She wants money
(what she wants)
She wants money
(what she wants)
She wants money
(what she wants)
She wants money
(what she wants)
Money, money, money, money, money
Money, money, money, money, money
She says "Money, honey", I'd rob a bank
I just load my gun and mosey down to the bank
Knocking off my neighborhood savings and loan
To keep my sweet chiquita in Eau de Cologne
Mama, don't send me down to rob that bank again
I got a notion you're leading me to sin
Won't you relax, won't you lay way back
Don't you bug your honey about no Cadillac
It's only bucks, you don't need no jack
So won't you please relax and lay way back
My baby's loving gives me such a thrill
It gives me inspiration making counterfeit bills
Now some folks say the best things in life are free
I sure don't get no loving living honestly
Lord made a lady out of Adam's rib
Next thing you know you got women's lib
Lovely to look upon, heaven to touch
It's a real shame they got to cost so much
She wants money
(what she wants)
She wants money
(what she wants)
She wants money
(what she wants)
She wants money
(what she wants)
Money, money, money, money, money
Money, money, money, money, money
Is this a silly song or what..?!? You bet it is. This song comes from The Grateful Dead's 'From the Mars Hotel', which was released in 1974. During the period that I attended college, from 1972 to 1976, I was listening to mostly jazz, fusion and Canterbury music. I had become a jazz and prog snob and stopped listening to mostly popular rock, smooth jazz and disco music(s). This changed around 1977 when I got into new wave and punk rock bands like Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, Pere Ubu, etc. I had been ignoring old favorites like Neil Young and the Dead and soon rediscovered what I had missed. I was blown away by Neil Young's records like 'Zuma', 'Tonight's the Night' and 'Rust Never Sleeps'. I was also knocked out by the Dead's 'Wake of the Flood', 'Mars Hotel' and 'Blues for Allah'. When I finally got a copy of 'Mars Hotel', I kept playing it over and over since I thought it was a near perfect album. It is still one of my faves. From what I understand, when Bob Weir was working on his first solo album, 'Ace', he had a falling out with Robert Hunter who wrote all of the lyrics for all but 1 & 1/2 songs co-written with Jerry Garcia (for the Dead entire history). Robert Hunter wrote the lyrics to half of the songs on 'Ace' but said he would no longer provide lyrics for Bob Weir, so Weir had to find someone else and this turned out to be John Perry Barlow, an old friend of Weir's. Hence Barlow wrote the above lyrics. You might claim that this song is somewhat sexist or perhaps that there are women who only care about money. The truth is that there are many folks of either/any gender who care more about money than other things in their relationships. As many of you probably know, I started listening to live Dead concerts starting in March of 2020 (when the pandemic kicked in), one hour a night in chronological order. I've continued to do this ever since! I've just finished 1974 and have checked out 435 concerts so far. One thing that I've learned in my Dead journey is the studio versions of songs are just one snapshot of a song, which can be played on the radio and be listened to over and over. Nothing new to discover there. Live, each of these songs evolve and change. "Scarlet Begonias", which opens Side 2 of 'Mars Hotel' is an infectious song which makes me want to sing & dance & feel great. In 1974, when it was released on record, it became a live staple in which the band expanded it with Jerry Garcia soloing, telling a tale throughout the entire number, making the song even better! It is the 60th anniversary of the original Grateful Dead movie this year so many of us or you will have an opportunity to experience it again or for the first time. I am going to check it out at AMC on 34th St on August 17th with John M & Edel Q and I can't wait! - MC BruceLee, who loves you bubbies!?!
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THE SUMMERTIME BLUES
Due to this hot and humid weather, bad air which seems to be making many of sick, congested and miserable and the daily Bad New Blues, many of us have that summertime blues. Ugh & Oye vay! Plus our walk-in traffic at the store has become more sparse than usual but our mail-order is still pretty steady, although it changes from day to day. Earlier this year, my old (decade plus) Mac computer at home finally gave up the ghost and had to be replaced, costing me almost two grand. Recently our Mac computer at the store is also giving us problems and will have to be replaced pretty soon. Since our rent was raised earlier this year, we have been struggling to survive financially. As of yesterday, we haven't been able to get into our Paypal account at the store and this is how we create stamps (through Pay Station), so we might be a bit late on mail orders going out for the next week.
IF ANY OF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, PLEASE HELP US BY CONTRIBUTING TO OUR HELP DMG BUY A NEW COMPUTER FUND.
