What live music are you going to see tonight?

[JSngry]

You would have, if only to tell the tale!

[Steve Reynolds]

Ballister>>>>>>>>>>>>any game 

As great as Rempis is, Fred Lonberg-Holm is one of the greatest true improvisors on the planet.  

Edited April 10 by Steve Reynolds

[JSngry]

  On 4/10/2025 at 12:23 AM, Steve Reynolds said:

Ballister>>>>>>>>>>>>any game 

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So...are steaks better than Venetian blinds?

Are clothespins better than lightbulbs?

Are aquariums better than grocery stores?

Are day games better than banjo picks?

[Steve Reynolds]

Ballister is more rare! No improvising trio sound remotely like them. The opportunity to see them up close is very very special to those of us interested in this type of music. Grand Masters at play/work. 

 

I do understand the idea of a dude from England seeing a game at Wrigley. Maybe once in a lifetime.  I love games/sports too.

But I’m a music guy. Avant-garde guy. I go to over a hundred shows a year. 

plus I’m an objectavist (if that’s a valid term) as are most of my music friends & the few close musician friends I have. What’s great is great. When my musician friend is chatting with Mark Helias the other night we both agreed it’s not our opinion that he’s a master, it’s the truth. We both don’t “think” Randy Peterson & Nasheet Waits are genius level drummers, it’s obvious to those of us who witness it. 
 

The performance a week ago tomorrow was better than any game, save for Boston championship victories. 
 

Among the best 10–15 shows I’ve seen the last couple of years. They are great. 

Edited April 10 by Steve Reynolds

[JSngry]

Mark Helias is certainly a master, but so is Corey Seager. And he had a pretty good game this afternoon!

But don't be fooled - it's baseball and bass playing, so direct comparisons are really kinda silly.

 

[Rabshakeh]

Look, it was indoors. I was able to wear a tee shirt. Chicago is, it turns out, very cold. Have some mercy.

Good gig. A different feel to your average Wednesday night OTO crowd or my comparatively limited NY experiences. 

[Steve Reynolds]

Last night at Roulette

Gerry Hemingway: drums, marimba, etc.

Earl Howard: alto saxophone, saxello & electronics 

Anthony Davis: grand piano 

Kyle Motl: double bass

2 sets 45 & 50 minutes

disparate, brilliant & organic improvisations. Each set 2 pieces. 
 

stunned by two of the four saxophone sections / each was maybe 7-8 minutes of each piece interspersed with the group which played from short solo through duos, trios and the full quartet. WAY beyond my high expectations.

 

 

 

[colinmce]

Sounds great. I will have to look up the livestream of that one.

[Ken Dryden]

I saw Dweezil Zappa last night, his band was tight and they had a sense of the absurd. Especially the new guy, who insisted that they play "Punky's Whips." Even funnier was a cover of Lionel Richie's "Hello," with a duck call in place of the vocal.

 

[JSngry]

  On 4/11/2025 at 12:29 PM, Steve Reynolds said:

Last night at Roulette

Gerry Hemingway: drums, marimba, etc.

Earl Howard: alto saxophone, saxello & electronics 

Anthony Davis: grand piano 

Kyle Motl: double bass

2 sets 45 & 50 minutes

disparate, brilliant & organic improvisations. Each set 2 pieces. 
 

stunned by two of the four saxophone sections / each was maybe 7-8 minutes of each piece interspersed with the group which played from short solo through duos, trios and the full quartet. WAY beyond my high expectations.

 

 

 

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THE Anthony Davis?

[Steve Reynolds]

  On 4/11/2025 at 3:11 PM, JSngry said:

THE Anthony Davis?

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Yes / great to see him live. Amazing. 

[JSngry]

Wish I could have been there!

Not sure how often he plays out these days?

[Steve Reynolds]

  On 4/11/2025 at 3:29 PM, JSngry said:

Wish I could have been there!

Not sure how often he plays out these days?

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I’ve not seen him listed in years. Great to see him say hello to Marty Ehrlich. Seems like they had seen each other in years. 
 

my guess is with Hemingway being in town prompted the gig. Gerry hasn’t been here in almost 2 years. He lives in Switzerland. Summer 2023 he played with Marilyn Crispell & Mark Dresser on 7/1. Played with BassDrumBone a couple of days earlier with Ray Anderson & Mark Helias. Was hoping for a reprise this trip but alas, not happening. 

[BFrank]

Two drummer-centric shows at SFJAZZ this weekend - both with Joe Warner & Tarus Mateen:

Give the Drummer Some: Nasheet Waits
Give the Drummer Some: Marvin 'Smitty' Smith

Unfortunately I couldn't go on Thursday for Billy Hart