John B Posted November 15, 2005 Report Posted November 15, 2005 I'm going to place an order for Roscoe's live album The Bad Guys and was hoping to get some feedback on a few other albums of his that I am considering. The albums I was hoping for comments on are: 3 x 4 Eye This Dance is for Steve McCall The Flow of Things Solo Live at Muhle Hunziken More Cutouts 8 O'clock Four Compositions Sound & Space Ensembles Out of these I am leaning towards This Dance is for Steve McCall, but I would love to hear from people who are more familiar with these recordings. Are any of these a better first choice than the others? Are any of them albums that I should wait on until I get a little farther along in my listening? For non-AEC releases I already have (and love) Snurdy McGurdy, L-R-G, The Maze, Duets & Solos (live) and Song for My Sister. Thanks! Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted November 15, 2005 Report Posted November 15, 2005 My first choice would be More Cutouts. Quote
David Ayers Posted November 15, 2005 Report Posted November 15, 2005 I dislike and got rid of 3 x 4 Eye and Sound & Space Ensembles. A couple of OK Roscoe solos but the band doesn't shine and the focus is not clear. This Dance is for Steve McCall is OK - more music and more variety. The others I don't know. Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted November 15, 2005 Report Posted November 15, 2005 This Dance is For Steve McCall is great. There's a fantastic version of Joseph Jarman's 'Ericka'. Some s(S)ound explorations as well (e.g. 'Uptown Strut', 'Ah'). Also, a nice version of 'The Far East Blues' from 'Snurdy...' It also gets extremely intense at times ('The Rodney King Affair', 'This Dance is for Steve McCall'). I actually bought this at the same time as 'The Flow of Things', and preferred it. I think it's more coherent as an album, and there is more variety (two linked statements, I'm sure!). IIRC, it consists of 3 versions of the title piece (perhaps a couple of live takes?), together with other (perhaps one of the pieces cued by playing cards?). Nonetheless, I do enjoy 'Flow...', and it continues to grow on me. I don't know any of the others as yet, although I intend to look out for what's said here! Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted November 15, 2005 Report Posted November 15, 2005 p.s. this might help as well! Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted November 15, 2005 Report Posted November 15, 2005 Unlike David, I like 3x 4eye. Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted November 15, 2005 Report Posted November 15, 2005 New Releases Discuss new releases from various labels. 567 7363 Yesterday, 05:06 PM In: New Roscoe Mitchell By: jlhoots Offering and Looking For... Trade, sell, swap, recordings with fellow members. 1481 7654 Today, 06:00 AM In: Art Ensemble 1967/68 By: Johnny E Recommendations Suggest recordings to your fellow board (bored?) members... 1146 23174 Today, 04:50 PM In: Roscoe Mitchell recommendat... By: Chuck Nessa For sure there's much to deplore about the state of the contemporary music scene etc. etc. - so how nice to log on to the board to be faced with this run of active topics! Quote
Guest Chaney Posted November 15, 2005 Report Posted November 15, 2005 The Bad Guys is pretty good but probably not what I'd consider essential. It has it's AEC-type moments (the space between notes...) and erupting volcano moments, which are good - and comprise most of the album. There are also other moments -- including a funk thang -- that don't thrill me. I tend to be funk/greeze adverse, though. Quote
Joe Posted November 15, 2005 Report Posted November 15, 2005 (edited) Another vote for 3 X 4 EYE. I happen to think "Variations on a Folk Song Written in the Sixties" is one of this band's -- and Mitchell's -- most beautiful recorded performances. The QUARTET date (with Muhal, George Lewis and Spencer Barefield) recently reissued by Sackville is also very much worth picking up, IMO. Edited November 15, 2005 by Joe Quote
ep1str0phy Posted November 15, 2005 Report Posted November 15, 2005 I actually bought this at the same time as 'The Flow of Things', and preferred it. I think it's more coherent as an album, and there is more variety (two linked statements, I'm sure!). IIRC, it consists of 3 versions of the title piece (perhaps a couple of live takes?), together with other (perhaps one of the pieces cued by playing cards?). Nonetheless, I do enjoy 'Flow...', and it continues to grow on me. ← I, too, enjoy 'Flow', but it's a terribly daunting listen and hardly indicative of the whole of Roscoe's bag. It's a fine document of his technique and a great opportunity to hear a stellar band, but it focuses on a rather narrow range of ideas. 'Flow' is like 'Prepare Thyself to Deal with a Miracle' (the Rahsaan album) in many ways--not just the nonstop sax improv... on the whole, it's just as much focused on a specific improvisational process as it is compositions and group interaction. Honestly, I don't think there's that much variety, although what's there is great for what it is. I would have hoped for a more "synoptic" document of the Mitchell/Christian/Favors/McCall group--immensely talented, any way you cut it. Quote
