Д.Д.

I ordered one of Triage's CDs (don't rtemember which one) from Chuck Nessa. Looking forward to hearing it. -------------------------------------- Received the latest FMP (a/l/l, to be exact) release of the Schlippenbach Trio: "Compression" - recorded live in 2002. Nothing particularly revelatory if you are familiar with this trio (which is Schlippenbach - Evan Parker - Paul Lovens). I haven't heard all of the trio's records (there are at least 5-6 of them), but I clearly remember Physics from 10 years ago following the same formula but being much more engaging than this new one.

OK, got back home - so here are some more details from the Leo press release. The other two new releases are: * Solo Pandelis Karayorgis. I will be picking this up for sure - was sufficiently intrigued by (if not always enjoyed) previous Karayorgis Leo CDs (a couple with Mat Maneri and in trio with bass-drums), and curious to see what the man will come up with in solo setting. Writing this, I realise that the other young pianist from Leo roster who I would be even more curious to hear is John Bickerton - looks like he hasn't released anything sinse 2000. * New (5th one!) by Collective 4tet, adored by everybody here. I really enjoyed their previous works (have all of them). I find the sound and ideas of the band unique (particularly in the use of drums as the "leading" instrument and the other ones as some sort of a rhythm section), and, moreover, I enjoy (!) Willaim Parker's playing in this band - by far the most creative and thoughtful playing I've heard from him (the only other record where I actually like Parker's playing is an early trio recording of Wayne Horwitz with Parker and Butch Morris on Black Saint - "Some Order, Long Understood" - a beautiful one). Tony is the main distirbutor of Collective 4tet discs in the US, so direct the enquiries to him. The Hungarian guy's name (the one who recorded with (or, to be exact - with whom recorded) Braxton and Tarasov is Gyorgy Szabados. Never heard (of) him - looking forward. Nate, indeed Crispell's "Live in Zurich" was recorded in '89 (one of her first reecordings?) with Workman and Motian. I might go for it as well. As for the upcoming projects, looks like there is no plan to release the recordings of the Ganelin Trio London perfomances (although they will be aired by BBC), and a live double CD of Mahall-Takase duo (not somethig I am getting very excited about). ------------------------ Meanwhile, with winter vacation and all that, I've been mostly listening to (and thoroughly enjoying) barocco music.

Just before leaving for vacations got a Leo press release. Don't have it with me now, so recalling from memory: Crispell Zurich concert is being reissued (Leo calls it one of the best records in his catalog), new release of Ullmann's clarinet trio, new release of Braxton with Vladimir Tarasov (of Ganelin trio) and some Hungarian pianist - recorded live playing the pianist's music, couple more releases, but I forgot what... Really intrigued by Braxton-Tarasov combination. Anybody knows Crispell Zurich concert (so far I haven't heard a single Crispell disc that would keep me interested, but if Leo says this is one of his label's best...)?

Most of these new Hats look interesting. The only one I am pretty sure I will skip is the Liebman - Eskelin one - cannot stand Liebman. Tenney, Wolpe and Ives are very intriguing, and a fragment Shepp - Roach I've heard long-long time ago (was one of the first "free" musics I was exposed to), and I rememebr it being very good (and quite intense).

Agree. Somewhat bland work for the musicians of this calibre.

Gianni Gebbia Joseph Jarman

Flurin, Controtempo used to be quite reliabel on Italian CDs (Soul Note / Black Saint including) a coule of years ago. However, the last couple of times I tried to place an order, theree was no response whatsoever. I would recommend going for Cadence - $15 plus reasonable shipping (if you take 5 CDs or so with surface shipping... let us know if you need recomendations for 4 more CDs).

Well, there are not that many solo saxophone projects overall, are there? Meanwhile, Gebbia mentions on his website that Zen Widow trio will visit Switzerland (Zurich) as part of its European tour, some time in April. Cool! Keep me updated! Rote Fabrik, or where will they play? Sphères? No info yet.

Recordings of John Cage's works for piano / prepared piano on Naxos are outstanding (forgot the pianost's name - either Boris Berman or Eteri Anjaparidze - both excellent musicians).

Well, there are not that many solo saxophone projects overall, are there? Meanwhile, Gebbia mentions on his website that Zen Widow trio will visit Switzerland (Zurich) as part of its European tour, some time in April.

Great. Please keep us posted. I asume everybody here has Lowe's masterpiece The Flam (Black Saint)?

Can you elaborate a bit on choir's contribution here?

