Steve Reynolds

Pink Floyd: Soundtrack from More Sonic Youth: Rather Ripped & A Thousand Leaves great great recordings from both bands ”A Thousand Leaves” is one of my all-time favorite rock albums

Also yes thinking about seeing Mason’s band at The Beacon in late April

Methinks a couple of others need a bit more Joe McPhee in their lives less than a month to my birthday when I can open my DKV + Joe McPhee Box Set

Last night nowhere near too loud for me. An astounding 65 minutes of skronk. Free jazz meets metal meets punk meets electronics. Mats is his own man and he rules that universe. Special props to Andreas Werlin who is a world class drum master. As great in his way as Gavin Harrison when I saw him with King Crimson. Powerful and precise with technical facility in those areas that I was previous unaware existed. Berthling is a fantastic electric bassist who simply tied the whole thing together. Brutal expressive incredibly executed music which has a place in my world.

I’m here - said hello to my hero:) Looks like a big open space - I did bring some earplugs just in case (thanks Jim & Kevin). I do see some chairs off to the side but methinks I’ll be right in front of the power trio. Looking forward to the skronk. Yes Mats is a great player and I’m thrilled to see him live for the first time in a decade.

I’ve seen Peter Brotzmann’s Full Blast & Jason Lescalleet from up close. I ended up OK with decent hearing for my age, I think. I don’t listen to headphones and havn’t for 15 years. I used to listen loudly on phones for years and I again ended up OK. I’ll be very surprised if this will be louder than either of those 2 above shows but we will see/hear. Many could not handle/deal with the extreme volume of Lescalleet’s electronics plus it was in a small room. Brotzmann (with electric bass & drums) was in a larger hall and it was scorching & blistering loud but crystal clear and wonderously awesome. people have said that the Dead’s Wall of Sound in 1974 was the loudest yet clearest sound. Also late 60’s Who & Cream shows we’re said to be over the top loud. Thanks for your concern.

I like some of these musicians quite a bit - especially Knuffke & Melford, BUT that clip is god awful. I’ve never been prompted to see this band and if this piece is any indication of what the band is all about, I’m thoroughly uninterested. how ‘bout some FIRE?!?! oh yeah I’m going to see a band that truly rips tonight - more my calling lately is listening to musicians who want to PLAY. I’ve heard a few arrangements & fancy tunes and I’m just not that interested in all that unless it’s got some depth.

Mats Gustafsson Fire! Trio opening performer is Madalyn Merkey and I’m not afraid of the volume🤗🤗

Mad Dogs on the Loose disc 1 from the small formations recording of Barry Guy’s New Orchestra highlights here might be the 19 minute piece with the trio with Trevor Watts, Evan Parker & Agusti Fernandez or the trio of Guy with Johannes Bauer & Paul Lytton plus the other 3 discs are even better

Assif Tsahar Lotte Anker Liudas Mockunas

Matthew Shipp was in the piano chair with Parker & Lytton last night and he was magnificent. Very fine 45-46 minute piece followed by a 13-14 minute piece which had a strong opening solo statement by Shipp. Then an intense 4-5 minute encore. Parker brought only his tenor (as I expected) and was in strong voice to my ears (albeit with some of the intensity of 15 to 20 years ago). Lytton is wonderful and was terrific as I expected. Good to see Clifford as well as the many regulars who all seemed to enjoy the fine set at a fine venue with great sound and a fine Steinway grand piano.

I’ve heard. Many are very dissapointed, I’m sure. I am. Would have been my first time seeing the great pianist since 2003. Waiting to find out if Evan & Paul are still coming to NYC and playing as a duo on Monday night. If anyone hears anything let me know. No one at Roulette seems to know.

Dave’s Picks 17 Grateful Dead 7/19/74 amazing Wall of Sound show from a peak time for the band

Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack - Disc 2

When I discovered this music (and related music of all sorts) on record and in person I had no thought about the race of the musicians. Today I’m even less concerned if that’s possible.

The Attic recorded Live 12/22/2015 Goncalo Almeida on double bass Rodrigo Amado on tenor saxophone Marco Franco on drums on No Business Records an improvised suite in 5 parts

Well I know a few are including you of course. Happy to know you and I will both be seeing Schlippenbach Trio and Mats Gustafsson Fire! albeit you in Knoxville, TN and me in New York! Unless you have a conflict at Big Ears - I’m hoping you get to see both trios - been almost 10 years since I’ve seen Gustafsson. He’s another one that has a wide variety of exciting recordings/projects of which I also love the large ensembles.

I’ve always thought/felt that it seemed so few are even interested in these musicians around these parts for unknown reasons. I’d love to discuss my relatively limited experience regarding the full DKV catalogue and then my deep interest in Vandermark’s music - specifically his many large ensemble projects that he’s recorded & toured with over the past 20 or so years but I think I’d bore people. I’m sad I’ve not been able to travel to see some of these groups like the Territory Band or Resonance Ensemble but I love the recordings - especially the Territory Band with some added electronics and the last 3 Resonance Ensemble recordings on Not Two records. A great combination of guys like Dave Rempis, Steve Swell and some great young European musicians playing Ken’s creative charts. I think most know my history and thoughts regarding Hamid Drake. I’m just glad I’ll have another opportunity to see him live again this year at least once or twice more this year. First shows for me back in 1998 or 99, I think. My favorite is still the quartet with Fred Anderson, Kidd Jordan & William Parker back in 1999 of 2000 at Vision Fest. People were dancing in the aisles. Stunning experience. These last 2 DKV boxes are all fully improvised groove based jazz save for the 2008 show on the previous box “Past & Present” where they improvise off of Don Cherry compositions. Maybe the best disc of the 12 discs that the 2 box sets contain.

DKV Trio: Sound in Motion Hamid Drake, Kent Kessler & Ken Vandermark 5 discs from 5 nights between 2012 & 2014. Amazing sound quality & production on Not Two Records

Delivered but not to be opened until my birthday (4/25)

A fantastic box set. The Fernandez large ensemble suite is incredible.

After listening through 5 or 6 of the 8 CD’s within the Joelle Leandre “A Woman’s Work” Box I give this release my highest recommendation on many levels. First level is that Lady Joelle might be the strongest bassist with a bow I’ve ever heard. then her occasional ‘singing’ then her choice of dance/playing partners and then disc 8 which is the full quartet with Evan Parker, Agusti Fernandez & Zlatko Kaucic. on Not Two Records

Led Zeppelin: Presence

Dark Star>Me and My Uncle>Dark Star>Wharf Rat Grateful Dead 4/24/72 from Rockin’ the Rhein mind-boggling stuff from the great E72 tour

Phil Lesh & Friends @ Capital Theatre