Joe

What's this one about? Art school, Japan, continental post-modernism, sex and name-dropping. Full disclosure: the author and I attended the same graduate writing program and have many friends and colleagues in common -- many of them referenced / fictionalized in this book.

Maxi Kim: ONE BREAK, A THOUSAND BLOWS!

Evans does appear on JAZZ IN THE SPACE AGE, playing alongside Paul Bley... terrible title, fascinating LP.

A Hipgnosis design, BTW. And, according to Wikipedia (anyway)... "The models photographed were actually Genesis P Orridge - of Throbbing Gristle - and girlfriend Cosey Fanni Tutti."

A fine idea... 1) Enrico Rava / Lee Konitz, L'AGE MUR (Philology) -- worth it for the playing of both principals, which is up and often above what one would expect... but the Italian rhythm section (Rosario Bonaccorso on bass, and Massimo Manzi on drums) here is equally wonderful, pushing / pulling / stretching at will, and with subtle inventiveness. 2) Frank Lowe, EXOTIC HEARTBREAK (Black Saint) -- I've been singing the praises of this record for years. A brilliant statement on "the jazz life", if you know what I mean. With Butch Morris, the fabulous Amina Claudine Myers, the late Wilber Morris and one Tim Pleasant on drums. 3) Jerome Harris, RENDEZVOUS (Stereophile) -- very OOP (AFAIK), but worth tracking down. Here, Harris plays acoustic bass guitar (as opposed to string bass), with support from Marty Ehrlich, Art Baron, Steve Nelson and Billy Drummond; also a great showcase for Harris the composer (a pleasant surprise if all you know is his work with Rollins). 4) Shorty Baker & Doc Cheatham, SHORTY & DOC (Prestige Swingville / OJC) -- Baker being one of the classic Ellingtonians, of course, and here's a rare opportunity to hear him stretch out and show off those qualities that made such an impression on a young Mile Davis. 5) George Garzone / Jeff Palmer / Richard Poole, OPPOSITE VOLTAGE (Music Artists Co.) -- a organ / tenor / drums combo playing in almost entirely "free" style. 6) Jay Hoggard, IN THE SPIRIT (Muse) -- for all intents and purposes, a tribute to Eric Dolphy, but one that avoids being obvious / derivative. With James Newton, Dwight Andrews, Mark Helias and Ed Blackwell. Bonus: a fine reading of Anthony Davis' "Andrew", dedicated to Andrew Hill (IIRC) 7) Ralph Pena, MASTER OF THE BASS (VSOP) -- vintage informal recordings, featuring the former Giuffre associate in duets and trios with Pete Jolly, Joe Albany and Herb Geller. 8) Susie Ibarra, RADIANCE (Hopscotch) -- Charles Burnham lights it up; killer version of Hendrix's "Up From The Skies". 9) James Carter / Cyrus Chestnut / Ali Jackson / Reginald Veal, GOLD SOUNDS (Brown Brothers) -- A "Pavement Songbook"? Should be just a novelty record, shouldn't work, but it isn't, and it does... 10) Gerry Hemingway, THE WHIMBLER (Clean Feed) -- Herb Robertson; get to know him...

Funny... was listening to Krivda's work earlier today on a date issued as LEE'S KEYS, PLEASE (and attributed to the "Cadence All-Stars"... recommended, BTW) and wondered about the status of those Inner City records. Excited to see that they might be available again.

IIRC, Dorham also wrote semi-regularly for DOWNBEAT in his latter years. Record reviews, mostly, but I believe he also penned an autobiographical sketch for the magazine as well. I for one would love to have all that material collected.

"Blues Eleganté" by Kenny Dorham and The Jazz Prophets, from their eponymous 1956 ABC / Paramount session. Because it is just so very, very decidedly hip.

The thread that keeps on giving... been looking forward to the reappearance of this material for quite some time.

Thanks Chuck. This is wonderful news indeed... nice to see James Newton's name on a new release as well.

