A Groovy Hannukah/pre-X-Mas Week of Goodies from:

Agusti Fernandez & Barry Guy! Ab Baars/Ig Henneman/Misha Mengelberg! Elliott Sharp's Carbon! Roscoe Mitchell & David Wessel! Paul Rogers Solo! Tim Hodgkinson & Milo Fine! Eugene Chadbourne Volunteer Fire Dept!

Joe McPhee & Joe Morris LP's! Laura Andel Orchestra! Dafna Naftali & Chuck Bettis! Tatsuya Yoshida DVD's & CD's! A Big Alan Lomax in Haiti 10CD+2Book Box Set! Bert Jansch LP/CD combo packs! El Gallo Rojo Catalogue Restocked!..

And, an Impressive HAT CD SALE! [Newsletter readers only - reduced prices NOT in database]




*********************


Downtown Music Gallery FREE In-Store Performance Schedule Continues with:


Sunday, December 20th at 6pm:
JUDITH INSELL & REUT REGEV!
Amazing New Viola & Trombone Duo!


Sundays, December 27th & January 3rd - nothing scheduled (Hey, we gotta relax, too!)


Sunday, January 10th at 6pm:
JEREMIAH CYMERMAN / CHRISTOPHER HOFFMAN / HARRIS EISENSTADT!
Extraordinary New Clarinet / Cello / Percussion Trio!


Sunday, January 17th at 6pm:
ANDY HAAS & DEE POP!
Two Magical/Mystical Musicians Return to DMG for a Rare Duo Set!


Sunday, January 24th at 6pm:
RAS MOSHE Returns!


Sunday, January 31st at 6pm:
JESSE ELDER & LOGAN RICHARDSON!
Excellent Piano & Alto Sax Duo & CD Release Celebration!


*********************




AGUSTI FERNANDEZ/BARRY GUY - Some Other Place (Maya 0902; EEC) Featuring Agusti Fernandez on piano and Barry Guy on double bass. Barcelona-based pianist Agusti Fernandez and Swiss-based contrabassist Barry Guy have worked together in a trio with Raymon Lopez, as well as a quartet with Evan Parker and Paul Lytton. They have also collaborated in Barry Guy's New Orchestra, but this is their first duo recording. It is extraordinary! It is also completely different from the trio with Raymon Lopez that recorded a more restrained yet superb disc for Leo and played in New York earlier this year (2009). This disc is quite intense, showing the more explosive side to both of these master musicians. Nothing sounds quite like the sound of Barry Guy's contrabass and this is the first thing I notice on this disc. Agusti composed six of the ten pieces here and each piece on this disc is just incredible. On the opening piece "Annalisa", it sounds as if Barry is playing a harp, his strings buzz in a most marvelous, angelic way. I love the way, the piece switches back and forth between a percussive piano and bass theme and a spacious inside-the piano section. The quick explorations on "Barnard's Loop" swirl so furiously that I was gasping for breath when the piece ended. Even the subtle pieces like "How to go into a Room You are Already In" bristle with a certain elegant intensity. "Rosette" which is just over one minute, is almost too much and on the verge of exploding. Then for "Blueshift" the lyrical beauty of both the piano and bass is at its most haunting. This disc is certain to be on many top ten lists for this year. Check it out, it might make your list as well. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $20


AB BAARS/IG HENNEMAN/MISHA MENGELBERG - Sliptong (Wig 16 SBT; EEC) Featuring Ab Baars on tenor sax, clarinet & shakuhachi, Ig Henneman on viola and Misha Mengelberg on piano. You might ask, what is sliptong? It is sole so small it may slip through the fishnet. This is the delicacy that Misha, Ig and Ab had for dinner the night this disc was recorded. The music they made is also a sonic delicacy. Ab Baars and Misha Mengelberg are longtime collaborators in the ICP Orchestra while Ab Baars and Ig Henneman are also longtime collaborators in life (they are married) and in music. Ig and Ab (?) also run this the Wig label. There is an obvious connection or spirit that flows through these three musicians. We can hear it in the way they weave their notes notes together, a certain phrase is started by one player and then is completed by the other two. This music has an intimate quality like old friends discussing something special between themselves. I love the way they take their time so that each note lingers, giving us a chance to consider everything they play. I can't recall hearing Mr. Baars playing shakuhachi before this, so this ancient wooden flute does add a certain precious aspect to the proceedings. This is an all acoustic trio and the sound & balance are quite perfect. On "Fishwalk", the way Ab slurs his notes on tenor, the way Misha plays notes from the long history of jazz and the way Ig plucks notes rhythmically, makes for a strong connection between different but connected worlds. The music seems to breathe, evolve and have a life of its own. It is like a child that have been nurtured with love and the struggles of everyday life. It is indeed a nice holiday gift from Ig, Ab and Misha to us. Ho ho ho! Enjoy. -Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $20



The last Tzadik release of 2009!

SAJJANU - Pechiku!! (Tzadik 7266; USA) Sajjanu is a ripping new unit from Tokyo that performs incredibly complex through-composed compositions with few if any repetition. Performed with an intensity and power that is absolutely staggering, this trio of two guitars and drums sounds like a full orchestra and is one of the most exciting young bands in Japan today. Combining the intensity of the Ruins with the quirkiness of the Boredoms and the compositional integrity of Zappa, Zorn and more, Sajjanu is creating a new Japanese music of infinite possibilities. TZADIK NEW JAPAN SERIES
CD $14


ROSCOE MITCHELL/DAVID WESSEL - Contact [CD + DVD set] (RogueArt 23; EEC) The CONTACT set consists of a DVD filmed during the October 20th 2004 concert at IRCAM (Paris, France) and of a CD recorded in Berkeley (California, USA) on October 13th and 14th 2002.
Roscoe Mitchell: alto and soprano saxophones; David Wessel: electronics
"David Wessel, despite whatever label on can attach to his music, is very familiar with the musical object commonly called jazz (never mind the name we give to this music which is both one and multiple, pushing the limits of its frontiers, the importance being that it exists, whatever the label). He has also played with George Lewis, Steve Lacy to name but a few; several times during later meetings, David told me of his admiration for the drummer Oliver Johnson, found dead in tragic circumstances one morning in March 2002 in the Halles square in the heart of Paris...
Roscoe Mitchell Mitchell, from the Art Ensemble of Chicago to his performances with Thomas Buckner, to his Note Factory and numerous other groups, is not a stranger to adventure as long as it serves the cause of music...
This duo is an evidence in itself. When we know that their first musical encounter dates from the 80's (as witness a first concert in 1986 at IRCAM), we can only be surprised that their music has not been diffused more widely...
Roscoe Mitchell and David Wessel are of those, each in his own right, who push musical expression to its furthest limits. No cold rigour her, no search of form for form's sake; music, complex, refined, is warmly offered to the audience." - Michel Dorbon, excerpt from the liner notes
CD + DVD set for $24


PAUL ROGERS - Being [Ltd 500 copies] (Amor Fati 15; EEC) This amazing disc features two cuts including one 70 minute solo-contrabass piece plus one shorter piece! This phenomenal solo set was recorded live at Museum d'Aquitaine in Bordeaux, France in April of 2007. British born contrabassist Paul Rogers remains in a class of his own. No one plays quite like him and he has unique hand-made contrabass. Although Mr. Rogers has collaborated with reeds wiz Paul Dunmall on dozens of dates, he discs as a leader are few. This is his third solo bass effort and again he has left us with something astonishing to behold. For the long first section of this disc, Paul does quite a bit of bowing and his sound is utterly distinct. The same can be said when he starts to pluck the strings in his own way, the rubbery sound of the strings and the way he bends notes in his own language. Some may think that a solo work is indulgent, not here. I was at the edge of my seat for the entire 74-minute program, wondering how Paul Rogers was going to come up with so many fascinating ideas and sounds. There is a section midway where Paul is playing what sounds like a folk melody, adding a mysterious, haunting quality to this already mighty disc. Amor Fati is a small but serious French label where each cover is hand-painted, and there are no U.S. sellers - except for us ole faithfuls at DMG. Thanks to Steve Dalachinsky for tipping us off. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $15


PAUL DUNMALL/MILES LEVIN - Miles Above (Duns 065; UK) LIMITED EDITION CD-R. Featuring Paul Dunmall on tenor & soprano saxophone and Miles Levin drums. Recorded at TL's Jazz Club, Birmingham on three dates in October and November of '08 and April '09. Paul Dunmall is too prolific and too amazing for any of you who read this newsletter not to know about. His partner here is a fine young drummer named Miles Levin, son of the legendary British drummer Tony Levin (who is a member of Mujician with Dunmall). Both Miles & Tony Levin worked with Dunmall together on a previous Duns disc.
This disc was recorded live in Birmingham on three dates and it has splendid sound. Each of the three pieces is about 22-minutes long and each is a colossal encounter. "Miles Above" is an extraordinary tenor sax and drums duet. The furious energy and exchange of ideas is non-stop and tightly executed, yet it winds down to a strong, slow-burning conclusion. Dunmall switches to soprano for the second piece, "Connecting" with Miles doing some superb mallet-work when the piece begins. Once more, the duo works together with restrained power, finesse and craftiness building to another strong culmination. For the last piece, "Real High", the tenor and drums take their time and slowly reach for skies, ascending higher as they go. I am reminded of Coltrane's classic final duo recording 'Interstellar Space'. The power and creative spirit is similar as the duo soars into the horizon. We just have a few copies left of this wonderful limited edition disc, so don't hesitate. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $15


JAYNA NELSON With JOHN ESPOSITO/MATT SHULMAN/FRANCOIS MOUTIN/PETER O'BRIEN - Bloom Of Creation (Sunjump CD 09; USA) Jayna Nelson on flute & piccolo, Matt Schulman on trumpet, John Esposito on piano, Francois Moutin on bass and Peter O'Brien on drums. This disc was recorded live the AlterKnit in the Knitting Factory in February of 1999, almost ten years ago and thought to have been lost. I hadn't heard of the Ms. Jayna Nelson before hearing her on a John Esposito disc called 'A Book of Five Rings' which I reviewed earlier this year. Like every other disc that I've heard on Esposito's Sunjump label, this one is another unrecognized gem. The first song, "Indah Dreams" features some amazing flute and piano interplay with equally strong rhythm section work. Trumpeter Matt Schulman sounds especially strong on "Tim's Brain", the flute, trumpet and piano weaving around one another tightly and intensely. Throughout this disc the all five members of this solid quintet engage each other and play slow-burning restraint, solos unfolding carefully and consistently intense interaction. Hopefully we will get a chance to hear flutist Jayna Nelson playing around the town in the not-too-distant future. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $14


ELLIOTT SHARP/CARBON - Void Coordinates (Intakt 163; Switzerland) Elliott Sharp 8-string guitarbass, guitar, soprano sax; Zeena Parkins electric harp; Marc Sloan electric bass, prepared bass; Joseph Trump drums, percussion; David Weinstein sampler, synthesizer
The composer and multi-instrumentalist Elliott Sharp is one of the most striking personalities of the New York music scene. Along with John Zorn, Arto Lindsay, Bill Frisell and Marc Ribot, Sharp has been at the heart of the post 80s innovations which took improvised, composed and electronic music beyond their boundaries, to merge them with jazz, blues and rock. Since then Sharp has expanded his musical radius. He has composed an impressive body of work for string quartets, theatre and orchestras in addition to playing in jazz and improvising partnerships as well as creating sound-installations and conceptual works.
The band CARBON was first conceived in April 1983 to be an anti-silicon sound: earthy, jagged, pulsing, and direct. In nature, Carbon gives us diamonds on the one hand, gunpowder on the other. Raw beauty and combustibility: an appropriate metaphor for the music of Elliott Sharp. In summer 2009 Elliott Sharp reconvened Carbon and with Zeena Parkins, Marc Sloan, Juseph Trump and David Weinstein went to the Loho Studio in New York and recorded "Void Coordinates". "The music was recorded 'live' with a minimum of edits and overdubs - essentially, this is what Carbon sounds like in performance, operating in the service of groove and psycho-acoustic chemical change," writes Elliott Sharp in an elaborate text in the CD booklet.
CD $20



New and Recent on Rossbin!

LAURA ANDEL ORCHESTRA With TAYLOR HO BYNUM/MATT BAUDER/CARL MAGUIRE et al - Doble Mano (Rossbin 029; EEC) One of the focal points in my search as a composer is the concept of identity linked to the search of ambiguity. I feel very strong the question of my own identity, perhaps in part because I am an immigrant myself. Born in Buenos Aires, I lived there for many years. After several travels, I now live in New York. Part wanderer, I may still be under the illusion of being in search of my next den. Recorded live The Kitchen Concert Series in New York City on May 11, 2007. Recording mixed by Kevin James, mastered by Elliott Sharp at studio zOaR in New York City.
Taylor Ho Bynum cornet; Stephanie Griffin viola; Matt Bauder clarinets; Raul Jaurena bandoneon; Carl Maguire Fender Rhodes; Ursel Schlicht piano; Ken Filiano double bass; Danny Tunick vibraphone & gamelan instruments; David Simons gamelan instruments; Laura Andel composition & conducting
CD $15

TIM HODGKINSON/MILO FINE - Teshuvah (Rossbin 028; EEC) "Saturday. Mike bringing Tim after all. Cart the smaller drum kit upstairs. Set it up. Open the piano. Assemble the clarinet. Set up the recording equipment. And, naturally, wait. Chronicling via cell phone: delayed rehearsals, concerts predictably running late, the convolutions surrounding their finding a place for a quick meal before arriving, and Mike's ongoing "negotiations" with Alice. Having a sense as to when Tim had to be back "on the job", I started thinking we'd have no time to play at all. Another call, they're almost here. Arrival. Mike and Tim set up their equipment, and, given the time constraints, we eschew a sound check. Then, without a word, the music starts. Now, if I may back up a moment. Previous to his hearing me play clarinets with Roger the year before, Tim knew fuck-all about my music. And my exposure to his work was limited; the early progressive/art rock, the raucous, improvised environs of Konk Pack (which didn't involve much woodwind playing), and the frugal bursts characterizing his contributions to the festival. So my expectations (like assumptions, a tricky business) were of a spare, lyrically-tinged aesthetic, perhaps informed by some "noisy" eruptions. But, when Tim put his horn to his mouth, it was all technically sharp, inventive fire. And I was delighted, as much for the music that was there, that moment, and to come, as for the fact that my expectations had been wonderfully circumvented. Improvisation. My lifework." - Milo Fine
CD $15

