I's out there paintin' on the old wood shed
When a can o'black paint it fell on my head
I went down to scrub and rub
But I had to sit in back of the tub
Cost a quarter
Half price
Well, my telephone rang it would not stop
It's President Kennedy callin' me up
He said, My friend, Bob, what do we need to make the country grow?
I said my friend, John, Brigitte Bardot
Anita Ekberg
Sophia Loren
Country'll grow
Well, I got a woman five feet short
She yells and hollers and squeals and snorts
She tickles my nose pats me on the head
Blows me over and kicks me out of bed
She's a man eater
Meat grinder
Bad loser
Oh, there ain't no use in me workin' alla time
I got a woman who works herself blind
Works up to her britches, up to her neck
Write me letters and sends me checks
She's a humdinger
Folk singer
Late one day in the middle of the week
Eyes were closed I was half asleep
I chased me a woman up the hill
Right in the middle of an air drill
I jumped a fallout shelter
I jumped the string bean
I jumped the TV dinner
I jumped the shot gun
Now, the man on the stand he wants my vote
He's a-runnin' for office on the ballot note
He's out there preachin' in front of the steeple
Tellin' me he loves all kinds-a people
He's eatin' bagels
He's eatin' pizza
He's eatin' chitlins
Oh, set me down on a television floor
I'll flip the channel to number four
Out of the shower comes a football man
With a bottle of oil in his hand
Greasy kid stuff
What I want to know, Mr. Football Man, is
What do you do about Willy Mays
Martin Luther King
Olatunji
Well, the funniest woman I ever seen
Was the great-granddaughter of Mr. Clean
She takes about fifteen baths a day
Wants me to grow a moustache on my face
She's insane
Well, ask me why I'm drunk all the time
It levels my head and eases my mind
I just walk along and stroll and sing
I see better days and I do better things
I catch dinosaurs
I make love to Elizabeth Taylor
Catch hell from Richard Burton
I recently got a book called 'Bob Dylan - Mixing Up the Medicine' as a present from my old retired partner Manny Maris. It was written & edited by Mark Davidson and Parker Fishel and it is in large form hard cover, more than 600 pages long! It is a biography of sorts with hundreds of pictures taken from a large Bob Dylan exhibition/archive which is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The writers featured here are an impressive list of Dylan scholars and hardcore fans: Sean Wilentz, Greg Tate, Clinton Heylin, Alan Licht, Lee Ranaldo, Greil Marcus and so many others. My old Mac computer finally gave up the ghost this week so I had to buy a new one ($1,600 plus) and had many of my files transferred over. I have been without a working computer for the past week, something I use every day, so I felt at a loss and almost wasn't able to organize the newsletter for this week. Hence, I didn't have time to do many reviews. So instead of working on reviews yesterday and ordering records, I read through the first 150 pages of this book. As a long time Dylan fanatic, I was most impressed at how much work went into this book and how much I learned from reading it so far. Last night I listened to the second Dylan album, 'Freewheelin;' from 1963 last night after a couple hours of reading. I love early Dylan for several reasons: his political lyrics, his personal unique spin on relationships, the traditional melodies he uses and that oddly endearing hillbilly voice that some love and some dislike. The above song comes from this album and it is called, "I Shall Be Free". Overall it is a rather silly song with ridiculous lyrics and I still crack up when I listen to it. Another thing I love about Mr. Dylan is his often hilarious sense of humor. He is often poking fun at the many odd things that his/our fellow humans do, probably himself included. I have long been fascinated by Bob Dylan and his more than sixty year musical/artistic journey. Dylan has reinvented himself so many times that we can never truly label him in any one category or box. He is above and beyond the pale. We love Bob, oh yes we really do (yodel that line like he does on "All I Really Want to Do")! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
