Steve Reynolds

Highlight of the disc is a rare cover of "Functional" RIP

I have never downloaded any music It's just not for me I love my CDs

I got some GREAT pictures of current day JAZZ musicians ON STAGE from the last couple of years. I was going to share one of Edward "Kidd" Jordan with Dave Burrell, William Parker and Hamid Drake. June 15th last month in Brooklyn. Stunning sounds and as always, stunning to see these brilliant musicians up close and personal. The coolest dudes in the room. Imagine those guys wearing suits? Maybe some of you all need to get out more often GIANTS walk the earth TODAY

Skies of Europe forever He joins the great alto saxophonist of the orchestra Mario Schiano as late members of what I consider, at their zenith, one of 2 or 3 greatest large ensembles of the past 40 years. RIP Mr. Gaslini

Seemingly makes zero sense and I was going there again in my head until it all worked. Fwiw much different than Paloma Recio which also has Monder as that is based on composition and has a southwest flavor. The dual improvisations of the saxophone and guitar have some similarity but I never heard that band "rock" out like the quartet did at times last night. Almost contradictory than Monder has that kind of sound and yet the band rocked out. The drummer's approach had something to do with it and I wonder if the smart decision to take the brushes out of the equation for the second set was a concious or unconsciouse decision.

Odd aspect is that if the quartet played again and if they "tried" to go where they went last night, it inevitably would fail, I think. I don't even really think they even knew how the magic happened. But maybe there is some hidden formula or track to get there, but I doubt it as why does it take time and sometimes never happen at all. Plus it is almost as if Malaby eschewed more standard playing to get the music to some different place. I guess in his mind maybe if nothing attempted, what's the point? I agree although sometimes I yearn for a good old elbows cranking Malaby tenor solo - until I hear the magic happen!! Fwiw most of the small crew of regulars went to the Jazz Gallery for Ingrid with Berne, Gerstein, Peck and Rainey. A few of them are not fans of Monder as his playing is really almost the polar opposite of their favorite current guitarist, Mary Halvorsen who I am also a big fan of. Monder takes the music to a drone place that is close to rock - more so than Mary who despite those crunchy rock like chords - does not take the overall music of a trio like the one I saw last week anywhere near the places the quartet reached. Not a value judgement, just a reality. And Monder is a guy with a much more straight reputation, and his actual sound isn't gritty or rough at all, it is ethereal and often sensuous and laden with unknown effects that I'm sure off putting to many. For sure, a very outside the box guitarist.

So I figured that I was tired, my wife somehow liked the first set more than me, I think. So maybe I violate my rule which is to never miss the second set, especially when it is free improvisation, and most especially when it seems that everything hasn't quite gelled. I ingot my brain and I follow my mantra. We stay for the second set. Thank Jah as an old friend used to say - I'm thinking of you, Sisco - I always do when I'm @ live music. The guy's wife next to us seemed to have disappeared for a bit during the first set and she couldn't wait to pay the bill. He was glad they came but she is no free improv fan and this was not music to make any converts from straight ahead jazz. So I go outside to get some air and I notice lots of young guys were there for the show and they seemed to like it, I think - and a few of them might have hung around for a second set that would start at about 10:50. Second set happily it seems the drummer has given up on the mostly unsuccessful brushes and mallet for sticks at least at the beginning. He ended up mostly sticking with sticks and it was a smart decision. Tony again starts on the straight horn and the music is more energetic, focused and crisp right from the start. He switches to tenor quicker, maybe under 10 minutes in and within about 5 minutes they are into something seemingly out of nowhere that is this doom metal drone with this guy Jeff Williams playing what I could only describe as an amped up Sunny Murray style free jazz crossed with something rock orientated but safe to say, I never heard anything like it from a drummer - and the next 15 minutes or so exploded into music that has no label, no definition and no peer. Beyond possible. Best piece of improvisation I've heard in over a year. Last 2 pieces superb ending with more traditional free energetic drumming with the Malaby/Monder dual improvisational machine in high gear. Still no post bop/free bop Tony - nothing to put himself in the forefront - no see me, hear me solos from anyone, just what I now realize is another aspect of his diverse musical vision. Fwiw, Hebert was superb throughout and by the second set, he was the glue that held it all together as despite playing very free and switching often between the bow and not, played the role of not allowing the whole to self destruct. And maybe it almost did implode during the mid portion of the first set, but it sure didn't in the second set. After that first piece, they were laughing and smiling as they knew they went somewhere that wasn't thought possible. True music with no fall back point, as it would be easy to just get in a groove and wail as they all could do, everyone would cheer after the solos, and one would be happy to again. This sort of improvisation is of a different sort. Cliches dropped, something else happened, doom metal free improv??? I dunno, just another version of the true vital sound of surprise. blood and guts, baby

