mjazzg

mine's not arrived yet, the CDR I made up from the download will have to suffice for now arrived this morning...so maybe yours is imminent. You'll not be disappointed, I'm sure

Spontaneous Music Ensemble - The source - from and towards [Tangent] followed by Brotzmann/Edwards/Noble - ...the worse the better A lovely recording as the inaugural release on Cafe Oto's new label. This trio's a dream. This bodes very well for whatever they may have lined up for future releases

thanks for this. Stefan

the two samples sound very tempting. The names involved are completey new to me so what's there to know? I'm intrigued

Right you are about those lineups. Now that I'm clearer on the particulars, I'll agree on the drummerless trio. I have Sankt Gerold, but I think there was an earlier one. It's definitely in the tradition of the Giuffre trio, but (not surprisingly given it wasn't a working band) without the same level of telepathy. It's the Surman/Oxley and Surman/Frisell lineups that don't click for me. I think in one case Bley/Oxley isn't working for me and in the other it's Bley/Frisell--and I'm quite fond of both Oxley and Frisell. I didn't intend my comment about Eicher as a put-down, I was just noting that, according to Bley those were producer-arranged groups. I would agree to some extent about the Frisell/Surman - something not quite working there,as i hear it

I think there may be two albums with that lineup, as well as two with Evan Parker, Barre Phillips and Tony Oxley, and both of those Eicher-assembled groups leave me cold. I just don't think they gel. I hear the Bley, Parker, Phillips trio as very successful, an update and development of a giuffre trio in an oblique way. They are both trios, no Oxley. Oxley appears with Bley only on two ECM releases. under Surman's name on "Adventure playground" and the collective attribution "In the evenings out there" - both from the same session, I believe - Surman, Bley, Oxley, Phillips. Again, works for me, fine playing by all

Listening to the new Andy Sheppard makes me think of Surman in some ways. There's that pastoral feel to the album. Benita (always enjoyed his contributions to Palatino) and Rochford are superb (isn't Rochford always? seemingly in any musical setting as far as i've witnessed) and this is the only Sheppard I've really got on with since his duet with Tippett (a long time ago). Even now I find is lyricism a touch obvious and in need of some grit. Just back from the trio's gig which stuck fairly resolutely to the recording as far as i could tell - again I was looking for some bite but I can hardly expect them to play what I want . Fine musicianship. No alder thickets encountered in London tonight.....

yes indeed. Suspect it's another in the series of solos. Seems a while since the last, Absalom Dawe? or has there been naother (too lazy to check the ECM site)

Thanks Alex. I'll be tuning in tonight or on 'listen again' Glad to hear the Oto residency was a triumph. I was unhappy to miss sure a rare visit. I trust it was packed? Maybe it'll emerge on their label....

My suggestion will always be Jeanne Lee's Conspiracy. Never on CD. Stellar band including Sam Rivers, Gunther Hampel, Steve McCall amongst others. Great vocal performance and writing. I seem to remember someone saying that an attempt had been made to reissue in the past but to no avail. Jonathan - I'm looking forward to the Daley, having never heard the music but just been enthused by your and everyone's opinion.

very high on my "damn, I wish I could here that record" list and probably fairly high on the "wish it wasn't so expensive to buy" list too

No I didn't realise the DL was free with the vinyl either. Not until I read your other post in the 'now playing' thread did I think to check inthe relevant email account. Just DL'd it but so far holding on for the vinyl before listening - not sure why..... I think I'll try and make the launch gig. Saw the trio with Longberg-Holm and Paal NL the other week which was good but became truly astounding when Steve Noble was added for the second set

the art of multitracking.... always surprises and enchants. Followed by James Newton - Axum

For fans of PB here's news of a new vinyl/download release from Brotzmann that initiates a new label from one of London's best venues. Edwards/Noble - helluva rhythm section

Great to hear Tim Berne's own views here - welcome Tim! (....and on a thread I started!!) I'm more than ready to welcome this band to London, as I suspect are a number of the city's fans - there's usually been a packed house when TB and band have played at the Vortex over a number of years. The album will be worn out by the time I hear it live, it's that good.

absoutely. much fanfare in this household. Vesala can do little wrong in my book. A truly great drummer and bandleader. it should be noted that much of the later ECM material had a major input from Iro Haala that has only relatively recently been recognised. Sound and Fury - one of the best live bands I've heard, for sure. i can still hear them nearly twenty years on

