Steve Reynolds

From maybe 1993 or 1994 through maybe 2002 I listened to maybe 95% jazz never listening to things I thought I was beyond. My close-mindedness really got in my own way. I still listen to a whole bunch of free jazz/free improvisation but I’m much more open to music I grew up with and I’m also a huge fan these days of the Grateful Dead. The 4 shows I’ve seen over the last 13 months with Phil Lesh leading various bands have been highlights of all my years of seeing shows. Plus the 3 Joe Russo Almost Dead shows have been very good to amazing. The last Phil Lesh show on 3/14/19 (with John Scofield Burning It Up fwiw) was almost as great as Mats Gustafsson’s Fire! Trio on 3/28/19. More exciting than Evan Parker (my favorite saxophonist) with Paul Lytton & Matthew Shipp on 3/25/19 as wonderful as that set was) As far as musical improvising talent and abilities I’m a fan of many current masters mostly in the more ‘out’ avant-garde areas of jazz and related musics and I’ve been an off & on listener to many of the all-time well known giants of jazz and it’s pretty clear that Jerry Garcia & Phil Lesh are on the level or greater in some cases as improvisors/creators as any of them. I’m not saying anyone here is saying so (hmmm??) but for anyone to even imply that because they are rock musicians that somehow they (and many others) are below that standard of grand master is a bit much. Especially Jerry as a guitarist. Or Phil on electric 4-string bass circa 1972-74). Whatever one thinks they know about the Dead if they havn’t listened to the truly great long form improvised jam based stuff from especially 69-74, they don’t know. Dark Star on 4/8/72 or maybe The Other One from 4/26/72 just to choose 2 30+ minute masterpieces from the Europe 72 tour. I’ve found as many surprises and more excitement and sound of surprise in this music than in most jazz than I ever imagined. as far as that Fire! show it was probably closer to rock anyway for whatever that is worth it it’s worth anything at all.

Dave’s Picks 2 Grateful Dead Live in Hartford, CT from 7/31/74 pretty damn great 3 set show from the Wall of Sound 1974 concerts Phil’s bass & Keith’s piano & keyboards here are all-time peak Dead

Crank it up, Scott Roger’s bass never sounded better than on the opening track!!

Giant Sand: Is All Over the Map incredible 2004 album - for whatever reason all of the post-2004 albums don’t have any of the magic that appears throughout this recording. Somehow Howe Gelb seemed to forget how to rock out and even his balladic material doesn’t sound like Giant Sand to me. I havn’t even tried the last 2 (Heartbreak Pass (2015) & Return to the Valley of Rain (2018)) since Provisions (2008) & Blurry Blue Mountain (2010) were so disappointing to me. I’m tempted to give the latter a try but I’ve got so much good music to listen to of all sorts that I don’t want to be let down for a third album in a row. As I’ve mentioned over the years Giant Sand is one of the most overlooked rock bands ever and the heart of their catalogue is quite something: great great albums include: Long Stem Rant - 1989 Swerve - 1990 Ramp - 1991 Center of the Universe - 1992 Glum - 1994 Chore of Enchantment - 1999 then the above there are also others before and in between but the above are all very good to great depending on one’s perspective.

Especially the incredible live version of Astronomy Domine But really all 4 long tracks are wonderful - plus they aren’t even the best live versions of what we’re often played pieces during that time. In my view as great as the classic mid-70’s trio of albums are, the earlier music is by a large margin more exciting to these ears and I felt the same way in the late 70’s when I first listened to Pink Floyd. I bought The Wall the week it was released and liked it for a few years. As time passed I really didn’t retain any interest in that album or The Final Cut. I bought 3 of the 6 portions of the big box and this thread has me determined to spent more time with those releases. I need to focus more on the earliest of those which contain the more raw Syd Barrett stuff.

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)