T.D.

The review [Ayler's Music is the Healing Force of the Universe in DownBeat] was not so positive, 1.5 stars. Respectful of Ayler in general (praised earlier LPs) but down on that particular release. I can't copy/paste from the Kindle edition.

Larry, your 1970 Downbeat review of Ayler's Music is the Healing Force of the Universe was quoted in Richard Koloda's Holy Ghost. Strange (almost totally based on reviews, interviews, etc. by others) and rather disappointing book I just finished reading. John Litweiler was quoted a whole bunch of times; Clifford Allen at least once that I noticed.

[a] 🤣 [b]

Google gives an exchange rate of 6.87 DKK = 1 US $, so about $20.38. You can put it in a cart at Bandcamp, who must use the same currency quote, because the result is "that’s $20.38 USD, plus $5.53 shipping for United States."

I very much doubt that MF would have enjoyed being called a "minimalist". 😄 But I leafed through his book of essays Give my regards to Eighth Street and couldn't find any remarks hostile to minimalism. In fact (in the essay Crippled Symmetry), he discusses Reich's Four Organs in the same paragraph as Stravinsky's Requiem Canticles and Varese's Integrales. Interesting article that touches on possible relationships (in both directions?) between Feldman and minimalism: https://www.kylegann.com/Feldman-DispraiseofEfficiency.html I particularly enjoy the discussion of notation, which came up on another forum* in the context of performances of Triadic Memories, where recordings by Aki Takahashi and Roger Woodward were most faithful to MF's handwritten score. * see https://rosewhitemusic.com/piano/2015/10/07/a-question-about-rhythm-in-triadic-memories/

It's on bandcamp https://karlbergerkirkknuffke.bandcamp.com/album/heart-is-a-melody You can certainly listen there. No doubt purchase DL as well, not sure how physical CD transaction from Denmark would go.

Christina Fong and Glenn Freeman of OgreOgress (the latter used to post on r.m.c.c. in the old days iirc) seem like reliable interpreters of Cage and Feldman. They resort to overdubbing on some of the number pieces; I can go back and forth on the merits of that but it's likely the only practical way to record higher-numbered works. I have a couple of their Cage number piece recordings, have listened to various Feldman (incl. the set cited by Larry, which has been on the wish list for a couple of years) on Bandcamp but never got around to ordering.

That whole Ronnie Scott's video is pretty good. I watched over an hour of it the past couple of days. I was a huge Jeff Beck fan in the early-mid '70s, lost touch over the years.

A little over 100 pages into the Kindle edition of the Koloda book. It's a disappointment, Colin's points are spot-on.

I contacted the Far Horizons record company (Soul Bank Music) to inquire about the possibility of an Oblivion Express box set. Received this response: "...that's already been manufactured and we are just sorting out the release date for late spring/early summer!"

I received the box today. It's a nice package, quality definitely better than the norm. The booklet is impressive with many excellent photos, but would look more "glorious" in the LP version (I got CDs). Sturdy clamshell box containing 4 digipacks (rather than cardboard sleeves) with facsimiles of original album art. Two of the digipacks (Definitely What! and Streetnoise) have additional inserts with better cover art reproductions plus (respectively) extra notes and lyrics. Listening to first disc now, and sound quality is really good. Don't have earlier versions to compare, but I believe the "fully remastered" claim.

Thanks for the Splinters info! I've been on the fence forever on this release, failed to get it (domestic US) from Dusty Groove when they had it in stock, which would have saved a lot on postage. Maybe an int'l order will make sense now. I have the aforementioned CD reissue of Flare Up! For some reason (perhaps my poor taste), that session never knocked me out. Will spin it again when I get home from work.

Thanks, I saw that much in my limited perusal at the shop. Looks more than respectable. Mid-afternoon Monday I just didn't have time to skim through more content. Hope to return later this week and take a closer look. [Added] On Goodreads (a source I often consult for book reviews) https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/62803294-holy-ghost#other_reviews there's some equivocal language within a positive review: Richard Koloda's biography is a massive undertaking which gathers a phenomenal amount of research material. The bibliography section alone takes up about 20% of the book. It is obviously difficult to assemble a complete life story when many of the contemporaries from over 50 to 60 years ago are now gone as well. Much of the book is limited to quotes from reviews and reactions to live performances and recording sessions and releases, so that it reads much like a gigography and sessionography. The human element is mostly missing and the glimpses that we have of it are quite sad e.g. Ayler making a visit home to Cleveland and going to a schoolyard in order to see his estranged son Curtis and having to ask which one he was among the other kids, before giving him $1. Then there is of course the even more sad speculation as to the reasons behind Ayler's apparent suicide by drowning in the East River of New York City from where his body was recovered in November 1970. Still it is a terrific achievement to have pulled this all together and Koloda deserves all the acclaim for having done so. I'm still going to make a closer inspection at the bookshop, but if these impressions verify I'll go for the (much cheaper) Kindle edition rather than paper. Given the Kindle price, I'll definitely read it.

