P.L.M Posted June 29, 2004 Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 (edited) An alright disc, this was recorded live in Vienna as a tribute to Art Farmer. They do some movie themes, and taking it for what it is - an understated and non-pretentious (?does that exist?) - album, it is quite good. I'm not sure it's that much of a jazz album, in fact, the cinematic aspects seem almost more important at moments, and there is not much improvisations. Also it's quite short, at only a bit over fourty minutes playing time, and ten tunes. This is not an album to scream at you about its greatness, but I think it will grow. The brevity of the tracks, the use of 1940s film themes, & the focus on colouring-in themes rather than using them as launching-pads for solos are all typical Blake. It's a very good album with among other things an excellent "I Should Care" (intended as a gloss on Monk's famous solo reading). I like short albums, so don't mind the 38-minute running time. If you both like this duet you should try to listen to the STEPHAN OLIVA's record who belongs to the box JAZZ'N (E)MOTION: FILM MUSIC ON THE PIANO. It includes pianist like MARTIAL SOLAL, PAUL BLEY, ALAIN JEAN-MARIE and others. Each records could be bought separetely. The best of the bunch was the OLIVA. He plays (in solo like everybody else) ROSEMARY'S BABY, VERTIGO (directly related to RAN BLAKE & ENRICO RAVA), THE MIRACLE WORKERS, INDIA SONG, TOUCH OF EVIL, WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGIANO WOOLF, LE MEPRIS etc. Beautiful interpretation of all this theme with nearly no improvisation but very intelligently arranged. It's maybe out of print but if you can put your hand on one copy, don't hesitate, take it. You won't be disappointed. Edited June 29, 2004 by P.L.M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted June 29, 2004 Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 That box sounds cool indeed! Never heard of it! I won't be able to buy it right now, though. What I HAD to buy (at the prize of ~10 Euros) today is this one: Has anyone heard it? I got if for Taylor mainly, but getting a bit more of Crispell, who I hardly know yet, is not bad, either. Plimley and Oswald I have both never heard. ubu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of miles Posted June 29, 2004 Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 I just put a used copy of McPhee & Drake's EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION on hold at a local record shop. Any opinions on that particular outing? I love this album! Drake's solo during the title track always makes me stop and listen a second time. As much as I enjoy hearing Drake with Brotzmann, it is nice to hear him stretch out with someone different. Another great disc is his duo with Borah Bergman on Soul Note. This disc doesn't seem to get a lot of mention but it is fantastic! I don't know of any other Drake / pianist duets off the top of my head, which is too bad. This disc smokes! Thanks for the rec, John B... got a PM from another member who really liked it as well. I'm such a Drake junkie that I wasn't too worried about buying it... also like McPhee a great deal. Looking forward to giving it a listen when I get home tonight. That R. Blake CD sounds good, too--I'll keep an eye out for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Д.Д. Posted June 29, 2004 Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 If you both like this duet you should try to listen to the STEPHAN OLIVA's record who belongs to the box JAZZ'N (E)MOTION: FILM MUSIC ON THE PIANO. This is a beautiful one. IN general Oliva is a very interesting pianist - he has a nice trio (reinterpretation of the mksuic of Bill Evans) on Owl. I am also interested about his Tristano duo with another piranist (forgot the name) on Emouvance. Also in this series, there is a very lyrical solo Steve Kühn. These CDs are available as indivudual CDs outside of the box (I got mine from themusicreource, I think). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Д.Д. Posted June 29, 2004 Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 Another great disc is his duo with Borah Bergman on Soul Note. This disc doesn't seem to get a lot of mention but it is fantastic! I don't know of any other Drake / pianist duets off the top of my head, which is too bad. This disc smokes! Cannot get Bergman. Get bored every time I try to listen to him. Sounds random and unstructured to me (he is sometimes compared to Cecil, but Cecil to me sounds totally opposite - there is a great degree of logics and structure in place). --------------------------------------------------------- Drske would have probably sounded great with Jaki Byard... