Alexander Hawkins

Thanks for posting those!

Yeah, that Dara/Wilson duo stuff was great!

Total scholar indeed - dazzlingly intelligent on so much of the music. He writes a very nice blog, which has fascinating insights inter alia on working with Cecil Taylor and Braxton, etc.

Have you checked out his two duo records with Eric Rosenthal, where they do standards? I've read mixed things, but I absolutely love them.

Obviously I'm slightly biased, but... Harris is phenomenal. It's really interesting you should say that about Louis - we chatted a lot about him, and Harris admires him an awful lot - they both have that completely transparent thing going on. Oxley is another major influence, and Barry Altschul was a teacher. What is amazing about Harris is that he's synthesised so much into his sound: he's got that 'European' thing down, he's got a beautiful West African influence (do you know 'Jalolu' on CIMP with Taylor, Roy Campbell, Paul Smoker and Andy Laster? Every bit as good IMHO as the lineup would suggest!), he's got serious funk, and wonderful, wonderful time, etc. etc. But again, he's made these things his own - he's not just a guy who can go to these territories 'if need be' - they're all part of his language. I love his composition as well (check out 'The Soul and Gone' as well) - his contribution to the album is built around a completely awesome vamp - on paper, a very complex set of rhythms, but he makes it sound as inevitable as a boogie left hand... I've certainly never enjoyed playing with any drummer as much. He's totally serene at the kit, and as supportive a musician as one could ever wish to play with - he hears *everything*. To boot, you won't find a nicer guy! Taylor is a similarly wonderful guy. And likewise, a monster musician - I could care less about his stupendous facilityaround his horns, if it wasn't for the fact that he's got so many damn ideas on all of them! He's likewise got so much stuff in his playing...I hear a lot of early Ellington players in there (he's got some extraordinary stuff with mutes...) - Miley, and particularly Rex Stewart. And I won't forget warming up before the London leg of of tour, then hearing him on the stage blowing note for note through 'West End Blues'! He's a fine composer too - check out his recent 'Spider Monkey Strings' recording, which blew me away. One of his contributions to our album is a warped funk tune, spelled with free duos; and the other is simply one of the most elegantly constructed 5 minutes of music imaginable...there's also a version of it on his forthcoming sextet CD , so I'm really looking forward to comparing! Anyway, forgive me the superlatives...but it was a true privilege working with these guys. They're both only 6/7 years my senior, but even then, completely inspirational. Very much looking forward to our next opportunity to tour! p.s. haven't heard the record with Rutherford and Muller made on that tour - I believe it's on Konnex?

Start your own thread about the new release! Will do...thought I'd overcome my bashfulness by first burying the news in 'Funny Rat' Will probably actually do it in a couple of days, to see if I can get a prospective release date...may have a cover as well before too long!

Can I drop a shameless plug in? Very excited to say my first album should be coming out in a few months on FMR, featuring Taylor Ho Bynum, Harris Eisenstadt, and Dominic Lash - 'The Convergence Quartet - Live in Oxford'...will post more when I have a release date, etc! It was completely fascinating talking with Taylor about working with Braxton. My awe of AB increases with every little thing I hear.

Evan and Kenny Wheeler are *ridiculous* on Ichnos !

I believe the concert recording was made at the Barbican last year - IIRC, Milford Graves and George Lewis were also on the gig.

Didn't know that about PR. In a similar vein, I always find it remarkable to hear Phil Minton's stuff with Westbrook!

Me neither (I hope more on count A, than B, but )

A very good point, well-taken (Let's not even start on ICP availability!)

Mingus was also into Harry Beckett's stuff. CT - I'm not sure I would be able to distinguish 'Britjazz' from the improv scene, especially at this stage...Evan Parker? Sure - maybe the MIC recordings (on which tack, also Iskra 1903)...but I don't know...But look at all the SME (great call on Karyobin), early Oxley, etc. records... Some historically fascinating recordings from the UK - The Joseph Holbrooke Trio...Miles' Mode!!! I think the Brotzmann FMPs would have to figure in this discussion too.

To me, 'Very Urgent' always sounds the least overtly South African of a lot of these albums - much more US free jazz inflected (McGregor plays some *killing* piano).

I saw the gig which is now out on Leo as 'Quintet (London) 2004' and to see it was *something else* - just 'helped' me no end (I wasn't a naysayer or anything - it just gave me a bit of a 'handle' to get into the GTM (bounded rationality, etc )

Try here!

It's great...Han playing Kwela...Breuker and Watts going at it full tilt...Radu playing notes(!)...Keith Tippett and Louis Moholo tearing it up on 'Family Affair'...

FWIW - Byron Wallen and Jason Yarde

Those UK guys would be Jason Yarde (alto, sometimes soprano) and Byron Wallen (trumpet). Both very, very fine players indeed (McCoy Tyner used them both earlier this week). Jason's also worked with Louis Moholo's Viva La Black, etc. etc.

I love his comping on 'Friday 13th' with Rollins and Julius Watkins.

Wow - Brubeck is great on A-Train!

I've heard John Russell twice recently (played a nice large group with him before Christmas as well), and he was really fantastic. Duo with Stefan Keune was particularly memorable!

That's a phenomenal recording for sure. And, music aside (which I know, one should probably never say!), it's an astonishing piece of saxophone playing, technically speaking. Was talking to someone who was at the gig (forget who), who said that Evan and John were definitely 'pushing' each other, musically speaking, and that this friendly competition - in this guy's opinion - really added to the playing of each. Was there, didn't really get that impression - did get the impression that Butcher had been sizing up the acoustic while listening to the earlier performances - his made by far the best use of the huge church reverb that day. I can well imagine that - I think use of the acoustic is one of his great strengths (that said, he's equally nailed-on to play a blinder in, e.g., the Red Rose!)

I'm intrigued to hear this one as well - I've heard good things about it. I have the privilege of playing with Mr Butcher for the first time in a couple of weeks - very excited!

That's a phenomenal recording for sure. And, music aside (which I know, one should probably never say!), it's an astonishing piece of saxophone playing, technically speaking. Was talking to someone who was at the gig (forget who), who said that Evan and John were definitely 'pushing' each other, musically speaking, and that this friendly competition - in this guy's opinion - really added to the playing of each.