KNOWER: funky, quirky electro duo with jazz chops Louis Cole and Genevieve Artadi

https://i0-wp-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/i0.wp.com/musicaficionado.blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Stuff.jpg?resize=600%2C481&ssl=1
That Stuff

Which I found here: https://musicaficionado.blog/2017/10/24/carla-bleys-band-1976-1984/

We don't have a Stuff thread as far as I know but I was just wondering how old Chris Parker was when he started with them, twelve? Also where he and Steve Gadd double drumming or switching off?

Saw thread for first time, was going to paste link to his archived set from NPR's Toast of the Nation New Year's Eve 2021--but he's the only leader who hasn't allowed Toast post---anyway, here's the playlist he did provide (maybe this [big band and trio] set is or will be available elsewhere):
SET 5 OF 5
Louis Cole
Courtesy of the artist
Louis Cole leads one of the most irreverent, fun, and brilliant jazz big bands on the scene today. But don't let the good times fool you, his arrangements are as intricate as they are funky. The multi-instrumentalist (drums, keys, and vocals) leads his 15-piece ensemble (all wearing skeleton costumes) in dance halls recorded in Los Angeles, Amsterdam, and Paris.

Set List:

"Things" (Performed by the Louis Cole Big Band)
"Bank Account" (Performed by the Louis Cole Big Band)
"Park Your Car On My Face" (Performed by the Louis Cole Trio)
"Everytime" (Performed by the Louis Cole Trio)
"Last Time You Went Away" (Performed by the Louis Cole Big Band)
"My Buick" (Performed by the Louis Cole Big Band)
"Thinking" (Performed by the Louis Cole Big Band)
Musicians: Louis Cole Trio: Louis Cole, drums, keys, vocals; Chris Fishman, piano, keys; Nate Wood, drums, bass

All songs written, arranged, and mixed by Louis Cole.

Big Band? Seems that collaboration with the WDR Big Band 2y ago worked out well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4joyxzVmj6c

I haven't properly checked out Knower yet, but Genevieve Artadi sings lead on Zach Phillips' "Know What" which according to Spotify was my most-played track of 2021. A gorgeous piece of smooth avant-jazz pop:
https://soundcloud.com/constantine-zp/zach-phillips-know-what-with-genevieve-artadi

I found a lot to love on this Genevieve Artadi album: https://genevieveartadi.bandcamp.com/album/dizzy-strange-summer

"I'm Tight" has gotten its hooks deep in me, though I definitely get why some folks find this kind of thing unbearable
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9XrWB-u1vc

Like I usually can't stand semi-ironic white-guy funk, but this just fuckin' goes.

yeah I mean I am a confirmed hater of all Colliercore-adjacent music and Cole has only ever infuriated me before, but this is quite cool, it actually isn't as flashy as the previous stuff by him I've seen and that's probably why it passes the bearable threshold

I’ve been a little bit obsessed with the song and video for a few weeks, but I have enjoyed some of Louis Cole’s music previously. I even made a radio-friendly edit to play on my show this month.

I always quite like it when the YouTube algorithm serves me this “live” version of Overtime from several years back:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnEmD17kYsE

difference between cole and collier is that cole knows how to have fun

haven't heard vulfpeck, but i like the stuff on colemine records, which seems to be pretty much about that. i'm not necrophiliac but i do sometimes wish i was dead, if that counts.

― errang (rushomancy)

thank you thread revive for reminding me that no matter how shitty i feel now things were so, so much worse Before

just such a desperately unhappy human being

It's an interesting Louis Cole album where the ballads are the real stand-outs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SQ7Fi6SnO0

It also feels weird to listen to his music without seeing it being played, and it feels weird that it feels weird

One track in and I'm hooked.

Oh damn, glad to see "Planet X" in the tracklist!

Given that he's most known as a drummer, I like how radically simple the drumming is on many of the tracks

Man, "Bitches" goes hard

I fucking love this

"Outer Moat Behavior" is, more or less, Kerri Chandler at double-speed

clearly an insane talent but I find this stuff completely unlistenable

That describes Björk's last two albums to a T

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuhe1CpHRxY

Bumping because this is a jam

Finally got me to click so yeah.

A friend offered to give me one of his tickets to see Louis Cole so I went last night.

It was not *exactly* my thing but there was plenty of ridiculous musicianship for the jazz nerd in me. He has an other drummer/bass player (Nate Wood) whose drumming I actually liked better than his. His keyboard player, Chris Fishman, was insanely good. There were moments when it felt a little too much like one of those drummer expo bands (like Keith Carlock with some rando hired guns and synth programming), and others where you could squint and think you were at a Spyro Gyra concert. They were never not showing off.

Genevieve was the opener and I didn’t like most of her set, frenetic and “weird” a way that felt forced. I liked her on the Cole songs she sang on though.

Nate Wood is a legend, he's so frighteningly good. Although I can't imagine listening to his Four music (one person/octopus band) apart from watching the video. Kinda similar to Louis Cole actually, but LC has some good songs that stands on their own.

Yeah he had a few songs in the set that were relatively catchy/memorable for songs I had never heard before. He did just enough to keep it interesting and keep it from devolving into full blown music school circle jerk. Plus there was a palpable energy and vibe to the band as a whole, locked in really well together.

Been checking out some of the recorded stuff, it’s pretty strong overall but the weak link is his singing voice - just sounds thin and strained.

Yeah

Yeah, I don't love his voice

Feel like a thin, strained voice a much bigger problem than other kinds of unusual, unconventional, possibly unpleasant-sounding voices. See the recent Jonathan Richman discussion on controversial opinions.

Some of the songs could really be bangers with better vocals. I’d like to see him produce for other people or have more guest vocals.