Д.Д.

I've been listening to recently-released double-CD Persian Surgery Dervishes (Felmay), and I've been vewry impressed. These are solo organ improvisations performed by Riley in early 70s. Dark mesmerizing stuff. Very good for long rides in the night or bad weather (I'll be probably listening to it on my way to Zurich tomorrow). And I never knew that Riley was such a mighty player! More information here: http://www.felmay.it/6715en.html

I'm especially interested in the Gratkowski, it certainly "looks" good, hopefully it will sound OK too. This one is not bad, not bad at all. Porbably even better than Spectral Reflections... New solo Paul Bley did not inspire me too much.

Geoff, do you have foreign improv musicians coming often to Australia? I remember you posted your pictures of Parker, Dunmall and Kenny Wheeler, so looks somebody does manage to come - but how often it happens? And how rich is your local imporv scene?

Nice releases from Polish Not Two lable: http://www.nottwo.com/Plyty.php?Typ=NT&W=0&Od= Glad to see that Sirone is active. Also, how about Ornette's compositions performed by bass solo: http://www.nottwo.com/PelnaPlyta.php?Id=1&W=&Od=&Off=

New Charnett Moffett release: http://www.piadrum.com/For_the_Love_of_Peace.htm Could be interesting. Charnett is a phenomenal bassist, and his brother COdy is a very tasteful drummer.

Anybody heard this one?

The problem is in situ stuff is impossible to find. P.L.M., have you heard Zingaro/Lazro duo on Potlatch? - this one is mesmerizing -I haven't heard anything like this...

Got Cecil's Nefertiti today (together with some Joe Henderson stuff) - bravo CDConnection! Ubu, the import thing we discussed worked perfectly fine.

Hmm... I will probably go for it (I am really curious to hear Henry Grimes), but Sabir Mateen's presence does not inspire me. Got news from Leo Feigin - Some Combination of Fingers and Passion will be reissued soon.

Matthew, I first somehow thought you were referring to the new Mitchell's 3-CD solo set. From DMG regarding new Boxholder stuff: COSMOSAMATICS - Three (Boxholder 041) Featuring Sonny Simmons on alto sax & English horn, Michael Marcus on baritone sax & saxello and Jay Rosen on drums & percussion. This is actually the fourth Cosmosamatics disc counting their live date on Bleuregard from last year. 'Three' is half studio and half live and yes, there is no bassist. This allows their wonderful drummer to concentrate on a few different functions and he really does a great job. When I caught the quartet version at a recent Visions Club date, it was Jay that impressed me the most with his riveting drumming. Both Sonny and Michael split up the writing with a fine cover of Monk's "'Round Midnight'. A number of these tunes feature the English horn (an oboe-like double reed) and saxello (rare sax in between the soprano & alto in range) playing those hypnotic middle-eastern harmonies. Jay swings his tush off on "Tonal Magnitudes", which provides Sonny's alto and Michael's saxello ample time to play some spirited solos. Jay plays a different groove on each piece, creating the entire rhythm team support beneath both reeds giants. This is not a heavy duty blow-fest, but rather a calmer, more relaxed vibe, with strong playing, but little or no screaming. Both Sonny and Michael have strong and passionate tones on both reeds and both play with imagination and slow burning energy for this entire modern jazz treasure. Dedicated to NASA's Mars Mission satellite to bring hope for a better future. Amen. CD for $14 RAPHE MALIK / JOE McPHEE / DONALD ROBINSON - Sympathy (Boxholder 045) Featuring Raphe on b-flat & c trumpets, Joe on soprano sax & pocket trumpet and Donald on drums, a studio date from October of 2002. 'Sympathy' is another strong trio date like the above mentioned Cosmosamatics disc with no bassist involved, yet just as magical as one could hope for. You probably know of Raphe Malik from his fire-breathing trumpet with Cecil Taylor and half dozen great discs on Eremite, FMP & Boxholder. No doubt you know of that multi-horn hero from upstate NY, Joe McPhee, who's been a local legend for about 35 years. You might remember bay area drummer Donald Robinson from his work with Larry Ochs and Glenn Spearman. This cd is dedicated to Raphe's mother Theresa who had recently passed away and there is a beautiful and sad aura surrounding this enchanting offering. The trio play with such exquisite elegance on the opener, "Testament", that it just takes my breath away. This is certainly the most lyrical and touching trumpet playing I've ever heard from Raphe. There are a few duo sections where the drums and trumpet or the drums and soprano take off for the stratosphere and never look back. There are also pieces where both trumpeters swirl around one another in a well-connected display of cosmic spirits. Another enchanting treasure from Boxholder. CD for $14

Let us know what you think of this one - ubu and I have been enjoying it a lot.

