clifford_thornton

Wow. This is sad news, and I can only echo other members' sentiments. I always enjoyed reading his thoughts, though never spoke with him on a personal level. Obviously a strong soldier. May he rest in peace.

KVRX Austin on Monday night. Next week is my last week. Used Signals, "Witches and Devils" and the Mats Gustafsson LP.

I was just listening to him on Blown Bone... sad news indeed! Thanks for the music, Mr. Davern, and RIP.

It's not like we're asking the popular consciousness to drop everything and listen to John Tchicai (though it might be nice if they did!), but even the jazz/other music public doesn't seem to get tied up in music - and I mean really tied up - rather being unequivocally accepting or mildly dismissive. I'm guilty of it too sometimes, though I still feel like a nutjob doing an entire radio program on the onetime Ayler trumpeter Norman Howard (which went very well, thank you!).

Some free jazz records, some punk/indie records... you know the drill.

I'm not sure if I'm on the right track; I was merely posing something that maybe someone more "eloquent" than me (Sangry?) could tackle. This kind of dovetails with the whole "overrated/underrated" business that I really couldn't get myself into. Is it just that we're to blase to recognize something as estimable or total dreck, unless it happened twenty or more years before we were born? I don't know.

I'm trying to think whether we have critical flashpoints now - (fucking) Jandek being a good example, maybe someone like Arthur Doyle also, though neither appear in the "jazz" rags and who knows what to call Signal to Wire. I mean, the Bagatellen crew (full disclosure here: I post there occasionally) gets its undies in a bunch on Bill Dixon and Jon Abbey Music, but... I think Dixon's music is some of the most beautiful music made (with a few clinkers), but I dunno if the "establishment" has caught up to him as much as it has even Silva (5-stars for Skilfulness?). I mean, as one who writes about music (or makes a valiant effort to), I haven't felt like I've seen any flashpoints. I have come across a lot of records I enjoy, and a bunch I could give a shit about. In an age of creative oversaturation, there are fewer flashpoints, I think. And it may be harder to see some of them for what they are.

I KNOW you be havin' a good time in SF...

I would be surprised to see a review of Machine Gun in Downbeat at the time - it came out first on the tiny BRO private label, and was reissued by FMP in the early/mid '70s, probably not to much stateside notice. But then, I wasn't there, so I could be wrong. Litweiler took note in his Freedom Principle, which was published in the '80s. As for Berendt and the European jazz press, well - the music was treated somewhat differently there than here. Somewhat.

Right. I wouldn't argue that the Ric Colbeck record is a historical "best" but it's certainly one of my ten favorite jazz records.

Wow, I actually thought Tyner was older than that... Anyway, here's to many more. It was a pleasure seeing him in Austin recently.

I hear what you're saying. I suppose I'm in the "under 30" for a month or so longer, as it is. That said, though I do have a 6-eye of KOB, it's not among my desert island discs. I have 3 out of those 10 listed, and have listened to a bit of a 4th.

I wouldn't buy from someone I didn't trust, and this looks a little sketchy in the grading department...

Yeah, an interesting and honest list to be sure. No "hipster" about it - mine would include some oddball ringers and no KOB!

I believe this is Walter Perkins' last recording: Bob Feldman - Triplicity

Yeah, Sel is in on it and they had it remastered and there's an extra track or two on the final edition.

Sel at Paris Transatlantic

Amazing LP, and good to see that this long-awaited reissue is finally out. I didn't think it was all that valuable a record, though, in terms of "eBay wallet damage."

Ditto.

Livin' Not much is "unequivocally" good, but my bias leans toward family, health, music, art, books, a double short Americano with the right amount of crema, and a few other things...

Another great Wilber Morris Trio is the one with Charles Tyler & Denis Charles on Blue Regard called "Collective Improvisations". Thanks! Don't have that one...

I think Aggie's mind was in the gutter for a sec! Valerie has some great stories, and I know what you mean (and that you weren't insinuating any crap)... There is a KD festival in Austin that happens on his birthday. Sadly, I was too busy to make it this time around. Maybe next year!

I can't keep it all straight... that whiskey last night didn't help, either.

The ESP CD licensing fiasco was/is pretty astounding. Stollman talks about it a bit here: Stollman at AAJ I'm not surprised the Abraxas were needle-drops; to my ears, the Calibres I've heard have sounded fine. Of course, the new ESP reissues are great, though much of what they are concentrating on is archival/new material.