Funny Rat

[Guest Chaney]

Adding.....'Coon Bid'ness....to....the....List.

David Ayers: I've never seen that site before. Nice! Thanks!

WD45: Thanks for the link. I'll be sure to have a listen when I get home from work.

[John B]

I pop in on this thread now and again, so I don't know if this has been mentioned before.  If you go to the Fennesz website you will find almost an entire performance for download of Fennesz on computer, guitar & piano, BJ Nilsen on computer, and Z'ev on bass drum.  It is quite good!   

Never heard Fennesz on piano before...

listening right now!

ok, stupid question:

Windows isn't allowing me to rename these files to remove the .sit tag at the end. How did you all get these to play?

[king ubu]

I pop in on this thread now and again, so I don't know if this has been mentioned before.  If you go to the Fennesz website you will find almost an entire performance for download of Fennesz on computer, guitar & piano, BJ Nilsen on computer, and Z'ev on bass drum.  It is quite good!    

Never heard Fennesz on piano before...

listening right now!

ok, stupid question:

Windows isn't allowing me to rename these files to remove the .sit tag at the end. How did you all get these to play?

Right click > Open with > choose your usual device (mine is Winamp)

I couldn't rename them, either, hope this works, John!

[king ubu]

I forgot: if the usual device does not appear when you go to > Open with, you have to choose the last option (choose programme) and then choose it manually from the list that will be displayed.

[John B]

Right click > Open with > choose your usual device (mine is Winamp)

I couldn't rename them, either, hope this works, John!

this didn't work with the first two players, but the third time was the charm. Thanks!

[king ubu]

Right click > Open with > choose your usual device (mine is Winamp)

I couldn't rename them, either, hope this works, John!

this didn't work with the first two players, but the third time was the charm. Thanks!

Winamp is the best, in my book! Plays it all, FLAC, SHN, MP3, whatever, even these strange files from Fennesz... fine music, btw! Someone please tell me when the last track is up for takers, too (I guess I won't notice myself)!

[jon abbey]

I've been listening to Julius Hemphill's 'Coon Bid'ness and really loving it.

Hemphill with Arthur Blythe, Hamiet Bluiett, Abdul Wadud, Barry Altschul and Daniel Ben Zebulon. Baikida Carroll appears on the last 20 minute track.

Do any of you have recommendations for essential recordings of his I should check out? Dogon A.D. was never released on cd, correct? I just placed an order for Screwgun's reissue of Blue Boye, so that will be next, but I am still interested in exploring more of his work.

I've still never heard Dogon AD, but outside of that, Coon Bidness is easily his best, that version of Hard Blues kicks ass.

and no, Dogon AD was never released on disc, Tim Berne tried really hard to get it for Screwgun, unsuccessfully in the end. I don't remember the details, but if you're curious, ask on JC, Steve Smith will know...

[John B]

I'm listening to Broetzmann / Van Hove / Bennink - FMP130 for the first time and I am amazed by what an eclectic, bizarre album this is. Light years removed from Machine Gun, this one has elements of children's music, stride, boogie woogie and all out sonic assault, all mixed into one. Great sound quality, too. As each track is relatively short, and composed by one of the three players, there is a much stronger sense of Bennink and Van Hove's sensibilities than I would normally expect to hear from sidemen on an earlier Broetzmann disc.

On track five it sounds like Beavis from Beavis and Butthead is doing backing vocals while on a caffeine binge.

Edited April 8, 2005 by John B

[John B]

and no, Dogon AD was never released on disc, Tim Berne tried really hard to get it for Screwgun, unsuccessfully in the end. I don't remember the details, but if you're curious, ask on JC, Steve Smith will know...

That's too bad. I'll look around for a copy on vinyl as this is the album I always hear hyped as his greatest.

[John B]

I just saw that DMG is listing a lot of the back catalog Silkheart discs as available again. $19 each but, with no current U.S. distribution, that might not be unreasonable. Cadence seems to have the same discs for $20. Some very interesting titles. I'm really interested in the Charles Brackeen's, the Dennis Gonzalez discs and the Kidd Jordan, although quite a few of them look really, really good. Any recommendations for essential Silkhearts?

