Leeway

Took in some shows while on a short trip to NYC this past week: I'm a Beckmann fan and this was a very fine exhibit at the Met, not too small, not too large, nicely curated. An artist new to me, but this exhibit at Met Breuer packed a punch. I'd rate it a must-see: Incredible artifacts at Met: I was not wowed by the Picabia at MOMA. I had nagging doubts about his artistry: A Revolutionary Impulse: The Rise of the Russian Avant-Garde at MOMA. It's a dismal irony to think that Stalin erased this revolutionary artistic fervor, if not the artists themselves. A lot of art worth seeing.

I see the Bellow only goes to 1964. I wonder what Leader makes of the (as I perceive it) dour neocon years following. Maybe there are some surprises there. Would you say that Leader is simpatico with Bellow?

Could have rightly been called Depression as it seems most of the characters are suffering from that malady. The central character, Maria (Mar-I-ah of course) is a sort of modern-day Tess, punishing herself as much as she is punished. Very downbeat, but cool and hip too.

I recall one or two brief mentions of Bellow in this book, although oddly enough he does't appear in the Index. The "Partisan Review" crowd was pretty incestuous and usually turn up in each other's personal accounts.

A biography of one of America's most influential art critics.

A book as strange as its author. The book consists of dozens and dozens of stories by "Tarden," a member of "the Service," in which Tarden injects himself, for better or worse Usually worse), into the lives of others, often at random. This is sometimes fascinating, sometimes mundane, but as the stories keep coming, it becomes wearying, especially as there seems little sense in what goes on. A deeper message? Hard to say. Perhaps it is an extreme version of Kosinski's The Painted Bird.

Incredible album, and love the psychedelic cover.

Finished the fourth and final volume in The Alexandria Quartet. Overall, it was a worthwhile reading experience. Durrell is interested in narrative devices, but I find he also has a strong poetic faculty, and there are many lovely scenes in these volumes. It might be a minor classic, but it is a classic nonetheless.

Double set last night that stretched well past midnight in Baltimore, MD. First set: Michael Formanek (b), Hank Roberts (cello), Ches Smith Smith (d). This set had its moments but there were stretches where nothing interesting happened. It seemed the group lacked for ideas, and a bass/cello combo wasn't always ideal for lighting fires. Chez didn't seem on his "A" game. Overall, a solid "B" grade. The second set: Nels Cline (g), Larry Ochs (sax), Gerald Cleaver (d). The trio came out of the gate roaring, and there were a lot of dynamic moments through the set. News can make some beautiful sounds on guitar. Cleaver worked the kit like a boxer working the body. Ochs alternated between soprano and tenor saxes, with a wholly WTF attitude. Struck me as a pretty satisfying set. "A-" The evening was wrapped by an encore consisting of the two trios joined together. It was a generous, energized, if a bit disjointed effort by the six musicians.

& 2 10" discs, vol. 1 & 2 Mats Gustafsson - as, bari, elec; Per-Ake Holmander - tuba, cimbasso; Kjell Nordeson, vibes; Dieb13, turntable, elec; Erik Carlsson, drums.

Johnny Mizo Dyani - Witchdoctor's Son 'Together'

Spark's novels are wickedly amusing. finished: 3rd in the Alexandria Quartet, and the only one in the 3rd person narrative. A somewhat puzzle narrative choice. I've been enjoying the works. More so than other novels, I suspect it takes two or three readings to really fully grasp what Durrell is doing. It's better than it seems on first blush.

& Some exciting music here.

LPM-2763. Hip.

Modern Jazz From West Germany Wewerka Archive (1962-1968) –Double LP. Cool in a retro way, with harbingers of more audacious music to come for at least some of the musicians playing here.

I should have mentioned that those Actuel Doubles (Two-Fers?) always strike me as a bit quirky coming from an avant label. STEAM is a good one.

Haslam (bari, targato) and Coxhill (curved soprano sax) perform solos.

Kahil El' Zabar Ritual Trio, Tropicalia, Washington DC, Dec. 3. With David Murray and Harrison Bankhead. Murray is phenomenal in a small club, small ensemble setting. Loved Harrison Bankhead's fat, warm bass notes. Seen El' Zabar a number of times, he still brings the energy and feeling, elements not always present in this music.

I doubt the "stomach bump" is getting reissued. Yeah, I like this, a roomful of geniuses making idiosyncratic music.

Emanem LP.