relyles

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

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!

He is still very much involved in the Artists Collective in Hartford, which was founded by Dollie and Jackie McLean. Dollie McLean is still the executive director. I believe he also teaches at the University of Hartford. As a result, I see him quite frequently at musical events in the area and have had a few opportunities to hear him live. Most recently in May in a Jackie McLean tribute band with Gary Bartz, Steve Nelson, Steve Davis, Josh Evans, Alan Jay Palmer, Ronnie Burrage, Neil Clark and a bassist that I can not remember right now, but I think it was local product Matt Dwonszyk. Hot night of music!

Saturday night I caught an impromptu group at the Jazz Gallery featuring Chris Potter, Mark Turner, Ben Street and Johnathan Blake. David Virelles was scheduled to perform with his group, but one of the members of the ensemble was unable to make it, his show was therefore cancelled and this group was the replacement act. Virelles did sit in on two songs at the end. When I received the email Friday announceing the schedule change, I knew this was one of those "events" that I should make the effort to take the 2 - 2 1/2 hour drive from West Hartford into Manhattan. The SRO audience, which included many musicians and music students as well as obsessed fans like myself confirmed my thought. It was one of the best sets I have heard in a while. To my knowledge, these four musicians had never performed publicly as a group. Indeed at times their interaction on stage suggested some uncertainty about what to do next. I suspect the buzz that resulted in the large audience was because of the presence of Potter and Turner on the same stage. The two are considered to be amongst the top saxophonists of their generation. The differences between the two approaches are readily noticeable and I think they motivated each other to come with their A games. Every time I hear Street, I like him more. Good tone, nice ideas and very interactive/supportive of the soloists. I have also heard Blake a few times live. In some ways he functioned as the de facto leader - or at least he made all the announcements from the stage. A nice varied set list included Benny Golson's "Whisper Not", Monk's "Light Blue" (trio performance featuring Virelles), another standard that I can not remember and original compositions by Avishai Cohen, Paul Motian and Tom Harrell. It was so good that I would have stayed for the second show, which would have meant I would not have gotten back to West Hartford until around 3:00 a.m. This was one of those occassions, however, that the Jazz Gallery actually turned over the room because the second set was sold out. A little disappointing, but as I texted my wife before I got on the road to drive home, it is probably always best to leave wanting more.

I am ashamed to confess that I have owned Nebulosa for a while, but it has never made it to the top of my listening pile. Will have to remedy that.

Bern Nix - Alarms & Excursions

What he said!