Steve Reynolds

From an overall worldwide standpoint, all of this exists I find the Hemingway Quintet recordings of the 90's the equivalent of anything ever recorded by anyone. I'm in an extreme minority on the issue as we know. I believe the current high level improvisors/bands are as great as any music in the past. And I love and grew up on listening to the legends. But since I started late and/or was born late, with jazz, I was never able to see Monk, Miles, Trane, Duke, etc live. But I've heard all the great legendary recordings. I'm listening now to Available Jelly - I think they are as great in their way as any of them

I wish they'd come over to the UK When Dunmall-Rogers-Sanders come here Or just send Edwards-Noble and I'll hook 'em up with Tony Malaby

Sounds awesome. I'm wondering if Atomic is playing anywhere near me this weekend In any event my first show for the year 2015 will be Saturday @ Greenwich House: Two bands starting @ 8:00 Andre Matos Quintet: Andre Matos: guitar Tony Malaby: tenor & soprano saxophones (my guess he brings both) Jacob Sacks: piano Eivind Opsvik: bass Billy Mintz: drums Jacob Sacks Quartet: Jacob Sacks: piano Mat Maneri: viola Eivind Opsvik: bass Billy Mintz: drums Sacks Quartet was first Sublime with the wonderous Mintz on brushes alone through the first half of the succinct 45 minute set. Then a piece without drums was that perfect combination of a bit of improvised playing with precise playing of the written music. Band heats up a bit - I know it's really really good when my wife is truly digging it. Mat is totally focused and blew my mind about twice - and within this framework, we were not going to hear the real intense uber Maneri - which is OK as he still fills up the room with his vibe and that sound..... Second band nice if not as gorgeous as the previous. Starts slowly with an attempt at a dirge followed by a bebopish piece that Malaby played like he loved it - but it didn't quite hit the mark as a whole. A couple of stronger pieces followed with Tony almost going Warne Marsh on us. Really extraordinary hearing him adapt to someone else's straighter music. Great oblique piece followed with Sacks inside and outside the piano. Jacob was extremely impressive in both bands - nothing wasted and knows his place and space in the music. Matos best on the last piece finally seeming to relax and find his sound in the room. My wife whispered to me that he is no Mary Halvoresen - but who is? Nice player who sticks to the traditional jazz guitar sound with a twist. His music has some potential but needs some seasoning. Nice night - great room for music is 46 Barrow Street I be there next Thursday for Ideal Bread +

Wow - maybe 4 or 5 of us seeing/hearing music tonight I'm fired up for the double bill with my two favorite NYC musicians

I've never heard him and since I've known I was going, I've deliberately not scoped out any of his playing beforehand. I do know all the other guys from live and on record - and all of them are between excellent and astounding. Plus last time I saw Billy Mintz he was superb

Just saw Atomic was @ shapeshifter this past Tuesday February 3rd. I could not have made it anyways.....

Sounds awesome. I'm wondering if Atomic is playing anywhere near me this weekend In any event my first show for the year 2015 will be Saturday @ Greenwich House: Two bands starting @ 8:00 Andre Matos Quintet: Andre Matos: guitar Tony Malaby: tenor & soprano saxophones (my guess he brings both) Jacob Sacks: piano Eivind Opsvik: bass Billy Mintz: drums Jacob Sacks Quartet: Jacob Sacks: piano Mat Maneri: viola Eivind Opsvik: bass Billy Mintz: drums

A favorite of mine. Thanks for the reminder. I need to either find my CD or even settle for the CD-R being offered on amazon

Herb is one of my faves I'm gonna get one of his newish trio records on not two I do have Genuine Fables - I also saw Smoker with Tchicai, Lane & Altschul many years ago The Knitting Factory

I'm gonna pick out one of the Jeb Bishop groups. He is a big favorite of mine on the trombone.

As I've been absolutely loving "March of Dimes" from BassDrumBone with Ray Anderson on trombone, Mark Helias on bass and Gerry Hemingway on drums, I was thinking about what other trios exist with simply brass plus bass/drums rhythm. I thought of Connie Bauer with Peter Kowald and Gunther (Baby) Sommer but little else. Of course it puts much pressure on the horn player - and initially I kinda want to hear a reed player - probably as that is what I'm accustomed to. As I was listening maybe my second time through March of Dimes - fwiw a great sounding recording - I even was thinking adding Ellery Eskelin would add something - but after a few spins, I have been really enjoying the unique open feel - as I did when I saw the great trio live a few years back. Any comments on people who have heard these trios - or any ideas/suggestions of others?

