Strong as the wind cross the mountain top
Hey, my love is moving and it just won't stop
I turned you loose, honey, I let you fly
Now all I can do is hang my head and cry
My love will not change
My love will not change
It just rolls like a river to the sea of your name
My love will not change
My love will not change
It's as steady as the rhythm of the pouring rain
My love will not change
My love will not change
Might as well try holding back a fast freight train
My love will not change
My love will not change
Baby ask me tomorrow and I'll tell you the same
My love will not change
My love will not change
My love will not change
My love will not change
My love will not change
Standing around, not holding back
Once a month or so, I take the train or a rental car and head down to Princeton Record Exchange (aka PREX) in central New Jersey and spend around three hours crate digging through hundreds of CDs. It is indeed a joy for myself, John M (DMG employee) and other record store freaks & geeks to go crate digging, searching for that elusive title that we’ve long sought out. An obvious observation is that most record stores no longer sell compact discs, just records, cassettes and some other merch like t-shirts, magazines & books. DMG is one of the last record stores to specialize in CD’s. We do sell some vinyl, cassettes, DVD’s and t-shirts but barely enough to survive. Plus over the last year or two we’ve gotten over 5,000 CD’s as donations!?! Which takes time to price, put on Discogs or out in the bins. Thanks to all of you donators out there! At PREX, I often find 50-60 CD’s for $1 - $2 each and since I listen to so much diverse music, I buy all sorts of jazz, modern classic, prog, psych, bluegrass, gospel, the blues, country, reggae, funk, dub and avant music of many shapes. At $1 or $2 each, I can take some chances with assorted genres. Aside from my nightly Dead hour-long listening party, I’ve been going through phases by genre, group or composer. I discovered bluegrass music in the late seventies when I worked for a distributor that handled 4 labels: Rounder, Flying Fish, Muse & Inner City. I ended up with hundreds of LP promos from these labels. Rounder and Flying Fish both introduced me to dozens of folk & bluegrass musicians & bands, many of whom I still appreciate. I recall when bluegrass and modern jazz combined forces thanks to groups like the David Grisman Quintet and Andy Statman in the late 1970’s. I attended bluegrass festival in upper NY state in the late 1980’s & early 1990’s and became fans of Peter Rowan, Allison Krause, the Dry Branch Fire Squad and many others.
A number of the inexpensive CD’s that I purchased at PREX were bluegrass, country & folks discs. One of my favorites one was by the Del McCoury Band, an album called ‘It’s Just the Night’, released in 2003. Since my first listen, I’ve played it again numerous times at home and at the store. Every song on it rings true to me. The music is completely acoustic and the band feature some wonderful vocal harmonies which seem to make some folks squirm when they bend their voices like old hillbillies do (or early Dylan). They keep repeating the line, “My love will not change” over and over. I know this feeling well especially when I think of my ex-fiance who I am no longer in touch with except when we see each at the Victo fest for one week each your. I keep singing this line to myself at different times, reminding me that there is a special force (love, respect, believe in something better), that we all hold onto no matter how many clouds darken our skies. I know that many of you (us) are worried about our future and this has been on my mind (all of our minds) most of the time. I hold on to my inner faith like an anchor to Mother Earth. My Love will not change, my Faith will be restored so let’s get together to help each other through the swamp where some will drown and some will swim. Happy New Year to each and every one of you! We still Love you no matter what happens. - Bruce Lee Gallanter and the rest of the fine folks at DMG, John Mori, Caroline Morton and the many ex-DMG employees, several of whom played at DMG earlier this week.
*************
THE DMG 34th ANNIVERSARY IN-STORE FREE MUSIC SERIES Continues with:
Tuesday, January 7th, 2025:
6:30: ROSE TANG - Guitar / PATRICK GOLDEN - Drums
7:30: ARON NAMENWIRTH - Guitar / STAN ZENKOV - Reeds / STEVE SWELL - Trombone / MARC EDWARDS - Drums
8:30: KRISTIAN SAARUP - Drums / BRANDON LOPEZ - Contrabass / JOE MOFFETT - Trumpet
9:30: MARCO CAPPELLI / EYAL MAOZ - Guitar Duo
Monday, January 13th - Another DMG Guitar Fest Featuring:
6:30: GIAN PEREZ - Guitar / CHRIS COCHRANE - Guitar
7:30: JON MADOF TRIO: JON MADOF - Guitar / YOSHIE FRUCHTER - Bass / NATE RAPPAPORT - Drums
8:30: BEN GOLDBERG - Clarinet / SPENCER HOEFERT - Electric Guitar / LUKE BERGMAN - Pedal Steel / HAMIR ATWAL - Drums
Tuesday, January 14th:
6:30: patrick brennan - alto sax / ON KA’A DAVIS - Guitar / JASON KAO HWANG - Violin / COOPER-MOORE - Diddleybow
7:30: STEPHAN CRUMP - Solo Contrabass
8:30: KEN KOBAYASHI - Drums / JEFF MILES - Guitar / MICHAEL GILBERT - Bass
********
THIS WEEK’S DYNAMIC DISCS BEGIN WITH:
EVAN PARKER // JOHN CORBETT / MARTIN DAVIDSON / CAROLINE FORBES / HAND FALB / FILIP GOMES / RICHARD LEIGH / STEPHEN C. MIDDLETON / ROBERT STILLMAN - The Heraclitean Two-Step, Etc. (False Walls 16; UK) The four CD’s included here feature Evan Parker on solo saxophone from several locations in June of 1994, September of 1993 and various recordings made between July of 2018 and April of 2024. All are previously unreleased. The thick (120 page) 12” x 6” booklet includes poetry by Stephen C. Middleton and Antonio Machado, an impressive long interview with Emanem label founder Martin Davidson, insightful articles about Evan Parker by John Corbett, Hans Falb, Richard Leigh, Filipe Gomes and Mr. Parker himself plus artwork and pictures by Caroline Forbes (ECM photographer). The booklet itself is one of the most impressive packages I’ve ever seen, one can tell that a great deal of work went into doing this project.
