clifford_thornton

For my 2 cents, I haven't listened to as much McPhee as many of the posters here. Particularly fond of Tenor and the trio with Mike Kull and whomever else could be found in town on drums (Harold E. Smith; Makaya Ntshoko). Not much for Po Music, though I like Boni and McPhee in other contexts. His sound has gotten more impenetrable over the years, even more difficult to quantify than Lacy's, and maybe that's why I find his music hard to listen to. But Tenor is a motherfucker.

And here I thought this was going to be another "lor." thread!

Gone are the days when Columbia would sign Burton Greene as a tax write-off!

Yeah, but if we're talkin' Sonic Youth covers, I'll take Pettibon over Richter any day.

That is the same sign that's on the cover too. I went and checked. Wild!

Mutha Fucka!!!

Autobiographies? Have you ever read Cecil's or Ornette's liner notes?!?

Hentoff, Giddins, Corbett (sometimes, when he's not being hoity-toity), and Whitehead's pretty good.

I dunno, I interviewed Marshall for AAJ and he was really lucid and had a lot of his own things to say, not necessarily Ra-related. I mean really, you have to assume that the BF-test is a little flawed and loaded towards certain answers. Also, the Ellington-Ra connection would make me think that Jeep is more on the forefront of his brain, and Bird and Jeep don't always sound that dissimilar - especially on ballads. And especially when you consider recording sources, which can mar distinctions.

I agree about the lack of early titles on CD. Nice reissues with detailed liner notes (shit, a lot of us don't have anything better to do - why don't they ask us?) would be helpful. Barre Phillips' "For All it Is" (Japo) really, really needs a reissue. That record is one of the most unique and joyous listening experiences you'll ever have, period.

I loved that Will Ferrell scene - fucking hilarious!!! As for films, well, there's always Michael Snow's "New York Eye & Ear Control" starring the music of Albert Ayler and featuring John Tchicai in a starring role. Depictions of Tchicai, Ayler, Peacock, Murray and the whole gang on film - beautiful, classic stuff. And it's not really a 'documentary' but a piece of film that walks the line between structural and post-structural concerns. Great date flick!

Clean Feed, from Lisbon, is a force to be reckoned with. Over 40 discs in about two years, most free or avant-garde, and many from Portuguese players most of us have never heard of. Great, great roster of superbly-recorded and very 'alive' sessions. www.cleanfeed-records.com Check it!!!

The Japanese free jazz scene is very, very rich, and has been well-documented by labels like PSF, Alm, Trio-Nadja, etc. A few names: Masahiko Togashi (d), Kaoru Abe (as), Sabu Toyozumi (d), Motohiro Yoshizawa (b). Heavy stuff, particularly Abe.

Anything with Don Ellis from the early '60s is a motherfucker, and should be heard. That includes George Russell records, but y'all knew that anyway... Sidewinder, I don't think Simmons' "Rumasuma" is on CD, and the LP is very, very hard to find.

"Black Suite" was #49, "Scorpio" was #50. Both were hijacked from America, so I would think that they might come out as America/Universal CDs before BYGspots. The Coursils and Jones are some of the best from that period, for sure. I'm wondering if they will reissue the Joachim Kuhns or the Acting Trio. Kuhns are pretty good and pretty odd; Acting Trio (buncha heavily obscure French cats, tenor player Philippe Mate the only one of any real recording pedigree) is way, way out. Like Brotzmann playing Stockhausen... except 'French.'

Ray Russell - 3 on CBS, one on RCA-Victor, one on Black Lion. From Atilla Zoller-esque on the first two through a very 'out' hybrid of SHarrock, Bailey and Arto Lindsay on the latter, his career trajectory in the 60s and 70s is something to watch. Plus, his writing and group-assembly tactics are something to behold. I've also been enjoying the first Raymond Boni LP (at least to my knowledge), an album of solo guitar called "L'Oiseau, L'Arbe, Le Beton." Wonderfully warped, yet subtle improvisations, some almost minimalist. LP was on Futura's SON series, and it was reissued on CD by Marge. Don't care as much for his later synth-guitar ramblings, but this is a must for anyone whose solo-guitar tastes run askew.

THis is what I get for posting and abandoning (too busy to be a regular these days)... Yep, Joachim Kuhn is all over the alto on both BYGs as well as his work with Eje Thelin for EMI and Metronome, and his bro' on "Monday Morning" (HorZu-Columbia). All from 1970 onwards. His intonation leaves a lot to be desired, but he's a nutcase on the thing! Until next month... CT

Well, considered Back to the Tracks was only issued as a test pressing at the time, I'd say $1000 is on the low end of the price scale... I met some weirdo (in Paris, actually) who had one!

STEVE POTTS

Joachim Kuhn!

I hear you... he had a few good early years and then appeard to have lost whatever he had by about 1970. I mean, he doesn't even really play on that Tusques Shandar! I was recently trying to decide whether his solo on "Mr. Syms" was interesting because it was so odd or because of a lack of chops... either way, it is 'out'!

Hey guys, Thanks!!! I've been missing the board; my job has cracked down on 'personal internet' in the past months... Started the day an hour ago with Woody Shaw, so you can tell it's off to a good start! Adios Amigos, CT

I thought I read something about coloured vinyl being less dense (in order to dye it) and therefore less high-quality and more likely to be a poor pressing. But maybe that only goes for more recent dyed discs.

c'mon, you don't need no friggin' sound samples! You know the music is intense and badly recorded...

I've had a few of those 'finger to the stubborn grit' experiences. I should only have one of those experiences, but no, I have a few. Luckily nothing expensive, but still no excuse. Oh, and I dropped and broke a This Heat LP a couple of years ago. Probably shouldn't be dealing with records...