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srellek

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  1. srellek

    Ran Blake

    This sui generis pianist, composer, educator turns 89 in a few weeks. He's still creating and still performing (in NYC next week, posted in the Shows section). For those who know his work, no words needed. But if you don't know it and are interested in creative improvisation at its most unique, instrumentalists who carve out a wholly personal sound, film noir, or just have an affinity for the completely different — check it out. His discography is not intimidating and fairly modest for a seven-decade career. Some recommendations to sample: 1962 – The Newest Sound Around (RCA) with Jeanne Lee 1966 – Ran Blake Plays Solo Piano (ESP) 1976 – Breakthru (IAI) produced by Paul Bley 1980 – Film Noir (Arista-Novus) 1986 – The Short Life of Barbara Monk (Soul Note) 1997 – A Memory of Vienna (HatHut) with Anthony Braxton 2001 – Sonic Temples (GM) on Gunther Schuller's label 2015 – Ghost Tones: Portraits of George Russell (A-Side) 2021 – Looking Glass (A-Side) digital only His book, Primacy of the Ear, is of interest to not only improvising musicians but artists of any kind. He's also just published a book (co-written) on film noir and his biography, Shimmering Shadows, is just being published this month and is a fascinating read. He was friends with Gunther Schuller, George Russell, and Thelonious Monk, his family and Nica. He cajoled a job at Atlantic Records from the Ertegun brothers because he loved Ray Charles so much, worked with Tom Dowd there. He also studied with Oscar Peterson, Mal Waldron, Randy Weston, and Mary Lou Williams. Ran is a special cat. His music is deserving of — and will reward — your time.
  2. Pianist Ran Blake will be making a rare concert appearance at National Sawdust in Brooklyn on Friday, April 5th. Tix and info here. At nearly 89, Ran likely won’t be playing many more shows. And there will be special guests appearing here as well. Highly recommended.
  3. Neither Irwin nor Sun Ra LLC have "ownership". Though, my understanding is that Sinesio and Horo were less than equitable with the artists they recorded. A true CD set would certainly be welcome, though unlikely. In the meantime, Irwin did work his magic (agree with others that his audio restoration is the Ra gold standard) without access to the master tapes: Unity, Next Steps, and Other Voices, Other Blues are all available for download from the Bandcamp site. Sound is way better than previous needle drops found some years back. I also think his writing and notes on Sunny (as he spells it) is special. Been on him for years to assemble all the various pieces (including the iTunes reissue PDF liners) into a book, PDF, or digital compendium.
  4. I think the version of "Big Alice [take 1]" on the new CD set might be a different take than the one that appears on the Rhino Mingus Moves CD, which includes a trumpet solo from 1:06 - 2:01.
  5. Always nice to be on a huge Bley kick. Here is a PDF of Bley's '60s recordings from the wonderful Henk Kluck's detailed discography (from the PDF 2nd edition). Thought you would appreciate Henk's valuable work. BTW, the Lugano and Bremen concerts, which were not publicly released in 2007, were included in the Private Recordings section.
  6. srellek

    Ran Blake

    +1 for Ran's new record. The project focuses on his early and lesser-known compositions. Of course, I'm biased but Looking Glass is a deep, lion-in-winter statement. Ran's piano has rarely been recorded better, full tonal gamut with great room ambience. You can really hear those strange resonances (he calls them "ghost tones") that come from his unique voicings, attack, and pedaling. There are moments they sound almost electronic or multi-tracked, though of course they're not. A cohesive, meditative statement. Listen too for Ran's own voice in a couple spots. Top of my favorite releases list this year.
  7. Anyone have a copy to sell? Or trade? Thanks.
  8. This release was made possible with Ran's direct input and the considerable effort of Aaron Hartley (Ran's aide-de-camp and NEC colleague) and his A-Side records. Danilo Perez and Dominique Eade contribute wonderful notes. The sound is pristine. I am biased, of course, but this is spectacular music, lovingly presented. Ran's illustrations throughout are a Braxtonian delight. Don't sleep on it.
  9. Thanks, Chuck, for another incredible release of Roscoe Mitchell's unique music. This one is a stunner. Mitchell reminds me of Boulez. Not that their musics sound alike but in that they seem to just go further, deeper — outside and inside — creating entirely new sound worlds. Mitchell is soulfully exploring quantum physics while most everyone else is sitting around waiting for an apple to drop. For those who may be intimidated by Mitchell's output, either its complexity or sheer size, do yourself a favor and take the plunge somewhere. I might recommend starting with some of Nessa's other releases (especially Old/Quartet Sessions — no one should die without having heard this half-hour "Oh Susanna" — and Before There Was Sound), then Sound on Delmark, next dip into the Art Ensemble catalog (Full Force perhaps, though People in Sorrow may be the most overlooked masterpiece I know of), Nonaah (also on Nessa), something from the Black Saint recordings (I like 3 x 4 Eye, ignore the cover "art"), Four Compositions (from 1987, which is a great segue into the current orchestrated work), Song for My Sister (with both Iyer and Taborn!), last year's Bells for the South Side, and now Ride the Wind. It's wonderful to witness a master like Mitchell finding full flower as he approaches 80. And thanks to Chuck for another labor of love. You deserve better praise than this for all you've done for this music over the last 50+ years!
  10. Thanks, Jay. Let me know if you are ever interested in selling or trading, etc. Thanks, mjazzg, for this info. If anyone has any contact info or finds any more on these CDRs, please let me know.
  11. Thanks, Chuck. And MUCH appreciation for all your work on behalf of the AEC and other AACM musicians. "Ancient Guy...?" Ancient to the future, I say...
  12. This was from 1993, recorded live in Geneva. I believe it was initially a CDR and maybe (?) a commercial CD, though I'm not sure. Released on their own AECO label. Been trying to hunt down a copy for the last few years, without luck. Thanks...
  13. Was lucky enough to have been in Severance Hall for that 90th bday tribute (a year ago this Friday) -- and to have seen the maestro many times over the years in Cleveland and Chicago. One thing I can't stress enough is how incredible his own compositions sound live. The DG set of his oeuvre is spectacular but I would also encourage anyone who has an opportunity to hear his music performed live (and hopefully, well) to check it out. He was truly a "tone scientist" (as Mr. Ra might say) of the highest order. This and the loss of Paul Bley within a week is a shitty start to 2016...
  14. A very consistent output. There was a joke in one of the Penguin guides on a statement that Bley had made about listening to only his own records -- the gist of which was, well there are enough of them. I might push that total closer to 100. In his valuable Bley discography, Henk Kluck wrote (in 1996) that there were "127 recording sessions (resulting in 459 issued records)". He added more in the 2006 second edition and of course there have been more since. For anyone with serious interest in Bley's work, the discography is a must read. http://www.improvart.com/bley/discogra.htm Though I'm not sure if it's still available. Last time I was at Jazz Record Mart in Chicago they had one on their shelves...
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