Steve Reynolds

Denis Charles Captain of the Deep with the *great* Jemeel Moondoc on alto saxophone Nathan Breedlove on trumpet with the performance of a lifetime On eremite records

Tyshawn Sorey Adam Rudolph Dave Liebman @ Jazz Gallery in NYC

This Saturday Transatlantic Trance Map / with simultaneous playing from England 3:00 EST @ Roulette in Brooklyn, NY U.S. contingent Sam Pluta Ned Rothenberg Craig Taborn Sylvie Courvoisier Mat Maneri Ikue Mori England Contingent: Evan Parker Peter Evans Matt Wright Pat Thomas Hannah Marshall Robert Jarvis Alex Ward Will be in the front row

See the live thread for my short comments on the Catalytic festival in Brooklyn last night.

Garcia said something like this “right now this is the greatest group on the planet” Jerry never had any ideas about the Dead being “big” in that sense. Plus “big” in 1967 & early 1968 wasn’t what “big” would be in the early 70’s when bands started filling large arenas and then stadiums.

This past Thursday night First set: William Winant with Nava & Shayna Dunkelman, Zeena Parkins & Ikue Mori. Nava Dunkelman rules the world!!! Second Set: Winant with Ava Mendoza & the *great* Ches Smith who added his laptop brilliance to his drumming. 2 Stunning 23-24 minute pieces. As great as improvised music gets. Extreme explosive playing by Winant & Smith. Much of it was dual drum kits. Wowza Last Night: Catalytic Festival All short small formations First Set: Ned Rothenberg & Lotte Anker David Watson, Celia Lopez & Zeena Parkins Brandon Lopez, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Sylvie Courvoisier & Chris Corsano (spectacular) Second Set: Zeena Parkins & Chris Corsano (spectacular) Brandon Lopez, Ned Rothenberg & Fred Lonberg-Holm (incredible especially the two great string players. New levels of imagination from both of them) Sylvie Courvoisier, Celia Lopez, Lotte Anker & David Watson (another wow set / Sylvie might have been the best musician on the stage last night which given that we had Zeena, Fred & Brandon is saying something) the WHOLE group finished with a 16-17 minute piece that was, again, among the greatest slices of live improvised music I’ve ever witnessed

Maybe not but they were listening. Maybe more importantly Phil took the guys to see the Coltrane Quartet in 1965 in San Francisco.

Viola Lee Blues 10:01 from The Grateful Dead released March 1967. By later in the year and in early 1968, Viola Lee would increase to 16 and then up to 22-23 minutes in length. Dark Star started out as a somewhat fast modal piece of ~6-7 minutes live in early 1968. By 1969 it was normally 18 to up to 30 minutes long. Most versions in 1972-73 were 25 to 44 minutes long. Most vastly different from one another as their skill & creativity flourished. In early 1967 they were just starting to learn how to play electric and were very influenced by Coltrane, Miles etc. They would see Cream live a number of times that Summer at the Fillmore West which had an influence on what they were doing. Jerry was more impressed with Cream and later with Miles’ electric groups in 69-70 than any other electric amplified live bands. my friend started this blog everydarkstar.blogspot.com

Not a release but a live show last night led by William Winant first set good with Zeena Parkins, the amazing Dunkelman sisters & Ikue Mori second set a trio with Winant (mostly on drums) with Ava Mendoza and the incredible, spectacular Ches Smith on drums & his genius level laptop electronics. Two 23-24 minute improvisations. I cannot explain to anyone how powerful this was. Explosive. Peak after peak. Blistering blazing hot.

Darius Jones Quartet with Matt Mitchell, Chris Lightcap & Ches Smith

Barry Guy 5 CD box set recorded in 2018 in Krakow on Not Two records

Plus I’ll comment that Ramon Lopez is simply over the top amazing on the 2018 collection. Me loves me some Paul Lytton but the improvs with Lopez have such a bouncy swinging energy. Trios with Mazur & Purcy and then the aforementioned trios with Guy & Mazur. As far as Rafal Mazur I’ve been screaming about him here and anywhere for 6-7 years now. He’s a genius level player on his custom bass. He demands to be heard.

Yeah this dude Pursglove is right there with me next to Wooley & Evans. Maybe even a more natural improvisor than the Americans. fwiw KV will never be a natural. He’s a grinder but he gets to better places these days. I’m a big fan of some or even most of his large group stuff. Some of his experimental stuff with younger musicians and electronics is very strong as well.

John Zorn’s New Masada @ Roulette in Brooklyn 8:00 set

Thanks / I ordered 3 as well. Finally ordered the Turbine double disc.

The 3 shortish tracks from the 2018 concerts with Guy, Mazur & Lopez are all-time heavy energy improvisations. Stunning. 21 minutes combined. The combination of the 2 bassists and the *great* Ramon Lopez on drums would seem to be unusual but it’s incredible. Glad I was able to see him live with Turbine a few years ago.

Skipping to the 41 minute version of Harmos. Listened to good portions of each box. All great so far. Couldn’t resist. Imagining seeing and hearing this awe inspiring ensemble live. they are killing it. Niggli is a monster. The recording as always with Not Two is stunning. Never heard a large ensemble recorded so well.

Tons of actual current ones last weekend live / 2 amazing sets Mary Halvorson Michael Formanek Tomas Fujiwara They call themselves Thumbscrew best superband i ever saw was Peter Brotzmann’s Chicago Tentet Herr Brötzmann plus Mats Gustafsson Ken Vandermark Mars Williams Joe McPhee Fred Lonberg-Holm Jeb Bishop Kent Kessler Michael Zerang Hamid Drake live 2000 & 2002 @ Tonic on Norfolk Street in NYC

Listening to the 18 minute piece from the quartet with Picard, Niesemann, Guy & Niggli It’s incredible how fresh this “old school” improv sounds. These “small formation” improvisations always stun me with their vibrancy. Niggli is a powerhouse. Guy is as great as ever at over 70.

No company provides better service than Not Two records

Disorder at the Border plus Tobias Delius Kataklisma fundacja sluchaj Daniele D’Agaro, Giovanni Maier & Zlatko Kaucic no Ornette covers like the astounding Not Two release but the addition of the great Delius makes this a great show/release / all fully improvised. Maier is a great great bassist. recorded live on 9/15/2017

Received my boxes today. Starting with the 2018 5 CD box. Lots of Purcy & Rafal. Can never get enough of these musicians. Add in Snekkestad, Mette, Lytton, KV Agusti & Ramon Lopez and what you have appears to be magic music. 4 discs of improv then a new 57 minute piece with Mats Gustafsson & Liudas Mockunas (2 of the greatest saxophonists on the planet) added and I think I’m looking forward to disc 5.

Thumbscrew (both sets) were incredible last night. Stunning on all kinds of levels. yes, Mary is GOD:)

Thumbscrew (Mary Halvorson, Michael Formanek & Tomas Fujiwara) are playing Friday & Saturday night at Jazz Gallery / 4 sets / I expect full house both nights / about 80 to 90 people I think. I’ll be there for the 7:30 set on Saturday. Bringing a friend who only knows classic jazz and some jam band stuff. I expect him to like the guitar player:)