relyles

Good call. FWIW it left me cold on the first couple of listens but it's really grown on me now and it keeps getting better. I skip the track with the samples from the old-timey political rally though; not a bad track but it becomes tedious on repeated listens. Having broadcast recordings from the 1930s popping up kind of breaks the immersion as well, i find. That track with the speech samples was tedious the first time! Ha, it does bring the album to a bit of a grinding halt. I'm not usually a fan of "if you take out this track and play the first track last and the last track first it's so much better!" type shenanigans but yeah I've found i enjoy this album a lot more if i skip the track in question, at least while it's still growing on me. I heard them perform music from this recording live in October. I had a similar reaction to the track with Roosevelt's speach. I had never previously warmed up to Claudia Quintet and I can't say this performance made me a fan - however I did find some things to appreciate. This past weekend I found a copy of "September" for $1, so I figured there was no risk and picked it up.

I caught the performance by the sextet last week in Hartford. I also picked up the new disc. It was interesting to experience this live as individual members of the ensemble would hold up signs with the names of the various parts of Navigation - seemingly to cue what they would play next. Very democratic approach to performance for sure. I've had the Mitchell for a couple of days and I'm thoroughly enjoying it however it's almost designed for me as flute/vibes is a line up that would be close to the top of my list and Mitchell and Adasiewicz top of each instrumnets' 'must hear' players. There's some strong writing on the album and the playing's as good as you'd expect. I doubt you'll be disappointed I was blown away by Nicole Mitchell's performance on Harris Eisenstadt's Golden State album and made a mental note to check her music out further but kind of forgot about it. Stumbled across this album and just about couldn't think of a more perfect line up. Couldn't resist ordering it; had to divert some money i'd put aside for pre-orders for albums coming out in December but i've still got time to skip some meals between now and then. I need to pick up Golden State. I caught the group live in September and enjoyed the performance. I think I was low on cash that night, otherwise I would have picked it up then. Count me as a huge Nicole Mitchell fan, but I have also enjoyed all of Eisenstadt's music that I have heard.

Although I am a fan of Murray as well, I have to agree with those that have already intimated that no one really plays bass clarinet like Dolphy. I know that Rudi Mahall has done some things in tribute to Dolphy, but even he does not necessarily sound like him. I recently listened to a recording by the Minnesota based Out To Lunch Quintet, which as you can guess is dedicated to Dolphy's music. I can't remember the reed player's name right now, but he seemed to have some Dolphyisms in his playing, but I suspect it was because of the project.

It is on my want list.

Yes. But I am going to be mad at you for a while for enabling my excessive spending. In all seriousness I sent Ayler an email and received a very friendly response from Stephane. So count me as another endorser of the Ayler customer service!

I contacted Ayler and got a quick response that I could still take advantage of the sale. For the first time in quite a while I allowed myself to get caught up by the impulse and placed a somewhat larger order. There were a couple of items I had heard and had been thinking about picking up for a few years, and a few other things that just looked interesting. The CDs I paid for: Exuberance - Live at Vision Festival Item# aylCD-009 Fred Anderson & Harrison Bankhead - The Great Vision Concert Item# aylCD-052 Dennis Gonzalez - Cape of Storms Item# aylCD-117 Dennis Gonzalez - Resurrection and Life Item# aylCD-125 Dennis Gonzalez - Colorado at Clinton Item# aylCD-133 Luis Lopes' Humanization 4tet - Electricity Item# aylCD-113 Exploding Customer - Live at Tampere Jazz Happening Item# aylCD-031 And the free items: Per Henrik Wallin Trio - The Stockholm Tapes Dennis Gonzalez - The Great Bydgoszcz Concert Stone Quartet - Live at Vision Festival Firehouse - Live at Glenn Miller Café Exploding Customer - At Your Service Jemeel Moondoc Trio - Live at Glenn Miller Café

So sad I did not see this thread a couple of days ago and missed the sale

My first Mosaic was in late '87 or early '88 while still in college. I am pretty sure it was the Mingus Candid set because I remember that my then girlfriend (now wife of 19 years) threatened to cut the box one day when she was justifiably angry with me.

I tossed all of my early rap (late 70s early 80s) 12 inch singles after a flood. I kept the jazz LPs that were damaged. I simply purchased new sleeves and tossed the covers. Years later I when I get nostalgic and want to listen to the music of my youth I regret not doing the same thing with that darn box of rap.

