mjazzg

Okay, if you insist. I think the worst concert by a name avant-garde player I've ever seen was by Joe McPhee. That was really a terrible experience; I truly hated his trumpet playing. Maybe it was a bad night, I don't know, but I have no interest in investigating further. Peter Brotzman I didn't like very much either. I will say that he is impressively loud. However, I'm not really anti-avant garde. So far this year I've seen Bobby Bradford and Bern Nix live. And I'll hopefully see Dave Burrell in a couple of months. I'm trying to reconcile what you are saying with what I know about Joe McPhee. I'm trying to figure out if you had a bad night, or if Joe did. I'm trying to figure out if listening to Joe in concert with Evan Parker, a few weeks ago, sitting not more than 5 feet from Joe, who played trumpet and pocket trumpet, played it beautifully and even sublimely, is the same Joe McPhee who was horrible and screechy and incapable of playing trumpet. Certainly, if he was screechy, I would have heard it 5 feet away. I didn't. Certainly, if he was horrible, I can't imagine Evan Parker wanting to play with him. And this has been my experience in going to Joe McPhee performances over the last 10 years, in all sorts of contexts. And I also can't imagine that the Joe McPhee you picture is the same Joe McPhee who made many HatArt classic performances that helped define avant music. I can't imagine it's the same musician who plays on the superb Decoy/Oto albums. So, no, I can't credit your account. It's too bad you won't "investigate"further, as you will miss out on some great music. Whilst I whoeheartedly agree with your point of view about McPhee's merits. Leeway I do think it's possible for people to hear what we hear as melodic and 'natural' as 'screechy'. My partner and at least a couple of my friends would struggle listening to McPhee on trumpet or saxophone and would very likely describe it as 'screechy' or 'a racket'. Play me a good deal of opera or lieder and I'll be tempted to use the same descriptors - not very considered maybe but that's my reaction. Mind you I can't seem to find when kh1958 describes McPhee as 'screechy',that it was 'hated' yes but for what reason, no I agree that it's unfortunate that kh1958 didn't enjoy the experience as I would like others to hear and enjoy this music in the way I do too but at least he/she went, sampled it and came away with a conclusion. Many people don't even cross the threshold. It took me some time to appreciate many of the greats of free music that I now hold so dear and I'm hoping that kh1958 may at some time in the future come back to McPhee and Brotz via a different route and find something of merit. It they don't well it'll be down to the likes of me, you, Steve and Colinmce amongst others to keep flying the flag

or listen to both Moran and Fernandez/New Orch/Mad Dogs and enjoy them both for what they do differently. Works for me

Indeed, lovely LP. I was surprised to see copies of this for sale on catalytic Sound recently. Obviously PB must've found a stash in a cupboard somewhere

Drake/Brotzmann/Hopkins - The Atlanta Concert [Okka]

I'll have to be quicker to read his monthly list next time then

where do you two shop?!!

That's good to hear. I was only looking at purchasing a vinyl copy this morning. My copy has blue/ white labels rather than the later blue/black. Having said that I've no idea how many different pressings there are of this title. thanks. now all I've got to do is find one (preferably not in US with those postal charges)

That's good to hear. I was only looking at purchasing a vinyl copy this morning.

I saw Fujii in a trio the other night at Pathhead ( a small village outside Edinburgh. Tom Bancroft (drums ) lead the completely improvised set . It was a stunning concert that really defies description. I felt truly privileged . I ended up buying 4 discs featuring her or her husband ( trumpeter Natsuki Tamura ) I think her Ma- do quartet is possibly her best group. I am promising myself to get this recording. Plus I love the cover. I hear good, even great things, about Satoko Fuji, but it is going to take me a while to get over her disastrous Vision Fest appearance. Maybe her husband can take some of the blame for that, but it was still her gig. One of the big disappointments for me. Perhaps she comes across better on disc. Broke the piggy bank today and ordered: 1) Badenhorst, Joachim / John Butcher / Paul Lytton: Nachtigall 2) Decoy with Joe Mcphee: Spontaneous Combustion [2 CDs] (have the LP but need the additional minutes) 3) Mitchell, Roscoe / Mike Reed: In Pursuit of Magic 4) Nilssen-Love, Paal Large Unit: Erta Ale [3 CD BOX SET] 1) and 4) sound intriguing. Would love to hear your thoughts down the road 2) is a given as the first live recording by Decoy & McPhee has some passages that really explode with McPhee playing as fierce a tenor saxophone as I've heard from him for some time. I expect more and better with a 2 CD set Similar thoughts here, Steve 1) has been on my 'to buy' list for ages. I've a couple of Badenhorst's solo releases that I enjoy. 3) Everything I've heard with Mike Reed on drums has been good and the one opportunity to hear him live certainly didn't disappoint so the duet with RM intrigues. 4) As for the PNL - it's interesting that he should form a large unit after his work with Brotzmann and Gjerstad's. From little I've read about it he's got a new generation of players on board which is good. and Decoy? well it is Decoy nice haul, worth sacrificing the piggy bank for I'd say (just surprised Moran's 'All Rise' isn't in there )

