Steve Reynolds

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.

Hoffman died of a drug overdose. He was in the grips of drug addiction and died a horrible death. I'm particularly sensitive to this. Very ignorant posting. If one doesn't know much about drug addiction and overdose deaths, maybe one ought not to bring it up.

Amazing that someone who has a forum to write about this music is hung up on nonsense. I wonder what shows he attended last year? What recordings did he *really* listen to? How about talking about the actual music? His article reads like a page 6 gossip column. I got woozy reading his stupid 2014 summary.

My experience is that almost all the musicians I've said hello to have been kind and more than gracious. In fact, I can't think of one musician who has acted like an asshole. Most of them have been very friendly and more than willing to talk about music in general, the music they played that night or at previous concerts. Some of the standout nice guys have been Ray Anderson, Hamid Drake, Gerald Cleaver, Randy Peterson, Mat Maneri, Tony Malaby, Paul Flaherty, Nasheet Waits, Mark Helias, Evan Parker, Paul Rogers, Paul Dunmall, Cooper-Moore, Marty Ehrlich and others. My favorite to chat with in person was Joe Maneri. The best of the best.

I think I'm gonna buy his record and see him on one of those days he is playing @ Cornelia Street Wonderful story told well

Have to say based on the second set last night that Malaby's soprano playing - at least for one night only - was at a very high level. Very diverse in his approach based on the compositions. First time any Open Loose compositions featured Malaby on soprano. The disc is coming out in March on Intakt.

This album "The Sixth Sense" is a modern classic, IMO The earlier quartet session with Chico Freeman, Fred Hopkins and Bobby Battle is challenging and invigorating. The session with Rivers, if I recall, is less successful

Open Loose @ Cornelia Street Cafe Mark Helias w/Tony Malaby & Tom Rainey

Qow, Baby!!!