Д.Д.

Shall we do a listening session Monday, May 22nd evening - around midnight CET (6PM EST)?

Lucky! I envy you as I've really been enjoying Frode, especially some of his work (reissued?) on Loose Torque. Be sure to give us your opinion of the show. Gjerstad and Wesseltoft was very much so-so. I am not too convinced by Gjerstad's talents, in general. He was playing clarinet, baritone, alto and bass clarinet. Very breathy, weak and not at all nuanced sound (very much the same on all instuments - slightly more forceful and diverse on alto) and monotone repetetive figures. Wesseltoft is a typical mainstreampiano player trying to do the out thing on an off night, so there were all the regular tricks of playing on the piano strings, and of course with some electronics. Not interesting, in short. BUT, then came the Veryan Weston trio, and it was stunnig. The trio includes Marc Sanders on drums and John Edwards on bass, and they played a very energetic, aggressive, inventive and highly interactive free jazz. The level of interaction is unbelievable... I wouldn't even call it interaction, it's complete synchronicity - somehow all three (particualrly Sanders and Weston) sound very much alike in their ideas and approach. The energy level was at overdrive from the first second and didn't let go for a moment all through the set, and I definitely agree with P.L.M. in that this is some of the best modern piano trio music - I am getting all I can find by them (two releases on EMANEM, as I see) asap. Paal Nilssen-Love was in the audience (which consisted of probably 12 people), and was seemingly in awe of Sanders' playing. I chatted a bit with Sanders and Edwards after the concert, and Sanders noted that when he was approached to play this gig he imidiately proposed this trio as this is his favorite formation - and this is saying something.

Tomorrow I cought about 3 seconds of Brötzmann/Nilssen-Lovoe duo live. Walked into the club just to hear the last extatic taragoto squeak and see all smiling Messrs. Brötzmann and Nilssen-Love bowing to thunderous applause. Had been looking forward to this concert so much, but well, it's hard to get away early enough from the dinner with 50 custoemrs that you are hosting yourself. But , anyway. Today will catch Frode Gjerstad duo with Bugge Wesseltoft duo / Veryan Weston Trio - but this is no match to Brötzmann/Nilssen-Love duo (I actually never heard them together, but I think Nilssen-Love should bring out the best in Herr Brötzmann). Ubu: Brötzmann's Tentet will play on May 21st in Zürich. I am actually flying back from my traveling on May 21st - I might change a ticket to fly to Zürich.

No wonder many people think all this free improv stuff sounds kinda samey...

Time is 9PM CET (3PM EST). Change of time possible, according to requests.

I actually bought one Borbetomagus CD ("Barbed Wire Maggots") last time I was in NYC (in DMG; I asked whether they had more - they didn't (to their own confusion), but Bruce said something along the lines of "it's all the same stuff.. and it's a bit intense"). The disc is at the very top of "to listen to" pile, but for now I just cannot stop listening to this one: ...and given that this is a 5-CD box, and I will most likely want to listen to it all, I doubt I'll get to Borbetomagus too soon. This set is available for close-to-nothing from amazon.co.uk. Although I see they already raised price a bit (I got it for £15) - but still, this is a steal....

Listening to the sound samples right now. Pippo 'Ark' D'Ambrosio: Arte senza volto Some very pretty playing but sounds too much like some of those acts trotted out by PBS during their all too frequent pledge drives. I'll give Pippo points as he's a paisan but still... Eugenio Colombo: Racconto Flautato :gasp: I.... can't....breathe... :gasp: That circular breathing can sometimes make me very uncomfortable. Sounds interesting. Gianni Lenoci: Agenda Soffused and dilated recompositions for piano of music by Steve Lacy Hmmm... Can't tell about this one. Lots of ringing piano. Not one I'd care to take a chance on. Doesn't sound bad, though. Ahhh... Track six, Retreat. I'm being won over. Enrico Cosimi: Infinite works Vangelis, anyone? I don't listen to this type of electronic music much anymore but I still retain a soft spot for this stuff. Knock knock. Who's there? PBS. PBS who? No, really. It's PBS. We're looking for someone to score Nature and thought you'd be ideal. What's it pay? Well... Nico Girasole: Et Nico Is it Cold in here? Anyone else feeling Blue? Laraaji: My Orangeness Cripes! No wonder you're so popular with the ladies! Paolo Giaro: I Vu Di I don't think so. ~~~~~~~~~~ The Ictus box set has once again been delayed. New release date: May 20th Of the Vel-Net major artists I know only Colombo who's a monster player and has some very interesting recordings - with Italian Instabile Orchestra and under his leadership (there is a good one on Leo with opera singers, and a couple of solid free-boppish ones on Splasc(H)). Lenoci I know from his duo with Joëlle Léandre on Ambiances Magnétiques label that I listened to for the first time earlier today. It's OK. Lenoci is fine, but not particularly original. Reminds me of classicized Bley. Ms. Léandre shines, as (nearly) always. I liked some (does one CD qualify as some?) of the Cold Blue titles, I really did. Ictus box will be your Cold Blue, Tony

Vel-Net Records.