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THE DMG 34th ANNIVERSARY IN-STORE CONCERT CELEBRATION CONTINUES with:
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
Saturday, April 26th, The GAUCI-MUSIC SERIES Continues with:
6:30: RAS MOSHE-BURNETT - Tenor Sax - Flute / TOR SNYDER & DAVE ROSS - Guitars
7:30: STEPHEN GAUCI - Tenor Sax - Clarinet / JEONG LIM YANG - Contrabass / KEVIN SHEA - Drums
8:30: SANA NAGANO - Violin / KIRSTIN CAREY - Guitar - Vocal
Tuesday, April 29th:
6:30: VIV CORRINGHAM / AL MARGOLIS / SANDY GORDON
7:30: DAN KURFIRST - Drums / RAS MOSHE - Tenor Sax
8:30: MARC EDWARDS & SLIPSTREAM TIME TRAVEL: TOR SNYDER, GIAN PEREZ, DYLAN DELGIUDICE, NATHAN CHAMBERLAIN - Guitars / AYUMI ISHITO - Tenor Sax / TAKUMA KANAIWA & MARIO FONTES - Basses / MARC EDWARDS - Drums
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JUST ARRIVED, No REVIEWS YET:
ARTHUR BLYTH QUARTET with JUINI BOOTH / MUHAMMAD ABDULLAH / STEVE REID - Live from Studio Rivbea, July 6, 1976 (NoBusiness NBCD 173; Lithuania)
CD $16
SIMON NABATOV / BARRY GUY / GERRY HEMINGWAY - Luminous (NoBusiness NBCD 112; Lithuania)
CD $16
WILLIAM PARKER / HUGO COSTA / PHILIPP ERNSTING - Pulsar (NoBusiness NBCD 172; Lithuania) Featuring Hugo Costa on alto sax, William Parker on contrabass and Philipp Ernsting on drums. Recorded at Codarts in Rotterdam in October of 2023.
CD $16
THE ATTIC and EVE RISSER with RODRIGO AMADO / GONCALO ALMEIDA / ONNO GOVAERT - La Grande Crue
(NoBusiness 170; Lithuania)
CD $16
BACK IN STOCK:
PETER BROTZMANN / TOSHINORI KONDO / SABU TOYOZUMI - Complete Link (NoBusiness NBCD 165; Lithuania)
CD $16
PETER BROTZMANN / SABU TOYOZUMI - Triangle - Live at OHM, 1987 (NoBusiness NBCD 160; Lithuania)
CD $16
DEREK BAILEY / SABU TOYOZUMI - Breath Awareness (NoBusiness NBCD 166; Lithuania)
CD $16
KALAPARUSHA MAURICE McINTYRE with MALACHI THOMPSON / ALVIN FIELDER / MILTON SUGGS - Rivbea Live! Series, Volume 1, Live from Sudio Rivbea, July 12, 1975 (NoBusiness NBCD 169; Lithuania)
CD $16
KAREN BORCA TRIO, QUARTET and QUINTET with ROB BROWN / WILLIAM PARKER / REGGIE WORKMAN / TODD NICHOLSON / PAUL MURPHY / SUSIE IBARRA / NEWMAN TAYLOR-BAKER - Good News Blues - Live at the Vision Festival 1998 & 2005 (NoBusiness NBCD 168; Lithuania)
CD $16
ROY CAMPBELL / WILLIAM PARKER / ZEN MATSURA - Visitation of Spirits - The Pyramid Trio Live, 1985 (NoBusiness NBCD 162; Lithuania)
CD $16
MORE NEW THINGS FOR THIS WEEK:
DANIEL CARTER / AYUMI ISHITO / ERIK PLAKS / ZACH SWANSON / JON PANIKKAR - Open Question Vol. 2 (577 Records 5869-2; USA) "Iconic New York music master Daniel Carter is perhaps best known for his masterful command of saxophones, trumpet, and many other instruments. However, his immense talent doesn't just manifest through his considerable musical ability, Carter's genius also lies in his ability to create ensembles. Daniel knows how to put just the right musicians together even when externally everything about them seems completely different. Once he's created these groups, Daniel operates in gentle ways to guide artists to collaborate and unify. Never condescending, he seems to intuitively know the chemistry of a successful band. Open Question is one of those bands.
