.:.impossible Posted August 28, 2003 Report Posted August 28, 2003 Has anyone else picked this up yet? I downloaded the live tracks that he posted to his site last year, but this is just amazing. There are three pieces that incorporate speech, which really bring to light an element of Jason Moran's playing that I really hadn't noticed as being such a dominate force in his approach. For those of you who know this trio, this is not a straight-ahead piano trio. This recording is definitely the most avant-garde and cutting edge of the lot. Keep on pushing it. I like where this group is heading! Quote
Soul Stream Posted August 28, 2003 Report Posted August 28, 2003 I haven't picked this up yet. Sort of overloaded on Moran hype. I'm backlashing! O.K. he covers a rap song and reaches back to james p. johnson....makes for a good read in magazines, but what about a good cd? Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted August 28, 2003 Report Posted August 28, 2003 I just picked up the new one on Monday, and it is totally the shit, and the two tunes with voices in foreign languages will blow your mind!! I think JAMO is pushing the boundries of jazz -- and with a piano trio, for god's sake!! -- like nobody else I can think of who's under 40. An incredible album for anyone who has ears for Andrew Hill. (I could say that about almost anything Moran's released.) Quote
.:.impossible Posted August 28, 2003 Author Report Posted August 28, 2003 Absolutely Rooster. He has to be one of the most forward-thinking pianists of our time. SoulStream, I haven't heard "Modernistic," so I can't really give an opinion on it. The trio does play "Planet Rock," by Afrika Bambatta, on this new disc though, and it is TIGHT! Question: Is Tarus Mateen playing "acoustic electric bass" INSTEAD of an upright now, or is he playing both? I prefer a bass viol, but there are moments where he does some things on this instrument that I don't think he could have done on the upright. I was also hoping to hear maybe just a little Fender Rhodes bleeding in here and there, but I really can't complain. This group had their balls to the wall for this recording! Quote
jazzypaul Posted August 28, 2003 Report Posted August 28, 2003 I heard this one, and the jury is still out for me. He's got plenty of chops, plenty of imagination, and he's got great ideas. Somehow, this disc just isn't doing it for me. Quote
Alexander Posted August 28, 2003 Report Posted August 28, 2003 I love the music on this disc, but the recording quality is from hunger. In fact, both this disc AND Joe Lovano's "On This Day" (both recorded at the Vanguard) have the worst sound I've EVER heard on a live album (outside of Dean Benedetti Bird recordings). What's up with that? Did they get these recordings off of some guy's bootleg or what? But the music, as I said, is another story entirely. Moran is in excellent form on this disc, and the two foreign language tracks are indeed mindblowing. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted August 28, 2003 Report Posted August 28, 2003 I've heard a few complaints about the sound-quality on the new Moran, but frankly, I haven't noticed all that much. But then again, I have some pretty low-end stereo equipment (a cheap boombox, and a nice but relatively inexpensive bookshelf system). Maybe on a real high-end system the SQ might be more of an issue. Quote
Alexander Posted August 28, 2003 Report Posted August 28, 2003 How about the fact that Moran himself is not miked? You can't hear a word he says when he talks to the audience. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted August 28, 2003 Report Posted August 28, 2003 Well, I guess I haven't listened closely enough to hear any between-songs stage-talk. I've only had the disc since Monday, and I think I've listened to it twice. Quote
Soul Stream Posted August 28, 2003 Report Posted August 28, 2003 I love the music on this disc, but the recording quality is from hunger. In fact, both this disc AND Joe Lovano's "On This Day" (both recorded at the Vanguard) have the worst sound I've EVER heard on a live album (outside of Dean Benedetti Bird recordings). What's up with that? Did they get these recordings off of some guy's bootleg or what? But the music, as I said, is another story entirely. Moran is in excellent form on this disc, and the two foreign language tracks are indeed mindblowing. There was an article in Jazziz I believe about live recordings at the VV, last month I think. It mentioned the horrible sound quality on the two you mentioned recorded by someone at BN in an inferior way. Worst quality live VV rec. ever they said,... or something to that effect Quote
