Steve Reynolds

ALL of my favorites are great NONE of them will be on any lists still..... Coming Down the Mountain fwiw - that recording is one of my favorites and without any question, it is certainly a great one and I'm even more sure it's on not on any list anywhere.

Brotzmann Parker Drake: Song Sentimentale recorded live @ Cafe Oto in January 2015

Horrible news was lucky to see him with Cecil Taylor back ~ 1997 or so with the quartet. I was still very new to that sort of thing and I recollect that he was strumming and bowing very seriously. I must have seen him again once or twice and I did have one conversation with him at the bar at The Knitting Factory back in the very late 90's. He was playing with Ivo Perelman upstairs or downstairs and a few of us from the old Jazz Central Station were getting ready for Dave Holland's band with Steve Nelson, Chris Potter and Billy Kilson. I might have mentioned seeing him with Cecil a couple of years before and I noted that Abdullah Ibrahim had played the first set with his trio - which to this day is one of the oddest combinations - and Dominic then said that Cecil referred to Ibrahim as "Half-Dollar"'as he wasn't a big fan!! Dominic came across as a passionate learned guy and he urged us to blow off the Holland band for the trio with him, Ivo and I think Michael Wimberly or Jay Rosen but we didn't - I believe Mr. Ducal had a bit of Internet correspondence at the time and he sent me a solo CD recording some time later. I havn't kept up - been meaning to pick up some Trio X stuff, etc. I didn't know he was sick. Brings back a flood of incredible memories. What experiences he must have had playing with those that he did - from Cecil to Ivo to Joe McPhee - and all the others RIP, sir

Fwiw, DP29 is an incredible 6 CD set of Betty Cantor-Jackson's 2 track recordings of the 5/19/77 & 5/21/77 shows. Silky smooth, beautifully executed and classic examples of prime Spring 77 Grateful Dead. Much different from earlier or later Dead. For some the sweetest of sweet spots is 1977 Grateful Dead. This period of the Dead has been my biggest revelation this year along with late 79 and early 80 Dead which I previously imagined that I'd never be interested in. My main period of GD interest is still centered in pre-hiatus (67-74) Dead as it was more exploratory and contained longer and more extreme and intense improvisations. The earlier shows (Primal Dead, if you will) at it's peak if you can locate it(!!!) still is the high-water mark when I find it!!! Two From the Vault (8/24/68), Fillmore West 69 (the 3 CD set), Dick's Picks 4 (2/13/70) & Dick's Picks 8 (5/2/70) are a few of the places where you can't miss it!!! The latter, despite the mono recording, might have the highest points of all. I listened to the second disc yesterday and I continue to be blown away by what these guys could do on a great night. And I didn't get to the closing sequence of Morning Dew, Viola Lee Blues (!!!!!!) and We Bid You Goodnight. Maybe the best place to find the combination of the both might be Ladies & Gentleman (4 CD from April 71 run @ Fillmore East) and Steppin' Out (4 CD set from English part of Europe 72 tour). Both very affordable and both are incredible sounding multi-track recordings including the whole gamut of what the boys could do.

Ordered Dave's Picks 19 will get a subscription for next year - I'm still on a huge Dead listening expedition now exceeding 6 months, maybe 9 months. Rediscovering the band on a deeper level almost like when I discovered Evan Parker, Joe Maneri, Gerry Hemingway and all the rest 20 to 25 years ago and going forward - all my modern day improv heroes - save that I can't go see Jerry live.

Excellent observation, Clifford competitive *and* blasé!!!!!! or falsely NYC cool?!?!?

Fwiw, wait staff was pleasant, room still skinny, music was astounding! nice to see and chat with Clifford and his friend - also again I'm very humbled to be sitting within a few feet of one of the greatest guitarists I've ever heard one more time. The experience continues to be priceless to me. I'm not denigrating the fine playing/muscianship of Rainey & Laubrock, but Mary Halvorson, for me, is creating music on some other alternate universe level. And the sound itself - continues to wow me. The whole organic approach of the single note runs, rhythm playing and the use of the pedals, a bit of slide playing in one of the three second set pieces, and the power chord inventions - all add up to the whole package. I left last night extremely refreshed and inspired. Not sure this trio is better each time - not sure different - I'm just sure it is wonderous and of it's own sound and space. Very nice when a band is unlike anything else. For those interested, Hotel Grief (Intakt) was recorded on 12/30/14 @ Cornelia Street - and this is one live recording that *does* give a decent approximation of what the band sounds like live.