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 That box sounds cool indeed! Never heard of it! I won't be able to buy it right now, though. What I HAD to buy (at the prize of ~10 Euros) today is this one: Has anyone heard it? I got if for Taylor mainly, but getting a bit more of Crispell, who I hardly know yet, is not bad, either. Plimley and Oswald I have both never heard. ubu I wonder if this is the same John Oswald who did Plunderphonics and Greyfolded? What instrument does he play on that disc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 Cannot get Bergman. Get bored every time I try to listen to him. Sounds random and unstructured to me (he is sometimes compared to Cecil, but Cecil to me sounds totally opposite - there is a great degree of logics and structure in place). It took quite a while for me to "get" this disc, primarily due to Bergman. This is the only disc of his that I have and I really had to work a bit to apreciate its beauty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 Sam Rivers/Adam Rudolph/Harris Eisenstadt - Vista (Meta 009) Sam Rivers on sax and flute with two percussionists. Recorded the day before Rivers's 80th birthday! Sounds very good on my first listen... Sounds interesting! Have you heard Spirits, also on Meta, with Pharoah Sanders, Rudolph and Hamid Drake? If so, how does this one compare? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Д.Д. Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 Cannot get Bergman. Get bored every time I try to listen to him. Sounds random and unstructured to me (he is sometimes compared to Cecil, but Cecil to me sounds totally opposite - there is a great degree of logics and structure in place). It took quite a while for me to "get" this disc, primarily due to Bergman. This is the only disc of his that I have and I really had to work a bit to apreciate its beauty. I don't have too much either - lethargic (and incredibly boring, IMO) solo piano Meditations (Tzadik) and fast furious (and incredibly boring, IMO) duo with Evan Parker (Black Saint). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate Dorward Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 (edited) John Oswald's a free-improv alto saxophonist in Toronto; the plunderphonics stuff was originally a sideline to entertain himself & musician friends that became much more celebrated than his alto playing. He's pretty good as a free improvisor, though he has a narrow range (my impression is that he really can't play anything more idiomatic). The earlier O'Rourke/Kaiser/Kimura/Oswald disc on Victo is worth hearing. He also works with CCMC with Michael Snow & Paul Dutton, a Toronto institution of sorts: I'm never gotten terribly excited about it, though some concerts I've seen have been OK. They have a disc out on Victo, too. Having heard three Bergman discs & one live gig (the duo with Chapin later released on CD) I think my patience with him is exhausted--he's always seemed kinda dull, though actually the early work for Chiaroscuro is worth hearing. Edited June 30, 2004 by Nate Dorward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 That box sounds cool indeed! Never heard of it! I won't be able to buy it right now, though. What I HAD to buy (at the prize of ~10 Euros) today is this one: Has anyone heard it? I got if for Taylor mainly, but getting a bit more of Crispell, who I hardly know yet, is not bad, either. Plimley and Oswald I have both never heard. ubu I wonder if this is the same John Oswald who did Plunderphonics and Greyfolded? What instrument does he play on that disc? Oswald plays alto, Plimley piano. Just read the liners - they are both Canadian and seem to be two of the best on that free jazz scene. They were actually billed to play because Taylor seemed unable to make it, but then he did make it indeed, and thus what would have been a concert of Crispell and Taylor, became a three-set concert with them included. Was all recorded on May 22, 2000 at Festival International de Musique Actuelle in Victoriaville, Canada (Quebec, I guess - that whole Victo label seems Frenc (if one can call that strange idiom of the Quebequois French)). Will report on the music once I get to know it a bit. ubu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 Cannot get Bergman. Get bored every time I try to listen to him. Sounds random and unstructured to me (he is sometimes compared to Cecil, but Cecil to me sounds totally opposite - there is a great degree of logics and structure in place). It took quite a while for me to "get" this disc, primarily due to Bergman. This is the only disc of his that I have and I really had to work a bit to apreciate its beauty. I don't have too much either - lethargic (and incredibly boring, IMO) solo piano Meditations (Tzadik) and fast furious (and incredibly boring, IMO) duo with Evan Parker (Black Saint). I have not had any desire to purchase more Bergman since buying The Stone House. It is most likely Drake's contributions that make this disc a keeper for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Д.Д. Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 O'Rourke/Kaiser/Kimura/Oswald disc on Victo is worth hearing. I think I have this one. Insect music with two acoustic guitars. Very nice. In general, Victo is a very good label. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 Right now I am listening to my favorite disc with Ken Vandermark: DKV Trio - Live in Wels & Chicago 1998 Disc one, in Wels, features Don Cherry's Complete Communion as the starting point for the group's improvisation. Drake, Kessler and Vandermark asre all in fine form, with some fantastic interplay and inspired blowing from KV. They really get some nice grooves going and swing like $#@&^%'s. This is a fantastic set, which is available from Okkadisk for something in the neighborhood of $15 for the 2cd set. This one gets my highest recommendation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Д.Д. Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 (edited) This is a fantastic set, which is available from Okkadisk for something in the neighborhood of $15 for the 2cd set. I would have loved to buy from Okka (I try to buy either from artists or labels directly), but they don't accpet neither CCs not PayPal. The guys (guy? - I assume Okka is also a one-man company, as most of them...) are stuck in XX century! Talking about Okka, I assume everybody here (particularly Back Together... fans) already purchased Fred Anderson / Steve McCalls Vintage Duets? Edited June 30, 2004 by Д.Д. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 Talking about Okka, I assume everybody here (particularly Back Together... fans) already purchased Fred Anderson / Steve McCalls Vintage Duets? No, not yet. I'm guessing you would recommend this disc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.W. Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 Talking about Okka, I assume everybody here (particularly Back Together... fans) already purchased Fred Anderson / Steve McCalls Vintage Duets? Oh yeah... That's one of the best discs I've purchased in a long time. Highly recommended! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 (edited) for those of you who have been exploring and enjoying eai, I have a few recommendations to give. Gunter Muller's Eight Landscapes is a solo disc, very much in the same vein as La Voyelle Liquide, but with a greater variety of textures and sounds. It does not work as quite the organic whole as LVL does, but it is a fantastic album! Staying with Gunter, his album with Voice Crack - Buda_Rom is a winner. I think I prefer this to Bits Bots and Signs, which is Voice Crack's collaboration with Otomo Yoshihide on Erstwhile. These two discs represent the extent of my exposure to Voice Crack and, while I really enjoy is the more succesful of the two albums. Possibly due to my appreciation for the sounds and response Gunter brings to the table. The third disc is closer to Too Beautiful To Burn, as Martin Brandlmayr appears on both albums. On Radian's rec.extern he is joined by Stefan Nemeth on synth and computer as well as John Norman on bass. rec.extern has more of TBTBs affiliation with "rock" and with jazz based improv than the other two. At the same time I find it to be more abstract and having less flow than TBTB. Edited June 30, 2004 by John B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 Talking about Okka, I assume everybody here (particularly Back Together... fans) already purchased Fred Anderson / Steve McCalls Vintage Duets? Oh yeah... That's one of the best discs I've purchased in a long time. Highly recommended! based on both of your comments I will add this to my list of "must hear discs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ayers Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 Talking about Okka, I assume everybody here (particularly Back Together... fans) already purchased Fred Anderson / Steve McCalls Vintage Duets? Oh yeah... That's one of the best discs I've purchased in a long time. Highly recommended! I find early Anderson more engaging than late, and this is a keeper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 I'm just giving this a first listen my first exposure to Leroy Jenkins & Carlos Wards work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Д.Д. Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 I'm just giving this a first listen my first exposure to Leroy Jenkins & Carlos Wards work. Let us know how you like it. I haven't checked any of Cecil's Leo releases yet. Carlos Ward is one of my favorite alto saxophone players (he also plays some mean flute... and is an excellent composer). He is excellent on two live discs he recorded with Ed Blackwell on Enja, and on duo reocrd with Karl Berger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 I'm just giving this a first listen my first exposure to Leroy Jenkins & Carlos Wards work. Let us know how you like it. I haven't checked any of Cecil's Leo releases yet. Carlos Ward is one of my favorite alto saxophone players (he also plays some mean flute... and is an excellent composer). He is excellent on two live discs he recorded with Ed Blackwell on Enja, and on duo reocrd with Karl Berger. Check out Ward's playing on some of the discs he made with Abdullah Ibrahim! "South Africa" and "African Marketplace" are two great ones! ubu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 I'm just giving this a first listen my first exposure to Leroy Jenkins & Carlos Wards work. Let us know how you like it. I haven't checked any of Cecil's Leo releases yet. Carlos Ward is one of my favorite alto saxophone players (he also plays some mean flute... and is an excellent composer). He is excellent on two live discs he recorded with Ed Blackwell on Enja, and on duo reocrd with Karl Berger. Its EXCELLENT! I'm about 30 mins in & things are brewing up very nicely. Some great sax & flute on this CD also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 It might be worth you guys checking out Emusic. At the moment they have loads of Leo , ESP & Ativista (quite a few early Brotzmann - Balls , Nipples etc) you can download & a free trial period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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