On July 9, 1971 at 7:30 p.m., CBS aired a one-hour special, "Louis Armstrong 1900-1971," hosted by Walter Cronkite. It only aired once and has never appeared online--until now! Here is Lucille Armstrong’s copy, digitized for all to enjoy 50 years later.https://t.co/7SGCZCuiik— Louis Armstrong (@ArmstrongHouse) July 9, 2021
― but also fuck you (unperson), Saturday, 10 July 2021 00:09 (two years ago) link
Wow
― Planck Generation (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 10 July 2021 00:38 (two years ago) link
that is amazing
― Brad C., Saturday, 10 July 2021 01:17 (two years ago) link
Okay, Dezron Douglas joining Trey Anastasio's solo, non-Phish band is not something I would have predicted.
https://trey.com/welcome-dezron/
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 13 July 2021 18:32 (two years ago) link
Get that money!
― but also fuck you (unperson), Tuesday, 13 July 2021 19:45 (two years ago) link
Yeah, good for him!
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 13 July 2021 20:01 (two years ago) link
New podcast coming on Friday — I talked to clarinetist Don Byron, who had a whole lot of shit to say about what is and is not "real" jazz, why his instrument is not seen as an "authentically" black instrument, etc., etc. It's a really interesting conversation I think people are gonna like, but I had to throw a content warning into my introduction because about halfway through it Byron drops an N-bomb with a hard R, and I wanted to make sure people were ready for that shit.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Wednesday, 14 July 2021 23:00 (two years ago) link
Speaking of clarinet, seems like there are still seats for Ken Peplowski at Birdland tonight so I may head over in a bit.
― Two Severins Clash (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 17 July 2021 20:01 (two years ago) link
This is great!
― Two Severins Clash (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 17 July 2021 23:10 (two years ago) link
Also somebody prove to me that the cover of Don Friedman’s Circle Waltz is not a Picasso-esque centerfold.
― Two Severins Clash (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 17 July 2021 23:21 (two years ago) link
This guy has great comedy chops too!
― Two Severins Clash (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 17 July 2021 23:29 (two years ago) link
https://williamparker.bandcamp.com/album/mayan-space-station
William Parker: bass, compositionsAva Mendoza: electric guitarGerald Cleaver: drums
very cool band is this and on first listen I'm very much enjoying it.
― MoMsnet (calzino), Tuesday, 20 July 2021 15:23 (two years ago) link
The sample track is very cool, like Parker doing noisy psych-rock.
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Tuesday, 20 July 2021 16:04 (two years ago) link
Digging that, thanks for the tip.
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 20 July 2021 16:08 (two years ago) link
Yeah, it's a good one. Mendoza's great; she did an album with Damon Smith on bass and William Hooker on drums in 2018 that I liked a lot.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Tuesday, 20 July 2021 16:58 (two years ago) link
Lol nice to see that Gerald Cleaver bought that album on Bandcamp.
― change display name (Jordan), Tuesday, 20 July 2021 17:11 (two years ago) link
yeah Mendoza is a great guitarist and there are a couple of her more noise type albums I liked in recent years as well.
