John B

I'm right there with you. I haven't bought any music in about two weeks now and I intend to stay on the wagon until at least June. I'm trying to take some time and really delve into the wealth of music I have picked up over the last year or so (and further back...) That being said, I'm still adding to my list of discs I would like to buy. Just not bought anytime soon.

The show was great! It started off slowly, as the band had just driven down from Montreal and didn't seem to know how long they were expected to play for, how many sets, etc... The show started late and the band took a few tunes to warm up. The crowd was very sparse, which also seemed to throw the band a bit. By the third tune, "Shock and Aw-shucks," they seemed to be up to speed and really started cooking. The audience really started getting into the music and having a great time. The band was nowhere near as loud as I was expecting them to be, based on your comments, which was probably a good thing, as the room they were playing in is extremely small. We all had a blast at the show, my aunt and uncle included. They have already asked me to let them know as soon as another show is booked at this venue, as they really enjoyed temselves. I don't think they would ever pull out a Sound on Survival disc and play it at home, but they would most definitely go see them live again. The band were great people to talk with. We all stood outside and talked with them about their music, the tour and the VT jazz scene before heading back home. I almost forgot to mention: I told them that I knew someone who had seen them in KC who had loved the show. They tried to figure out who that could be so I mentioned "Andrew Hill fan," at which point they all said "Oh, Tom!" (I could probably do a better job reviewing the show but I've been under the weather and too busy at work to focus on getting my thoughts together. Basically, if you have any interest in free-ish jazz you really should check this band out.)

I have a few jazz books for sale. They are all paperback except for Strange Fruit, which is hardcover. Shipping within the U.S. is $2, internationally $5. All four of these books are in NM condition, having only been read once. Spirit Catcher: The Life and Art of John Coltrane, by John Frain - $7 Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday, Cafe Society and an Early Cry for Civil Rights, by David Margolick - $8 Raise Up Off Me - by Hampton Hawes - $8 From Satchmo to Miles, by Leonard Feather - $4 send me a PM if you have any questions, thanks!

Inscape / Tableaux is fantastic! I very highly recommend this disc.

Chaney - I wouldn't pay much attention to the Twisted Village website for availability of discs. They don't update it very often (10/25/2003, according to the site today) and choice stock tends to move pretty quickly.

The only reason I have heard of this magazine previously is that my sister's boyfriend wrote an article in an issue last year. I enjoyed what I read of it but have yet to pick up another issue.

Geoff - email sent. I'll place your order now.

I would say yes. I would also recommend picking up the complete IASW sessions set if you can find it at a good price.

an update from Dennis Gonzalez: "Just heard from Clean Feed Records this morning. They expect delivery of the N Y Quartet CD N Y Midnight Suite in Lisbon this Thursday...at which time my copies will be shipped to me, and then from me to those of you who have ordered (and paid). The other bit of news is that today I sent off the tapes and artwork for the next daagnimRecords CD from Dennis Gonzalez's Inspiration Band (bassist Henry Grimes's first recording since coming back to the world of jazz, along with Roy Campbell, Jr. on trumpets and flute; Mike Thompson on drums; and Sabir Mateen on reeds and flute!). It's called Nile River Suite and should be ready by the last week of May! It's a killer CD recorded in NY the same weekend as the N Y Quartet's CD." I will be ordering both of these discs in early June. They both look very exciting to me!

Geoff - I was just kidding about the six minutes, I wish there was a store like that one in this area! where is your area. I've forgotten where you are from. I know D.D and King Ubu are from Europe. Aren't you from somwhere in America. I sent you an email, begging for you buy me something from VHF records in exchange for the Sergey Kuryokhin (VHF records offer their album for areally cheap price of $9 for a cd!) Geoff - I live in a fairly rural section of the U.S. I had been spoiled by living in Boston for years, so the lack of good music stores bothers me. I'll place that order from VHF (as well as something for myself, I'm guessing) in the next day or so.

Geoff - I was just kidding about the six minutes, I wish there was a store like that one in this area!

