Rolling Jazz Thread 2018

I'm sure he doesn't, that's a beautiful story. I'll make sure he sees it.

The Centro d'Arte Padova has uploaded 25 minutes of previously unreleased Cecil Taylor solo piano from 1975 to Mixcloud via AllAboutJazz.com. It's great; very much in the vein of Air Above Mountains.

From 2016 but I was immediately drawn to Florian Weber's solos on this Angelika Niescier LP on Intakt. He's inserting this avant-Euro-experimental thing into a hard bop framework, and it's great. Found out afterward he was cutting a record with Stockhausen fils for ECM around the same time

Sick, I've been wanting to hear Tyshawn Sorey in a more, um, rhythmic context.

Sorey (and bassist Tordini) also have a a trio album with saxophonist Angelica Niescier coming out on Intakt a little later this year.

Great column, as always, but re the origin of the name Shatner's Bassoon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass_Eye

I think I'm going to listen to nothing but Dave Burrell for the next few days.

I interviewed three really good South African jazz musicians - keyboardist/bandleader Thandi Ntuli, trombonist/singer Siya Makuzeni, and saxophonist Linda Sikhakhane - for Bandcamp:

http://daily.bandcamp.com/2018/05/02/new-south-african-jazz-feature/

FTR, Linda Sikhakhane is a dude.

On first listen, really digging ANTELOPER (Jaimie Branch and Jason Nazary), to the point that I had to restrain from starting a Jaimie Branch thread.

https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/kudu

I'm getting slaughtered on Facebook for this opinion, so I might as well share it here:

Late '70s-early '80s NYC funk/fusion had to be the worst sound in jazz history. The jangling guitars, the high bass lines, the biting-on-tinfoil snare drums. Prime Time, the Decoding Society, anything with James "Blood" Ulmer. Really talented players (Ulmer excepted; that dude is running a long, long con) making irredeemably awful music.

I know this stuff is well regarded, and "important" as an overall development. All I'm saying is, it doesn't work for me. None of it. And these are people whose work I like a lot at other times (I love Ronald Shannon Jackson with Last Exit and with Cecil Taylor, my love of Ornette's non-Prime Time music is certainly established, etc.). It was the combination of what they were playing and the sharp, trebly '80s production. It is so, so Not For Me.

I agree for the most part, it's rough. The sounds on that 80s Bill Frisell live set posted on his thread make it come off like a 'shreds' video.

Does Dancing in Your Head fit into this period? I love that.

Yeah, I'm basically talking about all the Prime Time albums, all the albums by Ulmer's various projects (solo discs, Music Revelation Ensemble, Odyssey), and Ronald Shannon Jackson's Decoding Society. (I do like Arthur Blythe's Lenox Avenue Breakdown and Illusions, which are from this period but don't have that same jangly sound and go-nowhere "funk" style.)

Oh, yeah, I like that stuff. Not for everyone.

If I'm thinking of the same Frisell clip (1993?) that Jordan is talking about, I agree that there are some things I don't love about that sound, but it seems like a different thing altogether.

I love 80's Fusion these days but it feels like a genre that you get into long after you've exhausted a lot of other stuff (not that I'm saying you haven't done that, unperson!). In my teens it would have been the definition of bad taste to me.

Mini-doc on the first Bad Plus show w/Orrin Evans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ikioo--iFUo&t=0s

Don't know why that didn't work but it's on the Jazz Night in America channel.

The only thing I disagree with in that statement is this:

Ulmer...is running a long, long con

Ulmer's great! I even like his blues records! He has a great sound that splits the difference between Hendrix and Sonny Sharrock (whose later LPs I[m assuming you also don't like). What don't you like about him?

But the sound of this period is rough going, I agree. A lot of it is the 80s production, but I think some of the music is worth getting beyond that, like Frisell's Power Tools album. Do you know that one? How do you feel about 80s Zorn?

Got a promo of the new Kamasi Washington today. A double CD, 16 tracks, just under 2 1/2 hours long. I've listened to the first disc so far. It's all the same musicians as The Epic, including the orchestra and choir, plus a few guests - Sput, the drummer from Snarky Puppy, is on a track or two. It's Epic-ish, but with the same kind of slick CTI sound and feel as the Harmony of Difference EP. Washington's compositional voice is easily recognizable at this point, but he's improved as a player, and an arranger; everything about this record is kinda "the same, but better." I'm liking it a lot so far.