The previous release from this band, Vol. 1 has been received very positively by listeners and press. Will Vol. 2, extracted from the same 2020 recording session as Vol. 1, perform as well? The answer is an Open Question and the only way to solve the riddle is to immerse oneself in the vast ocean of Daniel Carter's sound and imagination, delivered to you through this particular crew."-577 Records
CD $15
AYUMI ISHITO / GEORGE DRAGUNS / KEVIN SHEA - Roboquarians, Vol. 2 (577 Records 5934-2; USA) "Connect to your favorite listening device, crank up the volume, and prepare for the ultimate avant-punk experience! Brooklyn-based 577 Records is honored to present the Roboquarians' first recorded album, Roboquarians, Vol. 2. The new release comes from the hearts of up-and-coming sax talent Ayumi Ishito, lively drummer Kevin Shea, and gifted guitarist George Draguns. When Ayumi received a request from Shea and Draguns to collaborate, she became part of the intriguing backstory of this work of art and its paradoxical title.
The initial studio recording of the album featured a different assembly. The project then hit a few bumps and changed direction (irreconcilable differences, if you will). In an attempt to preserve the passion they invested, Kevin and George isolated their instruments from the recording and reached out to the only artist that made sense. NYC's blossoming saxist Ayumi Ishito has created several albums with 577 Records. She joined the community more recently following multiple collaborations with the philosopher behind the label, maestro Daniel Carter. Roboquarians, Vol. 2 captures the sincere intent that drives the composition within four edgy tracks. It is said to be heavier on the punk sound than the first volume, showcasing an almost feral free improvisation."-577
CD $15
MARIO RECHTERN / ERIC ZINMAN / WEASEL WALTER - Sirens and Mermaids Know (Studio234 CD 0020; Boston, USA) Featuring Mario Rechtern on alto & baritone saxes & saxoline, Eric Zinman on piano and Weasel Walter on drums. Review next week.
CD $15
ANUPAM SHOBHAKAR with SANTIAGO LEIBSON / UTSAV LAL / SATOSHI TAKEISHI / CHRIS SARAVINO / GUMBI ORTIZ / SWAMINATHAN SELVAGANESH / et al - Liquid Reality (AGS Recordings 009; USA) Featuring Anupam Shobhakar on double neck fretted / fretless electric guitars, Utsav Lal & Santiago Leibson on pianos, Ian Jesse on bass, Satoshi Takeishi, Chris Saravino & Gumbi Ortiz on drums & percussion, Swaminathan Selvaganesh on ghatan, kanjira & mridagam plus Ben Parag & Ona Kirel on vocals. Indian-born sarod player, Anupam Shobhakar, made a fine co-leader recording with Joel Harrison in 2014. In the past decade, Mr. Shobhakar has switched over to a custom-made double neck guitar, with both a fretted and an unfretted neck. His group here features two pianists, a bassist, several percussionists and a couple of vocalists. After becoming a virtuoso on the sarod, an Indian guitar-like instrument, Mr. Shobhakar brings his unique style to his distinctive double-neck electric instrument. "Anjaneya" sounds somewhat Indian with Shoghakar playing exotic chords on one neck and then soloing on the other neck, using an odd sustain sound as he bends notes up and down the fretboard. The singers here perform Indian vocal percussion sounds which is a part of the Indian music tradition. Like the latter part of a raga, Anupam often speeds up the tempo in spurts to an astonishing rate. On "Ladders to the Sky", a pianist opens the piece and creates a unique ethnic sounding hybrid. The other vocalist has a higher voice and her/his voice soars swerving the rapids of this piece. I am not sure which pianist is on this piece but he or she is most impressive, moving in waves throughout the piece. On "Hey Ghalib", the vocals are quite lovely, most enchanting. Three different Indian percussion instruments are used here, the ghatham (round clay pot), a kanjira (tambourine-like) and a mridangam (an elongated tabla). Both vocalists get their chance to solo and stretch out at times, creating an Indian-like spice to the tasty concoction. There are several sections where the guitar and one of the percussion instruments perform tight lines together at a furious pace. Fans of John McLaughlin's Indian sounding ensembles like Shakti, the One truth band and Remember Shakti should really dig this disc. Like much great fusion music, the tempos are often exhilarating. This is just one aspect of what is going on here. Anupam Shohakar's playing is consistently riveting. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $14
TJ BORDEN / STEVE FLATO - In the Garden of Eating (Full Spectrum 154; USA) Taking ironic inspiration from Stockhausen’s conceptual extremes, cellist Tyler J. Borden and guitarist Steve Flato fuse cello, microtonal guitar, modular synth, Gizmotron, and electronics in an absurdist yet introspective performance score, immersively weaving subtle textures and just-intonation harmonies shaped by physical and psychological excesses around food and discomfort.
