Steve Reynolds

Stumps Sven Ake Johansen group some of the Ictus box some of the Zlatko Kaucic box / the trio with Doerner is great Ostertag/Rose/Hemingway from mid 2010’s is incredible Rotations with Schick, Hautzinger & Sven / amazing Nathan Hubbard/Kyle Motl: Obsedian worlds with Joelle, Lotte & Kresten Osgood is stunning Martina Verhoeven quartet: Indicator Light Blue Plum Bloom: Buck, Mayas & Brown Splitter Orchestra: splitter musik 3 CD set mind blowing look at my shows for new names or under the radar names to watch out for Sandy Ewen, Maggie Cox, Chuck Roth, Michael Foster, Hans Young Binter, Orchid McRae, Webb Crawford, Brian Chase, Tim Dahl, Jessica Pavone, Joanna Mattrey, Anna Abondolo, etc.

plus Mary always adds local small room improv gigs when she’s in town. Brandon Lopez plays even more. Has to be close to 300 gigs a year. fwiw Tyshawn had three drums. Snare, small Tom, bass drum. Ride cymbal & one other cymbal. Devastatingly great. 55 minutes. Micah elevated the last 15 or so. Tyshawn giving lessons.

Last night at The Stone: Micah Thomas on grand piano, Jessica Pavone on viola, Mary Halvorson on guitar & Leslie Mok on drums 40 minute improv followed by an 18 minute piece Mary & Jessica playing on another level Tonight is Micah with Tyshawn Sorey. Starts in about 10 minutes both nights front row center tomorrow night in Brooklyn Maggie Cox solo contrabass Brandon Lopez, Chuck Roth & Dennis Sullivan / saw this trio a year ago at The Stone. They were great. Have a feeling it’s gonna be even better as Chuck is on fire lately.

Last night at The Stone Wendy Eisenberg, Trevor Dunn (on electric bass) & Ches Smith 40 minute improv followed by a 10 minute coda Wendy about 20% too loud but a great performance by the band. Her tone is not my favorite but Trevor & Ches are genius level musicians and the power & occasional grace and mystery of the excursions was palpable. Plus as always sitting first row leaning in is an awe inspiring experience with that drum/bass combination.

Tim Berne, Elias Stemesedar, Nels Cline & Tom Rainey at Lowlands last night 3 improvisations lasting an hour. 18 minute encore. simply one of the greatest sets of music I’ve ever witnessed. 3 feet from Nels. Berne introduces Tom Rainey as the greatest drummer in the world and he’s not wrong. previous night among other sets, Jessica Pavone, Chris Cochrane & Brian Chase Incredible 30 minute improvisation. Pavone is a genius level player. golden age of this music continues maybe something tonight Saturday night: Malaby, Ehrlich, Hebert & Rainey / grand masters at play

Seeing Tyshawn twice in June at Jazz Gallery (6/11 & 6/14). Band not listed yet. I’d love to see this trio. Two sets each night so no continuous set. I saw his quintet on 3/2/2020 right before the lockdown do a 2 hour plus continuous set.

Among other shows, Monday night / I was at 7 shows within 11 days, I think Sandy Ewen, Ravi Coltrane, Damon Smith & James Paul Nadien at the Record Shop astounding moreso with Ravi on tenor rather than soprano Sandy Ewen is a genius & my first time seeing Damon Smith live other standout sets during my recent run of gigs (looks like nothing until 2/19) I’m resting up:) Hans Young Binter, Anna Abondolo & Orchid McRae!!! Michael Foster, Joe Moffet & Eli Wallace!!! Larry Ochs, Ken Filiano & Tom Rainey!!! Ochs, Nels Cline & Chad Taylor!!!!! Tony Malaby, Sean Ali & Flin van Hemmen!!! Ingrid Laubrock, Chuck Roth & Cecelia Lopez!!!!!!!! Chuck & Ingrid destroyed reality. Best I’ve heard Cecelia.

Don’t miss among others At Union Pool with Patrick Holmes & Ryan Sawyer devastating awe inspiring Her performance with Nels Cline & Booker Stardum at Solar Myth this past fall was among the best examples of improvised beyond possible stuff I’ve ever experienced. so blessed to have seen her play 4 times last year. If not for a back problem recently I would have been at her final performance which was a solo set at Zurcher Gallery on January 21st.

Omg this is awful i just saw her play a few months ago genius level improvisor very very nice person as well RIP

Richard Manual was a genius level singer until drugs ruined him

Last night at The Stone Che’s Smith, Darius Jones & Craig Taborn 4 improvisations 50 minutes total. Good to great. Grand masters at work. So focused.

