king ubu

There's been some discussion of the Touchstone series over here, but I've not seen anyone mentioning these nicely prized 3CD boxes recently out from ECM: Steve Kuhn Life's Backward Glances - Solo And Quartet Steve Kuhn piano Sheila Jordan voice Steve Slagle soprano and alto saxophones, flute Harvie Swartz double-bass Michael Smith drums Bob Moses drums This collection brings together three much sought-after recordings by Steve Kuhn: the solo piano album “Ecstasy” (recorded 1974), and two quartet albums. “Motility” (1977) features the band of the same name with saxophonist Steve Slagle in the front line, while “Playground” (1979) is the album that introduced the Steve Kuhn-Sheila Jordan Quartet. Singer Jordan is of course one of the great jazz vocalists, and this was an inspired teaming. Kuhn himself is a superlative pianist of vast gifts; each of these recordings illuminates another aspect of his work. Of these three discs only “Ecstasy” was previously available on compact disc, and then only in Japan. “Motility” and “Playground” here receive their first CD releases. Motility (CD 1) The Rain Forest Oceans In The Sky Catherine Bittersweet Passages Deep Tango Motility / The Child Is Gone A Danse For One Places I've Never Been Playground (CD 2) Tomorrow's Son Gentle Thoughts Poem For No. 15 The Zoo Deep Tango Life's Backward Glance Ecstasy (CD 3) Silver Prelude in G Ulla Thoughts of a Gentleman - The Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers Life's Backward Glance Recorded 1977 (CD 1), 1979 (CD 2), 1974 (CD 3) ECM 2090_92 Don Cherry Nana Vasconcelos Collin Walcott The Codona Triology Pure wizardry. The art of the improvisers beyond all borders. Preaching equality for all the idioms, anticipating the gathering wave of “world music”, drawing on traditions from all the continents, Codona was like no other band. Its sound: simultaneously poetic and powerfully evocative and stamped, in every second, with character. Summoned into being by Collin Walcott in 1978, the trio provided an utterly original context for Don Cherry’s starkly melodic trumpet and for the multi-instrumentalism of all three players. This 3-CD box incorporates the albums “Codona” (recorded 1978), “Codona 2” (1980) and “Codona 3” (1982). Don Cherry trumpet, doussn’gouni, flutes, organ, melodica, voice Nana Vasconcelos berimbau, cuica, talking drum, percussion, voice Collin Walcott sitar, tabla, hammered dulcimer, sanza, timpani, voice Codona (CD 1) Like That Of Sky Codona Colemanwonder: Race Face Sortie Sir Duke Mumakata New Light Codona 2 (CD 2) Que Faser Godumaduma Malinye Drip-Dry Walking on Eggs Again and Again, Again Codona 3 (CD 3) Goshakabuchi Hey Da Ba Doom Travel By Night Lullaby Trayra Boia Clicky Clacky Inner Organs Recorded 1978, 1980, 1982 ECM 2033_35 “From the very beginning Jarrett emphasized two imperatives: they must take the standards seriously as great if unrecognized art on a small scale, and they had to do so from an up-to-date and radically improvisational vantage point. Once the musicians entered the studio the effect was astonishing. The old tunes unleashed a rush of emotions, a delight in streams of collective communication, without preconditions, following not only the skeletal chord changes but the melodic lines of force in the originals.” Peter Rüedi, in the liner notes This reissue of the first days of Keith Jarrett’s “Standards” project - with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette brings together the albums “Standards Vol. 1”, “Standards Vol. 2” and “Changes”, recordings made in a sustained burst of creativity in 1983. Now re-released as a boxed set to celebrate 25 years of the Jarrett/Peacock/DeJohnette trio, “Setting Standards” also sets the stage for a new series of ECM reissues (which will be continued with further releases in 2008). In January 1983, Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette came together with producer Manfred Eicher for an extraordinary recording session at New York’s Power Station. The idea – almost revolutionary in an era when the idea of playing ‘original material’ was all-important - was a modest one: to simply make an album of jazz standards. Gary Peacock: “We went in to do just one album but we came out with enough material for three albums. It was incredible. The only other pianist who had impacted on me that forcefully playing standards was Bill Evans when I worked with him. Then when we started playing standards on this date.... Whew! Talk about depth! It opens up a whole other level of experience.” In his book Keith Jarrett, The Man and his Music, Ian Carr writes that “The whole session seems pervaded with unbridled joy, and each piece seems to get its quintessential performance. Jarrett overflows with new musical thoughts, Peacock plays the roots and also creates dynamic counter-lines, while DeJohnette seems to create a new rhythmic and textural vocabulary for playing standards.” Having wrapped up two volumes of standards, the trio then moved into improvisational areas. The result: the album “Changes”. Three top flight albums recorded – and mixed – in two and a half days. Not only that, the musicians had mapped out the area – from the Great American Songbook to free play – that they would continue to explore for the next quarter-century, making them perhaps the most widely-admired jazz group in the world today, and easily the most popular contemporary piano trio. These recordings, then, set standards at many levels. And the first volumes of “Standards” won album of the year awards around the globe. This 3-CD set includes liner text by noted Swiss critic Peter Rüedi (in English and German), and previously unpublished photos from the recording session by Deborah Feingold. “Setting Standards” is the first release in a reissue series which revisits classic and historically-significant ECM albums. Each issue contains liner notes and archive photos. Further releases are in preparation for 2008. Keith Jarrett Gary Peacock Jack DeJohnette Setting Standards - New York Sessions Keith Jarrett piano Gary Peacock double-bass Jack DeJohnette drums Standards, Vol. 1 (CD 1) Meaning Of The Blues All The Things You Are It Never Entered My Mind The Masquerade Is Over God Bless The Child Standards, Vol. 2 (CD 2) So Tender Moon And Sand In Love In Vain Never Let Me Go If I Should Lose You I Fall In Love Too Easily Changes (CD 3) Flying, Part 1 Flying, Part 2 Prism Recorded January 1983 ECM 2030_32 I think I might eventually get all three... the only disc included in these I already own is Jarrett's Standards, Vol. 1. How are those Kuhn albums? And what about Codona?