I've been hearing some fine things about the group, although I can't locate any of their albums (anything out on CD?). I'm a fan of Watts, although I'm not entirely familiar with his 'leader' work. http://www.fmr-records.com/

I have it, but have never listened to it. Will check listen to it soon and report here. I gave it a listen today in the car. The recording is not very dynamic, in that there doesn't seem to be any separation between the instruments. I'm not sure about audiophile terminology, so you'll have to bear with me. I will say this, when the music is cluttered, its cluttered, when its sparse, its sparse. I probably won't be listening to this too much. It was running a little long into the third track and lost my attention. Well, I tried this one, and it didn't work for me either. I agree about extremely narrow dynamic range. There is this fairly monotonous peep emanating form unidentified instruments with muddily-recorded clumsy drumming on the top of it. Turned it off after 20 minutes. i. I have one of the FMR Amalgam reissues: "Another Time" - need to get to finally listen to it (particualrly after being so impressed by Watts' solo disc). well i found that amalgam to be my least favorite, DD, but i think you have a more regal ear than i do. see what you think. one of the longer songs is just so annoying with it's repetitive bassline. Regal ear? Meaning I am more likely to enjoy crap? I've actually initiated a mercyless "jazz" CD purge with more than 50 CDs going into get-rid-of bin already. David Murray and Ran Blake have been practically eliminated. Roland Kirk eliminated completely. Of old favorities, a lot (but not all) of Braxton, Mingus, Pullen, Booker Ervin, Roscoe Mitchell and later-perioud Sun Ra will follow soon. Coltrane Atlantic box will go (will buy some individula discs from it, though), and some of Ornette too. Most CIMPs as well. Haven't listened to much improv these days - mostly have been going through excellent ethnic music releaes on Network, particualrly enjoying really groovy Pakistan/Sindh stuff:

Grab this one asap!

I hated this one - tried it 2-3 times, but never managed to finish. I thought Bruckmann sounded extremely ugly and monotonous (and in general I just love oboe sound!), and the whole disc had a rumbling, midless feel to it. I have Bruckmann's solo Entymology, also on bar, and I while I appareciated the instrumental virtuosity, it also didn't sound too interesting to me. Liked Stackpole's percussion work on Grand Mal, though. I have several Diaz-Infante discs, including a couple of solo piano ones as well as duos with Forsyth, and I thought they were all very interesting. Solo paino stuff is quirky pseudo-Feldmanesque minimalism, and guitar duos I need to revisit. A lot of Pax releases are a part of CDbaby $5-sale - and they are definitely worth checking out.

i really like that amalgam disc. it might be too prosaic for a funny ratt-er? it is weird. i don't know too much tippett, but i would imagine this is one of his most straight performances. but it is isn't a straight set. just sort of rhythmically um plodding? on FMR by amalgam i would also recommend samanna (more fusion-ey in a prime time sort of way) and prayer for peace (the most out and the earliest of the bunch thought not really out at all-just looser as it is a sax trio). not so much on another time, where i find the longest track sort of repetitive. this album is also in the prime time vein. for more straighter sort of british jazz on FM you could also check out john taylor's pause and think again with surman, wheeler, levin, slutsman, etc... which if you enjoyed the recent taylor MPS reissue, you will definitely enjoy. and john surman's morning glory is also a great one with rypdal, marshall, griffiths, etc. I have one of the FMR Amalgam reissues: "Another Time" - need to get to finally listen to it (particualrly after being so impressed by Watts' solo disc).

Got the set from amazon.de (amazon.de rules - marked difference to more than a bit ureliable amazon.fr and truly fuck-up of a service amazon.co.uk. In my 3-year history of purchasing from amazon.de (= many, many CDs), there was only one CD that they did not manage to deliver - and I got a €5 credit!; decided this was my Eldorado and ordered the same CD again - only to receive it one week later). Looking forward to listening to it. But so far, gonna finish this one:

It's a shame Joe McPhee's "Nation Time" ("Shaky Jake" track specifically, to be exact) or Thomas' "Funky Donkey" did not develop any stylistical following. What I think coudl approach the definition: Defunkt - Joseph Bowie's band. (Bad ass) funk is definitely there - I am not too sure about avant- or free- elements, but there is some very intricate brass writing and burning high-power solos. Does Lester Bowie Brass Band qualify? I've seen them live (just a 10 days before Lester's death), but don't have any of their discs, so cannot judge... Miles' "Cellar Door Sessions" definitely fit the avant-funk definition. I'my now trying to remember what the the Herbie Mann discs with Sonny Sharrock sounded like - haven't listened to them for years. But as I rememebr there was some funk and some serious guiutar freak-outs by Sharrock. Less on both funk- and free- side, there is Fela Kuti. More sophisticated rhythmically than pure funk, but I haven't heard anything more positively groovy.

I can hardly imagine you being disappointed.

Got the solo Trevor Watts CD on Hi4Head - "World Sonic", and it is fantastic. Solo alto, very melodic, with a lot of stunnig circular breathing. Reminded me quite a bit of Gebbia's "Arcana major" - also references to folk themes (more Scottish jigs-type, than Sardinian dances - but they are related anyway), but Watts has a different sound, of course - more bluesy, lower and with much wider vibrato. 18 short tracks, each quite different. Sound quality is excellent. Higly recommended. Together with FMR releases, this is the ugliest digipack packaging I've seen yet.

Tony, I have 4-5 of the older Ictus editions, and my recollection is that it is all quite mediocre stuff, rather badly recorded as well.

I have it, but have never listened to it. Will check listen to it soon and report here.

Sounds like fun. Nice to hear that they still enjoy playing together. And good to know Ward is still in the game - the main flaw of Dehumanizer is extremely tedious drumming of Vinny Appice - I always wish Ward was there... Anybody heard Geezer's band CDs?

Ozzy still can sing?

The best one with Dio, IMO, and one of my favorite Sabbath albums overall.

Gail is good at talking. Execution suffers a bit, but talking is good.