Rabshakeh

I remember reading this a while back. Presumably Matthew Shipp himself?

I think that this is my wife's favourite jazz record ever. It's one of mine too. Not hurt by the gorgeous cover.

Same. I like this era a lot more than the earlier free-er stuff, which to my ears sounds one dimensional (perhaps "more" one dimensional).

Ditto. Just finished God Didn't Like It, the second of your books that I have read this year. Hard to think of anyone else who writes like this.

100% Kamasi. Including the general sprawl of the thing.

Dino Saluzzi – Albores (ECM, 2020)

He got good traction with a series of an microwave ready articles about how, statistically, new music is less present now than it was twenty years ago. I think the social media fame has gone to his head. I think I'm this kind of harmless stuff is just how you keep up your media profile these days.

You'll miss it when it's gone.

Bobby Jones – Hill Country Suite (Enja, 1974) KU1213 sounds like KU12 + KU13. Agreed that your version makes more sense.

My information comes from Wikipedia only: "Soul Box is the third studio album by American saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. The project was originally divided in two LPs, both released in 1973 on Kudu Records with quite identical covers as Soul Box Vol. 1 (KU-12) and Soul Box Vol. 2 (KU-13), then issued as a 2-LP set as KUX-1213. Both albums were recorded during March 1973 with the same personnel. In 2008, the two volumes were released on one CD by Verve/GRP Records." No other knowledge in my head.

I think it was 2 separate LPs then rereleased as an actual box. I was not there at the time though, and have never owned it, although I have other Grovers.

Stefon Harris / David Sánchez / Christian Scott – Ninety Miles (Concord, 2011)

It's a mixed bag, but some of it is great. Just a strange sprawling statement for something released on Kudu.

It feels like more ‘forward thinking’ jazz and improvisation has entered a strange space, where critical praise is linked more to the critics’ trying to keep up with the in crowd than with views on the music. Not that critics ever didn’t do this, but I don’t recall criticism and reviews all seeming quite so rote as it does at present. The truth is that I really enjoyed your playing on that East Axis record. I thought that the freshness of your ideas on the album stood out in a scene that has become increasingly samey. Really awful to read this. And sending you best wishes.

Clare Fischer – Salsa Picante (MPS 1979)

I hadn't realised it was a British expression. The moment that the lightbulb went on.

I'm with you on this. The penny dropped for me when I heard the Trios album.

Now on Volume 2.

Grover Washington, Jr. – Soul Box Vol.1 (Kudu, 1973) A real statement, despite being wildly uneven. I really think that kids getting into jazz get a whole lot out of this era of Washington's music. I'm still upset to see the sneers that his music receives from some areas of the jazz establishment.

It's strange how low profile many of the players on this are. Given that the arrangements allow the horns to intrude in on Parker with their own solos are various points, I had expected to see a list of very familiar names. It is an interesting session. Much rawer than Verve with orchestration would lead one to expect.

Thank you! Not sure why I couldn't locate.

Thanks. Sadly I don’t see it here. Those Verve comps are a bit of a mess.

Charlie Parker And His Orchestra – Night And Day (Verve) Strangely hard to find out who played on this one online.

Thanks!

Someone just posted that on twitter (a Sheffield based jazz radio programme) and I thought I'd check it out again too. Junius Paul – Ism (International Anthem, 2019) Quite enjoyed this one. Good BYG style rave up at the start.