The orchestra and choir are what really interest me. I don't really love how the other instruments (especially drums) are mixed, but I can get with it as kind of a period '70s sound where everything is kind of small and close mic'ed, but with the sweeping Alice Coltrane strings and 'Volunteered Slavery'-type choir. Definitely looking forward to this one based on the two singles anyway.

I was just going to ask about the records incl. Earl McIntyre and Beaver Harris, because I don't think I've ever heard those two guys? But jeez, what a list---Downtown Music Gallery newsletter, Vinyl Spring Cleaning Edition---I've got a few of these (Sun Ra, Blood Ulmer) but comments on any would be welcome:

Hello Earthlings! Greetings from the Planet Vinyl where Records are still the preferred format! We recently got in several small album collections and have been working our way through cleaning, pricing and listening to as much as is possible. Here is our monthly list of Vinyl Goodies. We have only one copy of most of these so order what you want quickly, first come first served. Recently checking out early Duke Ellington & the Jungle Band (from the 1020’s, Joe Albany & Warne Marsh, lots of Carla Bley & Mike Mantler and even more Sun Ra!

Take 3 or more and get 10% off:

ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO - The Paris Session (Arista / Freedom 1903; USA) Records = A- / Cover = B+ (some ringwear, slight stains, 1/2" cut-out / 2 LP Set = $25

ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO - People in Sorrow (EMI/Odeon EOJ 50040; Japan) Record = A / Cover = A with obie = $40

ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO + MUHAL RICHARD ABRAMS - Fanfare of the warriors (Atlantic 1651; USA) Record = A- / Cover = A- (some ringwear, worn a bit) = $25

ALBERT AYLER QUINTET With DONALD AYLER / MICHAEL SAMPSON / LEWIS WORRELL / RONALD JACKSON - At Slug's Saloon (BASE LP 3013; Italy) Record = A- / Cover = A- = $25

ALBERT AYLER With DONALD AYLER/CHARLES TYLER/LEWIS WORRELL/SUNNY MURRAY - Bells (BASE/ESP 1010; Italy) Record = A- / Cover = A- = $25

ALBERT AYLER with CALL COBBS / STEVE TINTWEISS / ALLEN BLAIRMAN / MARY MARIA - Nuits De La Fondation Maeght (Shandar SR 10.000; France) Record = A/ Cover = A = $40

CARLA BLEY With MICHAEL MANTLER / STEVE SLAGLE / TONY DAGRADI / GARY VALENTE / VINCENT CHANCEY / STEVE SWALLOW /et al - Mortelle Randonnee (Mercury 812097; France) Record = A / Cover = A- = $25 (last copy)

CARLA BLEY & STEVE SWALLOW - Duets (Watt 20/ECM; Germany) Mint & Unplayed - Last copy
LP $20

CARLA BLEY BIG BAND w/ LEW SOLOFF/FRANK LACY/GARY VALENTE/BOB STEWART/ANDY SHEPPARD/WOLFGANG PUSHNIG/STEVE SWALLOW/ et al - Fleuer Carnivore (Watt 21/ECM; Germany) Mint & unplayed = LP = $25

CARLA BLEY BAND w/ MICHAEL MANTLER/STEVE SLAGLE/GARY VALENTE/VINCENT CHANCEY/ARTURO O'FARRILL/ et al - I Hate to Sing (Watt 12 & 1/2/ECM; Germany) Mint & unplayed =
LP $25

CARLA BLEY with MIKE MANTLER/STEVE SLAGLE/TONY DAGRADI/VINCENT CHANCEY/EARL McINTYRE/ et al - Live! (Watt 12/ECM; Germany) Record = A (unplayed)/Cover = A- slightly warn
LP $25

CARLA BLEY With STEVE SWALLOW/HIRAM BULLOCK/LARRY WILLIS/VOCTOR LEWIS/MANOLO BADRENA - Night-Glo (Watt 12/ECM; Germany) Record = mint/Cover Near Mint = $20