Geoff - I would love to hear this disc! I sent you an email. Let me know if it didn't get through. I'm totally out of money. I spent all my money at this store. They were selling all free jazz albums for $7.50 new. I bought stuff from Hatology/Hat[now]art/Hatart/Victo/Leo/Intakt!! So now my life savings is $0. I'm just glad I still live at home, or otherwise I'd be on the streets with not a penny! They also have a copy of Morton Feldman's For Bunita Marcus on Hatart, another lovely album. So does this mean you have gone from making the offer to spending all your money in 6 minutes? That is quite impressive, even by Funny Rat standards!

Geoff - I would love to hear this disc! I sent you an email. Let me know if it didn't get through.

This album was my first thought but I hadn't listened to it in a long time and managed to convice myself that I was wrong. Time to go back and pull this one out again.

That must have been well before Prince released "Batdance."

OK, this one arrived and I have listened to it a couple of times. My highly literate review: VERY cool!!! My prior exposure to African music was Sunny Ade. This is jazzier and funkier and has a pretty sharp attitude. It is hard to go wrong with any of the Fela reissues on MCA. Leave the 80's discs for last, as the quality slipped a bit towards the end, imo. I really enjoy all of discs that I have heard.

Jim - Congratulations! Those are fantastic pictures.

9. No clue. This one didn't make much of an impression on me on first listen. 10. Interesting track. I'm not sure I think this track ever really comes together entirely, but I enjoyed listening to it. I'm curious to see who this is. 11. no clue. Nice track. 12. Very nice track...moody, almost to the point of being lethargic. Very sedate New Orleans funeral music? Something from a film score? o clue, but I really dig this track! 13. No clue. Nice track. 14. don't know. I can't decide if this is an older low-fi recording or if it someone current trying to make it sound that way. 15. Not my cup of tea at all. Pass. all in all a very nice BFT. There are a few tracks I am really looking forward to discovering who the artists are.

1. This is the first track off of this disc. Amazing technique and a great way to start off the BFT. I don't think this will stump many people, but it was fun to hear. 2. No clue. Sounds familiar but can't place this. Nice tune. 3. I wasn't sure who this was until the pennywhistle kicked in. Then it became clear and I knew it was off of this album. A great song from one of my favorite albums by this great musician. 4. No clue. Vocals don't bother me as much as I had expected. A bit too smooth for my liking 5. No clue. The sax player sounds familiar but, again, I can't place this. Maybe it's the production but this seems way too "smooth" for me. 6. No clue who this is. Interesting...I dig this one on first listen, which is unusual for a vocal track for me. I agree that this one is too short. I like the mood this track creates, 7. I really like this track. My first guess was going to be the Arkestra with June Tyson, but I knew pretty quickly that wasn't correct. The violin makes me wonder if it is Ornette, but I have no clue who this is. Very interesting track! 8. No clue. The piano player sounds familiar, but I can't place this... I'll post the rest of my guesses tomorrow. For now, I've really enjoyed what I have heard so far. I'm looking forward to the second half of this disc!

disc received! I am looking forward to giving it a spin tonight.

I've never seen this packaging, except for, maybe, in pictures. What made it a nightmare? I had to call Columbia customer service to have two of the four discs replaced. Glue from the sleeves got onto the discs making large portions unplayable.

Hasn't GBV pretty much been a Robert Pollard solo project for years, anyway? I remember thinking so when he fired the rest of the band and hired all new people. I haven't heard much recent GBV but I still pull out Alien Lanes every now and again.

Man, that really does suck. I used to go to In Your Ear religiously back when I was in high school.

I just received a package from Jon yesterday with five discs which will almost complete my collection of Ersts. I picked up two of the new discs and three back catalog titles (including the recently back in print Particles and Smears by Kevin Drumm and Matrin Tetreault.) I'm looking forward to diving into this music tomorrow. I'll post my thoughts as soon as I have a chance. For anyone on the fence about ordering La Voyelle Liquide I read somewhere that Jon has in the neighborhood of five copies left in stock. It is probably still available through many distributors but, if you order multiple discs, the price direct from Jon can't be beat.

John, let us know what you think of Vapirov. I find the stuff on this disc pretty uneven. But better tracks are astonishing, so I think it's worth it. Will do. I'll probably listen to this one at work on Monday. Another highly recommended disc is Dennis Gonzalez Yells at Eels - Home. Yells at Eels is a trio with his two sons, both of whom play in a hardcore punk band, not that you would know it from this disc. I'm going to order more discs from Dennis directly as soon as my budget allows. I've really enjoyed the two I picked up this month.