― MoMsnet (calzino), Tuesday, 20 July 2021 18:04 (two years ago) link
My latest Stereogum column is up. Here's what I ultimately had to say about that new/old Alice Coltrane album:
In the late ’80s, the LA-based publisher Amok Books put out the Amok Assault Video, a compilation of racist old cartoons, news stories about cattle mutilations, footage of an animal control officer being attacked by a dog, R. Budd Dwyer’s suicide on live TV, a guy talking about the occult messaging behind She-Ra, and a lot more. It began with a segment from Eternity’s Pillar, Alice Coltrane’s public access cable TV show which she filmed at her California ashram. She wasn’t doing anything particularly bizarre; she was just discussing her beliefs and offering a metaphysical lecture to the viewer. But that was how Coltrane’s mystical/spiritual side was seen for years, by those who were aware of it at all: as a kind of weird joke for hip underground types to smirk at. These days, of course, her reputation has been thoroughly rehabilitated. Almost her entire catalog is back in print in one form or another, including the devotional music she recorded in the ’80s and ’90s and sold at the ashram and through a few New Age bookstores. Tracks from three of those releases (1987’s Divine Songs, 1990’s Infinite Chants, and 1995’s Glorious Chants) were reissued on a Luaka Bop compilation in 2017. But her first devotional release, 1982’s Turiya Sings, has always been the hardest to find. It was only ever available on cassette, except for a bootleg German CD. Which is too bad, because it’s a great record. Her synth and Wurlitzer organ are combined with harp and strings, and she sings in Sanskrit, but with a gospel-ish flavor. Now, Turiya Sings has been reissued… sort of. Coltrane’s son Ravi has found tapes of the basic tracks, before the strings and synthesizers were added, and released it. It’s nice; it has an intimate feel, like you’re in her house and she’s playing these songs just for you. Her voice is soft and maternal, and the organ swells all around. But this isn’t the finished product. After John Coltrane died, Alice released Infinity, an album on which she took recordings by his quartet and filled out the arrangements with strings, new keyboard solos, and in some cases overdubbed bass, replacing Jimmy Garrison with Charlie Haden. A lot of people bitched about the strings, but Coltrane herself responded, “‘Were you there? Did you hear [John’s] commentary and what he had to say?’ … We had a conversation about every detail; [John] was showing me how the piece could include other sounds, blends, tonalities and resonances such as strings.” Similarly, the strings and synths were key to Turiya Sings’ power, sending the music into wild otherworldly realms, and bringing it back down to earth this way feels a little like an attempt to sand down Alice Coltrane’s edges, so she can be “appreciated” instead of respected for what she was: a sonic visionary who made music in service of the divine.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Tuesday, 20 July 2021 19:23 (two years ago) link
https://mattmitchellkategentile.bandcamp.com/
this humungous 5-cd Snark Horse album is too fucking big! On the other hand it does sound very good though.
― calzino, Wednesday, 4 August 2021 09:55 (two years ago) link
Herlin Riley is in town this week, should be able to catch him at least twice.
― change display name (Jordan), Wednesday, 4 August 2021 19:36 (two years ago) link
Damn, guitarist extraordinaire Mike Gamble put out this solo guitar record (attention sund4r) while recovering from a very serious accident:
https://mikegamble.bandcamp.com/album/reenvisions
As some of you know, on June 23rd I suffered from an unfortunate accident that led me to the hospital. After being diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and three fractures in my lower vertebrae I was sent home with a cocktail of painkillers, a slew of test results, and a hefty bill. Of course the entire heat-dome weekend came along and my caring and loving partner Devin was there by my side doing anything and everything to keep me alive and well. During those hot days and nights I endured amnesia, lengthy bedrest, excruciating pain, and a very small appetite. After an entire week ( that I barely recall ) I began to re-engage, remember things, and regain a semblance of life. My perspective came back and then my deepest fears settled in. Was I destined to relearn speech mannerisms? Would I still be able to play music like I could before the incident? Luckily my neurologist sent me to occupational, cognitive, and physical therapy appointments and I have been building strength and access to what could have been potentially lost.
This collection of 35 practice sessions documents the process of how uneasy it was to play everyday and proof that I could regain my ability to know my instrument with assurance, muscle memory, and untethered creative sparks flying. I feel confident that very little of my musical capacity has been diminished and my overall appreciation for anyone that has dealt with debilitating injuries that have compromised the work and artistry they love.
― change display name (Jordan), Monday, 9 August 2021 14:58 (two years ago) link
Halfway through, I'm liking this, although I'm a little surprised that you do, Jordan.:)
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Monday, 9 August 2021 17:33 (two years ago) link
Ha, it's not fully my thing, but I love the way MG uses effects musically, and I'm a big fan of his playing from his band the InBetweens (w/Keith Jarrett's son) and from seeing him live with a few groups.
― change display name (Jordan), Monday, 9 August 2021 17:40 (two years ago) link
Just interviewed Pat Metheny. Fun guy to talk to. Still not remotely interested in his PMG albums, but much more inclined to explore the corners of his catalog. And he had some very interesting thoughts on Derek Bailey (they made an album together in the '90s, for those who don't know).