CARLA BLEY with HIRAM BULLOCK / LARRY WILLIS / STEVE SWALLOW / DON ALIAS / VICTOR LEWIS - Sextet (Watt 17; USA) Last sealed copy with 3" cut in top left corner = $20

CARLA BLEY with MICHAEL MANTLER/CARLOS WARD/TONY DAGRADI/GARY VALENTE/JOE DALEY / et al - Social Studies (Watt 11/ECM; Germany) Last sealed copy / slightly crunched corner top upper right = $25

DONALD BYRD / BOOKER LITTLE With CURTIS FULLER / BILL EVANS / PHILLY JOE JONES / et al - The Third World (TCB 1004; USA) Record = A / Cover = A = $25

JOHN CAGE // YUJI TAKAHASHI - Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano (Denon OX-7059; Japan) Record & Cover = A+ (stone cold mint) = $40

ALICE COLTRANE - Radha - Krsna Nama Sankirtana (Warner Bros. BS 2986; USA) Record = A- / Cover = A- (2" cut, a bit worn) =

MILES DAVIS with GARY BARTZ/CHICK COREA/KEITH JARRETT/DAVE HOLLAND/JACK DeJOHNETTE/AIRTO - Isle of Wight [8/29/70] + 6 bonus trax 1st time on LP frm 11/19/69-NYC, 7/7/72 & Sept 1973 (CBS 450472; Holland = Record A- (near mint) / Cover = A = $45

ELTON DEAN QUINTET With HARRY BECKETT / PAUL RUTHERFORD / MARCIO MATTOS / LIAM GENOCKEY - Welcomet (Impetus 18612; UK) Unplayed/Record = A / Cover = A- = $35

DOCTOR NERVE - Armed Observation (Cuneiform Rune 8; France) LP = A / Cover = A- = $20

ERIC DOLPHY With MISHA MENGELBERG / JAQUES SCHOLS / HAN BENNINK - Last Date (Limelight LM 82013; Japan) Mono! Record = A- (neat mint) / Cover = B (worn but sturdy) = $50

DIZZY DILLESPIE / SONNY STITT / JOHN LEWIS / HANK JONES / PERCY HEATH / MAX ROACH - The Bop Session (Gazell 1005; Sweden) Last sealed copy = $20

DIZZY DILLESPIE / SONNY STITT / JOHN LEWIS / HANK JONES / PERCY HEATH / MAX ROACH - The Bop Session (Sonet Records 692; USA) last sealed copy = $20

JOE HARRIOTT With JOHNNY WEED / MAJOR HOLLEY / PHIL SEAMAN - Partying with Joe (Gearbox GB 1506; UK) Unplayed / Mint import = $35

BEAVER HARRIS / 360 DEGREE MUSIC EXPERIENCE with DAVE BURRELL/AZAR LAWRENCE/HAMIET BLUIETT/CECIL McBEE /et al - In: Sanity (Black Saint 0006/6; Italy) Records = A / Cover = A- somewhat worn) = 2 LP Set $50

ICONOCLASTA - Soliloquio (Discos Rosenbach 007; Mexico) Legendary Mexican prog/Henry Cow influenced band - Record = A / over = A- = $30

HENRY KAISER With BOB ADAMS / SCOTT COLBY / ERLING WOLD / GREG GOODMAN / JOHN FRENCH - Aloha (Metalanguage 109; USA) Records = A / Cover = A- = 2 LP Set = $40

THE LAST POETS - The Last Poets (Douglas 3; USA) Record = A- / Cover B (aged but sturdy, small cut corner) = $25

ABBEY LINCOLN With ARCHIE SHEPP / HILTON RUIZ / ROY BURROWS / JACK GREGG / FREDDIE WAITS - Painted Lady - In Paris (Blue Marge 1003; France) Record = A (near mint) / Cover = A- = $25

MICHAEL LYTLE / GEORGE CARTWRIGHT - Bright Blue Elewhale ( Cornpride East 003; USA) Last sealed copy of this Downtown classic w/ Lytle from future Dr. Nerve & Cartwight from Curlow = still sealed = $25