By John McWhorter / CITY JOURNAL [snippet] Will Marion Cook is a name to reckon with in the history of black American music. “His great genius will always be a guiding star to those of us who remain,” black violinist Clarence Cameron White wrote on hearing of Cook’s death. Trumpeter Arthur Briggs called Cook “the greatest real musician ever.” Duke Ellington and Eubie Blake praised him as a mentor. [/snippet] Link to complete article

Yes, a label very worthy of your support. By all means, snag the Jimmy Lyons box set while its still available.

And... if you can cram almost the entire album credits in your 'do... that's impressive styling...

Alright, its past time I compiled one of these... would the keeper of the schedule please pencil me in for the next available slot? Thanks, JM

A) Stein was definitely "a mother". B) She's about as nurturing as a wire monkey momma. C) She may have mothered us all.

Seems to me so much of what we consider art (insert your own definition here) "happens" somewhere between regularity and surprise. As to what counts as either... well, my own experience has taught me that both shift over time. Just as perceptions do, and as those perceiving live, grow, change, and, one trusts, gain wisdom. In other words, if one does not find enough regularity / order in a particular instance of cultural production, one is likely to consider it formless, or amateurish, or "bad". But the presence of too much regularity / order often leads one to conclude that the thing encountered is boring, more of the same, lacking in excitement, etc. Or, as Gertrude Stein once said (then wrote): (from Composition As Explanation, 1926)

Just this afternoon I listened to Charles Dodge's EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD -- an old Nonesuch commission -- for the first time in over a decade. Still intriguing, and oddly moving.

The Omnitone store also has a selection of these still available for purchase. http://www.omnitone.com/store/label-blacksaint.htm http://www.omnitone.com/store/label-soulnote.htm

Seconded. Big fan of all versions of this group... I may even prefer to edition with Charles Burnham in the violin chair, which, alas, did not record for BS / SN. (Their two Stash discs = superb.) But the Regina Carter edition did, and BLUES... is a fine effort. Somewhat related: John Lindberg's DIMENSION 5; subtract Emery (g) but add Hugh Ragin, Marty Ehrlich and Thurman Barker.

Some relatively obscure BS / SN dates worth investigating... Glenn Horiuchi, OXNARD BEET Wayne Horvitz / Butch Morris / William Parker, SOME ORDER LONG UNDERSTOOD TOM VARNER QUARTET Ellery Eskelin, THE SUN DIED Tony Oxley, THE ENCHANTED MESSENGER John Carter, DAUWHE Amina Claudine Myers, THE CIRCLE OF TIME

Some favorites not yet mentioned... Lacy / Rudd, REGENERATION Billy Bang, VALVE NO. 10 Frank Lowe, EXOTIC HEARTBREAK Leroy Jenkins Sting!, URBAN BLUES Guido Manusardi, THE VILLAGE FAIR Roscoe Mitchell, 3 X 4 EYE Andrew Cyrille, X-MAN Baikida Carroll, SHADOWS AND REFLECTIONS John Lindberg, QUARTET AFTERSTORM Barry Altschul, IRINA

Yes, absolutely. Especially fond of his trumpet work. Was first -- and still am -- impressed by his playing on those Richard Bock-produced Elmo Hope tracks from 1957 that Blue Note tacked on to the CD reissue of TRIO AND QUINTET. Have since tracked down some of his leader dates on Bethlehem; the music there is slightly more "polite", but there are sparks (Charlie Mariano is a frequent partner on these recordings). Speaking of Mariano... Williamson was of course an integral part of the Shelly Manne quintets that recorded for Contemporary in the mid-50s. I presume you own or have heard SWINGING SOUNDS, MORE SWINGING SOUNDS, and THE GAMBIT?

Arthur Blythe also appears on Jeff Palmer's EASE ON and ISLAND UNIVERSE. Palmer has also recorded with George Garzone on a pretty obscure but pretty fabulous disc entitled OPPOSITE VOLTAGE. On his 2000 Steeplechase release PRIDE, Lee Konitz is backed on a couple of tracks by organ (George Colligan).

Particularly fond of this recording: Incredibly inventive compositions and arrangements, and lyrically very much in the Antropófago tradition. (And isn't jazz, as a "form", pretty cannibalistic too?)