ghost of miles

This week on Night Lights it’s More With Four: Jazz and String Quartets as we explore historical recordings of jazz artists and ensembles with string quartets, ranging from Artie Shaw’s augmented orchestra of the late 1930s to Max Roach’s “double-quartet” of the 1980s. We’ll also hear music from saxophonist Lee Konitz (with arrangements by Bill Russo), vibraphonist Joe Roland (playing Miles Davis’ “Half Nelson”), pianist Andrew Hill, the Modern Jazz Quartet, and more. Jazz meets a classic classical format this week on “A Jazzy Quartet,” airing Saturday, December 16 at 11:05 p.m. EST on WFIU and at 9 p.m. Central Time on WNIN-Evansville; West-Central Michigan listeners can hear it Sunday night at 10 p.m. EST on Blue Lake Public Radio. The program will be posted Monday afternoon in the Night Lights archives. Next week: "The Night Lights Before Christmas."

Hmm... maybe tonight's (for which I'm about to post a topic), "A Jazzy Quartet," featuring jazz soloists or ensembles playing with string quartets. Maybe last week's "The Arrival of Victor Feldman," and the late-November shows on Mary Lou Williams' Zodiac Suite and "The Avant-Garde Plays the Great American Songbook." Hope that helps!

Thanks much, I'll try that... and Clem, you're right... I just got the corrected list from Jazz Institut and it lists a Sept. 1983 interview w/JR in Cadence. Tried to order Rene Thomas' GUITAR GROOVE and my friend who runs Landlocked said it's OOP. I found a copy online; seems readily available there, but it might possibly be another Concord casualty. I doubt if any of those "limited edition" OJCs have much longer to go under the new roof.

E-mail sent!

Is that the title of a forthcoming book? Happy birthday, Jim, and thanks much for everything. CD-R will be in the mail to you this Saturday by way of a b-day present.

Very sad news--thanks for letting us know, Chuck. And thanks, too, Berigan, for posting those messages.

Will Friedwald review from the NY Sun that somebody posted over at Songbirds:

I'd be interested to hear it. I listened to a lot of house & house-influenced rock circa 1989-93--I don't say that in the spirit of "been there, done that," but some of the modern house-influenced jazz I've heard has sounded pretty dated. It's certainly one of the directions jazz might be taking and even should be taking, though I'm never in favor of lame beats. (Er, rhythmic or literary! ) I mean, I think we'll always have the "classic" jazz format in terms of instrumentation, just as we still have string quartets and orchestras... and it will be represented to some extent in small clubs, etc. That's also still what I love to listen to most. But I've thought for a long time that "jazz"--jazz in the sense of a living, growing music--will surely not be your dad's jazz, so to speak--and will just naturally be incorporating turntablism, etc. into its sound. It already is, with varying degrees of success. So far Monday Michiru hasn't quite clicked for me the way she has for Jim, but I think I understand the aesthetic way she's struck out in, and I can understand why that way excites Jim. OTOH pokin' a stick up folk's asses is likely to make 'em dance, but maybe not in the manner that you intended. I'll try to catch that show Sunday night while I'm on vacation.

True that Fox has put the kibosh on releasing any more Hill Street Blues, owing to low sales for the first two seasons?

Also--maybe the strong response will encourage them further to do a similar set covering the big band from that era.

Good Lord... glad I went ahead & pre-ordered this yesterday morning, as I really want to listen to it over Christmas break. So this means they already have to do a second pressing?

"The Arrival of Victor Feldman" is now archived.

Many happy returns, Mr. BB!

Wynton is definitely in the running.

Somewhere in this thread? Larry alludes to it in the "Aging Avant-Garde" topic.

Maybe a sample of early "Third Stream" -- my pick would be "Sketch" by the MJQ and the Beaux Art String Quartet. Yes, but damn! I just used that for the Night Lights coming up this weekend! (Jazz artists or ensembles playing with string quartets.) Third Stream is a good one, though, you're right. I'll find something from that category.

Frank Kimbrough's Play Dick & Kiz Harp's two albums Mark Murphy--early & recent recordings The Mosaic Charles Tolliver June Christy (recent reissues) Any and all Duke Ellington (he always makes the list...) I've noticed in general, though, that I don't tend to play albums/CDs over & over again, the way that I did when I was younger. If I really like something I'll listen to it three, maybe four times.

Here's another question: I was thinking about including some electric Miles, something from, say, Bitches Brew or one of the 1970 live/studio recordings. But what was critical reaction to Miles' electric records when they came out? I mean, when I first became a jazz fiend the accepted CW seemed to be that critics had trashed these records when they were released. But I've always been suspicious of that theory. I suppose perusing some dusty old Downbeats at the library would provide a clue, but I wanted to pose the question to some of the folks here who were actually around when those records came out.

Hey all, I'm working on a Night Lights program that will involve, as part of its presentation, recordings that were flashpoints for jazz criticism--music that provoked a strong, polarizing, "love-it-or-hate-it" response from jazz writers & pundits. So far I've got Ellington's "Reminiscing in Tempo" and "Black, Brown & Beige," the Coltrane/Dolphy VV material, and Ornette's early quartet. Will probably pick a bebop recording as well, though I haven't nailed one down yet... any other suggestions?

Upping this because of another thread with news of the Tristano bio alluded to in Larry's (Lawrence's? Guess I was more formal in those days) earlier post.

Wow! I'd heard of this record, but hadn't even tried to check on its availability--thanks much, Jsngry! I'm buyin'... Tapscott fans should also check out the new Steve Isoardi book, DARK TREE. It comes with a CD of unreleased Tapscott/Arkestra material.

That Pathways book looks promising as well. I read the article in Downbeat--have any of our resident Chicagoites had a chance to view that exhibition?

Thanks for the full disclosure! And thanks, too, for posting your liner notes here, Larry. I listened to this again late last night and it sounded even better the second time around. Uncle Skid, I searched Amazon through ye olde Organissimo filter and found this listing. Looks like Deep Discount & the dreaded Caiman both sell it new for close to $13... it's also an item Chuck might carry. I first read about it in a Delmark catalogue, and it's in the new one as well--but I realize the Delmark website is not always customer-friendly. The Landlocked guy sells a fair amount of avant-jazz, so he just happened to have it in his bins one day when I walked in.

Also--does anybody know of any interviews J.R. did in Downbeat, etc.? The Jazz Institut sent me an article bibliography, but it was for Jack Montrose... they are great folks but have not yet responded to my reply asking for a corrected list. I've checked New Grove, but they basically reference only the Coda piece.

Up...anybody else heard this CD yet?