MICHAEL MANTLER With JACK BRUCE / DON CHERRY / CARLA BLEY - No Answer (Watt 2/ECM' Germany) Record = unplayed/Cover = slightly aged = $25

MICHAEL MANTLER / CARLA BLEY - 13 & 3/4 (Watt 3; USA) Record = A (unplayed) / cover B (old & worn but sturdy) = $20

MICHAEL MANTLER With LARRY CORYELL / CARLA BLEY / STEVE SWALLOW / TONY WILLIAMS - Movies (Watt 7; USA) Last sealed copy = $20

MICHAEL MANTLER with PHILIP CATHERINE / GARY WINDO / CARLA BLEY / STEVE SWALLOW/D SHARPE - More Movies (Watt 10; USA) Last couple of sealed copies / covers slilghtly worn = $20

MICHAEL MANTLER With JACK BRUCE / ROBERT WYATT / MARIANNE FAITHFULL /DANISH RADIO ORCHESTRA - Many Have No Speech (Watt 19/ECM; Germany) Record = A / Cover A- 1/4 cut in top right corner = LP = $25

MICHAEL MANTLER / DON PRESTON - Alien (Watt 15/ECM; Germany) Record = A (mint)/Cover A- (a bit worn) = $20

MICHAEL MANTLER With MIKE STERN / CARLA BLEY / STEVE SWALLOW / NICK MASON + LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - Something There (Watt 13/ECM; Germany) Unplayed import = Record = A / Cover = A- = $20

MASSACRE [FRED FRITH / BILL LASWELL / FRED MAHER] - Killing Time (Celluloid 5003; USA) Record = A / Cover = A- = $30

JACKIE McLEAN With GRACAHN MONCUR III / BOBBY HUTCHERSON / LARRY RIDLEY / ROY HAYNES - Destination...Out! (Blue Note 84165; USA) Record = A - / Cover = A- (cut corner) = $25

THELONIOUS MONK with SONNY ROLLINS / JOHN COLTRANE / ERNIE HENRY / OSCAR PETTIFORD / SAM JONES / ART BLAKEY / et al - Farewell to Monk (SMJ -9546-7; Japan) Record & Cover = A (mint) - 2 LP Set = $35

JOE MORRIS TRIO With SEBASTIAN STEINBERG / LAURENCE COOK - Wraparound (Riti Records 1001; USA) Record = A - / Cove = A- = $25

MUSICA FUTURISTA - Anthology Sonora a Cura di Daniele Lombardi Testo Introduttivo di Luigi Rognoni (Fonitsetra FCM 007; Italy) Records = A / Cover + A- 2 LP Set = $75

NEW YORK JAZZ QUARTET [ROLAND HANNA / FRANK WESS / GEORGE MRAZ / RICHARD PRATT] - Song of the Black Knight (Sonet 753; UK) Last couple unplayed copies / Record = mint/cover = A- = $20

THE NICE - Ars Longa Vita Brevis (Immediate 212 52 020; USA) Record = A- / Cover = A- = $20

CHARLIE PARKER With FLIP PHILLIPS SEXTET / BENNY CARTER ORCHESTRA / JOHNNY HODGES / BEN WEBSTER - The Parker Jam Session (Verve 2683 043; UK) Records = A / Cover = A- = 2 LP Set =$35

CHARLIE PARKER With DIZZY GILLESPIE / MILES DAVIS / BENNY CARTER / JOE ALBANY / AL HAIG / NAT COLE / et al - Yardbird in Lotus Land (Spotlite SPJ 123; UK) Record = A / Cover = A- = $25

PRAXIS [With BILL ASWELL / BUCKETHEAD / BRAIN + DR. ISRAEL / IGGY POP / BERNIE WORRELL / TATSUYA YOSHIDA / OTOMO YOSHIHIDE / et al - Profanation (MOD 0005; USA) LTD Edition / Record & Cover = Mint = 2 LP Set = $35

HERB ROBERTSON QUINTET With BILL FRISELL / TIM BERNE / LINDSAY HORNER / JOEY BARON - Transparency (JMT 850002; Germany) LP = A - / Cover = A- = $25

SONNY ROLLINS With OSCAR PETTIFORD / MAX ROACH - Shadow Waltz (Jazzland AM 86; USA) Mono - Record = A- / Cover = B (aged but sturdy) = $20