I've seen Cecil live twice First in the late 90's with a quartet including Dominic Duval and the soprano saxophonist and drummer I didn't like. Was the second set after Abdullah Ibrahim. Very odd double bill. Second time was very memorable - a duet with Tony Oxley @ Tonic maybe in 1999 or 2000.

show up at the Stone in September 2015? Hoping October so it is a bit cooler

Performing in Houston on May 7. I thought the US tours for the trio were done after last year? Any word if they be playing in NYC?!?!? I have only seen this listing: http://www.namelesssound.org/ Unlike Leeway, I did not see the trio last year although I did see all three of them on different occasions with other musicians. Besides Brotzmann - who I did not expect to see again any time soon - I expect to see Drake and Parker at least once or more this upcoming year.

Performing in Houston on May 7. I thought the US tours for the trio were done after last year? Any word if they be playing in NYC?!?!?

Very much enjoyed this. As a non-musician I was fascinated but often confused. After watching and listening to the whole thing, I was prompted to go watch and listen to numerous clips and performance of probably my favorite sort of improvisation (which was a large part of what you discussed), early European Free Improvisation. To my ears much of it is not based on much of what you spoke so eloquently about. No pulse, no scales, etc. So improvisation is not limited really in any way nor does it have rules of guidelines in many cases. Again, thanks for posting this

Scott - one day get to NY and we will go see Mary from less than 10 feet away. Last two times she was beyond incredible. 2 weeks ago with Jon Irabagon and Nasheet Waits. My wife loved her playing and her attitude. Her with the great drummer are an awesome pair.

I see and hear great new music live and on recordings quite often. Especially live - and fwiw, it's still jazz. This Friday if I could make it: Harris Eisenstadt/Michael Moore Then: Craig Taborn - Wurlitzer Mat Maneri - Viola Ches Smith - Drums Now they/someone needs to record these groups - especially the trio who have been very good to otherworldly the three times I've seen them. And it's new, fresh - twice free improv - the third time compositions by the drummer. Now with Taborn on electric!! Could be awesome!!! And it is without a doubt jazz - and no other trio sounds remotely like them!

Thanks for the write-ups!!! I love the ending, Leeway Glad that my guy was in fine form. Isn't Halvorsen amazing these days? I love your descriptions of the dudes who are all bound up. I have a hard time dealing with that sort of extreme restraint. Wail, baby!!!

Years ago I paid $25 for a few hard to find David Murray DIW CDs I think the duet with Milford and Death of a Sideman

Too bad that the group didn't go back up until 5 til 11:00 for the second set. Methinks Irabagon takes his audience too lightly. He played very well during much of the amazing first set which was one continuous piece which incorporate some compositional elements with Mary better than I've seen or heard her before. Stunning block chords and intense skronk that drove Nasheet to incredible power surges. The tenor playing was best when Jon escaped his growing tendency to simply wail in a Coltrane like manner. Much better when he got down to some complimentary softer and thoughtful tight improv. During the second set, he took this tendency past the point of relevance and they only played 35 minutes. I asked my wife what she thought - she said it would have been better with Mary and Nasheet as a duo. I asked her how he compared to Tony - she laughed at me. Are you kidding me?!?! I agree with Leeway - lotsa technique - nowhere near a high level improvisor - he may know the language but he has trouble speaking it as of now. Plus when he is with musicians of the calibre of Mary Halvorsen and Nasheet Waits, he is exposed. He needs a bit of humility - an hour between sets is arrogant at best when you come back late and don't come near touching what happened in the first set.

No words for that last 50 minutes will suffice

He was very good a couple of years ago with Helias & Altschul Not as good as the bassist and drummer, but good. Key is him harnessing all the technique into a real improvising voice. Fwiw, I'm looking forward to Nasheet driving Mary to places I've maybe never heard her go. I'm hoping for some fire tonight. Maybe some hard core skronk and uber drumming places that Waits can get to. Last time with Tamarindo the great drummer was otherworldly

Tomorrow night: Jon Irabagon with Mary Halvorsen & Nasheet Waits Jon must have just finished up tonight with Mark Helias & Barry Altschul

If I go on Friday ICP Then the Murray trio and Trio 3 For those who have never seen The Instant Composers Pool, miss this band at your own peril That Clarinet summit is attractive for sure, but Han Bennink, Michael Moore, Ab Baars, Tristan Honsinger, Mary Oliver, Ernst Glerum, Toby Delius, Thomas Heberer and Wolter Wierbos on stage for an hour doing what they do is a very unique and special experience. Even without Misha, they are a very special long standing ensemble that exist within and outside of all conventions of this music we call jazz. And specifically for anyone who has never seen Han Bennink live, this is little I've experienced in this world that is as uplifting as Han Bennink swinging to Monk, Herbie or Duke.