Alexander Hawkins

I love these programmes! Hearing one each on Tatum and Morton was really important to me when I was much younger. Great stuff!

Ah yes! Initially didn't sign up as 'Alexander' since there was already another...Red was an old nickname, but now totally obsolete, hence the change!

Blimey...hmmm, not the pocket changes...so who knows...

The second edition of this is now out. I say this with some self interest, because the editor was kind enough to interview me, but despite that - as last time, some very insightful writing indeed. http://eartripmagazine.blogspot.com/

Mine's shipped too!

I just got the out of stock notice as well...

Yes - a curious rebranding! FWIW - the Portico Quartet thing has slightly passed me by...I find it rather conservative I guess...but I guess for Radio 2 airplay, a Mercury nomination etc., that's what you're looking at... To 'the hang' - I say HUBKAPHONE!

I played once on Messaien's instrument at La Trinite - it's a very idiosyncratic organ, and it's really instructive to hear his music played on it - it makes his often curious registration markings make complete sense. On other instruments, they need more 'interpretation'. To lovers of Messaien's organ music, I would really very strongly recommend some of the music of his successor as titulaire at La Trinite, Naji Hakim - really great stuff, and very much in the footsteps of his 'master'. He is similarly an outrageously good improviser!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU2D053yUK8.

Ah yes, Tomlinson - have only heard a little of his work w/ Brotzmann, for example. Never heard of Gail Brand. Tomlinson is on a lot of LJCO recordings as well...as for Gail, she's younger. Made a really great recording with Bay Area guys on Emanem called 'Supermodel, Supermodel'. My favourite though, of what I know of hers, is the fantastic quartet Lunge's second album here.

I've recently really been enjoying 'Hook, Drift & Shuffle' with George Lewis, Barry Guy and Paul Lytton as well... Am also very much a fan of the 'Foxes Fox' band.

On this tack - Gail Brand and Alan Tomlinson too!

Paolo gave me that one with Hamid Drake a couple of months ago - I gather that was the very first time they'd ever played together!

Bev - interesting - I had no idea Dunmall did that! Paul's definitely one to add to the list of jazz bagpipe virtuosi

Bev - have you seen this one? I'm certainly planning on picking it up!

He was with the London Jazz Composers Orchestra for a while...can't think offhand, but he must be on some nice things on Intakt from the 80s with that band as a result! BTW - little known fact, maybe? Not sure! - he also played with Alice Coltrane in the early 80s (although only briefly, I believe).

Lovely guy, absolutely fantastic musician!

Agreed...which is especially depressing when you consider that it (and/or The Independent) is the best of the bunch...

I really enjoy the Phill Niblock Sun Ra short-ish film, 'The Magic Sun'.

That's the one! Beat me to it by what, 3 years?!

I haven't heard it yet, but apparently Conic Sections is phenomenal. I have been playing a little with Evan recently, and it has been incredible. He's a real master.

I know what you mean, although I think Oxley thinks 'time' even in free contexts. I agree though, where everything is more abstracted, he is more distinguished...

David Murray's 'Ming' is a favourite. Beautiful arrangement in particular of the title track.

Don't have the dots on me, but I remember playing it with Gb as the first chord. And IIRC - that Eb#9 is followed by a Dmaj - so the Eb chord functions as a pivot chord between the 'flat' key center and D major. It goes to D major because it's a tritone substitute for an A chord (i.e. Eb and A share a 3rd and 7th). The #9 - well, this gives a nice 'dominant' sound to the Eb chord, as well as being a common note (i.e. the 3rd) with the D major chord, so gives a nice melody note.

Listening to Gyroscope by the Gordon Beck trio featuring Oxley earlier...I have to say, I like Oxley a lot better when not playing 'time' (p.s. a comment not meant to sound barbed in any way - I like his 'time' just fine, but don't think it's nearly as exceptional as his 'free' playing).