mjazzg

Jason Roebke http://www.pointofdeparture.org/PoD56/PoD56JumpinIn.html Each piece was written on a single page. There was no conductor. Certain things were discussed in advance. For that first gig, and a second (at the Hungry Brain) shortly after, it was an 11-piece group – with guitarist Matthew Schneider and saxophonists Dave Rempis and Mars Williams. Roebke spoke at length about the project’s challenges – especially of stitching the written and the improvised together. “Everybody could improvise and everybody could play the written music, but they could not put those next to each other. So there would be a lot of bass solos – and sort of looking around and staring at me, like, ‘When are you going to count in the next section?’ ‘I don’t know!’ Literally, don’t look at me five seconds after you just finished playing: the song’s got to be longer than a minute! We really played some of the most embarrassing music of my entire life.

Mike Nock - Ondas [ECM] one of the best that Manfred's never seen fit to reissue on CD (also goes to show, no hard feelings on the rugby front )

Thanks Sidewinder. It's on the "to buy" list now which given the length of the list could mean anytime between now and Kingdom Come

thanks

Such a hearty recommendation piques my interest and worries my wallet. Who are the Bird Curtis Quintet? Listening to some online samples I like what I hear

Having now spent some time with disc.1 of this release I can only say that it's a triumph. It's interesting to hear the Ensemble eight years on from the first release on FMR. There's undoubtedly a very strong thread running between them and despite the personnel changes the characteristics of the music and the playing are immediately identifiable. There's still that marvellously wonky gait that propels the more uptempo numbers.The Ensemble sounds more cohered and much of the disc is characterised by ensemble rather than solo playing. No one player shines but all play an equally integral part in the success of the whole emerging at different times to make individual statements. The key to all of this has to be the compositions all of which achieve a fine balance between complexity with accessibility. To start with a Jerome Cooper tune is a real statement of intent and one that fair leaps out of the speakers. I'd recommend this to anyone with open ears who wants to hear some fine contemporary (and British, for what that's worth) players playing memorable compositions in a non-straight ahead manner. I remember posting about the first Ensemble disc and mentioning Threadgill - it's still that type of beguiling and complex music, driven by great tunes and some definite groove. And to think I once gave the guitarist my spare copy of a Paul Motian LP - I can hear some Motian in this music too! And now I've got to try the large Ensemble disc..

Listening now. Very strong playing all round, good tunes too. Great listen so far. Now I'm really pissed off I missed the gig! Any more London dates planned?

I'll definitely sample with a view to purchasing. Sorry that I had to miss the Vortex gig, hope it went well

Walt Dickerson - Shades Of Love [Steeplechase]

that's superfast, thanks Alex

PM sent

Yusef Lateef - A flat, G flat and C [Impulse, Mono]

I read that Haarla had a lot more to do with the arranging of those Vesala albums than she received credit for. Can't think of the source off hand but will post it if I can find it. Her releases on TUM are also highly recommended

Yusef Lateef - 1984 [Impulse]

The Ensemble tracks sound great on Bandcamp. I'll definitely be investing in a hard copy as soon as. I'm saving the larger ensemble tracks until then!

fascinating. As he says " I’m a lot of musicians in one musician ", just about sums it up for me

Arve Henriksen - Towards Language [Rune Grammofon] not least because this city could do with beauty like this at the moment. I hope the O-board's London contingent and loved ones are safe today.

So many fine solo recordings and without even mentioning Evan Parker, Anthony Braxton and Roscoe Mitchell (who each probably deserve a solo recordings thread to themselves), here's some great ones from my collection that get revisited often Peter Brotzmann - 14 Love Poems [FMP] Joseph Jarman - Sunbound Volume One [AECO] Famoudou Don Moye - Sun Percussion Volume One [AECO] Brother Malachi Favors Magoustous - Natural & Spiritual [AECO] Arve Henriksen - Sakuteiki [Rune Grammofon] Sabir Mateen - Ardla XXX [Rogue Art] Jerome Cooper - Unpredictability Of Predictability [About Time] Nicole Mitchell - Engraved In The Wind [Rogue Art] I'll second the Gunter Sommer, Marion Brown, Vinny Golia and Steve Coleman mentions above

Love those Max clips. Thanks for posting

Yes, I thought Osby too but was then surprised to see that 3-D Lifestyles was 1993. Surprisingly later than I remembered. Listening to it now for probably the first time in at least a decade. I can hear why I enjoyed when it came out.

That Williamson album was a favourite when it first came out. Strong player who has been sadly underrecorded and from the other angle

Julie Tippetts - Sunset Glow [Utopia] such a strong and early statement as a solo artist

Me too now. Thanks Sidewinder! I missed out on the Impressed CD so this is the first time I've heard the music. Lovely stuff, fine sound indeed

Marc Levin Ensemble - Songs Dances and Prayers [Centrifuga, 2017] lovely sounding Levin authorised reissue. Nice artwork repro and extra notes from Levin. A very nice update of an all time favourite the original of which is now a bit tired

Wonderful experience each time I've seen them. They really are like no one else out there