CD $15
UN DRAME MUSICAL INSTANTANE with BRIGITTE FONTAINE / JOELLE LEANDRE / HENRI TEXIER / RENE LUSSIER / CARLOS ZINGARO - Urgent Meeting 2 : Operation Blow Up (GRR-GRRR 2020; France) An eccentric and captivating sonic collage from Jean-Jacques Birgé and the ensemble Un Drame Musical Instantané — with Francis Gorge and Bernard Vitet collaborating alongside extraordinary guests including Brigitte Fontaine, Joëlle Léandre, Luc Ferrari, Henri Texier, Carlos Zingaro, and René Lussier — in an inventive fusion of electronic improvisation, free jazz, and experimental sound art.
CD $17
JEAN-JACQUES BIRGE 16 MUSICIENS - Pique-nique Au Labo 4 (GRRR 2039; France) In a vibrant fusion of spontaneous themes and collective improvisation, Jean-Jacques Birgé leads a 17-member ensemble through dynamic performances recorded at Studio GRRR and live during APÉRO LABO sessions, blending diverse instrumentation and real-time composition to create an album of unpredictable auditory journeys.
CD $15
GURU GURU - The 1971 Bremen Concert (Made in Germany 3382CD; Germany) "In 1971, Guru Guru had already released two LPs on Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser's Ohr label, distributed by Metronome in Hamburg, namely UFO (1970) and Hinten (1971). On September 21, 1971, Guru Guru played in the then line-up of Mani Neumeier (drums, vocals), Uli Trepte (bass) and Ax Genrich (guitar) in the auditorium of the Bremen High School at Leibnizplatz. The sound engineers of Radio Bremen were present and took the opportunity to record the concert. Guru Guru's program that evening consisted of three long pieces with extensive improvisations: the almost 24-minute opener 'LSD Marsch' was taken from the 1970 debut album, followed by 'Bo Diddley' and 'Space Ship' from the then current second album. 'Hinten' had just been released shortly before the Bremen concert and had already caused quite a stir in the press. 'With this recording, sound engineer Conny Plank has created a masterpiece,' wrote the German music magazine Sounds: 'The Gurus have musically changed a lot for the better, their music is no longer so nervous and scattered, the long, free excursions of the three instrumentalists now lie over calm, drawn-out bass lines and a powerfully marching drum set.' The idiosyncratic blend of rock, jazz and funk with African polyrhythms and psychedelic sound cascades is finally available in its full length and revised form in record stores."
CD $18
WEIRD HERALD - Just Yesterday (Guerssen Records Guess 079CD; Spain) In 1968, Weird Herald released a now sought-after promo only 45 with the songs "Saratoga James"/'Just Yesterday." That 45 was part of a full album that was never released. Music ranges from haunting, beautiful folk-rock with spacey acoustic guitar playing and delicate vocal harmonies, cool laid-back country-folk, to energetic hard-rockers à la early Moby Grape or Jefferson Airplane with stunning electric leads. Not forgetting "Where I'm Bound" which has a cool Notorious Byrd Brothers feel. Hailing from Los Gatos in California, Weird Herald featured two accomplished guitar players who are local legends in the San Jose / Santa Cruz area, Billy Dean Andrus and Paul Ziegler. Their roots can be traced to the early San Jose folk / coffeehouse scene. Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna) was a close friend and used to jam with them. Billy Dean Andrus was Skip Spence's best friend since high school and they both used to perform as a folk duo in the early days. A fantastic rhythm section, Cecil Bollinger on bass and Pat McIntire on drums rounded the band. Sadly, in 1970 Billy Dean Andrus died of a drug overdose in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He was immortalized on the songs "Ode for Billy Dean" written by Jorma Kaukonen for Hot Tuna and "Chicago" by the Doobie Brothers. Paul Ziegler ended up joining up Hot Tuna in the early '70s. He passed away in 2000. Problems with the management/producers led to the planned album being shelved and, according to legend, the master tapes destroyed. Luckily, reel-to-reel copies have remained with the Andrus family for half over a century, unheard until now. Includes eight-page insert with detailed liner notes by Cam Cobb (authors of Weighted Down: The Complicated Life Of Skip Spence) with input from the Andrus family and the surviving Weird Herald members and rare photos. Comes with download card with 11 previously unreleased bonus tracks, including basement demos from 1967 by the first line-up of the band. RIYL: Moby Grape, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, Milk Carton Kids, Buffalo Springfield, Maitreya Kali, Everly Brothers, Psychedelic Rock, Folk-Rock, Loner Folk.
