Funny Rat

[Geoff]

On friday I played a live performance of my improvisation for the first time.

I would like to hear your opinion on my piece.

You can listen to it here:

http://members.ii.net/~bala3/pianoimprov3sep2004.mp3

The piece is an example of my total free improvisation. I have never been trained as a pianist, nor have I ever self-taught myself to play the piano in the 'proper way'. The piece represents a naive approach to improvisation. Personally I think everyone can improvise like I do, it just takes a little bit of physical effort.

The response in the concert was quite good, although one of the composers came up to me after the concert and said "I hated your piece. I have no respect for you at all". In a way I was quite glad that it had such an intense impact on him, I had originally intended the piece to be anti-music, much in the same way as the Italian Futurists.

So take a listen, and give me your honest opinion.

Thanks,

Geoff.

[couw]

well Geoff, that was pretty wild. Not something I'd listen to all too often. Some surprise melodies, however disjunct, emerging from the chaos, would have been cool. Pity there is only the pounding, the widely spaced single notes, and the small one hand figure. But I'm an old fashioned tart and by no means an expert in this kind of improv, nor a particularly ardent fan, so let's see what the specialists have to contribute.

[Guest Chaney]

Geoff!

I must admit, when you 'said' that you were an untrained pianist, I expected something along the lines of what I'd sound like if I sat at a piano and did that Cecil Taylor thing.

Your piece is darned impressive. Not a great deal of subtletity but filled with drama. Maybe too much drama? Some nice transitions and a very pretty ending.

Maybe we should form a band?

[king ubu]

Thanks, Nate!

Sunday morning listening:

Another fantastic disc! I may like the Dakota disc a tiny little bit better, but there are some very good things on this one, as well. The blues in quartet with Jason Moran is fantastic! So is the opening solo. And hearing a chords-based group doing such fine playing, and featuring guitar instead of piano, and such a nice guitar player, is much to my likings, too.

Then I continued with some heavier schtuff:

Like it a lot! Very tough music, needs a lot of concentration, but I think it's very very good!

And a few days ago also listened to this CD the first time:

Solid trio jazz, more or less conventional, but very good. Mark Burdon plays drums and percussion, Joshua Dahlager is on bass, and Rich Halley on saxophones.

ubu

[Д.Д.]

On friday I played a live performance of my improvisation for the first time.

I would like to hear your opinion on my piece.

You can listen to it here:

http://members.ii.net/~bala3/pianoimprov3sep2004.mp3

The piece is an example of my total free improvisation. I have never been trained as a pianist, nor have I ever self-taught myself to play the piano in the 'proper way'. The piece represents a naive approach to improvisation. Personally I think everyone can improvise like I do, it just takes a little bit of physical effort.

The response in the concert was quite good, although one of the composers came up to me after the concert and said "I hated your piece. I have no respect for you at all". In a way I was quite glad that it had such an intense impact on him, I had originally intended the piece to be anti-music, much in the same way as the Italian Futurists.

So take a listen, and give me your honest opinion.

Thanks,

Geoff.

Geoff, I liked your piece a lot! Powerful, dramatic indeed, and skillful, as far as I can judge. If you seriously need a confirmation that NOT EVERYBODY can play like this, I can record a sample of my piano spontaneous improvisations and post them here.

When you release a CD, I'd be very much willing to buy a copy.

Post more mp3s when you have a chance.

Edited September 6, 2004 by Д.Д.

[Nate Dorward]

I'd be interested to hear reports on The Bishop's Move itself--might seem rather different on disc than live in concert.

Been listening to Broetzmann/Eneidi/Ellis/Krall, Live at Spruce Street Forum on Botticelli, & it should be top priority for enthusiasts of hardcore blowing--loud & squalling & lots of fun. Makes an odd pair with the other small-group Broetzmann disc released this year, Tales Out of Time, which isn't exactly peaceful but was intended as a "ballads session".

