Warning sign of things to come
It happened before, it will happen again
Hear my voice, move my hair
I move it around a lot but I don't care
What I remember? Baby remember? What I remember?
What is it?
What I remember? Baby remember? What I remember?
What is it?
Warning sign, warning sign
Look at my hair, I like the design
It's the truth, it's the truth
Your glassy eyes and your open mouth
Take it easy baby, take it easy
It's a natural thing and you have to relax
I've got money now, I've got money now
C'mon baby, c'mon baby
Warning sign of things to come, turn me over, turn me over
Love is here but I guess it's gone now, hurry up babe, hurry up
Hear my voice, move my hair
I move it around a lot but I don't care
What I remember? Baby remember? What I remember?
What I remember? Baby remember? What I remember?
What I remember? Baby remember? What I remember?
What I remember? Baby remember? What I remember?
Earlier today (around 7am), I awoke from a fitful sleep of tossing & turning, sweating and feeling as if some bad was about to occur. I got out of bed, drank some water and soon went back to sleep. I slept for another hour or so and when I awoke, I was overwhelmed with fear due to a nightmare I had had. In my nightmare, I was on 5th Ave in NYC and there was a procession of soldiers marching down 5th Ave with a large stage on one side surrounded by more soldiers. Onstage was the Fake Prez who appeared more like Hitler than himself. The soldiers were all goose-stepping as they were marching raising their hands on Seig Heil salutes. On stage were Elon Muskrat, the Vice Prez, Ron DeSantis, MT Greene, members of the prez’ clown cabinet and other right wing politicians. Above the Prez (barely visible) were two puppet masters, Vlad Putin & Satan himself. Next to the stage was a guillotine and hangman’s gallows. There was a group of left wing politicians like Bernie Sanders, AOC, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Corey Booker… all lined up to be executed on one of the death contraptions. I kept thinking that I felt nauseous and that I must be having a nightmare but I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Is this the end of our Democracy? The end of Freedom? I was dizzy and had mixed feelings.
I’ve been getting emails from musicians and other friends from around the world (Canada, Finland, Denmark, Japan, Australia, Italy, France, England and Germany) recently, as well as talking my neighbors at home, folks on my train, friends & customers at the store and on the que line & at gigs that I attend. The consensus is that we are fearful of what is coming next. Those in power are quickly taking away our Freedom and erasing every positive ideal that we’ve achieved over the past half century. The government which was carefully assembled over the last few centuries and which is supposed to help the common folks is being destroyed agency by agency with hundreds of thousands of folks losing their jobs and thus the suffering has begins and will get much worse. It is time to organize resistance cells all over our troubled planet and that means everyone of you out there, no matter where you live since right wing/fascists/extremists are taking over our entire planet. We can’t get a good sleep until we rise above the chaos going on around us. They are opening concentration camps which they will fill up with whomever they claim to be our enemies: migrants, Jews, Arabs, liberals, old Hippies, Freaks of all sorts, all sorts of common folks, fill in the blank with whichever tribe you belong to… they will be coming for you soon. Remember that this was a dream, but it is a recurring dream that me and many others are having all over, time and again.
By the way, the above song also went off in my mind when I awoke a second time from bad dreams. It comes from the second Talking Heads album, which is a particular favorite of mine. There is indeed a “warning sign” going off repeatedly in my mind as I read the news every day. You should also be worried, very worried. Enough from the complaint department, back to our regular music show. - MC- Bruce Lee
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THE DMG 34th ANNIVERSARY IN-STORE CONCERT CELEBRATION CONTINUES with:
Tuesday, April 8th:
6:30: WILLY RODRIGUEZ - Drums / YONI KRETZMER - Tenor Sax / HENRY FRASER - ContraBass
7:30: GUILLERMO GREGORIO - Clarinet / IVAN BARENBOIM - Contralto Clarinet / BRANDON LOPEZ - Contrabass
8:30: CHUCK BETTIS and IPEK EGINLI - Electronics Duo
Tuesday, April 15th:
6:30: STAN ZENKOV - Clarinets / PATRICK HOLMES - Clarinet / DAVE MILLER - Drums
7:30: TREVOR BAJUS - Guitar-Tapes / NICK GIANNI - Horns-Synth / DMITRY ISHENKO - Bass / MIKE GOLUB - Drums
8:30: NIKITA MANIN - Clarinet
9:30: LISA CAMERON - Drums / ELI WALLACE - Synth / DREW WESELEY - Guitar / NICK NEUBERG - Drums
Tuesday, April 22nd: RELATIVE PITCH RECORDS Featuring:
6:30: A R - Saxes / CHUCK ROTH - Guitar
7:30: A R - Saxes / NAVA DUNKELMAN - Percussion
8:30: A R / CHUCK ROTH / NAVA DUNKELMAN
************
This Week’s Sonic Spirit Music Begins with Our Friend, Sax Giant and Road Warrior:
PETER BROTZMANN / JASON ADASIEWICZ / JOHN EDWARDS / STEVE NOBLE - The Quartet (Otoroku 033CD; UK) One of Peter Brotzmann's final concerts, presented on Otoroku. When the label invited Peter to do a residency at Cafe OTO back in February 2023, it had no idea these would be his last ever shows and he played with such power it would have been hard for anyone present to believe he would never play publicly again. Recorded over two nights this grouping of Jason Adasiewicz on vibraphone, John Edwards on bass, and Steve Noble on drums feels especially resonant and personal to Cafe OTO. The first time Peter performed at the venue back in 2010 it was in a trio with John and Steve, so it feels fitting that the last shows he ever played here should also have that trio at its core. There are moments of tenderness to Brotzmann's playing that feels specific to this small group -- one that cuts across three generations -- and in a space that's come to feel like home. Of course, there is dizzying, forceful, single-minded playing, but even amongst a relentless chorus of cymbal splashes and busy vibraphone clusters the lyrical, spacious moments are savored and held onto. As he remarked after at the end of the group's first visit to OTO, "the Quartet is, for us, a great adventure." Peter clearly wanted to play to the end. It was Peter's wish that these recordings should be made public and he was due to finalize the cover design during the week he passed away. Otoroku would like to thank Peter's family for working to fulfill Peter's wishes to release this material. Recorded live at Cafe OTO by Billy Steiger on 10th and 11th February 2023. Mixed by James Dunn. Mastered by Giuseppe Ielesi. Photos by Dawid Laskowski. Pressed in the UK by Vinyl Press. Artwork by Peter Brötzmann. Design by Untiet. The 2-CD version contains both sets from both nights. The discs are housed in a digipak on reverse board and will include photographs from the residency by Dawid Laskowski. The 2-LP version (ROKU 033LP) is an edit of the music played on both nights. It comes as a gatefold 12" printed in reverse board outer-sleeves and includes a pull out with photographs from the residency by Dawid Laskowski.