With Ben Monder on guitar, John Hebert on bass and Jeff Williams on drums No sheet music, first set starts off rocky as they try to find their way into something with this listener having no idea what the hell they might be looking for. Tony's soprano is somewhat melodic but who knows. The drummer seems tentative and Monder can be very difficult to locate despite intermittent volume increases. About 25 minutes in they hit an odd anti-groove and it works for a bit. Second piece starts after first 35 minute piece and really the music starting happening once the band came down to Hebert playing a few very very soft notes on the bass gathering the audience's attention. A mode of this band seems to be both Monder and Malaby playing loud often at the same time and it only works some if the time. It worked the last ten to fifteen minutes of the first set and it ends to a nice applause but I'm still confused. No typical technically awesome Malaby tenor, his playing seems a cross between Coleman Hawkins and Albert Ayler with his almost obscene overtones and squeals seemingly thrown in.as is his wont the last thing he is up there is to impress anyone and it can be damn exasperating as if I know what he knows and as if I know what he and the band is capable of. So often lately his music can be confusing as it is all about the interplay, space, noise and feel. Very little is about soloing over any groove or playing the freebop tenor that he is untouchable at playing. So nothing here to connect deeply to or concert any non Malaby fan but I always stay for the second set. I'll continue later

The 25 minute first piece from the second set last night @ Cornelia Street Cafe Again, if one is really into the outskirts of avant-garde combinations, NEVER leave before the second set. Decent first set, THEN: Doom metal free jazzish improvisational skronk care of Malaby, Monder, Hebert & Williams In a sane world it is a side long track on an upcoming underground LP that gets played on a radio station as it's awe inspiring power transcends the fact it is wholly improvised and this world will never ever hear anything like it, before, since or ever after. Easily the best "track" I heard all week

I havn't warmed up to Farmers by Nature and I didn't like them live despite liking or at times even loving all three of the musicians. I havn't returned to the one CD I have of the two they released in a couple of years.

Nice review, Leeway Fwiw, Lescalleet was extremely loud when I saw him solo @ The Stone a couple of years back - but I thought it was mind bendingly awesome. Tonight: Tony Malaby Quartet with Ben Monder, John Hebert and Jeff Williams. @ Cornelia Street Cafe. We got a great parking spot. My wife is shopping on Bleeker Street. Weather is perfect. I am thinking Tony will be on fire! Btw - Jeff Williams is new for me. Malaby picks great drummers so let's hope he fits the bill.

Saw Full Blast front row a few years ago. Only thing comparable volume wise was Jason Lescalleet @ The Stone

Thanks, Clifford I only picked up a few individual CDs from that box - I think a Globe Unity and the Schlippenbach Live @ Quartier Latin with Kowald, Parker & Lovens. I missed the DLAD CD. I wonder if it compares favorably with the great Little Birds Have Fast Hearts 2 volumes.... Don;t forget the DLAD with Roy Campbell on Eremite. Nice one - the 10 minute encore section is stunning but the main portion of the recording doesn't touch the band with Kondo. Campbell is/was a fine energetic trumpeter but Toshinoro Kondo on those 2 discs is a genius level improvisor. Yup, have you checked him out with the "Hairy Bones" project? I think that is the band with PNL, isn't it? No I havn't heard them. I am still working my way through coming to grips with the Long Story Short box. The large band without the charts is still a challenge for this listener and I miss Drake in the chair next to Michael Zerang. Fwiw, I love the long side with Laswell, Ghania (sp?) and Drake. Almost worth the $75 I paid for the box set.

I want that box. I see it for the above 185 euros. Not happening as my next major purchase since my 2007 Hyndai Sonata will be the new 2015 Ford Mustang hopefully in October if it goes on sale in September as announced. The CD purchases will have to wait. I am going for the best stereo they offer rather than the 5.0 Liter GT with 425 HP!!!