[7/4]

I just saw that DMG is listing a lot of the back catalog Silkheart discs as available again. $19 each but, with no current U.S. distribution, that might not be unreasonable. Cadence seems to have the same discs for $20. Some very interesting titles. I'm really interested in the Charles Brackeen's, the Dennis Gonzalez discs and the Kidd Jordan, although quite a few of them look really, really good. Any recommendations for essential Silkhearts?

I think DMG is getting them direct.

[jon abbey]

Any recommendations for essential Silkhearts?

[gnhrtg]

Of the titles on the Subterranean page, here are my very short takes on some:

Bik Bent Braam - Growing Pains (greatly entertaining, pretty much everyone in top form - and you get to hear how good some barely known, overlooked?, musicians are - some, mind you, as the line-up also includes the likes of Wierbos, Gratkowski, De Joode, and Boeren)

Michiel Braam - Michiel vs. Braam (took a little getting into, solo versions of his compositions, recorded live, you get the lead sheets as a bonus, hmm I don't know what else to say - there's a nice summary on one of the recent Coda's, though I like it more than the reviewer does)

October Meeting 1991 - 3 Quartets (some very nice versions of standards by the quartet of Dresser, Hemingway, Mengelberg, and Braxton - where, I think, Mengelberg delivers some very good solos - bad sound and underrecorded bass, though - the rest of the disc is good, too - Evan Parker delivers a short tirade, over music as well as entering a nice Bye Bye Blackbird quote, one of the tunes played by the aforementioned quartet)

oh well, I got lazy (very uncharacteristic of me wouldn't you say)more below

March of Dimes is OK, very good in places but not all that interesting in others (Hemingway and Anderson are good, somehow Helias not as much surefooted). Ab Baars' Four is another I'm not much fond of. Astronotes I liked but not as much as Growing Pains. APA INI, I've had different reactions to on every spin, almost, it's not bad that's for sure but it's not one I'd recommend just like that either. Cellotape and Scotchtape was a bit too rough and wandering for me in light of Reijseger's later work. Guus Janssen's Holywood OK Pieces I got very recently and I like the compositions and the solos by Chancey, on French Horn, and Rabinovitch, on bassoon, but found the playing by the better known Van Bergen and Janssen to be disappointing. Still, it was interesting enough so that it'll be one of the first discs I'll listen to when I get back home. Of Aan & Uit and Oh My Dog!, I like the latter better but find both very worthwhile. And highly recommended all (on Ramboy) are Trio Clusone, Available Jelly's Monuments, Bering, and Jewels and Binoculars. The second disc of Dylan tunes, Floater, is ok (after all, they play all the melodies beautifully and elaborate elegantly) but not much more and certainly nowhere as good as Jewels and Binoculars. White Widow, I also found disappointing - but that was a year or two ago, perhaps should have kept it for some more spins.

That's about it. Anyone with other rec's or different opinions on these?

Edited April 9, 2005 by gnhrtg

[Д.Д.]

Just gave this one a listen:

(thanks, P.L.M.!)

I really liked it! First time I heard it, and it seems rather complex, though also pretty down to earth at spots. Will definitely listen a few more times!

Our MIA friend P.L.M. considers this to be a major work, and kindly arranged for me to get a copy if it as well (for those who don't know, and the pianist Noah Rosen is the leader). I spent some time with it, but just cannot get myself interested in it. I thought it was incredibly static with very little of direct development - instead of a stream is seemed like a swamp to me. Melodies are anemic and somewhat formulaic (more like segments of compositions (and not of Rosen, but of Andrew Hill), instead of complete ones). An original style (although one can definitely hear Waldron, Hill and Cecil), but not a very attractive one to me. Out of Rosen's generton (35-50), I'd rather listen to pianists like Matthew Goodheart, David Bickerton or Uwe Oberg.

[Д.Д.]

By the way, is anyone up on the Dutch improv scene? I find that a number of CDs are listed at Subterranean in the Netherlands, but I only know many of these artists by name.

There is even a little known Roswell Rudd appearance hidden away in there somehwere...

