king ubu

Happy Birthday, Evan!

Häns'che Weiss was amazing! Best guitar jazz I ever heard live ... wonderful sweet sound, it was heaven! His solo on "Time After Time" (the original) was drop-dead gorgeous, his lines, his attack, his rhythm ... wow! He had a fine rhythm guitar player with him by name of Holzmanno Winterstein who played a few wonderful solos in the second set (on both Django titles they played, a wonderfully lyrical "Nuages" and an engaging and pretty wild "Minor Swing"). The rhythm guitar and the bass of Weiss' longtime partner Vali Mayer on bass (a local guy) were the engine of the group, propelling the music with an infectious swing. The programme was a mix of standards and originals, there was a waltz, there was some gypsy stuff (I couldn't tell what it really was, balcans for sure, but ...) and there was some singing and some showmanship too (mostly from Mayer who did a short segment on banjo opening the second set). Pianist Mickey Bamberger played an entertaining mix of Garner and Jamal, if that makes sense, sometimes a bit too flashy I found, but still good. And he engaged in some wonderful exchanges with Weiss, too. When Weiss was soloing, I was really in jazz guitar heaven - it was probably the closest I'll ever get to the greats of what's a long bygone era. It felt like I was listening to Tal Farlow/Johnny Smith/Jimmy Raney there, live and in person. Truly magic! Bottom line: Häns'che Weiss smokes the asses of all those post-bop retro guys ... easily so!

The mathematical side really doesn't matter ... it's the feel and there a half step can make a big difference. There's plenty of boots running at ridiculous speeds. My favourite example is always the Miles Amsterdam concert with Barney, Klook et.al., where Klook sounds extremely weird on the released versions, while on the fixed one - pitch on the boots is approximately 47cents flat - sounds much, much better! The Miles in Boxton 1955 runs at wrong speed, too ... there's Mingus material, there's even a mid 90s Joey DeFrancesco set which Swiss Radio recorded in great fidelity but broadcast in wrong speed ... don't ask me how that can happen in these digital times, but happen it does. So I'd not say these differences aren't perceptible. They are, and sometimes big time so, if things certainly fall into the place they're supposed to be!

Tonight: Häns'che Weiss Quartet Tomorrow night: Mark Helias' Open Loose

me too. I'm with you on Blue ... some very nice music indeed, but he fails to really grip me. Also on those organ dates, I think I usually get more from Virgil Jones than from Mitchell. Though Mitchell assembled some prime bands for his Riverside albums and the band with Cook/Corea/Taylor/Foster was very tight ... but I kind of always expect to like it a bit better when looking at the albums and line-ups than I acutally end up liking them while listening.

Mosaic might have digital steps in the lineage, too? I think I read this at least on some early Mosaic vinyl releases (not sure what early means though and if the Rivers might be one of them). I just snatched up the John Betsch LP very cheaply when it was on sale quickly @ amazon.fr but haven't played it yet. Vinyl is pretty heavy, cover flimsy and somewhat battered (maybe that's why it was on sale, I won't complain anyway) and made of rather thin cardboard, but I've seen that with other releases (the reissue of Noah Howard's "The Black Ark" on Bo'Weavil must be the worst, the cover feels only marginally thicker than toilet paper ... but the music obviously ain't for the crapper!).

All the King's Horses Humpty Dumpty Humbert Humbert

Maybe there's more in this book: http://www.amazon.com/Music-Crossroads-Lives-Legacies-Baltimore/dp/1934074527/ Actually wanted to get it, eventually, but haven't yet ...

Montgomery Clift Cliff Jordan The Jordanaires

Anyone heard this one? I know it's no longer forthcoming, but ... And how about this one: It's from last year, but was only just (positively) reviewed in a Swiss daily.

I like what I've heard of Burns, but how much was there in and/or of Burns to miss out on? A nice but rather low-key player, no? Might as well plump for Idrees Sulieman or Ray Copeland. Yes, that's true ... and Sulieman is one I like even more! Ray Copeland, too ... and the before-mentioned Richard Williams. Those aren't big names, but Tommy T. was mentioned, so ... I guess I just enjoy pursuing these "minor" figures just as much as the bigger names. Dizzy Reece, too, btw, though I guess ironically the one album not on Blue Note might just as well be his best. But the Duke Jordan album and his own with Mobley and Kelly are favourites, too.

Mine will likely ship on Monday ... ordered last night - thanks for your short report!

Dave Burns would be another one they mostly missed out on. Tommy Turrentine - I fully agree there, wonderful player! As for KD in the sixties, I'm one of those who consider "Whistle Stop" better than the later ones with JoeHen. I'm more drawn to KD in earlier years ... the Jazz Prophets material, the Debut album, Quiet Kenny etc., than to the five albums with Henderson.

The mono take of "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" at the very end of "Star Time", the great 4CD JB compilation/best-of, seems to be running in the originally recorded speed ("Previously unreleased complete take. This version was later sped up and edited to create the two-part King single master." - the duration of the track on Star Time is given as 6:56) "I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)" was btw. issued in slower speed than originally recorded. "Star Time" has pt. 1 (stereo, 3:29) on disc two:" Released December 1967 at a slower speed, King single. It is presented here in its original recorded tempo.") I'm not sure about "I Got You" though. "Star Time" has the withdrawn stereo take (2:27, rec. NYC 1964-09-09) on disc one, "Intended to be released Fall 1964, as a Smash single and on Smash album OUT OF SIGHT; withdrawn due to court order". It also has "I Got You (I Feel Good)" (mono, 2:45, rec. Miami, 1965-05-06) issued as King single but there's no note about change of speed there.

Rita Hayworth Sam Worthington Luca Toni

Recently got it, only heard "Così" and "Zauberflöte" out of it, but I'm already sure it's well worth having (got it from some european amazon site for I think around 40€)

Richard Williams is on Booker Ervins's great "The In Between" - but he's very under-recorded in my book. Love his playing with Lateef (Live at Pep's) and with the Jones/Lewis Orchestra!

Don't get me wrong, I'm firmly in the love camp! I just think that "Warm Sound" is a true marvel and overlooked gem, while "Little Johnny C" is a good but not great album (in the same bag as Blue Mitchell's pretty similar BN debut, btw).

I know we're talking sixties here, but another forgotten one who recorded a few gems for Blue Note a few years before that is Thad Jones! My own favourite is Mogie. KD of course ... but I somehow tend to prefer him more before he made the five albums with Henderson. The Coles album a gem ... I don't really know. I like it, warts (Wright) and all, but I think Coles' "The Warm Sound" is his one true gem!

I guess it would be another nightmarish job with regards to discographical research, at least ... and profit would be small as some of those nice Spanish outfits would be fast throwing out a cheap duplicate release that stupid chain stores would offer instead of the originals (happens all the time here, you get all the crappy stuff but less and less of the remaining good stuff). But obviously I'd love it!

Preston Sturges Barbara Stanwyck Ayn Rand

Frank Lowe A.R. Penck some Dick (r.i.p. Dickipedia)

Very cool interview, very cool guy! I've heard half of that double disc on radio shortly after its release and remember it was pretty darn good! Back then I had no idea about Charlie's jazz leanings and it was a most pleasant surprise!

Happy Birthday, Allen!

The Luddites The Preraphaelites The Nazarenes