Saturday night Tony Malaby, Ben Monder & Tom Rainey first set A second set among the best 45 minutes of music I’ve ever seen Sunday night Hans Young Binter (keys), Ana Abondolo (fretless electric bass) & Orchid McRae (drums etc.) stunning 35 minute piece Michael Foster, Nate Wooley, Brandon Lopez & Ted Byrnes Mercy!!! 30 minutes from grand masters in prime form

It’s great to hear the group now. Love to see them live. Saw them with KV in 2002 at Tonic in NYC. Incredible.

I was 3 feet from Ryan Sawyer last night trio with Sam Newsome & Brandon Lopez incredible improvised set at a tiny bar (Ore Bar) in Brooklyn I’ve been lazy posting but I think I’ve been at 10-12 shows this month so far The scene in NYC/Brooklyn is smoking hot. highlights: Lotte Anker, Brandon Lopez & the *great* Randy Peterson Air Legacy Trio with Marty Ehrlich, Hilliard Green & Pheeroan akLaff Michael Foster with Webb Crawford & Joey Sullivan plus Steve Swell Thurston Moore with John Leidecker, Alex Ward, Zoh Amba & Ryan Sawyer Fred Frith solo Fred Frith, Lotte Anker & I can never remember the other musician’s name

One of the greatest “pure” improvisers there ever was. Saw him at a few amazing shows. With Evan Parker, Mat Maneri & Gerry Hemingway to name 3 great great performances. RIP, sir

Ahmed playing live next Spring @ Roulette in Brooklyn!!!

Last night 2 great short sets: Michael Foster: tenor & soprano saxophones Webb Crawford: banjo Brandon Lopez: bass then: Nate Wooley: trumpets & electronics Chris Corsano: drums Ches Smith: drums & electronics

Last night in Catskill, NY Michael Foster, Webb Crawford & Joey Sullivan great to see our Clifford there:) strong 30 minute piece with the last third with Foster on soprano altering molecules. Webb on her baby Gibson & tenor banjo. Extraordinary improvisor.

2 short intense magisterial sets from the trio. Monder & Malaby are brilliant together. great new small room opened in June. 4 feet from the musicians. Close Up indeed.

Tonight: Tony Malaby, Ben Monder & Tom Rainey 2 sets at Close Up in NYC last Thursday second set was John Blum & Chuck Roth duo 38 minute & 20 minute unrelenting improvisations / Blum almost too much. He’s so great it’s often too much. Chuck Roth from another planet.

Hoping Mat & Lucian get the quartet together again soon with Brandon Lopez & Randy Peterson tonight Tim Berne with Greg Belisle-Chi, Aurora Nealand, John Hebert & Tom Rainey at Lowlands in Brooklyn

Yes I’ve seen him fairly often the last 2 years. Playing as great as ever. As far as “jazz” bassists in NYC, Helias & Hebert are the best. Brandon Lopez is a great “jazz” bassist but besides his playing in Mat Maneri’s quartet, most of what he does is abstract improv. Untouchable in those areas. Genius.

Last night at Solar Myth: Nels Cline, Greg Belisle-Chi, John Hebert & Chad Taylor compositions fine set but nowhere near the night before. Nels & Hebert were the stars. Greg a good foil but he still needs a way to go. Tough spot playing across from Nels Cline. He’s only on the scene less than 5 years so hopefully he will continue to progress with Berne. I’ll see him & Hebert on Tuesday with Berne, Aurora Nealand & Tom Rainey.

Darius is great live. I’ve heard him play stuff I’ve never heard on record. fwiw you dudes are spoiled (but not as much as I am) with Edwards/Sanders & Edwards/Noble I’m upset that Cleaver isn’t in NYC any longer and I don’t get to hear Lopez/Cleaver. Best combo along with Lopez/Peterson. Hoping Mat Maneri puts together a few shows this fall with his great quartet with Lucian Ban. Saw them 5 times last fall. I do hear Ches Smith, Tom Rainey all the time and I never take it for granted and even once in a while, Randy Peterson I saw Ches 4-5 times the last few weeks As far as bassists, some good younger ones finding their way: Henry Fraser, Kyle Motl, John Moran, Ana Abondolo, etc. also Sean Ali is great Brandon Lopez is the best bassist in NYC posted on the live shows thread: Nels Cline with Susan Alcorn & Booker Stardum last night was incredible. Mind blowing. Astounding from a variety of standpoints.

Last night at Solar Myth in Philadelphia Nels Cline on guitar Susan Alcorn on pedal steel guitar Booker Stardum on drums (first time seeing him) 55 minute improv followed by 8-9 minute encore maybe the best show of the year. Nels amazing but Susan Alcorn destroyed the universe. One of the greatest musicians on the planet.