Firstly, thanks for the insightful reviews, Leeway. I'm glad the gig was a good one and it whets my appetite. I find it very interesting to read this comparison between the live and studio experience especially as I'm having to await the live version. I really don't want to start the ECM 'good v. evil' debate again but having heard Berne talk about the opportunity to record this music in this way precisely because it is on ECM I can't quite agree with 'pernicious' which my dictionary defines as 'destructive or ruinous'. I believe that he's quite clear (In the Jason Crane interview) that he chose the music to sound as it does as a predetermined artistic decision because of the options that ECM afforded him. In fact he goes as far as to say that it doesn't sound like it would on screwgun precisely because he can't afford to prepare and record such a release on his own label. He's very complimentary about Eicher's influence too. Now, of course, none of this does nor should undermine your response to the recorded artefact - that's 'different ears, different views' as it always should be. And just because TB likes the end result doesn't mean any of us listeners should. I just hope I'm not disappointed in the live version because it's not ECM enough

no apology needed whatsover. Enjoy the show, i'm counting down to the London gigs

Are you trying to feed the flames??? Yes. Some great music on this disk though - much of it is about collective counterpoint, sometimes with the sax in a rhythm role. Long and hypnotic melodies. Given the direction the other thread took (and your complaints about it), I have to say that I'm flabbergasted that this would be your desire. I've been a huge fan of Berne's for years. I have probably about 99% of the discs he appears on. I have no doubt that the music contained on this upcoming disc will hold at least some interest for me. That being said, I almost always have to be in the "right" mood to listen to his stuff. No I was teasing. I am on the second time through now. It's a fantastic disc in terms of the group counterpoint, the whole group feeling, a real labour of love. All really well played-in. I should think he's delighted with it. Glad to hear it! I've spoken to Tim on the phone (to place orders for his Screwgun discs --- he lives local to me in Brooklyn), and believe me --- he's never delighted about anything I know what you mean! I've had several chats with him in the past, and then again there were times I steered clear. I'm supposed to see Berne Sunday at Bohemian Caverns. If he looks reasonably mellow (doubtful), I might try to sneak a question on this whole ECM thing. A prickly chap but I like him anyway. Leeway, he speaks at length about 'the ECM thing' in the Jason Crane interview I've posted earlier 2/14. Interesting how he describes the album's compositions and arrangements being directly influenced by the opportunity to record for a label that takes such care over production etc. It's an interesting listen if you can spare the time. And as the thread starter I'm pleased to have finally purchased the album and I'm thoroughly enjoyin the first listen - great to hear TB in a different setting

This one is a MUST. couldn't agree more. A total revelation when i (very belatedly) caught up with it. One of those few albums that I always find it very difficult to choose what to play next - it seems such a complete listening experience in some way that demands continued attention and consideration even after it's ended. Which might be a long-winded way of saying 'It's also just a damn good listen'. In the spirit of the thread I'll add a recommendation for the Psi release Psalms by Evan P and Sten Sandell - duet with church organ. Someway from Topography but a sumptuos recording of a fascinating dialogue. And an Emanem that may have slipped under radars. Riviere Composers' Pool - Kent Carter, Theo Jorgensmann, Albrecht Maurer and Etienne Rolin in a variety of combinations of bass, violin/viola and clarinets. Listen to these players coming together over a few improvised sessions in a couple of days. The final disc is the quartet concert. If you like your clarinet. with deep resonant bass (can't help but think Giuffre/Swallow '61) and strings added...no contest

in depth interview with Berne discussing creation of Snakeoil etc http://thejazzsession.com/2012/02/07/the-jazz-session-344-tim-berne/ (for those whodare - go to 30min mark for his opinions of recording for ECM including 'the sound', no mention of enforced photography though )

some interesting Berne (and others) on this http://marchannaford.bandcamp.com/album/ordinary-madness

Definitely pressed, seen a pile of them for sale. I haven't got a copy though

Hoping to make it to see Fieldwork - been on my 'to see' list for some time the rest? I can, and will, leave

My immediate thought was Eric Hobsbawn's series - Age of Revolution; Age of Capital; Age of Empire but then I saw your request for no political agenda (how possible is this, I wonder, either overt or otherwise, for any historian to achieve?) and Hobsbawn is a reknowned Marxist thinker so maybe not. Great read though, maybe a bit too European and not GB focussed enough . Hobsbawn was a Jazz critic with an intriguingly chosen pseudonym. see here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Hobsbawm#Works So I'll defer to other board members both who have a professional interest in history (Robin Hood's neighbour?) and those that don't to come up with some better suggestions