Our paypal address is ebay@downtownmusicgallery.com. We take credit cards as well. Over the past few years, we've been getting a deluge of donated CD's for free from different customers and friends around the world, more than 5,000 free CD's in donations! Thanks to all of you who have helped us in this way. We also bought another large collection of 4,000 CD's of most avant/jazz with quite a bit European titles (like FMP, Splash, Moers & Konnex). We have been putting these discs up in our Discogs store but it is a slow process. A handful of our customers keep an eye on each of our Discogs online store and have contacted us directly to get these discs for themselves. Our Discogs store (which lists more than 5,000 CD's, LP's, singles & cassettes) is much more accurate than our database so please check out Discogs when looking for what we do have in stock. We still get great response to the weekly newsletter, especially the song lyrics that I post and what these lyrics mean to me. Thanks to all of you who read the weekly DMG newsletter, it is no doubt a labor of Love, it does come from my/our heart and soul. - Peace and Love Always, Bruce Lee from DMG
********
THE DMG 34th ANNIVERSARY IN-STORE CONCERT CELEBRATION CONTINUES with:
Rare Monday Night Event: June 21st, 2025: Relative Pitch Presents: 6:30 - 8:30:
1st Set: gabby fluke-mogul - Violin
2nd Set: PAULA SANCHEZ - Cello
3rd Set: gabby fluke-mogul - Violin & PAULA SANCHEZ - Cello
Tuesday, July 22nd:
6:30: JOSE F. SOLARES - Tenor sax / MIRANDA AGNEW - Trumpet / ORCHID McRAE - Drums
7:30: AIDAN O’CONNELL - ContraBass / MATT KNOEGEL - Sax / MICHAEL LAROCCA - Drums
8:30: GREG SHERIFF from VOIDWARD - Drums, Digeridoo, Samples / SANDY EWEN - Guitar
Saturday, July 26th: The Gauci-Music Series continues with:
6:30: SEBASTIAN ALEXANDER JOHNSON - trombone / JOSE FERNANDO SOLARES - sax-reeds / CAROLINE MORTON - bass / JOSH MATHEWS - drums
7:30: STEPHEN GAUCI - tenor sax-clarinet-flute / ADAM LANE - bass / KEVIN SHEA - drums
8:30: PATRICK GOLDEN - drums / JIM CLOUSE - tenor - soprano saxes / MATT HOLLENBERG - guitar
Tuesday, July 29th:
6:30: STEPHAN CRUMP - Solo Contrabass
7:00: NICK NEUBERG - Solo Drums
7:30: DARREN JOHNSTON - Trumpet / SEAN CONLY - Contrabass / HAMIR ATWAL - Drums
8:30: BEN GOLDBERG'S INVISIBLE GUY
************
THIS WEEK'S DYNAMIC DISCS BEGIN WITH TWO FABULOUS TZADIK TITLES:
JOHN ZORN and DAVE LOMBARDO - Memories, Dreams and Reflections (Tzadik 9324; USA) Friends and colleagues for over 25 years, John Zorn and Dave Lombardo are two of the most uncompromising and powerful musical visionaries in modern music and “Memories, Dreams, and Reflections” presents these two extreme virtuosos in an exciting session of pure improvisation. Drum shaman Dave Lombardo and renegade sax alchemist Zorn are at their freewheeling best here and their connection has never been tighter. Intense, telepathic, filled with love, surprise, respect, and an insatiable curiosity, this is an unexpected but inevitable meeting of two old friends who are also two modern musical masters.
CD $16
SHARDIK with MATT HOLLENBERG / SANA NAGANO / NICK JOST / DANNY SHER - Cruelty Bacchanal (Tzadik 4055; USA) Featuring Matt Hollenberg on guitars, Sana Nagano on electric & acoustic violins, Nick Jost on bass and Danny Sher on drums. The second release from Matt Hollenberg’s newest musical unit Shardik is a biting critique of political corruption and hypocrisy in the modern era. Years in the making, the music is replete with searing solos, harmonic daring, soaring lyricism, and a complex formal logic. Traversing avant-garde classical, dissonant math metal, free jazz, world music and more, “Cruelty Bacchanal” is Matt’s best project to date. Performed with stunning intensity and astonishing virtuosity this is essential new music from a guitar master that demands your attention. Essential!
CD $14
ESTHESIS QUARTET with BILL FRISELL / ELSA NILSSON / DAWN CLEMENT / EMMA DAYHUFF / TINA RAYMOND - Sound & Fury (Sunnyside SSC 1765; NYC; USA) Introspection can be born from any number of events. Losing a valued mentor is a moment that would give anyone pause. Esthesis Quartet members Dawn Clement and Elsa Nilsson searched deep inside to come to terms with the loss of their mentor, Ron Miles. Along with bandmates Emma Dayhuff and Tina Raymond, the quartet creates a program of music inspired by self-reflection, contemplation and self-discovery on their new album, Sound & Fury, that features the fantastic Bill Frisell on guitar.