Geoff - I would love to hear this disc! I sent you an email. Let me know if it didn't get through. Get two, get two!!!!!

Hans, you are obviously unwell, so I designed a redical treatment course for you. To be administered until you go into feedback. In the morning: Throughout the day: And in the evening: During insomnia: On weekends and national holidays:

Jerry Hahn! Come on Hans, I am trying really hard.

How about Derek Bailey? Awful... Shit. Elliott Sharp?

How about Derek Bailey?

On everything actually - I think most of the CDs at indiejazz cost $12 and shipping is very reasonable. I hope they will be increasing their selection. Get Fred Van Hove's "Passing Waves" (nuscope), btw.

OK, Ghostly Thoughts... I quite liked the disc. Not masterpiece, IMO, but a good one. A pretty conventional record by all standards (and not particularly intense or noisy), and I am not sure where all the controversy comes from. Dunmall is very "jazzy" - probably too much for this setting. He has a nice sound here (raspy big tenor, mostly in the middle register - not too muich of altissimo squicking; and some baritone...), but his ideas are a bit banal here - standard early free jazz power licks (with bluesy feel - Shepp or something...). So for me Dunmall is the weakest part of the album. But the other two players are outstanding: Mark Sanders on drums is doing some amazing stuff - reminds me of Tony Williams a bit, and probably Roy Haynes even more - some airy but intense and very propulsive playing...very deverse and very attuned to other two players. Really a pleasure to listen to. Actually the disc starts with some very creative manipulations with hi-hat. Good man. I should get more of his stuff. And then there is Hans' hero John Adams on guitar, whose playing I probably enjoy the most here (or more correctly, his interplay with Sanders). Adams has a very attractive sound - "semi-acoustic", very clean and clear, with slight "stretching" (I don't know how you call this effect - when a note after being played slides a bit; it's used in blues rather often), but at the same time the sound is full - not some sort of ugly flat Metheny shit, but sound with volume. And this is good. Adams' techiques is superb (the guy can play really fast), and his imagination is impressive - he comes up with a lot of nice ideas and is pretty melodic (and even lyrical- as on the second piece) most of the time. I frankly can hardly imagine what can possibly irritate in his contribution here. Anyway, Adams and Sanders are very sympathetic to each other and create some intriguing counterpoint here. Actually, I would have probably preferred to listen to Adams/Sanders duo (and a bit of it happents at the beginnig of the last piece) - they sound more free than with Dunmall, who tends to drag them (and since both Sanders and Adams listen a lot, they follow Dunmall) into more predictable routine a bit. To sum up, if anybody knows of Sanders / Adams duo CD - let me know. And yeah, the only other Dunmall CD I have Master Musicians of Mu (Slam) - a duo with guitarist Philip Gibbs, is terific.

I'll listen to it today and will report my ghostly thoughts.

These cd reviews, plus the ones I was COMMANDED by Д.Д. to post on: Clusone Trio: Rara Avis & An Hour With.... The pressure is now on for us to deliver the goods.! He-he. I warned you Matthew about joining the Funny Rat, didn't I? - it's a serious responsibility.

Inspired by discussion about the bassist Peter Janson I dug up this disc: Janson / Kullhammar / Nilssen-Love Live at Glenn Miller Café (Ayler REcords) Peter Janson, b Jonas Kullhammar, t & b saxophones Paal Nilssen-Love, dr Well friends, this might become my favorite Ayler Records release. Following Gary's example of a highly responsible approach to one's Rat duties, I will post my as sober as possible review in due course. Meanwhile, enjoy a selection of reviews from the Ayler site. Oh yeah.

sorry about that , I had second thoughts & thought all the recommendations I received from this thread deserved a more sober assesment.(Which is forthcoming)Sorry. Looking forward, sober or not.

P.L.M., if you don't stop this mockery of sacred, I will start praising Odean Pope in every post. I probably will in any case. In 1993 I was listening to death metal and Stravinsky's "Firebird" mostly.

Swinger, I was listening to Oxley's "Baptised Traveller" today (it is a great album indeed, and VERY uncharacteristic Evan Parker playing), and thought that you might enjoy Sven-Ake Jhansson's "Six Little Pieces for Quintet" (hatOLOGY) (AMG review).

I'm on it, Mr. D! Looks like AMG also wets itself over Rothenberg's Power Lines. Ever hear that one? No, Crux is my first exposure to Rothenberg. But I'll be definitely getting more.