A Lark Ascending Posted November 24, 2008 Report Posted November 24, 2008 I really like this record which was recommended on another thread here previously: Paolo Angeli - Tessuti Great record by a fascinating guitarist. This one is a few years old but I'd go as far to say that it offers a way forward for jazz-rock. All the energy associated with that genre but without the clutter and, above all, with a nice rhythmic bounce, rather than the standard plod or formula funk. Good themes, lots of tonal variety. Partisans are the band, Max the album. It's on e-music. Phil Robson- Guitars Julian Siegel-Tenor and Soprano Saxophones, Bass Clarinet, Cuica Thaddeus Kelly -Bass Gene Calderazzo Drums Special guests Thebe Lipere Percussion on 5,6 +8 Jim Watson Hammond B3 organ on 4,7+8 Chris Batchelor Trumpet on 1,8+9 Availablefrom e-music last time I looked. Quote
Stefan Wood Posted November 24, 2008 Author Report Posted November 24, 2008 Check out Steve Coleman's M-Base website. A lot of his albums are out of print, and he's making them available to the public as free downloads. M-Base Quote
.:.impossible Posted November 24, 2008 Report Posted November 24, 2008 (edited) FIGHT THE BIG BULL | Dying Will Be Easy (Clean Feed 2008) *Disclosure: My brother plays bass in this band. I have posted about them here before, with a couple of blips here and there. A lot of people seem to be taking notice elsewhere, so I guess I'll just keep trying here... Read about it at Clean Feed's website. Obligatory myspace sound samples... mi3 | We Will Make a Home For You (Clean Feed 2007) I don't know if I have read anything about Pandelis here or not, but his time on the Fender Rhodes is time well spent to my ears. Read about it at Clean Feed's website. emusic.com samples Matana Roberts | The Chicago Project (CCI 2008) I think this one has gotten some attention here already... Rosaly, shit, the whole line-up is nice. emusic.com samples And Larry has sung praises about many of the current Chicago musicians that I have tried to stay up on the past two years (Keefe Jackson, Frank Rosaly, Jason Ajemian, the cast and crew of Exploding Star Orchestra, etc). I haven't been listening to "contemporary music" as long as many of you have, so I have are hard time saying what music I like and don't like, and why, but there is something about this current gathering of musicians in Chicago that have my attention. Not so big on Longberg-Holm, but he doesn't necessarily "ruin" things for me either. This is stuff off the top of my head. I have worked my way into the Clean Feed catalog over the past year or so as well. I will go through and find some examples sometime soon for the Clean Feed thread. Edited November 24, 2008 by .:.impossible Quote
clifford_thornton Posted November 25, 2008 Report Posted November 25, 2008 I would like to hear that Keefe Jackson. Quote
papsrus Posted November 25, 2008 Report Posted November 25, 2008 (edited) I would like to hear that Keefe Jackson. That lead prompted me to purchase this one earlier. No sound samples. The Chicago Luzern Exchange -- "Several Lights" This one isn't any sort of ground-breaking hybrid, just a really enjoyable modern big band performance released this year, very much "in the tradition." Spinning it now. Carla Bley & Her Remarkable Big Band -- "Appearing Nightly" Edited November 25, 2008 by papsrus Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted November 25, 2008 Report Posted November 25, 2008 p.s. FWIW - the guys in 'The Thing' are Norwegian, not Dutch! Mats is Swedish and fwiw, not usually what I'd call a "weak link." Oops yes of course - forgot about Mats! Quote
.:.impossible Posted November 25, 2008 Report Posted November 25, 2008 I would like to hear that Keefe Jackson. Have you heard Project Project, or Chicago Luzern Exchange? All three are on Delmark. Quote
Stefan Wood Posted November 25, 2008 Author Report Posted November 25, 2008 p.s. FWIW - the guys in 'The Thing' are Norwegian, not Dutch! Mats is Swedish and fwiw, not usually what I'd call a "weak link." Oops yes of course - forgot about Mats! I don't find Mats that strong a player. Just my opinion. Quote
clifford_thornton Posted November 26, 2008 Report Posted November 26, 2008 Dissent is good to hear! Quote
papsrus Posted November 26, 2008 Report Posted November 26, 2008 Wish Bill Barton would check in here. Here's one of his recs from elsewhere that's really nice: Mark Masters Ensemble -- "Farewell Walter Dewey Redman" A big band that swings slightly to the left. Nice and tight. Sound samples here. Quote
Teasing the Korean Posted November 26, 2008 Report Posted November 26, 2008 (edited) Edited November 26, 2008 by Teasing the Korean Quote
