CraigP

I've just posted a review on my blog of the mind-melting new album from Ingebrigt Haker Flaten's The Young Mothers. Here's an excerpt: "The Young Mothers is a group formed in Austin by Ingebrigt Haker Flaten that synthesizes free jazz, electronics, punk, rap and God knows what else in their pursuit of musical mayhem. For the record, I generally hate these kind of groups, because many times the components sound grafted onto each other, or they’re really a rock band that adds some scronky sax with no context in relation to the whole. When Dennis Gonzalez of Yells At Eels told me about this project, I was thinking to myself, “Uh, how am I going to tell this nice man that this thing sucks?” But one listen to a mothers (sic) work is never done and I was a fan...it's a blast of energy that hits you across the face and doesn’t back down...On Wells, the original, Jason Jackson’s tart, angular alto on top of a No Wave guitar riff reminded me of The Contortions, a pioneer of this approach..." You can read the full review of a mothers work is never done on my blog.

Thanks!

Curious mjzee at to what the better solo Tatum records are in your opinion.

I'm surprised to hear this from you! Although, you probably like freer, energy music more than I do, now that I think about it.

To Leeway's point, you can hear Lehman veering between McLean and Braxton on his two early CIMP releases. Dialect Fluorescent seemed to be overlooked when it came out two years ago.

Yes!

Happy Birthday!

Leeway, thanks for the report. I am so jealous!

Let me know what you think, I liked it a lot.

The group Kartet recently released their sixth album, Grand Laps. Pianist Benoit Delbecq is probably the most recognizable name to most outside of France. Here's a portion of my review: "Even though the line-up is that of a classic jazz quartet, this is not a horn-with-rhythm section album; it’s more egalitarian in design. The music on Grand Laps generally unfolds at an unhurried pace, and the structures the group use emphasize dialog, not blazing displays of virtuosity. At some points I was reminded of Miles’ second quintet in their more introspective moments. There’s an MBase influence lurking as well in the angular nature of some of the compositions." You can read the full review of Grand Laps on my blog.

The June 14 lineup is the one I would most like to see.

His operas are the toughest part of his oeuvre for me to penetrate, but a lot of that is probably because I don't like opera in general.

Lark, I had a similar experience to yours in regards to his music. I was buying his stuff pretty regularly up to the Jazz Standard 2 CD set, but I feel that his records became less interesting over time. (I laughed when I read your comment about not needing 12 CDs of anyone, but if they came out with a 50 CD Anthony Braxton set tomorrow - which they might! - I'd be all over it). And Douglas does release a lot of stuff on his own label, more than I care to keep up with.

Yes, my heart started pumping when I saw the post title, but I went through a painstaking process of getting all the Cecil I could some years back.

Clifford, I'm so jealous! I wanted to get up there for this but couldn't swing it.

Yes, I'm really curious about that one too. Of the other suggestions, Paper Man would be my choice.

I had a chance to talk with Bobby before the Dallas gig. Really nice man, loved hearing about the history of Texas players like Red Connor, John Carter, Charles Moffett and Ronald Shannon Jackson.

The Bobby Bradford/Frode Gjerstad Quartet and Yells At Eels concert last night in Dallas was great, with a good turnout as a bonus. Thanks to Dennis Gonzalez for getting the group up here.

As will I!

"...including departed members" You mean...from beyond the grave? (gulp)

That is for sure.

To Clifford's point, the fascinating (and sometimes frustrating) thing about Braxton's music is that takes that immersion over time to really grasp what he's doing, and for the listening experience to pay off fully. For me, Ghost Trace was the toughest nut to crack, but with the sheer number of releases over several years' time, I can now appreciate that body of work. And now he has at least 4 new concepts being developed simultaneously...

I second colinmce's recommendations. If I was forced to pick one out of that list, I'd probably go for Quartet (Moscow).

Love Andrew Hill! Wish I had seen him live.

Novella is great, with some nice arrangements from Kris Davis.