EUGENE CHADBOURNE - Chadbourne Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad (Rossbin 027; EEC) "About the type of music," Alessandro Bianco wrote me, "I was thinking of a solo banjo country impro experimental protest songs record." I used Alessandro's list as a way to organize my favorite recordings from the last few years, not only the genre or stylistic labels but the order in which he presented them. I made up a rule that the tracks could be used if they fit one or more of the words he used in his description - but only in the order he Usted them! In this way I chose tracks that I would describe as "solo banjo country impro experimental protest songs" as well as others that are simply "solo" or "banjo country", "experimental protest songs", and so forth. This gig took place shortly after I had played the Vancouver Folk Festival, summer of 2002. The track was first released on a CD entitled Don't Burn the Flag, Let's Burn the Bush. The Chadbourne Baptist Church quartet active circa 2004 also had a new Merle Haggard song in the set list, the marvelous That's the News. This and the concluding Loser's Cocktail were recorded at a cozy bar called The Garage in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a location I refer to in my vocal. This song was a hit for a mostly forgotten country and western singer, by the way: Dick Curless. Someone in the audience was responsible for both of these recordings. I have to admit I stopped gigging with this group because I thought it was bringing me bad luck, as just about anything associated with a church very well might. Our house had burned down the night after what turned out to be the last Chadbourne Baptist Church gig in my hometown. Eugene Chadbourne Greensboro Dec. 27 2006
CD $15

TELL [JOKE LANZ/CHRISTIAN WOLFARTH] - Tonal Nagual (Rossbin 030; EEC) Joke Lanz - turntables, electronics; Christian Wolfarth - percussion
CD $15

ALESSANDRO BOSETTI - Il Fiore della Bocca (Rossbin 025; EEC) Produced in 2003 for the sound art department of a German radio station, "Il Fiore della Bocca" is one of the most controversial text sound compositions by Alessandro Bosetti. Composed exclusively with the voices of physically and mentally handicapped people, the piece displays an impressive richness of detail, depth and variety of sound, covering the full range of musical possibilities of the spoken voice; from heavily processed to completely unprocessed, naked and direct. The piece has an ambiguous nature that lies somewhere between an experimental radio play and an extended, powerfully voice driven, noise composition. Bosetti has taken an impressive journey into what is commonly perceived as "disturbing". He has thus engaged in a process of transformation and metamorphosis with both the sound materials and their perceptions in order to develop musical beauty out of these "abnormal" voices.
CD $15

ENORE ZAFFIRI - La voce ed il sintetizzatore (Rossbin 023; EEC) After almost forty years of creative activity, the name Enore Zaffiri still sounds "new", as his extraordinary artistic output has remained to a great extent unreleased. Pioneer of multimedia, electronic and ambient music (he founded the Turin Studio of Electronic Music in 1964) Zaffiri used the electronic instrument to find a new musical perspective based on a structuralist principle derived from Euclidean geometrics. In this works, dated between 1973 and 1988 he approche the combination of the electronic music with the voice.. the meeting of the newest instrument, at that time the ARP synth, and the oldest one, the human voice.
CD $15

and last copies of these

ALVIN CURRAN & DOMENICO SCIAJNO - Our Ur (Rossbin 015; EEC) Sciajno, Domenico (Say "Shah-eeno") comes from an ancient Sicilian Jewish family closely related to the Kabbalists and mystics of the 13-14th centuries. When these mystics decreed electronic music unfit for Jews, the Sciajnos said "to hell with that" and converted to Christianity - enabling them to continue their work in live electronics. In a word, Domenico is carrying on a very ancient family tradition. He and I met by pure chance at an international conference of sound smugglers organized by the Palermo "cupola", held annually in a remote seaside hotel outside of the Hague in the Netherlands. At the time, he was a contrabassist whose job was to look out for the cops, when the others went into action - stealing sounds from ports, train stations, markets, landscapes, banks and even people. This is as close to the truth, as the avant-garde is to the Marx Brothers. Our real meeting at the Royale Konseravtorium of the Hague, where he was an excellent student, was the beginning of a long friendship and many fruitful collaborations, among them: A giant sound installation in the magnificent baroque park of Donaueschingen 1999; performances in" Brute Beat Brut Bruit" with the Alter Ego Ensemble and Frankie Hi NRG; as founding member of the Alvin Curran Filharmonia; a collaborative sound and video work SINKING PIANO of a floating and slowly sinking piano- for the Taktlos Festival 2002 and numerous sound designs for my radio works like UN ALTRO FERRAGOSTO, and WOLFINGS-- after a duo performance at the University in Florence (2001) we realized as improvisers that our musical sensibilities were in absolute alignment. Domenico is wild fennel, without which half the wonderful dishes in the Sicilian cuisine could not exist - totally unpredictable but never late, he approaches everything with a master's imagination, and outside of women, there seems to be no artistic or technical problem he cannot solve.. It was natural that we should make a CD of Duo Projects, and went about recording a few sets just one year ago in my studio near Genzano di Roma. The best of those sessions are included here as well as two other works- one based on my piano improvisations (here brilliantly processed by Dome) to sound like it was played on an ancient piano about 5 kilometers from the microphone. The other "Rue de la Gare" was a pure sound collaboration we made in an attempt to win a prize. We did not win, but like everyone else, felt that we should have. Most of the electronics is derived from my extensive sample archive and keyboard performance style - much passing through Max/MSP patches of Dome's and Ali Momemi's. Like my own story, un-necessary to tell here, the rest is fiction. - Alvin Curran.
CD $15.00 AVAILABLE (Out of print, but we have it!)

BOHMAN BROTHERS [ADAM BOHMAN/JONATHAN BOHMAN] - A Twist For All Pockets (Rossbin 003; EEC) Adam Bohman, known for his work with the free improvising band Morphogenesis and his participation with the London Improvisers Orchestra, here teams with his brother Jonathan in a series of pieces ranging from spare and spiky to richly layered drones. The instrumentation listed on the disc, aside from "oscillators," seems resolutely low-tech; presumably some of the more electronic sounds are produced from taped and augmented sources. This tension between balalaikas, rubber bands, and hosepipes on the one hand and various electronics on the other is one of the enticing aspects of this recording. Its overarching structure goes from the isolated bangs and scrapes of the opening two tracks to gradually denser, busier soundscapes to, finally, the intense sonic assault of the last two pieces. Some of the sparser improvisations have a lack of cohesion that's bothersome, though it's difficult to know whether such an effect is intentional. The sheer inventive power of the most successful tracks argues that these brothers might have conceived the album in such a manner as to draw the listener gradually into the eventual maelstrom. The general impression is one of electronic noise generation of a complicatedly messy sort and, in this respect, the Bohman Brothers are reminiscent of similar practitioners of the art such as Gert Jan Prins, Voice Crack, or Giovanni Ielasi. But pieces like "Oneiro" (with its organ-like chords coupled with savaged strings) and "Unconscious Sauna" (with interlacing, whining drones) show that these siblings are onto something unique and fascinating. Recommended. - Brian Olewnich, AMG
CD $15.00 AVAILABLE (Out of print, but we have it!)


MIKE OLSON With STEVE TIBBETTS/MICHELE KINNEY/ANTHONY COX et al - Incidental (Henceforth 107; USA) Mike Olson, composer and musician with 18 other musicians. This is a relatively large scale six-movement piece which I began working on in 2004 and finished in 2009. I named the piece "Incidental" because it reminds me very much of incidental music - as in, music written to reinforce visual activity of one sort oranother. The music sounds like action to me.
As is true of all ofmy more recent works, this piece is constructed from thousands of small musical fragments. The fragments were perfonned by live musicians, recorded, edited and then loaded into a software program where I constructed the actual musical composition. Many of the fragments were subjected to extensive signal processing and other manipulations during the compositional process. There is no actual "score" for this piece, The parts consisted of a number of verbal instructions and graphical gestures which each ofthe performers had to interpret. There were also a number of traditionally notated fragments used in the string sessions. The performers were recorded individually (for the most part) without hearing each other. This gave them the freedom to create their own interpretations without being influenced by what the others had dooe. These fragment recording sessions yielded a large amount of musical material. This material was edited down to what became in the end a very large palette of thousands of musical fragments that I then used to construct the actual finished music.
One thing that I find particularly appealing about this method of music creation, is that it combines the elements of composition, performance and recording into one tightly integrated process. Of course, a composer generally has control over the musical materials (pitches, rhythms, dynamics, etc), but the performance is always a bit of a wild card, and if you're fortunate enough to get a musically transcendent performance of your material, you've got to hope that you were able to get a good recording of it. With my method of composing, an excellent recording is a given, seeing as I have complete control over that. I've also found that I am able to exercise a remarkable amount of control over the performance, or what the listener would perceive as the performance. As I construct the finished piece in the computer, I essentially create a new performance as part of that same process. At that stage of construction, I am manipulating musical materials and creating a performance as one integrated process; the two are now inextricably interwoven.
CD $14


CESAR BOLANOS - Peruvian Electroacoustic And Experimental Music (1964-1970) (Pogus 21053; USA) "Cesar BolaNos is one of the leading artists of the Latin American avant-garde of the mid 20th century. Born in Lima, Peru in 1931, he was part of an astonishing generation of Peruvian composers: Edgar Valcarcel, Olga Pozzi-Escot, Alejandro Nunez Allauca, Leopoldo La Rosa, Enrique Pinilla and Celso Garrido-Lecca, among others. After studying piano at the National Conservatory in Lima, and following classes with the Belgian composer Andres Sas (who after leaving Europe settles in Peru), he would join the group 'Renovacion' (together with Valcarcel, Pozzi-Escot, Pulgar Vidal and Sas); with them Bolanos began a series of presentations and edited a music magazine. He had already composed brief pieces for piano and music for a chamber orchestra. At that time Bolanos is interested in the work of Stravinsky, Bartok and Schoenberg. But he's still far from the sound radicalism that he would reach in the future. In 1957 he traveled to New York City to study composition at the Manhattan School of Music and electronics at RCA. He met the Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera, who offered him a scholarship to study at the Latin-American Center of High Musical Studies (CLAEM) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. On his arrival in 1963, Bolanos became involved in the design and development of the electronic music laboratory of the CLAEM. There he composed his first electronic piece and the first work generated in the above laboratory: 'Intensity and Height' (1964), inspired by a poem of Cesar Vallejo. Bolanos also composed 'Interpolations' (1966) for electric guitar and magnetic tape, 'Spaces I' (1966), 'II' (1967), 'III' (1968) for magnetic tape, the experimental audio-visual cantata 'Alpha-Omega' (1967), instrumental and mixed pieces like 'Flexum' (1969), 'I-10-AIFG/Rbt-1' (1968), and, with a commission from Radio Bremen (Germany), 'Nacahuasu' (1970), inspired by the Che Guevara diaries. Bolanos also experimented with computers, and composed two pieces with the mathematician Mauricio Milchberg. 'Sialoecibi' (1970): ESEPCO I (computer sound-expressive structure)* for piano and a recitator-mime-actor (a work that satirizes the organization language initials from the 1950's) and 'Song without words', ESEPCO II (1970) 'Homage to the unpronounced words' for piano (2 performers) and tape. For the composition of these pieces Bolanos and Milchberg introduce into the computer parameters to have the machine generate a composition from the information obtained by the composer's production. These recordings bring together for the first time a definitive edition of his work on CD."
2 CD set for $20


YONI KRETZMER'S NEW DILEMMA - New Dilemma (Earsay 189; EEC) Yoni Kretzmer on tenor sax, Daniel Tanchelson on viola, Neta Cohen Shani on cello, Ehud Etun on double bass and Daniel Finegold on drums. A few years ago Israeli saxists Assis Tsahar & Ori Kaplan left us with discs on the Earsay Jazz label, which is based in a jazz club in Tel Aviv. Recently another Israeli saxist named Yoni Kretzmer has also left us with his disc on this same label. I wasn't familiar with any of the members of Yoni's quintet but I am most impressed nonetheless. What makes this group unique is the three string players that back and engage Yoni's strong, dark tenor playing. The strings often play multiple bent harmonies with Yoni's thoughtful and probing sax. Their drummer also has loping style sometimes playing around or against the beat which works well with Ehud's throbbing bass. The strings often add colorful counter-harmonies to the swaggering sax/bass/'drums trio. The strings sound as if they are recorded from a distance, swirling behind the rest of the trio as it erupts up front. Sometimes Yoni plays a thoughtful written melody while the strings buzz in the background, floating like playful ghosts and adding the missing parts of the puzzle. Yoni's 'New Dilemma' is the way he fits his sturdy tenor into unpredictable surroundings creating subgroups and an odd balancing act to hold things together. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $15


DAFNA NAFTALI/CHUCK BETTIS - Chatter Blip (Acheulian Handaxe 0805; USA) Dafna Naphtali - sound processing, electronics & voice; Chuck Bettis - electronics & voice. Recorded March 2009 CHATTER BLIP is a duo performance piece by Chuck Bettis (electronics/voice and Dafna Naphtail (electronics/processing/voice) -- an interstellar multi-character audio operetta involving a multitude of human, alien, and machine voices, in a mash-up of primal and classic sci-fi and electro-acoustics.
Dafna Naphtali, singer, sound artist/improviser and composer, comes from an eclectic background of music-making. In the early 90's she began studying classical voice and turned her attention to contemporary classical and experimental music. She performs and composes using her own custom Max/MSP programming for sound processing of voice and other instruments, appearing in venues and festivals in NY, Germany, Canada, Belgium, Holland, Israel and Russia and in 2010 to India. She's collaborated on projects with Hans Tammen, Kathleen Supove, Lukas Ligeti, Alex Waterman. She is co-leader, with Kitty Brazelton, of the digital punk trio "What is is Like to Be a Bat?" (Tzadik CD 2003), and she was recently awarded a commission to write a vocal work for the vocal ensemble Magic Names (with Gisburg, Daisy Press, Nick Hallett, Peter Scisciolli and Robert Osborne), a group founded to champion the vocal work of Stockhausen.
Chuck Bettis, raised in the fertile HarDCore soil, nourished within Baltimore's enigmatic avant garde gatherings, blossoming in NY's Downtown Musical tribe. Past projects include Metamatics, All Scars, Trance And The Arcade. Has also appeared on recordings with Ikue Mori, Nautical Almanac, Yellow Swans, Measles Mumps Rubella, Toshio Kajiwara, Carlos Giffoni. Has played live with John Zorn, Fred Frith, and Afrirampo to name a few.
Current projects include Brown Wing Overdrive (electronic trio of Bettis, Derek Morton, Mikey IQ Jones), Mudang Rouge (quintet with Jerry Lim, Evan Rapport, Josh Blair), Period (quintent with Mike Pride, Charlie Looker, Darius Jones), Hiccup (laptop duo w/ Luke Calzonetti), and a laptop & voice duo with Dafna Naphtali
CD $12

[see further down for more Acheulian Handaxe releases!]