& James Finn's Faith in a Seed (CIMP) is the real McCoy, an excellent followup to Opening the Gates.

[gnhrtg]

I'd be interested to hear reports on The Bishop's Move itself--might seem rather different on disc than live in concert.

Been listening to Broetzmann/Eneidi/Ellis/Krall, Live at Spruce Street Forum on Botticelli, & it should be top priority for enthusiasts of hardcore blowing--loud & squalling & lots of fun. Makes an odd pair with the other small-group Broetzmann disc released this year, Tales Out of Time, which isn't exactly peaceful but was intended as a "ballads session".

& James Finn's Faith in a Seed (CIMP) is the real McCoy, an excellent followup to Opening the Gates.

I'll give "The Bishop's Move" a spin tonight and post here - short-ish regarding whether and how much I like it.

I want to spend more time with "Opening the Gates," but it's certainly good to know that there's more that's at least as good.

Nate, with all you're getting to hear p[ease do add to your top-10 list - I would definitely want to see what you think makes it through the crop of what you hear, and so what if the list exceeds ten.

[John B]

I just got back from Chicago, where I was able to attend one night of the Chicago Jazz Festival. Copied from the Live Shows thread:

"I was most impressed by the Fred Anderson, Kidd Jordan, Hamiet Bluiett, Jeff Parker, Harrison Bankhead, Hamid Drake set. I had never seen any of these guys live before and I was blown away. My friends and wife were in no rush to get to the event, so I left them behind, planning to meet back up on the lawn, and I found a seat three rows back from the stage just to the side of Hamid. He was awe-inspiring. I've been a huge fan of his for quite a while, but seeing him perform live takes the music to a whole other level. Fred Anderson and Kidd Jordan were on fire. They were playing quite freely, yet still were very lyrical and definitely, to my mind, swung. Hamiet Bluiett was fairly restrained for most of the set, letting Kidd and Fred blaze the trail, dropping in now and again to add color from the baritone. I couldn't really hear Harrison Bankhead from where I was, so I have no opinion on him. I'm not sure if it was the acoustics where I was sitting but I had a difficult time figuring out what Jeff Parker contributed to the set. For the most part he was drowned out by Fred and Kidd and seemed to be lazily strumming chords in the background. All in all, this was my favorite set of the night."

[John B]

Been listening to Broetzmann/Eneidi/Ellis/Krall, Live at Spruce Street Forum on Botticelli, & it should be top priority for enthusiasts of hardcore blowing--loud & squalling & lots of fun. Makes an odd pair with the other small-group Broetzmann disc released this year, Tales Out of Time, which isn't exactly peaceful but was intended as a "ballads session".

Thank you for posting this! I've been curious about the Boticelli release and hadn't seen any reviews / comments on it so far. I'll pick it up when I get around to buying Tales.

[John B]

another disc that I heard recently and really enjoyed was Evan Parker and Keith Rowes Dark Rags, on Potlatch.

My first impression was that, while this album could have been edited back a but, it is a compelling listen, and finds a nice balance between Rowe and Parker's usual styles. Each participant really seems to be listening to the other very well and aren't afraid to be drawn out of their comfort zones. I need to spend some more time with this one but, as of right now, I highly recommend it.

[John B]

It seems as if I have the Funny Rat thread to myself today!

I picked up a used Paul Dunmall disc very inexpensively a few weeks back:

Cocteau's Ghost is a limited edition cdr on Dunmall's DUNS label, recorded in 1997. Dunmall plays tenor and electronic saxophone, the sound of which, I felt, takes some getting used to. All tracks are duets with Tony Irving on drums. Once I got past the unique timber of the bagpipes I really enjoyed this disc. I will have to explore more Dunmall at some point. Other than Mujician I have not really heard much of his work.

