Lou Williams' Zodiac Suite with the chamber orchestra the Knights (using Williams' own arrangements); I also reviewed new albums by Matana Roberts, James Brandon Lewis, Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra, Idris Ackamoor & the Pyramids, and others.

Saw NIS tonight— truly a fantastic show. My husband was terrified of the harmonium player, and frankly, I understand a little. Small room, great sound :)

Third Fly or Die is quite the statement. What a broad range of influences this album contains. How those guys respond to each other flawlessly and joyfully. While each element is calibrated and nothing weighs more than it needs to. Borealis Dancing and Baba Louie could easily find their place as year end tracks.

Just got tix to Makaya in two weeks. I saw him once here with a trio in a small club, missed the last show at a larger rock club that I heard was great, and this one is in a concert theater. Wonder who will be in the band this time?

this Darius Jones fLuxKit album is best thing I've heard in ages

Speaking of xxxpost Aaron Diehl, and thinking of tight combustible piano trios in general, heard this recently on radio---Bill Charlap with Peter Washington and Kenny Washington---"Cool," from The Songs of Leonard Berstein, sounding not that much like West Side Story, which is cool with me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85ei57oi7xk

I have to say, this Emergency Group release from February absolutely knocked me flat in a good way, especially Pt. 1

https://emergencygroup.bandcamp.com/album/inspection-of-cruelty

One of the few fusion things I've heard in recent years that really does pull it off. They've got another album due out soon.

Oh, that's Dave Mandl's band. He used to (does?) write for Wire. Good stuff. They played in London recently but couldn't make it up.

Ha, I didn't even register that connection with Wire.

I just played that first track again today and liked it even more. Not that I'm arguing they are near equals in the quality department, but for all the times I've read hype about groups that channel the spirit of '70s Miles, this is one of the few that actually makes a convincing case that they could even be in the same ballpark. Some major Jack Johnson vibes.

Nice; definitely gonna buy their stuff. Thanks!

Glad you like it! I made it about five minutes into that track and bought the full download and pre-ordered the new CD.

I saw Makaya McCraven's In These Times show last night, 11 piece band incl. a string quartet, Brandee Younger on harp, three horns (Marquis Hill, Greg Ward, and De'Sean Jones, who also conducted the strings), Junius Paul, and Matt Gold. It was pretty incredible. Def more about the ensemble and the tunes rather than blowing, but everyone got a moment and MM was ridiculous throughout.

This is truly my year of guitar ballads, so I'm psyched about this record by pedal steel guitarist Dave Easley with Jeff Parker and Jay Bellerose.

https://daveeasley.bandcamp.com/album/ballads

There was supposed to be a new Ohad Talmor album coming out today called Back to the Land on Intakt. It's a two-CD set recorded with a trio (Chris Tordini on bass, Eric McPherson on drums) plus a ton of guests: Joel Ross, David Virelles, Leo Genovese, Shane Endsley, Russ Johnson, Grégoire Maret, Adam O'Farrill. A lot of the tunes are based on transcriptions from a rehearsal recording Talmor found of Ornette, Lee Konitz, Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins; that group played a one-off concert at the Umbria Jazz Festival in 1998 and none of that music was ever heard again.

Anyway, it's not coming out because Denardo Coleman has objected, possibly because Ornette's name appears in big letters on the front cover. So the release has been pulled from the schedule and who knows, maybe it'll come out later or maybe it'll have to be destroyed or something. I don't know, but I have a physical copy already cause Intakt still sends me physical promos even though I have asked them several times to stop.

I thought for a second it was going to be another nonsensical casualty of the Israel/Hamas thing, but it's just Coleman fils being overprotective again.

I saw the Daniel Villarreal show in Brooklyn this week. Loved Panama 77 but was having trouble with the mellower new album. New songs sounded way bigger and more dynamic live. Great show.

This is truly my year of guitar ballads, so I'm psyched about this record by pedal steel guitarist Dave Easley with Jeff Parker and Jay Bellerose.

https://daveeasley.bandcamp.com/album/ballads

this is right up my alley

Sylvie Courvoisier's latest ensemble and 2CD on Intakt Records includes Nate Wooley, Wadada Leo Smith & Christian Fennesz (+ others).

I've bought it hadn't gotten around to listening it yet.

This is truly my year of guitar ballads, so I'm psyched about this record by pedal steel guitarist Dave Easley with Jeff Parker and Jay Bellerose.

https://daveeasley.bandcamp.com/album/ballads

Absolutely stunning. Lots of Frisell / Jim Hall / Ry Cooder vibes. Beautiful melodies, great sounds.

Exploring other beautiful guitar vibes on this thread btw -
Thread of Jakob Bro (Danish jazz guitarist, maker of floating minimal ballads)

I know I mentioned Emergency Group upthread already, recently, but I finally got to their new record and, it's absolutely all I hoped it would be.

https://emergencygroup.bandcamp.com/album/venal-twin

Yeah, I was impressed enough to write about it for the BA newsletter. Thanks for recommending them!

No problem. For all the great new music you've introduced me to, it's nice to return the favor.

Listening to it now and loving it. Wish it was issued on vinyl.

Reading unperson's newsletter, I can definitely hear pre-70 Grateful Dead in there.

People have made comparisons to On the Corner-era Miles, but I don’t hear that at all.

insanity, and this from the guy who literally wrote the book!

Really liking Chimaera, never been much into Courvoisier but the addition of Wooley, Smith, and Fennesz kicks everything up a notch.

Started an ILM thread on Patrick Shiroishi if people want to talk about his work.

S/D: Patrick Shiroishi

Today I listened to Susan Alcorn Septeto del Sur. More folk than jazz at times, but the free improv moments resemble Derek Bailey. The guitar solo in the last track is very Marc Ribot-esque.

Next up was Crossing Four by Ned Rothenberg. Great ensemble, especially the combination of Mary Halvorson and Sylvie Courvoisier.

Really enjoying the new Mike Reed record, The Separatist Party, out on Astral Spirits / We Jazz. Features Rob Frye, Cooper Crain, Ben LaMar Gay, Dan Quinivin and spoken word by Marvin Tate.

Not the biggest fan of the spoken word bits, tbh, but the rest of it smokes, really like Crain's contributions.

https://wejazzrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-separatist-party

Would also really recommend this Rob Frye album on Astral Spirits from two and a half years ago (sorry for the slight derail since this isn't a new jazz release!) if anyone is into the sound of that new Mike Reed album, since the main players are p much Bitchin Bajas + Ben Lamar Gay (the track below from it is esp awesomely Isotope 217-ish IMO):

https://astralexoplanet.bandcamp.com/track/xc175020

Missed that one, thanks for the heads up!

heard this Gregory Tardy track (from 2020) on the radio and am now excited to check out more. this tune rules!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gD_JrZr9uI

the Rob Frye stuff on AS is really ace, i honestly just subscribe to their digital albums and it is absolutely worth the $15/month