Although Anthony Braxton’s early record, ‘For Alto’ (for solo alto sax) was released in 1971, playing a concert of solo sax was immensely rare at this time. Evan Parker started playing solo sax concerts in the mid-1970’s and has continued to play solo sets on occasion, his playing has evolved slowly yet quite a bit over the half century of doing these type of gigs. His solo sax sets (on tenor or soprano) feature often long, circular breathing episodes as well as shorter solos. The four discs here include both shorter and longer episodes. Discs three and four consist mostly of pieces six to 29 minutes and each piece is dedicated to other musicians, composers, artists and friends like Luc Ferrari, Steve Lacy, Paul Rutherford and Steve Winwood. I am listening to the second solo disc now which is one long 31 minute piece and I find the music to be challenging, invigorating, fascinating, most impressive on a variety of levels. Over the long stretch Evan Parker has learned how to explore and evolve. He has a restless sense to keep digging and comes up with new ways to play so that our hearing has to evolve as well. This is why I/we keep listening and thinking about what we are listening to, as well as reading through the texts and viewing the artwork in the big booklet. We just got in 15 of these impressive releases and five are now gone so don’t hesitate to get you asap. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
4 CD Set with 12” x 6” Hardcover Book - 120 pages, with Deluxe Packaging / Limited Edition $75 [7 left at present]
* ROSE TANG & PATRICK GOLDEN - A White Horse Is Not a Horse (ESP-Disk 5111CD; USA) Rose Tang has previously been heard on ESP-Disk in the band ATTITUDE!, whose album Pause & Effect came out in 2021 (ESPDISK 5048LP). She writes: "There was a school of philosophy in ancient China whose core theory stems from a debate entitled 'A White Horse Is Not a Horse.' In a book by Gongsun Long (公孫龍 320-250BC, about 200 years after Confucius) in the Warring States Period, two persons argue if a white horse is a horse: the protagonist argues it is not, because 'white' is the color of a (particular) horse while a 'horse' is a shape and a generic term. It's a linguistic/logical paradox, or sophistry. Ridiculed by his contemporary philosophers and forgotten for centuries, Gongsun is now considered the only philosopher in ancient China who delved into logic and philosophy of language. I was about 12 when my artist father first told me about the debate. He's painted many horses, especially white horses. Long before I discovered I'm a Mongol, I had always loved horses. Funny, my high school politics (Maoism/Marxism) teacher nicknamed me 'Wild Horse Running off the Reins.' That's how I see myself when playing music. Music offers instant and countless ways of freeing myself and connecting with people and the multiverse. It's all about following the qi, the energy, the flow. It's like cooking or making love, with senses and feelings all out in the open, without thinking. Improvising in a group is the most democratic activity. And all sounds are equal -- birds, traffic, construction, the ocean, kids -- all music to my ear. All instruments are my toys (some are indeed my daughter's toys). For every instrument I play, I feel the physical and spiritual connections with them. Ask not what your instrument can do for you, ask what you can do for your instrument. I look for the sounds that an instrument isn't 'supposed' to make. Music is the most abstract art form and the closest to the truth, yet it's the most institutionalized. My slogan is 'Learn through play. Play by ear. F*ck the rest!' So here it is, just some Weird Sh*t, music that is not music. A white horse is not a horse." All music improvised by Rose Tang and Patrick Golden.
CD $13
* ROSE TANG & PATRICK GOLDEN will play a CD release duo set here at DMG on Tues, January 7th at 6:30!
3000 with BART MARIS / JAN KLARE / STEVE SWELL / WILBERT DE JOODE / MICHAEL VATCHER - Unrepeatable (UmLand Records 65; Germany) 3000 features Bart Maris on trumpet, Jan Klare on alto sax & flute, Steve Swell on trombone, Wilbert de Joode on contrabass and Michael Vatcher on drums. The quartet, 1000 have been around since 2007 and have recorded six discs with the same personnel. In 2019, they became 2000 and added guests like Steve Swell and Elisabeth Coudoux. This year (2024) the quartet became 3000 with Steve Swell added as their guest. All four members of the quartet are based in or near Amsterdam, Belgium and Germany. This disc was recorded at Room 13 in Gent, Belgium in September of 2022 in two sessions, 2 two pieces. The first piece is called “Hands” and it is around 25 & 1/2 minutes. Although the music sounds mostly free, there is something going on that keeps things in focus. The music evolves slowly in different combinations of players shifting from one section to the next. Hushed flute, trumpet and trombone create haunting harmonies over the skeletal rhythm team. The density and intensity increase slowly, organically. Dutch bassist Wilbert de Joode has played in a number of different ensembles includes All Ellington and Bik Brent Braam. Both he and Vatcher work well together, often sounding like they are playing as one spirit/force. After listening to so much improvised music both live and on record, I start to notice certain things. Both the three horns and the rhythm team each take over at some point, leading the quintet into different areas. At the beginning of the second piece, “Tongues”, the bass & drums started revving up together, tightly pushing the rest of the quintet into a more focused, swirling segment. In the next section, the three horns take over and interact in focused shifting patterns. Bassist Wilbert de Joode kicks off one segment with a quick, fractured, repeating bass pattern with Vatcher digging in to enhance that line with the horns each adding a different counterpointed line. The three horns speed up and erupt in tight, connected orbits. The more I listen, the more I hear different connections come into play. There are often short solos, duos or trios which emerge from the group sound and then turn into something else. There is a consistent joy of discovery going on here as we listen to the way things unfold, transform and reach out to connect us to the listeners. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $15
BACK IN STOCK AFTER SEVERAL YEARS:
SEAN BERGIN'S MOB MOBIEL With AB BAARS / TOBIAS DELIUS / JOOST BUIS / WOLTER WIERBOS / STEVE SWELL / TRISTAN HONSINGER / MARY OLIVER / ALEX MAGUIRE / URSEL SCHLICHT / ERNST GLERUM / HAN BENNINK / et al - Mob Mobiel: Live at Bimhuis (Data 32 SBT; Netherlands) Live at BIMhuis in Amsterdam in March of 2002 and featuring a large cast of players: Sean Bergin, Ab Baars, Tobias Delius & Jan Willem van der Ham on reeds; Eric Boeren, Joost Buis, Walter Weirbos & Steve Swell on the brass; Mary Oliver & Tristan Honsinger on strings; Franky Douglas on guitar, Alex Maguire & Ursel Schlicht on piano; Ernst Glerum & Jacko Schoonderwoerd on bass and Han Bennink, Victor de Boo & Alan Purves on drums & percussion. Considering we have 5 members of the ICP Orchestra involved, this does have that nice blend of the in and the out, the silly and the serious side as well. Sean Bergin composed all but two pieces and seems to keep a tighter reign on the band than Misha Mengelberg does with the ICO Orch, I dig the way certain solos sail above the controlled chaos below, el. guitar, clarinet and violin dancing creatively on top. This appears to be the fourth in-print release from Sean's 10 or 11 piece MOB unit, each one has been a rare Dutch treat so far and this one is also superb. Nice to see/hear two downtowners involved in this fine project - Ursel Schlicht and Steve Swell. - BLG at DMG
CD Sale $15
SEAN BERGIN'S SONG MOB With PHIL MINTON / MAGGIE NICHOLS / TOBIAS DELIUS / WOLTER WIERBOS / ERIC BOEREN / MARY OLIVER / FRANKY DOUGLAS / ALEX MAGUIRE / ERNST GLERUM / HAN BENNINK / et al - Fat Fish (Data 061; Netherlands) Recorded live at The Bimhuis and featuring Maggie Nicols, Phil Minton & Mola Sylla on vocals, Sean Bergin, Tobias Delius & Jan Willem van der Ham on reeds, Eric Boeren & Felicity Provan on cornets, Wolter Weirbos on trombone, Franky Douglas on guitar, Mary Oliver on violin, Alex Maguire on piano, Ernst Glerum on bass and Han Bennink on drums. With six members of the great ICP Orchestra, you know we are in for some inspired musical lunacy. This is Sean Bergin's first disc to feature three vocalists and it is a most wonderful treat. "Lambi Golo" features the great African voice of Mola Sylla, over a fine Afro-beat groove. "When We Are Lost" features the plaintive words of Carson McCullers and haunting, possessed voice of Maggie Nicols, the stark guitar spice by Franky Douglas and bluesy piano of Alex Maguire. "Chicken Feet" features a few vocal lines swirling around one another just right over a great groove of high-hat, strings, piano and guitar. "Virgin Birth" features the swaggering trombone of Wolter Weirbos over an infectious, inspired group with a great violin solo. "Fat Fish" has a sorta New Orleans groove with soulful vocals by Maggie and everyone else backing her righteously. "Dirge & Dance" is a perfect closing song with an apt title and a vibe like the Brotherhood of Breath. The chorus of kazoos adds a well selected, ghost-like aura to this completely haunting work. - BLG at DMG
CD Sale $15
HANS KOCH / MARTIN SCHUTZ / FREDI STUDER and EL NIL TROOP - Heavy Cairo Traffic (Intuition 3175-2; Austria) New reissue. The trio is comprised of Hans Koch on various clarinets, saxes & sampler; Martin Schutz on electric 5 string & acoustic cellos and Fredy Studer on drums & infinite percussion. The Koch / Schutz / Studer trio has been around for nearly two decades (1995-2013) and recorded nine albums and two DVD’s. On six of these records, the trio traveled to different countries (Mexico, Cuba and Egypt) to interact with musicians from different cultures or added guests (like Shelley Hirsch, DJ Singe & Christian Uetz) to make things more interesting.