played disc 3 (Stan Tracey is great here!) and just finishing disc 4 now - yesterday I squeezed in the two live Black Lions and the studio ballads Black Lion, as well as the Impulse album (See You At the Fair).

Thanks for doing the comparison-work, Greg! I forgot about the Stuff & Steff and the two discs with OP - indeed there are six Grappelli JiPs then! Will look for that single disc then... I'm also a big fan and own all of the series (except for a few discs which I have the music of as part of box sets, such as the Pres and the Roach). Don't know of any other recent activities in the series, though.

prizes seem to go up and down... but these discs are around for 10 $ these days, yes.

good that you mention it... i must have lost your copy somewhere in the appartment and knowing the chaos here just ordered a second one... wanted to have it anyway ooops - but then that first copy arrived pretty fast! looking forward to hearing this one again (I hardly play vinyl these days).

I have the Brooks Mosaic... but that CD is already on its way to me, too!

Finally opened the Storyville Ben Webster box... not just to look at the booklet but to actually play some of the music this time - right now finishing the duo session with Milt Hinton on disc 2. (Skipped disc 1, trying to more or less play the music chronologically, with the Black Lions in between.)

Well the George Russell composition is good and that's about it.......and I think they repeated that twice. I am not an avid Mosaic buyer probably because I don't like overlaps and filler material. But the 3 Mosaic Selects I have(Pullen, Tolliver & Herman) are real fine and don't have alot of the excesses that the regular mosaic's seem to have. If you are not an "avid Mosaic buyer" and apparently haven't had many Mosaics, why say that the regular Mosaics seem to have "filler material" and "a lot of excesses"? You're using pretty strong words for something you don't even seem to be sure about. Well I go by alot of what people on this board say about Mosaic sets.......there are also sound samples on their site and if I don't hear any thing that impresses me I pass.....although I do have collectors tendencies I still buy primarily for the musical enjoyment......I don't COLLECT mosaic sets just for the sake of having them.....and I don't like the way that they do alot of their sets. #1. I have certain guidelines in mind when considering buying reissue type sets. EXAMPLE: I think the Gerald Wilson set is a classic example of what I'm talking about and alot of the comments on this board will attest to what I'm talking about concerning this set. #2. Filler material refers to excessive out-takes, bonus cuts that are below standard but are included for COMPLETENESS sake. EXAMPLE: the Herbie Nichols set......I don't need 2 to 3 takes of each song. I don't seem to understand the point you make with regard to the Gerald Wilson. It contains 10 albums on 5 discs, one of those albums is rather weak, and another one or two may be disputed in their value (both opinions have been voiced on this board). As for your second point, to some extent I agree, but then in the end with me, curiosity most often wins and I do want to hear those