.:.impossible

Chuck, I read a review of this reissue in Signal To Noise last month by Tom Djll. He writes, "We have the music, though, and unlike the unofficial disc that was reissued in the UK on Soul Jazz a couple of years ago, his one's remastered from the original tapes..." ???

This is crazy. No one has even mentioned Out To Lunch! I don't think I'm alone, but I may be. This is a masterpiece in 'modern' music. It changed my entire concept of jazz. I am constantly floored by Eric Dolphy's original approach to improvisation, but his composing on this album is absolutely one of a kind. This was my introduction to Eric Dolphy. I bought the album because of the drummer! What a discovery.

Speaking of Canada, I checked out a pair of Paradigm Mini Monitors the other day here in Providence. I don't consider myself an audiophile, but I thought these sounded pretty good. The bass was not so big, but it seemed to be enough. I will probably bring a couple of discs in this weekend to check them out again. I was browsing ubid.com today and came across a couple of speakers that I was unfamiliar with. Does anyone know anything about these: Monitor Audio MON2.5 (150W) 14.5 x 8.25 x 8.25 Front Ported Monitor Audio MONITOR 7 (70W) 34.3 x 16.5 x 17.5 Wharfedale Crystal 20 (100W) 312 x 217 x 236 ? Has anyone ever bought from ubid? I have a friend who highly recommends it. Thanks.

Hey desertblues, any tips on where to find these speakers around that price? Thanks!

I'm glad to see this thread has recieved so much attention. I listen to the "acoustic" albums more often than X/O and Figure 8, but don't neglect them. On top of his great songwriting, there is some pretty amazing rock arrangement. Every once in a while, I will hear an electric guitar lick step out front and disappear in his lyrics on these well produced albums. I don't think they take anything away from his music. They give it a sort of duality that seems to amplify his musical talent. I may have to check out some of the like-kind-quality recommendations on this thread. I never get tired of listening to Elliott Smith!

That's strange... I was reading the privacy policy and it says that emusic is a part of Vivendi Universal. Everytime I think I'm going to sign up for the trial, I balk at giving my credit card information. I don't like the idea of entering all of my information on those pages for some reason. Do you guys get spammed a lot more than you did before joining? What about junk mail?

Sounds like it may be more like "And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out"? We are going to see them here in Providence next week!

I am looking forward to riding out here in New England this Spring and Summer. Still a little too muddy for my taste, but soon! Africa Brass, that deer story is incredible!

Jazz, I am not a trained musician, just a listener, so I can't offer too much explanation on the more technical aspects of the music. I will try to describe some of what I get out of it however. What I respect most about free jazz, avant-garde, what have you, is the actual shift of focus from the more traditional elements of popular music (harmony, meter) to the more emotional and visceral aspects of the communication form. I have been listening a lot to a couple of Nessa discs lately, so I will try to apply my thoughts to these recordings. I don't know how familiar you are with the Chicago musicans of the last quarter century, but they have definitely been an epiphany to me. These musicians have taken and extended a music/art form by embracing the entire tradition of jazz, rhythm and blues, you name it, to create what they have labeled "Great Black Music." I am gradually introducing myself to the world they have shaped over the past 40 years. Gradually. I am no expert or historian, for sure. AACM Website: Click here for more information You can find a discussion on Roscoe Mitchell's "Snurdy McGurdy's Dancin' Shoes" here on organissimo. I think this is as good a place as any to introduce yourself to Chicago and the "avant garde", even though it was recorded in 1980. A quintet utilizes a wide range of instrumentation with utmost facility to cover an equally wide range of musical styles. I am sure you will find merit in this recording. This recording would "fit" more into the avant-garde vein due to a more obvious approach to composition. Embedded in composition is brilliant improvisation, each turn complimenting the last. I don't know how this music ranks with professional musicians, but I have really enjoyed its diversity over the past two weeks. AIR Air Time has really made itself comfortable in my home. This is my kind of music. It sounds innate. It sounds natural. The music makes itself comfortable in my surroundings. The focus is on interaction and indefinite musical composition. This is a trio recording with an emphasis on rhythm, but not meter. It feels free and is one of the most inspiring recordings I have heard in quite some time. Air Time was recorded in 1978. Both of these musics are very different from each other, but somehow related. They are both bringing to light other elements of music and interaction. Elements that I feel have been neglected by a large portion of the musical community. The same goes for the surge of free music that came about in the 1960s. As much as we analyze the music and break it down into a common science, there is something about jazz music that cannot be explained. Much of the free music, avant-garde jazz, "great black music", etc. amplifies just that. Spirit. I hope that, over time, you become more comfortable with the "chaos." In that chaos, I have discovered and empathized with a great range of emotion. I have enjoyed reading your thoughts on this subject. Much of what you type is outside of my range of knowledge and fun to learn.