Their 1995 trip to Egypt resulted in this trio's first brilliant & bizarre release of "Heavy Cairo Traffic." The Egyption group, El Nil Troop boasts Shaker Ismail on rababa (a bowed & plucked spike fiddle), Ragab Sadek on tabla, Moustapha Abdel Aziz on arghoul (a double pipe single reed), Ibrahim Shaheen on gaula, Ismail Haggag on duff (frame drum), Mohamed Kholossy on saggat (finger cymbals), Ihab Abbas on re (recorder), and Reda Schiba on vocals. Koch/Schutz/Studer (from Switzerland) worked with El Nil Troop (from Egypt) in 1991 and in 1995, both in Cairo and in Switzerland. All three members of the trio contributed songs to the session as well as the Egyptian also bringing in some traditional Egyptian songs/melodies. Each of the eleven pieces has different personnel and instrumentation. “Alaschaan Aref Albi Ma’ak” begins with a free burst which then leads to a traditional melody at the center played by a double reed with Reda Schiba’s distinctive note-bending voice added. Although the voice and melody do sound traditional, there is an electric undertow/groove going on as well. Hans Koch’s “Makana” blends the arghoul with other reeds, cello and some sort of keyboard instrument. When the drums come in, the groove becomes infectious. Although “Tulli Men El Maschkabeia” does have a traditional melody, the trio and the Egyptian musicians add several layers of swirling lines. Mr. Koch’s “Maamal El Sokar” begins with subtle hand percussion, before the sly melody comes in. I dig the way the piece gets more dense as it evolves with more layers of musicians adding to that hypnotic sound. Koch and Schutz along with Shaker Ismail composed “Qissa”, which features Mr Ismail on rababa (a bent note spiked fiddle), which has a unique, unsettled sound. “Heavy Cairo Traffic” is dedicated to the space-traveling composer/big band leader Sun Ra, who did also journey to Egypt to play in front of the pyramids. The piece has an intense free sound with layers of percussion fueling it.
CD $15
NEW FROM RELATIVE PITCH:
CHUCK ROTH - Document 1 (Relative Pitch RPR SS036; USA) Featuring Chuck Roth on solo electric guitar. Over the past decade plus there have been a couple of waves of extraordinary women guitarists moving to town, each one playing, recording and adding to the ever-evolving Downtown Scene. The first wave featured Mary Halvorson, Ava Mendoza, Wendy Eisenberg & Jessica Ackerley. The second wave featured Reg Bloor, Rose Tang, Webb Crawford and Chuck Roth (a/k/a waterGhost). Each of these women come from different backgrounds and each has added their sound/approach to this scene. Both Chuck Roth and Webb Crawford have played here at DMG on a couple of occasions as well as playing a strong guitar duo set here a few months ago, which I recall well since it was that good!
This is Chuck Roth’s first solo CD debut for the Relative Pitch label. According to the liner notes, Ms. Roth uses no effects on her Strat guitar, no volume pedal used also. Things begin with Roth’s unique way of strumming, playing odd chords and muting certain sounds with her hands. Without any devices to alter her sound, Ms. Roth has a unique way of note bending, fractured strumming and twisting her strings in odd ways. Ms. Roth often plays quietly yet still bending and twisting notes in more subtle ways. Her unique style includes the rubbing of strings (with her nails or fingers), tapping on the strings while muting certain notes, furious strumming, The sound moves from brittle to fractured to explosive at times. Once one gets used to Ms. Roth’s vocabulary/sound, we hear more of what is within her sound, diverse elements used in surprising ways. Each of the 11 pieces here creates its own world or scene. I hear fragments of the blues, noise and fractured not so easy to describe. An impressive tour-de-force for those who can enjoy experimental guitar playing at its very best. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $13
DANIEL BLACKSBERG - The Psychic/Body Sound System (Relative Pitch SS021; USA) Featuring Dan Blacksberg on trombone, prepared trombone & resonating piano. Trombonist Daniel Blacksberg has a disc out on Tzadik under the name of Devekus plus he has collaborated with Eugene Chadbourne, Nick Mellivoi and David Soldier. The opening piece is called, “We Walk Through the Petrified Gate” and what we hear is several layers of low end (trombone) drones, resonating together. Blacksberg is exploring the low end sounds of the trombone, the pace quickens as he erupts, bellowing in fragmented clouds or swirls. On each piece Blackberg explores different textures and timbres, stretching out each note or sound, the effect on the listener is always changing. One needs patience and time itself is being tested. Whenever a note is stretched or bent, it is as if our inner reality is also being stretched as well. Each sound we hear has an effect on us, so I listen closely to each one, thinking how these sounds affect our consciousness, how we hear what we hear, when we hear it and what is going on inside our minds as we listen. This disc is like a puzzle that we must unlock to figure out its meaning which is unique to each of our inner beings. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $13
MORE FROM THE ILK MUSIC CD SALE:
HENRY GRIMES - Solo (Bass and Violin)(Ilk Music 151; Denmark) Since moving back to New York in July of 2003, after a disappearance of some thirty years, master bassist Henry Grimes continues to astound us all with his leaps and strides. Since his grand return he has jumped into the fire and played with other giants like Cecil Taylor, David Murray, Rashied Ali, Marshall Allen, Dave Douglas, Marc Ribot, Bill Dixon and so many others. This fabulous two disc set features an entire unedited and uninterrupted solo bass and violin performance. Henry takes his time and works his way through many layers and textures of plucked and bowed double bass and violin, digging deep into his most creative world of sounds. One would think that it is difficult to sustain interest throughout a long solo bass performance, but not here. This disc is superbly recorded and Henry's bass sounds warm, strong and life-affirming. I turned this disc up while listening to it at home and in the store and let wash over me like layers of warm molasses. It sounds and feels so good to me and no doubt will work its magic over you. - BLG
2 CD Sale Set $16
DELIRIUM with MIKKO INNANEN / KASPER TRANBERG / JONAS WESTERGAARD / STEFAN PASBORG] - Green Side Up (Ilk Music 172; Denmark) Mikko Innanen, alto, soprano and baritone saxophones; Kasper Tranberg, cornet; Jonas Westergaard, bass; Stefan Pasborg, drums. Third release, and a follow-up to two critically acclaimed DELIRIUM CDs: Delirium (Fiasko, 2002) and Eclexistence (TUM, 2005). Listening to the music of DELIRIUM feels like an exciting journey, delving headlong into the multi-faceted jazz from the northern latitudes. The group, consisting of four leading figures of the European jazz and improvised music scene, three Danes and a Finn; four genuine musical trailblazers of their generation. This album was recorded in Copenhagen in the autumn of 2009 and features ten original compositions, bringing out a fresh, new perspective of group interplay. "This quartet displays strong unity with everyone contributing to the overwhelming spontaneity...air of flexibility, fun and togetherness probably made this album a joy to make, and it is certainly a joy to listen to. Delirium works like a late-night discussion between friends, where spirits are high and all ideas are encouraged and debated. We are privileged to have a chance to listen in." AAJ
CD Sale $12
JACOB ANDERSKOV - Panta Rhei (Ilk Music 136; Denmark) Panta Rhei is the first solo piano album from Jacob Anderskov, recorded at an intimate studio session at the end of a tour in Scandinavia October 2006. Hearing Anderskov improvising solo is like being let into the composing alchemist's workshop. Transparant aphorisms as well as denser textures are wrought, refined and sculpted in real time, right in front of us. The music incorporates elements and estetics from the music of Anderskov's larger ensembles, as well as more transparent sonorities - but still with his unmistakenable signature mark. "PANTA RHEI" is Greek for "everything is flux" (Herakles). For this album it means a.o. that everything here is improvised, with maximum attention given to the actual sounding music rather than to any preconceived ideas about what it ought to sound like. The improvisational approach was about presence, awareness and associations - rather than adherance to specific stylistical preferences. There are no edits or overdubs on the album.