I just saw this in a bookshop and it got my attention. Looking around at reviews, they're pretty positive, but I couldn't find a serious in-depth review from a "name" source. Would have purchased immediately, but the book looked/felt kinda slim after Saxophone Colossus, which I just finished. Likely will get it eventually, but on the fence for now.

Discs 1-3, maybe more later.

I saw the book in a shop this week, wanted to start right away, so bought it and cancelled the library hold. Getting near the end, having trouble putting the book down. I have found one funny gaffe...no disrespect to Mr. Levy and some slips are unavoidable in such a long book. pp. 453-454: May 5, 1965, Sonny plays at the Vanguard with Miles's rhythm section of Herbie, Tony Williams and Richard Davis (who sometimes subbed for Ron Carter). It doesn't work out, and only lasts one night. pp. 569-570: Jan. 10, 1977, Carnegie Hall. "It was Sonny's first meeting with Tony Williams. 'I have a strong sense of rhythm, so his playing complemented me perfectly,' Sonny said." Wasn't looking for errors, but saw the "first meeting", thought "WTF?", had to go back and check. [Added] Looks like the first account was taken from an interview with Herbie. A later Sonny interview contradicted it.

Pleasant surprise from the Ictus CD liquidation sale. Impressed by their version of The People United Will Never Be Defeated...I'm mostly familiar with renditions by F. Rzewski.

+1. Outstanding work.

I also received the package today. I ordered a few days after you, and conclude response to the offer was strong: got filled on only 1 out of 11 titles (and that was the gong meditation disc!), but received a bonus compilation. Heavier on duets than I'd prefer, but overall the substitutions are reasonable and fair. All CDs in original packaging with artwork. Going to have fun listening, may wind up keeping nearly everything as the major option would be donating to a local library. [Added] The one disappointment is that I didn't get filled with any Mitteleuropa Orchestra titles. Hoped to get some because I prefer the larger ensembles.

A discogs seller from Turkey offers it @US$120 shipped. I've considered ordering a couple of things from that seller (he has a pretty good inventory), but never had enough confidence in intl. shipping to pull the trigger. I think I paid in the vicinity of $110, but it's been a few years. Was extremely happy with the purchase. The $200+ offerings seem really high. Back when I was paying attention, transactions seemed to take place around $100 plus or minus, say $90 - 125.

It's hard to say, the label doesn't seem to be forthcoming with much info. Looking at https://soulbank.k7store.com/release/318010-brian-auger-the-trinity-far-horizons-the-trinity-box-set?lang=en_US I see no indications of extra tracks, but there's a vague quote "fully remastered, in a beautiful box set that includes Lois Wilson's exclusive interview with Brian and glorious images from the Auger archive in a booklet." Can't tell much about the claimed remastering. The LP booklet looks deluxe indeed, but not sure about the CD version (how good could the "glorious images" look at just under 5"x5"?). In your situation, I'd stick with the 4 old CDs, but I'm really cheap and generally pass on sonic upgrades.

Yes, I own the set, enjoy it and periodically listen to all the discs in sequence. Purchased it used via this board some years ago. Wouldn't go quite so far as to say it's the "audio companion", but it has outstanding coverage of Ra's Chicago period. If a reasonably priced copy surfaces, I'd go for it. My only minor criticism is that Michael Anderson (the narrator) seemingly inserts fake intros and questions into several old tapes of Ra speaking, somewhat falsely portraying them as interviews. Comes off as a bit cheesy, but doesn't detract from the recommendation.

Yeah, I have Retribution Reparation as well. Agree that it's very good. Journey into Nigritia finds its way onto my player slightly more often, but that's just a matter of my questionable taste. I really like Nate Morgan's playing, despite logic saying that he sounds too much like McCoy Tyner...He was involved with the Build an Ark group as well. To date I've passed on Morgan's Nimbus West Live in Santa Barbara trio album because I preferred the sound samples from his other two titles. Might eventually acquire it.

I've been exploring some of the non-Tapscott (-led) Nimbus Wests (already had the Tapscotts). Enjoying these two: Can't say they're essential, but I dig 'em.