clifford_thornton

yeah, haven't heard it in ages and don't remember being as into it at the time, but then again I was less into European improvisers when I started listening. How the tables have turned...

never owned the LP set but would grab it if I saw it in a shop. Sides B and C you get the Surman Trio, Mangelsdorff, Gulda and Taylor all in the same room.

I recall a lot of inconsistencies with this set and am not sure you'll find a better replacement.

that's beautiful.

all of 'em

Oddly have never had that one. I'll have to pick it up.

Interesting - I recall reading that the film had something to do with the Living Theatre, but wasn't sure if it actually was completed and released. On the OC with lyrics front, I've heard the Merrill version (beautiful) and Patty Waters also did "Lonely Woman," albeit with lyrics she wrote herself (also beautiful). The latter is on Marzette Watts' Savoy LP. Also have very few problems with Yoko Ono. She's an interesting artist and seems like a cool lady, from someone I know who works with her.

Yeah, a lot of cross-pollination indeed. Yoko was part of the Ornette group that played Royal Albert Hall in '68 and I'd LOVE to hear more of that concert (not to mention the one where she and Lennon performed with John Tchicai and John Stevens).

Joseph Bowie was in the Contortions - he's on a live set that ROIR put out on cassette (and which is on CD now), which is pretty prime.

The live Contortions stuff is much more interesting than the James Chance/James White studio LPs. I think Stella was Lydia but I can't remember - probably. Yeah, the Rough Trade version of Blood's record is mixed like a UK post-punk LP - they also put out the Swell Maps, who were a great band, very open in their persuasions. Of course, the UK post-punk/DIY scene and the DIY improvisation scene rubbed elbows a fair amount - Steve Beresford dated one of the Slits, Viv Albertine, and played on some of their post-Cut recordings.

Can you or other members recommend a publication focussing in depth on this scene (BAG, Human Arts Ensemble, Committe for Universal Justice, the Universal Justice label...) ? I love the music, as well as the "look" and the "feel" of those records, and I'd really like to learn more about the socio-political and cultural context. http://www.amazon.com/Point-which-creation-begins-Artists/dp/1883982510

I 'll make no claims other than to my own experiences (limieted to time/place/talent pool/etc., but the players I found to make that band were all people who had been playing music that was more punk rock than it was anything else. Certainly wasn't the jazz players. They got the "sound" of Ornette's new music right away. As Joe mentions, Prime Time was a huge influence on no wave musicians (esp. James Chance but not just him) and post-punk like Minutemen and Mission of Burma. Presumably extends to earlier Ornette as well.

Solidarity Unit, Inc. - Red, Black & Green - (Universal Justice or self-released US orig) Preparing to chat with Mr. Shaw in a little bit. This album has a catalog number in line with some Universal Justice releases, though no label is listed. Heavy one.

Yeah, I saw that three-bass band in Austin. They were extraordinary.

Harry Partch.

Had never listened to Monday Michiru until now. Whoa.

Seems pretty evenly valued among musicians and jazz fans everywhere, though there's a higher concentration of them in NYC because it's a very large city.

He did a killer version of the title track at Yoshi's a couple of months back... my girlfriend was thrilled (even proclaimed, walking back to a late BART train, "I think I'm starting to get it!"--jazz, that is. This one may last...). Seems like it has, Karl. Seems like it has.

Of course I recognize the images and the name but hadn't put two and two together. Fascinating. RIP.

Exactly, Late. I heard Ayler and Coltrane first, and they were something - that music was very exciting. Then I heard Ornette's music not too long afterwards, and it all made sense - so absolutely natural. That was nearly twenty years ago but could've been yesterday.

Excellent record - haven't dug it out in a while. That Levitts LP is an odd one, but definitely has some strong moments.

Well said. RIP.

Haven't dug out that particular Downes in quite a while.

I like that one.

Deep listeners and casual listeners don't - and won't - likely meet in their approaches. I often try to maintain awareness of a statement Bill Dixon made that's applicable across a variety of scenarios - "you start from where you are – you'll get to the rest in time" - and hope that, in listening, people will get to the rest of it. But it's not always the case, unfortunately. FWIW, ultimately it seems like Washington's music could've been done better by someone else. That's the upshot.