2 CD Set $31 / 2 LP Set $54
JASON ADASIEWICZ // ROSCOE MITCHELL - Roscoe Village - The Music of Roscoe Mitchell (CvsD CD103; USA) Featuring Jason Adasiewicz on solo vibes playing the music of Roscoe Mitchell from the 1970’s - 1990’s. I’ve been a big fanatic for the vibes (and marimba) ever since hearing Ruth Underwood play them on the Mothers of Invention’s ‘Uncle Meat’ LP in 1968. Since getting deeply into jazz starting in 1972, I’ve gotten into Gary Burton, Milt Jackson, Bobby Hutcherson, Walt Dickerson, Gunter Hampel, Karl Berger, Khan Jamal and many more. Over the past decade, there’s been a number of strong newcomers popping up: Patricia Brennan, Joel Ross and Jason Adasiewicz. I caught Mr. Adasiewicz around a half dozen times with fellow Chicago musicians like Nicole Mitchell, Josh Abrams, Mike Reed and the Exploding Star Orchestra. The one gig that I remember the best was a duo with sax giant Peter Brotzmann with Adasiewicz matching Brotzmann’s furious playing note for note, no easy task I can assure you. Mr. Adasiewicz has recorded more than a dozen discs as a leader and collaborator, each of which I owe and enjoy immensely.
For this disc, Adasiewicz plays the music of Roscoe Mitchell, reeds giant/composer/visual artist, founding member of the AACM and longtime leader of the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Considering that the Art Ensemble has been around for a half century and that Roscoe Mitchell has had a long career/journey as a solo saxist, bandleader and collaborator, Adasiewicz chooses pieces from Mr. Mitchell’s long and varied treasure chest of compositions. The disc begins with “The Waltz”, originally a short piece from an early Art Ensemble record called ‘A Jackson in Your House’. Adasiewicz expands the piece with the vibes shimmering, the pedal down, the notes resonating in a most dreamy way. If this is indeed a waltz, it is a waltz for the swaying figures in our dreams. Not sure what Mitchell this song is from but “Toro/Jo Jar” does have a slow hypnotic repeating line at the center, which glows as it resonates in somber waves. “Walking in the Moonlight” is an ancient (1958) rock song which Mr. Mitchell once covered in his own quartet, the version here quite charming and laid back. “Congliptious” comes from an early Roscoe Mitchell Art Ensemble record from 1968 and it was an album side length work. Here, it is stripped down to an eerie, haunting shorter theme. This is followed by “Old” which also followed on the original version. The vibe here is somewhat quietly disorienting as if we are standing on a raft and losing balance at the same time. “Daddy Rollin’ Stone” is another ancient rock song (by Otis Blackwell from 1962), which I am unsure of whether and when Mitchell performed this piece. It does have an charming melody and does fit rather nicely on this disc. What Jason Adasiewicz does so well here is take a number of Roscoe Mitchell’s themes or melodies and strip them of any ornamentation, expanding the melodies into an entire song which is often enough to savor the essence of the original piece. If you are a fan of good vibes playing and/or Roscoe Mitchell’s compositions, then this disc is meant for you. - Bruce Lee Gallanter at DMG
CD $15
JOEL HARRISON with NELS CLINE / ADAM LEVY / BRAD SHEPIK / ANTHONY PIROG / MIKE STERN / GREGG BELISLE CHI / WOLFGANG MUTHSPIEL / CAMILA MEZA plus FAREED HAQUE / DAN LIPPEL - Guitar Talk Vol. 2 / Classical Duos (AGS Recordings 008; USA) Joel Harrison is a true Renaissance man! Besides being a gifted guitarist of multiple genres, Mr. Harrison is also an author of several books, founded the Alternative Guitar Summit which runs an annual summer camp & has presented yearly concerts at LPR or Roulette. Mr. Harrison is always up for a challenge so during the pandemic, he decided to compose music for modern classical acoustic guitar(s). CD One features 9 pieces that Harrison composed which are performed by two other guitarists: Fareed Hague and Dan Lippel. I do know of Chicago-based guitarist Fareed Haque from his work with Kahil El’ Zabar & the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, the California Guitar Trio and his work with Paquito D’Rivera. I’ve known classical guitar Dan Lippel for several years performing the music of Steve Reich, Bach and with the International Contemporary Ensemble. Two quite different guitarists that work together immensely well due to Mr. Harrison’s thoughtful and diverse composing. “Pegasus” opens and reminds me of something that Ralph Towner might’ve written for the Paul Winter Consort. The music is complex and no doubt challenging to play and sounds rather majestic in its sweeping sound. “Three Views of a Friendship” is in three movements. The music has both guitarists going up and down the neck of the guitar in tight patterns with intricate flourishes. I like the way that Harrison’s music has the guitarist switching roles at times, while one plays single notes, the other is playing ascending and descending chords, the balance as always just right.
