John B

For those of you not averse to exploring the electro-acoustic side of the tracks I have a new recommendation: Giuseppi Ielasi - Plans. This is a fairly short solo album, at just over 30 minutes. The closest parallel I can come up with would be the more melodic work of Christian Fennesz. This album is beautiful. AMG has a spot-on review for this one, which, although a bit over the top, I would not be able to improve upon: "Giuseppe Ielasi had worked in various improv-oriented groups and had produced some very fine recordings prior to this, notably his collaboration with Domenico Sciajno on Erstwhile, Right After. But nothing really prepared the listener for Plans, an astonishingly beautiful, dramatic, and even romantic tone poem of electro-acoustic imagery. Weaving tape loops, relatively tonal guitar strumming, found sound, and all manner of electronic detritus, Ielasi constructed a work of singular power and passion. It moves over its mere 30-minutes-plus course from a fairly pastoral prelude that establishes its basic benign quality into a thrumming, lurching series of pops, clatters, and whirrs, as though a door had opened from a sunny street into a mysterious, very busy workshop. The tinkering begins to evaporate into a lovely cascade of pings, all air and smoke, before those very sounds are picked up and transformed into a playfully bouncing tumble that percolates merrily along. An expansive, organ-like drone ushers in the next section, gradually acquiring staticky grit and various found sounds, then subsiding into a brief percussion interlude. Bird calls over crunching vinyl-derived noise introduce the surprising and entirely effective denouement as Plans, having traversed this difficult and fascinating territory, re-explores the Arcadia implied by its prelude and emerges into a sunny, though not untroubled soundscape that feels entirely earned and is ravishing in its own right. The sheer dramatic effect, something not often paid much heed in this area of music, is breathtaking. A gorgeous recording, Plans marked an early high water mark in this fine musician's career. Very highly recommended. "

I used to own one of the Cobra discs but I sold it a long time ago. The idea is interesting, in concept, but I found it dull in practice. I didn't think very much of the resulting cd as music.

are any of you familiar with drummer Matt Wilson? I bought his debut cd, as wave follows wave, a while back and was very underwhelmed. I had heard a lot of hype surrounding a few of his recent releases but this one never grabbed me. I pulled it out again tonight and, again, was disappointed with it. I really disagree with the AMG review praising Dewey Redman. He sounds tired and unsure of himself here. Even the cover of Duke Ellington's Blue Pepper, from the Far East Suite is listless and dull, which is a shame. I can tell that all of these players are talented but this one seems to be less than the sum of its parts. I think this disc will be added to the "for sale" pile.

I'll definitely be picking up this set. The first release by Yo Miles! is a lot of fun. This weeks Boston Phoenix has an article on this set, the Kabell box and the new Springheel Jack disc, all featuring Wadada. Boston Phoenix article

from the cuneiform website: "Among the giants enthroned in jazz’s pantheon, no one made as big, as broad, as bad-boy brazen of an impact on popular music in many manifestations – jazz, rock and improvisation - as Miles Davis. At the same time, he pioneered new routes for rock. The innovations Davis made in both jazz and rock spawned immediate followers in his time, and continue to infuse and energize the music of today. But even during the revival that began in the 1990s, "… only one band has had the courage to throw itself full bore into the thorniest Davis era, the mid-'70s years when he created a dark, dangerous, haunting, ecstatically wondrous body of music that no one has ever attempted to duplicate."(San Francisco Chronicle). That band is Yo Miles! Yo Miles! was formed in 1998 to explore, expound and expand on Davis’ mid-70s electric music. For Sky Garden, Yo Miles!’s 2nd recording and 1st release on Cuneiform, Kaiser and Smith have assembled an all-star cast culled from both the jazz and rock communities. The lineup here includes Smith on trumpet; Kaiser, Mike Keneally and Chris Muir on electric guitars; Michael Manring on bass; Steve Smith on drums; Karl Perazzo on percussion; Greg Osby (alto) and John Tchicai (tenor and soprano) on saxophones; and Tom Coster on percussion. It also features special guests Zakir Hussain on tabla, Dave Creamer on guitar, and the ROVA Sax Quartet. This set is about equally split between Miles' compositions and original compositions in the electric Miles style. The group’s studio performance at The Site was recorded live, directly to a stereo DSD (Direct Stream Digital) recorder. The result is a set of two hybrid SACDs (Super Audio CDs, a new technology for enhanced audio quality) playable in either an SACD player or on a standard CD player."

