Steve Reynolds

Last night at Solar Myth: Nels Cline, Greg Belisle-Chi, John Hebert & Chad Taylor compositions fine set but nowhere near the night before. Nels & Hebert were the stars. Greg a good foil but he still needs a way to go. Tough spot playing across from Nels Cline. He’s only on the scene less than 5 years so hopefully he will continue to progress with Berne. I’ll see him & Hebert on Tuesday with Berne, Aurora Nealand & Tom Rainey.

Darius is great live. I’ve heard him play stuff I’ve never heard on record. fwiw you dudes are spoiled (but not as much as I am) with Edwards/Sanders & Edwards/Noble I’m upset that Cleaver isn’t in NYC any longer and I don’t get to hear Lopez/Cleaver. Best combo along with Lopez/Peterson. Hoping Mat Maneri puts together a few shows this fall with his great quartet with Lucian Ban. Saw them 5 times last fall. I do hear Ches Smith, Tom Rainey all the time and I never take it for granted and even once in a while, Randy Peterson I saw Ches 4-5 times the last few weeks As far as bassists, some good younger ones finding their way: Henry Fraser, Kyle Motl, John Moran, Ana Abondolo, etc. also Sean Ali is great Brandon Lopez is the best bassist in NYC posted on the live shows thread: Nels Cline with Susan Alcorn & Booker Stardum last night was incredible. Mind blowing. Astounding from a variety of standpoints.

Last night at Solar Myth in Philadelphia Nels Cline on guitar Susan Alcorn on pedal steel guitar Booker Stardum on drums (first time seeing him) 55 minute improv followed by 8-9 minute encore maybe the best show of the year. Nels amazing but Susan Alcorn destroyed the universe. One of the greatest musicians on the planet.

Spectacular 54 minute set comprised of 6 pieces. all the musicians were great but Mary, Ches & the *great* William Winant destroyed atoms. Not sure I’ve heard Mary Halvorson play with so much fire & force. Power chords, slashing commentary and searing leads. Holy Moly.

I’ll be there. Not to be missed.

John Zorn’s Cobra 40th anniversary show at Roulette in Brooklyn with among others: Ches Smith Brian Marsella Sylvie Courvousier Taylor Levine Mary Halvorson William Winant Simon Hanes Kenny Wolleson Henry Fraser It was incredible Summer of 2023

At Union Pool with Susan Alcorn & Patrick Holmes Astounding Last night was far greater than the set at The Stone 68 minute set. First 23 minute piece ended Can like almost. Ches channeling outer space limits. Second 18 minute piece more typically free jazz. Last 2 pieces were beyond category and Mette reached heights not previously deemed possible. Lordy Lordy

Ryan Sawyer is great. I’ve seen him play often over the years. Last time this past Spring with Nate Wooley’s Columbia Icefield with Ava Mendoza & the *great* Susan Alcorn. Zeena is incredible especially on the electric harp which she will be playing tomorrow night with the abstract yet intense trio. One of the most unique trios I know of. Sawyer is a powerful drummer yet understands space and time. Kevin Reilly wouldn’t release a recording with a basher. It’s something he despises. I’ll ask Kevin tonight if there is any way that trio will get to London in the future.

I saw them the week before last so I kind of know what to expect. Tomorrow night it will be Glass Triangle with Mette, Zeena Parkins & Ryan Sawyer. In Brooklyn. yes it’s a very intense group. Very focused in the free jazz vernacular with a current/modernist vibe. Very technically proficient musicians who can be virtuosic yet they unleash big energy. Often the real technical virtuosos let their expertise rob energy from the music.

Tell me where I can find the podcast. Ches is a brilliant dude. Great composer, thinker & one of the best drummers on the planet.

Plus it brought the best of the best out of Ches Smith. As great as he always is, what happened last Summer was peak Ches. Absolutely mind blowing intensity. Force of Nature. seeing Weird of Mouth again tomorrow night in Philly with Ches, Mette & Taborn:)

Never! I’m going out in style! For whatever reason my ears are still good at 64. plus I saw Ches Smith 4 times over a 10 day period recently. Once with Trey Spruance on electronics and it peaked at 108 decibels. I brought my little meter in with me that night. They had 2 extra amps on each side of The Stone. The quality of the sound is so great in the Glass Box Theatre (aka The Stone at The New School) 10/11 Cobra at Roulette. This can get very loud as well. Last year it sounded amazing from the front row as I was sitting right next to Zorn as he was conducting the large ensemble. Only live once. I’m blessed to be able to witness the many of the greatest improvising musicians on the planet usually over 10 times a month.