.:.impossible Posted August 29, 2003 Author Report Posted August 29, 2003 Yeah, I didn't really want to harp on the negative, but the sound is a bit muffled. The disc is a lot quieter on my stereo than most everything else I had sitting around. Says it was recorded by "Kurt Lundvall." It definitely isn't the worst live recording in my collection! And it sure is some fly-ass-shit! I wouldn't say it is anywhere near as bad as "Banned In New York" or the Miles Plugged Nickel sets. Quote
Jazzdog Posted August 29, 2003 Report Posted August 29, 2003 Yeah, I didn't really want to harp on the negative, but the sound is a bit muffled. The disc is a lot quieter on my stereo than most everything else I had sitting around. Says it was recorded by "Kurt Lundvall." It definitely isn't the worst live recording in my collection! And it sure is some fly-ass-shit! I wouldn't say it is anywhere near as bad as "Banned In New York" or the Miles Plugged Nickel sets. Okay, I was hoping someone would make a comparison to Banned...I was a bit disapointed when I first heard it, but it's a fucking great disc, so what the hey!! Quote
Jazzmoose Posted August 30, 2003 Report Posted August 30, 2003 Man, I read all the positive shit, go out and buy the damned thing, come home, and THEN see the negative stuff....hooboy! I've got to work on this timing thing. Quote
Big Wheel Posted August 30, 2003 Report Posted August 30, 2003 Mark, if you end up not liking the disc, PM me and I'll gladly take it off your hands. Quote
.:.impossible Posted August 30, 2003 Author Report Posted August 30, 2003 Just remember Moose, this is a disc you are going to want to listen to more than once before passing it on. Sorry Wheel! Has anyone downloaded the complete intro? I wonder why they didn't include the complete intro on the album. I think it would have been a good anticipation builder. Complete Download Quote
Jazzmoose Posted August 31, 2003 Report Posted August 31, 2003 Don't hold your breath, Big Wheel! I haven't heard a Moran disc yet that didn't give me a decent return on my money; I can't really complain about the recording quality with my cheapie stereo anyway. Quote
Big Wheel Posted August 31, 2003 Report Posted August 31, 2003 Hey, can't blame a man for tryin'. Quote
ADR Posted September 4, 2003 Report Posted September 4, 2003 I'm looking forward to picking this one up and giving it a listen some time soon. ADR Quote
Jazzmoose Posted September 4, 2003 Report Posted September 4, 2003 You know, the tough part about you guys using album covers for avatars is fighting the uh..."inner urge" to get up and change the music all the time... Quote
Jazzmoose Posted September 8, 2003 Report Posted September 8, 2003 Okay, I just got around to giving this a careful first listen today. My reaction? Next time anyone feels like starting one of those "woe is us, all the jazz giants are dying off, is anyone left?", stick this in your player and wake up to the fact that not all great jazz is fifty years old! Damn, this sucker SMOKES!!!! Ahem. Excuse me. What I meant to say is "I recommend this disc quite highly. It is quite competent." Quote
Ed S Posted September 9, 2003 Report Posted September 9, 2003 (edited) I couldn't remember if I'd posted on this thread or not since I have this disc and like it a lot. Looks like I had not posted so I'll add my 2 cents - I recommend it highly. It is quite competent. Edited September 9, 2003 by Ed Swinnich Quote
relyles Posted September 9, 2003 Report Posted September 9, 2003 I gave this one a few listens last week. I would call myself a dedicated Jason Moran fan. I enjoyed this disc a lot, but to be honest I still think his best is yet to come. I have some broadcasts of performances by this trio in Europe at around the same time they recorded at the Vanguard and afterward and think one or two of those may have caught the group on better nights. I only mention that to explain why I think the essential recording/masterpiece by Moran has yet to come. In any event, I firmly believe Moran is one of the musicians to keep a close ear on in the future. Quote
Jad Posted September 10, 2003 Report Posted September 10, 2003 Got this in anticipation of his upcoming show here. First I've heard by him, won't be the last. Quote
Tom Storer Posted September 10, 2003 Report Posted September 10, 2003 I'm looking forward to hearing this. It will be interesting to compare it with the recent "Live at the Village Vanguard" by Fred Hersch. That album also has Nasheet Waits on drums (Drew Gress on bass), and it too smokes. But it has no "foreign language" things. What is that about, anyway? Quote
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