CD Two features 12 duets with Mr. Harrison with nine different guitarists. This is Harrison’s second disc of duos with different guitarists and you should be familiar with most of them. Mr. Harrison uses a different guitar on each piece and brought some skeletal music to challenge the abilities and playing styles of each guitarist. The first duo is with Gregg Belisle Chi who is known for playing the music of and collaborating with Tim Berne. The piece is called “Endless Wars” and the electric guitar’s main melody and tone recalls a Morricone-like surf guitar sound with the second guitar strumming up a storm as support underneath. The second piece, “Dicky Betts’ Dream” is with Nels Cline and both guitars have a rather majestic roots rock sound. Dicky Betts was the other great lead guitarist in the Allman Brothers along with Duane Allman and the song does capture that Allman’s like rich Americana sound. The third duo is with German guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel and it is dedicated to the late Carla Bley, one of the best jazz composers of the past half century. Ms. Bley was a unique and quirky composer and this piece does capture her distinctive vibe/sound. “D.C.” is a duet with famed fusion guitarist Mike Stern who is fine form here, with both guitarists laying back and playing some sublime jazz guitar solos, bending certain notes with much grace.
2 CD Set for $18
ERNST KAREL / BHOB RAINEY with JAMES ILGENFRITZ / ANDIE TANNING / CARRIE FREY / LEILA BORDREUIL / VASKO DUKOVSKI - 47 Gates (erstwhile 102; USA) Featuring Ernst Karel on electronics & records and Bhob Rainey on electronics, records & piano plus guests Andie Tanning on violin, Carrie Frey on viola, Leila Bordreuil on cello, James Ilgenfritz on contrabass and Vasko Dukovski on clarinets. Ernst Karel is a Chicago-based musician & composer, who used to play trumpet and now does primarily electronics. I’ve heard his work with Kyle Bruckmann and Olivia Block. Boston-based musician Bhob Rainey used to play sax in his own distinctive way, collaborating with Nmperign, Axel Dorner and the BSC. Mr. Rainet also seemed to have given up the sax for his electronic experiments. Of the guests here, I am familiar with James Ilgenfritz who runs the Infrequent Seams label and Leila Bordreuil, who I’ve heard with Susan Alcorn, Tamio Shiraishi and Lea Bertucci.
Two of the four pieces here are duets with Mr. Karel and Mr. Rainey while the other two pieces include their 5 guests. “Weather Imprint” is first and it is a duo of Karel and Rainey. There are layers of electronics, perhaps samples of thunder or rubbered surfaces and spoken word voices. The overall sound is somewhat solemn and uneasy with a soft, eerie throb or drone and occasional static. “Sparks an empty pool” features the electronics duo plus a string quartet & a clarinetist. Bhob Rainey also plays piano which is first heard here, playing sparse, spooky and suspense-filled. There are some odd eerie samples (or recordings) here which float in: a variety of drones or electronic sounds, which are effectively dynamic and well-produced. They fill my kitchen (my regular listening space) with careful yet explosive sound masses. The piano fragments provide an occasional sense of calm at the center of a sonic storm which comes in waves. A number of other samples like songs in different languages distorted & throbbing also appear and then disappear. There is a feeling of impending darkness going on here as if something terrible is about to happen. The other musicians on this piece are used sparingly to enhance the overall darkly enchanting sound. “Relay to” is just the duo yet the eerie sound(s) continue. Thunder, wind-like sounds, low-end throbbing sonics, rubbed surfaces, static, disturbing samples of magnified insects, all slowly emerge. Each sound or line of sounds evokes a different vibe with a flow of sonic events continuing like a river of sound. The last piece featured the extended version of the duo with guests. The somewhat brooding, quietly disorienting sound continues to unfold. Although I can’t tell exactly what is being played or sampled, the ongoing attention to detail and cautious creation of sounds is well done, focused just right. Like many disc on the erstwhile label, this one creates its own sonic world which we inhabit as we listen. This is a like a soundtrack that we live within while listening closely. An impressive sonic treasure. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $15
SAM CHILDS / EVAN PALMER / JOHN DALTON - Spatial Decay (Self produced; USA) Featuring Sam Childs on tenor & soprano saxes, Evan Palmer on contrabass and John Dalton on drums. Earlier this week (4/1/25), this trio played here at DMG and blew away the demanding crowd of around 25 serious listeners at DMG! I knew of bassist Evan Palmer since he played here at DMG earlier. I hadn’t heard of the saxist or drummer but I was most impressed nonetheless. This disc was recorded at CultureHouse in Somerville, MA, where I think these men met while attending music school in Boston. Things begin quietly on “Prairies”, building slowly, sparse at first, simmering slowly below the calm surface. Mr. Childs is playing tenor, bending his notes carefully at first as the rest of the trio match the ascending turbulence. Building to one plateau before settling down to another sparse episode. On “Coarse Bones”, things begin slowly and softly at first. Again, the trio slowly builds from sparse to intense ramblings. I like the that the trio keep the tension going as their music unfolds through sparse and fractured sections. On the final piece, “Distant Lights”, the trio again begin cautiously but build to a frenzy quicker. With Mr. Childs now on soprano sax, Mr. Palmer tapping his bow on the bass strings and Mr. Dalton playing with mallets on the heads and sides of the drums. The trio is tight and focused, a powerful inner spirit is rising higher as they evolve. I quite like this disc but it doesn’t quite capture the more intense, over-the-top episodes that erupted the other night. What I do like is that even when they do play with restraint, something quite cosmic does occur so be patient my friends. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10
THE FRINGE with GEORGE GARZONE / BOB GULLOTTI / JOHN LOCKWOOD and JOE LOVANO - Live at Zeitgeist (Resolution Records 04001; USA) Featuring George Garzone on tenor sax, John Lockwood on bass, Bob Gulotti on drums plus special guest Joe Lovano on tenor sax. This disc was recorded live at the Zeitgeist gallery in Cambridge Mass in 2004. The Fringe are a legendary Free Jazz trio from Boston that started in the late 1970’s and still exist today. They’ve been around for nearly a half century and made ten albums, each of which are essential for Free/Spirit/Jazz listeners worldwide. I’ve caught them several times over the years and the one gig I recall the most was a double bill with the Thomas Chapin Trio at the Old Knitting Factory in the early nineties. Both trios were on fire that night, an amazing double bill that I will never forget. I do collect all their records although getting ahold of some of the early ones on their own Ap-Gu-Ga Records label are particularly hard to acquire, the three on Soul Note much easier to find. As far as the personnel goes, I know that Mr. Garzone has taught for many years in Boston with many of his students evolving into more famous players on their own. Bassist John Lockwood has also worked with Tisziji Munoz, Joe Maneri and Lazlo Gardony.