CD Sale $10
STEFAN PASBORG With MIKKO INNANEN / LIUDAS MOCKUNAS / NICOLAI MUNCH-HANSEN - Free Moby Dick: Classic Rock Covers (Ilk Music 194; Denmark) "Three time Grammy-winning Danish drummer and composer, Stefan Pasborg, is releasing this brand new album with his exiting interpretations of six standards from the history book of rock'n'roll. A passion towards playing some of the iconic rock-riffs by bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and The White Stripes, but in his own way and as platforms for improvisations within a free approach, inspired him to create this project. These riffs, together with a track by The Rolling Stones and one by Tom Waits, is the foundation for this release. The tunes included are: Black Dog (Led Zepplin), Out in The Tiles (Zepplin), Iron Man (Black Sabbath), Seven Army Nation (The White Stripes), Paint it Black (Stones) and Johnsburg, Illinois (Waits). Mr. Pasborg invited three of his favorite European musicians to join the fun: Mikko Innanen (Fin), Liudas Mockunas (Lit) and Nicolai Munch-Hansen (Den) with whom he has so often played during the past 10-15 years in several other constellations (Delirium, Triot, Toxikum, Odessa 5, Megaphone etc.) - The result is this record!"
CD Sale $12
HOPSCOTCH with FRANCESCO BIGONI / MARK SOLBORG / KEVIN BROW - Hopscotch (Ilk Music 179; Denmark) "The trio Hopscotch - saxophonist Francesco Bigoni, guitarist Mark Solborg and drummer Kevin Brow - shares ... a love of genre- blurring improvisation. Based in Copenhagen, but hailing from Italy, Argentina and Canada respectively, its members bring a cosmopolitan approach to music that is - not surprisingly - devoid of stylistic and cultural borders. Over ten tracks that nicely balance moments of jarring abandon with meditative studies on tonal and textural variation, the trio shows not only the depth of its individual voices, but the extent to which group interplay, composition and improvisation can blend into a singular and compelling collective statement. Solborg's original “Almost" is a case study in the group's approach. Beginning with breathy saxophone overtones, brushed snare and plaintive, twangy guitar tones, the group deftly segues to a darkly beautiful and unpredictable composed line. Tenor mirrors guitar before emerging with an unaccompanied series of trills that are quickly joined by the full group in a rousing and extemporaneous buildup to a carefully composed conclusion. From the blistering tour-de-force “Brainwashing" to the album's whispered conclusion, “E", the focus never wavers from exploring the endless sonic possibilities." - Matthew Miller, The New York City Jazz Record.
CD Sale $10
LP SECTION:
PAN AFRIKAN PEOPLES ARKESTRA with ARTHUR BLYTHE / PHIL RANELIN / BUTCH MORRIS / DWIGHT TRIBBLE / NATE MORGAN / JESSE SHARPS / ADELE SEBASTIAN / et al - 60 Years (The Village VLG 006LP; Earth) In 1961, a giant awoke in South Central Los Angeles: a musically radical, deep-rooted, politically engaged band, its members drawn from the community it represented and served, and its music composed by them alone -- The Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra. The brainchild of pianist and composer Horace Tapscott, the Arkestra was intended to preserve Black music, nurture Black musicians, and above all contribute positively to community building in South Central LA. 60 Years celebrates six decades of his radical and uplifting musical and social vision. Digging deep into the Arkestra's archives, the album gathers breath-taking unreleased material, including previously unheard compositions, from every stage of the band's development -- from Tapscott's earliest iterations of the group, recording at home in 1961, to the current incarnation of the band, led by the new generation of young musicians. Tapscott passed on in 1999, but the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra was built to outlast him: over more than half a century it has stayed true to its roots and to Tapscott's vision, welcoming multiple generations of players into its fold, and celebrating their music. And with current leader Mekala Session -- son of the Arkestra's veteran altoist Michael Session -- at the helm, the Ark is still going strong. 60 Years selects a song from every decade of its life, show-casing a musical family tree that includes renowned musicians such as Arthur Blythe, Dwight Trible, Phil Ranelin, Butch Morris, Kamau Daáood, Sonjia Maia Harper, Nate Morgan, Linda Hill, Adele Sebastian, Michael Session, Jesse Sharps and of course the late, great Horace Tapscott himself. Remastered from archival sources by the Arkestra's longstanding engineer Wayne Peet, 60 Years is presented by The Village -- a label operated by members of the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra. With archival photographs documenting the Arkestra's history, the album arrives with liner notes featuring track-by-track commentary from Arkestra members past and present. For decades, Tapscott's musical brilliance and the majesty of the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra was almost unknown outside South Central. 60 Years is the sound of all this history emerging at last, and also of history in the making. To quote Zekkeraya El-Megharbel, Arkestra conductor and trombonist: "There's more to be said, but words feel like they don't do the job."
2 LP Set $62
NATURE'S CONSORT with BOBBY NAUGHTON / MARK WHITECAGE / MARIO PAVONE / LAURENCE COOK - Nature's Consort (Aguirre Records Zorn 084LP; Belgium) Obscure and outstanding free jazz album reissued for the first time since its original release in 1969. Old-style gatefold LP, with liner notes by Ed Hazell. In the late 1960s, young jazz musician Bobby Naughton, a keyboardist and vibraphonist, faced significant challenges as he sought to record his first album. With major record labels and jazz clubs catering only to big names, Naughton and other creative musicians of his generation found themselves sidelined by the mainstream music industry. They turned to self-reliance and self-production, becoming part of a movement of independent musicians. Naughton's debut album, Nature's Consort, was a DIY effort in every sense -- recorded on home equipment and featuring a hand-printed woodblock cover. The album was distributed independently at concerts and by mail, receiving little attention initially, but over the years it gained a reputation as a rare, sought-after artifact of the period. Though recorded during an outdoor concert in Connecticut, Nature's Consort reflected the "loft jazz" scene in New York City. This avant-garde jazz movement centered around musicians who lived and played in loft spaces in lower Manhattan. Naughton commuted from his home in Southbury, Connecticut, to play with his bandmates Mark Whitecage, Mario Pavone, and Laurence Cook in New York's lofts. These musicians regularly performed at venues like Studio We, a key gathering spot for free-form jazz, where musicians could experiment and develop their sound, often with no audience present. Naughton's journey into jazz was a winding one. Originally from Boston, he played rockabilly and blues-rock before transitioning into free jazz. Inspired by avant-garde artists like Carla Bley and Paul Bley, Naughton sought to explore new forms of music that went beyond traditional jazz structures. His bandmates, Mark Whitecage and Mario Pavone, were both deeply affected by the death of John Coltrane in 1967, which prompted them to quit their day jobs, attend Coltrane's funeral, and move to New York to pursue jazz full-time. Nature's Consort was a collective project, with band members sharing equally in any profits. However, Naughton was the driving force behind the group's creative direction. He composed much of the original material and selected pieces by Ornette Coleman and Carla Bley for the band's repertoire. Jazz critic Nat Hentoff praised the album for its "high-risk improvisation" and the musicians' ability to anticipate each other's moves. Though Nature's Consort received little press at the time, it has since been recognized as a significant early document of the loft jazz era, representing Naughton's disciplined, improvisational approach to music.