CHARLES EVANS/NEIL SHAH - Live At Saint Stephens (Hot Cup 92; USA) Featuring Charles Evans on baritone sax and Neil Shah on piano. This was recorded live Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church in Wilkes-Barre, PA in January of 2009, 100 years after the founding of this church. Both Mr. Evans and Mr. Shah grew up in the same area of Pennsylvania and are longtime friends and musical collaborators. If you don't know the great Charles Evans, baritone saxist extraordinaire, you should. He can be found on a few discs on Moppa Elliott's Hot Cup label, including a great solo bari sax CD, something you don't find very often.
Charles wrote all but one of the pieces on this fine duo offering. "Junie" is a haunting ballad with dreamy bari and floating piano. I love the way this duo plays together, every note counts, they seems to be shadowing each other, completing each other's phrases. The music hear reminds me of Duke Ellington, the way he wrote the perfect melodies for the members of his orchestra to play in their own way. The melancholy melody of "On Tone Yet" is both touching and timeless. The piano part is minimal yet ornate and adds just the right amount of spice to the superb stories that baritone sax continues to tell. The long pieces ends with a forlorn resonant piano section and the bari used like a cello playing long tones. This music is poignant, dreamy, thoughtful, tasty, elegant and perfect for mellow late night listening. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $15

JON LUNDBOM & BIG FIVE CHORD With JON IRABAGON/BRYAN MURRAY/MOPPA ELLIOTT/DANNY FISCHER - Acccomplish Jazz (Hot Cup 92; USA) Just out! Featuring Jon Lundbom on guitar, Jon Irabagon on alto sax, Bryan Murray on tenor sax, Moppa Elliott on bass and Danny Fischer on drums. Bassist & leader for the great Mostly Other People Do the Killing (MOPDTK), Moppa Elliott, also runs the Hot Cup label, which chronicles another scene once located in the outskirts of Pennsylvania. This is the second disc from guitarist Jon Lundbom & Big Five Chord who also includes two members of MOPDTK, Moppa & award-winning saxist Jon Irabagon.
Big Five Chord are more of a feisty jazz/rock band with all songs but one written by Mr. Lundbom. "Truncheon" has a sly melody with slinky guitar and slightly twisted harmonies for the saxes. I dig the way Jon's guitar solo is in between styles and crafty without showing off. The saxes also swirl quickly yet effortlessly. Lundbom writes quirky yet memorable songs that are refreshing with unexpected twists that occur before you notice them. On "Phoenetics", the guitar, bass and drums play this hypnotic repeating throb while the sax plays these bent (dog-yelping) notes on top. The guitar solo is slow, mysterious and often mesmerizing. Strangely enough the one cover tune is a bluegrass standard by the Louvin Brothers called "The Christian Life", once covered by the Byrds. An odd choice? To be sure. Yet it works somehow since that melody is so infectious and the tenor sax plays it so righteously. At times Lundbom reminds me of Marc Ribot without ever going too far overboard. He also writes songs that unfold in unexpected ways but never end up in any free terrain. Both saxists take inspired solos without ever screaming or diving into the unknown. There is something charming, creative and cool about this music that is not so easy to explain but it does make me smile and want to check out their recently reissued first disc. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $15

JON LUNDBOM & BIG FIVE CHORD With JON IRABAGON/BRYAN MURRAY/MOPPA ELLIOTT/ANDREW BAIN - All The Pretty Ponies: A Live Recording (Hot Cup 98; USA) reissue of private release
CD $15


JOE McPHEE - Alto [Ltd #d LP] (Roaratorio 17; USA) 524 #d copies; Not released on CD! "Alto joins Tenor and Soprano to complete a discrete trilogy within Joe McPhee's catalog of unaccompanied waxings. Recorded live at a Lower East Side bar in 2009, McPhee's explorations on alto saxophone and clarinet are alternately fiery and contemplative, imbued with the masterful intelligence that's marked his work for over forty years. A limited edition of 525 copies on 180 gram vinyl, with a Judith Lindbloom silkscreen print on rice paper and liner notes by Hank Shteamer. Digital download coupon included."
LP $18


MELEE + JOE MORRIS QUARTET - Cloud Atlas [Ltd Ed LP] (Broken Research 31; USA) Not released on CD! "Melee by default has become a terrain with which other musicians engage. At this point the trio has played with Greg Kelley on several occasions, John Dierker, Mike Khoury, and Aaron Siegel amongst others. To have Joe Morris come and push the mountains around a little is both exciting and terrifying." - from Broken Records website.
"This is well-recorded and immensely focused improv. From what I can piece together Melee is Ben Hall on percussion, Hans Buetow on bass, with guests Nate Wooley on trumpet and Joe Morris on guitar for this session. I dig the way it is difficult to tell who is doing what and that there is little information included on the record. I don't think that Joe Morris & Nate Wooley had played together before this but it is difficult to tell since they sound as if they been connected for a long time. The bassist and drummer are also outstanding paying a great deal of attention each detail. It seems obvious that there is no leader on this date as each member of the quartet is an integral part of the overall sound. I must admit that this music sounds so much better on vinyl than on CD. I guess that this is the reason that Broken Research does vinyl-only editions." - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
LP $16


THE WORLD HERITAGE [KIDO NATSUKI/YOSHIDA TATSUYA/YAMAMOTO SEIICHI /NASUNO MITSURU/KATSUI YUJI] - Invitation To The World Heritage [DVD + CD] (Magaibutsu CDV 03; Japan) The latest in a huge, ongoing number of project by drummer/bandleader Tatsuya Yoshida. They are a all-improvising group and this features a pretty amazing, modern Japan Rock all-star lineup: Tatsuya Yoshida on drums (Ruins, Koenji Hyakkei, Korekyojinn), Kido Natsuki (Bondage Fruit & Kiki Band) on guitar, Yamamoto Seiichi (Boredoms) on guitar and Yuji Katsui (Rovo & Bondage Fruit) on violin.
DVD + CD set for $25

KOENJIHYAKKEI [KOENJI HYAKKEI: TATSUYA YOSHIDA] - Swan Dive [DVD + CD] (Magaibutsu CDV 02; Japan) This was the 5th release from this this excellent instrumental Japanese 'progressive jazz rock band focused on polyrhythms' featuring drummer Yoshida Tatsuya, leader of Ruins and Koenjihyakkei, & also featuring guitarist Kido Natsuki [Bondage Fruit & Umezu's Kiki Band].
DVD + CD set for $25

KAZUHISA UCHIHASHI/TASUYA YOSHIDA - Improvisations 3 [DVD + CD](Magaibutsu CDV 01; Japan) This is the third release of the amazing improvising duo of Uchihashi Kazuhisa (Altered States, Ground Zero, Otomo Yoshihide, R.U.B.) and Yoshida Tatsuya (Ruins, Koenjihyakkei, Korekyojin, etc.) now as a DVD+CD set [previously just a DVD]
DVD + CD set for $23

KAZUHISA UCHIHASHI/TASUYA YOSHIDA - Improvisations [2 CD set] (Magaibutsu 24/25; Japan) Improvisations for guitar and drums, by the guitarist of Altered States/Ground Zero/Otomo Yoshihide/R.U.B. and the drummer of Ruins, Koenjihyakkei, Korekyojin. Way intense and explosive improvisations!
2 CD set for $23


JACK WRIGHT/NATE WOOLEY/BEN WRIGHT/MIKE PRIDE - Tenterhooks [Ltd Ed] (Bug Incision 25; USA) This is a 2006 recording of a quartet featuring Jack Wright, Ben Wright, Mike Pride, and Nate Wooley. The music is tightly coiled, coming across as an unsettled focusing and unfocusing of a variety of intersecting sounds and extended playing techniques. The players all possess masterful control of their instruments, and exhibit a fine sense of balance and pacing. Nobody overplays and the role(s) of background/foreground is constantly shifting, creating an uncluttered, thoughtful unfolding of events. Another fine slice of Wright and his ever-shifting company.
Limited edition of 100 #d copies, color covers in plastic sleeves
CD $8


SIGNAL TO NOISE - The Journal of Improvised Music (Issue 56/Winter 2010; USA) Featuring a certain-to-be controversial cover article on Matt Shipp plus articals on Van Dyke Parks, Talibam!, Sufjan Stevens, Vic Chesnutt, Bobby Beausoleil and mail-order music. Plus informative live review and forty pages of music and book reviews. This is America's best new music magazine and it continues to give The Wire a run for their money minus some of their tired attitudes and problematic reviewers.
MAGAZINE $5



*************


RICHARD GARET - Four Malleable [2 CD set] (And/Oar 34; USA) "My work over the last several years has focused on the investigation of aural phenomena, environment, spatial listening, structure, natural and evolving processes, function, possibilities, and materiality. My interests have led me to explore acoustics, psychoacoustics, binaural beats (brainwaves), and diverse methods of recording sound, and the application of systems and strategies, which have served as the fundamental departure towards achieving my work." -- Richard Garet
"Four Malleable is comprised of what are among Richard's best compositions from four different years: 'Imaginative Elements' (2004), 'From Modified Tapes' (2005), 'Sceneries' (2006), and 'Nocturne' (2009). Four previously unreleased works that place the mind's eye inside malleable forms and blurred locations. As is the tendency of a/O to often draw comparisons to the world of cinema, this release at times recalls the well known scene in Michelangelo Antonioni's Deserto Rosso where actress Monica Vitti watches as her friends slowly fade into the hazy distance without anyone actually moving. While this connection was not intentional on the part of Richard, it is quite pertinent to a/O since he is to have a track featured as part of the CD project entitled, Michelangelo Antonioni - Trilogy & Epilogue, which casts a conceptual lens on Antonioni's 'tetralogy' of films which includes Deserto Rosso. It was partially because of hearing the works later featured on Four Malleable (among other works) that Richard was invited to participate in the project." - RG
"Four Malleable" is four compositions containing four different sound sources, recorded in four different years, each ranging around the half-hour mark. All four tracks dwelve into the microsounds and drones that have been championed by fellow travelers with whom he shares some musical kinsmanship; Francisco Lopez, Brendan Murray, and the Onkyo crew. As Garet points a microscope at these small and delicate (possibly even decaying) sounds, it highlights the vibrant life of the nano world in which we barely encounter. He handles each tone with such precision and gentleness, guiding the frequencies deep into your ear canal to resonate your cranial cavity. A master at his craft and very impressive indeed! Job well done Senor Garet! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! -Chuck Bettis/DMG
2 CD set for $16


I've realized that New York is still filled with vibrant hidden gems that we are constantly discovering and dispensing to the world around us, fulfilling our role as musical anthropologists. One such gem uncovered in a recent spelunking expedition is Dewanatron, a NY based duo of brothers (Leon & Brian Dewan) who build amazing one-of-a-kind analog synths and make unique music that match the originality of their instruments! - CB

DEWANATRON [BRIAN DEWAN/LEON DEWAN] - Dewanatron (Dewanatron; USA) Their first release so happens to be my favorite of their output thus far. Bubbling and gurgling synths in funky rhythms. There is something about the Dewan brothers sense of timing that seems a bit off, but this is what makes it appealing, since paying closer attention to it, you realize that is really precise. Giving the illusion of Captain Beefheart as a DJ at an opium bar in a David Lynch movie.. There is no note quantization, nothing really seems to fall right into place, but it resonates within my odd character to feel so right. There are times here that they dwelve in familiar sonic territory, but this is only a nod to the masters. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! -Chuck Bettis/DMG
CD $8

DEWANATRON [BRIAN DEWAN/LEON DEWAN] - Irregular Hours Vol 1 (Dewanatron; USA) "Irregular Hours" is a sound Installation of the Dewan bros zany self-built instruments that play stochastic compositions. In other words, these instruments were built to trigger sounds at random calculated intervals sans human. What you get is Luigi Russolo meets Xenakis style installation of sounds that I wish experienced live, but since I missed the boat on this one, have to enjoy the tones emanating off this plastic. This is their sophomore release. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! -Chuck Bettis/DMG
CD $11

DEWANATRON [BRIAN DEWAN/LEON DEWAN] - Semi Automatic (Dewanatron; USA) The third and their most recent foray into sonic documentation of the family Dewan. If Jean-Jacques Perrey's "popcorn" and Morton Subotnick's "Silver Apples On The Moon" were mashed together and "chopped & screwed" (a hip-hop DJ technique of slowing down tracks), it would give you this evolving synth sound that alters your reality. Subtle variation of style since the first release, focusing on honing the paths that they continue to tread. Fellow sound scientists should pick this up! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! -Chuck Bettis/DMG
CD $11



oh, and I might as well toss this in right here..


Chuck Bettis - Top 10 list of 2009 releases (in no particular order)

OOIOO - armonico heva (thrill jockey 222)
Ikue Mori - class insecta (tzadik 7629)
Uchihashi Kazuhisa - flect II (innocent 18)
White - white (open note 01/potomak)
An Anthology of Chinese Experimental Music - 199-2008 (sub rosa 265)
Matthew Welch - luminosity (porter 4037)
10 - Nomad (yogiga 01)
Darius Jones - man'ish boy (aum fidelity 57)
Grutronic - essex foam party (psi 09/07)
Lionel Marchetti & Oliver Capparos - equus (pogus 21052)


*************


Seems like every online moosic retailer is offering X-mas records - well, here's our entry!