SHOCKABILLY [EUGENE CHADBOURNE / KRAMER / DAVID LICHT] - Colloseum (Rough Trade 68; UK) unplayed / Record = A / Cover = A = $20

BILL SMITH With DAVID LEE / DAVID PRENTICE - Pick a Number (Onari 004; Canada) Record = A & Cover = A- / $20

SOFT MACHINE [MIKE RATLEDGE / ELTON DEAN / HUGH HOPPER / ROBERT WYATT] - Live at the Proms 1970 (Reckless 5; USA) Record = A / Cover = A- = $25

SOFT MACHINE [ALAN HOLDSWORTH / MIKE RATLEDGE / KARL JENKINS / ROY BABBINGTON / JOHN MARSHALL] - Bundles (Harvest SHSP 4044; UK) - Record = A- / Cover = A- = $25

SONIC YOUTH - Master-Dik (SST 155; USA) Record = A / Cover = A- = $25

JIM STALEY With JOHN ZORN - OTB (Lumina 008; USA) Record = A / Cover = A- = $40

STRING TRIO OF NEW YORK - First String (Black Saint 031; Italy) Record = A / Cover = A
LP $25

SUN RA and his ARKESTRA - Discipline 27-II (Saturn 538; USA) Original Saturn / Quad / Record = A- (a bit scratchy but plays well) / Cover = A- (worn but sturdy) = $200

SUN RA and His ASTRO INFINITY ARKESTRA - My Brother The Wind (Saturn ESR 521; USA) Original Saturn = Record = A - / Cover = A- (worn but sturdy) = $200

SUN RA and His ASTRO INFINITY ARKESTRA - Holiday for Soul Dance (Saturn SR-508; USA) Original Saturn / blank cover / Record = A- / Cover = A- = $250

HORACE TAPSCOTT & EVERETT BROWN JR. - At the Crossroads (Nimbus NS 579; USA) Last sealed copy = $25

HORACE TAPSCOTT - Sessions Vol. 2 (Nimbus 1692; USA) Last sealed copy = $20

ART TATUM - Masterpieces (MCA 2-4019; USA) Record & Cover = A / 2 LP Set = $20

CECIL TAYLOR - Praxis (Praxis 104/105; Greece) solo piano rec in Italy July, 1968 = Records = A- / Cover = A- (slight rip on top cover) = 2 LP Set = $75

KENNETH TERROADE With FRANCOIS TUSQUES / RONNIE BEER / EARL FREEMAN / BEB GUERIN / CLAUDE DELCLOO - Love Rejoice (BYG 22; France) Record = A- / Cover = A- = $40

JAMES BLOOD ULMER With CHARLES BURNHAM / WARREN BENBOW - Part Time (Rough Trade/Celluloid 6719; EEC) Record & Cover = A = $25

JAMES BLOOD ULMER With CHARLES BURNHAM / WARREN BENBOW - Live at the Caravan of Dreams (Caravan of Dreams 85004; USA) Record = A / Cover = A- = $25

TOM WAITS - SwordFishTrombones (Island 90095; USA) Record = A (small 2" cut in top upper left corner) / Cover = A- = $35

BEN WEBSTER With TETE MONOILIU / ROB LANGEREIS / TONY INZALACO - Live at the Haarlemse JazzClub (Cat LP-11; Holland) Record = A / Cover = A- = $25

STEFAN F. WINTER With BILL FRISELL / TIM BERNE / HERB ROBERTSON / BOB STEWART / et al - The Little Trumpet (JMT 860007; Germany) w/ booklet - Record = A / Cover = A = $25

WORLD BASS VIOLIN CHOIR With BRIAN SMITH / RUFUS REID / BOB CUNNINGHAM / RICK ROZIE / THURMAN BARKER / et al - Bassically Yours (Black Saint 0063; Italy) Record A / Cover = A- = $25

FRANK ZAPPA - Lumpy Gravy (Verve Select 2317 046; EEC) Import copy = Record = A / Cover =A- = $35

FRANK ZAPPA / MOTHERS OF INVENTION - 200 Motels (Liberty 29 218/19; France) No booklet - Records = A / Cover = A- = $30

FRANK ZAPPA - The Grand Wazoo (Bizarre/Reprise 2093; USA) Record = A- / Cover = B (some split seams, worn down) = $35

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(Also got Ayler's Bells, Waits' Swordfishtrombones). Don't think I've ever heard Joe Harriott either, what's his sound?