CD $18
LP SECTION:
SUN RA & HIS MYTH SCIENCE ARKESTRA - When Angels Speak of Love (Cosmic Myth Records CMR 005LP; Saturn) "One of a number of sessions cut at the Choreographers Workshop, this 1963 set established Sun Ra's Arkestra as a New York band, sonically coupled to developments in the decidedly urbane downtown arts underground. The stargazing clamor of the music reflects the intensity of a cultural crossroads where concrete and dust pervade any skyward view, from East 3rd Street to Mars and beyond. One of Sun Ra's rarest releases, it had negligible circulation through records shops upon release. While most of the Saturn output couldn't get any rarer or mysterious than it already was, When Angels Speak of Love was released in 1966 it was the most elusive and mysterious in the Sun Ra catalog. It's speculated that the record was issued in two micro runs, with estimates around 150 copies. Hard core collectors around the world had been searching for this gem to no avail until Evidence Records released a CD of the music in 2000. This updated offering utilizes the actual master tapes and we get to hear the Arkestra in its cosmic mid-'60s prime via mono and stereo fidelity. Liner Notes by Clifford Allen."
LP $24
PURPLE TRAP with HAINO KEIJI / BILL LASWELL / RASHIED ALI - The Stone (Karl Records KR 109LP; Germany) Purple Trap, the powerful trio of Keiji Haino (voice, guitar), Bill Laswell on bass, and Rashied Ali (drums), recorded live on stage at The Stone. Recorded in December 2005, this furious live album by what can easily be called a super group remained unreleased till in 2023 Bill Laswell made it accessible in a rough-mixed digital version for his bandcamp subscribers program exclusively. For this vinyl version, the music has been newly mixed by Dirk Dresselhaus (SchneiderTM) and mastered/cut by Ruy Mariné at Dubplates & Mastering Berlin. Purple Trap reunited for this one-off gig as part of a five-day Haino-festival at John Zorn's venue, The Stone, seven years after its only album had been recorded (released on Tzadik in 1999). The six untitled tracks deliver what can be expected from such musical masters: Rashied Ali, iconic free jazz drummer who played with John and Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Sonny Rollins, James Blood Ulmer, and countless more, is all drums, from quiet tiny sounds to high-energy rhythm patterns. Keiji Haino, one of the most prolific artists of the Japanese experimental/noise scene for almost 50 years now, switches between truculent guitar splatters and full-on psychedelic outbursts. Bill Laswell, who as producer and musician created a massive body of work in fields as diverse as ambient, world music, funk, jazz (and often hybrids of these), has proven his mastery in improvisation in projects like Massacre, Painkiller or (early) Material and provides the low-end grounding with his signature bass sound, or adds effect-laden ornaments to the whole. An overdue addition to a very small body of work by a clearly under-documented supergroup!
LP $26
KEITH TIPPETT GROUP with ELTON DEAN / MARC CHARIG / NICK EVANS / JEFF CLYNE / ALAN JACKSON - You Are Here... I Am There (Life Goes On Records 059LP; Italy) Reissue. The Keith Tippett Group's debut album was recorded in 1969 and featured a line-up of Keith Tippett on piano, Elton Dean on alto saxophone, Marc Charig on cornet, Jeff Clyne on bass, Nick Evans on trombone and Alan Jackson on drums. You Are Here I Am There is rightly hailed as a classic of the genre. A superb and highly sought after modern jazz - rock work, You Are Here I Am There has been newly remastered and the booklet fully restores the original album artwork and includes a new essay. Keith Tippett's 1970 album was also the first appearance on record for Marc Charig, Elton Dean and Nick Evans; this sextet is completed by Jeff Clyne and Alan Jackson (and producer Giogio Gomelsky on bells). An amazing debut for these just-in-their-twenties jazzers, who had been setting the London jazz scene on it's ear with this material live for over a year before recording the album.