I assume that since you went back a second night Harrell's group was good? Wish I had realized Turner was playing with Harrell at the Vanguard. I might have made the trip down for that.

I was at the Dennis Gonzalez show at Tonic with a quartet that also featured Ellery Eskelin, Mark Helias and Michael T.A. Thompson. I am fairly certain portions of that concert were subsequently released by Gonzalez.

Charles Owens also has a release on Fresh Sounds New Talent from 1999 that is worth hearing.

Tonight is Amir ElSaffar @ firehouse 12.

Great!

Does anyone know when the Weston/Harper recording was actually recorded? I know they performed together in around 1996 as a duo. A side note - when I got married in 1994 instead of having a bachelor party or some other wild affair, I opted to go to Sweet Basil with my father and brother to hear Weston's African Rhythms trio. When I heard him in a solo performance at UMASS a couple of years ago I told him about my "bachelor party" and he was quite amused. I am such a wild man. Weston has always been one of my favorites.

Interestingly, I went through a phase when I checked out Alexander a bit. Acknowledged his talent, but after 5 or 6 recordings I did not feel the need to actively pursue any more. Recently I heard him live twice (first in the group co-led with Vincent Herring and the second time in a group lead by Nat Reeves). Again, in a live setting his playing was exciting and impressive for what it was, but doub't I would ever pay for a live concert specifically to hear him. Nothing wrong with his playing, just a few other people I prefer.

Aldana's two recordings on Inner Circle are both very good IMO. Mostly interesting original music and very well executed.

Gloria Coleman's Soul Sisters is an enjoyable listen if I remember correctly.

Last night I caught the Hartford leg of the Ken Vandermark Nate Wooley tour. Vandermark and Wooley performed as part of the Improvisations series curated by Joe Morris and Stephen Haynes at Real Art Ways in Hartford. Also in the audience was fellow Organissimo board member Cliff Peterson, who it is always a pleasure to see. The first set was the Vandermark-Wooley duo. Inspired by the great John Carter-Bobby Bradford tandem, the two played a couple of compositions by Carter and Bradford and then the rest was all original compositions. Even without a rhythm section the duo worked. The compositions added a welcome structure and the two were inspired throughout. After the first set the two were joined by Morris on bass and Haynes on cornet for an approximately 35 minute improvisation. Things got a little wilder at times, but never too far out and at times Morris played with a bit more foundation/groove that kept things somewhat grounded. Up next Friday night: Friday, October 4, 2013 - 8:30 pm ($18 and 10 pm ($12) THE CLAUDIA QUINTET Firehouse 12 - 45 Crown Street - New Haven

Wednesday, October 2, 2013 – 7pm - $15 / $12 members IMPROVISATIONS – CELEBRATING FREE MUSIC - Interview FEATURING: KEN VANDERMARK - reeds AND NATE WOOLEY - trumpet WITH CURATORS: JOE MORRIS - guitar ǀ STEPHEN HAYNES - cornet Real Art Ways - 56 Arbor Street – Hartford Improvisations is a monthly, artist-curated series of performances centering on freely improvised music. Featured musicians are placed in combinations ranging from duo to quartet and, often, have never worked together as an ensemble prior to the performance. There is no rehearsal. The music is created in the moment, held by the listener. The aim is to create a listening environment that will allow the audience intimate and deep contact with the music and those who make it. Come early and stay late, listen to and speak with the performing artists. “You know you’re doing something right when the musicians come out to hear you.” – Stephen Haynes

By coincidence earlier today I was reading about the new Dennis Gonzalez Yels at Els recording with Mittal. I had never heard of him before, but may have to check him out.