His sound is sort've an Anglo-Carribean variant on Coleman/Cherry 'free jazz', especially on the key recs Free Form and Abstract, where he's paired with trumpeter Shake Keane. In the mid-sixties he also made two 'Indo-Jazz Fusion' albums with violinist John Mayer which are pretty ahead of the game. Great musician.

https://henrythreadgill.bandcamp.com/album/double-up-plays-double-up-plus

they are streaming two tracks off the latest Henry Threadgill lp that comes out on the 18th, here.

Oh wow, I'll listen. First, though, that reminded me that I never actually listened to In for a Penny, In for a Pound, the album that won the Pulitzer. Addressing that now.

I always want him to make another Too Much Sugar for a dime or Spirit of Nuff ... Nuff or whatever masterpiece from the 90's/00's of his, but he is Henry Threadgill and sometimes it might take you a couple of years to catch up with where he is at now!

Yeah, Too Much Sugar and Makin' a Move are the ones I listened to. I actually really liked the preview tracks from the new one, though, maybe more than the preview tracks from In for a Penny.... Latter point is definitely fair.

I listened to Dirt...And More Dirt front to back the other day while traveling in and out of NYC. Haven't gotten through the other one yet, but I will next week as I'm writing them both up for Stereogum.

Oh, that's the one I previewed, not the Double Up one!

"Game Is Up" is bending my brain.

I liked the live duet I saw the other night of Cuban pianists Aldo López-Gavilán and Jorge Luis Pacheco at the opening of the Artes de Cuba fest at the Kennedy Center in DC. Straight-ahead stuff mostly.

I really love the Duduka Da Fonseca Trio Plays Dom Salvador lp at the moment. Never heard of the samba legend it is honouring but it's fab stuff!

Interesting. Who else plays on that?

David Feldman: piano; Guto Wirrti: bass; Jacques Morelenbaum: cello.

Joe Armon-Jones' new lp is a great snapshot of the current London scene. Echoes of Sun Ra's "Languidity", dub, afrobeat, jazz-funk, Leon Thomas vocals, MCs. Moses Boyd is on there, Oscar Jerome - all very Gilles Peterson-y.

Here's a link to my latest podcast, which is an interview with bassist Dave Holland. I talked to him about Miles Davis (obviously), as well as his time with Anthony Braxton, Sam Rivers, Chick Corea, playing with John McLaughlin and Jimi Hendrix, his own quintets, Evan Parker, and a million other things.

That sounds interesting. Is there any way to download an mp3 without itunes?

Yeah, you can grab it here.

Thanks! I'll probably listen to it on my way to work on Monday.

Andre 3000 - not a bad saxophonist?

https://soundcloud.com/therealandre3000benjamin/look-ma-no-hands

https://studsterkel.wfmt.com/programs/henry-threadgill-conversation-studs-terkel

this won't play for me, possibly some global copyright issue, if it works in the US I might have to VPN up.

MICHAEL MANTLER With LARRY CORYELL / CARLA BLEY / STEVE SWALLOW / TONY WILLIAMS - Movies (Watt 7; USA) Last sealed copy = $20

MICHAEL MANTLER with PHILIP CATHERINE / GARY WINDO / CARLA BLEY / STEVE SWALLOW/D SHARPE - More Movies (Watt 10; USA) Last couple of sealed copies / covers slilghtly worn = $20
Spotify has these as a twofer: both splendid, though if anything the sequel seems even more consistently engaging on first listen, even getting into kind of an art-metal groove thing at times (not xp "fusion funk")---when was the last time I thought of Philip Catherine!? And I didn't know Bley played tenor sax.