― but also fuck you (unperson), Monday, 9 August 2021 17:44 (two years ago) link
Picking up on a couple of the thread recommendations, that Jamie Branch album is GREAT, and the William Parker one is pretty cool.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Tuesday, 10 August 2021 03:51 (two years ago) link
Looking forward to hear/read that. I just finished this book on Metheny's ECM albums, although it contains a lot of references to later work. Even though Metheny is a perfectionist and the ECM records were done in a short time, they contain everything he did would be doing later in his career, but only with more time, budget and freedom (Metheny criticized Manfred Eicher's modus operandi quite a few times, with 'Rejoicing' as a breaking point).
― EvR, Tuesday, 10 August 2021 06:41 (two years ago) link
Just recorded an interview with Andrew Cyrille for the next BA podcast. It'll be up next Friday.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Wednesday, 11 August 2021 19:14 (two years ago) link
Yeah, also interested in the Metheny interview; also - new McLaughlin?
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Wednesday, 11 August 2021 19:17 (two years ago) link
Got to play tambourine with Herlin Riley on 'Caravan' last night, definitely a life moment (full circle since I sat in with him at Donna's on my very first trip to New Orleans 20 years ago, and it was amazing but I had no idea what I was doing)
― change display name (Jordan), Wednesday, 11 August 2021 19:27 (two years ago) link
Riley is fantastic. I saw him play with Ahmad Jamal a couple of years ago; it was incredible.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Wednesday, 11 August 2021 20:07 (two years ago) link
The McLaughlin is sounding quite good on first listen. I wasn't sure he could still shred like this. I was wondering how his body still handles the physical demands of the instrument at his age and saw that he had been moving towards retirement due to arthritis but has been undergoing treatment and therapy.
By getting an injection in his hand every three months and following the advice of Dr. Joe Dispenza (the internationally known lecturer, researcher, workshop leader, author and educator), the guitarist has been rejuvenated. “Don’t ask me to undo the cap off a bottle with my right hand—I don’t have the strength for that,” he laughed. “But for playing, it’s amazing ... like nothing ever happened to me.”
https://downbeat.com/news/detail/john-mclaughlin-heads-out-on-the-road-again
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Thursday, 12 August 2021 15:03 (two years ago) link
Yeah, the McLaughlin album is surprisingly good.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Thursday, 12 August 2021 15:10 (two years ago) link
Ben Monder joining Bad Plus??
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Wednesday, 18 August 2021 04:55 (two years ago) link
Monder and Chris Speed, yeah. Big article here. I like Monder, I like Speed, but I think a name change might be in order at this point.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Wednesday, 18 August 2021 10:11 (two years ago) link
Yeah, I already thought a name change was in order when Iverson (whom I always thought of as the bandleader) was replaced. This is just not the same band at this point.
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Wednesday, 18 August 2021 14:22 (two years ago) link
Oh, there's no piano at all now! Wow.
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Wednesday, 18 August 2021 14:24 (two years ago) link
I never listened to the albums with Evans tbh. Are they any good?
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Wednesday, 18 August 2021 14:25 (two years ago) link
I like them, but I was more of a fan of his than a fan of theirs to begin with. I only ever heard one of the Iverson albums, and that was a review assignment.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Wednesday, 18 August 2021 15:02 (two years ago) link
I agree that it's not really the band anymore, but also get the reality that this is their living, and it's tied to what they've built on that name. And I'm a lot more interested in hearing this version of the band than with another pianist, which just begs to be compared to the original trio. It'll be more fun to hear revolving versions of the Bad Plus than no Bad Plus at all (I'm down for that quartet version of 'Big Eater', that'll always be one of my faves).
― change display name (Jordan), Wednesday, 18 August 2021 15:56 (two years ago) link
I'm just concerned that Iverson could start a new Bad Plus piano trio and go on tour. Then this group would have to become Anderson King Monder Speed.
