Steve Reynolds

Big listener to Butcher. Endlessly inventive and focused. Prefer his recordings with drummers.

Zeena Parkins & Brian Chase

RIP, sir Also saw him with ICP 4 times I believe. Great entertainer as well as a idiosyncratic improvisor of the best kind.

Multidimensionally Human Sita Chay: violin Frank London: trumpet Shoko Nagai: piano & accordion Satoshi Takeishi: percussion only familiar with Nagai (who I saw recently with Chris Cochrane’s wild group (she was amazing) & Takeishi At The New School (aka The New Stone)

No solo ever from Jerry but amazing picking fwiw not my favorite song:) of all the country covers, Big River is often the hottest. Second Garcia solo usually blows the roof off Peggy-O might fit as well / the 1977-78 versions are often incredible

The Grateful Dead many covers and portions of their 1970 thru 74 live shows have the vibe throughout parts of the shows. It’s a big part of their thing. look for Big River, Mama Tried, Sing Me Back Home, Me and My Uncle, etc.

No cake, no pie just a bit of Dead this AM and now some Evan Parker chilling out prepping for my imminent retirement!! 10 to 15 live shows a month to be the norm / which I’ve already been doing the last few months to make sure my life is filled with live music!! The improv scene here in NYC/Brooklyn is pure fire post-pandemic!! Great time to be alive!!! To make things right, NP 1/24/70 with Cumberland Blues, Cold Rain & Snow and a great version of the *great* Mason’s Children with Jerome killing it!!!

Of course:)

I don’t listen to very much classic jazz these days but Sonny Clark is my favorite pianist of his sort. Love these recordings and I may buy this. regarding Hoffman the jazz threads are fine. The one Lon started is excellent. There is a great avant-garde thread with decent participation although of course the interest in that sort of music will always be very limited. Some here would enjoy the recommendations and commentary. Also it’s the best place by FAR to discuss the Grateful Dead. The most knowledgeable posters on the subject of my favorite rock band.

Last night of Zoh Amba’s residency tonight with pianist Micah Thomas & drummer Chris Corsano Last night (Friday) was spectacular again / intense free jazz with lots of color & space within.

This was an avant-garde rock set. Spectacular. Zoh played some guitar and sang one song. Ismaily was beyond great as was Steve Gunn seeing Zoh again the next 2 or even 3 nights tonight is Forbes Graham, gabby fluke-mogul & Luke Stewart friday is with Patrick Shiroishi, Wendy Eisenberg & Chris Corsano saturday is with Micah Thomas & Corsano expecting free jazz Friday & Saturday who knows what tonight will bring Last night mind blowing 1 hour piece with some thematic elements. As great as Zoh, Forbes & Luke were, gabby fluke-mogul played as great on violin as I have ever heard. Genius level from many perspectives. looking forward to tonight

This was an avant-garde rock set. Spectacular. Zoh played some guitar and sang one song. Ismaily was beyond great as was Steve Gunn seeing Zoh again the next 2 or even 3 nights tonight is sign Forbes Graham, gabby fluke-mogul & Luke Stewart friday is with Patrick Shiroishi, Wendy Eisenberg & Chris Corsano saturday is with Micah Thomas & Corsano expecting free jazz Friday & Saturday who knows what tonight will bring

Zoh Amba with Shahzad Ismaily, Steve Gunn & Jim White

Plus best vibe I’ve ever experienced in live music the last 9 months especially in these small rooms in Brooklyn. Hanging out between sets with Brandon, Kevin & some of the other musicians is a roar. Brandon is the best. seeing Webb again on Wednesday plus an awesome cellist named T.J. Borden. most importantly the duo of James McKain on tenor saxophone and the miraculous Chuck Roth on guitar. I’ve seen them 2-3 times and her (Chuck) 4-5 times the last few months. Recordings of both of them solo and then duo will happen in the near future. for those wondering the audience is young, alive and open to new vibrant and radical brilliant music.

Last night Kelsey Mines solo double bass Webb Crawford solo guitar both utterly unique and brilliant Michael Foster’s Ghost with Brandon Lopez on double bass & Joey Sullivan on drums Foster on tenor, baritone & soprano saxophone stunning incandescent blazing set. Foster is one of the greatest saxophonists on the scene today.

Jessica Pavone with Peter Evans, Brandon Lopez & Ryan Sawyer @ New School (aka The New Stone)

Maybe I can start driving now🌝

Again both sets far exceeded my expectations. Cleaver & Lopez together are magic. Fred Moten is brilliant and I’m not normally a fan of any spoken word/poetry. Their 45 minute set was a work of musical vision Gerald added in a bit of his own vocalizing with stunning effect. He’s a genius level musician peaking. Seeing him 3 times in 4 days almost not enough. Too bad he doesn’t live here any longer but he says he’ll be back within a month for more gigs. Might go tomorrow for the last of their 3 night residency. With Matt Nelson opening on solo tenor saxophone.

Ben LaMar Gay / but also plays cornet Seeing Peter Evans this Friday with Jessica Pavone, Brandon Lopez & Ryan Sawyer. It’s Jessica’s week at The Stone at The New School Saw his Being & Becoming quartet in the spring with Joel Ross and they were spectacular and Evans is flat out incredible. But he’s now 41 years old and has been on the scene 16 to 17 years.

Last night Larry Ochs with Steve Swell, Tim Berne, Brandon Lopez & Gerald Cleaver tonight Darius Jones solo then Lopez & Cleaver with Fred Moten

My favorites Nate Wooley Peter Evans Luis Vicente Artur Majewski (not so young) Percy Pursglove

Surpassed

Larry Ochs, Nels Cline & Gerald Cleaver tonight hard not to have very high expectations for this trio

Above Billy Mintz quartet at I-Beam in Brooklyn on 8/10 I’ll be there

See my comments on the live music thread the “Old Dogs” are destroying planets Larry Ochs still peaking at 74 so this week 2 or 3 more sets with the great saxophonist. He was sitting right behind me for Crispell, Dresser & Hemingway. Nice guy. Vladimir Tarasov 2 seats to my right. I’m so blessed to have witnessed these sets live. after this week back to the young guns. I’m sure some shows in Brooklyn with the scene changers then,,,, 2 sets late this month with the *great* Zoh Amba!! 7/28 & 7/29 both include Chris Corsano Next Friday 7/14 Jessica Pavone, Peter Evans, Brandon Lopez & Ryan Sawyer. Wowza plus 7/22 improv show at Roulette with various luminaries including Mary Halvorson, Cyro Baptista, Billy Martin, Kenny Wolleson, Ches Smith, John Zorn, Wendy Eisenberg & gabby fluke-mogul among others look out for Joanna Mattrey on violin, James McKain on tenor saxophone snd especially the amazing Chuck Roth on guitar. Don’t look her up:) the musical energy over here is burning hot.