LP $34
RONALD SNIJDERS - Penta (Night Dreamer 023LP; UK) Dutch-Surinamese multi-instrumentalist Ronald Snijders presents new album Penta via Night Dreamer. A jazz heavyweight who draws Latin, Brazilian and Surinamese influences into dialogue with the electric sound of Weather Report, Snijders released four albums between 1977 and 1983 that have become holy grails of deep, forward-thinking fusion. Over forty years, 50 releases and 5,000 compositions later, Penta represents a statement return from an unsung jazz great ready to pick up his dues. Recorded direct-to-disc at Artone Studio, with a stellar cast of European musicians, new album Penta fizzes and sparks with the ingenuity of Snijders' flute chops, tight interplay and a palette that spans synths, clavinet, Fender Rhodes, electric bass and sax. A seamless fusion of rhythms, influences and improvisation, Penta has the class of a golden-era jazz-funk record, with the energy and verve of an in-the-pocket live band. Born in Suriname and son of renowned composer and orchestra leader Eddy Snijders, Ronald Snijders made his name in the Netherlands -- his 1977 debut album Natural Sources a remarkable and radical feat of self-determination. Released on his own label, Black Straight Records, the album featured only original compositions, for which Snijders played all the instruments, produced and mixed the album himself. Bucking the expectation that Surinamese or Caribbean musicians should only make party records, Snijders blazed a trail, cutting his second LP, A Safe Return in similarly independent circumstances in 1980. Working with a band for 1981's Black Straight Music and 1983's Quartz, Snijders crafted a discography that will be reissued by Night Dreamer to accompany the release of Penta, all transferred from the original master tapes. Although both Snijders and his father have been knighted for their services to music in the Netherlands, with Ronald receiving the country's most prestigious jazz award, The Boy Edgar Prize, in 2022, his work has been largely obscured to the international jazz audiences. An exposition of Snijders' virtuosic range and beguiling compositional prowess, Penta traces musical trajectories from Suriname to Europe and back again to fuse a sound that is both timeless and original in equal measure.
LP $34
JAN BANG / MICHAEL FRANCIS DUCH / ERIK HONORE / DAVID TOOP / MARK WASTELL - Wunderkammer (Confront Recordings 004LP; UK) Anglo-Norwegian ensemble celebrating the work of Nordic poet, Nils Christian Moe-Repstad. With Jan Bang (live sampling, samples and programming, synthesizer), Michael Francis Duch (double bass), Erik Honoré (live sampling, synthesizer), David Toop (paper, cardboard, leaves, friction, activated objects, air, aerophones, bone conduction, cassettes, vibration, voice), and Mark Wastell (tam tam, gongs, sticks, beaters). Recorded live at Punkt, Kristiansand on 31 August 2023.
LP $34
FAR EAST FAMILY BAND - The Cave Down To The Earth (Life Goes On Records 054LP; Italy) Second album from the Japanese psych-prog band that started out as Far Out in 1973. The record is basically a concept: "The Cave" is arriving onto the planet, and the group is generally celebrating the beauties of nature. Heavily influenced by Floyd (Atom Heart Mother era), the group lays down some very credible ambiances that even Waters & Co. could've pulled off. This album draws Klaus Schulze's attention and he will collaborate with FEFB on their next one.
LP $24
*********
TZADIK 2024 CHECK-LIST…
JOHN ZORN’S TZADIK label will turn 35 next year in 2025! Tzadik has long been the home for ambitious, adventurous, experimental, avant-garde music(s). The label has released compact discs, records, DVD’s, books and t-shirts and will be hitting their 1,000th release sometime soon. This is most impressive considering that the label has long promoted a wide variety of experimental (non-commercial) music, which is most often ignored by the mainstream press. Our store, Downtown Music Gallery (DMG), continues to do the mail-order fulfillment for the label, hence wee get their releases first and have them a less expensive price then most distributors. 2024 has been a great year for Tzadik with 20 fabulous releases, a dozen by John Zorn & his various projects and 8 by Zorn collaborators/friends: Brain Marsella, Phantom Orchestra, Dougie Bowne, Mark Dresser, Sean Ono Lennon, Simon Hanes, On Ka’A Davis and Frank London. We order from the Tzadik warehouse every two weeks to take care of all in-person and on-line orders. With so many releases out, we no longer can stock every item 24/7, no matter if our database says “available” or not. If you want to come on down to pick up any Tzadik titles, please contact us first (at downtownmusicgalleryofficial@gmail.com), so we can get your order together as soon as we can. Right now there around 30 Tzadik titles that are in between pressings and we have no idea if or when they will be back in stock. Here a few recommendations: my fave non-Zorn Tzadik titles for this year are: Brian Marsella 3 CD set, Phantom Orchestra, Sean Lennon & Simon Haynes, so do check them out. John Zorn doesn’t play live very often nowadays except for occasional gigs at Miller Theatre, Roulette, The Stone and the Village Vanguard. Zorn’s current band is the New Masada Quartet who I believe are the best band in the land! I’ve caught them on several occasions (Victo, Miller Theatre, Roulette & three night at the Vanguard last November). DO NOT MISS THEM IF YOU GET THE CHANCE!!! There are five upcoming releases listed on the Tzadik website right now if you are interested, check here: Tzadik.com. Please look over the Tzadik check-list below to see if you’ve missed out any of these titles…
TZADIK 2024 CHECK-LIST:
JOHN ZORN // BRIAN MARSELLA / JORGE ROEDER / CHES SMITH - Ou Phrontis (Tzadik 9317; USA) Nothing in Clouds Hill is to be a care upon the world. While I have it there shall be nothing exquisite or unique in it. Nothing to anchor me. - T.E. Lawrence Ou Phrontis means "Who Cares" in Greek. Inscribed on the lintel above the door of T.E. Lawrence’s cottage at Clouds Hill it symbolized a place where Lawrence felt at home, free from the cares of the world. This fourth CD from the dynamic piano trio of Brian Marsella, Jorge Roeder, and Ches Smith (Suite for Piano, The Fourth Way, Ballades), presents eight challenging Zorn compositions inspired by stoic philosophy and science. The telepathic interplay and virtuosity of these remarkable musical masters is on full display here—a stunning collection of music that makes you think as much as it makes you feel. - December, 2024 release
CD $16
PAINKILLER with JOHN ZORN / BILL LASWELL / MICK HARRIS - Samsara (Tzadik 9316; USA) Featuring John Zorn on alto sax, Bill Laswell on electric bass with effects and Mick Harris on electronics. Thirty-three years after their first meeting, Samsara is a spectacular reunion of three of the world's most extreme musical explorers—John Zorn, Bill Laswell, and Mick Harris. Originally formed in 1991, PainKiller is a legendary trio that forged a completely unique language blending jazz, metal, grindcore, ambient, dub, and so much more. Recording again for the first time in over a quarter century, these three master musicians have come up with an intense new musical direction. Mick Harris, performing on his trademark electronics, has created a rich tapestry of beats and sounds that have inspired Laswell and Zorn to some exciting new heights. Samsara presents three old friends exploring some bold new sounds. There is a nice article about this Painkiller release featured in the New York Times today and written by Hank Steamer, one of the best New Music journalists anywhere. The article explains how this release was recorded in different places and assembled with the help of Mr. Laswell’s main studio man, James Dellacoma. I haven’t heard this disc yet but I am just as exited as you are indeed. - BLG at DMG - A November, 2024 release