outtakes and unissued sessions, even if they weren't deemed succesful back in their day. Reissues (in general, of course, but even more so with a label such as Mosaic) are a historical thing.... and in today's perspective, often recordings (in the sense of documents) are of interest even if back in their day they weren't deemed worthy of release. Otherwise, I'd go for the Japanese approach of straight albums, no bonus tracks, no nothings (as adopted by Universal almost completely by now - to my regret). And allow me to add: pointing out the Nichols is a rather weak example, Nichols' recorded output being so meagre, those really into his work will absolutely want to hear two (or in a few cases three) takes of his compositions. I'm sure there would be other sets (big band sets with too many vocal features and too many alternates of those, for instance) that would rather fit that point. But then again, your mileage may vary -

Domination has been ordered, as well as the Hutcherson and the Jack Wilson. Will skip the Kentons (I'm at least Viva and Balboa will turn up in sales bins, never saw Tropicana here, ever).

thanks! It's definitely just a curiosity, but I still like it. Also it's just over 20 minutes, I think... go for it if you find it in the bins for 3-5 euros, otherwise no need, I'd say.

There's another new box out, this time by Stephane Grappelli - happened to see it by chance on the amazon.fr website: Stephane Grappelli in Paris (Coffret 7 CD) Disque 1 1. Them There Eyes 2. Flamingo 3. Makin' Whoopee 4. Looking At You 5. Walkin' My Baby Back Home 6. My One And Only Love 7. Thou Swell Disque 2 1. I Won'T Dance 2. The Folks Who Live On The Hill 3. Autumn Leaves 4. My Heart Stood Still 5. Blues For Musidisc 6. If I Had You Disque 3 1. The Lady Is A Tramp 2. Fascinatin' Rhythm 3. Dans La Vie 4. Cheek To Cheek 5. A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square 6. Taking A Chance On Love 7. 'S Wonderful 8. Someone To Watch Over Me 9. If I Had You 10. Body And Soul 11. I Want To Be Happy 12. She'S Funny That Way 13. Time After Time 14. Just One Of Those Things 15. Slow En Ré Majeur (I'Ll Be Around) 16. Taking A Chance On Love 17. Someone To Watch Over Me Disque 4 1. It'S All Right With Me 2. You'Re The Top 3. Anything Goes 4. In The Still Of The Night 5. You'Ve Got A Thing 6. Miss Otis Regrets 7. I'Ve Got You Under My Skin 8. Love For Sale 9. Easy To Love 10. You'D Be So Nice To Come Home To 11. Let'S Do It, Let'S Fall In Love 12. My Heart Belongs To Daddy Disque 5 1. How High The Moon 2. Blues In The Dungeon 3. Skip It 4. S'Posin' 5. Willow Weep For Me 6. This Can'T Be Love Disque 6 1. Django 2. Nuages 3. Alabamy Bound 4. You Better Go Now 5. Le Tien 6. Like Someone In Love 7. Minor Swing 8. Daphné 9. Soft Winds 10. Makin' Whoopee 11. How About You ? 12. Pent-Up House Disque 7 1. The Nearness Of You 2. Night And Day 3. Don'T Worry 'Bout Me 4. Tangerine 5. I Can'T Believe That You'Re In Love With Me 6. Lady Be Good 7. Lover Man 8. Birth Of The Blues 9. Aime-Moi 10. Viens Au Creux De Mon Epaule Didn't yet compare with the original JiP discs of his, but there's definitely more material on it (the amazon.fr title adds [bonus] to the description).