I felt the exact same way Africa Brass. I think there are a lot of people that would really like Elliott Smith's music. I hope he continues to put out great albums for a long long time.

This is such a brilliant album. I remember being in an interview right out of college for a hot-shot advertising agency in Richmond, VA. I had breakfast with the Creative Director, followed by a tour of the agency, and a sit-down in his huge glass office overlooking the foyer and the city. I knew I wasn't going to get the job, that he was humoring my aunt (she is a production manager there) and we got off on a conversation about music. This is the one album that I recommended. He told me he liked the blues and I told him that Charles Mingus was a blues genius. I wrote the title down for him and pounded the name of the album into his head. I would never have even considered the "definitive version" angle had it not been brought up here. For what it is worth, I never think about that stuff when I'm listening to Monk either. I get so wrapped up in the music that I forget I've even heard it before. This is as good a place as any to hear Better Get Hit in Yo Soul. I especially enjoy the closing section where he resorts to an older swing style to relay the jubilation of the music. Even my grandfather could get down with this. Rather than go track by track, I'll just echo the sentiment that this is as good a place as any to hear Charles Mingus' genius. His instrument is so well recorded on these two dates and the charts (or lack thereof as someone mentioned above) really work for me. I think horn combination is wonderful, especially the tuba with Mingus' bass! I very much hear this as an homage to Duke Ellington. What an emotional roller coaster this album is. If you're not careful, it'll swallow you, wash you around, and spit you back out before you can say Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus. (Kind of a wine reference. This is a great compliment to any bottle of red.)

As someone who has only just tested the waters of Cecil Taylor, I would recommend the following: The Cecil Taylor Quartet .:. Looking Ahead! (OJC) This is an early recording of Cecil's conception with vibes, bass, and drums. I would think this would be a very logical next step for you. Cecil Taylor .:. Jumpin' Punkins (Artists Only) This is an octet, I believe, and features some seriously swinging arrangements as well as solos from all involved. Clark Terry, Steve Lacy, Archie Shepp, Roswell Rudd, Buell Nellinger, Denis Charles... an interesting line-up with great result. The Cecil Taylor Unit/Roswell Rudd Sextet .:. Mixed (impulse!) The first three tracks feature an amazing, amazing ensemble with a sound not far removed from that of the Jumpin' Punkins date. Cecil and Jimmy Lyons, Archie Shepp, Ted Curson, Roswell Rudd, Henry Grimes, and Sunny Murray. Whether you care for the second half of the disc or not, these three tracks are worth the price, especially if you like Jumpin' Punkins and want the fire of Jimmy Lyons and !!!Sunny Murray!!! I believe this was originally issued under The Gil Evans Orchestra as Into the Hot if you are looking for vinyl. Good luck and enjoy. These are the three that I listen to the most. Like I said, I am fairly new to Cecil Taylor's world, so take that into consideration. I have really grown to love Unit Structures. It took some time for me to hear everything. A brief analysis in John Litweiler's book The Freedom Principle was a great help.

Usual Channels, I would recommend Ethnic Stew & Brew before It's Krunch Time. There are some great tracks on both, but overall, It's Krunch Time was a disappointment to me. Let me know if you are interested in hearing some mp3's from this disc. I ripped a couple before selling it back.

I've always had a good experience ordering from Cadence, plus for the extra $2.50 they send you a back-issue. I think that's pretty cool. Related... Another compliment to Chuck Nessa's service. I placed an order Tuesday evening and received the discs on Friday! What I love most about ordering from Mr. Nessa is that he has such a relationship with his catalog. I requested a specific disc and asked for him to choose another. Obviously, I would have been thrilled by any choice he made. Look at his catalog, for gosh sake! Thanks again Chuck.

I wasn't so much thinking of music with a "jazzy feel" to it, more of music that gives me that elated feeling that I get from jazz. Maybe I misunderstood the topic.