CARLA BLEY/STEVE SWALLOW/THE PARTYKA BRASS QUINTET - Carla's Christmas Carols (ECM/Watt 35; USA) Christmas music has been an enthusiasm of Carla Bley's for decades, and both traditional and non-traditional seasonal pieces are here subjected to her offbeat wit and idiosyncratic arranging skills. The material includes her inimitable arrangements of Christmas classics and a brace of Carla's own pieces - "Jesus Maria" (first recorded by Jimmy Giuffre back in 1961), and, giving the devil his due, "Hell's Bells". Carla's Christmas Carols was recorded in La Buissonne Studios in the South of France after a whirlwind tour of Europe at the end of 2008, and folds in two pieces from that tour (recorded live in Berlin). The pleasure that the musicians find in the material is unmistakable and, perhaps particularly after a glass of mulled wine, contagious.
CD $17



KING CRIMSON [MICHAEL GILES/ROBERT FRIPP/IAN McDONALD/GREG LAKE/PETER SINFIELD] - In The Court Of The Crimson King [2 CD set] (DGM 5009/Inner Knot (KCSP); USA) King Crimson's classic 1969 debut album as it should be heard.
CD 1: Features entirely new 2009 stereo edition mixed from the original pre mix multi track tapes by Steven Wilson and Robert Fripp, plus bonus tracks including early versions of I Talk to the Wind, the backing track for Epitaph and the session that produce the opening wind effect for 21st Century Schizoid Man.
CD 2: Features the 2004 master edition plus bonus tracks including the Morgan studios instrumental recording of 21st Century Schizoid Man, the John Peel Top Gear recording of I Talk to the Wind (not previously released on CD) and a transfer of the original single a/b side of The Court of the Crimson King.
"The very first album from 1969 and one of the absolute classics of Rock/Art Rock/Symphonic Rock music! The initial line-up of Robert Fripp guitar and mellotron; Ian McDonald sax, flute, and mellotron; Greg Lake bass and vocal; Michael Giles drums and lyricist Pete Sinfield lasted nine months, but they blew all preconceptions away when they created a new language for themselves using a meld (not a pastiche!) of Classical, Heavy Metal, Free Jazz and Improv in a single new form. For all adventurous listeners, no matter your taste - it still sounds stunning today over 3 decades later! Started me on the road to EVERYTHING I listen to now, 35 years later: Free/avant jazz, contemporary classical, noise, thrash, et al. My first choice for a compact space travel library..but if you know of me you knew that already! Googleplex Thumbs Up!" - MannyLunch
2 CD set for $18

PETER SINFIELD With GREG LAKE/MEL COLLINS/KEITH TIPPETT/JOHN WETTON/IAN WALLACE et al - Still [aka Stillusion]: Expanded Edition [2 CD set] (Esoteric/Manticore; UK) Peter Sinfield's 1973 solo album, Still, originally released on ELP's Manticore label, has gotten the deluxe remastering/reissue treatment from Mark Powell's Esoteric label!
Legendary art-rock lyrisist/composer/producer Sinfield wrote the lyrics for the first four King Crimson albums (guaranteeing him a place in rock history!) as well as for early '70s ELP, and produced the 1st Roxy Music album as well as recordings for PFM. His only solo vocal record from that period, Still, was recorded in the aftermath of his departure from Crimson. It is a woundrous jewel-textured musical odyssey deftly performed by musicians as varied as Keith Tippett, Greg Lake, Ian Wallace, Mel Collins, John Wetton, Robin Millar (all Crimson-ites) as well as Keith Christmas, Tim Hinckley, Brian Cole and Richard Brunton.
Esoteric Recordings have expanded the original album with an extra disc of alternate mixes and two extra tracks. Along with new sleevenotes featuring an interview with Sinfield about the making of the album, the package involves faithfully restored artwork and will feature the original Manticore livery.
2 CD set for $23

FLASH [PETER BANKS/TONY KAYE et al] - Flash (Cherry Red/Esoteric 2166; UK) Upon his departure from YES following the release of their 2nd album Time And A Word, guitarist Peter Banks formed the excellent Progressive outfit featuring RAY BENNETT (bass, guitar), COLIN CARTER (vocals) and MIKE HOUGH (drums). Signing to the Sovereign label in the UK, FLASH recorded their eponymous debut album in 1972 and were joined by another ex-YES member, Keyboard player TONY KAYE whose skill graced the entire album. Bonus cut is single version of Small Beginnings.
CD $21

SWEET OKAY SUPERSISTER - Spiral Staircase (Cherry Red/Esoteric 2168; UK) Following the highly successful SUPERSISTER reissues in 2008, ESOTERIC are pleased to announce the release of the album Spiral Staircase by SWEET OKAY SUPERSISTER. In reality a side project by SUPERSISTER founders SACHA van GEEST and ROBERT JAN STIPS, this wonderfully eccentric album is musically unique, straying into territory blazed by luminaries such as GONG, FRANK ZAPPA et al. Van GEEST and STIPS produced an album of musical virtuosity and eccentricity which also features guest appearances by musicians ELTON DEAN and Supersister's RON Van ECK.
CD $21


THE INNER SPACE [CAN: IRMIN SCHMIDT/HOLGER CZUKAY/MICHAEL KAROLI/JAKI LIEBEZEIT] - Kamasutra (Kama Sutra) [sndtck] (Crippled Dick 108; Germany) Crippled Dick Hot Wax presents Kamasutra -- an unreleased soundtrack from 1968 composed and recorded by Irmin Schmidt and The Inner Space. No overlap in content with the other recent Inner Space release, Agilok & Blubbo, released by Wah Wah Records earlier in 2009. Better late than never? A good four decades after its making, a rare gem is up for release: the soundtrack to Kobi Jaeger's erotic and educational epic Kamasutra: Consummation Of Love. A precursor to Krautrock pioneers Can, Schmidt's 1968 recording assembles Can's original line-up -- Michael Karoli, Jaki Liebezeit and Malcolm Mooney -- who later went on to craft the band's seminal debut, Monster Movie. The film Kamasutra: Consummation Of Love switches between India and Germany and stars Bruno Dietrich and Barbara Schone. A prime example of late-1960s German erotica and the so-called sexual revolution, it liberated the subject of sex from dingy red light cinemas and whisked it away to the exotic Far East, to the realm that -- more than a millennium earlier -- had spawned the erotic teachings of the Kamasutra. Fast-forward to the present day, and you will find the film's well-intentioned, in parts pedagogical approach bristling with (un)intentional comedy. Many bands and composers from the late-1960s were intrigued by Eastern philosophy and influenced by sounds of the Orient. Besides several laid-back, percussive instrumentals laced with flutes and sitars, the soundtrack also features three vocal tracks: "I'm Hiding My Nightingale" (sung by Margareta Juvan), "There Was A Man" (sung by Malcolm Mooney) and "I'm Around You Everyday" (sung by Michael Karoli). Kamasutra was mastered from the original analog tapes by Calyx and is available as a CD digipack and limited gatefold double vinyl. Before Irmin Schmidt founded the now-legendary German band Can in 1968, he received a formal musical education and studied composition, piano, conducting and music ethnology. Amongst others his teachers were Karlheinz Stockhausen and Ligeti. Between 1962 and 1969 he conducted numerous orchestras, including his own compositions. During this period, he also composed music for various film and theater productions. Between 1969 and 1978, he worked exclusively with Can (in 2003 they received the prestigious ECHO Lifetime Achievement Award).
CD $17

also available..

THE INNER SPACE [CAN: IRMIN SCHMIDT/HOLGER CZUKAY/MICHAEL KAROLI/JAKI LIEBEZEIT/ROSY ROSY] - Agilok & Blubbo [sndtck] (Wah Wah 10 ; Germany) [NOTE: Karoli is not credited on the original album release, which credits are replicated here, but it sure sounds like he's here - and the new liner notes also imply that!]
"The Inner Space is the stuff of legend. This obscure outfit is best known as the antecessor band of Can and not much is known about them except it featured the core members of Can (Irmin Schmidt, Holger Czukay, Michael Karoli and Jaki Liebezeit) and lasted just a few months before renaming themselves The Can and releasing Monster Movie. They left two ultra-obscure seven inches as their only recorded legacy and only the first of them is credited to The Inner Space, it contained two songs taken from the soundtrack of 1969's underground film Agilok & Blubbo. Originally released by the German Vogue label in 1969, it currently fetches prices around the 300 euro mark in the collector's circuit. Given the obscurity of both the band and its recorded output, we're proud to present, for the first time to the public, not only the aforementioned singles but the complete soundtrack to Peter F. Scheneider's offbeat political satire Agilok & Blubbo. Previously unavailable until now, the original master tapes of this soundtrack have been stored in the archives of legendary German producer and music publisher Hans Wewerka who produced the recording sessions back in 1969. Here you can hear history in the making, the first step of a group of musicians who'll go on to achieve fame, success and recognition over the '70s, helping define a sound (often called Krautrock) that has been highly influential to this day. Those familiar with Can's output will recognize some of the band's characteristic sound, albeit in an embryonic form. Songs like 'Agilok & Blubbo' or 'Kamera Song' already hint at their later pop brilliance whereas the short cues and extended free jams found elsewhere in this soundtrack reminds us from the heterogeneous roots of a bunch of musicians coming from rock, jazz and avant-garde backgrounds. All in all, an excellent glimpse into the early stages of an innovative band developing its own musical language. This reissue includes detailed liner notes by Wah Wah's very own Raul G.Pratginestos and comes illustrated by original b/w shoots from the movie production. CD issue contains two bonus tracks: 'Memographie,' plus Irmin Schmidt's 1967 composition 'Hexapussy.' In all, over 28 minutes of bonus material!"
CD $20


NUCLEUS [IAN CARR/BRIAN SMITH/CHRIS SPEDDING/KARL KENKINS/JEFF CLYNE/JOHN MARSHALL] - Live In Europe 1970-1971 (Lilith/Vinyl Lovers 900793; EEC) British jazz trumpeter Ian Carr's pioneering jazz fusion band's original lineup recorded live at its absolute peak, during the period of their first three albums Elastic Rock, We'll Talk About It Later, and Solar Plexus! Featuring the likes of John Marshall, Karl Jenkins (both later with Soft Machine) and guitar ace Chris Spedding. First legitimate release of these recordings[?]
LP $23

FAIRPORT CONVENTION [RICHARD THOMPSON/SIMON NICOL/DAVE SWARBRICK/DAVE PEGG/DAVE MATTACKS] - Maidstone 1970 (Lilith/Vinyl Lovers 900809; EEC) These are the Fairport tracks only from the Tony Palmer film documentary of Fairport Convention and Ian Matthew's Southern Comfort at the Maidstone Festival 1970. Featuring the classic Fairport lineup from the Full House album. The last cut on the LP has Matthew's [he was an original member of Fairport] group joining them for a rendition of My Front Pages
LP $23


THE TIPTONS [BILLY TIPTON MEMORIAL SAXOPHONE QUARTET: AMY DENIO/JESSICA LURIE et al] - Drive (Zipa/Spoot; USA) Saxophone heaven, enchanting vocals, beats from around the world - Latin, African, New Orleans, and east. Their 7th CD, the girls in this band love the music, and you can hear it!
CD $13

JESSICA LURIE ENSEMBLE With EYVIND KANG/KEITH LOWE/SCOTT AMENDOLA et al - !Zipa Buka!/Watch Out, Noise! (Zipa; USA) Featuring Jessica on alto & tenor sax & voice, Eyvind Kang on viola, Keith Lowe (Zony Mash) on bass, Scott Amendola (for Nels Cline & Larry Ochs) on drums, Sue Orfield on tenor sax, Jason Seed & Leif Totusek on guitars and Elizabeth Pupo-Walker on percussion. You might recall Jessica's name from the great Billy Tipton Memorial Sax Quartet which also included Amy Denio, as well as with Bill Frisell, Wayne Horvitz and Ne Nzedahli. Originally from Seattle, Jessica moved here and released this fine work earlier this year. Jessica seems a restless spirit, with many different spirits/directions at her disposal. "Pudding" opens and features a double sax and guitar frontline and a fine, throbbing, rather funky sort-of groove. Jason plays a crafty el. guitar solo first and Jessica follows with an inspired, klez-like alto sax solo. Jessica sings righteously on "For a Thousand Kisses", which has a slow, sexy vibe until it speeds up and turns into a quick jazz thing, truly fresh and fun. "Dreamsville" has a traditional Bulgarian melody with Jessica's tenor and Eyvind's viola caressing that endearing melancholy melody, as well as a fine tasty solo from the guitarist - Jason Seed. Jessica takes a fine long Eric Dolphy toned solo on "Shut Yer Piece Hole" which is following by an equally long and firey solo from Eyvind's viola. Jessica all sings on "J'ai Faim, Moi" which has a Latiny groove with congas and hand percussion to fuel it, as well as Keith Lowe's strong acoustic bass and Eyvind's fine viola. "The Feathers of the Devils" is a somber trio tune for alto sax, acoustic bass and drums and it has a nice eastern European vibe. "Z.I.P.A." explodes with intense double sax thunder that really gets one going and Jason Seed pulls off another great guitar solo as well. The last piece is a touching lullaby-like tune called "Sleepwalker's Travel Guide", with eloquent wordless vocals, melancholy bowed bass and touching viola. There is something immensely charming about this gracious and ethnic blend of varied new music from our new neighbor - Jessica Lurie and her fine ensemble.
CD $13



More releases on Hans Tammen's 'Acheulian Handaxe' label!

AXEL DORNER/ERHARD HIRT - Blackbox [Black Box] (Acheulian Handaxe 0803; USA) Axel Dorner - trumpet; Erhard Hirt - guitar. Recorded live on 7/30/2007 at BLACK BOX, cuba Munster, Germany, released 2009. Axel Dorner and Erhard Hirt met first at a network radio concept, curated by Jens Brand for WDR puclic radio Cologne in September 2006. A special music project during the Munster Sculptur-Projects 2007 gave the chance for the duo concert you can hear on this CD. Both musicians created a unique musical language far beyond the tradition of their instruments using extended playing techniques and electronics treatments.
CD $12

PETER GEISSELBRECHT//CHARLES IVES/FEDERICO MOMPOU - Concord Sonata/Musica Callada I (Acheulian Handaxe 0804; USA) Peter Geisselbrecht - Piano. Recorded September 2001 at Tonstudio Vagnsson, Hamburg. Released 2009.
Peter Geisselbrecht, born 1954, studied music in Cologne (piano, com- position, improvisation) under Klaus Oldemeyer, Joachim Blume, Vinko Globokar and Klaus Runze. He specializes in 20th century piano music, and as an improviser he works primarily with musicians who are equally versed in free improvisation, jazz and contemporary classical music. Since 1985 he teaches piano and improvisation at Giessen University.
The title of Federico Mompou's piano work Musica Callada refers to the Cantico Espiritual, by poet San Juan de la Cruz. In this poem - La Musica Callada, la Soledad Sonora - de la Cruz describes a music, that is the voice of the silence itself, while the solitude itself becomes music. Charles Ives Concord Sonata portrays individuals who are associated with transcendentalism, a 19th century movement that concerned itself with the inner spiritual essence of the human. Ives wrote about Thoreau, who lived in reclusion, that "he was divinely conscious of the enthusiasm of nature, the emotion of her rhythms, and the harmony of her solitude."
CD $12

KRK [GEORGE CREMASCHI/MATTHEW OSTROWSKI] - Acouasm (Acheulian Handaxe 0802; USA) George Cremaschi - contrabass & analog electronics; Matthew Ostrowski - digital electronics & controllers Drawing on their more than 40 years of combined experience working in a variety of genres with such artists as Evan Parker, John Zorn, and Nicolas Collins, KRK is a new collaborative project which aims to synthesize and interpret the neo-postmodern musical landscape. Ghosts of reductionism, noise music, free jazz, and the classical tradition all may or may not appear in any given performance. To date, KRK has performed in Austria, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal and the US.
CD $12

MECHANIQUE(S) [DAFNA NAFTALI/HANS TAMMEN/MARTIN SPEICHER] - Logos: Live In Ghent (Acheulian Handaxe 0801; USA) Dafna Naphtali - voice, live sound processing; Hans Tammen - endangered guitar; Martin Speicher - altosax, bassclarinet. Recorded live 2001 at Logos Foundation, Ghent, Belgium. Released 2008. Total time: 62 minutes.
Mechanique(s) is an ongoing collaboration between Dafna Naphtali, Hans Tammen and Martin Speicher involving live electronics, endangered guitar, reeds and voice. The trio was formed to investigate the overlap of various elements of their technical and aesthetic practices -- in compositions and improvisational settings for Naphtali's interactive processed sound/noise system, Speicher's extensive sound palette of extended techniques on saxophone, clarinet and bass clarinet, and Tammen's mechanical and electronic manipulations for guitar.
CD $12

