mjazzg

First couple of spins to Oblique1 by Tyshawn Sorey (Pi Recordings) reveal a tight band playing some interesting music. Not many tunes leaping out yet but some interesting writing especially the slower paced elements (like Koan?) certainly Sorey's drumming and Escreet's piano is sounding strong (so much more so than on Escreet's very disappointing recent leader date). Stillman's tone still needs some getting used to, for me.

I've not come across Kaplan or Blaser at all. Rather odd choices methinks, unless Werner wants to get away from strictly reissues. The Ayler is a MUST. I'm still hoping and waiting for a handful of primo Braxtons, including the Santa Cruz album. Blaser made some waves with a Clean Feed release featuring Tyshawn Sorey iirc and also had an intriguing duo disc with Pierre Favre. I, for one, am pleased to see Hat promoting some new and young talent, especially if the ever-special Mr. Ducret is involved

recently purchased Winter Oranges with The Danish radio Big Band. Great clarity in the writing and some impressive playing. Looking forward to Charles River Fragments as next purchase. there appears to me such a strong compositional voice threading through everything I've heard thus far

latest BGO reissue now available The Day of the Dead/October Ferry/Symphony of Scorpions/Forest Path to the Spring http://www.bgo-records.com/details_divs.asp?CatalogNo=BGOCD1028 The website blurb describes how Collier was involved, altering tracklisting (seems a shame that they couldn't edit the text to recognise his death). The rest of this series has been essential listening in my house Such a shame it's a posthumous release

followed by two very different but very good BYGs

I share your pain. what to do? Could she be the artist to make the genre-defying difference......

No brainer. Unmissable ! (or you could take the Strata-East vinyl route) another vote for the Tolliver. marvellous stuff. If you're at all tempted, then jump

Ayler was one of those game-changing musicians whose influence extends beyond his instrument to an entire movement. He was a prime influence on the "energy" free jazz players. And he was, along with Cecil Taylor, one of the prime exemplars that jazz could be jazz without conventional tonality or regular pulse; as such he influenced not only young musicians like the AACM guys, but established musicians like Don Cherry, Jimmy Giuffre, and Paul Bley. But limiting it to tenor saxophonists, how about: Peter Brotzmann Pharoah Sanders Ken Vandermark David Murray Evan Parker Mats Gustafsson Charles Gayle John Gilmore and maybe even John Coltrane toward the end. Edit: Saw Jim's post just after I posted this. Sorry to disagree but there is not a inch of Ayler in Evan Parker (who came completely from Coltrane and was very quickly his own man, faster than, by example, Brötzmann). My vote, of course, goes to Albert Ayler and, for our time, to Evan Parker (John Butcher etc.) As Ayler influence, I'll add David S. Ware who is not only the heir of Rollins, Frank Wright and, also, Frank Lowe. Interesting point about Evan Parker, I think I'd have to agree, never really heard him as an 'energy' player even when playing fast and furious. Although I definitely agree that Ayler had that wider influence which maybe opened a door for EP to step through from later Coltrane Great list of players though, especially with Ware added

How is that, Leeway? I enjoy Halvorsen's Firehouse and Cracklejob - does this compare? Quite an investment with UK shipment

Yes, I noticed that. Not bad for a double LP. news to me too. Discogs entry suggests recorded on tour in Netherlands 1979

coinicidentally, more Hamilton here Passin' Thru except mine's the HMV Mono

day at the Folkestone Triennal. http://www.folkestonetriennial.org.uk/ by its very nature an pick 'n' mix but with some tasty morsels. good to see another english seaside resort embracing art

Enigmatic lyrics, great tunes and those harmonies...Harborcoat, "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville".... saw them on several early UK visits. Murmur and especially Reckoning were close to albums of their respective years for me. Remember Stipe in leather trousers and Jim Morrison hair mumbling through the earliest gig i witnessed, they memorably ended with acapella 'Moon River'. They meant something special to me back in those days (along with Husker Du) Last album i bought was "New adventures in Hi Fi" and that was probably three albums too late, brought in habit and faith edit: to replace with correct 'river' song

Transatlantic delivery achieved today. Great stuff, thanks CT

Charlie Haden seems to now fall under the Americana and Tin Pan Alley umbrellas. No longer the rebel he once was. I hear what you're saying but he sounded pretty 'rebellious' with the Liberation Music Orch a year or two ago. Sure he'd step up with that suggested frontine. I'm not convinced. I read about a recent club appearance (last couple of years or so) where he was but a shell of his former self. that's a shame. That he's played so long with his hearing impairment is testament to his dedication if nothing else.

thanks to Clifford T for pointing this my way. Mighty pleased he did

Very true. keeps reminding me of LPs I wish I owned/had heard/need to hear

Charlie Haden seems to now fall under the Americana and Tin Pan Alley umbrellas. No longer the rebel he once was. I hear what you're saying but he sounded pretty 'rebellious' with the Liberation Music Orch a year or two ago. Sure he'd step up with that suggested frontine.

are we discounting Charlie Haden for any reason? gets my vote

I've gone for the under-50 just because I can just still be defined as "youngish" if I do and because otherwise the list would be unwieldly, so... Steve Coleman Jason Adasiewicz Rob Mazurek Brad Mehldau Mary Halvorsen Ken Vandermark

I've bought hundreds of these from Jazz Loft over the years and they really are excellent. However it does seem a bit daft to have them sent half-way round the world. Does anyone know of a UK stockist for them? Not me. Mine all come trans-atlantic. maybe we're staring a business opportunity in the face here - limited clientele, i grant you

It's well worth a listen. I've had a couple of spins and CD2, a suite comprised of Greek traditional tunes works beautifully. The arrangement by Farazis does a great job of facilitating a coming-together of the two disparate music traditions. CD1 is less immediately successful, to my ears, although there's a great Dream Weaver. Lloyd's sax and Farantouri's vocals blend beautifully a lot of the time. Maybe less successfully when Farantouri is more foregrounded with the band 'backing' As you'd anticipate the playing is top drawer from everyone but Lloyd just gets better and better as far as I can hear - the tone is luxurious I am a little jealous of people who are into Lloyd. He cranks out albums at a decent pace, and yet each album seems to have its own identity through changing line-ups or themes. It seems like an exciting time to be a Lloyd fan. Unfortunately, his sound clashes with my ears. I keep hoping that the next Lloyd album I hear will be the one to get me over, so to speak. Cheers. I have a similar frustration with Jarrett not that he changes line-ups but he does crank them out - as much as any ECM artist does, anyway. I've stopped buying them to see if it's the one that will 'click'!

It's well worth a listen. I've had a couple of spins and CD2, a suite comprised of Greek traditional tunes works beautifully. The arrangement by Farazis does a great job of facilitating a coming-together of the two disparate music traditions. CD1 is less immediately successful, to my ears, although there's a great Dream Weaver. Lloyd's sax and Farantouri's vocals blend beautifully a lot of the time. Maybe less successfully when Farantouri is more foregrounded with the band 'backing' As you'd anticipate the playing is top drawer from everyone but Lloyd just gets better and better as far as I can hear - the tone is luxurious

see you there (I wish)