The four musicians of the Esthesis Quartet met through happenstance. Clement was first introduced to Swedish flutist Elsa Nilsson when Nilsson came to study with Clement at Cornish College in Seattle. Later, Clement crossed paths with the Los Angeles based drummer Raymond at the Reno Jazz Festival and Raymond met the Chicago-based Dayhuff when the bassist visited Los Angeles as an accompanying musician for an improvising dance troupe and sat in at a local jam session.
During the pandemic, Clement and Nilsson invited Raymond and Dayhuff to create a compositional support group, workshopping music together via Zoom. Once restrictions were loosened, the quartet became more than a workshop band, as they had become a cohesive and original ensemble. They called themselves the Esthesis Quartet. Since then, the Quartet has released two albums.
Clement moved to Denver to join the faculty at Metropolitan State University in 2018. She came excited with the prospect of working alongside trumpeter Ron Miles. Miles was the reason Clement decided to leave Seattle, as Miles had been instrumental in her performing career as a bandmate with Matt Wilson’s Honey & Salt band and in his support of her as an educator.
Nilsson met Miles as an undergraduate at Cornish College. She was immediately struck by how he could slough off his modest nature when he played or spoke, filling the room with a joyful energy. It was an inspiration for Nilsson as she was coming to terms with social anxiety. On another occasion, Nilsson asked Miles for a lesson only to be invited for an informal day of improvising, cementing a friendship and musical mentorship.
Unfortunately, Miles’s illness prevented as much collaboration between Clement and Nilsson. While he was in hospice, musicians, including Clement and Nilsson, compiled improvisations to be shared with Miles. The improvisations that Clement and Nilsson created provided groundwork for the pieces that they present on Sound & Fury. Sadly, Miles passed away in early March 2022, leaving an unfillable hole in the jazz and creative music communities.
CD $14
EMI MAKABE with JASON MORAN / BILL FRISELL / THOMAS MORGAN / VITOR GONCALVES / KENNY WOLLESEN / et al - Echo (Sunnyside SSC 1772; NYC; USA) Featuring Emi Makabe on voice, shamisen, flute & compositions, Vitor Goncalves on piano, accordion & Wurlitzer, Thomas Morgan on contrabass, Kenny Wolesen on drums plus guest Jason Moran on piano, Bill Frisell on acoustic guitar and Meshell Ndegeocello as MC. Recorded at Brooklyn Recording in June of 2022.
Across cultures the world over, the word echo, well, echoes. In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the mountain nymph Echo’s voice was cursed so that she could only repeat the words of others. In Arabic, sada — meaning “echo,” “ring,” “resonance” — deeply connotes longing, memory. Given her Japanese heritage, the revered, Brooklyn-based composer, vocalist, shamisen player, and educator Emi Makabe was drawn to her native language’s unique iteration: eko. “It shares the English pronunciation, but it means praying for people who have passed away,” Makabe explains. Which resonated deeply with her, as her father passed away in 2021.
I knew very little about vocalist/musician Emi Makabe before picking up the promo at the Sunnyside office a couple of days ago. It turns out that Ms. Makabe had a previous release on Greenleaf with Goncalves, Morgan & Wollesen from 2020. I do know Bill Frisell, Thomas Morgan and Kenny Wollesen, who have worked together in different combinations for many years previously. You no doubt know about award-winning pianist Jason Moran, who has worked with Greg Osby, Ron Miles, Charles Lloyd & Steve Coleman. This disc has a lovely, sad, rather solemn yet enchanting vibe/sound. Bill Frisell plays some exquisite, stirring acoustic guitar on the opening song, "The Birthday Song". Ms. Makabe plays a shamisen (3 string Japanese plucked instrument) on "Morisan", interweaving her lines with Jason Moran's spirited piano. I like Ms. Makabe's voice, it sounds charming, rather soulful in a Laura Nyro sort of way. Ms. Makabe sings in English and writes lyrics that are poignant, heart-felt and somewhat sad at times. I love the solemn vibe which runs throughout this entire disc. It makes me want to sip some tasty white wine as the sun sets in the horizon from the train platform, a couple of blocks from where I live in Rahway, NJ. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $14
GAIA WILMER / RA KALAM BOB MOSES with GEORGE GARZONE / LEO GENOVESE / et al - Dancing With Elephants (Sunnyside SSC 1757; USA) Featuring Ra Kalam Bob Moses on drums & cover artwork, Gaia Wilmer, George Garzone, Gustavo D'Amico, Daniele Germani & Neta Raanan on saxes, Yulia Musayelan on flutes, Leandro Pellegrino on electric guitar, Leo Genovese on piano & keyboards and Song Yi Jeon on vocals. According to master drummer Ra Kalam Bob Moses, Ms. Gaia Wilmer is a brilliant composer as well as a wonderful improvisor. Ra Kalam has been working with Ms. Wilmer since they met at New England Conservatory (where he teaches) in 2015. Although I am quite familiar with sax George Garzone (from The fringe) and Leo Genovese (one of Downtown's best newer pianists), the other members of this ensemble are most likely other NEC students that Ms. Wilmer studied and now works with.
