B. Clugston

OM, Raitionaha (Japo). The jazz guys, not the stoner duo.

Lucky Thompson, I Offer You (Groove Merchant). This would be a good one for a blindfold test.

Ronnie Ball, All About Ronnie (Savoy).

It was marketed as a companion to Strange Strings, but it was recorded the year before and with a much smaller group. But similiar musical territory? I'm not all that familiar with Strange Strings, but this one seems like similar territory, but more percussive, less stringy. It has a lot of unfocused noodling, punctuated by oboe. But there's some nice bits as well.

I doubt Coleman would deal with them, and besides, they probably would have made a mess of it. This release seems to be getting out there--I saw a vinyl version in a record store the other day.

It was marketed as a companion to Strange Strings, but it was recorded the year before and with a much smaller group.

How is it? Based on one listening - good, not essential. It's very much in the vein of "Pathways to Unknown Worlds," which is from the same period - it's four improvisations by the Arkestra, rather than "composed" pieces by Ra. It's perfect for someone in my situation - I have lots of Sun Ra records and CDs, including much (most?) of what was issued during his lifetime. The plethora of "new" live recordings issued in the past few years have seemed overwhelming to me, and I've had no desire to keep up with them. But a "new" studio recording, even if it's not the best Ra I've ever heard, is very welcome. If that makes sense to anyone here, I would recommend this album. If you don't have the Sun Ra "essentials," pass on this and get those first. I bought this too, and like Jeffcrom, have many other Sun Ra Lps and CDs. I found side one to be pretty meandering and a bit weak but on side two some sparks start to fly. Thanks for your impressions. I bought Sun Ra's Other Strange Worlds on Roaratorio and had the same reactions. http://roaratorio.com/uncategorized/sun-ra-his-astro-infinity-arkestra-other-strange-worlds/

How is it?

Mal Waldron, What It is (Enja). Excellent quartet date with Clifford Jordan, Cecil McBee and Dannie Richmond.

Deep Purple, In Concert.

According to this article, http://www.wonderingsound.com/feature/albert-ayler-spiritual-unity-history/, the reference tone was removed for the reissue.

More of the same, plus Steve Lacy, Raps. Bismillah Khan, an awesome shenai player, is on deck--if the kids fall asleep I can listen to it.My copy of "capers" is a brown gatefold sleeve; not sure which is the 1st issue. Regardless, it's excellent music! .. You've got the original; I've got the pizza box reissue. Re: Vancouver record stores suck--things are better across the strait in Victoria...that's where I picked up the Coltrane and Raps. Happy New Year!

More of the same, plus Steve Lacy, Raps. Bismillah Khan, an awesome shenai player, is on deck--if the kids fall asleep I can listen to it.

Coltrane's Sound (Atlantic, mono). Steve Lacy Trio, N.Y. Capers (Hat Art). I've had the CD for years, but finally got the LP set with the extra tracks.

That is a good one. Besides the great photo, it's also worth it for the one track where Parker plays solo tenor.

I have all four and I really enjoy them. Lots of great music. The series was a bit of a shelf-clearing exercise, so there are some average discs, but the Homo Liber, Chekasin, Orkestrion, Guyvoronsky/Volkov duo, Vysniauskas and Vapirov sides are great. Only Vol. IV, featuring scraps from Ganelin, Chekasin and Tarasov, is a bit disappointing, but then again I wouldn't want to be without Chekasin's manic masterpiece Anti Show.

RIP. Glad he had a wonderful productive life. Those sides with Sonny Clark are great.

I took the test and my grammar's real good.

So why don't I own it? Something to remedt in 2015 It's been elusive at times. The LP can get a little pricey. I think I snapped up the CD some time ago from the Dusty Groove folks. Fully deserves a reissue. (maybe it's out there on DL??). It's positively jaw-dropping. Parker in supreme vigorous potent command of his soprano. Never heard monoceros but have "at the finger palace" here is Chadbourne's review Review by Eugene Chadbourne Figuring out which is the best Evan Parker solo recording is a quest that could either result in a highly enjoyable lifestyle or having commitment papers served. In either case this particular recording might turn out to be crucial, it presents Parker on one of his early trips to the United States playing before a small group of fans whose commitment to his style of improvising underscores the logical connection between "fan" and "fanatic." With Parker arriving on the west coast with a status somewhere between Gandhi and Crusader Rabbit, the atmosphere was ripe for a totally confident and impressive display of his innovative concepts and playing style. This is what exactly what Parker delivers here, in a venue that was basically somebody's livingroom, that somebody being pianist Greg Goodman, who also originally put the performance out on vinyl. At the Finger Palace acquired legendary status as the ultimate Evan Parker performance, and while research continues on that subject suffice to say there is enough evidence to rank the man as the ultimate soprano saxophone soloist. "Monoceros and "Finger Palace" were both recorded in 1978 (Monoceros in April, Finger Palace in November during a tour of Japan). I think Monoceros holds the edge, but they are both superb. I talked with EP once about "Finger Palace" (which is only out in a Japanese issue, and I think O/P), and EP said that the "Vaincu Va" album (which I have and which is easily available) was recorded shortly after that tour of Japan and recording of the "Finger Palace" album, and his chops were in great shape, so add that to the list of superb recordings/performances. Still, it's "Monoceros" for me.All three are great. Finger Palace was actually recorded in Berkeley and came out on a Beak Doctor LP. Don't think it ever saw a CD release. The Vancouver concert is from a couple of days later.

Miles Davis, On The Corner (Columbia) Sonny Greenwich, Sun Song (Radio Canada International). Picked this up thanks to Homefromtheforest's blindfold test. Kenny Wheeler. Around 6 (ECM, US). Great album. Don Ellis, ...How Time Passes... (Candid). Whether it's a quartet or a big band playing odd meters, Don Ellis always makes me smile.

Warne Marsh, All Music (Nessa) Steve Lacy, Lapis (Saravah, Japan) Steve Lacy, The Forest and The Zoo (Base reissue)

Happy Birthday!

I agree. I don't know what's more annoying, the warbling background vocal (Yoko?) on "Happy Xmas" or the farting synthesizers on the McCartney number.

Richard Abrams, Level and Degrees of Light (Delmark). Great album. Digging the heavy reverb which was removed for the CD reissue.

There's some interesting Steve Lacy discs being teased: Steve Lacy • Shots with Masa Kwate & Irene Aebi [reissue of Musica 3024] 700 Steve Lacy Trio • Lugano 1984 Live The Willisau Braxton is kind of like Lucy's football gag on Charlie Brown--it keeps getting put out there tantalizingly and then pulled back. I have seen it promised as split into two volumes before--it actually makes more sense as I much prefer the studio sides to the concert. Splitting Santa Cruz in half is odd, though.