SHADOW PUPPIES [NICK DIDKOVSKY/HANS TAMMEN/KURT RALSKE] - Live At Roulette, New York 2003 [DVD] (Acheulian Handaxe 0601; USA) Nick Didkovsky, guitar, homebrew software; Hans Tammen - guitar, homebrew software; Kurt Ralske - video, homebrew software. Recorded live 2003 at Roulette, New York. Released 2006. DVD running time 49 minutes. NTSC 4:3, All Regions.
Shadow Puppies is a cutting edge trio which conjures rich, complex, and entrancing worlds of electronic sound and vision in real-time. Nick Didkovsky and Hans Tammen stretch the boundaries of tabletop electric guitar with an arsenal of objects, electronics, and homebrew computer software, while Kurt Ralske interactively captures and processes video using digital technology of his own design. The result is an uninterrupted journey through sonic eruptions, video hallucinations, and aggressive, entrancing mediascapes.
"Shadow Puppies unites three of New York's most distinctive sonic experimentalists in endangered guitar improviser Tammen, Dr. Nerve conceptualist Didkovsky and gauzy videographher Ralske - all of whom double on electronics."-Time Out New York
DVD $15

DIE SCHRAUBER [HANS TAMMEN/JOKER NIES/MARIO DeVEGA] - Live In Mexico: Transito MX 05, December 2005 (Acheulian Handaxe 0701; USA) Joker Nies (omnichord, circuit bent instruments) modifies or builds his instruments to his needs. Apart from other techniques, he acts as a connector of circuits not intentionally related. He touches and combines the circuitry of the instruments through skin-resistence, creating spontaneous and delicate music with subtle control. Mario de Vega (SPK, glitch sampling) works with several sound-objects in different combinations and his own custom software SPK. His work moves towards glitch sampling, microtonal scratches, pips, squeaks, and needlesharp noise clusters developed by a wide range of self-design and hacked gadgets. Hans Tammen (endangered guitar) works with a wide collection of mechanical devices on his "endangered" guitars, and uses an interactive software of his own design to rework his sounds in realtime. His music has been described as a journey through the land of unending sonic operations, his playing as reverse engineering of the guitar. CD $12
also available on DVD for $15

HANS TAMMEN & JOHN J A JANNONE - Endangered Guitar & Video: Issue Project Room, April 2006 [DVD] (Acheulian Handaxe 0600; USA) Hans Tammen - Surround Sound Endangered Guitar; John J.A. Jannone - video
Dual angle video DVD with 5.1 Surround Sound audio. Recorded live 2006 at Issue Project Room, New York. Released 2006. DVD running time 41 minutes. NTSC 4:3, All Regions. 5.1 Surround Sound & Stereo. Dual-Angle Video DVD.
In this collaborative video and music work, the sounds of Hans Tammen's Endangered Guitar are distributed through Issue Project Room's multichannel sound system, and John Jannone's live camera and still image mix is projected above the musician.
The video consists of two elements; a live camera mix, and processing of digital still images. Ten miniature cameras are mounted on and around Hans' guitar; these cameras feed two digital video switchers which Jannone controls from his laptop computer using custom software. The laptop also contains a collection of still images taken from a variety of texts on weaving; weaving diagrams are visual metaphor of the piece, linking mathematics, hand craft, the strings of the guitar, and images which suggest musical notation. Jannone controls the progression of these images in a performative manner, and blends them in a variety of ways with the live camera images.
The video is presented as a dual-angle DVD, showing a camera view of the guitarist plus a view of the processed images. Pressing the "angle"- button on a remote allows for switching between the videos. The audio consists of two independent voices simultaneously drawn from Hans Tammen's "Endangered Guitar" - one is a single voice in front of the audience pinned against the other, a micropolyphonic pattern on the multichannel sound system mounted on the ceiling. With a wide array of mechanical preparations for guitar (including brushes, small stones, electric fans, cigarette lighters, Ebows and chopsticks) that are processed with his own custom software and with an unusual take on guitar-based control -- perfect for John's live video processing -- he produces sounds that seem chaotic on the surface, with a forest of apparently separate details, interlinked underneath, woven together as a maze of infinite complexity.
The audio is presented as a 5.1 Surround Sound mix, in a way to best represent the audience's experience that night. In case the DVD is played on a stereo player, the audio of the ceiling speakers is mixed across the stereo spectrum, while the "back" voice appears in the middle.
DVD $15




These El Gallo Rojo titles back in stock!

PIERO BITTOLO BON JUMP THE SHARK - Sugoi Sentai! Gattai!! (El Gallo Rojo 314-27; Italy) If jazz is dead, if the great masters aren't as great as they used to be, if Charlie Parker and Miles Davis' music is a relic of the past, how can you explain this record? Jump the Shark!'s Sugoi Sentai! Gattai!! is the debut album of one of the scene's best talents, the venetian altoist and clarinetist Piero Bittolo Bon. Joined by four of the most brilliant musicians from the Italian new wave of improvisers, he carries out a refreshing, thirst-quenching and vivacious work, talking about the here and now, about this strange music we still insist to call jazz. Ornette and Dolphy being his inspirations (because jazz is history, after all), Henry Threadgill his putative father, Tim Berne the inescapable touchstone. New York lays at the horizon, Chicago behind the shoulders and Venice all around. The breaking news is that Italian jazz is alive. Jump the shark and enjoy the trip! - Luca Canini
Personnel: Piero Bittolo on alto sax, clarinet & flute, Domenico Caliri on electric & acoustic guitar, Pasquale Mirra on vibes, Danilo Gallo on double bass and Federico Scettri on drums
CD $12

GIULIO CORINI LIBERO MOTU - Off-Site Meetings (El Gallo Rojo 314-28; Italy) Misty textures ripped by iridescent melodic events. Imaginative sketches, free from the genre pattern. Long sonic arcades slip into the bends of a silent space, while meetings of visionary artists happen covertly in the Europe of the crisis.
Libero Motu ensemble turns into a sextet for doubling instruments, which chase themselves in a mirror game skillfully orchestrated by the leader Giulio Corini. - Francesco Bigoni
Personnel - Giulio Corini on bass, Francesco Bigoni on tenor sax & clarinet, Maurizio Rinaldi on electric guitar, Nelide Bandello & Fabrizio Saiu on drums & percussion.
CD $12

DANIELE D'AGARO ADRIATICS ORCHESTRA With SEAN BERGIN/TOBIAS DELIUS/HAN BENNINK et al - Adiratics Orchestra (El Gallo Rojo 314-13; Italy) Free clashes of the "Furlania" (lands of Friuli) in that of the comelican valley, recorded during the small jazz festival organized by D'Agaro in August 2006. Gluttony allegiance towards its own free jazz background, as if it were the first time. There are tasty Ellingtonian echoes in the growl of the arrangements, played by a luxurious orchestra, led by the creative drums of the ever-great Han Bennink.
CD $12

FRANCO D'ANDREA QUARTET - Half The Fun (El Gallo Rojo 314-30; Italy) Half The Fun is an instantaneous composition experiment, an unpredictable score conveyed by the sharp conversation of four equal voices. The session's main character is a perfect ensemble, depicted in one of the most successful and mature moments of its ten-year research path. Music without compromise, clear and adventurous in its abstract episodes; the blues feeling and the wise handling of the sonic layers come from the best jazz tradition.
Half The Fun celebrates the meeting between Franco D'Andrea, true icon of the Italian creative scene, and El Gallo Rojo. - Francesco Bigoni
Franco D'Andrea on piano, Andrea Ayassot on alto & soprano saxes, Aldo Mella on double bass and Zeno de Rossi on drums.
CD $12

ZENO DE ROSSI SHTIK - Me'or Einayim (El Gallo Rojo 314-12; Italy) We usually don't think of Italians, when we think of those who work with the traditions found in Klezmer music. Zeno De Rossi, who is a fine drummer and bandleader, would be a most worthy exception to that rule. Zeno has long had a passion for Jewish and jazz music and this project, Shtik, is the culmination of his search, combining both musical streams. Zeno has chosen some 13 fine players to explore traditional Klez songs, as well as covers by Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, Ennio Morricone and Cole Porter. Zeno has picked each piece for personal reasons that resonate within himself and hence, they all seem to work together to evoke some sort of spiritual, Jewish vibe. The opening piece, "Unused Theme" by Morricone is features some rather poignant bass clarinet by Achille Succi, while "Tradition" from 'Fiddler on the Roof' gets a version that balances between free/jazz and meditative tenor sax from Francesco Bigoni. Zeno covers three songs from 'Fiddler' and each is well done. Achille Succi again plays some superb bass clarinet on "Chavalah", which features some enchanting harmonies for the rest of the horns. What I find most interesting is that even Ornette's "I Heard It Over the Radio" gets a version that sounds rather klez-like with its middle-eastern melody and two harmolodic acoustic bassists holding it together. Another unlikely and obscure gem is Cecil Taylor's "Little Louise", which has a righteous, slightly bent Monk-like theme and another fine bass clarinet solo. "Sabbath Prayer", also from 'Fiddler' is done in a most lovely, melancholy way with some tasty pedal steel from Alessandro Stefana. That classic Jewish wedding song, "Hava Nagila" is also in an most exuberant jazz style, similar to the way Cannonball Adderley did 'Fiddler on the Roof', which was another inspiration for this disc. This piece was also covered by Umezu's own Klez band not too long ago, both versions are most spirited and which is odd since both are done right by non-Jews who truly dig this music. This disc is yet another example of some wonderful post/klez songs done with immense spirit and creativity. - BLG
CD $12

ZENO DE ROSSI SULTRY - Plunge (El Gallo Rojo 314-6; Italy) Featuring Chris Speed on tenor sax & clarinet, Anthony Coleman on Hammond organ & electric pianos, Enrico Terragnoli on guitar, Stefano Senni on bass and Zeno De Rossi on drums. This is ace Italian drummer and composer, Zeno De Rossi's second group of four discs to come our way in less than a year. Pretty ambitious, no? Zeno produced all and wrote hlaf of the dozen pieces here with two by Chris Speed, one by their bassist, Stefano Senni plus two standards by Dave Brubeck and Duke Pearson. Instead of the heavy klezmer influences found throughout the last batch, these four are equally diverse. Chris Speed's "Plunge" opens with a great, slamming organ groove, both Anthony on organ and Chris on tenor sound pretty soulful! Zeno's "Tina" sounds like one of those old somewhat klez-like filmworks that Zorn did way back when, with Anthony on that great cheesy-sounding organ and guitarist, Enrico Terragnoli sound a bit too Ribot-like. I like the occasional freer bits like "Audio Bongo" in which the organ, clarinet, acoustic bass and percussion, just deal with an eerie mood. I love the laid-back blues groove of "Zakaz", which features Anthony's sizzling Fender Rhodes and Chris' snake-charming clarinet. Zeno's infectious drumming keeps the groove going solidly throughout. Chris' sly clarinet is featured on Dave Brubeck's "Fujiyama", which is then followed by one of those spy-movie rockin' themes, an odd choice. They close with an interesting choice, Duke Pearson's "Cristo Redentor", a song once covered by Harvey Mandel and psychedelicized by him. Zeno's crew does film noir version with a spoken word excerpt taken from some old movie. This piece, along with the rest of this CD seem to deal more with smoky moods than anything else. Downtown sounds from two downtowners and three Italians. Hmmm. - BLG
CD $12

FULL METAL KLEZMER [FABIO BASILE/ZENO DE ROSSI/GIANNI GEBBIA/ENRICO TERRAGNOLI/GIORGIO PACORIG] - Shachor (El Gallo Rojo 314-2; Italy) Full Metal Klezmer (FMK) features Fabio Basile on guitars, Giorgio Pacorig on electric & acoustic pianos, organ & synth, Gianni Gebbia on alto sax & flute, Enrico Terragnoli on bass & samples and Zeno De Rossi on drums, mellotron & organ plus special guests that include Chris Speed on clarinet. Italian drummer Zeno De Rossi lived here for a bit a few years ago and has a fine disc out on Splasch with Chris Speed. Gianni Gebbia is one of the best saxists to come from Italy, has numerous recordings and has played at our store on a few occasions. The players on this disc are all unfamiliar to me. I am unsure of how klez sound can be found here, but I dig this music either way. "Tekia" features some fine, glowing clarinet from Chris Speed, as well as spirited electric piano, el. guitar and an infectious groove. "Kodem Kol" sounds like some fine spy movie soundtrack music, laid back with some rich, smoky sax. "Machar" also has that sort of spaghetti western rock groove with mellotron, el. guitar, organ and sax jamming together. "Tamid" has a great bluesy, klez/rock groove and a swell, snarling, sustained-tone guitar solo and some sputtering sax. Many of these pieces have Zorn-like, film noir sort of vibe, something that Naked City might've covered, but without any of that punk energy or speed. We even get some sexy female vocals on the title track. The one cover is Ennio Morricone's "Tema Per Le Goff", another fave of Zorn's and still in that Naked City-like vibe. Groovy mood music for hipsters in shades with their sleek babes at their sides. - BLG
CD $12

DANILO GALLO & THE ROOSTERS - Todo Chueco (El Gallo Rojo 314-5; Italy) Featuring Danilo Gallo on acoustic basses, Achille Succi on bass clarinet & alto sax, Gerhard Gschlossi on trombone and Zeno De Rossi on drums, plus a half dozen guests on guitar, saxes and electric piano. Bassist & leader, Danillo Gallo, wrote six of the nine tunes here with two Erik Satie covers and one by Tom Waits. Danillo's feisty contrabass is often at the center of most of these songs. On "Kabu". the quartet moves back and forth between free and written sections effortlessly, the bass clarinet and trombone sounding great together. It is really the great, ever-creative and flexible playing by the contrabass and drums that sounds superb throughout. Satie's "Pieces Froides No. 1" is done with suspense-filled charm, spacious and enchanting. "El Gallo Sanchez" features some slide guitar and is sounds like a theme for a goofy western flick. On each piece, Danilo has written some memorable theme that will stay with you, rather folky and quaint, yet not particularly sounding like their from anywhere specific in Europe. Hatology & Nimbus recording artist, Daniel D'agaro plays a great twisted solo on "Lullaby of Rattlesnakes". The Tom Waits cover is the title piece from "Alice" and again it features some delightful slide guitar, muted trombone and that great drunken-sort of vibe that Tom Waits so much embodies. It never ceases to amaze me when music this good comes from relative unknowns from another country. Then again, it seems to happen almost very other week here at DMG. - BLG
CD $12