Tom Rainey Trio with Ingrid Laubrock & Mary Halvorsen @ Cornelia Street Cafe (aka bowling alley room - thanks to Larry Kart for that!!) the room is skinny, wait staff attitude and competence varies. Music is usually great. Tom, Ingrid & Mary fit nicely on the little stage/bandstsnd(sic) and I wouldn't have it any other way?

Three pianists come to mind: Paul Bley, Don Pullen & Mal Waldron

On my short list as you know, I rate the two small formation of the Barry Guy New Orchestra box sets as the premier small group improvisations of recent years. Performances *and* Sound. It is quietly disconcerting and disappointing that so few music listeners are aware of this music, or if they are, are not interested enough to obtain these incredible documents of the some of the greatest musicians alive improvising at full power and inspiration.

Cannot wait to see the *great* Joe McPhee on the 21st I never take seeing these dudes live up close and personal for granted. Very grateful for when I can see a few of the Giants Who Walk This Earth McPhee is one of them - one of the great pure improvisors who has seemingly never run out of ideas

Ordered Dick's Picks 29 - 2 full shows from May 77 / 6 discs still on the bus.....

I think I might give those bonus tracks another spin tomorrow. I find the various performances of Caution vary widely. Not sure I remember how strong these are. I do know the 1970 era bonus tracks on Workingmans Dead & American Beauty are all very strong as expected. The Mason's Children in the former is a corker.

DP 4 (2/13 & 2/14/70) is worth whatever you have to pay despite the 30:27 Lovelight which is also not a huge draw for me. The only Weir sung song of the sort you mention that you would deal with on this release is a 9:00 Dancing in the Streets but the short but amazing jam in the middle might make you forget about his singing. (The longer version on DP 8 Harpur's College has a legendary jam that I would endure the worst Weir singing every week of my life in order to hear the jam that follows!!!!) The rest of the music is as strong as anything I've heard from the group including the sometimes rough newer shorter tunes on disc 1. As great as the Dark Star > That's it for the Other One (you can skip the Lovelight that completed the evening of 2/13), disc 3 which is the sequence of Alligator through We Bid You Goodnight would be simply ultimate Dead if the drum track was shorter. BEST Caution ever, which follows BEST Not Fade Away I've ever heard (group singing - Bobby can't screw this up - the jam is monsterous) which segues into the wonderous Mason's Children before those ominous Caution chords appear. Gonna play this tomorrow morning on the way to work to put me in a Friday morning mood!!

Looks like Thumbscrew with Formanek & Fujiwara hope you can make it

When ready for the ultimate, Dick's Picks 4 (2/13 & 2/14/70) buy 3 CD Fillmore West 1969. As good as it gets before the Workingman Dead and American Beauty songs come forth. Energy level from an alternate universe. then although not in great sound DP 8, Harpur College 5/2/70.

Red Rocks 78 is strong if you like the latter 71 live recording, you will want the 4 CD box Ladies and Gentlemen from the same April 71 run at The Fillmore East. As good as Skull & Roses is, there are some truly mind-blowing sequences on L&G - specifically the 4th disc which culminates in a 30 minute run from Alligator through the strongest Cold Rain and Snow on record. What comes before and after on the same disc is almost as strong.

If there is ever a chance I make the trip over the pond, this might be it

This is the context I heard him in. Live show with Douglas, Uri Caine on electric keyboards plus a saxophonist(?) and bassist(?) maybe Knitting Factory maybe late 90's. What I heard Saturday night was a horse of another garage. So much more explosive and much more in my wheelhouse.