CD $16
NEW MASADA QUARTET with JOHN ZORN / JULIAN LAGE / JORGE ROEDER / KENNY WOLLESEN - Volume Three (Tzadik 9315; USA) This long-awaited third volume featuring John Zorn's newest and most exciting ensemble, New Masada Quartet was recorded live at Roulette, one of Zorn's home bases in NYC. White hot and razor sharp, an intense electricity is in the air from the very first note. Resplendent with burning solos, telepathic group interaction, heartfelt lyricism, hypnotic grooves, and of course Zorn’s ever-surprising conducting techniques, this is truly one of the most transcendent sets they have yet performed. With an attentive and enthusiastic packed house cheering the musicians on to greater and greater heights, a crackling live energy brings the Masada music to life like never before. This is Masada at its passionate and virtuostic best! Essential. The first two releases of the New Masada Quartet do capture them quite well. Hearing them live is another matter entirely! I've caught them around a half dozen times over the past few years and I believe they are they best electric/jazz band in concert! Three nights at the Village Vanguard in November of last year (2023) were just astonishing, getting better with each set! This discs was recorded at Roulette in May of this year (2024) and that first set was as good as it gets live! John Zorn played one of those flaggerghasting opening sax solo that had the audience and the other members of the band with their jaws dropping! This disc is that set so don't snooze and get this disc ASAP! - BLG at DMG - October 13, 2024 release
CD $16
BRIAN MARSELLA’S IMAGINARIUM with JESSICA LURIE / SAE HASHIMOTO / JON IRABAGON / TIM KEIPER / EYAL MAOZ / CYRO BAPTISTA / SOFIA REY / PABLO ASLAN / et al - Medietas (Tzadik 4052; USA) Brian Marsella is one of the most accomplished keyboard virtuosos in the Downtown scene. A vital member of projects by Cyro Baptista and John Zorn for decades, his fluid keyboard stylings and intense energy is legendary—and Medietas is his masterwork: a sprawling three-hour long work that embraces jazz, rock, funk, classical, world music, exotica, folk, soundtrack moods, and so much more. Segueing from song to song seamlessly, this is a work that puts you into an ecstatic dream world—a psychedelic musical trip like no other. Featuring some of the greatest musicians in the Downtown scene, this is a major new work by one of NewMusic’s most exciting and visionary composer/performers. - October, 2024 release date
3 CD Set $28
JOHN ZORN // BARBARA HANNIGAN / IKUE MORI / JAY CAMPBELL / STEVE GOSLING / SAE HASHIMOTO / CHRIS OTTO / JORGE ROEDER / CHES SMITH / et al - Hannigan Sings Zorn Volume Two (Tzadik 9314; USA) Volume Two documenting Barbara Hannigan's collaboration with Downtown alchemist John Zorn presents four dramatic pieces for voice and ensemble, with three composed expressly for Ms. Hannigan! Liber Loagaeth, a meditative composition for voice and string quartet that lies somewhere between a spell and a prayer—Star Catcher, a powerful tour-de-force for voice, piano, and rhythm section—Ab Eo, Quod, scored for voice, cello, vibes, electronics, and drums—and a Zorn classic, Pandora's Box, his dramatic take on the Lulu legend, and who better to interpret it than the definitive 21st century Lulu—Barbara Hannigan! A fabulous and varied program highlighting the productive and inspiring relationship of one of the world’s greatest sopranos with one of our most adventurous and uncompromising composers! - September 19th, 2024 release date
CD $16
DOUGIE BOWNE with MATT NELSON - The Stars Are Indispensable (Tzadik 4051; USA) Dougie Bowne is a producer, drummer, electric guitarist, and composer of remarkable versatility. An early member of the New York Downtown scene, he has worked with John Cale, Iggy Pop, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yoko Ono, Laurie Anderson, The Lounge Lizards, Cassandra Wilson, Jack Bruce, Marianne Faithful, Cibo Matto, and many, many others. Here he uses all of his formidable talents to create a bass, drum/guitar duo recording unlike anything you have ever experienced. Intense and hypnotic, this is an unusual presentation of improvisation based music at its very best, and one of the most unique and edgy projects Mr. Bowne has ever created. Fabulous! - September 19th, 2024 release date
CD $14
JOHN ZORN // BILL FRISELL / GYAN RILEY / JULIAN LAGE - Lamentations (Tzadik 9312; USA) Zorn's lush and seductive compositions for the magical trio of Frisell-Lage-Riley are some of his most beautiful 21st century creations, and this seventh CD in their ever-expanding series is their best yet. A dramatic and colorful tribute to the expressive Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, Lamentations contains four extended pieces that unfold like exotic flowers—gorgeous music with a dark philosophical edge. These master musicians—three of the greatest guitarists in the world—work together with a profound symbiosis, forging a unique orchestral sound world unlike any other. Stunningly beautiful music that will make you think, dream, and that will nourish your soul. - August 15th, 2024 release
CD $16
FRANK LONDON with MARCUS ROJAS / JOSH ROSEMAN / JAVIER DIAZ / ONEL MATOS / KENNY WOLLESEN -Brass Conspiracy (Tzadik 4050; USA) Composer, trumpeter, and educator Frank London has been a central figure of the Downtown Scene since the mid 1980s. A founding member of the Klezmatics, the Klezmer Conservatory Band, and Hasidic New Wave, he has worked with everyone from LaMonte Young, Itzhak Perlman, John Cale, and Allen Ginsberg to Gal Costa, Lester Bowie, and Iggy Pop. This exciting project is a startling new take on the deep tradition of music for brass and percussion and is informed by Latin, New Orleans, Soundtrack, Ragtime, and Avant Garde styles. Featuring an all-star collection of Downtown musicians, Brass Conspiracy is a vibrant new musical vision from a Downtown legend. Essential! Check out this article about Frank London from the NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/29/arts/music/frank-london.html - August 15th, 2024 release
CD $14
JOHN ZORN - The Hermetic Organ Volume 13-Biennale Musica Venezia (Tzadik 9313; USA) Zorn's first appearance at the world renowned Venice Biennale was a spectacular one. Invited to perform The Hermetic Organ at the famed 17th century Palazzo Pisano, he was surprised to find two small antique organs opposite one another on the small stage of its intimate concert hall. His performance that day was one of the very best Offices of The Hermetic Organ—a wild, acoustic affair that takes full advantage of the rich reeds, flutes, and horns of these two outstanding instruments. Zorn ran back and forth between them, manipulating the stops with remarkable imagination and agility. There are difference tones and sonic cross talk here that sound absolutely electronic. A spectacular addition to one of Zorn’s very best CD series, now in its thirteenth volume. - August 15th, 2024 release
CD $16
JOHN ZORN // BRIAN MARSELLA / JORGE ROEDER / CHES SMITH - Ballades (Tzadik 9310; USA) This third CD from the dynamic piano trio of Brian Marsella, Jorge Roeder, and Ches Smith is a delightful surprise–and one of Zorn’s greatest achievements. Exploring a wide variety of tempi, moods, and feelings the compositions dive deeply into the parameters of melody, harmony, rhythm, and texture, stretching the ballade format to its limits and beyond. The trio, three essential members of Zorn’s inner circle, performs with passion, imagination, virtuosity, and a telepathic improvisational interplay at the very highest level. A stunning collection of modern Ballades performed by three of the greatest young musicians in the Downtown scene. Essential! - A July 19th, 2024 release date.