Last night I traveled three hours in rush hour traffic to Shapeshifter Lab in Brooklyn to catch the premier performance of bassist Michael Formanek's Ensemble Kolossus. This big band featured a lot of heavy hitters. The trumpet section included Dave Ballou, Jonathan Finlayson, Ralph Alessi and Shane Endsley. The trombones were Alan Ferber, Jacob Garchik, Ben Gerstein and Jeff Nelson. The reed section was Chris Speed, Oscar Noriega, Loren Stillman, Brian Settles and Tim Berne. Finally, in addition to Formanek in the rhythm section was Kris Davis, Mary Halvorson, Tomas Fujiwara and Patricia Franceschy on vibes and marimba. In both sets the ensemble performed Formanek's extended piece written for the ensemble titled Exoskeleton if I recall correctly. It is an eight part composition that evolves through a variety of moods, tempos and textures. It was a very structured piece with tight ensemble parts – which I appreciated a lot, but at the same time there were opportunities for expressive solos by just about all of the musicians. Very interesting. Hope they have the opportunity to continue to develop as a band and ultimately record. Forgot to mention that last Friday I caught David Binney’s quartet at Firehouse 12 with Jacob Sacks, Eivind Opsvik and Nasheet Waits. I have been a fan of Binney’s music for a few years, but this was my first opportunity to hear him live. They did not disappoint. Binney was as to be expected – “heady”, but with a lot of fire when needed. I had never really paid attention to Sacks before, but he was impressive Friday night – kind of quirky like I like, but still swinging. Nasheet Waits may have been the star of the night. I have heard him live a few times and as always the rhythms he conjured and the manner in which he engaged with and pushed soloists was mesmerizing. The final update on my live adventures is that last Saturday I caught Cyrus Chestnut’s Trio at the Artists Collective in Hartford. To be honest, although I appreciate Chestnut’s playing, he is not someone I would normally go out of my way to hear. On this occasion since it was five minutes from my home and free, I felt like I had to go. No real surprises on this night, but nonetheless some enjoyable, bluesy, swinging piano trio music. Now my big decision after getting home at 2:00 am last night from my Brooklyn excursion is whether I venture back out tonight to Firehouse 12 to hear Larry Ochs and Donald Robinson?

I caught Yoron Israel's quartet with Gardony a couple of weeks ago. the show easily exceeded my expectations that night. With Lockwood on bass looks like a very interesting trio.

It was a very musical weekend for me. Friday night i caught Gerald Cleaver and Black Host at Firehouse 12 in New Haven. In addition to Cleaver, the band features pianist Cooper-Moore, alto saxophonist Darius Jones, bassist Pascal Niggenkemper and guitarist Brandon Seabrook. Cleaver describes the concept of the band essentially as playing with a certain type of energy using grooves, simple melodies and "pop music". It really is hard to explain the experience. Before the set began Gerald handed out ear plugs to the audience, explaining that "this is a loud band". Indeed it is, but it is much more than that. It is a very intense experience and they do take it out - at times it feels like a sixties free jazz blowout, but underneath it there is always a groove and/or melodic content that keeps it grounded. Interestingly, a few of the Firehouse 12 regulars whose tastes I do not think go very far out loved the show. Saturday night I traveled to Goshen, MA to hear Harris' Eisenstadt's Golden State with Nicole Mitchell, bassonist Sara Schoenback and bassist Mark Dresser. This was on the other end of the spectrum than Black Host, but very enjoyable. I think I am ready to leave my family for Nicole Mitchell. She is a flute player that forces me to actually listen to flute when most don't and there is something about her overall spirit that is warm and inviting. As is true with most of Eisenstadt's bands there is an emphasis on composition and most of the tunes had interesting grooves, twists and turns. Interestingly, most of the rhythm foundation fell to Dresser because Eisenstadt never seems to play a groove, pattern or beat more than once. Instead, he skitters around the drum set interacting with the band in more of a melodic manner. every time I hear Dresser I am reminded that he is a vastly skilled bassist. Sunday was the Hartford Jazz Society's 52nd Annual Jazz Cruise. The featured artist was Nat Reeves' All Star Quintet with Eric Alexander, Steve Davis, Harold Mabern, Joe Farnsworth and a number of guests. They performed the expected hard bop repetoire, but played it with sincerity and conviction. Really hard not to enjoy. Since I am on the board of the Hartford Jazz Society the event was more work than pure entertainment for me and three hours into the seven hour cruise I was ready do go home. The music was also a bit too loud for my preferences. In any event, it was a great day on the river with non-stop good sounds from Reeves' ensemble and the other more local band that played.

I have heard Mabern live two tmes in the last month. First with the Vincent Herring/Eric Alexander Quintet and yesterday in a band led by bassist Nat Reeves with Eric Alexander, Steve Davis, Joe Farnsworth and a few guests. He is still playing strong!