This disc was released in 2004, their last one before their comp, ’40 Years on the Fringe’ (from 2013). The Fringe played a weekly gig in Boston for more than 2 decades so they do have a group sound. Starting with “From Here to There” they take off soaring higher and higher. As the rhythm team swirls tightly together, Mr. Garzone whips up a powerful Trane-like sound with his own sheets on full display. “Theme for Jake” features a long, expressive bass solo which leads right into “Maybe So”, which simmers nicely with the bass at the center. “Tonight’s Prayer” does have a solemn prayer-like vibe, smoldering quite nicely with Garzone’s warm-toned tenor reaching new heights. For “All Aboard”, the trio is joined by another tenor titan, Joe Lovano. Both tenors sound great together, pushing each other higher and higher as they go at it. There is a colossal drums solo in this piece as well and more double Trane-like tenors blasting tightly together. The final piece is called, “A Fringe Tribute to the New England Patriots” and it is another epic piece with a long bristling tenor solo from George Garzone, an inspired bass solo from John Lockwood and a righteous drum solo by Bob Gullotti as well! The Fringe are one of the Free Jazz Trios of all so don’t miss out on this fine treasure. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $16 [LTD Ed / out-of-print / last 5 sealed copies]
JOE HENDERSON with KENNY DORHAM / ANDREW HILL / McCOY TYNER / RICHARD DAVIS / EDDIE KHAN / PETE LA ROCA / ELVIN JONES - Our Thing to In 'N Out Revisited (Hat Ezz-Thetics 1179; Switzerland) Joe Henderson, alongside Kenny Dorham and Andrew Hill, revisits the essence of the 'New Thing' in jazz with the remasters and reissues of ‘Our Thing to In 'N Out’, showcasing mastery of both conservative and adventurous impulses through a sly blend of inside and outside tactics, marked by intricate solos and dynamic group interplay that highlight the evolving soundscape of early 60s Blue Note recordings.
CD $18
AALY TRIO with MATS GUSTAFSSON / KJELL NORDESON / BENGT FRIPPE / PETER JANSON - Sustain (Silkheart SHCD 167CD; Sweden) "AALY Trio was named after the piece 'Lebert Aaly, dedicated to Albert Ayler' by the Art Ensemble of Chicago from their album, Phase One on the America label, released during 1971. In 1962, Albert Ayler left his home in Cleveland to work in Scandinavia where he recorded his first album, Something Different!!!!!!, with a Swedish rhythm section and produced by altoist, Bengt Frippe Nordström, who started his Bird Notes label with this document. During the early '80s Mats Gustafsson and Kjell Nordeson began playing together as a duo in their hometown of Umeå, Sweden. Things went into creative overdrive for the band when Peter Janson became the bassist for the group in 1995. It was also the year that Gustafsson first visited Chicago. The pool of musicians Gustafsson met there would not only impact the work of the AALY Trio but, over the course of the next five years, also the creative music scenes in both Stockholm and Chicago. In the quarter century since the members of AALY Trio were last in the studio together there have been countless performances and albums made by the core members of the band. Perhaps Eric Dolphy was wrong when he said, 'When you hear music, after it's over, it's gone in the air. You can never capture it again.' Because the path Mats Gustafsson began in Umeå forty years ago -- which includes five blazing years with the musicians on the album in your hands and everything mentioned above -- is called music. This path doesn't go in a circle. It's a curve, ever upward, always asking you to learn. The music on Sustain makes this evident, another basecamp on the ascent. Mats, Kjell, and Peter are in different creative territory now than in 2000, but with the rapport still there, and still blazing."
CD $18
SVEN-AKE JOHANSSON with AXEL DORNER / PIERRE BOREL / SIMON SIEGER / JOEL GRIP - Stumps: Second Version (Trost 243VCD; AUSTRIA) The six compositions Stumps by Sven-Ake Johansson are based on a variation potential of falling and rising short signals (notes) as a theme. A fourfold repetition of the theme at the beginning establishes the piece and provides a fixed starting material for the following improvisations. The simple repetition of the theme at the end concludes the composition as a kind of return. The basic tempi of the themes are calm; there is no fixed tempo, more a free placement. The rhythm section works in the improvisations according to the principle of free tempo/ dynamic vibration, the result is momentum (swing). Recorded at Haus der Berliner Festspiele, 6th of November 2022. Mastered by Werner Dafeldecker/Martin Siewert. Featuring Pierre Borel (Alto Saxophone), Axel Dörner (Trumpet), Simon Sieger (Piano), Joel Grip (Double Bass), and Sven-Ake Johansson (Drums).
CD $18
FRANZ HAUTZINGER / IGNAZ SCHICK / SVEN-AKE JOHANSSON - Rotations (Trost 257CD; Austria) Rotations is a trio project with German turntablist Ignaz Schick, Swedish artist Sven-Ake Johansson, and Austrian trumpeter Franz Hautzinger, recorded live at the Berlin experimental venue KM28 in September of 2023. The collective improvisations are instilled with a deep interest in color and timbre, and each track offers a fresh perspective. While Johansson toggles to accordion on the album's final track, squeezing tender lines alongside Hautzinger's moody brass and Schick's scratch-pocked layer of wobbly ambience that climaxes with a warped romanticism, the other pieces navigate the divide between sound and rhythm more viscerally. Scuffed electronic tones, noisy beeps and blorps, and parched and puckered trumpet smears and cries, are accompanied by Johansson's elegant sense of time. In certain places he brings an elegant pulse to the proceedings, providing a structure for his partner's most abstract utterances, while elsewhere he turns his drumming inside out, as if translating the machinations of a tap dancer in slow motion. More often than not the music proceeds with a delicate touch and razor-sharp interplay even within the most fragile moments, delivering a heightened form of spontaneous sound sculpting -- something Johansson has been doing since the early 1970s. Mixed and mastered by Werner Dafeldecker/Martin Siewert. Artwork by Sven-Ake Johansson.
