Steve Reynolds

Since Evan Parker is one of the special musicians I can never get too much of, I'm currently listening to Foxes Fox with Beresford, Edwards and Moholo. I might be in a minority but I love EP the best with a drums in the band. The first band tomorrow night has the same instrumentation - the classic saxophone (probably mostly tenor), piano, bass and drums which for EP means his closest connection with somewhat traditional free jazz. Great recording - so later I might give the more recent Live at the Vortex which is even better. Fired up - plus the temperatures tomorrow look like mid 70's so although it will be a bit toasty, it should be quite OK.

Thanks to Niko & Ubu I'll get the box for a holiday gift for myself at year end

Starts on Tuesday 9/9. Runs through Sunday 9/14. Evan Parker with a variety of wonderful musicians. This can be the place to list other Evan Parker events as he is in the area for about 2-3 weeks with many other concerts scheduled. Also a place hopefully for some to posts comments about the shows some of us attend. For me only the first two nights and I'm greatly looking forward to seeing the great saxophonist from a close distance which, for me, is a gift and a blessing that is priceless.

And I have no idea what those last 5 albums listed on the Trovesi set. Does anyone know anything about any of them???? Are they his dates and are they very old Europe only Soul Note recordings? I've never seen these listed anywhere

Only complaint was that the first set was as the second set should be. And as a few years ago, once I thought Craig Taborn was the ultimate pianist to cohabitate in the world of Mat Maneri, it seemed for at least the first set that no pianist melds better with his viola than Kris Davis. John Tilbury's touch with ultimate precision and the patience of the proverbial saint. Tyshawn did it again, swinging like a motherfucker without swinging one bit. No charts tonight and Mat didn't know until he got there at 8:15. So if she had brought some music, it would have been played on the spot. I'm now curious if the Ches Smith trio ever rehearsed the music they played on Thursday night. Last night it was altogether rougher and more astringent and at times a very challenging listen. As to be expected, the quiet moments were very quiet and Davis has some sort if magical ability to make something out of almost nothing. I will pray (and I do pray) that one day I might come up with some apt words for what Mat played last night - but for now I have none. I told the guy recording/videoing that in a better more sane world, whatever that machine now has inside it should be worth millions. And Mat Maneri one day might be able to quit his day job - talk about insanity?!?!? Let The Horse Go

Plus Ches' compositions for this trio last night were very special. Perfect for Maneri & Taborn. I'm well rested for tonight. I wonder if tonight will be free improvisation.

This time they played two extended compositions by Ches Smith rather than freely improvising as they did the first two times they played together in from if an audience. The first a bit over 30 minutes, the second slightly shorter. Trying to figure where these melodies come from leaves me wondering as they were seemingly familiar like they should be standards of some sort from some sort of musical idiom that doesn't yet exist. This is simply music that never existed in any realm before last night unless they rehearsed it. Maybe slightly more subdued during the quieter passages than the free improvisation version, and of course as with most fine compositionally based music from the broad scope of avant-garde/free jazz of these times, the improvising and written elements are so organically integrated with each other that they are one. Taborn was his masterly self and Smith is a precise dynamic drummer with no wasted histrionics of any sort and they both love this band. I will venture to say they love it mostly because of the mysterious man who sits between them. With a cap and odd shades, Mat sat looking forward but spun and danced in his chair and rocked back and forth and even once was resting his head on the side of the grand piano. He played these new melodies like he grew up with them. Loved them. Caressed them. Altered them. Deconstructed or even destroyed them. Gonna be hard to sleep for a bit here despite a longish ride home through unexpected traffic and a nice very late dinner now that I am laying here still taking what I heard from the trio, but even moreso than usual for me, what I heard Mat Maneri play during the hour they were on stage. And I see him again tonight, this time for two sets / could he possibly be this great again?!?! He usually is but last night may have been a new peak. I often close my eyes during part or even up to half of a performance but last night, I couldn't stop the hearing or seeing, he was so immersed and connected. And when he played bass lines and they reached a few post bop groove moments, it was a surreal as it was when the pedal was down, and the room shook with some skronk for the ages. When the Ship Goes Down

One hour from show time With a friend who has never heard Ches, Mat or Craig Get Ready to Receive Yourself

Fwiw I met the fine young bassist Max Johnson in June shortly before Charlie Haden died and he was emphatic that Haden was the best bassist in his mind, bar none. What he mentioned was the "sound" For me among those mentioned above, I prefer Helias and Schuller again because of the "sound" and they are both very advanced and precise with bow, unlike the 2 more heralded free jazz bassists. Max Johnson has some of that precise quality in his playing with the bow as well.

Thanks for that wonderful essay The two improvisors/musicians I know best and see the most who are, IMO, as adventurous and as against the grain/out as any "jazz" musicians I know - Tony Malaby and Mat Maneri - were both hired by Paul Motian and both play in bands that play his compositions from time to time. Without Paul Motian, these brilliant musicians never see the Vanguard stage and both of them are eternally grateful that Paul Motian always reached out to the exciting experimental young musicians. For me, I love his playing and I love his own music through the 70's and like much that came after. His drumming is oblique, somewhat clunky at times, but maybe the best for me when he got up to a mid tempo rough groove. There are a few tracks on the seminal Not Two Not One disc on ECM from maybe 1998 with Paul Bley and Gary Peacock. I was set to finally see him in January 2013 when he passes at the end of the previous year. My man Tony was to be with his band - and alas the band that replaced him was Branford's.....