Nate Dorward Posted November 26, 2008 Report Posted November 26, 2008 (edited) I don't find Mats that strong a player. Just my opinion. Hm, well, I suppose there's some ambiguity about the word "strong" here (= "forceful" or just "good"?), but in any case I think MG's an excellent, well-rounded player, capable of more than just going on a rampage. I'm not always crazy about the company he keeps, alas (a concert earlier this year with The Thing & Vandermark has to be the loudest gig I've ever fallen asleep at), & I find it uncomfortable to watch him loll his tongue about like a free jazz Gene Simmons, but I've heard enough good stuff from him (like that great duo with Agusti Fernandez) to put him in my good books. Of recent releases the ones I've been finding most exciting are actually the reissues or archival discoveries of the 1960s and 1970s South African expats--been playing McGregor's Up to Earth and Harry Miller/Isipingo's Which Way Now a lot recently. -- & oh yeah, just got Ray Warleigh's duo with Tony Marsh in the mail yesterday & have been spinning it a lot. It was about time he made a new album as a leader! Edited November 26, 2008 by Nate Dorward Quote
Stefan Wood Posted November 26, 2008 Author Report Posted November 26, 2008 (edited) Adam Rudolph recommendations: The collaborations with Yusef Lateef, Sam Rivers and Pharoah Sanders are excellent. Edited November 26, 2008 by Stefan Wood Quote
papsrus Posted November 26, 2008 Report Posted November 26, 2008 Continuing to channel Bill Barton, another rec of his that is a lot of FUN! Mostly Other People Do The Killing -- "Shamokin!!!" Energetic and irreverent. Sound samples here. Jon Irabagon has a tart, Ornette-ish tone. There's a bit of Zappa in these guys. Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted November 26, 2008 Report Posted November 26, 2008 I don't find Mats that strong a player. Just my opinion. Hm, well, I suppose there's some ambiguity about the word "strong" here (= "forceful" or just "good"?), but in any case I think MG's an excellent, well-rounded player, capable of more than just going on a rampage [...] Of recent releases the ones I've been finding most exciting are actually the reissues or archival discoveries of the 1960s and 1970s South African expats--been playing McGregor's Up to Earth and Harry Miller/Isipingo's Which Way Now a lot recently. -- & oh yeah, just got Ray Warleigh's duo with Tony Marsh in the mail yesterday & have been spinning it a lot. It was about time he made a new album as a leader! Agree with all this...was going to say exactly the same about Mats. He's done some really lovely stuff IMHO. Played with Ray and Tony a couple of months ago...both are sounding incredible at the moment. I haven't heard this yet, but am looking forward to it! Quote
Stefan Wood Posted November 27, 2008 Author Report Posted November 27, 2008 (edited) Two more recommendations, featuring Getatchew Mekurya: Considered the greatest Ethiopian saxophone player, drawing upon traditional war songs to create an emotionally powerful sound - not like Brotzmann or Ayler, less frenetic, but deeply soulful. Sound link Edited November 27, 2008 by Stefan Wood Quote
Stefan Wood Posted November 27, 2008 Author Report Posted November 27, 2008 This is an excellent latin jazz album, released this year: Quote
BruceH Posted November 27, 2008 Report Posted November 27, 2008 Ah, yes, three of my favorite Contemporary albums. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted November 27, 2008 Report Posted November 27, 2008 Not exactly contemporary but I just received 2 new Homeboy Music cd-rs from my friend Roy Morris; Arthur Doyle Trio Nature Boy and Joe Rigby's Praise. Hope to listen this weekend. Quote
jlhoots Posted November 28, 2008 Report Posted November 28, 2008 Continuing to channel Bill Barton, another rec of his that is a lot of FUN! Mostly Other People Do The Killing -- "Shamokin!!!" Energetic and irreverent. Sound samples here. Jon Irabagon has a tart, Ornette-ish tone. There's a bit of Zappa in these guys. Great CD. Irabagon recently won a saxophone contest which includes a recording deal with Concord. He'll scare the crap out of them. Might be fun. The group has a newer CD which is a "take" on Ornette's This Is Our Music. Haven't heard it, but I'd like to. Quote
papsrus Posted November 28, 2008 Report Posted November 28, 2008 The group has a newer CD which is a "take" on Ornette's This Is Our Music. Haven't heard it, but I'd like to. It seems to be on back order with all the usual suspects. A little hard to find, for some reason. I'd love to listen to that one. Quote
Stefan Wood Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Posted November 28, 2008 For those who like adventurous sax/bass/drums combos like the Sam Rivers trio, this group is highly recommended: Trio X - Joe McPhee (Tenor Saxophone), Dominic Duval (Bass), Jay Rosen (Drums) Trio X sound samples Quote
jlhoots Posted November 28, 2008 Report Posted November 28, 2008 The group has a newer CD which is a "take" on Ornette's This Is Our Music. Haven't heard it, but I'd like to. It seems to be on back order with all the usual suspects. A little hard to find, for some reason. I'd love to listen to that one. Appears to be in stock at CD Baby. Quote
papsrus Posted November 28, 2008 Report Posted November 28, 2008 The group has a newer CD which is a "take" on Ornette's This Is Our Music. Haven't heard it, but I'd like to. It seems to be on back order with all the usual suspects. A little hard to find, for some reason. I'd love to listen to that one. Appears to be in stock at CD Baby. Thank you. Quote
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