mjzee

Release date April 7: This release in a series of live recordings of concerts from the Fabrik in Hamburg-Altona, one of those hidden treasures from the archive of the NDR, was intended to bring back the memory of changes and revolutions in the world of jazz of more than four decades ago. It has now turned into an obituary - at the end of September 2022 the tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders passed away at the age of 81. This recording of the Sanders Quartet from 6 June 1980 is so far the oldest from the Fabrik, predating the great jazz-epoch of the venue. An era, which even today Thomas Engel, the first program planner of the Fabrik, describes as a very special period for popular and not-so-popular culture in Hamburg and far beyond. Furthermore, this concert formed part of the then fifth edition of what was still called the New Jazz Festival, a summit of German, European and US-American musicians. Only thanks to the NDR Bigband, top-class jazz was performed at the old industrial site on Barnerstrasse in Altona at all. In the mid-1970s, the band was brave enough to leave its familiar recording studio and perform rousing concerts at the Fabrik. Since 1976, the New Jazz Festival organised by Wolfgang Kunert, the program planner of the big band, institutionalised jazz music at this exceptional location.

Deutsche Grammophon 111 - The Violin, disc 10.

He was excellent on Roy Brooks's "Understanding," and, of course, his work with Miles. RIP.

I was the head of my college's jazz concert commission, and we put on Weather Report in November 1974. I remember Wayne played far more, and far more emphatically, than on the WR albums, and he really helped push the band. It was one of the hottest concerts I still can recall. One student on the college's radio station brought a stack of Wayne's Blue Note albums, and had him sign them; she had almost a groupie's awe about her. I also saw his quartet play Houston in April 2014.

Thanks for the guidance on etiquette, Randy. OK, so I'll try to use a lot of this's, and at least say how I came to identify these: 2. The intro trumpet was very nice and restrained, but the big clue happened when the band came in. The arrangement sounded like Thad. I downloaded this album a long time ago (inexpensive Amazon d/l), and matched the track by the timing. 3. The tune is so identifiable. I've owned the album for awhile, and of course Sonny's choice of an obscure tune seemed funny, but then I heard Rosemary Clooney's version of it (from this) and it slayed me. 4. I bought this LP just a couple of months ago, based on a mention by someone on this board. I owned the Mercury twofer (""Jug" Sessions"), but was amazed to learn of still more early Jug. In fact, just a few days ago, I found on Ebay the Chess CD "Young Jug," which should complete most of the early Ammons picture. 6. The sound quality was a big tipoff. I mean, Webster but not Webster, Lester but not Lester, Hawk but not Hawk, so who's left? I was curious about Byas, and someone on the board recommended some titles. I identified it as off this. 9. The pianist started off restrained, but after about a minute had to be himself. So Hines + Duke = this (an old eMusic download). 10. Ornette has never been one of my favorites, to put it mildly. But, boy, for someone who's perpetually portrayed as misunderstood, he sure has always had the hype machine cranked up to 10, hasn't he? I remember when this album came out, and reviewers pointed to it as akin to the second coming, but it sure just sounded like more Ornette to me. Someday I'll figure out the allure of this perpetually misunderstood musician, but today's yet again not that day. 11. The big clue for me was Bill Frisell - that sound. He has a sound that's as identifiable, in his own way, as Ben Webster's. So, working from there, I figured the trumpet to be Wadada, and it's a trio, so it could have been one of Wadada's recent releases, but then the notion of Cyrille clicked for me. The track is "Pretty Beauty" from this; I played the album once and filed it. (I gotta mention here, each track's showing its total time in Tom Keith's software is a big help in sleuthing.) 13. I could kinda tell the time period from the hard pan, but the rest was a mystery until I heard Grant Green's unmistakable tone and phrasing (see Bill Frisell above). I know most of Green's work, so, since it sounded like a larger ensemble, and Grant was probably not the leader, and having the total time of the track, led me to this, which I own as both a standalone CD and on the Mosaic Parlan box. 15. The sound quality immediately pegged it as '50's Sun Ra, along with the uncoordinated big band and the apeshit piano solo. What else but "Medicine For A Nightmare" from this, which I own on Evidence.

Wow. I've never identified so many on a BFT before (9 out of 16)! So what's the etiquette - do I list them and claim bragging rights, or withhold my knowledge so that others can play? I can tell you that I've identified #2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, and 15. I'll keep silent on those for now. Here's my impressions of the others: 1. Lush Life. Bassoon? I actually liked it better without the band. Bassoon player is very expressive. Rahsaan? 5. Sounds Ellington-ish. Can't name the sax or piano, but very nicely done. Pianist sounds like Mal Waldron. Is that Steve Lacy? 7. Tenderly. Soulful rendition. 8. Over The Rainbow. Billy Eckstine? 12. This does not appeal to me. I might have had more patience for this sort of performance when I was younger. Everyone involved obviously has massive chops, but the effort does not move me. 14. Another trumpeter who's listened to Miles (I guess, who hasn't?). Organ sounds like an accordion at times (plus the drone!). Track doesn't do much for me. 16. Bari + bowed bass? Interesting. Live track. Hamiet Bluiett? Kind of a riff piece, but doesn't really go anywhere; might be their "marching off the stage" song. Fun BFT!

Great one.

I aspire to the rank of agitator.

Happy 20th anniversary! What a great site!

Very sad. I saw his quartet in Houston in April 2014, and in 1975 with Weather Report. A long career, filled with many highlights. RIP.

Thanks; I've ordered it.

This is one of my favorite box sets:

How is it?

Deutsche Grammophon 111 - The Violin, disc 9.

One brand that hasn't yet been mentioned is Zojirushi. We use it for hot coffee, and it can easily keep coffee scaldingly hot through the afternoon. Excellent Japanese build and design quality.

The mp3 download is available from Amazon.

Walter Bishop Jr., not Walter Davis.

It’s funny that they’re rereleasing Todd Rundgren’s A Wizard A True Star. That thing’s almost 60 minutes, and was heavily compressed for its original release (and very prone to skipping). Would have been much better to release it over 3 or 4 sides and remix it.

Was it this, recorded May 1961?

The Progressive disc is alternate takes with one composition not on the Prestige ("The Peck"). Progressive was owned by Gus Statiris ("Gus Grant"), who also produced the Prestige album. Prestige sued Statiris and got him to stop selling the Progressive.

Deutsche Grammophon 111 - The Violin, disc 8.

Per Wikipedia, Dameronia was on Uptown and Soul Note: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dameronia I actually saw Dameronia, with Philly Joe, at NYC's Town Hall (but I recall 1975...why?). I remember it being Sickler's baby.

Palo Alto and Quicksilver were both legit labels, both owned by Herb Wong.

The SQ on Left Bank issues is pretty predictable: kinda flat, a little raw, a little distant. The more exciting the performance, the more the music breaks through SQ issues - the two Dexters are first that come to mind. But these are snapshots of an era that seem more precious as the years go on.