Amazing incredible 40 minute slab of genius. 5 feet from Tim & Peter.

Pulverize the Sound Peter Evans, Tim Dahl & Mike Pride

Yes he was here earlier this year. Yes Camilla is incredible. She was here last month. Seeing Mette again 2 more times next week again with Taborn & Ches. Then Glass Triangle with Zeena Parkins & Ryan Sawyer. First time seeing that trio.

I’m not a fan. I’ve seen him live 4-5 times. Best was in double duo with Ingrid, Chad Taylor & Tom Rainey. SO many other saxophonists on the scene who are better: Ingrid, Camilla Nebbia, Maria Valencia, Mette, Malaby, Attias, Berne, Catherine Sikora, Madison Greenstone, Rempis, Lao Dan, etc. all much more themselves yes - too many notes. He gives us “everything” every set. Plus he doesn’t have a unique approach. Very derivative.

Nice! Chad/Hilliard are a boss rhythm team. Hoping JBL gave the great guitarists some space.

Yes thanks very much RIP, sir the Blakey band with Benny a huge influence in me getting into jazz at a relatively late age. 31 years old or so. Love the late 50’s Golson recordings as well.

Yes it is vinyl only. I’m seeing them again in Philly in early October Mette also playing with Glass Triangle in the next few weeks with Zeena Parkins & Ryan Sawyer as she’s in town for about a month.

So many great shows lately but the best was Craig Taborn, Mette Rasmussen & Ches Smith this past Saturday night. 55 minutes cut into 4 pieces of improvised “free jazz” Mette is one of the greatest alto saxophonists I’ve ever seen Taborn with Tomeka Reid & Ches was also great albeit much different being compositionally based with electronics from both Craig & Ches with Ches’ effects being much more effective. Tomeka was marvelous although she could have been a bit louder. Same went for Taborn in the trio with Mette as the sound of his piano was adjusted too late in the set. Quibbles. Blessed to see both from 5 feet away at The Stone

Peter Brotzmann Tentet: Stone/Water Walk, Love Sleep the 2 sets from 3 Nights in Oslo these last 2 are fully improvised and are among the greatest recordings of this century Barry Guy New Orchestra: Inscape/Tableaux seconds on Fire Orchestra / my favorites are Enter & Exit seconds on Taylor Ho Bynum’s Enter the Plustet Ken Vandermark’s Resonance Ensemble: Head Above Water/Feet out of the Fire most of KV’s large bands have been great. Throroughly overlooked and undervalued Colin Webster / 2 new great 8 piece improvs CD’s many many more but not sure I’ve got the patience to dig thru my racks.

Last night explosive 70 minute set from Tim Berne with Greg Belisle-Chi, John Hebert & Tom Rainey. Rainey 10 days from a hip replacement destroyed atoms. Not a better drummer on the planet. I’m blessed to see him as often as I do. Probably 25 times the last 2 years at least. There is no one like him. Best brush player on the planet. They played a Hemphill piece they never played before and a new Berne piece that went to places I’ve never heard before. Closed with Clandestine B which in an alternate universe would make Tim Berne famous. previous 3 shows last week ok to very good Brandon Ross with Charlie Burnham & Warren Benbow B plus / Benbow lacking in energy & dynamics. Burnham was brilliant with a minor quibble using a bit too much reverb & processing but the dude remains a truly great improvisor. Kris Davis with Ingrid Laubrock & Tom Rainey B minus / compositions too restricting Brandon Ross with Stomu Takeishi & Qasim Naqvi B / all acoustic Stomu the highlight

There is a Cecil Taylor Unit video from Berlin 1975

McPhee was strong on May 5th and said he was looking forward to that appearance. He smiled when I told him how much I liked Decoy:) hope he is ok.

Last night: Matana Roberts: soprano saxophone & vocalizing Brandon Lopez: bass Tomas Fujiwara: drums stunning 30 minute improvisation followed by a 15 minute piece that might have been a smidge better. Brandon peaking even for him. 80-90% with a bow and only Joelle Leandre, Barry Guy & John Edwards are in this stratosphere.