CD $18
GEORG GRAEWE & SONIC FICTION ORCHESTRA with FRANK GRATKOWSKI / MARTIN SIEWERT / GERRY HEMINGWAY / et al - In Concert, Bochum 2022 (Random Acoustics 040CD; Germany) New Georg Graewe & Sonic Fiction Orchestra CD on Random Acoustics. Recorded at Kammerspiele (Schauspielhaus Bochum), October 31, 2022. Featuring Frank Gratkowski (clarinets), Maria Gstättner (bassoon), Martin Siewert (guitars, electronics), Sara Kowal (harp), Joanna Lewis (violin), Laura Strobl (viola), Melissa Coleman (cello), Peter Herbert (double bass), Els Vandeweyer (vibes, percussion), Gerry Hemingway (drums, percussion), and Georg Graewe (piano).
CD $18
MARKUS STOCKHAUSEN & THE METROPOLE ORKEST - Markus Stockhausen And The Metropole Orkest (Intuition 34372CD; Germany) "When Markus Stockhausen composes, he creates a multi-dimensional cosmos from sounds. He succeeds in doing that even with compositions for small ensembles. However, when he does this for a large orchestra as here, then he has an almost inexhaustible range at his disposal. And he understands how to use it: The two pieces 'YIN' and 'YANG' were composed between March and May 2011 and were first performed in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw in the same year. 'The idea was to compose specifically for the Metropole Orkest and its soloists. I tried to make 'YIN' softer and more colorful with warmer qualities of sound. On the other hand, 'YANG' starts powerfully with a sudden heightening; it has a great deal of expressive power with a high energy level and clear rhythmic grooves. The end is then again carried by the four soloists from 'YIN.' With that, the circle is closed and Yin and Yang are reconciled,' Stockhausen wrote about his thoughts concerning the two compositions. A composition follows with 'Tanzendes Licht' that Stockhausen once composed for the Camerata Bern and Swiss Jazz Orchestra and enhanced for the Metropole Orkest. The piece was intended as homage to Paul Klee, and Stockhausen was inspired by the shimmering light at sunset on a large body of water. These reflections are again found in the music and stimulate the tones to dance in an unusual beat (9/8), but which is played around with so easily and loosely that you hardly notice it. The encore piece 'FELICE' was -- as are YIN & YANG -- composed for this concert evening, which was recorded live. Judged by the thunderous applause, he certainly succeeded in that. The radio orchestra, which has existed since 1945, has earned an almost legendary reputation since its founding and is considered the last of its kind in all of Europe. The influence of the conductor Jules Buckley is not to be underestimated either; he carefully led the orchestra into Stockhausen's style."
CD $14
THERESA WONG - Journey To The Cave Of Guanyin (Room40 4248CD; Australia) From Theresa Wong: "The inspiration for these pieces comes from the Chinese folklore of Guanyin, a deity whose name translates to 'the one who perceives all the sounds, or cries, of the world.' Also known as Guanshiyin 觀世音, she is the embodiment of infinite compassion. I grew up knowing of Guanyin as a female deity, but recently discovered that she had transformed through the centuries from the male Hindu bodhisattva, Avalokiteśvara. I instantly found an affinity for this gender-fluid figure, who was said to have attained enlightenment through meditation on sound. These pieces offer an imaginary story of a humble seafarer (Guanyin is a popular matron saint of fisherfolk), who returns from the tumult of the sea one evening at dusk. They journey into a seaside cave in a cliff nearby to find solace in prayer to Guanyin. Deep within the chambers of this glistening cave, an encounter with the mystical deity brings comfort and healing while the churning of life outside persists. Perhaps it was out of a premonition that I created these pieces, which became one of the few things I could listen to during an intensely challenging year of my life. All the music is played on solo and multi-tracked acoustic cello. Many pieces are created around the repetition of simple phrases, like a sonic mantra repeated to focus and ease the mind. The cello is tuned down to a fundamental of A=216 Hertz, and the harmonies are composed in just intonation, a tuning system based on the natural overtones of resonating frequencies. In tracks 5 and 7, the lower strings are detuned extremely to a precise tension, creating a drone that contains both noise and specific overtones. In this manner of playing, I often have the feeling of 'splitting the sound open' into a composite of rhythm, harmony, melody and noise through playing beating frequencies, fingered overtones, implicit melodies emerging out of undulating harmonics, and the pure growl of the slackened string. I hope the listener will find rest and repose -- in this music, amidst the ever-compounding churning of our present world. My deepest thanks to Lawrence English, Janet Oh, the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, and the Emily Harvey Foundation for supporting this work."
CD $18
ORCHESTRE MAQUIS DU ZAIRE & ORCHESTRE SAFARI SOUND - Zanzibara 11: Congo In Dar, Dance No Sweat (1982-1986)(Buda Musique 860400CD; France) "Dar es Salaam, still the 'haven of peace' alluded to in its name, in the 1960s and 1970s, moreover have seen the influx of a number of bands from neighboring Congo-Zaire. Typically contracted by some of the upmarket clubs and hotels for a limited time: some of the individual musicians and bands stayed on, among those the musicians of the future Orchestre Maquis and Orchestre Safari Sound."