I just noticed that when you search for Billy Bang on AMG three different pictures can show up on his page. Two are actually of Billy, the third is this:

check out his album Black Beings, on ESP. That is the only album of his as a leader that I am familiar with and it is fantastic. It is also William Parker's first appearance on record, from back in 1973. He is also on Billy Bang's Vietnam: the Aftermath, which is essential, imo.

it was actually a moog last night, not a b3.

I read What are You Listening To, but tend to avoid the "What are You Smelling Thread."

You're loss John. These babies are coming back! I'm waiting until I can upgrade to 9-track. Do you think that everyone who is posting that they never visit the Funny Rat thread realizes that we give away an oop Mosaic every 32 pages?

The 8-track Forum The Wax Cylinder Nook The Cassete Corner Funny Rat?

I finally had a chance to listen to this one (the first track is 48 minutes long, so some undivided attention is essential) and really enjoyed it. I need to give it a few more listens before it really sinks in but, so far, I am very impressed.

I just got an email from Eremite that they now have this one available for $14, shipping included. It is not up on the website yet, but, in the meantime, it can be ordered if you send a message to Michael Ehlers through the "contact Eremite" button on the webpage.

Д.Д., any more comments on 14 Love Poems? Won't be able to add any more comments before I get home and re-listen to it which will happen in mid-August only. But trust me, this is good stuff. Probaly Gary could help a bit with reviewing this one before then. I listened to the first 14 tracks & was left feeling exhausted ! If this is about love its certainly a very passionate affair. 'Lonely Woman ' is exceptional - a peaceful start then Brotzmann blows the shit out of it! FANTASTIC!!! I'm looking forward to hearing this one some day but have trouple imagining I will listen to a solo Brotz album, especially one with that many tracks, straight through.

it would make for great BFT material. Unfortunately, I don't think I'm up for another year or so.

Yes, I finally bought a copy a few months back when it entered the Hat mid-price sale. I really enjoyed it, but haven't spent too much time with it so far.

I had the opposite experience with it. I started out wondering what all of the fuss was about and was gradually won over by it. It strikes the perfect balance between "free" and "in the pocket" jazz, imo. The tunes are not derivative, although they are not ground-breaking, either. I'm listening to the William Parker Violin Trio- Scrapbook right now. This is another one where I couldn't see what all of the fuss was about on first listen but grew to love after more time listening to it. Billy Bang really makes this one shine. Along with Vietnam: the Aftermath Bang is having a really strong period musically in the past few years.

William Parker Quartet - O'Neal's Porch This disc is absolutely essential. Fantastic songs and playing by Parker, Hamid Drake, Rob Brown and Lewis Barnes. Thank god Aum Fidelity repressed this disc and gave me a chance to hear it.

The saw appears on one track and it's really very effective. Pretty much serves to set up a rather high-pitched (but not at all eardrum-piercing) drone. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A weekend in an Austrian slaughteryard with John Butcher, Peter Brötzmann, Beñat Achiary, Han Bennink, Hamid Drake, Sylvie Courvoisier, William Parker, Michael Zerang, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Kent Kessler, Otomo Yoshihide, Yamatsuka Eye, Silent Block, Ken Vandermark, Terrie Ex, Andy Moor, Konrad Bauer, Mats Gustafsson, Ikue Mori, DJ Olive and Dälek. This one sounds interesting. I will add it to the list. Right now I am listening to William Parker - Painter's Spring, with Daniel Carter and Hamid Drake: I really enjoy this album. Perhaps not as important as O'Neal's Porch (which will be playing next) but very enjoyable. Great playing, nice tunes and a more relaxed mood than many of his other dates as a leader.

Funny Rat is an equal opportunity thread. I have to admit, I have never listened to Jelly Roll. does he sound like Herr Broetzmann?

Has anyone here listened to the Willem Breuker Kollektief's In Holland album? I hadn't listened to this one in quite some time and had forgotten how much I enjoy this. It is a fantastic disc, superior to any of the ICP discs I have heard, imo. I have yet to listen to any other Breuker as a leader, and I have heard that many of his discs are inferior to this one, but I would not hesitate to say that In Holland is essential listening for all on Funny Rat.

Anyone knows it? My only Schiano is the LP "Rendez-vous" where he sits in with the Rivers-Holland-Altschul trio. They do, among other things, an outlandishly beautiful version of "Lover Man". Other than that only some Schiano on that Instabile Festival disc. ubu Never heard of this one but it sounds very interesting. UMS is releasing some nice titles again.

sent you a PM re: the Rivers / Schlippenbach and the Bloodcount disc.

this year's Brotz count is now up to eight albums. This one does sound good. Another one for "the list."