CD $16
JOHN ZORN // BARBARA HANNIGAN / STEPHEN GOSLING - Hannigan Sings Zorn Volume One (Tzadik 9311; USA) A remarkable meeting of two musical forces of nature finally available on recording! Barbara Hannigan is one of the most fearless and passionate performers in the classical world, and here she sings a challenging program of Zorn compositions with the virtuoso pianist Stephen Gosling. Featured here is the long-awaited recording of Jumalattaret, a song cycle in praise of nine Finnish Goddesses out of Sami Shamanism, and Split the Lark, Zorn’s tribute to the magical American poet Emily Dickinson. Using a variety of musical techniques and genres, the music moves from lyrical folk-like simplicity to more complex atonal and textural pyrotechnics. Included as a bonus is a rare piece of juvenilia: the charming surrealistic song Nazdar, Poupon, Nazdar. Composed circa 1971, when Zorn was about 17 years old, it is a very early example of Zorn’s multi layered genre smashing. In its brief twominute duration it contains traditional, proportional and graphic notation, and touches upon tonality, atonality, Messiaen birdsong, jazz, cartoon music, lyricism, French recitativo, whispering, vocalise, and vocal noises. A July, 2024 release.
CD $16
JOHN ZORN // JULIAN LAGE / GYAN RILEY - Her Melodious Lay (Tzadik 9309; USA) Julian Lage and Gyan Riley have a magical rapport, a deep mutual respect, and have recorded some of Zorn’s most melodious and intimate compositions. In addition to the many books of music written for their trio with Bill Frisell, they have also worked together as a duo on The Bagatelles (2015), Midsummer Moons (2017), Book Beri’ah (2019), and Quatrain (2023). For this fifth duo CD Zorn turns again to William Shakespeare for inspiration and has composed a varied collection of ballads, dances, lullabies, and fantasies that will delight, stimulate, and inspire. Her Melodious Lay contains nine poetic, through-composed pieces that blend classical, folk, jazz, film music, and more into a strikingly dramatic musical vision. Modern guitar music at its very best! - A June, 2024 release.
CD $16
MARK DRESSER - In the Shadow of a Mad King (Tzadik 4049; USA) Mark Dresser, the world’s most acclaimed experimental bassist, who has literally written the book on extended contrabass techniques, presents a fabulous CD of solo bass music. Featuring his dear friend, the honored poet Jerome Rothenberg (then 91 years old) on one long epic track, this project continues a long tradition that goes back to the 1950s jazz-poetry experiments of Kerouac, Ginsberg, Patchen, and Ferlinghetti. Close friends and colleagues for decades, the telepathy between Mark and Jerome is both palpable and inspiring. A classic! - June, 2024 release
CD $14
JOHN ZORN / JESSE HARRIS // PETRA HADEN / BRIAN MARSELLA / JORGE ROEDER / CHES SMITH - Love Songs Live (Tzadik 9308; USA) Petra Haden shines in Love Songs Live–an exciting concert version of the new musical from the songwriting team of John Zorn and Jesse Harris. Presented at National Sawdust in September 2023 as part of the Zorn@70 NYC concert series, the music is beautiful, lyrical, with heartwarming lyrics about a love lost and found. Accompanied by the soulful trio of Brian Marsella, Jorge Roeder, and Ches Smith, this is a dynamic concert performance that pushes musical theatre forward with a creative downtown edge. Touching upon the languages of the 20th century’s most creative musical songsmiths–Sondheim, Weill, Bacharach and the Tin Pan Alley tradition–Love Songs Live is an absolute delight! - A May, 2024 release
CD $16
JOHN ZORN with JOHN MEDESKI - The Hermetic Organ - Volume 12 - The Bosch Requiem (Tzadik 9307; USA) Recorded at the Grote Kerk in Den Bosch as part of Zorn’s 70th birthday celebration at November Music in Den Bosch, this exciting performance pays tribute to one of Zorn’s seminal influences–the 15th century painter Hieronymus Bosch. Performing on two different organs simultaneously, running from one to the other, this is one of the most bizarre installments in the entire Hermetic Organ series. The CD begins with a rare private performance of Zorn alone in the church exploring and stretching the organ’s capabilities. For the evening performance, A Pilgrimage Through Hell, Zorn’s dear friend and colleague of over thirty years John Medeski joins as his organ assistant, and the two of them literally pull out all the stops! - Release date: April 26, 2024
CD $16
ON KA'A DAVIS with DON McKENZIE / ALI ALI - ...Here's To Another Day And Night For The Lwa Of The Woke (Tzadik TZ 4048; USA) Featuring On Ka'A Davis on guitars, synth, keyboard, voice, percussion & programming, Ali Ali on trumpet & ESP percussion and Don McKenzie on drums. The mystical figure On Ka'A Davis returns for his second CD on Tzadik, and his first in twenty-five years. Blending the psychedelia of Sun Ra with Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix, this is an epic, direct from the ever-growing counterculture of Downtown New York. Performing on guitar, synth keyboard, programmed sounds, and percussion On is joined here by Don McKenzie on drums and Ali Ali on trumpet. Years in the making the music is wild, varied, and intensely felt. A New York Underground classic! - April, 2024 release
CD $14
SEAN ONO LENNON with YUKA C. HONDA / MICHAEL LEONHART / CHES SMITH / JOAO NOGUEIRA / JOHNNY MATHAR / MAURO REFOSCO - Asterisms (Tzadik 4046; USA) Featuring Sean Ono Lennon on guitar & mini Moog, Yuka C. Honda on electronics, Michael Leonhart on trumpet, Joao Nogueira on Wurlitzer piano, Devon Hoff on bass, Mauro Refosco on percussion and Ches Smith & Johnny Mathar on drums. John Lennon was always my favorite Beatle due to his forthright opinions, activism, lyric and music. I’ve long had a soft spot for (Lennon’s wife) Yoko Ono and their son Sean Lennon. Yoko Ono has long gotten a bad rap due to her influence on John and her bent-note singing. Ms. Ono was an integral part of the Fluxus movement in NYC in the earlier sixties and created some powerful avant-garde art and music. Check out her album, ‘Fly’, if you want to here some truly experimental music. I’ve caught Sean Lennon performing live on several occasions at the Knitting Factory, Tonic and more recently at a Roulette benefit with John Zorn and Laurie Anderson. He is a gifted improviser. It turns out that Sean Lennon has four previous albums starting in 1998 plus more than a dozen singles or EP’s. I haven’t heard any of those records but after listening to his now one several times, I will be looking to get the earlier discs. The new one is truly outstanding! Mr. Lennon was put together an interesting crew of Downtown musicians for this disc. Yuka Honda plays electronics and was once half of the pop duo Cibo Matto. Ms. Honda has been collaborating with Lennon for many years and has produced some of his previous records. Bassist Devon Hoff and trumpeter Michael Leonhart have both worked with Nels Cline as have the ever in-demand drummer Ches Smith, who works with many other local heroes. Percussionist Mauro Refosco has recorded with Zion80, Michael Blake and David Byrne. I don’t recognize the names of the other two musicians here. The music on this disc is completely instrumental and it is something else. The album begins with “Starwater” which has a killer, laid back yet haunting repeating riff at the center. Ms. Honda’s eerie electronics simmer throughout this piece with some solid, psych sustained guitar leading the way. Joao Nogueira’s Wurlitzer electric piano bubbles underneath with Sean Lennon’s prog rock guitar playing/sound. Each of the five songs here is based on a great repeating riff played mainly by the electric guitar and Wurlitzer piano with Michael Leonhart’s trumpet often soloing on top. This disc sounds like it was recorded in the mid-1970’s, a kind of mysterious, sly, jazz/rock/prog sound, similar to some of the better produced CTI albums from the same period. Ches Smith takes an extraordinary drums solo on “Acidalia”, which has yet another hypnotic, killer groove and some acidic electric trumpet leading the way. What’s great about this record is the mood it creates, cerebral, quietly psychedelic, dreamy. The liner notes were written by Sean Lennon himself and they are honest, discussing Mr. Lennon’s longtime admiration for John Zorn and the way his music has evolved into becoming an important member of the Downtown Scene. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $14 / LP $30