CD $16
KLAUS SCHULZE - La Vie Electronique Vol. 15 (Made in Germany MIG 1080CD; Germany) "Klaus Schulze -- the master of electronic music -- presents La Vie Electronique Vol. 15, recordings from the years 1997 to 2000. On CD 1 is the last of the 25 CDs in the Jubilee Edition set in 1997. Klaus recorded it during April 1997 in his studio. Disc 2: The first two tracks ('L'opera aperta' and 'La tolleranza') are the second part and the encore of Klaus' solo concert in Bologna, Italy, on the 15th of December 1998 at the 'Teatro delle Celebrazioni.' The third track was especially recorded by Klaus for the Ultimate Edition box in late October 1999. Disc 3: These three tracks are a collaboration with an old friend, the cello player Wolfgang Tiepold. Most of the Schulze aficionados know (and love) Schulze's vintage albums with Wolfgang. He visited Klaus in his studio again in summer 1999, twenty years after the two did some good things in concerts and on some albums."
3 CD Set $24
VAUDOU GAME - Fintou (Hot Casa HC 085CD; France) For their fifth album, Vaudou Game's influences have spread beyond the city and country limits, crossing the Atlantic to reach Colombia. Magnetized, the tropical waves traveled along the equator from Latin America to Togo, knocking on the door of OTODI studio. They too wanted to be part of it and take advantage of its legendary analog equipment. Expected by Peter Solo, they weren't the only ones contributing to forging the group's famous hypnotic groove. The sedans parked in the lot don't lie. From the nearby Lomé market, Nana Benz Du Togo have come to unite the delicacy of their alluring vocal harmonies in call and response with Peter Solo. Lomevio, a young group when Vaudou Game's leader had provided them with instruments during difficult times, now offers to its listeners the strength of its voice-guitar-accordion trident. Still acting under the supreme authority of funk controlled by the esotericism and mystique of the voodoo scale, Vaudou Game unites the hand of highlife with that of cumbia above its head. "Afro Cumbia" is one of the new musical directions taken by the band. They were accompanied by the brilliant voice of the Spanish-english singer Clara Serra López on the track "Râler." Guitars, percussion, brass, and vintage keyboards to activate hips or set the most intriguing atmosphere, Peter delivers his messages hidden behind his unremovable mask. Whether dealing with political or human and ecological subjects, he is always sure to mask them under a thick layer of sarcasm and humor in order to put them into better use via a joyful and dancing trance. With the subliminal motto of repaying Africa, the people, the Earth. Fintou!
CD $15
LP SECTION:
INTERCOMMUNAL FREE DANCE MUSIC ORCHESTRA with BERNARD VITET / JEAN-JACQUES AVENEL / JACQUES THALLOT / SYLVAIN KASSAP / et al - Vol. 4: Jo Maka (Souffle Continu Records FFL 092LP; France) Music-lovers of all lands, rejoice! Here you have the re-release of the fourth album of the Intercommunal Free Dance Music Orchestra recorded with the Guinean saxophonist Jo Maka. The title says it all: Vol.4: Jo Maka. But before that, a bit of history: The Intercommunal Free Dance Music Orchestra was created in 1971 by an "old hand" of French free jazz, François Tusques. "Free Jazz" was also the name of the recording made by the pianist and other like-minded Frenchmen (Michel Portal, François Jeanneau, Bernard Vitet, Beb Guérinand Charles Saudrais) in 1965. But, six years later Tusques had had his fill of free jazz. So he then founded the Inter Communal, an association with a name under which the different communities could become closer and compose, simply. In 1976, on the first album: L'Inter Communal, listeners can already hear Tusques playing without borders in the company of Carlos Andreu, Ramadolf, Michel Marreand, and Jo Maka (as a conclusion to this Vol. 4, listeners can hear them in 1977 at the Moulin de Prades Le Lez). Over the next decade, the association kept going with concerts at the Dunois theatre, in 1980 and 1981, it welcomed old hands and new recruits (Bernard Vitet, Jean-Jacques Avenel, Jacques Thollot, Sylvain Kassap). If Vol. 4 : Jo Maka is an homage to the Guinean saxophonist, who passed away a few months before the release of this selection of concert recordings, it also displays a proud collective inspiration! One foot in the blues, and ears open to everything else, Tusques begins with a lament that the Company rapidly transforms into a joyful dance ("Vive la Commune"), weaves a full-blown party piece ("Poses ton fardeau et remets la machine en route," "7 rue des prêcheurs," "Mazir") or gets fabulous with Mingus ("Fable Of Faubus"). And there you have it, with so many revolutions François Tusques is almost back to free jazz. So, your turn with the turntable.
LP $30
INTERCOMMUNAL FREE DANCE MUSIC ORCHESTRA - Apres La Maree Noire: Vers Une Musique Bretonne Nouvelle (Souffle Continu FFL 093LP; France) If the jazz of François Tusquesis is "free," his spirit is even more so: having recorded free jazz with other like-minded Frenchmen (Michel Portal, François Jeanneau, Bernard Vitet, Beb Guérinand Charles Saudrais), the pianist had covered a lot of ground, with Barney Wilen (Le Nouveau Jazz) or even solo (Piano Dazibao and Dazibao N°2), so as not to repeat himself. In 1971 he founded the Intercommunal Free Dance Music Orchestra which, as the notes to this album stated, "is an interpretation of a music which synthesizes the different communities living and working in France." In 1976, on the first album (L'InterCommunal) listeners can already hear Tusques playing without borders in the company of Carlos Andreu (vocals), Michel Marre (trumpet and saxophone), Jo Maka (saxophone) and Ramadolf (trombone). It is a meeting between jazz and music from Catalonia, Occitanie and Africa. So far so good, but what about Brittany, that, Tusques knows "by heart?" Having lived for a long time in Nantes, he would expand his "brittanitude" on the canal linking the city to Brest by playing with, for example the Diaouled-Ar-Menez. With these "devils from the mountain" who, under the baton of Yann Goasdoué, worked throughout the 1970s on the renewal of music from Brittany, Tusques met, notably, Tanguy Ledoré and invited him one day, with trois bombards and some bagpipes (Jean-Louis Le Vallegant, Gaby Kerdoncuff and Philippe Lestrat), to join the ranks of the Intercommunal. And so they set of towards a new music from Brittany, as the title states; Vers une Musique bretonne nouvelle! With percussion from Samuel Ateba and Kilikus, the association launches the "bombardier:" the repetitions and dissonance of the different members all serve a common cause however: the dance, which is always the reason for the party. This sets a whole universe spinning, which can bring to mind Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath ("La rencontre") when not taking on board waltz, swing, blues and gavotta or even revealing mysteries like those of Gurdjieff ("Les racines de la montagne" or "Le cheval" sung by Andreu).