Edited September 7, 2004 by John B

[Nate Dorward]

Oh, might as well post the rough draft of the top-ten. I should say this is one of my less balanced ones because this year (1) I've not had much pocket money to toss around (& when I do so it's rarely contemporary discs I purchase: most recent buy was Art Tatum's disc with Ben Webster, e.g.); (2) I haven't been lately getting many discs for review from Coda which was my main source of more "mainstream" fare from labels like Blue Note. That's not so bad perhaps because I always like plugging small labels' product anyway. Here's things that caught the ear enough so far that I'll be giving them a consider at the end of the year. Participants in the BFT I did will recognize a few familiar friends at the start.

Dead Cat Bounce, Home Speaks to the Wandering, Innova

Joe Hunt, The Joe Hunt Trio, Dreambox Media

Bite the Gnatze, Wilde dans in een afgelegen Berghut, Trytone

André Nendza, Wild Open Rooms, Crecycle

Frank Hewitt, We Loved You, Smalls Records

Peter Brötzmann, Lisle Ellis, Marco Eneidi, Jackson Krall, Live at Spruce Street Forum, Botticelli

Bik Bent Braam, Growing Pains, Bik Bent Braam

Harris Eisenstadt, Jalolu, CIMP

Von Freeman, The Great Divide, Premonition

John Hagen, Segments, Cadence

James Finn, Opening the Gates, Cadence

Less of Five, Acrobati Folli e Innamorati, Nine Winds

James Finn, Faith in a Seed, CIMP

Peter Brötzmann, Joe McPhee, Kent Kessler, Michael Zerang, Tales Out of Time, Hatology

Cecil Taylor/Mat Maneri, Algonquin, Bridge

Alexander Von Schlippenbach, Broomriding, Psi

Stéphane Rives, Fibres, Potlatch

+minus, First Meeting, Trente Oiseaux

Geoff Goodman, Naked Eye, Tutu

Orkestrova, An Alligator in Your Wallet, EWE

+ leftovers from Cadence (these are discs I would have put in my Cadence top ten for 2003 but were excluded by their house rules; they're eligible this year though):

Geof Bradfield, Rule of Three, Liberated Zone

Marty Ehrlich, Line on Love, Palmetto

Jimmy Lyons, The Box Set, Ayler Records

Keith Rowe/John Tilbury, Duos for Doris, Erstwhile

Toss in the Warne Marsh reissue from Nessa, too. If I land an Ayler Holy Ghost box by the time the deadline comes for Coda I'd be very surprised if it didn't get on the list too...

[John B]

I haven't heard all that many 2004 discs. Out of the ones I have heard, these are my favorites so far:

Rowe/Dorner/Hautzinger - A View from the Window

Keith Rowe / Fennesz - Live at the LU

Oren Ambarchi - Grapes From the Estate

Dennis Gonzalez's NY Quartet - NY Midnight Suite

Dennis Gonzalez - Nile River Suite

Cecil Taylor - Incarnation

Assif Tsahar/Tatsuya Nakatani - Come Sunday

Cooper-Moore - Deep in the Neighborhood of History and Influence

Rabih Abou-Khalil - Morton's Foot

Warne Marsh - All Music (reissue)

I know there are a few discs out there that I need to hear that would knock one or two of these off of the list. I'm not sure if finances will allow me to hear any of them before the end of the year. If so, I'll post an updated list.

[gnhrtg]

(& when I do so it's rarely contemporary discs I purchase: most recent buy was Art Tatum's disc with Ben Webster, e.g.);

That the group masterpieces disc with the messed up track listing? A good one, that, if that.

Thank you for the list, Nate.

Some I have, some I've heard of and some I don't know at all; will inquire later about those in the final category.