DANILO GALLO & THE ROOSTERS + GARY LUCAS - The Exploding Note Theory (El Gallo Rojo 314-25; Italy) I-talia, it was really one of the best hangs of my life, 3 days in Verona rehearsing with Danilo Gallo and his Roosters, cocks of the walk all of 'em, unseasonably warm weather providing a corona of light surrounding some of the finest musicians it's been my pleasure to play with in many a year, some of the most accomplished players on the free musica "szene internationale", including the estimable Zeno Di Rossi on drums, who moved from subtlest gradations of pulsation to kickass powerhouse tub-thumper in the blink of a millisecond (the snail crawls across the edge of the razor blade); the sanguine 6 footer sardonico Achille Succi --a Borat ringer!-- on fruity/woody bass clarinet, "ich bin ein Berliner" Gerhard Gschloessl on finely articulated trombipulation, and the bearded composer himself, Danilo Gallo, purveyor of Italian moods, spaghetti western interludes, manic compositional mood-swings and then some who also happens to be one of the finest most fluid upright acoustic bass players I've ever heard (guy also plays a mean guitar...)... I guess you might describe his music as very mysterious, full of surprises, kind of chamber music that partakes equally of jazz, rock, folk, and world influences to arrive at a very distinctive sound of its own... - Gary Lucas
CD $12

HENRY TAYLOR - Crooning The Anger (El Gallo Rojo 314-8; Italy) Henry Taylor (the band name) features Enrico Sartori on clarinet & alto sax, Fabrizio Puglisi on piano, Antonio Borghini on double bass and guess who, Zeno De Rossi on drums. Again, like the previous disc, only Zeno is a familiar name here. Each of the bandmembers except for Mr. Borghini contributes pieces to the disc with just one cover by Carla Bley. Mr. Sartori plays clarinet on all but one tune here and is the main composer and often the featured soloist here. Zeno's superb drumming is fabulous throughout, reminding me of Joey Baron at times with the way he plays with his hands on the drums. Their pianist, Mr. Puglisi, is also quite crafty, often outlining the structure of the pieces, both he and Zeno often holding things together. Enrico's amazing "Triadi" is one of those difficult pieces way tight layers of intricate lines. Zeno plays a jumping marching beat as Enrico solos on alto sax splendidly, then Antonio also plays an truly inspired solo, leaving their bassist to continue the feisty rhythmic scheme. Carla Bley's "Jesus Maria" features Fabrizio playing delicately inside the piano as Enrico plays that quirky, touching melody sublimely on the clarinet. So fine! Zeno's "O.C." has another slightly funky, march beat with more inspired solos from the clarinet, piano and the drums. This is a particularly strong quartet in which each player is integral to the group sound and all four play fabulously throughout. Again Zeno and his Italian comrades really amaze me. - BLG
CD $12

HOUDINI'S CAGE - Memories of a Barber (El Gallo Rojo 314-22; Italy) How to deal with styles and repertoires coming from the past with a contemporary feeling, avoiding both revivalism and up-to-date deconstructionism? How to match lost and old-fashioned tunes with newborn themes? Three members of El Gallo Rojo - one of the most active Italian creative music collectives - try to unlock the handcuffs of the tradition,using the advice of Greg Cohen, musician extraordinaire, voracious and attentive listener, capable of maintaining his own style and uncommon sense of form playing either classic jazz or avantgarde music.
They all play under the eyes of Harry Houdini, master escapologist, pioneer of cinema and investigation of spiritualists. He lived an adventurous life which brought him from a house in the Jewish neighborhood of Budapest to a glass and steel cage filled with water, in the same age as jazz music was emerging in the European and American chronicles. Francesco Bigoni on tenor sax & harmonium, Enrico Terragnoli on guitars, Greg Cohen on bass, Farfisa & balafon and Zeno de Rossi on drums.
CD $12

MESHUGE KLEZMER BAND - Musiker (El Gallo Rojo 314-19; Italy) Second swell disc from the Meshuge Klezmer Band featuring Fabio Basile on guitar, J Kyle Gregory on trumpets, Roberto Lanciai on alto & bari sax, Andrea Ranzato on accordion, Maria Vicentini on violin, Stefano Corsi on bass, Zeno De Rossi on drums plus special guest Amy Denio on clarinet. If you thought that traditional-sounding klezmer music couldn't come from Italy, well think again!
The Meshuge Klezmer Band cover diverse material from legendary klez composers like Dave Tarras, Naftule Brandwein and Lee Musiker, as well as more traditional songs. "Gypsy" sounds like a slowed down gypsy song with lovely, melancholy violin, accordion and trumpet. Tarras' "The Roumanian Fantasy" features some heavy guitar, powerful drums and an ancient-sounding melody. Another treat is Tarras' "Tango," with haunting sax and trumpet solos. I love the blend of bari sax, trumpet, guitar, violin and accordion on "Tanz! Bulgar." Many of these songs have familiar melodies that I know that I've heard from other klezmer bands. If I didn't know any better and someone added a bit a scratchy record authenticity, I would think that much of this was the original versions of these klez classics. It is often the arrangements, the way the violin, accordion and horns blend together that makes this so special and heartfelt. Quite possibly better than anything I've heard from Radical Jewish Culture section of the Tzadik catalogue in recent memory. - BLG
CD $12

MESHUGE KLEZMER BAND - Treyf 1929 (El Gallo Rojo 314-1; Italy) The large klez ensemble from Italy involves some twenty musicians, the only two known to me are special guest Frank London and drummer, Zeno De Rossi. The word "meshuge" in the band name mean crazy and "treyf" refers to unkosher food. The ensemble cover six songs, two by Naftule Brandwein, considered to be one of the two kings of klezmer, one by Mickey Katz and three traditional klez tunes. To make this even more authentic, the first sound we hear is a needle dropping on an old scratchy record. The music is played with zest and that old school charm. If I didn't know better, I'd think that this was recorded in the thirties or forties. Even the voice of Samuel Malavsky sounds pretty ancient. There is an odd section where they go into some spacy freer playing on the second half of the first tune, very strange. "The Bostonian Nigun" again starts freely, with some soulful trombone and distant noisy guitar. I don't get it, why try for that tinny sound of old records and then play some completely more modern?!? Very incongruent. The more adventurous sections would sound so much better if the sound was more clear. This music, old klezmer, does make me feel good, I just want to get up and dance. They go into "Caravan" on Naftule's "Oy Tate S'iz Gut" for some strange reason, not that it doesn't fit, but why? At least they have a sense of humor covering Mickey Katz's "Grandma's Draidal". It seems odd that these Italians would want to cover these old klez themes, but then again why should I complain, they do a nice job of it. Mazel-tov, bubbies. - BLG
CD $12

MICKEY FINN + CUONG VU - Gagarin! (El Gallo Rojo 314-24; Italy) A truly remarkable quintet, Mickey Finn, embellished by Cuong Vu's trumpet: electric sounds - echoes of Miles Davis in the Seventies and English rock, posterities from Chicago and some funk - spreading in dreamlike and restless landscapes, haunted by low-fi ghosts.
Excellent performance by Giorgio Pacorig on keyboards and Enrico Terragnoli on guitar, backed by a sulphurous Danilo Gallo on bass and by Zeno De Rossi on drums, while Cuong Vu, as usual, paints his poignant and lysergic lines. - Enrico Bettinello for Il Giornale della Musica Personnel: Cuong Vu - trumpet, Giorgio Pacoria on acoustic & Fender Rhodes el. piano, Enrico Terragnoli on guitars, Danilo Gallo on basses, Zeno De Rossi on drums with Carla Bozulich on vocals.
CD $12

ORANGE ROOM - Orange Room (El Gallo Rojo 314-17; Italy) Featuring Beppe Scardino on bari sax & all compositions, Francesco Bigoni on tenor sax, Piero Bittolo on alto sax, Pasquale Mirra on vibes, Antonio Borghini on double bass and Federico Scettri on drums. Considering that I was not previously familiar with any of the musicians in this fine sextet, both Mikey & I were completely flaggerghasted! The three-sax frontline is particularly strong, tight and spirited. The rhythm team of vibes, acoustic bass and drums is also superb throughout. "Unexpected 27" is an unexpected delight. The first sax solo just erupts and is followed by an incredible, furious vibes solo and bass solo. "Rapina A Mano Disarmata" brings things down to a slower pace with lush harmonies for saxes and vibes. The title piece is the longest track and is even slower and filled with suspense. The bari sax and drums play an intense duo together before the rest of the sextet joins them for an impressive, tight ensemble section. The other saxes also take strong solos while the rhythm teams swirls around them. What I like most about these pieces is that they are episodic: the pieces evolve as different members solo. There is restless, exciting quality to all of the pieces. On "Orange Room Symphony," the vibes takes the first long solo while the sextet flows and swings in waves around him. Later all of the saxes solo together in a powerful yet tight eruption of free spirits. While the rhythm team plays this one repeating phrase on "Venus," the saxes play a series of rich, chamber-like harmonies, which are both free yet centered by the bari's deep, dark tone. Beppe's delightful Gerry Mulligan-like baritone is featured on "Livorno," along with more thoughtful, laid-back solos and superb vibes. This is yet another winner from an unknown Italian sextet. - BLG
CD $12

ROLLERBALL - La Clinica Del Rasoio (El Gallo Rojo 314-18; Italy) Featuring Piero Bittolo Bon on alto & bari saxes, Beppe Scardino on bari sax, Enrico Terragnoli on guitar, Danilo Gallo on double bass and Massimiliano Sorrentini on drums plus a couple of guest guitarists. Rollerball shares two members with Orange Room (reviewed above), both saxists, Piero and Beppe. While Scardino wrote all of the material for Orange Room, all members of Rollerball contribute to the composing with just one cover by Wayne Horvitz.
Enrico's "Il Silenzio Del Capitano" reminds me of the quirky, unpredictable charm of the Lounge Lizards with a few odd free sections thrown in. In between jazz and rock with an odd sense of humor. At points it sounds as if the band members are playing in separate rooms, yet they come together for some of silly yet tightly constructed sections. Since each member contributes a song or two, every song is quite different. "Roketto Panchi" has a surf-like feel with funky saxes, twangy guitar and cheesy organ. Perfect music to dance to at a sixties oriented party. On many of these songs, the guitar will play the parts while one of the saxes solos. The bari sax also does a great job of playing those funky parts time and again. What is surprising is when a song suddenly shifts and moves in an unexpected direction. Danilo's "Hushpukena" features distant drums with a strong acoustic bass solo at the center. Eventually both bari saxes start to wail in either side of the room, providing a rather hypnotic haze with spirited drums holding things together just right. What these guys do best is create a spooky film noir sort of vibe. Guitarist, Enrico Terragnoli, plays some sick, noisy Ribot-like guitar on "Self Service Toy," a song that deconstructs as it goes. Some tunes begin freely yet soon fade into strong groove or other charted territories. I dig the way their guitarist will play this one slightly twisted riff over and over while the bari sax takes a strong, spirited solo. The guitarist builds into a tortured post-punk noise storm while the drums takes a fine rambunctious solo. There are constant surprises in store throughout this entire disc, no doubt Mikey will be grooving to this twisted gem soon. - BLG
CD $12

ROOTLESS - Brian Had A Little Plate (El Gallo Rojo 314-7; Italy) Featuring Luca Dell'Anna on piano, Francseco Bigoni on tenor sax, Simone Guiducci on guitar, Danilo Gallo on bass and Massimiliano Sorrentini on drums. Like the previous three discs on the same label, I am not familiar with any of the members of this fine quintet, although their bassist (Gallo) is the leader of the aforementioned Gallo & the Roosters disc. Mr. Gallo has a strong, rich tone/sound on his acoustic bass and is often the heart of these tunes. The opening piece, "Brian's Little Plate", sounds like some of the better modern electric jazz that one my hear on the radio. The theme had me whistling along immediately and the wah-wah jazz guitar solo, delightful. Although all the songs are written by three members of the quintet, Francesco, Luca and Danilo, it is often the guitarist, Simone, who is featured and takes a number of impressive, fusion-toned solos. I like the two songs by Danilo the best, because they are bit further out and less predictable. The tenor sax, electric guitar and piano always sound swell together playing their rich harmonies superbly. Perhaps this one is the most "normal" sounding of this batch, it would difficult to tell in a blindfold test that this is from Italy. In a better world, WBGO would be playing this and it would sell zillions of copies, making the entire quintet rich and famous. One can only dream... - BLG
CD $12

ROPE [FABRIZIO PUGLISI/STEFANO SENNI/ZENO DE ROSSI] - Have You Met Miss Bates? (El Gallo Rojo 314-3; Italy) A very cool piano trio that covers an odd array of songs by Monk, John Zorn, Misha Mengelberg, Duke Ellington and Jelly Roll Morton, as well as a few originals by each of the trio's members. The trio do a playful version of Monk's "Trinkle Tinkle", without those angular curves that Monk often like to throw in. They follow that with a Masada tune called "Nefesh" and make it more jazzy and swinging, more normal. They pick an odd piece by Misha Mengelberg called "Hypochristmutreefuzz" that is nicely twisted, it swings quickly yet is constantly shifting between different sections. Fabrizio's "Funcije" starts as a great solo piano piece has that rather Carla Bley gnarlyness, that adds some impressive rhythm team punctuation about half-way through. Jelly Roll Morton's "Spanish Swat" is a tango sorta piece with a nice melodic bass solo. Duke's "Dancers in Love" really has that old style jazz feel with the skeletal drums at the center. The thing that I like most about this trio is that it is not a normal piano trio, as all three players switch off on who is out front or soloing, there is no real leader. Stefano's swell "Beany" has the bass playing the sad, sweet melody as the piano and drums spaciously float around him. The trio do an impressive job of decontructing Monk's "Green Chimneys", with the drums and muted piano as the focal point. Very cool. If I didn't know better I would think that these cats are Dutch from their sly, slightly twisted approach. An unexpected delight. - BLG
CD $12

SCHNITTMENGE - R.E.A.L. (El Gallo Rojo 314-21; Italy) From the set theory, an intersection of two bodies: K (Koln --> Cologne) and B (Berlin), consisting of all elements that can be found in both K and B (in German it's called Schnittmenge). Four young German Jazz Icons (two from Berlin, two from Koln) decided to accept this mathematical challenge and after working with other formations for several years, they have established a musical flight path between Koln and Berlin. The consequence is an intersection of trend-setting original compositions and individual, improvisational ideas of the band members - modern living jazz - a so-called Schmittmenge with intriguing expression and humour with an appropriate last name, beeing extremely popular in K and B: Meier.
So, the music of this quartet describes two different ways of playing jazz. It's the musical symbiosis of two big german cities: Berlin-style meets Koln-art. In other words: the conclusion of free and be-bop.
But please don't categorize or conceptualize, just listen and enjoy. - Gerardo Castellino MATTHIAS SCHRIEFL trumpet, flugehorn, melodica; GERHARD GSCHLOESSL trombone; ROBERT LANDFERMANN bass; CHRISTIAN LILLINGE
CD $12