Well, if you're gonna get like that then... Hans Werner Henze Thank you so much for mentioning this composer! I have been trying to remember his name for years. I heard a composition on the radio one night four or five years ago, wrote his name down, and lost the note! I am going to seek this out.

Larry Young Unity is a great album for this discussion, but it seems that everyone loves it. Maybe better album of the weeks would be albums that result in a varying degree of opinion. I thought The All Seeing Eye was a great choice because so many people really don't see eye to eye on this one. How does everyone feel about throwing some Booker Ervin into the mix?

Willie Nelson The Grateful Dead Sam Prekop Elliott Smith the ever unpopular Phish Talking Heads Hendrix Tortoise young Red Hot Chili Peppers Stereolab lots of world music, especially Toumani Diabate and/or Ali Farka Toure

Clunky, is there a link you can post regarding the Vanguard performances? I didn't even know Moran had another disc coming out! I still haven't picked up Modernistic! I wonder if they will ever post new mp3's to his website. I downloaded all of them last year. The Bandwagon sounds great live!

I'm listening to Figure 8 again tonight. This guy is beautiful. I'm envious DoubleM. I can't imagine a local scene that has a presence this strong. I wonder if I had known about Elliott Smith and musicians like him earlier on. Would I have discovered jazz? Eventually, but I think this music would have snagged me for a while. Either way, I am so glad to have been introduced to this music. Matter of fact, I thanked my friend the other day for hipping me to Elliott Smith. I've wanted to check out Heatmiser for a while now. Sometime soon. First and foremost, I need to buy two copies of Snurdy McGurdy (one for my brother's birthday and one for myself of course) and the NESSA AEC Box (just one, for myself ). Do you guys listen to any other musicians that you would associate with Elliott Smith?

I really like this disc a lot. Very Wayne Shorter influenced sound with a GREAT rhythm section. Where else can we get this lineup?!

After a great day at a small mountain in Vermont with my brother two weeks ago on my old 148 with baseless bindings and soft Morrow boots, I decided it was time to upgrade. I went down to a local shop and took advantage of their late-season sale, purchased myself a brand new RIDE, bindings, and DC boots. I am dying to go this weekend. I can remember riding on a 156, fast, smooth, long turns and free. Although I had one last great day on my shortboard, I recognized the fact that I was riding with unnecessary pain in my feet on that unnecessarily rattling board. The thing was not designed for fast freeriding. It was designed for spinning, something that has less importance to me know than it did 5 years ago. Yes, it has been that long since I last bought gear. I bought a 155 RIDE Nation. Beautiful shape, incredibly light, nice flexibility, extra active edge around the nose and tail. The bindings I didn't put as much stock in. I bought the RIDE LS bindings. Much nicer than the baseless bindings I was strapped into before, but definitely not top of the line. Instead, I put my money into a pair of DC Radians. These boots are incredible. I know they will soften up over the next few seasons, but they are extremely supportive, complete with an air bladder to hug my ankles as tight as I wish. Yes, this is old Reebok technology applied. I have detuned the board and am ready to go. Is this all greek to everybody here, or can I get an AMEN!? That's what I'm talking about. AMEN!

I'm listening to FIGURE 8 for the first time through tonight. I would recommend starting with either this or X/O and working your way back, although if you like his early stuff, you'll definitely dig on this stuff. Much more harmony and many more instruments. I can't decide whether it is his voice or his songs that I like most. I can't really compare him to anyone else, though my Mom kept telling me how much he reminded her of John Lennon. I wasn't alive when John Lennon's music was "contemporary" and she was, so... BTW, she was in love with Paul.

I wanted to let everyone who does not have a subscription to STN know that the latest issue is available now. Wadada Leo Smith is on the cover. For those of you who already have this issue, what do you think?

J Larsen, I wasn't around from the beginning. In fact, a friend made me a mix tape with a bunch of Pavement in 99, the year they decided to call it quits. I have since snatched up most of their CDs. I can understand your waining interest in their music, as it drastically changed over the ten years they were together. I love the early sound of Pavement, but I also love Brighten the Corners, even Terror Twilight! They all offer something different. The S+E Luxe and Reduxe is so great because it includes live recordings from the era. I hope Matador continues with this trend and releases live recordings from each recording era. I think I'll go out and buy Pig Lib today.