[king ubu]

That Art Tatum group masterpieces recording with Ben Webster is GREAT! A fantastic recording, and most highly recommended for the rat pack!

ubu

[couw]

speaking of rats, I listened to the Die Like A Dog Wilisau 1998 on UbuRekkidstoday and was pleasantly surprised by the general (relative) mellowness of the whole affair. Nice. Must be because - in my eternal cheapnis to save on ink - I opted for the Pink "Die Rosa Sau" cover instead of the Dark Gothic bitmap that came with the package. -_-

[Nate Dorward]

I always had just "Have You Met Miss Jones" on a one-disc Pablo compilation so I'm very glad to have spotted the reissue of the album cheaply in Sonic Temple (my local record shop). Only gave it a spin the other night without looking at track titles so didn't notice any screwup in trhe listings! Great to hear Tatum tackling "All the Things You Are" in particular, & it's surprising how effective the partnership is.

Of John B's list I've only heard one of the Gonzalezes & the two Erstwhiles. I liked Dennis's disc but not quite enough to put it on the list--I ended up sending my review copy to a friend to write up for Paris Transatlantic along with an Eskelin disc (he's a huge E.E. fan), so I'll be curious what he says. Hm, the Ersts.... I liked Live at the LU; the other one I respect but it's a difficult listen. Maybe just not fun enough for me to list them in a personal best-of-. The discs on the list I posted are the ones I don't think twice about putting in the CD changer...

[John B]

I liked Live at the LU; the other one I respect but it's a difficult listen. Maybe just not fun enough for me to list them in a personal best-of-. The discs on the list I posted are the ones I don't think twice about putting in the CD changer...

I agree with most of what you are saying. I have a feeling that, given the opportunity to hear more 2004 releases, both of the Ersts, and possibly one or two other discs, would not remain on my "top 10" list.

I enjoyed seeing Rowe/Fenensz live a lot more than listening to Live at the LU.

[king ubu]

Anything on this list that's a must have? http://www.allegro-music.com/label_search.asp?label=AUM

Nate, I think the fact taht the Tatum/Webster works out fine is a small miracle, as both have, to say the least, "baroque" styles. However, their combination works perfectly well! Maybe my favourite date on the Group Masterpieces box!

couw, glad you like DLAD!

ubu

[John B]

Anybody heard Pharoah's disc on ESP btw? I still haven't checked this one out.

I just finished relistening to this album. I had forgotten how strange it is. Everyone other than Pharoah is playing straight-ahead bop. For a large section of the second track Pharoah sits out completely, letting everyone else take long solos. He tries to go out on the first track, but has no support, and never gets anywhere productive. It has some nice moments but, overall, this disc is a curiosity. Nothing essential, unless you are a Sanders completist.

[John B]

Anything on this list that's a must have? http://www.allegro-music.com/label_search.asp?label=AUM

From the discs I have heard I would recommend picking up these:

Test - s/t

William Parker - Peach Orchard, O'Neal's Porch

Whit Dickey - Transonic

William Parker / Hamid Drake - Piercing the Veil

although Piercing the Veil is definitely not for all tastes. For the most part it consists of percussion duets between Parker and Drake.

Avoid the Other Dimensions in Music disc with Matthew Shipp. We discussed that one here a little while back. It is a noodling, meandering mess.

[king ubu]

Thanks, John! Just looked up AMG, and Test and Transonic sound very good!

Not so sure about the Parkers. I'm not a big fan of his. How is "Mayor of Punkville"? If AMG is to be believed on that, it might be the Parker for me to go for among the AUMs.

ubu

[John B]

Thanks, John! Just looked up AMG, and Test and Transonic sound very good!

Not so sure about the Parkers. I'm not a big fan of his. How is "Mayor of Punkville"? If AMG is to be believed on that, it might be the Parker for me to go for among the AUMs.

ubu

I didn't care for it whenI heard it. I gave it three listens and it never clicked for me. I have never been a fan of his Little Huey Orchestra and haven't heard any of their more recent discs.

[Nate Dorward]

Incidentally is it just my ears or doesn't Tatum actually hit a few bum notes on "Gone with the Wind" (circa 1:01)? Oh well, can't blame him--the wonder is that he so rarely hit any wrong notes. & he was only months from his death.

[Nate Dorward]

Also I think that's Ben Webster coughing at 0:25 on "All The Things..."!