Steve Reynolds

When we are using we sometimes think we are fucking brilliant and invincible. For some to get clean and stay clean, one of the most important ingredients is to realize that we are not equipped to manage our lives while using. To think a true using drug addict plans and manages and might be true on the outside as I also know many who never got arrested or ever lost jobs, etc. - but those are a small minority. The answer for a guy like Roy Hargrove if he is an addict has nothing to do with learning or hoping not to cop on the street at 4:30 in the AM. If he is an addict and continues to use, he isn't gonna get any better at using or any smarter. It only gets worse.Perfectly stated, my friend. I currently work in a substance abuse rehab, and see example after example to reinforce what you have stated. It's incredibly complicated. And it consumes some really good people...Yes it is but it is incredibly simple to get and stay clean Also the hardest thing I've ever done. I have often been less direct about my past and I do post under my own real name so I choose to break anonymity but I don't get specific about how I've been able to keep drugs out of my system for quite a few years now. But the message I have is to try to not judge guys like Roy Hargrove or whoever we might know that us suffering or dying. It's a bitch to treat this disease as it's self diagnosed and it is a disease that tells us that it isn't a disease or we can just drink a couple or smoke a joint of just hang out like all you other cool dudes. But it is liar and a thief. I heard from a very wise old time addict who is clean now 28 years. It takes one thing to stay clean. Everything you got. If any addict thinks they know how to stay clean without the help of those who actually know how to stay clean or they think they can use different drugs or think alcohol isn't a drug for them, they are doomed. Every time. I see and hear it every Monday night when I'm in the rehab at the local county jail or when I go to the 21 day rehab at the local county hospital or the detox at that same county hospital. Very sad but it keeps me in touch of my past. Some of my best friends are in the grips if active addiction and there is nothing I can of to help them. And they had been clean in some cases over 5 or 10 of 15 years. Some of the best people I've ever met. Some smart / a brilliant guitarist I know is back clean 120 days today - and he's been clean 6 years twice and also in prison in between. A brilliant passionate guy. But he struggles with life and when he uses, very bad things happen despite his intellect and good intentions. So the idea that Roy Hargrove, if he is an addict, can manage his life while using? Maybe on the outside he can get his shit together better - for a while - often we get our shit together for a while - but inside using drugs for an addict is a slow or fast trip to the grave.

When we are using we sometimes think we are fucking brilliant and invincible. For some to get clean and stay clean, one of the most important ingredients is to realize that we are not equipped to manage our lives while using. To think a true using drug addict plans and manages and might be true on the outside as I also know many who never got arrested or ever lost jobs, etc. - but those are a small minority. The answer for a guy like Roy Hargrove if he is an addict has nothing to do with learning or hoping not to cop on the street at 4:30 in the AM. If he is an addict and continues to use, he isn't gonna get any better at using or any smarter. It only gets worse. Yes brilliant intellectually for sure just as in the population as a whole. Ability to manage their lives? Very little - see how most addicts end up. The vast majority die from the damages from active addiction.

How about the last few seconds when Grant is just hitting the groove and it's over.....?!?!?

Of the bands we saw last night, three in the middle stood out. Tarbaby featuring Oliver Lake were fine starting with Dolphy's Fire Waltz The easy highlight was a quartet featuring Richard Davis. Cyrille was subtly wonderous and the violinist I never heard of, Aska Taneka was spectacular playing and with some gorgeous vocalizing.Angelica Sanchez was her brilliant self. A fully improvised 45 minutes with the legendary bassist sticking with the bow save for one short passage. Genius level improvising from Mr. Davis My wife and I were blessed to be there.

When it's 4:00 in the morning, we do anything for a hit You're not them anymore, Steve. This be true but I have an understanding that I could be there once again. I have empathy for those in the grips of active drug addiction

When it's 4:00 in the morning, we do anything for a hit

Another beautiful guy is Joe McPhee. My wife and I sat next to him for Han Bennink's 70th birthday concert @ Columbia University. He could not have been more gracious

I will meet and see him live for the first time tonight I have to add a special mention to both Fred Anderson and Edward "Kidd" Jordan I will never forget Mr. Anderson making sure I got a cab ride back to the hotel in a blizzard in 1999 from the Velvet Lounge.