Conicidentally, as recently as last week I was browsing through this page thinking which items to order. I am not too happy with the prices, so I am in the process of negotiting with Sundist the EU VAT deduction (the negotiations go like this - I send my requsts once in a while for a year now, and they do not respond). Out of these I have only solo Bennink CD on DATA Tempo Comodo, and it is a very enetertainig (and, what a surprise! - very energetic) music.

[Д.Д.]

I've been listening to Julius Hemphill's 'Coon Bid'ness and really loving it. 

Hemphill with Arthur Blythe, Hamiet Bluiett, Abdul Wadud, Barry Altschul and Daniel Ben Zebulon.  Baikida Carroll appears on the last 20 minute track.

Do any of you have recommendations for essential recordings of his I should check out?  Dogon A.D. was never released on cd, correct?  I just placed an order for Screwgun's reissue of Blue Boye, so that will be next, but I am still interested in exploring more of his work.

I've still never heard Dogon AD, but outside of that, Coon Bidness is easily his best, that version of Hard Blues kicks ass.

and no, Dogon AD was never released on disc, Tim Berne tried really hard to get it for Screwgun, unsuccessfully in the end. I don't remember the details, but if you're curious, ask on JC, Steve Smith will know...

Coon Bid'ness is great, and is indeed one of the best Hemphill discs, but the one I like the most is Hemphill's duo with cellist Abdul Wadud on Red label. This is also an early Hemphill recording, and Hemphill is playing like a superhuman there - not in terms of technique, but from the standpoint of confidence and abundance of ideas. All the later works of his that I have heard (including Roi Boye and Blue Boye - one is on Screwgun, one is on Sackville, don't remember which is which) failed to impress me this much. I still have to listen to his duo with Oliver Lake (Buster Bee, on Sackville) and his second duo recording with Wadud from a much later concert, on Music & Arts.

Btw, if you enjoy Coon Bid'ness, you should definitely check out Oliver Lake's "Heavy Spirits" (Black Lion / DA Music) - recorded more or less in the same time and with many of the same musicians - and equally good (I probably enjoy it even a bit more than Coon Bid'ness).

[Д.Д.]

I'm listening to Broetzmann / Van Hove / Bennink - FMP130 for the first time and I am amazed by what an eclectic, bizarre album this is.

To the list.

[Д.Д.]

I just saw that DMG is listing a lot of the back catalog Silkheart discs as available again. $19 each but, with no current U.S. distribution, that might not be unreasonable. Cadence seems to have the same discs for $20. Some very interesting titles. I'm really interested in the Charles Brackeen's, the Dennis Gonzalez discs and the Kidd Jordan, although quite a few of them look really, really good. Any recommendations for essential Silkhearts?

I think I have only one Silkheart CD, and it is a great one - Charles Brackeen "Worshippers Come Nigh". Powerful free-bop with Fred Hopkins playoin the bass like a wounded lion, and Brackeen delivering a fascinating and very origianal tenor works (and strong composiitons). And then there is one Andrew Cyrille on drums, and Olu Dara on trumpet. Great music.

Just checked the Silkheart catalog - I feel I do need at least 80% of it!

[Nate Dorward]

Our MIA friend P.L.M. considers this to be a major work, and kindly arranged for me to get a copy if it as well (for those who don't know, and the pianist Noah Rosen is the leader). I spent some time with it, but just cannot get myself interested in it. I thought it was incredibly static with very little of direct development - instead of a stream is seemed like a swamp to me. Melodies are anemic and somewhat formulaic (more like segments of compositions (and not of Rosen, but of Andrew Hill), instead of complete ones). An original style (although one can definitely hear Waldron, Hill and Cecil), but not a very attractive one to me. Out of Rosen's generton (35-50), I'd rather listen to pianists like Matthew Goodheart, David Bickerton or Uwe Oberg.

Yeah, the Rosen's maybe an acquired taste--but an interesting disc nonetheless--here's the writeup--

http://www.ndorward.com/music/rosen_trips.htm

I haven't heard Jewels & Binoculars--I know a lot of people who like it a lot, but the concert I saw by the group was so dull I've been avoiding the CD, even though I normally like Moore a lot.