Mantler's 1968 The Jazz Composer's Orchestra is proving surprisingly hard to get through, so far: the initial excitement of hearing these avant stars together----Pharoah Saunders, Don Cherry,Roswell Rudd, Gato Barbieri, Larry Coryell, with Cecil Taylor to come, in front of an Orchestra incl. Charlie Haden, Bob Northern/Brother Ah, Steve Swallow, Julius Watkins, Andrew Cyrille, and many more---gets pulled into the inertia of Mantler's long, lugubrious lines, like the worst of Gil Evans and his imitators. When Mantler the composer's thinking more like Mantler the trumpet player, as on Movies and More Movies, that's what I'm talkin' about. Think I'm going to jump ahead to his albums incl. Robert Wyatt, Kevin Coyne, Marianne Faithful.

Meanwhile, Carla Bley's 1976 Dinner Music seats her and Mantler and Rudd and Carlos Ward with funky-smooth session aces Eric Gale, Richard Tee, Cornell Dupree, Steve Gadd, Gordon Edwards---tuba player Bob Stewart is kind of the hinge--for results that can be sneaky-acerbic in the mellow pocket, keeping or bringing it all back to the foreground, forebrain: "Ad Infinitum" def. keeps it, from the beginning, and Rudd soon takes a hold of the closer. "A New Hymn," after the near-generic chit-chat/inconsequential refinements of "Ida Lupino" and "Funnybird Song"--but "Dreams So Real" seems as sincere and even urgent as highbrow, and "Song Sung Long" is urban romantic intrigue, and "Dining Alone" is urban anxiety unifying furtive imagery (via Bley's sung-spoken thoughts)---the pressure of that Manhattan candlelight!

The opener, "Sing Me Softly of the Blues," starts well but turns into something like more nerf-funk chatter, music for the pilot of a pre-PBS afterschool series, but the good tracks here are really up my alley.

I always like Sanders' appearance on that album - it's got nothing to do with anything else happening in the piece; it's like someone pushed a button labeled "Pharaoh Sanders" and he did his thing for a couple of minutes and then they pressed the button again to shut him off.

Last night I went to see Broken Shadows, a new quartet featuring Tim Berne on alto sax, Chris Speed on tenor sax, Reid Anderson on bass, and Dave King on drums, playing the music of Ornette Coleman, Dewey Redman, Julius Hemphill, and Charlie Haden. Most of the tunes were by Ornette ("C.O.D.", "Ecars," "Humpty Dumpty" and two more), though they also did "Walls-Bridges" by Redman, Haden's "Song for Che," and Hemphill's "Body." It was a blast, and I learned something - I always thought Julius Hemphill's last name was pronounced "hemp-hill," but it's pronounced "hem-fill."

Looking forward to seeing that band here later this summer

I like the new Nolatet album because it's a lovable pop album with New Orleans influences, like the last one, I will have probs forgotten about it in a couple of months - but it is still ace.

Michael Mantler:
The Hapless Child
Watt/4
words by Edward Gorey
(from 'Amphigorey')

Robert Wyatt (voice)
Terje Rypdal (guitar)
Carla Bley (piano, clavinet, synthesizer)
Steve Swallow (bass)
Jack DeJohnette (drums)

recorded July 1975 through January 1976
Willow, NY, and England
A whirlwind right out of the gate, and I knew from later all-instrumental versions how strong some of these frameworks would be---did not expect the excellent and unusual studio effects on some of Wyatt's vocal turns---but eventually, when the words are more upfront, can seem overly emphatic---Gorey's dank little narratives work better with his spare, black white & grey drawings or etchings or whatever they be. Also, c'mon, it's Gorey---think I'll go on to the settings of Beckett and Pinter.

That is, the *overall* effect, the ensemble onslaught, not primarily Wyatt's vocals, can seem overly emphatic here.

Mantler again: Silence(1976)---the overemphasis here is confined to some of MM's heavier handling of Pinter's words, and Chris Spedding's often repeated use of sustain etc., drawing a note out and curving it around 'til it's a needle in my earphones ---but it can hurt so good, and the voices are strong and distinctive, Carla Bley holding her on with Kevin Coyne and Robert Wyatt---and sometimes everybody follows Wyatt's dustdevil percussion, without ever missing their cues (it's a play with a small cast/combo, compressed, maybe condensed, into a single LP's worth of songs).