STEFANO SENNI SAUL BASS - Psychocandy (El Gallo Rojo 314-16; Italy) Featuring Stefano Senni on double bass & songs, Enrico Terragnoli on guitar, Dario Volpi on guitar and Walter Paoli on drums. 'Psychocandy' is the name of an old album by Jesus & Mary Chain, to whom this disc is dedicated, along with The Smiths, Alfred Hitchcock, Otto Preminger and Charlie Haden. This band (SSSB), play their own version of bent post punk melodies with layers of odd guitars. "Frantic Romantic" is a long piece that works its way through different sections. It is quite cinematic and evokes different scenes as it evolves. Both guitarists do swell jobs of creating haunting images and deserted western towns. I really dig the intricate double guitar parts on "Ida Y Vuelta," with layers of acoustic and electric guitars swirling together, very cool. Stefano, who is their double bassist and main songwriter, does a consistently good job of providing his bass as the center of these tunes while both guitarists play layers of parts around him. I get the feeling that this disc will sell better in the store when I play it and folks are surprised that haven't heard of any of these musicians before. Way better and more inventive than any indi-rock I've heard in a long while. Have I been missing out on some band that you think is great? Let me know, I am always open to suggestions from the informed. Another undiscovered gem from the fine folks at El Gallo Rojo. - BLG
CD $12

STANDHARD 3IO & SYLVIA DONATI - Cocktail Saturno (El Gallo Rojo 314-15; Italy) Featuring Silvia Donati on vocals, Alfonso Santimone on piano & laptop, Alessandro Fedrigo on acoustic & electric bass and Gianni Bertoncini on drums. This is the first disc on the great El Gallo Rojo label to feature a vocalist, so I a bit apprehensive. Not only that, but they cover the likes of Radiohead, Iggy Pop, Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Bill Frisell. Certainly an odd combination of influences. Radiohead's "Pyramid Song" opens and it is a favorite of mine. This version is laid back and done most exquisitely. The vocals are quite minimal and it is the fine pianist who is featured. Vocalist Sylvia and pianist Alfonso wrote four of the songs here and also do a fine job of creating their own jazz-like standards. The lyrics are mostly in English and Sylvia loves to twist her voice into odd shapes without going too far out. Duke's "Mood Indigo" gets an interesting stripped down version, that sounds like it was arranged by Monk. I am not sure why anyone would want to cover Stevie Wonder's corny classic, "Have a Talk with God," even deconstructing it doesn't do too much to make it too much better. What does work much better is Iggy Pop & Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Risky," which has a lovely laid back vibe and melody. Bill Frisell's "Alem" gets some Italian lyrics by Silvia and it is a most melancholy piece, tastefully done, most elegant. I dig "Bah-Ree-Chen-Trees," which is a bit darker and more twisted lyrically and the music also quirkier and somewhat dizzy. I found the original songs to be more interesting than the covers here. Certainly they are more twisted and slightly deranged. - BLG
CD $12

ACHILLE SUCCI & SALVATORE MAIORE - Pequenas Flores do Inferno (El Gallo Rojo 314-9; Italy) A dialogue between deep and conscious sensibilities. An exploration into the extreme resources of the two instruments, led among extraordinarily mobile and varied tonal colours. A chase without quarter through the spaces of the linguistic imagination of contemporary jazz. Improvisation which becomes an accurate structure in the hands of the two musicians who, with a total poetic compatibility, have been crossing paths for quite a time. In this perfect work, Achille Succi and Salvatore Maiore reach an extremely high symbiotic quality, moving in the most complete liberty, even when they choose to rest on more well-trodden grounds, perhaps to pay a surprising tribute to the great Pixinguinha, one of the central figures of twentieth century Brazilian popular music
CD $12

ENRICO TERRAGNOLL ORCHESTRA VERTICAL - L' Anniversaire (El Gallo Rojo 314-4; Italy) Songs which let their sophisticated construction slide onto the rails of the most hypnotic and mysterious rhythm that exists. A few light and measured mambo steps which resonate, perhaps in a Paris of the soul, suspended in an undefined stylistic moment.
Electric guitars, accordions, percussion. Instruments sprinkled with care like flavours on top of a dish. A 'vertical' orchestra, a result of the clever additions contrived by Enrico Terragnoli and, at the peak, the seductive voice of Claudia Bidoli which depicts the most private panoramas of the soul. The precious spices used in the recording are no other than some of the most personal and creative musicians on the new Italian scene.
ENRICO TERRAGNOLI guitars, acoustic bass guitar, kazoo'CLAUDIA BIDOLI vocals; FABRIZIO PUGLISI piano; GIORGIO PACORIG fender rhodes; OSCAR MARCHIONI hammond organ; THOMAS SINIGAGLIA accordion; DANILO GALLO double bass, percussion; STEFANO SENNI double bass; ZENO DE ROSSI drums, percussion; ALESSANDRO DE ROSSI percussion; GERHARD GSCHLOSSL trombone; FRANCESCO BEARZATTI tenor sax; ACHILLE SUCCI bass clarinet; ELENA TERRAGNOLI flute; NICCOLO' SORGATO charango; FABIO BASILE k guitar
CD $12

TIRODARCO - Tirodarco (El Gallo Rojo 314-23; Italy) "Animals of silence emerged from the light of the free wood, from nests and bushes, and it was clear that not for guile, not for fear they were closed in themselves and silent, but they were intent to listen". - Rainer Maria Rilke Tirodarco are songs played by the wind of the strings and by the blowing of the wood; it's music writing braided with improvisation, it's extemporaneous composition. Tirodarco is Achille Succi's clarinets, Dimitri Sillato's violin, Salvatore Maiore's cello, Roberto Bartoli's double bass.
CD $12

WERGELD [DOMENICO CALIRIO/GIOVANNI MAIER/ZENO DE ROSSI] - Achtung! (El Gallo Rojo 314-11; Italy) Achtung is an extraordinary work on the quality, weight and density of the single sonoric events therein, and the faculty of organizing them within a continuum which is a vehicle for deep esthetic sensations. It is an unimpeded descent into the territories of surprise, a vertiginous mapping, in real time, of the many worlds which exist in the linguistic universe of new jazz. The three components of Wergeld, Domenico Caliri, Giovanni Maier and Zeno De Rossi, approach the material, which is semantically close to John Zorn, Carla Bley, Albert and Don Ayler, in an extremely acute manner, using the tradition of the respective instruments in a free and figurative way, in constant balance between an endless timbric morphing and a dazzling juxtaposition of different situations and climates.
CD $12


************


ALAN LOMAX IN HAITI [V.A.curated by GAGE AVERIL] - 1936 Haitian Field Recordings [10 CD + 2 Book Box Set] (Harte 103; USA) Harte Recordings, together with the estate of Alan Lomax, and in collaboration with The Library Of Congress and the The Association for Cultural Equity, present Alan Lomax In Haiti -- a chronicle of Lomax's 1936 Haitian recording expedition for the Library. This 10-CD box-set, in the modern tradition of those lovingly created by Revenant and Dust-To-Digital, is curated from over 50 hours of field recordings by the pre-eminent Haitian scholar, Gage Averill. Besides the CDs, the set contains two books: Lomax's Haitian field journal, carefully transcribed and notated by his niece, Ellen Harold; and a hard-bound set of liner notes and essays detailing and translating all the songs in the set. The notes examine the historical context and social and cultural relevance of the music. The set also includes the complete black and white and color film footage that Alan and Elizabeth Lomax shot in Haiti, and a facsimile of Lomax's period map of Haiti covered with his handwritten notes. The box set is a unique artifact, presenting for the first time this important document of Haiti's rich cultural heritage captured in the field by the greatest musicologist of the 20th century. Anna Lomax Wood, Lomax's daughter, explains in the notes: '...[W]e can now listen in to a pivotal era in Haiti's cultural history, when the country was throwing off U.S. imperialism and embracing both its African roots and the coming influence of jazz and African-American/Afro-Caribbean popular music and dance.' Lomax and his then-newlywed wife Elizabeth (aged 20 and 19, respectfully) worked in Haiti from December 1936 until April 1937, documenting music and ritual at the behest of his colleague and friend, Zora Neale Hurston, and under the auspices of the Library Of Congress. He arrived just two years after the brutal 19-year occupation by the United States Marines, when resentment against the U.S. ran high. The Lomaxes were part of an influx of talented and highly distinguished U.S. artists and anthropologists to whom Haitians opened their arms, despite still-fresh memories of the military incursion. These U.S. citizens were drawn to the island's distinctive culture, its striking musical and visual arts, and its people--as well as by a fascination with the sensationalist accounts of Vodou, the syncretistic local religion that had risen out of religious beliefs and practices originating in West Africa. In the course of his journey, Lomax recorded more than fifty hours of music, made copious notes, diagrams and drawings, and shot rare film footage. None of this material has been available to the general public before. These were the early days of field recording, and Alan recorded to aluminum disc (500 in all). When Lomax revisited these recordings in the 1970s, he deemed them unworthy of release due to the high level of sound distortion and surface noise. So they sat, along with his notes and film footage, for 30 years until the sound quality could be miraculously improved through current cutting edge technology. With recently- developed equipment never used on sound recordings before, the Grammy-award winning team at the Magic Shop in New York City were able to de-noise and bring the recordings to clear and vibrant life. The results have been thematically organized into ten volumes, each showcasing a specific style of music that Lomax encountered. 'Meringue' numbers introduce the set's first volume, combining early Ellington melodies with Hoosier Hot Shot joyfulness and Sun Ra otherworldliness. The sounds of Vodou worship are well represented and further illuminated by color film footage on the next disc. The native Mardi Gras music is collected on another, capturing a glorious, bombastic musical tradition which would find its way to New Orleans and beyond. Lomax recorded hours of an angelic but otherwise completely unknown singer named Francilia, whose amazingly distinctive voice and style are heard for the first time outside of Haiti on a volume devote entirely to her. The set also contains a generous sampling of children's songs and performances of the 'Troubadours,' small bands of musicians who walked the streets of Port-au-Prince, much like the early cojunto groups of Texas. Ludovic Lamothe, the famed Haitian classical pianist, was recorded for the first time by Lomax playing the songs that his international reputation would be built upon, as was Zora Neal Hurston, singing songs from her youth. The final volume is filled with the 'Romances,' a now-extinct style of music brought to Haiti from France during its period of colonization. All these musical styles and others are thoroughly discussed in Gage Averill's meticulously-researched notes, while the making of and circumstances surrounding the recordings are detailed in Lomax's journal."
Contains: 10 CDs of music, also including extremely rare B/W & color footage; 2 hardcover books: one is a journal, the other is a book of the full-color liner notes with song transcriptions, translations, and essays (230 pages total); Map of Haiti in 1937 with Alan Lomax's writings; loose photos from Alan's trip.
10 CD + 2 BOOK Box Set for $120


FACE A FROWNING WORLD [V.A.] - An E.C. Ball Memorial Album (Tompkins Square 2288; USA) "Featuring Jolie Holland, Jon Langford, Michael Hurley, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and many others. E.C. Ball of Rugby, Virginia, drove a school bus, ran a service station, and, with his wife Orna, made some of the most joyful, eerie, affecting, and enduring traditional country music around. First recorded by John Avery Lomax (father of Alan Lomax) for the Library of Congress in 1937, they sang ballads, comic songs, and mountain gospel music on records and the radio in a style entirely their own. Face A Frowning World is a tribute to the music of E.C. and Orna Ball, and a thirty-year memorial to E.C., who died in 1978. Played in large part by the Health & Happiness Family Gospel Band of Louisville, Kentucky, and many others."
CD $14


MUSICA LAIETANA [V.A.] - Zeleste (Picap 910827; EEC) "Brilliant, new compilation made out of some of the best tracks from the Zeleste label and its own Laietana sound (mediterranean blend of traditional Catalan and Spanish music). This double CD features tracks by bands such as Orquesta Mirasol, Secta Sonica, Barcelona Traction, Oriol Tramvia, Toti Soler, Toni Xucla, Iceberg, Esqueixada Sniff, Orquesta Plateria, Tropopausa, La Rondalla de la Costa, etc. etc."
2 CD set for $32

OM - Om (Picap 910827; EEC) Rare Catalan experimental progressive jazz-rock. Their sole album, though this was the group backing Pau Riba in his Dioptria album.
CD $19


THE GOLDEN RING - Iranian Styled 60's Garage And Other Exotic Sounds (Persianna 01; EEC) "As collectors continue to explore and discover new music from around the world, one country that's starting to gain momentum is Iran. Iran has been a mystery to collectors for many years, and even today it remains a blackbox to most. Within the rubbles of Iran's lost musical history comes Golden Ring, one of the first, and most prominent Iranian garage groups from the '60s. Based in Tehran, Golden Ring recorded and released a series of songs on 7" during the late '60s and early '70s before disbanding. They were one of the first Iranian bands to be influenced by Western music such as The Beatles, combining traditional Iranian instrumentation and melodies with structures found in the UK and North American rock and pop. This combination resulted in an Iranian take on garage music during the genre's climax. One of the members of Golden Ring, Arif, later went on to become a solo artist, and over time became one of the legendary artists within Iran's musical landscape. His solo material spread across 45's, soundtracks and generations of fans. Sadly Golden Ring never recorded or released a full length album, but through a lot of hard work and effort we are pleased to offer a full length compilation of Golden Ring's music for you to enjoy. Limited to 500 copies."
CD $23

ABBASS MEHRPOUYA - Mehrpouya Sitar (Persianna 02; EEC) Featuring "African Jumbo." "Abbass Mehrpouya was one of Iran's top sitarists before passing in 1993. Having released a series of 7" singles that range from psychedelic, pop and even heavy funk, collectors are pushing one another aside in an attempt to obtain his legendary work. While his psychedelic guitars and flutes have collectors drooling at the mouth, his heavy funk moments can be heard rocking dance floors in clubs across the world. This album, his sole LP release African Jumbo, is both the rarest, and most in demand album from Iran, dated sometime in the mid '70s. The 11+ minute track 'African Jumbo' is not only a masterpiece of psychedelic funk, but is also only available on this sole and impossibly hard to find album. A simply wonderful experience full of beautiful sitars and flutes, while heavy drums, horns and percussion help fill out the wonderful melodies. Mehrpouya's talents weren't limited to traditional instruments either. He was known to have invented original instruments from bones and other natural materials, while using pots as a replacement for drums. Truly a magical album from a legendary artist within Iran's musical history, and one that is near impossible to source as an original. A true holy grail of Iranian music for both its rarity and content, this release is enriched with a bonus track, taken from a rare cassette."
CD $23


BERT JANSCH - A Rare Conundrum [LP + CD] (Drag City 415; USA) "A Rare Conundrum was recorded in a more familiar style in the UK during 1976 and released by Charisma in May 1977. The majority of the album features Bert with a group he'd put together consisting of Rod Clements on bass, Pick Withers on drums and Mike Piggott on violin. By the time the album was released the group had split after Clements returned to a re-formed Lindisfarne and Withers joined Dire Straits. A Rare Conundrum marked a return to a simpler style: it includes delicate instrumentals, Irish traditional songs, a couple of slow blues and some of Bert's most overlooked songs which look back to his childhood ('One To A Hundred') and his early days on the folk scene in Edinburgh ('Three Chord Trick' and 'Three Dreamers')." Includes original artwork, lyrics and commentary by Mick Houghton, as well as notes on each track by Bert Jansch. CD contains three bonus tracks.
LP + CD for $18

