clifford_thornton

Yes, one of those Liberty jacket, NY USA label mongrels. Edit to add: spinning it now!

Some thoughts: I think the appeal with Oscar applies to a lot of less-flashy but entirely "technical" pianists, in both the mainstream and avant-garde circles. But then again, figures looming as large as Cecil have been derided for being purely "technical" players, and I wonder whether they are hearing the same player that I am. What is it about OP that differentiates him from, say, Jaki Byard? I'd like to say it's something so nebulous as "soul," but how can someone with a stylistic grab-bag use that bag and "merely" use it? (note that I've listened to a helluva lot more Jaki than OP, so I could be reaching with the comparison here) Is it that, as Misha M. told me, "Monk was an architect, but Herbie Nichols was a painter..." ,implying less a disdain for Monk (architects build things that require use - like Lacy's adage that Monk created an impulse to "get to the other side") than an overarching importance of expression, gesture, quantifiable feeling that frequently is empty from a significant amount of piano-trio mood music? I was driving around with my dad this weekend, and he's a fan of piano trios - contemporary stuff, mostly - and it all has this similar and indescribably "decent" ring to it. As derided as they might be by some, at least one can pick out McCoy or Bill Evans from this stuff. Putting Nichols up next to it is a true "apples & oranges" situation, indeed. I would assume that OP probably has a bit more "soul" than somebody like Lynn Arriale, but to be honest, her trio version of "Aiko Aiko" was really getting to me in a positive way - moreso than the last OP track I can remember hearing, actually.

Alacra LPs go for about $10 a pop on eBay. I'll let you know if I see one.

Here's a point that may or may not have already been made: OP's death has obviously brought out a lot of people to weigh in on their feelings about his music, which might not have occurred to the same degree were he still alive (even on this board).

Unit Structures was a little late - 1966 - so its first edition was with New York USA labels.

Cute little gal, ain't she?

Just one left of each... Hell, I had to pay for mine!

Don't know that one, but I have his first on Alacra, called The Bell of the Heart. A relative of mine played on that date, as well as Mario Pavone's Shodo (also on Alacra - it was Pavone's label).

Got that for my pop for Christmas.

So having RVG lend his "trusty" ears to this might not be feasible. Maybe we could have him remix some Can records while we're at it??!?

I think those Vitous/Haynes tracks were on the expanded CD editions of "Now He Sings, Now He Sobs", no? So it would be "Early Circle", parts of "Circling In", plus possibly "Song of Singing"... I don't have the playing times of the music, but I guess the Circle material would fit onto two CDs, and with "Song of Singing" it might end up being three? Anyway, I did write them a mail suggesting this yesterday, will report if I get an answer! I got a reply from Michael a couple of days ago - he thinks it "is a good idea and with Song of Singing, it could be a full Select." (quoted from the mail he sent). Now there's hope! I'd love to get this music in fine sound an all packed and annotated nicely! (He also mentioned that rights on the CBS/Sony "Gathering" LP are unclear - hence it would rather be an EMI/BN set with "Song of Singin", if it happened...) That is great news! Hope it happens. Indeed. So this would be Song of Singing, Circulus, Circling In, Gathering, and Live In German Concert? Wow.

... and I want to meet chewy in the flesh!

Too bad THAT is not on you tube!

That's kinda how I roll.

Less. If it were David Holland, I might be interested...

RVG has the green light from me. The remastering on both Love Call and New York sound like they were remastered in a paper bag. FWIW, I like The Empty Foxhole, but Dernado's drumming is not for everyone. Offhand (and I am without my records over the holidays), does anybody know if they were recorded by RVG in the first place? My hunch is that they were not. I have these on original vinyl and, while I think they sound fine, they don't sound like the "average" BN recording from the '60s.

I think even the BBC did mention that he had his fair share of critics... there is nothing wrong with healthy criticism of a monumental figure, having just kicked it or not.

Other Music Improvised Music Japan Jazz Loft (seconded) New Music Distribution Service Rick Ballard Imports ...

There's gotta be a tree or Dimeadozen somewhere that you could procure this, Rooster.

The first time I heard him was when I saw him, and thought it very good. He was with a couple of French rappers and baritone saxophonist Francois Courneloup, among others.

Yeah, the Murray is what I'm after.

Sometimes, unfortunately, yes.

He's from the Twin Cities. It's a different scene.