Spontaneous Music Ensemble on NESSA RECORDS

[Guest Chaney]

I've been buying up and enjoying the Spontaneous Music Ensemble offerings on EMANEM. Doing a search for John Stevens on the European Free Improvisation Pages, I noticed -- or, more likely, was reminded -- of two Nessa releases involving SME:

1971, Bobby Bradford/SME vol. 1, Nessa 17

1971, Bobby Bradford/SME vol. 2, Nessa 18

Anyone heard these?

Chuck: Care to comment of your meeting with this band and how this project came about?

Can these be released on CD and by Christmas so I can buy them as a present to myself? If not on Nessa, I'm wondering if Martin Davidson might be interested.

Care of Scott Yanow: Vol. 1

In the first of two LPs, trumpeter Bobby Bradford fits right into drummer John Stevens's Spontaneous Music Ensemble, a quintet with leader-drummer Trevor Watts on alto and soprano, trombonist Bob Norden, bassist Ron Herman and (on two of the four selections) the haunting voice of Julie Tippetts. Tippetts's wordless vocals give an otherworldly quality to her appearances, while the two instrumentals (including a tribute to Louis Armstrong titled "His Majesty Louis") look more toward the free bop of Ornette Coleman. Stimulating and adventurous music.

And Vol. 2:

This album is worth picking up for the two lengthy jams (including the nearly 19-minute "Rhythm Piece") because a top freebop quintet comprised of trumpeter Bobby Bradford, Trevor Watts on alto and soprano, trombonist Bob Norden, bassist Ron Herman and drummer John Stevens creates some colorful music. The two vocals of Julie Tippetts however are only for specialied tastes for many will find her abstract singing difficult to listen to. Fortunately it does not dominate.

Edited November 23, 2005 by Chaney

[Chuck Nessa]

I purchased this session from Alan Bates. I will post details when I have time.

[Chuck Nessa]

Here are the session details. I will post comments later. I see I lost the format - hope you can sort out the info

Bradford / Stevens SME

Recorded July 9, 1971 at Polydor Studio, London

Engineer – Carlos Olms

Format – ¼ “ 2 track

Bobby Bradford – trumpet

John Stevens – drums

Trevor Watts – alto & soprano saxophones

Bob Norden – trombone

Ron Herman – bass

Julie Tippetts – voice (guitar on tk 15 & 16)

TAKE # TITLE TIME ISSUE

1 H. M. Louis omit JT 7:17

2 “ “ “ 11:27

3 “ “ “ 1:35

4 “ “ “ 11:10 n-17

5 Room 408 “ 7:30 n-17

6 Tolerance / To Bob 2:01 n-18 (as Fragment)

7 “ “ :37

8 “ “ 3:04

9 “ “ :14

10 “ “ :10

11 “ “ 18:07 n-17

12 Trane Ride/Ornettement/Doo Dee omit JT & BN ?

13 “ “ “ 13:27 n-18

14 Bridget’s Mother BB, TW & JT only 6:59 n-17

15 Rhythm Piece JT, RH & JS only ?

16 “ “ “ 18:53 n-18

17 Norway 7:31 n-18

Note: times taken from session log and may not be exact

Takes 11, 13 & 14 issued on Freedom in Germany and Japan

Takes 4, 5, 6, 14 & 17 planned for issue in England – I have a test pressing

[Guest Chaney]

Thanks Chuck!

[Chuck Nessa]

Not sure what the deal is with drummer/bandleaders but I went through emotional rollercoasters with Stevens and Hal Russell. One day I was the savior, the next the worst mf on earth. Then the next time I'm on top of the world. Maybe I should pare this "problem" down to white drummer/leaders.

Trevor Watts sent a message to me to relax - John has these "swings" and they don't mean anything.

I wish I could lay my hands on the letters.

[clifford_thornton]

Or to white drummer/cornetist leaders....

[Chuck Nessa]

Or to white drummer/cornetist leaders....

[Adam]

I just bought that LP from Chuck.

I had two friends visiting from the UK. I pulled out the LP and showed them, and one, Michael, cried out "That's John!." It turned out that Michael lived in John Steven's house (Stevens' daughter was his girlfriend) for a year or more when he (Michael) was 18/19.

So we listened to the LP, which I enjoyed.

[Guest akanalog]

shalom.

original poster-if you have not picked it up, there is an emanem disc which is under bradford's name, not SME, which is on CD and is bradford, watts, stevens and kent carter live. called "love's dream" i think. some reviews tend to not love it but i think it is pretty good. i suspect you have found this one already anyways.

[clifford_thornton]

That's Kent Carter's favorite John Stevens record, too...

I still want to hear Watts-Tippett-Carter-Stevens doing music from The Connection. They did it, and apparently it was taped!