Steve Lacy

[Holy Ghost]

You guys are way ahead of me. I maybe have a dozen Lacy cd's I've picked up all over the place, but I am waaay back here: 

Have hardly got to it all. 

[felser]

I'm also sparse on Lacy.  Irene Aebi's vocals are an absolute deal breaker for me, and I don't need multiple CD's of him doing Monk, so that leaves me quartets with Waldron and groups with Steve Potts but without Aebi as my sweet spots.

[JSngry]

I was allergic to Aebi for a long time, but I've come around and now think of her as another texture, not a singer or even a voice.

Besides, there's so many excellent Lacy records with her on them that even before I "got" her, I decided not to cut off my nose to spite my face,

[Holy Ghost]

Yeah, the vocals. Weird. I know that name, Aebi, and that is a matter of taste. It's packed but I think I can obstensibly tolerate the late 70's Black Saint/Soul Note material, e.g., 

Edited Sunday at 05:51 AM by Holy Ghost

[Pim]

I find myself more and more addicted to the man’s music. His ability to play both out and in, fresh sound and his whole creative approach to the music is very interesting. It’s always clearly recognizable Lacy on every record yet every record is different from his last. I can’t name one favorite because he played so many styles but if I may categorize them and name a few:

- Solo: 5X Monk 5X Lacy stands out as his very best though solo Lacy is almost always enjoyable.

- The duets with Mal of course: most notably the Dreher stuff, Bimhuis record, Hot House and Sempre Amore. 

- The trios: The Holy La and the Window would be my definite picks.

- The larger groups with Mal: Moods, One-Upmanship, Journey Without End, Hard Talk, Live at Sweet Basil. All essential. 

- Quartets and quintets: Trickles and Revenue

- Sideman on Black Saint: Regeneration, Change of the Season.

- The larger group works from the late 70’s early 80’s with his regular group including Potts and Aebi: Prospectus, The Way and Morning Joy. 

I can deal with Aebi if she sticks mostly to the theme only. If she’s very dominantly present It gets on my nerves. I like her cello playing.

 

 

[Д.Д.]

"Morning Joy" is not a "larger group", it's his quartet with Potts. Good stuff. 

I don't listen to Lacy much any more, but I do tend to return to these ones: 

https://www.discogs.com/release/6420962-Masahiko-Togashi-Steve-Lacy-Twilight

https://www.discogs.com/release/26812064-Masahiko-Togashi-Spiritual-Moments

https://www.discogs.com/release/2447887-Steve-Lacy-Daniel-Humair-Anthony-Cox-Work     

Edited Sunday at 08:04 PM by Д.Д.

[jlhoots]

Scratching The Seventies / Dreams is an excellent 3 CD set. Caution for those who are "allergic" - it has a fair amount of Aebi.

[clifford_thornton]

Yes, I too love those Saravah LPs! Lapis is of course a favorite but they're all excellent.

[romualdo]

On 8/25/2025 at 7:55 AM, jlhoots said:

Scratching The Seventies / Dreams is an excellent 3 CD set. Caution for those who are "allergic" - it has a fair amount of Aebi.

one of my fav Lacy sets - when I met him after a concert here in Brisbane in the late 90s IIRC he actually brought up Irene & praised her performances - actually, I've never had an issue with her vocals.