Hm, the Dylans seem to be around for such prizes constantly (still I don't have either of them). My dad has the LP-sized box of Bootleg Vols 1-3, but I guess the best one to get now is the long box, assuming it also has a big booklet (the one in the LP-sized box was only in long-box format, i.e. like those Fantasy boxes by Dolphy or Joe Henderson)? There also seems to be a cube box around (both of Boot 1-3 and Biograph). I'm tempted by the Jimi Hendrix Experience box (for 34$)... it's not listed on the link above. The Peggy Lee also looks tempting. The Janis Joplin is rather one to skip I guess - or are the bonus bits worth getting it? I have the four albums already, in their Legacy reissues with bonus tracks...

Maybe its just me but I absolutely love 'Bout Soul-some of the most out-leaning McLean that I know of! I won't necessarily disagree - let's just call it "uneven", ok? I mean I don't need to re-listen to that lady's overacted poem recitation another time in the coming five years or so (and I guess it's been five years since I last heard it). Anyway, I'm a fan of McLean's early years, having most that's been out in recent years... but for those who have doubts about what McLean to buy, this is one I'd rather recommend to skip, still.

Irene Kral - The Band and I (Capitol/United Artists)

Neither of these have made my collection yet so now is probably the time if at all. I'm a Jackie fan, should I be without either of these? Both are very, very good. The first track on Jacknife is worth the price of admission as well as the final track on Right Now! Sad to see these go OOP (Right Now! again). For some time a good deal of McLean's BN output, sans 'Bout Soul, Tippin' the Scales, SSS and OSB, were readily available. Agreed on Jacknife and Right Now! As for the others you mention, it seems 'Bout Soul is one of those Conns that will never vanish... Hutcherson's Components is a similar case (though in the current EMI sales here it doesn't turn up). Those may be OOP but there seems to be plenty of stock around. Bad sellers, I guess... (and for some good reasons in the case of 'Bout Soul!)

strange, i would have thought blues for lou was a conn, and i am 85% sure, my copy of San Francisco is marked as a Rare Groove somehow... don't have it here... sorry for the confusion but that remark quoted from my post only applied to the listing preceeding it! and thanks for listing that "unreleased sessions" batch, you're correct of course, those were Conns not RGs - but at least in those two cases they could have just as well been Rare Grooves! so once more sorry for the confusion!

Here are the ones I can confirm being Rare Grooves (I own them) - from among the earlier batches: Brother Jack McDuff - Down Home Style Donald Byrd - Kofi Grant Green - Carryin' On *** NEW IN LIST *** Grant Green - Blues for Lou John Patton - Boogaloo John Patton - Memphis to New York Spirit John Patton - Understanding Lonnie Smith - Live at the Club Mozambique Lou Donaldson - Everything I Play Is Funky Lou Donaldson - Good Gracious Lou Donaldson - Mr. Shing-A-Ling Lou Donaldson - The Scorpion Stanley Turrentine - Common Touch Stanley Turrentine - Easy Walker I also have: Bobby Hutcherson - San Francisco Grant Green - Alive Grant Green - Live at the Lighthouse Reuben Wilson - Love Bug Lou Donaldson - Midnight Creeper but those aren't marked as RGs in any way. About the batch that included Green's Blues for Lou and Donaldson's Everything I Play Is Funky - that was the one preceeding the final one from 2002. Wasn't that some kind of "previously unissued sessions" batch? I dimly seem to remember, but I don't have any True Blue catalogues from back then to check (I throw this stuff away, mostly...) And how about Lou Donaldson's "Alligator Boogaloo"? Never saw that... part of the series or not?