I've only heard the 3 Trovesi albums with him as a leader plus The Village Fair which is a brilliant session with rhythm and horns by Guido Manusardi. I have no idea what or who or how any of those other albums by, for or against or when on earth they were recorded or released?!?!? Kind of like those older mysterious Gaslini records that are on his box set, I suppose. I need to get both boxes but the Trovesi comes first For those who don't know, I'm known off and on for some hyperbole but my praise of the great composer/alto saxophonist/clarinetist is fully warranted. In a different world, a major voice - in reality a major voice. One of my dreams has been to see a version of his octet live - sadly I bet they didn't or don't get much play in the home country as well. Mysterious that this melodically vibrant or even almost pretty music hasn't gained more acceptance or ears over these past decades.

Ches Smith Trio with Craig Taborn & Mat Maneri I've been fortunate to see them the first two times they have played together and I believe this will be their third show. Improvisation at the highest most unpredictable level. Who would think that this would make sense? Hopefully it works again. 8:00 @ Greenwich House 46 Barrow Street NYC

The third Soul Note I know of is "Around Small Fairy Tales". Perhaps some of the others in the box are ones where he's the co-leader or a sideman? He's on three albums by Dino Betti van Deer Noot. Why I'm very intrigued. I love Around Small Fairly Tales as well.

Can anyone figure out what the Trovesi albums are? I can't read what looks like a whole bunch of albums that, like the early Gaslini records on the box set that I don't yet have, I didn't even know existed.

Gianluigi Trovesi is a genius level composer and at least three if the records that look like are in the box are the best of modern Italian jazz/folk music. From G to G and Les Hommes Armes are the best of the best - the great octet with Pino Minafra at his side. Very accessible yet very adventurous at the same time. I'm trying to see all the recordings listed but this is a box I get as I don't have the latter any longer.

Dragonfly Breath is beastly Nice list - I love those Available Jelly records I'll refer to the list for my holiday order as I'm done for a bit, I think

I've heard about 15 from Paul's list A good place to go are other recordings by some of those artists on same or different labels like: Billy Bang's Valve #10 on soul note Julius Hemphill Flat Out Jump Suite - maybe even better than the trio disc John Lindberg's other recordings on black saint Andrew Cyrille's other recordings on soul note Fred Anderson has some great ones but Two Days in April & Blue Winter are seminal recordings that are unheard by most Plus while I'm at it... The two trio discs on hatART with Ray Anderson, Christy Doran & Han Bennink Extremely Quartet on hatART with Paul Dunmall, John Law, Barry Guy and Louis Moholo-Moholo John Law's Exploded on Impact - on slam records Paul Dunmall - Ghostly Thoughts - on hatology Mal Waldron's tutu recordings - Quadralogue @ Utopia both volumes from 1987 quartet with Jim Pepper - then Mal, Verve, Black & Blue from 1996 Dennis Gonzalez 's Silkheart recordings from the late. 80's - Stefan, Namesake , etc. AALY Trio plus Ken Vandermark : Hidden in the Stomach on Silkheart The Joe Maneri Quartet recordings: Dahabenzapple, Coming Down the Mountain & Tenderly All the Gerry Hemingway Quartet/Quintet hatART recordings as well as Perfect World, Waltzes and Slamadam. IMO the most underappreciated band/catalogue of the past 40 years. Plus unlike some music that is now 15-25 years old, this music sounds even better now than it did then. One day maybe the music world will wake up and listen to these recordings.

Tonight on Code Read with Mark Dresser & Gerry Hemingway Assif Tsahar on tenor & bass clarinet He's come a long way from when I heard him over a decade ago. A great performance on this disc of live free improvisations. Wow

RIP Also played with Dennis' Yels with Eels Fwiw Hymn for Perfect Heart of a Pearl might be the most overlooked great album ever made by anyone. Among other 1980's Dennis Gonzalez records Prayers for the family and all the New Orleans musicians. Too bad Dennis will write a hymn way too soon.....

We have all been there. I just received the Blue Notes box, Con Affetto and the Hemingway trio disc with the Cecil 1956-62 bargain box, the 1965 Jimmy Giuffre concert, Very Urgent and Snurdy McGurdy on the way. And maybe the 4 volumes of Remarkable Saxophonists with Eddie Prevost on matchless once the mail works!!!

You get "Live at the Glenn Miller Cafe" yet I love writing that especially since the band is the AALY trio plus KV in its most intense state

I have "Poco-A-Poco" sitting about here, will give it a spin tomorrow. No "Con Affetto" I'm afraid. I like Poco-A-Poco Con Affetto was a cheap buy!!!

Or at least Ancora Da Capo Much better than the nice but not exceptional Strictly for our Friends

Listen to Con Afetto, leeway!!

One week from tomorrow!! Dying for live music as the last live show for me was July 25th!!!!