LP $30
SWEET REBELS with CHEB ZAHOUANI / CHEIKHA RIMITTI / CHABA ZOHRA / et al - The Golden Era Of Algerian Pop-Rai - The Ecstatic Electro Sound Of Original Rai Cassettes 1986-91 Selected By Cheb Gero (WeWantSounds WWSLP 101LP; UK)
Wewantsounds presents the release of Sweet Rebels: The Golden Era of Algerian Pop-Raï, selected in Paris by Cheb Gero. The set features the raw energy of the Algerian Raï scene from the '80s and early '90s and its young stars Cheb Zahouani, Chaba Zohra, and Abderrahmane Djalti. Newly remastered and including liner notes from Raï authority Rabah Mezouane, the compilation brings together eight cassette tracks from the electrifying period when Raï music was evolving from a more traditional sound to the mesmerizing electro funk sound of the '80s. Raï music was born in the seedy parts of Oran, the port city north-west of Algeria, during the 20th century. Mixing elements of Arabic music and western influences, the music was raw and urban emanating from the cabarets and nightclubs of the city. Mainly performed by female singers such as Cheikha Rimitti and Cheikha Djenia, Raï songs would talk about love and social hardship in direct and often crude ways. The style evolved after the war and it was revolutionized in the 1980s by a new wave of singers who infused their sound with synthesizers and drum machines to instill tough messages of youth rebellion, political criticism, and heartbreak. Mainly released on cassette by street vendors in Algeria during the '80s, Rai rapidly spread among the youth. It became a phenomenon which soon spread beyond North Africa, led by the crossover success of Cheb Khaled. Sweet Rebels gives an insight into the genre's ecstatic electro sound, showcasing a unique cultural moment, where creativity and resistance connected to form a vibrant trend. Compiled by DJ Cheb Gero, Sweet Rebels includes cult, sought-after tracks released on cassette by the label Oriental Music Production and features the best exponents of the genre, such as Cheikha Djenia El K'bira, Cheb Zahouani, Cheb Abdelhak, Chaba Amina, and Chaba Zohra. Most of the tracks here make their vinyl debut and Wewantsounds -- following its releases from Lebanon and Egypt, is delighted to continues its exploration of Arabic music by digging into the fascinating Algerian Raï heritage.
LP $30
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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
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JOHN ZORN - Hermetic Cartography at the Drawing Center- Feb 7th - May 11th, 2025:
John Zorn’s ‘Hermetic Cartography’ will be accompanied by a series of musical performances curated by Mr. Zorn that will be performed in the exhibition. Performances will be held from 7:30 - 9pm on the first Saturday of each month (March - May, 2025) and will be free and open to the public. The Drawing Center is located at 35 Wooster Street, in Soho in Manhattan, NYC. Website: https://drawingcenter.org
Known predominantly as a groundbreaking figure in New York’s avant-garde and experimental music scenes, John Zorn has long been celebrated for his radical innovations in music. However, his abstract drawings—a private language of symbols and notations—have remained a closely guarded secret. Offering profound insight into Zorn’s creative mind, Hermetic Cartography reveals a new dimension of his artistic practice by showcasing works on paper that span seven decades of his visionary engagement with mark-making, improvisation, and the esoteric.
The exhibition includes a diverse array of Zorn’s visual artworks, graphic scores, dense philosophical notations, abstract poetry and artist books, and not only highlights Zorn’s radical approach to marks on paper but also his unique Theatre of Musical Optics and other experimental projects. By exploring these visual elements, the exhibition provides a new perspective on how Zorn's abstract works intersect with and inform his musical compositions.
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THE STONE RESIDENCIES / ZOH AMBA / APR 2-5
4/2 Wednesday
8:30 pm - DUO: Lee Ranaldo (instruments) Zoh Amba (guitar, sax)
4/3 Thursday
8:30 pm - BHAKTI: Micah Thomas (piano) Zoh Amba (sax) Tyshawn Sorey (drums)
4/4 Friday
8:30 pm - SUN ENSEMBLE: Zoh Amba (sax) Lex Korten (piano) Miguel Marcel Russell (drums) and a bassist
4/5 Saturday
8:30 pm - Reflections on Emahoy: Zoh Amba (sax, guitar) Eliana Glass (piano, vocals) David Moore (pump organ) and a special guest
THE STONE STUDENT CONCERTS
TUESDAY APRIL 8 AT 8:30 - Admission is FREE
The fifth in a special series of concerts featuring students out of the New School College of Performing Arts. There will be five concerts this season—one Tuesday a month in October, November; February, March, and April. All concerts are at 8:30 and will be curated by the students themselves.
8:30 pm
Wolf Robert Stratmann: Project Natural Sound - Wolf Robert Stratmann (double bass, compositions) Freja Høj (voice) Sujae Jung (piano, synth) Paul Sakai (drums, percussion)
THE STONE RESIDENCIES / ANNIE GOSFIELD / APR 9-12
4/9 Wednesday
8:30 pm - Improvisations: Annie Gosfield (sampler) Billy Martin (drums, percussion) Roger Kleier (guitar)
4/10 Thursday
8:30 pm - Improvisations: Annie Gosfield (sampler) Brian Chase (drums) Roger Kleier (guitar)
4/11 Friday
830 pm - String Noise plays Gosfield: Pauline Kim Harris (violin) Conrad Harris (violin)
Acoustic and electronic pieces for violin that feature jammed radio signals, drifting satellites, and transformed string noise.