So it seems the list is too long rather than too short - or is there anything missing? I haven't followed the Rare Grooves for way too long, only just got "Memphis to New York Spirit", for instance, and I'm still missing out on many of those (got several of the Donaldsons and Pattons though, about half o the 2002 batch, and all but the Steig and the Humphrey from the new ones!)

Thanks Lon - will do a search for the Hutcherson later, on the run right now! Will have to think some about the Kentons... I got enough I guess, but then...

Anyone has a complete list of the BN Rare Grooves? I found this one (by Noj) on the other forum: BLUE MITCHELL-DOWN WITH IT BOBBI HUMPHREY-SATIN DOLL BOBBY HUTCHERSON-SAN FRANCISCO BROTHER JACK MCDUFF-DOWN HOME STYLE CANDIDO-BEAUTIFUL DONALD BYRD-CARICATURES DONALD BYRD-ELECTRIC BYRD DONALD BYRD-FANCY FREE DONALD BYRD-KOFI DONALD BYRD-PLACES AND SPACES DONALD BYRD-STREET LADY DUKE PEARSON-I DON'T CARE WHO KNOWS IT DUKE PEARSON-SWEET HONEY BEE DUKE PEARSON-THE RIGHT TOUCH EDDIE HENDERSON-SUNBURST GARY BARTZ-MUSIC IS MY SANCTUARY GENE HARRIS AND THE THREE SOUNDS-LIVE AT THE "IT" CLUB (2 vols) GRANT GREEN-ALIVE GRANT GREEN-CARRYIN' ON GRANT GREEN-GREEN IS BEAUTIFUL *** NEW IN LIST *** Grant Green - Blues for Lou JACK MCDUFF-MOON RAPPIN' JIMMY MCGRIFF-ELECTRIC FUNK JIMMY MCGRIFF-THE WORM JOHN PATTON-ACCENT ON THE BLUES JOHN PATTON-BOOGALOO JOHN PATTON-GOT A GOOD THING GOIN' ON JOHN PATTON-LET 'EM ROLL JOHN PATTON-MEMPHIS TO NEW YORK SPIRIT JOHN PATTON-UNDERSTANDING LONNIE SMITH-DRIVES LONNIE SMITH-LIVE AT THE CLUB MOZAMBIQUE LONNIE SMITH-MOVE YOUR HAND LOU DONALDSON-EVERYTHING I PLAY IS FUNKY LOU DONALDSON-GOOD GRACIOUS LOU DONALDSON-MR.SHING-A-LING LOU DONALDSON-PRETTY THINGS LOU DONALDSON-THE SCORPION - LIVE AT THE CADILLAC CLUB REUBEN WILSON-BLUE MODE REUBEN WILSON-LOVE BUG RICHARD GROOVE HOLMES-COMIN' ON HOME RONNIE FOSTER-TWO HEADED FREAP STANLEY TURRENTINE-COMMON TOUCH STANLEY TURRENTINE-EASY WALKER VARIOUS ARTISTS-BLUE NOTE RARE GROOVES VARIOUS ARTISTS-BLUE BREAK BEATS (VOLUME 1) VARIOUS ARTISTS-BLUE BREAK BEATS (VOLUME 2) VARIOUS ARTISTS-BLUE BREAK BEATS (VOLUME 3) VARIOUS ARTISTS-BLUE BREAK BEATS (VOLUME 4) VARIOUS ARTISTS-THE LOST GROOVES The batch previous to the new ones consted of the following (included above) and was released in 2002: Gary Bartz - Music Is My Sanctuary* Donald Byrd - Caricatures* Candido - Beautiful Eddie Henderson - Sunburst Richard Groove Holmes - Comin' On Home Bobbi Humphrey - Satin Doll Jack McDuff - Moon Rappin' Jimmy McGriff - The Worm John Patton - Got a Good Thing Goin' *) I'm not sure these are Rare Grooves - I think at least the Bartz I've also seen as one of those French BN reissues (those with miniature liners, that run of discs also included an Alphonse Mouzon album, Eddie Gale's "Black Rhythm Happening" and some others which I don't remember). The new batch (2008) is: Eddie Henderson - Heritage Bobbi Humphrey - Fancy Dancer Jeremy Steig - Howlin' for Judy Three Sounds - Soul Symphony Three Sounds - Elegant Soul Reuben Wilson - Set Us Free how about: Bobbi Humphrey - Black and Blue Lou Donaldson - The Midnight Creeper Were these Rare Grooves as well? I'm a bit confused as several I have aren't packed with clear trays and the spine "Rare Grooves" logo (i.e. The Midnight Creeper, Love Bug, Green's Alive). Is there anything missing from the list?