PHANTOM ORCHARD with IKUE MORI / ZEENA PARKINS - Hit Parade of Tears (Tzadik 4047; USA) Featuring Zeena Parkins on acoustic harp & objects, electric harp, electronics, foley (Foley is the reproduction of everyday sound effects that are added to films, videos, and other media in post-production to enhance audio quality), harmonium, ondes martinot, synth, accordion and small percussion and Ikue Mori on electronics, foley, processing & small percussion. This is the fifth release from the great Downtown Dynamic Duo, Phantom Orchard, founding members of the original Downtown Scene which began around 1980. Both of these sonic pioneers have evolved greatly over four decades both as improvisers, composers and bandleaders. Although Ms. Parkins started out as a fine acoustic harp player, she has grown quite a bit since first getting and handmade electric harp in the mid-eighties, when she was working in Carbon and Skeleton Crew. Ikue Mori started out playing standup drums in the brutal No Wave band DNA, yet soon moved to a sampler using her percussion as the basis for her sounds and has become of the best electronics-based musicians from any scene. Both of these women have grown as composers, check out any of their titles on the Tzadik label for proof of how far they’ve evolved. Ms. Mori received the MacArthur Genius Grant last year (congratulations!) and has put together her most ambitious larger ensemble, playing two incredible concerts at the Victo Fest in Quebec and upstairs from The Stone for her 70th Birthday celebration. The music on this disc was inspired by Izumi Suzuki, Japanese writer and actress, known for her science fiction stories ands essays on Japanese pop culture. Of all of the discs that I’ve heard from both Ms. Parkins and Ms. Mori, this one is the most focused and magical. “You May Dream” features haunting, partially looped acoustic harp with subtle electronics swirling around the mix. Each note the Zeena plays on her harp seems to trigger a sympathetic electronic sound or be enhanced by careful reverberations. The acoustic harp, an instrument which is often associated with angels up in Heaven, sounds glorious here, rich, melodic and mysterious. Each piece here is based on a scene or tale from Izumi Suzuki’s stories, hence this is like series of short dreams. While Ms. Parkins plays an assortment of melodies on the harp, cautious electronics are woven within. Each piece here evokes a series of images or feelings taht are bewitching in the way they alter of perceptions or our state of mind. I can tell that Ms. Parkins and Ms. Mori put a good deal of time and preparation into this disc since it is consistently fascinating. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery - March 12, 2024 release
CD $14
SIMON HANES with BILLY MARTIN / SELENDIS SEBASTIAN ALEXANDER JOHNSON / KEVIN NEWTON / JESSE DANIEL / EUGENE HEASLY / JON STARKS - Tsons Of Tsunami (Tzadik 4045; USA) Featuring Simon Hanes on baritone guitar & compositions, Selendis SA Johnson on vibes & trombone, Kevin Newton on horn, Jesse Daniel Eugene Heasly on bass, Jon Starks on drums and Billy Martin on waterphone. Since moving to Brooklyn severla years ago, after going to school in Boston, I’ve had my eye/ear on Simon Hanes. Mr. Hanes plays bass in the oft brutal punk trio Trigger (covering Zorn’s Bagatelles), leading the hilarious yet inventive large pop band Tredici Bacci and working with singer/composer JG Thirwell. Mr. Hanes is a gifted improviser who I’ve heard many times plus he has an unpredictably weird sense of the absurd. In the liner notes, Mr. Hanes discusses his love for surf music, especially the instrumental kind. This is something that I can relate to as I’ve been working on an ultimate mostly instrumental surf/reverb guitar compilation for years. This type of music had a resurgence in the 1990’s, adding the sounds of exotica and film music to the brew. John Zorn,who has helped to promote the music of Mr. Hanes, organized his own band called The Dreamers in the early aughts, which has become one of Zorn’s most popular projects. Mr. Hanes, who mainly plays electric bass in Trigger, plays baritone guitar on this disc, adding some of those surf-like reverb effects to his guitar for this session/band. The opening piece is called This One’s for You, Old Timer” and it is a long one. The central riff here is most memorable (sunny & fun-filled) with Selendis Johnson playing strong supportive vibes under Hanes’ groovy bari guitar. As the piece unfolds, Mr Hanes takes an explosive, frenetic solo, which is then followed by a lovely trombone, going back to original theme at the end. “Quest for Crest” has another infectious riff at the center yet the song sounds like it is about to erupt into freer terrain at times. What makes this disc so great is that each piece evokes a different vibe, with the band members free to add flourishes or short solos which are an extension of the inner vibe. The music here makes me yearn for older times when things were more simple or to the point. Before there was Third Stream Jazz or Progressive/Art Rock, there was instrumental music for films or surfing which were easier to enjoy without having to think too deeply. What’s most interesting is the Simon Hanes keeps pushing any formula or pattern into unexpected detours. This disc is a winner, inventive, infectious without a dark underside and with a sunny sense of humor popping up through the cracks. If you dug The Dreamers then you should love this gem as well. Try it, you’ll like it! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG - Release date: 1/19/24
CD $14
JOHN ZORN - The Hermetic Organ Volume 11 - For Terry Riley (Tzadik 9306; USA)This newest edition of The Hermetic Organ is a beautiful and evocative tribute to one of Zorn’s biggest mentors, the pioneer West Coast visionary, Terry Riley. Performed at San Francisco's historic Grace Cathedral during the epic concert series presented by Fred Barnes at the Great American Music Hall in September 2023 for Zorn's 70th birthday, this is one of the most touching and personal of all Zorn's organ recitals. Present in the audience were a large number of the composer's closest and oldest friends and as a result the music has a deep spiritual edge. Looming over much of this music is the spirit of Terry Riley, one of Zorn's early influences, and one of his dearest friends. Magical! - Release date: 1/19/24
*********
ATTENTION ALL CREATIVE MUSICIANS OUT THERE, Around the world.
If you have a link for some music that you are working on and want to share it with the folks who read the DMG Newsletter, please send the link to DMG at DMG@Downtownmusicgallery.com
*********
NEW VIDEOS from GUITAR MASTER HENRY KAISER:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcvoYygehqE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-6p_Q2Dwxc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWJ20KEHAdQ
*******
CHRIS CUTLER
Formerly of HENRY COW, THE ART BEARS, NEWS FOR BABEL & RECOMMENDED RECORDS (ReR) has been creating an ongoing series of podcasts called the Probes series. I am often fascinated at listening to each of these as Mr. Cutler does an incredible job of showing a deep history of Creative Music in the 20th century & beyond. I usually listen to these on the train to NYC that I take to get to work each day. The most recent Probes (#37) was released earlier this year, here are the links:
https://rwm.macba.cat/en/research/probes-37
https://rwm.macba.cat/en/research/probes-36
https://rwm.macba.cat/en/research/probes-362-auxiliaries
***********
ATTENTION TO ALL DMG CUSTOMERS: NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: downtownmusicgalleryofficial@gmail.com
******************