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Wednesday, 18 August 2021 16:06 (two years ago) link
Heh, 'Ethan Iverson Plays the Music of the Bad Plus' would be pretty brutal, unless he was playing solo (which he would be perfectly within his rights to do, although it would seem a little sad). I have a harder time imagining TBP without Dave King than anyone else.
― change display name (Jordan), Wednesday, 18 August 2021 16:11 (two years ago) link
Revisiting every Miles Davis live tape from 1969 to 1975 in chronological order.Yes, there are links.https://theheatwarps.com/
― dow, Thursday, 19 August 2021 21:34 (two years ago) link
for instance:Miles made two visits to London’s Rainbow Theater in the latter half of 1973, both of which were documented by the band themselves using an on-stage tape recorder. Likely intended for more of a post-show critique session than any sort of official release, the tapes offer a distinctly different listening experience than our typical audience recording – the sound has an almost 3-dimensional quality, allowing you to place each instrument in the stereo field for pure sonic immersion.
― dow, Thursday, 19 August 2021 21:36 (two years ago) link
And I seem to recall, from some interview, that Pete Cosey mentioned having recorded a bunch of his own tapes---maybe some of those are in here too; I haven't gotten very far.
― dow, Thursday, 19 August 2021 21:39 (two years ago) link
I mentioned a couple of related things upthread, the first re my sometimes-frustrated take on Second Quintet, esp. re Shorter x Hancock:I played one of those Legal-in-Italy CDs (from before Media Lord Berlusconi became PM), Double Image(Moon, 1989), live in Paris, 1969, and here Shorter's effective enough, switching back and forth from tenor to soprano, rattling along between Miles and Chick Corea, with Dave Holland and Tony Williams providing subway momentum...Also:Another formerly Legal-In-Italy set, Two Miles Live (Discarios, 19??), live in Vienna 11-05-71---boot sites usually say: Wiener Konzerthaus, Vienna (Austria)Österreischer Rundfunk radio broadcast (B+)
Miles Davis (tpt); Gary Bartz (ss, as); Keith Jarrett (el-p, org); Michael Henderson (el-b); Ndugu Leon Chancler (d); Charles Don Alias (cga, perc); James Mtume Forman (cga, perc)Yeah, The Lost Septet, never as a full line-up, in the studio at the same time, apparently. Here. Miles draws dry ice and other smoke from the fractive frictions of wah-wah, Echoplex, pitch controls, whatevs, revealing passing patterns, aural indentations, on the inner surfaces of his glass headpiece, also for instance Jarrett's organ sustains metallic sheets which his electric piano hand taps more patterns into, while Gary B's alto and soprano go for microtones from the slaugherhaus, Henderson's bass is bruise as much as blues, drums are all around the town, in a supportive way---Disc One has a *bit* more variety, segmentation; Disc 2 grabs me by the back of neck right off and don't let go.
― dow, Thursday, March 4, 2021 6:05 PM (five months ago) bookmarkflaglink
― dow, Thursday, 19 August 2021 22:07 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO9tjkE-F5w
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Friday, 20 August 2021 03:59 (two years ago) link
Just noticed Pi Records releases are now on Spotify.
― Bach on harmonica! (Boring, Maryland), Monday, 23 August 2021 15:46 (two years ago) link
Ethan Iverson@ethan_iverson·8htake away chord scales from jazz education and replace them with repertoireQuote TweetMatt@tiredgenerally · Aug 22What’s your most insane belief? Like something you *actually* support but that most people, including those inside your political circle, would find ridiculousshow this thread
― dow, Tuesday, 24 August 2021 00:11 (two years ago) link
Yeah, because jazz is 100 songs written between the 1920s and the 1960s. Ethan's a nice guy, but he's worse than Wynton in some ways.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Tuesday, 24 August 2021 00:23 (two years ago) link
Haha, I posted that to the theory thread.
There's definitely a debate to be had but "educators should spend more time on studying the repertoire and less on chordscale theory" does not add up to "jazz is 100 songs written between the 1920s and the 1960s" imo.
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Tuesday, 24 August 2021 00:41 (two years ago) link