BERT JANSCH - L.A. Turnaround [LP + CD] (Drag City 413; USA) "Drag City is 'chuffed' to announce the limited-edition vinyl repressings of the three albums Bert Jansch recorded for The Famous Charisma Label in the 1970s: L.A. Turnaround, Santa Barbara Honeymoon and A Rare Conundrum, all of which have been out of print for decades and are among the most sought-after Jansch albums among fans and collectors. For these new releases, Bert Jansch handpicked the bonus material, much of which is previously unreleased. In some cases this material has been unheard by anyone in thirty years, including Bert himself. Bert Jansch was signed to Charisma by label boss Tony Stratton Smith in 1973, the year that Pentangle decided to go their separate ways. L.A. Turnaround appeared in September 1974 to great acclaim, hailed in the press as 'not far off from being the perfect album.' It was produced by former Monkee Mike Nesmith at Stratton Smith's house in the country in Crowbridge, Sussex, and in Los Angeles, and features not only Nesmith on guitar but also pedal steel guitar maestro Red Rhodes, then in Nesmith's group. Rhodes' presence gives the album a unique sound enhancing Bert Jansch's own songwriting and performance skills with his haunting steel guitar. Other tracks on the album were completed by a group including Klaus Voorman on bass and, on certain songs, slide guitarist Jesse Ed Davis and fiddle player Byron Berline, giving this album an authentic L.A. '70s vibe, despite its UK origins." CD contains four bonus tracks and a short film.
LP + CD for $18

BERT JANSCH - Santa Barbara Honeymoon [LP + CD] (Drag City 414; USA) "Santa Barbara Honeymoon was recorded in America over a two-month period the following year and is a further departure for Bert Jansch, mixing his familiar style with a definitive L.A. over-the-top production sound, featuring backing singers and session players including horns, steel drums and a Dixieland band. This wasn't what most people wanted or expected from a Bert Jansch album, but time has kindly tucked the outrages of three decades ago beneath the intrigue of the sound, accenting some of Jansch's best songs of the period. An added bonus is the handful of previously unreleased solo tracks recorded live at the Montreux Festival in the summer of 1975." Includes original artwork, lyrics and commentary by Mick Houghton. CD contains six bonus tracks.
LP + CD for $18


*******************



Mammoth HAT Label CD SALE ~20% Off !!!


While supplies last (No backorders) the following Hatology and HatNow CDs are on sale

Newsletter readers only - these prices are not shown at our website!

Many of the ones listed below are OUT-OF-PRINT! get'em now or fuggedhaboutit



CORNELIUS CARDEW - Material (Hat [now] 150; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

JOHN CARISI/EDDIE SAUTER/CHRISTIAN WOLFF/STEFAN WOLPE//XASAX/ACCANTO - Counterpoise (Hat [now] 136 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

CLUSONE 3 [MICHAEL MOORE/ERNST REIJSEGER/HAN BENNINK] - An Hour With... (Hat ology 554 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20] (Out of print, but we have it!)

CLUSONE 3 [MICHAEL MOORE/ERNST REIJSEGER/HAN BENNINK] - Soft Lights And Sweet Music (hat ology 657; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

MARC COPLAND TRIO With DREW GRESS/JOCHEN RUECKERT - Haunted Heart & Other Ballads (Hat ology 581 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20] (Out of print, but we have it!)

MARC COPLAND With DREW GRESS/JOCHEN RUECKERT/JOHN ABERCROMBIE/DAVE LIEBMAN - And (Hat ology 593 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

MARC COPLAND/DAVE LIEBMAN QUARTET - Lunar (Hat ology 583 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20] (Out of print, but we have it!)

DANIELE D'AGARO With JEB BISHOP/KENT KESSLER/ROBERT BARRY - Chicago Overtones (Hat ology 613; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

DANIELE D'AGARO/ERNST GLERUM/HAN BENNINK - Strandjutters (Hat ology 590 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

EFZEG [BORIS HAUF/MARTIN SIEWERT/BURKHARD STANGL/DIEB 13] - Krom (hat ology 623; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

erikM & CHRISTIAN FENNESZ - Complimentary Contrasts: Donaueschingen 2003 (Hat ology 618; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

ELLERY ESKELIN With MAT MANERI/ERIK FRIEDLANDER/MARK DRESSER/MATT MORAN - Vanishing Point (Hat ology 577 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20] (Out of print, but we have it!)

ELLERY ESKELIN/ANDREA PARKINS/JIM BLACK - Arcanum Moderne (Hat ology 588 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20] (Out of print, but we have it!)

MORTON FELDMAN/IVES ENSEMBLE - String Quartet (II) [4 CD set] (Hat [now] 144; Switzerland)
4 CD SET FOR $30 [NORMALLY $37]

MORTON FELDMAN/PETER RUNDEL/PELLEGRINI STRING QUARTET - Violin & String Quartet [2 CD set] (Hat [now] 137; Switzerland)
2 CD SET FOR $21 [NORMALLY $26] (Out of print, but we have it!)

MORTON FELDMAN/STEFFEN SCHLEIERMACHER - Early Piano Works (Hat [now] 138 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

FABIN GISLER With JOHN SCHRODER/COLIN VALLON/HENRIK WALSDORF - Backyard Poets (Hat ology 645; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

GEORG GRAEWE [GRAWE]/ERNST REIJSEGER/GERRY HEMINGWAY - Sonic Fiction (hat ology 638; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

GUILLERMO GREGORIO - Degrees Of Iconicity (Hat [now] 134 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

GUILLERMO GREGORIO - Faktura (Hat [now] 146; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

GUILLERMO GREGORIO Trio With MAT MANERI/PANDELIS KARAYORGIS - Red Cube(d) (Hat ology 531 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20] (Out of print, but we have it!)

JACKSON HARRISON TRIO - Land Tides (Hat ology 647; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

LOU HARRISON/MAELSTROM PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE - Labrynth (Hat [now] 105 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20] (Out of print, but we have it!)

ROMAN HAUBENSTOCK-RAMATI/ENSEMBLE AVANT GARDE - Mobile For Shakespeare (Hat [now] 118 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

ROMAN HAUBENSTOCK-RAMATI/ENSEMBLE RECHERCHE - Concerto A Tre (Hat [now] 114 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

NORIKO HISADA - Prognostication (hat [now] 163; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

SVEN-AKE JOHANSSON/AXEL DORNER/ANDREA NEUMANN - Barcelona Series (Hat ology 559 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

THEO JORGENSMANN & ECKARD KOLTERMANN - Pagine Gialle (Hat ology 553 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

THEO JORGENSMANN QUARTET - Snijbloemen (Hat ology 539 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20] (Out of print, but we have it!)

UDO KASEMETS/STEPHEN CLARKE - Pythagoras Tree: Works For Piano (Hat [now] 113 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

MATTHIAS KAUL - Solopercussion (Hat [now] 130 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20] (Out of print, but we have it!)

FRANZ KOGLMANN - O Moon My Pin-Up (Hat ology 566 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

FRANZ KOGLMANN With TONY COE/MISHA MENGELBERG/KLAUS KOCH/BURKHARD STANGL - L'Heure Bleue (Hat ology 571 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

JO KONDO/SATOKO INOUE - Works For Piano (Hat [now] 135 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

BERND KONRAD/HANS KOLLER UNIT With DIDIER LOCKWOOD - Phonolith (Hat ology 520 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

[DAVE] DAVID LIEBMAN - The Distance Runner: solo live Willisau Festival 2004 (Hat ology 628; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

DAVE LIEBMAN/ELLERY ESKELIN QUARTET With TONY MARINO/JIM BLACK - Different But The Same (Hat ology 615; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

DAVE LIEBMAN/MARC COPLAND DUO - Bookends [2 CD set] (Hat ology 587 S; Switzerland)
2 CD SET FOR $21 [NORMALLY $26] (Out of print, but we have it!)

JON LLOYD - Four And Five (Hat ology 537 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

RUSS LOSSING - All Things Arise (hat ology 629; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

RUSS LOSSING/ED SCHULLER/PAUL MOTIAN - As It Grows (Hat ology 605; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

RUSS LOSSING/JOHN HEBERT - Line Up (hat ology 651; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

MAKROKOSMOS QUARTET - Magic Worlds Of Sound: Crumb, Gervasoni, Haas (hat [now] 170; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

JOE MANERI QUARTET With MAT MANERI/ED SCHULLER/RANDY PETERSON - Tenderly (Hat ology 525 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20] (Out of print, but we have it!)

JOE MANERI/JOE MORRIS/MAT MANERI - Out Right Now (Hat ology 561 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

WARNE MARSH - Ne Plus Ultra (hat ology 603; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

JOE McPHEE PO MUSIC With ANDRE JAUME/RAYMOND BONI/FRANCOIS MECHALI - Oleo: A Future Retrospective (Hat ology 579 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

JOE McPHEE/LISLE ELLIS/PAUL PLIMLEY - Sweet Freedom! Now What? (hat ology 602; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

RAJEESH MEHTA Solos & Duos With PAUL LOVENS - Orka (Hat ology 524 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

MYRA MELFORD EXTENDED ENSEMBLE With DAVE DOUGLAS/MARTY EHRLICH/LINDSEY HORNER/REGGIE NICHOLSON - Even the Sounds Shine (Hat ology 597 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

MISHA MENGELBERG - The Root Of The Problem (Hat ology 504; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20] (Out of print, but we have it!)

MANUEL MENGIS GRUPPE 6 - Into The Barn (Hat ology 627; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

WOLFGANG MITTERER - Radio Fractal / Beat Music: Live at Donaueschingen 2002 [2 CD set] (Hat ology 606; Switzerland)
2 CD SET FOR $21 [NORMALLY $26].00 STOCK

DAVID MURRAY With JOHNNY DYANI/ANDREW CYRILLE - 3-D Family (hat ology 608; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

LAUREN NEWTON - Filigree (Hat ology 519 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

PAULINE OLIVEROS - The Roots Of The Moment (Hat ology 591 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

POLWECHSEL [WERNER DAFELDEDECKER/JOHN BUTCHER/MICHAEL MOSER/BURKHARD STANGL] - Polwechsel 2 (Hat [now] 119 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

MICHEL PORTAL/LEON FRANCIOLI/PIERRE FAVRE - Arrivederci Le Chouartse (Hat ology 572 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

STEFFEN SCHLEIERMACHER//JOHN ZORN/TOM JOHNSON/SVEN-AKE JOHANSSON et al - Enfants Terribles (Hat [now] 121 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

ARCHIE SHEPP - I Know About The Life (Hat ology 598 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

MATTHEW SHIPP DUO With JOE MORRIS - Thesis (Hat ology 506; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20] (Out of print, but we have it!)

MATTHEW SHIPP HORN QUARTET With ROY CAMPBELL Jr/DANIEL CARTER/WILLIAM PARKER - Strata (Hat ology 522; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20] (Out of print, but we have it!)

MATTHEW SHIPP STRING TRIO With MAT MANERI/WILLIAM PARKER - By The Law Of Music (Hat ology 574 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

MATTHEW SHIPP TRIO With WILLIAM PARKER/SUSIE IBARRA - The Multiplication Table (Hat ology 656; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

JAMES TENNEY/MAELSTROM PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE - Pika-Don (Hat [now] 151; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

JAMES TENNEY/MARK SABAT/STEPHEN CLARKE - Music For Violin And Piano (Hat [now] 120 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

JAMES TENNEY/MATTHIAS KAUL - Solo Works For Percussion (Hat [now] 111 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

JAMES TENNEY/MUSIK FABRIK - Forms 1-4: In Memoriam Varese, Cage, Wolpe, Feldman [2 CD set] (Hat [now] 127 S; Switzerland)
2 CD SET FOR $21 [NORMALLY $26]

TRAPIST [MARTIN BRANDLMAYR/MARTIN SIEWERT/JOE WILLIAMSON] - Highway My Friend (Hat ology 586 S; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

COLIN VALLON TRIO - Ailleurs (Hat ology 636; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

CHRISTIAN WEBER With HANS KOCH/MICHAEL MOSER/MARTIN SIEWERT/CHRISTIAN WOLFARTH - 3 Suits & A Violin (Hat ology 634; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

CHRIS WEISENDANGER/CHRISTIAN WEBER/DIETER ULRICH [WWU] - We Concentrate (Hat ology 626; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]

CHRISTIAN WOLFF//STEFFEN SCHLEIERMACHER - Early Piano Pieces (hat [now] 141; Switzerland)
CD $16 [NORMALLY $20]


We also have these HAT CDs for $12 each! :

DIETER AMMANN - The Freedom Of Speech (Hat [now] 158; Switzerland)
CD $12

LIZA LIM/ENSEMBLE FUR NEUE MUSIK ZURICH - The Heart's Ear (Hat [now] 148; Switzerland)
CD $12

RICHARD RIJNVOS/IVES ENSEMBLE - Block Beuys (Hat [now] 147; Switzerland)
CD $12

DANE RUDHYAR//STEFFEN SCHLEIERMACHER - Works For Piano (Hat [now] 140 S; Switzerland)
CD $12

DANIEL N SEEL//MORTON FELDMAN/STEFAN WOLPE/WALTER ZIMMERMANN - Four Generations: Piano (Hat [now] 139; Switzerland)
CD $12


***********************************


IF YOU'RE ALREADY SUBSCRIBED TO OUR NEWSLETTER, BUT SOMEHOW YOU'RE NOT RECEIVING THEM IN YOUR INBOX..

Many of your incoming emails are being blocked and you don't know it! Many emails like our newsletter are frequently blocked by aggressive spam filters being used by nearly all email services.

To help avoid this problem and get our newsletter:

Hotmail Users: Place the domain " downtownmusicgallery.com " on your Safe List, so that you can receive our emails. The safe list can be accessed via the "Options" link next to the main menu tabs. Also place the email address dmg@downtownmusicgallery.com in your address book.

AOL: Place the domain " downtownmusicgallery.com " in your Address Book. Also add the email address dmg@downtownmusicgallery.com to your address book.

Yahoo! Mail: If one of our e-newsletters is filtered to your 'bulk' folder, open the message and click on the "this is not Spam" link next to the "From" field. The same goes for any other e-mail you receive that doesn't belong there. Add the address dmg@downtownmusicgallery.com to your address book.

Other email services [Earthlink, GMail et al]: Place the domain " downtownmusicgallery.com " on your email filter's whitelist. You may need to search your email help menu for details on how to do this. Depending on software/version, they may call it a "whitelist," a "good list" or similar name. Adding the address dmg@downtownmusicgallery.com to your address book will help too.