Chuck Nessa

I remember hearing this story when it happened.

I'm on the email list of Conundrum Music Hall, a tiny, but adventurous little venue in Columbia. Very much look forward to hearing your impressions of the band That's funny, because I had already decided to post a Steve Reynolds-style report. Conundrum is a tiny little hall, but it was packed - which means about 50 people. Frode's suitcase didn't make it onto his flight, so he was wearing a University of South Carolina t-shirt he had picked up. The band hit at full force; after about five minutes textures started evolving. "Full force" was very exciting; the phrase that occurred to me was that the music swung on the molecular level. I'm not sure that actually means anything, but that's what popped into my head. Gjerstad and the trio have great rapport, and Steve Swell did indeed fit in very well. Melodic leads changed hands, instrumentation and textures kept changing, and everyone listened and responded to each other at a high level. The difference between Gjerstad's alto playing and clarinet playing is interesting. On alto, he's abstract, but very melodic; on clarinet, he's even more abstract - he almost never played a "regular" note on clarinet. It was almost entirely multiphonics, overblown sounds, etc. And I have been to enough free jazz concerts that I thought I had seen it all in terms of bass technique, but Strom came up with some stuff I had never seen/heard before, like "bowing" with the palm of his hand. The complete tour courtesy of Frode's site: 13th new orleans @ the ALLWAYS LOUNGE, 14th columbia @ the conondrum music hall, 15th charlotte @ the McColl Center, 16th ashville @ the Mothlight , 17th lexington @ mecca dance studio, 18th cleveland @ Mahalls bowling alley, 19th chicago @ constellation, 20th detroit @ Trinosophes , 21st kalamazoo @ Satellite Records , 22nd milwaukee @ the Sugar Maple, 23rd edmonton @ the Yardbird suite , 24th montreal @ Casa del Popolo We bring many CDs and LPs for good prices…. We will catch them in Chicago and maybe more.

Attended a lovely solo recital by James Falzone tonight.

Derek Taylor reviewed Silver Cornet in Dusted: http://dustedmagazine.tumblr.com/post/102549998519/bradford-gjerstad-quartet-silver-cornet-nessa

I think they played at the All Ways Lounge in NOLA last night.

Needless brain drain at this point (we could all blame Bird for smack or Pops for weed - the gateway). Listen to the music and enjoy or not.

Paal Nilssen-Love, drums and Jon Rune Strøm, bass. Swell should be a good partner for Frode. We plan on catching them next week in Chicago at Constellation.

Suzi Quatro George Foreman Vince G®ill

Hmmmm. First sentence of the piece "Late Jazz legend Thelonious Monk is known across the world as a musician, bandleader, composer and vocalist."

All Ra freaks should motor to Chicago for the New Year Celebration at Constellation - Marshall Allen and the band will usher in 2015 and your ticket price is $35 in advance as I understand it.

This cd set caught me by surprise - I remembered a single Dover lp but had no idea there was a complete series on 6 discs.

I'm not.

Blue by Mostly Other People Do the Killing.

Back in the day I was told the second volume wasn't issued since one of the bass players couldn't play in tune.

Say good night Gracie.

So that's what Clem looks like.

I think it is fun but am not sure the "model" is the author.

No worries.

Thanks. Sorry if I was too excited.

Chuck, I imagine you've had a pretty amazing career. I've noticed you've recorded Mr. Bowie a few times. I intend to check those out. I was pretty pleased to see this one sitting in a used bin this afternoon, clean as a whistle. I don't think it's ever been issued on cd. I very much enjoyed Side 1 . . . Career be damned. Lester was a friend.

A bunch of friends in that image. I miss Lester.

All the best!!