LP $24
ROCK WORKSHOP with RAY RUSSELL / BOB DOWNES / HARRY BECKETT / DARYL RUNSWICK / ALAN RUSHTON - Rock Workshop (Bonfire Records 025LP; Italy) Official RSD 2025 UK Release. First ever vinyl re-issue of this collaborative jam aptly named Rock Workshop. Originally released in 1970 on CBS, this could have been a major cult in the vein of Traffic's John Barleycorn Must Die or The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, but failed to became an instant classic. Time is a gentleman perhaps, or so it seems. And time has come to restore this marvelous manifesto. A fantastic project led by Scottish axeman Alex Harvey (before his venture in the Sensational Alex Harvey Band) on guitar/vocals, the Rock Workshop featured a who's who of the English jazz scene. Virtuoso Ray Russell is on fire on guitar, while trumpet player Harry Beckett, tenor saxophonist Bob Downes and clarinet/flute player Tony Roberts described the extreme regions of the rhythm'n'blues credo. The rhythm section was comprised of stunning drummer Alan Rushton, bass player Daryl Runswick and conga player Robin Jones. Filled with enough impro madness and wild acid blues licks the album is mostly an instrumental affair, the further nine minutes of final track "He Looks At Me" being a proper example. Even collecting a masterful rendition of traditional "Wade In The Water" the album is a must have for any freaky progressive head.
LP $28 [Super Limited Edition / Record Store Day Item]
BYARD LANCASTER - The Complete Palm Recordings 1973-1974 (Souffle Continu Records SWV 412LP; France) Souffle Continu presents Byard Lancaster -- The Complete Palm Recordings 1973-1974, the definitive seven LP deluxe package of Philadelphia born jazz wizard Byard Lancaster, including his four legendary albums released on Jef Gilson's Palm Records in the 1970s: Us, Mother Africa, Exactement, and Funny Funky Rib Crib, along with the first ever standalone edition of "Love Always," a fifteen minute modal jazz beauty plus a 20-page booklet with rare photos and in-depth article about Byard Lancaster's Parisian years by Pierre Crépon. At the beginning of the 1960s, at the Berklee College of Music, Byard Lancaster met some feisty friends: Sonny Sharrock, Dave Burrell, and Ted Daniel. Once he was settled in New York, he appeared on Sunny Murray Quintet, recorded under the leadership of the drum crazy colleague of Albert Ayler. In 1968, the saxophonist and flutist recorded his first album under his own name: It's Not Up To Us. He would come back to France in 1971 and in 1973. This is when he met Jef Gilson, the pianist and producer who encouraged him to record under his own name again. On Palm Records (Gilson's label), he would release four albums: Us, Mother Africa, Exactement, and Funny Funky Rib Crib. Us, the first of the four records was recorded on November 24th, 1973 with Sylvin Marc on electric bass and the evergreen Steve McCall on drums. A few months after recording Us, Lancaster recorded Mother Africa along with Clint Jackson III, a trumpeter, partner of Khan Jamal or Noah Howard on other recordings. The recording of Exactement required two sessions in the studio: February 1st and May 18th 1974. Two names appear on the cover of Exactement: Lancaster (Byard) and Speller (Keno). Funny Funky Rib Crib is an unforgettable recording (made up of several sessions dating from the middle of 1974) of creative jazz overwhelmed by funk and soul. If Lancaster had already made successful albums in the same genre, this one is an homage to James Brown and Sammy Davis. The magnificent "Love Always" was originally released on the fourth (and last) volume of the Jef Gilson Anthology series released in 1975. Recorded on 8th March 1974, it is a beautiful 15-minute-long modal jazz piece. Four notes from the bass (the relentless Jean-François Catoire, who makes up the rhythm section alongside drummer Jonathan Dickinson and percussionist Keno Speller), and the group is up and running! On piano, Gilson shows the subtle tact of a sideman, leaving the lions' share of the place to the horns. And if further proof was required of the confidence that Byard Lancaster and Jef Gilson inspire, "Love Always" provides it on this one-sided release exclusive to the box set. Carefully restored and remastered by Gilles Laujol. Graphic design by Stefan Thanneur.