Delivered last week/week before or so: all Dead: Red Rocks 7/8/78 DP 2: single disc from late 71 - the famous DS medley - will listen this week DP 3: 5/22/77 - stunning from first listen today Road Trips 1/2: October 77 with bonus disc - best sound yet of any of these 77 shows DP 14: 11/30 & 12/2/73 - spacey and I need to be in the mood for 73 ethereal jamming DP 15: 9/3/77 best He's Gone into best NFA on the Englishtown, NJ DP 15

First set only the trio without the drummer - not my cup of java - not sure it was expected - nice playing but 50 minutes of continuous improvisation without the drummer when I'm expecting the drummer took me over half of that 50 minutes to open up to listen. Roberts unaccompanied solo towards the end had me a bit interested. When the set ended at a few minutes past 10:00, Malaby said Ben Perowsky would be joining the group for the second set. I hadn't seen him in almost 20 years and I know he's good but.....maybe no one here would believe it if I told you....cuz I was planning on going home angry - I came to see a full quartet with a DRUMMER!!! Perowsky shows up at 10:45 / band finally starts at 11:05 or so and I'm losing patience quickly - questioning why I stayed as I was trying to get out of there after the first set before Tony made the announcement.... the next continuous 50 minutes should be the best live jazz record of the past 5 years in an alternate universe but nobody knows or really hears my guy too well, I think - for me better now on soprano - in fact for me - pretty damn untouchable on the straight horn / never have I heard him wail and scorch the earth like he did last night and THEN!!! a section on the big horn a half hour in with the band in full fucking roar - holy moly - and Hank Roberts with a little stick - with both Formanek & Roberts bowing - vibrations to end all vibrations and Perowsky is what Malaby said when he introduced him as the *great* Ben Perowsky / I had no fucking idea that Malaby was right / the roster of truly world class drummers in NY is insane - here is another one / a few people besides me screamed with joy or terror a few times when things got very very intense. see I know none of you believe me,,,,ignore these dudes at your peril blood and guts, baby

Tony Malaby Quartet with Hank Roberts-cello, Michael Formanek-bass & Ben Perowsky-drums second time for the group - first earlier this year - my first time seeing the band @ Cornelia Street Cafe 9:00 & 10:30

No I havn't heard the 2014 large ensemble recording. Krakow Nights with Swell & Nilssen-Love is a sprawling satisfying and very relaxed (at times) date with energy supplier by all three individually and collectively at pertinent times. A sure sign of mature yet vigorous and thoughtful improvisers. Another fairly recent recording (2008, I think?) is the 2 CD set with Brotzmann joined by McPhee, Kessler & Zerang, "The Damage is Done" on not two records. I know there are at least 2 other recordings of this quartet (another sub-set of the Tentet), but standing alone, this set has all the qualities of the above very recent trio disc with McPhee functioning as his most effective foil since Kondo. Zerang & Kessler are both very subtle strong players who rarely "impress" with theatrics - great rhythm team for the two grand masters on the front line.

Saw the same group - too bad Smoker joins Tchicai in leaving this world. Fine player - I think the show was at The Knitting Factory downstairs maybe 15 years ago. As a less experienced listener I remember the younger Lane played too many notes while the wonderful reedman and trumpeter played the right amount of notes. RIP, sir

The great reedman has released a large amount of music over the years with some of more well known music recorded as far back as 1967 (Machine Gun, For Adolphe Sax, Nipples, etc.) then decades later the immense series of Die Like a Dog quartets and trios and the first series of Tentet recordings when they were playing compositions I've found that the most recent recordings over the past 10 years or so are the most accomplished and balanced while retaining the astounding and unmatched intensity of his own playing no matter what horn he is holding. a few of the more recent recordings for me that have become huge favorites are two trio records with PNL: The Fat is Gone, Kraków Nights - then the great Tentet recordings 3 Nights in Oslo and Walk, Love, Sleep the box Long Story Short also contains some wonderful music with much variety There are others but these off the top of my head from ~ 2006 - 2015 shows a man now over 70 playing with as much verve and presence as he ever did if you havn't investigated his music or his more recent music for whatever the reason, now is as a nice a time as ever as he currently touring the States as this is written