Steve Reynolds

I can’t listen to him. So derivative.

Ordered

Recently over the past week or so: Mat Maneri Ash quartet with Lucian Ban, Brandon Lopez & Randy Peterson. Saw them twice over a 10 day span and now 6 times over the last 9-10 months. Best jazz group live I know of. Mat taking it to places unvisited by mere mortals. also a nice quartet with a local great young pedal steel guitarist which included Lopez & the fine young drummer Joey Sullivan at the same gig as the Maneri group Tony Malaby quartet with Angelica Sanchez, Mark Helias & Tom Rainey Michael Attias’ Renku with John Hebert & Satoshi Takeshi Ingrid Laubrock, Brandon Lopez & Tom Rainey tonight: Patricia Brennan, Noel Brennan with Ingrid Laubrock & Keisuke Matsuno All 3 of these saxophonists playing at a very high level but Ingrid on soprano especially on Sunday night took it to another level. That trio is incredible with the *great* Brandon Lopez as the linchpin. Rainey is, of course, one of the greatest drummers on the planet. Seeing him very often doesn’t dull his brilliance in any way. Almost new and fresh. Plus seeing him back to back nights from 5-8 feet always doesn’t hurt:)

Yeah Baby!! I’ll take the ride!! Amazing trio! I’ve seen them a couple of times last year. I saw Tom Rainey in two other trios this past weekend in Brooklyn. Berne is playing at a very high level.

Saw Archer in Philly. Strong set save for the less than inspiring drumming. Little power or dynamics. Rempis magnificent as per usual.

I will be there Michael Foster is an incredible saxophonist

Wish I took the drive!

It’s great when we can watch young musicians transform. I’m looking forward to seeing her play again. Surely in the next few months.

My favorite by far of those drummers is Ches Smith. AkLaff is still very good. I saw him with Marty Ehrlich last year. I thought Lesley Mok was OK on the 2 occasions I’ve seen her (once with the same Myra Melford group that you saw). Prieto is great as well.

Thanks. Maybe I will take a drive up tomorrow:)

I’ve seen a few Tamarindo sets with Malaby & Formanek where Nasheet was beyond belief. Back in 2017-18 I think at Cornelia Street Cafe. The most sustained powerhouse jazz drumming I’ve witnessed along with Gerry Hemingway when he torques it up. Randy Peterson & Tom Rainey have a different kind of power. Randy is the best of all of them, IMO. The level he is at over the last 9 months when he seen him maybe 6-7 times is just amazing.

Mat Maneri’s Quartet was off the chain last night. 2 full sets. Stunning. playing on 4/7 in Philly Nasheet Waits is insanely great especially when he elevates to an intensity one didn’t know existed. This happened earlier this year in a group with Darius Jones. Recently also saw him with Peter Evans & Brian Marsella. That night he played a sequence on brushes that was sublime and stunning.

Any idea who the musicians are in the orchestra?

Lots of great shows recently including Chris Cochrane’s dual ensembles, Ches Smith’s Laugh Ash tonight Mat Maneri’s Ash Quartet with Brandon Lopez, Lucian Ban & the *great* Randy Peterson tomorrow night Tim Berne’s Paraphrase with Drew Gress & the *great* Tom Rainey Friday a multiple ensemble gig including Lao Dan in duo with the *great* Chris Corsano to hear these 3 incredible drummers 3 nights in a row from within 10 feet is a dream turned into reality then it’s my wonderful life in retirement blessed to live where I live still,,,,, Coming Down the Mountain

Yes / Gregg is very very good by now. He was good early last year. Now he’s getting to a new level. Plus Tim & Tom are grand masters.

That Hemphill suite (if it’s the one I’ve heard them play twice) is very challenging but it sure paid off in the end. Glad you got to see the trio. I’m spoiled as they play most Thursdays in Brooklyn in various configurations. I’m especially grateful to be able to see the *great* Tom Rainey live so often with Berne and in many other groups.

Enjoy. I’ve seen the trio often plus with guests. I think they are incredible.

Wilkerson especially as he rarely leaves Chicago fwiw Michael Foster with strings this past Sunday was transformative including Webb Crawford, Deyung Kim, Nava Dunkelman & Anna Abondolo included Ellington, Strayhorn & Fred Anderson compositions to create a 30 minute suite that organically mixes radical freely improvised music with the compositions. brilliant to the nth degree

Last night at The Stone Brian Marsella, Peter Evans & Nasheet Waits Tonight at The Stone: Marsella, Billy Martin, John Medeski & Cyro Baptista the amount of keyboard gear is awesome for this 75 person theatre! Big Leslie amp 10-12 feet from me. Medeski will be 7-8 feet from me and I’m in the second row.

Sam Rivers most famously

Brandon Lopez/Gerald Cleaver Mark Dresser/Gerry Hemingway Barry Guy/Paul Lytton

Late change gabby couldn’t make it due to a travel issue and was replaced by Mat Maneri who took a cab from the airport after just flying in from New Orleans. Mind blowing incendiary set from the quartet with the great man playing as great or even better than ever. Impossible to convey the depth and gravity of the collectively improvised music I heard tonight. Lordy Lordy Get Ready to Receive Yourself

Missed Berne last night as I was a bit tired with an achy back but I’m at The Stone tonight Simon Hanes, gabby fluke-mogul, Anthony Coleman & Billy Martin Let’s GO!!

Last night Simon Hanes, Anna Abondolo, Jon Starks & Ches Smith at The Stone at New School Simon & Anna on electric basses. Dual drummers. Alternated first half of the set with one of them sometimes using an octave pedal. 45 minute set of 5 improvisations. Brilliant unique blistering music. nobody better than Ches Smith in this context. Force of Nature. Simon is great and Anna is a young genius. I’d seen her twice on double bass but last night a whole other thing. Astounding young musician. She’s probably 24-25. will be back Friday and/or Saturday night tonight Tim Berne with Gregg Belisle-Chi and Tom Rainey

Lots of shows the past 2 weeks! Highlights Tony Malaby 2 great sets on 2 different Saturday nights at Barbes Tim Berne with his trio with Rainey augmented by the *great* Oscar Noriega on b-flat clarinet Rubin Kodheli on cello with Mary, Trevor Dunn & Brian Chase Matt Nelson solo soprano saxophone, Michael Foster duo with Webb Crawford & a great trio with James Paul Nadian and two young musicians on altered electric guitar & electric bass tonight at Jazz Gallery 7 Poets Trio with Tomas Fujiwara, Tomeka Reid & Patricia Brennan double bill with Tomeka’s quartet with Mary, Jason & Tomas