anyone? I guess I'll get the Adderley anyway, so what about the Hutcherson and those three Kentons?

oh, and "Capuchin Swing" is a fine album but it sounds horrible - it's one of those RVGs I rarely ever play because of that... couldn't tell what exactly is the problem... but I wonder: does anyone here have a similar reaction to it?

I like it! /Shaft Another . Not essential Rouse or bossa nova for that matter, but very enjoyable. yes - a nice one! not essential but nice. only just got it, good timing

I guess even those not into Kenton should give City of Glass a chance... also Showcase is nice. And then, the Basie Bond album is a very good one! Some great Lockjaw solos there! The Don Ellis may not be to everyone's taste, but from the albums I've heard, I still consider the Monterey one the best! And finally, Sheila Jordan's Blue Note album is one of the most special (and dearest in this household) ever committed to disc

Hm, several on this list that I'll need to get before they're gone for good: Tina Brooks - The Waiting Game Leo Parker - Let Me Tell You 'Bout It Jack Wilson - Easterly Winds Sarah Vaughan/Lester Young - Town Hall 1947 maybe also: Cannonball Adderley - Domination Bobby Hutcherson - Now! also possibly some more Kenton (Balboa, Tropicana, Viva Kenton are the ones) what's the word on these "maybe" ones? and the three Kentons? Just in case, here are the other deletions (other than Conns and RVGs): Big Band Cannonball Adderley - Domination (with Oliver Nelson) Count Basie - Breakfast Dance And Barbecue Count Basie - Basie Meets Bond Count Basie - The Count Basie Story (2 CDs) Don Ellis - Live At Monterey Don Ellis - Jazz In 3 & 2/3 /4 Time Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra - Consummation Stan Kenton - At The Las Vegas Tropicana Stan Kenton - Back To Balboa Stan Kenton - City Of Glass Stan Kenton - Kenton Showcase Stan Kenton - Standards In Silhouette Stan Kenton - Viva Kenton! Buddy Rich - Buddy And Soul Vocal Mose Allison - Jazz Profile Dr. John - Sippiana Hericane Billie Holiday - Billie's Blues Sheila Jordan - Portrait Of Sheila Peggy Lee - Basin Street East Presents Julie London - About The Blues The Best Of Nellie Lutcher Bobby McFerrin - Spontaneous Inventions Dakota Staton & George Shearing - In The Night Sarah Vaughan - Sarah Sings Soulfully Sarah Vaughan & Lester Young - Town Hall Concert 1947 Joe Williams - A Swinging Night At Birdland Joe Williams And Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra The Best Of Joe Williams Afro Cuban Laurindo Almeida & Bud Shank - Brazilliance-Volume 2 Art Blakey - African Beat Los Van Van - Dancing Wet Sabu - Palo Congo DVDs The Manhattan Project (Wayne Shorter, Michel Petrucciani, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White) Michel Petrucciani - Power Of Three (with Wayne Shorter & Jim Hall)