4/12 Saturday
8:30 pm - Dither plays Gosfield: Taylor Levine (guitar) Joshua Lopes (guitar) James Moore (guitar) Brendon Randall-Myers (guitar)
THE STONE is located in
The New School at the Glass Box Theatre
55 West 13th Street - near 6th ave
LIVE MUSIC
wed-sat - music at 8:30pm
ADMISSION - $20 per set
unless otherwise noted
cash only payment
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Zürcher Gallery Presents:
Saturday, April 5th at 7:00 pm
Columbia Composers Presents:
Wet Ink Ensemble
Mini Piano Festival
Thursday, April 24th at 8:00 pm: Uri Caine
Friday, April 25th at 8:00 pm: Han Chen
Saturday, April 26th at 8:00 pm: Marilyn Nonken
Tickets can be purchased at the door.
$25 General Admission. $20 Students. (CASH ONLY).
All proceeds go to the artists.
The Zürcher Gallery is located at
33 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10012
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ALICE TULLY HALL at Lincoln Center
Friday, April 11th at 7:30:
THE MANNES ORCHESTRA Performs Mavericks:
JOHN ZORN - Contes de Fées with STEFAN JACKIW, Violin
VIET CUONG - Re(New)al with SANDBOX PERCUSSION
LUCIANO BERIO - Sinfonia with eight amplified singers
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I-BEAM in Brooklyn
Friday, April 4, 2025 - 5:00 PM 6:45 PM
Stan Zenkov Trio
Stan Zenkov - winds
Ipek Eginli - piano
Nick Neuberg - drums
Friday, April 4, 2025 - 8:00 PM 10:30 PM
Lumpert/Ammann/Jost/Williams
Igor Lumpert (saxophone)
Sebastien Ammann (piano)
Nick Jost (bass)
Jeff Willliams (drums)
Saturday, April 5, 2025 - 8:00 PM 10:00 PM
Gentile/Nilsson/Ambrosio/Kurfirst
Michel Gentile - flute, alto flute, bass flute, piccolo
Anders Nilsson - guitar
Dave Ambrosio - bass
Dan Kurfirst - percussion
Tuesday, April 8th, 2025
8pm - SPONTANEOUS RESONANCE
Matt Knoegel - Tenor Sax
Megumi Yonezawa - Piano
Ken Kobayashi - Drums
9 pm - DOT ISO
Vivek Menon - Violin
Dylan DelGiudice - Alto Sax / Guitar
Orchid Mcrae - Drums
Saturday, April 12, 2025 - 6:00 PM 9:00 PM
6pm: Instrumental Underground
Tamara Yadao and Max Kutner
Tamara Yadao - electronics
Max Kutner - bass, guitar
7pm: New Sextet
Ras Moshe Burnett - tenor saxophone
Jeff Pearring - alto saxophone
Colin Babcock - trombone
Matthew Putman - piano
Trevor Bajus - dubbelizer
Reggie Sylvester - drums
8pm: Stephen Gauci Quartet
Stephen Gauci - tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet
Shinya Lin - piano
Shogo Yamagishi - bass
Kevin Shea - drums
Thursday, April 17, 2025
Eleven O’Five Quintet Dimensionality Quartet
8pm: Eleven O’Five
Claire de Brunner - bassoon
Melanie Dyer - viola
Virg Dzurinko - piano
9pm: Quintet
Carol Liebowitz - piano
Nick Lyons - alto saxophone
Stephanie Griffin - viola
Ken Filiano - bass
Billy Mintz - drums
10pm: Dimensionality Quartet
Ursel Schlicht - piano
Andrea Wolper - vocals
Ken Filiano - bass
Lou Grassi - drums, percussion
Friday, April 18, 2025
8 - 11pm: David Haney, Daniel Carter, Adam Lane, Jimmy Bennington
David Haney, piano
Daniel Carter, reeds
Adam Lane, bass
Jimmy Bennington, drums
I-Beam is located at
168 7th Street
Brooklyn, NY, 11215
Take the F, R or G train to 9th St & 4th Ave
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THIS NOTE COMES FROM MY GOOD BUDDY JOEL HARRISON, Gifted Guitarist and Organizer. His yearly concerts at LPR have been a highlight for myself and other Guitar Freaks…
Dear Guitar Enthusiasts … There's a lot going:
—MIDWESTERNERS: please take note of the below dates. I'm lucky to be playing with two of the greatest B-3 organ players alive, and fantastic drummers as well. https://joelharrison.com/shows/
—On March 14 AGS (Alternative Guitar Summit) recordings releases ANUPAM SHOBHAKAR'S LIQUID REALITY, a tour de force on double neck guitar that fuses Indian music, jazz, and rock. If you like John McLaughlin this is for you. Preorder here: https://agsrecordings.bandcamp.com/
—We have uploaded some GREAT NEW PODCASTS to the AGS youtube channel with Ben Monder, Redd Volkaert, and more to come. Please check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/@alternativeguitarsummit
—For a couple of years I have been working on a major piece entitled "Burn Pit." The orchestration is jazz big band and a 16 person chorus. The subject matter is the deadly toxic burnpits from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that killed or sickened hundreds of thousands of military personnel. To fulfill my obligation to the NY State Council on the Arts and the Governors Office of NY, from whom I received a generous composition grant, I have posted a video discussing and playing excerpts from this work here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulyk1Pgrym8
Don't forget to sign up for our summer camp! Kevin Eubanks, Vernon Reid, Kurt Rosenwinkel, John Scofield...come on! https://www.alternativeguitarsummitcamp.com/ - Joel Harrison
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NEW VIDEOS from GUITAR MASTER HENRY KAISER:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAWxt3EJSPw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcvoYygehqE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-6p_Q2Dwxc
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From 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