7 LP Box Set $160
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND - The Other Side of the Mirror (Swerve SWV 412LP; USA) Limited restock. A collection of previously unreleased live recordings and acetate demos from in 1968-1970. Featuring recordings from The Matrix (San Francisco, 1969), The End of Cole Avenue (Dallas, 1969), The Boston Tea Party (Boston, 1969), Hilltop Festival (New Hampshire, 1969), La Cave (Cleveland, 1968), and Max's Rehearsal (New York, 1969). Includes "Sweet Jane," "Candy Says," "Cool It Down," and more.
LP $26
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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 Concert Series:
THE STONE RESIDENCIES / / WILLIAM PARKER / APR 16-19
4/16 Wednesday
8:30 pm: "Dedication To Tab Smith " - William Parker (bass) Bruce Barth (piano) Darryl Foster (tenor sax) Dave Sewelson (baritone, alto sax) Bernice Brooks (drums)
4/17 Thursday
8:30 pm - TRIO EXPLORATIONS
William Parker (bass) Matthew Shipp (piano) Rob Brown (alto sax)
4/18 Friday
8:30pm: “Ion" with William Hooker (drums) William Parker (bass) Amirtha Kidambi (voice)
4/19 Saturday
8:30 pm - William Parker (flutes, ngoni, gembri) Luisa Muhr (voice) Sana Nagano (violin) Abe Mamet (french horn) Kenneth Jimenez (bass) Daniel Carter (horns) Rahul Carlberg (piano)
THE STONE RESIDENCIES - JAD ATOUI - April 23 - 26th
4/23 Wednesday
8:30 pm - Purge
Jad Atoui (electronics) - Jad Atoui will be performing "Purge", a new solo album that reflects on his recent experimentations with modular synth.
4/24 Thursday
8:30 pm - Duo Ipek / Atoui - Ipek Eginli (piano, modular synth) Jad Atoui (electronics, objects)
A duo improvised set by Ipek Eginli and Jad Atoui, celebrating their recent double release on Purplish records.
4/25 Friday
8:30 pm - Improv night - Chuck Bettis (electronics) Jad Atoui (electronics) Nava Dunkelman (percussion)
4/26 Saturday
8:30 pm - In Memory - Jad Atoui (hard drives)
Jad Atoui will perform In Memory, a reflective piece utilizing repurposed hard disk drives (HDDs) as instruments to explore memory and data storage through motors and feedback systems
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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ESP-Disk’ Concert Series:
April 19 (Saturday) at 8 p.m.:
Eunhye Jeong—Michael Bisio Duo with Joe McPhee and Jay Rosen.
Celebrating the release of their new ESP album, Morning Bells Whistle Bright.
at Loove Labs, 58 North 6th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
May 2 (Friday) at 8 p.m.
Larry Ochs/Joe Morris/Charles Downs
Release concert for the Ochs/Morris/Downs album EVERY DAY → ALL THE WAY.
at Loove Annex, 238 North 12th Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn
May 23 (Friday) at 8pm:
Thollem McDonas: Set 1: solo piano; Set 2: trio with bassist Hilliard Greene and drummer Marc Edwards
Thollem released a brilliant solo piano album last year on ESP, Infinite-Sum Game.
At Loove Labs, 58 North 6th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
June 13 (Friday) at 8 p.m.
Joe Morris & Elliott Sharp - Release concert for their mind-boggling guitar duo album Realism, due in late May on ESP.
at Loove Annex, 238 North 12th Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn
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Zürcher Gallery Presents:
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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I-BEAM in Brooklyn
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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THE SHAKUHACHI 5
Featuring:
Akihisa Kominato, Akihito Obama, Ken-Ichi Tajima,
Kizan Kawamura, and Reison Kuroda
Shakuhachi Vogue – A Visual Concert
Friday, May 16 at 7:30PM
Followed by a Private Gathering for Artists and Members
A Leading Japanese Instrumental Quintet's North American Debut Concert
At The Japan Society
Located at 333 East 47 Street, between First and Second Avenue, accessible via the 4/5/6 train at Grand Central Station or the E train at Lexington and 53 Street. our box office at 212-715-1258. The box office is open Monday through Friday, 11:00am to 6:00pm
Visit japansociety.org/performing-arts for more information
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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