Thanks, Clifford I only picked up a few individual CDs from that box - I think a Globe Unity and the Schlippenbach Live @ Quartier Latin with Kowald, Parker & Lovens. I missed the DLAD CD. I wonder if it compares favorably with the great Little Birds Have Fast Hearts 2 volumes.... Don;t forget the DLAD with Roy Campbell on Eremite. Nice one - the 10 minute encore section is stunning but the main portion of the recording doesn't touch the band with Kondo. Campbell is/was a fine energetic trumpeter but Toshinoro Kondo on those 2 discs is a genius level improvisor.

Baraka was never limited edition as far as I understood. The limited edition DKV disc was the live one from the same time frame - a disc I recently bought used for $20. I like it more than Baraka. Rougher than Baraka and it sure takes a while to get going but well worth hearing and owning from my perspective.

The last couple of times on the Artist forum - Tim Berne thread

Thanks, Clifford I only picked up a few individual CDs from that box - I think a Globe Unity and the Schlippenbach Live @ Quartier Latin with Kowald, Parker & Lovens. I missed the DLAD CD. I wonder if it compares favorably with the great Little Birds Have Fast Hearts 2 volumes....

Wow - Die Like a Dog Quartet with the great Toshinoro Kondo: Close Up?? Is this a recording culled from the FMP retrospective box of a few years back? I didn't know this existed. I thought there were only 4 DLAD quartet dates with Kondo.

Yes it was vinyl only. Are the above all available in CD? I lent the above 3 CD Brotzmann Chicago Octet/Tentet set to a "friend" years ago and it and the "friend" disappeared. For me, along with Stone/Water, the best representation of that seminal large ensemble. The two versions of "Other Brothers" (live & studio) give some approximation of what that tune sounded like live. It was the first piece they performed on the first night they played in NY @ Tonic in 1999 or 2000. After that 25 minute intro to the set, my friend Josh, who is no huge Brotzmann or free jazz fan, who was sitting next to me - said it was the single greatest thing he ever heard. I agreed. But I was speechless which is the last thing I usually am. Stunned disbelief at what I had just heard. To this day, the only thing or piece of music or anything I ever heard that came near that was the same band two years later in the same place. But it still didn't have the immense power of "Other Brothers" I guess I need to re-buy the set.

Loved this. Same here. I'm buying the duo CDs because of reading this and I never buy bass/piano duo CDs - plus I havn't bought a Keith Jarrett CD except older recordings since Deer Head Inn and I bought that when it was released.

I wonder who is in his quintet(s)

Thanks! When I saw there were topics about Berne, Parker etc I just had to join in. I'd highly recommend the Trio set, no worries with the dual drummer scenario, it works beautifully, as it should with those two players. The packaging is secondary but it's good to hear that the "Duets" set is packaged nicely as that's in the queue. I placed the Trio order this morning with Amazon, which had it for $37.19, includes free shipping, not a bad price. I'll work around to the duo box eventually. I'm particularly keen on the duos with Katherine Young. Yes, the Bassoonist! I was going to mention that same thing. I paid $47 for it through Amazon and the next day it went down $10 to $37. I emailed them and they credited my account the difference, along with another $5 due to a drop on the new Guru Guru Live In Germany. At least they're quick and responsive. I'm so jealous of those US prices (Trio 2013 is £49, Duets 2012 is £111.55 on amazon.uk) I'm wondering whether emigration/immigration is the solution. I could fund it by all the savings I'd make on future purchases How close are you to Oto? Maybe we can just switch places, no one will ever notice. Can you buy directly from the Tricentric website as a better alternative? 25 minutes from Oto on the tube It's not just the retail price but the postage (Tricentric would be $60 inc postage for Trio 2013) and then there's the chance of the 20% sales tax on import and postal service handling fee for administering that tax to factor in. Really the answer is to download but I need to enter ths century first....meanwhile back to some vinyl I trade you your 25 minutes for my 75 minutes to The Stone or Jazz Gallery or Cornelia Street for maybe 2 months only. My big decision for this Friday: Ingrid Laubrock's Quintet with Tim Berne, Ben Gerstein, Dan Peck and Tom Rainey (Jazz Gallery) OR: Tony Malaby's Quartet with Ben Monder, John Hebert and Jeff Williams (Cornelia Street) I'm torn - my wife likes Gerstein but she wants to see Malaby as she loves him and his untucked shirts and messy hair. Imagine that?!?!

If I was halfway to Chicago, I would be there.

Up for the show tomorrow night!