Tim Hagans's Animation does Bitches Brew, live

[Guy Berger]

I'm tempted to go. For those more familiar with these musicians -- is this going to be good? If so, would NY-area board members be interested in meeting up for this?

No other record in jazz history sparked more debate than Miles Davis's infamous Bitches Brew. Now almost four decades after its original release, musicians and critics cannot deny its far-reaching influence, especially upon soprano saxophonist and Sunnyside recording artist Bob Belden, who leads Animation in a live rendering of the Miles Davis masterpiece from side A to side B. Animation features Tim Hagans, Scott Kinsey, Matt Garrison, Bill Laswell, Billy Kilson, Guy Licata and DJ Logic. Teo Macero, who produced the original Bitches Brew session, joins the proceedings.

[Rooster_Ties]

I'd go in a heartbeat. I'd drive a couple hours to see that band, even if I had to get back really late, and had to get to work early the next morning.

[Dmitry]

I'll be in NY that weekend.

If anybody wants to see this gig, I'm game.

[jazzbo]

Guy,

In your shoes, there I would be.

[Claude]

That looks interesting.

BTW, Henry Kaiser and Wadada Leo Smith also did a partial remake of "Bitches Brew" on their Upriver album.

[Guy Berger]

I'll be in NY that weekend.

If anybody wants to see this gig, I'm game.

Cool, I will PM you next week. Anyone else? Skeith, catesta, 7/4, maren, PhillyQ?

Guy

[WD45]

They are only doing sides A and B? What about C and D?

Looks like the writer was trying to be cool referencing the LP, but didn't realize it was a double.

[JSngry]

Yeah, I'd go. I just hope they don't get too literal.

[Guy Berger]

Yeah, I'd go. I just hope they don't get too literal.

I also hope they keep it somewhat "down and dirty". It'd be a shame if it is too slick.

Will Teo be playing saxophone?

Guy

[Miles251]

I'd check this concert out in a second if I could. I heard Hagans and Kinsey last summer and dug it alot.

I feel that Hagans could easily be the most logical extension of Miles, especially of that period. His projects with Kinsey and Beldon seem to always have that adventurous lean to my ears.

Have great fun!

[Guy Berger]

UP, concert on Saturday.! NYC-NJ-CT board members, let's meet up.

Guy

[skeith]

I am interested but have another commitment that night. thanks for thinking of me.

[7/4]

I can't go, it's my Dad's 77th birthday. Enjoy yerselves.

[Guy Berger]

This was a very good show. The band was Bob Belden (soprano), Tim Hagans (electric trumpet), Scott Kinsey (keyboards), Matthew Garrison (electric bass guitar & electric standup bass), Guy Licata (drums) and DJ Logic (turntables). They did the entire BB album, with "Spanish Key" to 5th place instead of 3rd.

Highlights for me were "Pharoah's Dance", "Spanish Key" and "Sanctuary". During some of the tracks, the band "updated" the rhythms to more modern drum'n'bass and hip hop grooves, and this usually worked very well. At the best moments, the band also captured some of the turbulent textural density that characterizes this album. They also get points for not copying the album. Hagans was excellent on trumpet.

My biggest beef was with Belden -- he just wasn't effective as a saxophonist. I'm not sure if it was an off night or what, but his playing did only a little for me. (He did do a very nice "mellow" 70s Wayne Shorter, but Wayne also had an edge playing this music that Belden didn't.)

I also had the pleasure of meeting Dmitry and his wife before the show!

Guy

[Guy Berger]

For those who want to hear the performance, a copy has been uploaded to the site which must not be named.

Guy

[Dmitry]

My biggest beef was with Belden -- he just wasn't effective as a saxophonist. I'm not sure if it was an off night or what, but his playing did only a little for me. (He did do a very nice "mellow" 70s Wayne Shorter, but Wayne also had an edge playing this music that Belden didn't.)

I also had the pleasure of meeting Dmitry and his wife before the show!

Guy

yeah, it was nice to hook up with you and your bud Sam the knowledge man. I managed to squeeze out an Omnitone cd out of that rotting carcas of a Tower's Final Sale.

I think what we might be missing here re:Belden, is that he was very sparcely amplified comparing to the rest of the band. I kinda wanted to hear more of what he'd played. I hope they master it well and release an audiophile vinyl of this one. I think they were recording it.

I'd go and see this band again in a heartbeat, warts and all.

[bobbelden]

ANIMATION: "Bitches Brew"

December 9, 2006

Merkin Hall, NYC

TIM HAGANS-trumpet

BOB BELDEN-soprano sax

SCOTT KINSEY-keyboards

MATTHEW GARRISON-bass

GUY LICATA-drums

DJ LOGIC-turntables

Video for Bob Belden by Fabian Ortiz

PHAROAH'S DANCE

BITCHES BREW

JOHN McLAUGHLIN

MILES RUNS THE VOODOO DOWN

SPANISH KEY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q1HazmnFEU

SANCTUARY

[Rooster_Ties]

Oh, man, oh, man, oh, man. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!! - for posting links to those clips!!!

And greetings, notme, and let me be the first to offer you a big welcome to the board!!!

Who you be, notme??? Introduce yourself, and join the party!

[shadowhillway]

I watched a few minutes of the Pharaoh clip on youtube. I am not familiar with Hagans's playing but to me he sounded like a lesser copy of Wallace Roney on this.

[Rooster_Ties]

Is the glass 90% full, or 10% empty?

[Jim Alfredson]

Cool stuff. I know who "notme" is, but I ain't telling. Scott Kinsey is the man. I can't believe he's from Owosso, MI. Why doesn't he sport a mullet?

[bertrand]

'I know who "notme" is, but I ain't telling'

I think we all figured it out

Bertrand.

[.:.impossible]

That shit is hot. I'd love to hear a good mix of this band. Garrison? Did his father play bass, by chance?

[WD45]

I am loving this. That drummer is playing a groove that I could hear all day long.

[.:.impossible]

6 or 7 years ago, my friends and I talked about MMW being the core of a band like this. I guess Uninvisible and The Dropper were as close as they got. I still love to hear it.