The nicest musicians I've met include the following: Hamid Drake, Joe Maneri, Han Bennink, Michael Moore, Ellery Eskelin, Marty Ehrlich, Reggie Workman, Cooper-Moore, Randy Peterson and Evan Parker Of course I'm biased regarding Tony Malaby and Mat Maneri....

Nice show. 2 long involved pieces. 11 people attended - the avant garde is still a tough sell out here in the provinces. The musicians couldn't have been more gracious. Did Ingrid play both tenor and soprano? I sure wish more would be listening but as they say it is what it is I'm also wondering if Rainey at times ever ended up in one of his super off kilter grooves? I love it when he gets to that place. One of the reasons is that when it happens it happens organically without any roadmap Played both tenor & soprano. Rainey had a bag full of drum sticks that at one point he smacked from drum to drum. Also rather amazing cymbal work. I loved it. Even my wife said "that was pretty good". My wife has become a big fan of the jazz drummers I like. Her favorites are Hamid Drake and Nasheet Waits. Although when Nasheet filled in once for Tom Rainey with Open Loose, she was upset that she didn't hear what she liked from Rainey. She likes Rainey except that she thinks he's grumpy - which he may be when he's not with Ingrid!!! But what she really likes Rainey for is when he rocks out in those mysterious grooves. I think he is as fascinating a drummer as there is as he is totally unpredictable and the musical results on one night with the same partners/collaborators can differ mightily. Happy that tomorrow my wife will see Nasheet so usually that means she will be in a good mood!!!

Finalized. I be there tomorrow by 6:00 or so

Nice show. 2 long involved pieces. 11 people attended - the avant garde is still a tough sell out here in the provinces. The musicians couldn't have been more gracious. Did Ingrid play both tenor and soprano? I sure wish more would be listening but as they say it is what it is I'm also wondering if Rainey at times ever ended up in one of his super off kilter grooves? I love it when he gets to that place. One of the reasons is that when it happens it happens organically without any roadmap

I wish I could drive you Rita. Current plan is we go only on Saturday leaving to he there probably around 6:00. Finalizing plans tonight with wavering wife. It's 20 minutes from where I live, but previous afternoon plans are running into the late afternoon - I would love to hear the panel but the musicians playing after make it insane not to drop by for the music.

I want the Clifford Jordan set but of course it's not on sale

The In Order to Survive show from 2012 on the William Parker Wood Flute Songs box set

I saw Ivo over a decade ago and I remember Michael Wimberly ruined the set. No space or feel for what the tenorman was going for

Back in the day, I ate up a few Ivo records - some real good ones are Sad Life with WP & Rashied Ali, Seeds Vision and Counterpoint with Dominic Duval and I think Jay Rosen. The latter is exceptionally intense and has that buzz that Leeway is speaking of. Also great is Siero with a quartet that includes Thomas Ulrich on cello. Very very fine For me I need a drummer to push him and other voices that might be more intricate and nuanced to play off his pure sound approach. Tough job for a saxophonist to match Mat one on one but who knows.

I agree with this, Allen. I also realize than maybe even more musicians today find it impossible to make a living playing the more challenging end or side of improvised music than ever before. So if available the temptation to write jingles might be irresistible. My experience in following musicians with a wide range of source material or influence and a healthy interest in multiple current forms of music is that if they are dedicated to their art and there is a there there, their music becomes even more stronger their own. Evan Parker and Tony Malaby are examples of two musicians very close to my heart who personify this.

Not that familiar with Ribot but my experience who musicians who dabble in different idioms or variations of those musics renders the music they play as empty and vapid. Imagine if Monk dabbled in R&B on the side Or if Cecil Taylor wrote jingles in the 60's rather than dedicating himself to what he felt in his heart, soul and mind.

I can almost feel it, Ubu GIANTS walk this earth, indeed

Embrace the majesty, Ubu!!!!!

One day I'm seeing the music this thread is all about. I'm posting this so I do something to make what I'm saying a reality.

I would be a damn shame but it always seems like Gustafsson is from that Peter Kowald school of travel the world and play with all who interest him and play with those who are interested in him. One hopes there will be Tarfala again!

My hope is that simply Mats was booked somewhere else as he is a very busy guy. As we know he was in the States just last week.

As a kid I loved him - but what 17 year old didn't? I watched much of that video and a more recent one on PBS and he is OK but compared to Waits, Rainey, Drake, Cyrille, Bennink, Peterson, Hemingway just for starters......c'mon