ep1str0phy Posted November 18, 2005 Report Posted November 18, 2005 Bump to say I just got Snurdy McGurdy. Beautiful, uplifting stuff... been kinda bummed out lately, and this one picked me right up. Props to RM, Mr. Nessa, and all involved. Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted November 19, 2005 Report Posted November 19, 2005 Beautiful, uplifting stuff...been kinda bummed out lately, and this one picked me right up. Props to RM, Mr. Nessa, and all involved. ← Couldn't agree more. The date's got a great feel to it. Sounded like it was fun to make! Quote
jlhoots Posted November 19, 2005 Report Posted November 19, 2005 Ordered More Cutouts from the AEC website. Hope it shows up. Quote
jlhoots Posted December 8, 2005 Report Posted December 8, 2005 Ordered More Cutouts from the AEC website. Hope it shows up. Finally arrived yesterday. Great stuff. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted December 9, 2005 Report Posted December 9, 2005 Ordered More Cutouts from the AEC website. Hope it shows up. Finally arrived yesterday. Great stuff. I think this is a recording that will grow on you with each listen. Quote
sal Posted September 5, 2006 Report Posted September 5, 2006 Dear lord this is good. Picked up this difficult-to-find disc at Roscoe's show this past Friday.....its excellent! Quote
B. Clugston Posted September 5, 2006 Report Posted September 5, 2006 A couple of LPs worth reviving as CDs are the Creative Orchestra Sketches from Bamboo (on Moers) and Duets with Anthony Braxton (Sackville). Both are excellent. Quote
ep1str0phy Posted September 14, 2006 Report Posted September 14, 2006 Am I the only one who likes ...and the Sound and Space Ensembles? On the level of a lot of the Roscoe I've heard; the stranger, perhaps more insipid moments (including the rap and Buckner's acquired taste vocals) are quite fun on repeated listening. There can never be enough sessions with the Mitchell/Ragin/Barefield/Shahid/Tabbal conglomerate (or derivatives thereof, as featured here). Quote
Hot Ptah Posted September 14, 2006 Report Posted September 14, 2006 "Nonaah" is my all time favorite by Roscoe Mitchell. "Snurdy McGurdy" is another favorite. I never checked out "More Cutouts" but will certainly do so now. Quote
B. Clugston Posted September 14, 2006 Report Posted September 14, 2006 Am I the only one who likes ...and the Sound and Space Ensembles? On the level of a lot of the Roscoe I've heard; the stranger, perhaps more insipid moments (including the rap and Buckner's acquired taste vocals) are quite fun on repeated listening. There can never be enough sessions with the Mitchell/Ragin/Barefield/Shahid/Tabbal conglomerate (or derivatives thereof, as featured here). You are not alone. One of my favourite Mitchell albums. The shocking contrast between the arty "Words" and the funky rave-up "You Wastin My Time" is a scream. I dig Mitchell's bass sax and Gerald Oshita's contrabass sarrusophone on the latter. Also features "Linefine Lyon Seven" and "Variations on Sketches from Bamboo," two of Mitchell's better compositions. Quote
ep1str0phy Posted September 14, 2006 Report Posted September 14, 2006 I think the Penguin guide called it sui generis. While I don't think that the album is beyond reproach or contextualization, it really is one of the strangest, most schizophrenic of Mitchell albums. And I really do love "You Wastin' My Time." Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted March 24, 2007 Report Posted March 24, 2007 Am really enjoying LRG-The Maze-SII Ensembles at the moment, having received it only a couple of days ago from Chuck. The solo is quite stunning - should be compulsory listening for so-called improv 'reductionists'. Unbelievable to sustain that for 17-odd minutes Chuck - any memories of the percussion session? Must have been quite a sight..! Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted March 27, 2007 Report Posted March 27, 2007 (edited) Ann used many rolls of film on that date and one of the Columbia engineers (I think union rules required 4 men for this studio) tried calling his wife to bring in his video camera. Sadly he didn't reach her. It was an amazing project. We managed one session shot for the lp jacket but I didn't think (at the time) it would work in the small cd format. My mistake. This whole project took a year to complete and I hope some day the details are recorded somewhere. Edited March 27, 2007 by Chuck Nessa Quote
GregK Posted March 28, 2007 Report Posted March 28, 2007 Am really enjoying LRG-The Maze-SII Ensembles at the moment, having received it only a couple of days ago from Chuck. The solo is quite stunning - should be compulsory listening for so-called improv 'reductionists'. Unbelievable to sustain that for 17-odd minutes Chuck - any memories of the percussion session? Must have been quite a sight..! This album has been the most difficult one for me to "get". I have found it easier to listen to some Braxton than this one! Quote
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