Brotzmann/Tippett/Noble @ Cafe Oto

John Stevens - Application Interaction And... [spotlite]

That's a compelling case when stated like that Leeway but I still feel it's not wholly convincing. (you can add a Blue Note 75th birthday bash at London Jazz Festival too!) I just wonder when does 'learning from the elders' become 'riding on their coat-tails'? OK, so programming himself to play with Braxton and Taylor may have proved a musical mismatch but might not his motivation have been to play with a couple of heroes? He had the chance and many others might have tested their mettle in such collaborations give the opportunity. Couldn't we see this as a brave attempt to engage with undeniable Masters and learn with and from them in the most testing of contexts - I can't quite see how doing this can imply he therefore think's he's of their stature, as you suggest. If you count the Trio 3 collaboration it seems that we've only got four collaborations that are causing disquiet - Rivers, Threadgill, Cecil and Trio 3 - in how many years? 'Black Stars was 2000. Hell, if I were a musician of Moran's generation I'd be jumping at opportunities to engage with that generation before it was too late. I think the Waller album is a different fish altogether (sits with his Monk project). I wasn't overly surprised as I've always heard elements of earlier piano styles in Moran's playing from the start. Here, as with Monk, I see he's making a tribute to an important influence. OK, not necessarily a ground breaking step but not a crime . That it's got Ndegeocello and vocals and leads with a groove isn't also very surprisng. This is the pianist who covered Afrika Bambaata after all (to thrilling effect) on the same album as James P. Johnson, twelve years ago - so the variety of influence (and acknowledgement thereof/tribute) was there then. He hasn't released a leader date for four years since hooking up with Lloyd for sure but didn't Jarrett go three years or so without a leader release when he was in the same piano chair? I'd need to check to be certain Now I'm a Moran fan (you may have guessed) and think Bandwagon are a fantastic live band and have bought every album and only really been disappointed in 'Same Mother' but I don't want to come across as offended fanboy. Case for the Defence rests, your Honour

Just wondering if anyone has a copy of Cecil Taylor Jazz Unit ‎– The Early Unit 1962. Recorded Golden Circle snd released on Ingo. Seems to me any CT from then has got to be worth hearing but I'm wondering whether the sound quality is an overriding issue. Any opinions gratefully received

Only suppliers currently on Amazon.UK are both US so I guess they supply to you domestically as well?

Does George sing on many tracks? I've always struggled with his vocals and have avoided this album just in case. That line-up's sure to deliver though He sings one one blues - "Got Somethin' Good For You." I like his singing, but everyone's taste is different, of course. Thanks Jeff. now playing Mal Waldron - The Quest [New Jazz]

Marion Brown - Three for Shepp [impulse] Marion Brown - Why Not [ESP/Japan]

Does George sing on many tracks? I've always struggled with his vocals and have avoided this album just in case. That line-up's sure to deliver though

Kenny Wheeler Quintet - Flutter by, Butterfly [soul Note] w. Stan Sulzman, John Taylor, Dave Holland, Billy Elgart Lead off track 'Everybody's Song But My Own' quintessential Wheeler in many ways

Kenny Wheeler - "Music for Large and Small Ensembles" [ECM]

Gerald Wilson Big Band - Moment of Truth [Fontana] The 17 Piece Orchestra of Gerald Wilson - You better believe it! [Fontana]

That unique sound, those tunes and arrangements will live on in the recordings. We'll miss the warm, almost self-effacing stage demeanour of a man who always seemed so at ease when playing or listening to his bandmates play. An ever present in the 30 years that I've listened to Jazz in London - the 60th Birthday Concert at QEH will always stay with me RIP Kenny Wheeler

At last! Some long overdue recognition for a marvellous artist that has ploughed an individual furrow of great influence for many years now. You know you're always get incisive and challenging music from him.

Yeah, the Dutch CBS comes in twice as much £££ so a bit of GDR chic suited me fine. It's a fine date, one of those where evrything played just seems in the right place at the right time

Albert Mangelsdorff Quintett - One Tension [Amiga] w. Gunter Kronberg, Heinz Sauer, Gunter Lenz, Ralf Hubner my first by this band. Won't be the last