From the DMG newsletter: "STEVE DALACHINSKY DISCOVERS THAT PRINCE LASHA IS ALIVE & WELL!!! inside story a flash for all you bird watchers out there. the other night while listening to the heavenly chords of the Odean Pope Sax Choir playing their amazing set of Pope originals and vintage Trane tunes i spied a rare sighting indeed. an odd bird that i had thought was extinct. a bird i thought i'd never see live. a soaring bird of dark plummage. a truly exotic, eccentric bird. a firebird. the firebird. PRINCE LASHA himself, one of the 4 special guests with the choir, along with Michael Brecker (night 1), James Carter (night 2 and truly amazing), and joe Lovano (night 3). i had the privledge of seeing the last 2 and meeting and talking with Lasha both nights. Prince Lasha, notable for his partnership with Sonny (Huey) Simmons who he said he named. Notable for 'Firebirds 1-3' (one on Contemporary, the other 2 on his own label Birdseye). 'The Cry' (Contemporary) and a few others including 'Inside Story' on Enja, the only one i didn't have.(i got him to sign all my others.) i first heard him and Simmons on the great Eric Dolphy Memorial album where they do the monumental Lasha tune "Music Matador" and a killin' "Jitterbug Waltz". Lasha and Simmons also appear as sidemen on Elvin's lp on Impulse 'Illuminations'. anyway at present Lasha is perched atop a mountain overlooking San Francisco where he always welcomes musicians. He said he got comfortable in real estate and doesn't need to scramble for gigs. this small strange man weilds a hand carved cane a still plays a sizzling alto. i just loved watchin' those feathers fly. each time he soloed on a tune written for him by Pope and appropriately titled Prince Lasha he quoted 'Softly as In a Morning Sunrise' but none-too softly. well good news is afoot because these 3 nights were recorded and will come out in one configuration or another with Lasha and the others mentioned on Half Note records. other good news is that Lasha says he plans to re-issue everything of his on his own label in cd format by the 3rd quarter of the coming year. so keep your (birds)eyes & ears peeled to DMG for updates. oh Eliot Levin among others were in the Choir and he took 2 monster solos. the last of which he did right in front of the master himself, Mr. Ornette Coleman, who was in the house for the second set of the final night and who i had the pleasure of hugging (3x) what a great way to start the New Year. thanks guys. steve dalachinsky nyc - the bluenote 12/15/04". Very much looking forward to Odean Pope's Saxophone Choir releases (incidentally, just listened to his Soul Note CD last week... three times in a row. Pope has my favorite tenor sound). -------------------------------- Also, looks like Philip Johnston - Gary Lucas Beefheart music project Fast 'n Bulbous is finallyy releasing a CD on Cuneiform: http://cuneiformrecords.com/bandshtml/fast.html This is a phenomenal band of superb musicians with a really fresh and creative aproach to Beefheart's music. Some info from Philip Johnston's website: http://www.phillipjohnston.com/fast.htm

Anyone heard any of the Sol Disc releases? Wally Shoup is an excellent alto saxophonist (his "Fasilades and Lamentations" is one of my favorite 2003 releases)... and this trio with Daniel Carter surely looks interesting.

Agree. Sanders is one of my favorite drummers. Sound quality is bad, though.

Who is playing with Grimes?

Hmm, I doubt I'll be picking this one up. Not a fan of Murray, and not so interested in hearing more Drake. I haven't heard Grimes since his resurrection - but somehow I can fairly easily imagine what music these three would be making...

Friends, this is a GREAT release by the musicians I've never heard of: Richard Carr / Mike Nord / Georg Hofmann - "In Walks Art" (Leo, 2004). Check the mp3s out here: http://www.willamette.edu/~mnord/cnhmp3.htm Might join Leandre's "For Flowers", Ochs' "Fly, Fly, Fly" and Gebbia's "Zen Widow" at the top of the favorite-of-2004 list.

Moers Music Online Recordshop ...which does not work. Link works for me. Link is the only thing that works in the Moers online shop.

The one with Steve McCall is the best Fred-drummer duo, IMO.

Moers Music Online Recordshop ...which does not work.

Let us kow what you thin of these two as well.

THat's a shame - Parker is an interesting guitarist. I've been really enjoying his his trio Tricolor's disc Mirth + Feckless (Atavistic, UMS), and I'll be defiitely buying more of his works (this duo with Scott Fields on Delmark surely looks enticing). -------------------------------- I was planning to get these Erstlive releases soon (together with some other good stuff Erstwhile is distributing).

Incidentally, thonight I was listenig to Fred Anderson - "Kidd" Jordan - Hamid Drake - William Parker: "Two Days In April" (Eremite). Captivating listening experience - despite some shortcomings. It is really fascinating to hear the contrast between Anderson and Jordan (they are more or less of the same age, btw). Anderson is very much in the confort zone - playing bluesy lyrical "traditional" free jazz the way he might have been playing it for decades. All played in the fairly limited (and beautifully sounding) middle range of the tenor sound spectrum (no altissimo screeming, no low-end growling either), with a few cliches (particualrly this fast repetative three-note pattern... Joe Henderson used to overdo it it as well sometimes). Rhythm section tends to lock into grooves (what a surprise), and in Anderson-Drake-Parker passages it all sounds just way too comfortable. All is different when Jordan jumps in. I found that I couldn't help but focus on his playing exlusively - it is mesmerizing. To begin with, Jordan has an amazing sound here - more aggressive, biting and piercing than Anderson's, with more insane Ayler vibrato, and using the whole tenor's range - particularly seeminly effortless altissimo wailings which sound absolutely unique. Jordan's technique is impressive (as far as I can judge), he can play as fast as anyone. To me Jordan sounds here like he is constantly searching, probing and investigating. He sounds definitely less relaxed and comfortable than Anderson - but I like it this way... as if he is not content with what he plays, so he keeps pushing and pushing, always trying to explore something new. IMO, he also listens more intently to other playsrs of the band than other members - particulalry to Anderson, who he seems to be provoking from time to time (in a couple of moments he takes Anderson's phrases and develops them to something totally insane, as if saying "hey man, with this you can go HERE and HERE and HERE") - but it does not seem to me that Anderson is responding too much. Additional porblem comes from the rhythm section - Drake and Parker are just not "free" enough for Jordan, which is particularly obvious when Anderson lays out. You can't do the groove vamp when there is a shuttle launch into stratosphere behind you. Then there are a couple of rather lengthy Parker solos... . Drake is doing his same good thing, like elsewhere. OK, to cut the long story short, excellent disc with some phenomenal playing by Kidd Jordan.

I liked one 2-minute track that was included on Bennink compilation CD - that's all I've heard.