[jon abbey]

Coon Bid'ness is great, and is indeed one of the best Hemphill discs, but the one I like the most is Hemphill's duo with cellist Abdul Wadud on Red label. This is also an early Hemphill recording, and Hemphill is playing like a superhuman there - not in terms of technique, but from the standpoint of confidence and abundance of ideas. All the later works of his that I have heard (including Roi Boye and Blue Boye - one is on Screwgun, one is on Sackville, don't remember which is which) failed to impress me this much. I still have to listen to his duo with Oliver Lake (Buster Bee, on Sackville) and his second duo recording with Wadud from a much later concert, on Music & Arts.

Btw, if you enjoy Coon Bid'ness, you should definitely check out Oliver Lake's "Heavy Spirits" (Black Lion / DA Music) - recorded more or less in the same time and with many of the same musicians - and equally good (I probably enjoy it even a bit more than Coon Bid'ness).

for me, what's special about Hemphill is his connection to the blues, very rare for such a primal connection in a jazz musician. Coon Bidness captures this in its rawest form on 'The Hard Blues', something I've never heard on any other of his records (although again, I still haven't heard 'Dogon AD'), including the duo with Wadud you mention. I also don't like Heavy Spirits as much, but I have a feeling I'm listening for at least slightly different things than you are.

did the package I sent you clear customs?

[Guest Chaney]

I'm listening to Broetzmann / Van Hove / Bennink - FMP130 for the first time and I am amazed by what an eclectic, bizarre album this is.  Light years removed from Machine Gun, this one has elements of children's music, stride, boogie woogie and all out sonic assault, all mixed into one.  Great sound quality, too.  As each track is relatively short, and composed by one of the three players, there is a much stronger sense of Bennink and Van Hove's sensibilities than I would normally expect to hear from sidemen on an earlier Broetzmann disc.

On track five it sounds like Beavis from Beavis and Butthead is doing backing vocals while on a caffeine binge.

I just pulled this one off the shelf, had another listen, came back and re-read your post only to find that you had written exactly what I would have.

Amazing to me is how fresh this one sounds thirty years after being recorded. (The generally excellent sound helps.)

I wonder if it would be true that jazz of this era (late 60s - early 70s) emanating from Europe -- as played by (how to put it) non-American resident Europeans -- stands a much better chance of sounding fresh today as compared to what was happening musically with jazz in America; add that rock and/or funk element and suddenly the music screams striped shirts, too-tight bell-bottomed pants and platform shoes. Those types of markers seem much less apparent in the music coming from over there.

ON THE EDIT: Or it just might be that the avant garde / free jazz sounds will age better -- regardless of from whence they came -- than will many other types of jazz. Fiction versus literature. One man's opinion... subject to change.

Edited April 9, 2005 by Chaney

[Guest Chaney]

From Atavistic:

Unheard Music 2005 Subscription Service

The 2005 Unheard Music Series Subscription includes the following seven cd titles:

-The Contemporary Jazz Quintet: Actions 1966-'67 reissue (ums250cd)

-Sirone (featuring Sirone/Charles/Lawrence): Sirone Live (ums253cd)

-Last Exit (featuring Brötzmann/Jackson/Laswell/Sharrock): Köln reissue (ums252cd)

-Brötzmann/Bennink: Schwarzwaldfahrt (FMP Archive Reissue- ums254cd)

-Dieter Scherf Trio: Inside-Outside Reflections (ums255cd)

-Joe McPhee: Pieces of Light reissue (ums256cd)

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Edited April 9, 2005 by Chaney

[Д.Д.]

From Atavistic:

Unheard Music 2005 Subscription Service

[jon abbey]

Brötzmann/Bennink: Schwarzwaldfahrt (FMP Archive Reissue- ums254cd)

very excited about this one! the first "environmental improv" record?

[Д.Д.]

Brötzmann/Bennink: Schwarzwaldfahrt (FMP Archive Reissue- ums254cd)

very excited about this one! the first "environmental improv" record?

Envirinmental? You mean with cries of tortured endangered species animals recorded?