CD for this Millennium: Quartet Out - Live at the Meat House

jazzbo · April 27, 2003

Here's a recommendation for Quartet Out, "Welcome to the Meat House." This cd from this esoteric and under-utilized quartet of Dallas Musicians (capitol M for a reason) is a real treat. Hard-swinging (yeah, in its way) and revved up from beginning to end, it shows several things clearly: that these guys can PLAY, that these guys can think on their feet and write themes that WORK, and that these guys can breathe and boogie together in the way that working bands can and not as often as we'd like DO.

It's free and it's structured and it's blowing and it's well thought out and it's what a "jazz" album should be.

I see this as an "open letter to Bob Belden" that NYC is not the only place that STUFF HAPPENS. Okay, seriously though there are great musicians hard at work in other places. And they should be recorded. I would like to think that a copy of this cd and a copy of a live recording done by the Marchel Ivery Quartet in the last months sent to a dozen record labels would mean that a team of A&R and recording folk would be on the way to Dallas. I'd LIKE to think that. I have to be realistic and know that is maybe one of my pipe dreams. But check this cd out. If you need help finding a copy of this, leave your question here or email me at lonjazz@yahoo.com

PS: In the fine Blue Note tradition, I managed to get a typo into the subject line! Where is my mind? If the moderator would like to edit this I'd be quite happy.

Edited April 27, 2003 by jazzbo

AfricaBrass · April 27, 2003

My question is:

How do I get a copy of this?

:rsmile:

ghost of miles · April 27, 2003

Contact Jim directly. I bought one from him several weeks ago & shamefully have not set aside time yet to spin it--a situation I'm rectifying tomorrow. I'm going to feature it on my May 7 radio show.

AfricaBrass · April 27, 2003

Thanks Ghost!

JSngry · April 27, 2003

PS: In the fine Blue Note tradition, I managed to get a typo into the subject line! Where is my mind? If the moderator would like to edit this I'd be quite happy.

Not a typo at all, really. The "meat" references were all intended to be subtle commentary on the realities of being an original jazz band in a city that really has no use for such. Let it stand!

Otherwise, thanks for the kind words. We still have quantities available, so yes, contact me at musicaconcarne@yahoo.com for ordering information.

jazzbo · April 27, 2003

Well, the subliminal sure worked on me! Thanks for weighing in with the email address Jim. I'm really enjoying this one!

Chuck Nessa · April 27, 2003

Do not ignore "Welcome to the Party", the previous release by this terrific band. It's a bit different since it is a studio record, but worthy of 90% of the bands out there today.

ghost of miles · April 28, 2003

Run, do not walk, to your keyboard to order this CD. :excited: (Well, you're probably already at your keyboard if you're reading this...) There is a lot of bone and sinew to this band. "Allnette" will put you in mind of another Texan saxophonist & and the fluidly tight quartets he led... "Cannon's Blues" kicks with an avant-gutbucket feel--I live near a hospital, and just as the track really started to howl I heard the sirens that I often hear a few blocks away, and they blended beautifully with the music. "Island Party" begins as a Rollinsesque Carnaval romp that turns fierce, and by God I hear a "Rhapsody in Blue" quote right before the drum solo. Muscular hooks aplenty here, too, as evidenced by "Oh Boys Try to Get Along" and "Donkey Dix"... The ghosts of Ayler/Murray collaborations are hovering about as well. Music with sass & swagger, playful but with just a hint of menace that lets you know these guys have a little more funk, a little more dirt on their hands, than the Vandermark clan from Chicago.

It's aces, Jim--CD of the week, anyone?

shawn·m · May 1, 2003

It just occurred to me; Is there no image of Meat House on the web? Well, then…

pryan · May 1, 2003

A great album by a great band. I spun this one again tonight and am pleased how each repeated listen reveals something new (and most times MANY new things). MEAT HOUSE and Quartet Out in general also seem to have really opened up my ears, almost, in a way, urging me to go out and explore the freer aspects of music as well as listening to other stuff in a more "open" way. Highly recommended!