Bob Moses recorded a great record called, 'When Elephants Dream of Music' in 1983, hence the title here, 'Dancing with Elephants' seems somehow appropriate. The title track is first and starts off on piano with a lovely, written melody. DSoon, the piece opens up freely with Ms. Jeon's lovely voice floating on top of several swirling waves. Ra Kalam has a distinctive way of playing the drums and hence, his playing is often at the center of most of the music here. I can hear that Ms. Wilmer has written and arranged several ensemble passages for the reeds, guitar and piano which often move together and create lush harmonies. The music often reminds me of the way Gil Evans would write for his orchestra, blending free and written passages seamlessly. "Leaving with the Herd" opens with an enchanting sea of reeds, gloriously harmonized. Flutist Yulia Musayelyan is featured here and sounds especially inspired as a strong soloist. Boston-based sax great, George Garzone, is featured on a few songs here and immensely Trane-like, his tone deep, intense and quietly cosmic. Even with some or much of this ensemble playing freeky, Ms. Wilmer's luscious, inventive and clever writing is compelling throughout. For those who care, vocalist Song Yi Jeon is on about half the tracks, using her voice as an instrument and never singing any lyrics. A consistently enchanting effort. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $14
NEXUS with DANIELE CAVALLANTI / ACHILLE SUCCI / EMANUEL PARRINI / TIZIANO TONONI / et al - Nexus Plays Dolphy (Red Records 123345-2; Italy) featuring Daniele Cavallanti on tenor sax, Achille Succi on alto sax & clarinets, Emanuele Parrini on violin, Alessandro Castelli on trombone, Andrea Grossi on bass, Luca Gusella on vibes and Tiziano Tononi on drums. Saxist Daniele Cavallanti and drummer Tiziano Tonini organized their own band Nexus, whose first record came out in 1983. This is their 12th album in four decades. Each of the Nexus releases have guest musicians like Pino Minafra, Glenn Ferris, Mark Dresser and Herb Robertson. Although Mr. Cavallanti and Mr. Tononi, their main members, do most of the composing, they have covered composers like Robert Johnson, Curtis mayfield, Bob Marley, Charles Mingus and Roscoe Mitchell. Aside from Cavallanti & Tononi, I am familiar with Achille Succi from his work with Andrea Centazzo, Zeno De Rossi and Garrison Fewell. More recently I've heard violinist Emanuele Parrini playing Raoul Bjorkenheim (for a John Coltrane tribute) and with the J. and F. Band (led by Jaimo from the Allman Brothers & bassist Joe Fonda).
"Full-bodied and lush sextet arrangements that revise without betraying the original performances. - AudioReview's Disc of the Month. These are more full-bodied and lush, both harmonically and because of the inclusion of various happy gimmicks, such as moments of collective improvisation and other insolitary ones - nonexistent in Dolphy's."The Nexus version introduces a linked suite of pieces that brims over with spirit - as does just about everything in the collected discography of Tiziano Tononi and Daniele Cavallanti. There is a big hearted quality to their work, always giving credit to their pantheon of heroes but also giving a lot back to the creative music tradition with the originality of their approach and the sheer verve of the playing. It's a performance that puts Dolphy's most famous quote to the test: "When you hear music, after it's over, it's gone in the air; you can never recapture it again." Far from disappearing, it finds harbour in the hearts and minds of those who have loved it, and continues to inspire."
CD $17
CHAYA CZERNOWIN - Seltene Erde & Atara (Kairos 22048CD; Austria) "This compelling album presents works by Israeli composer Chaya Czernowin, exploring the fragile balance between destruction and communication, control and surrender. 'Seltene Erde' transforms the double bass and ensemble into a shifting landscape of illusion and resonance, evoking the invisible forces shaping our world. 'Atara,' born from the isolation of 2020, is a powerful orchestral lament, where vast sonic masses collide with the delicate voices of two singers, lost yet luminous. Through these works, Czernowin crafts a deeply visceral experience -- where sound becomes both raw material and fleeting shadow, revealing the unseen forces that shape existence."
$18
BAY AREA BASSIST LISA MEZZACAPPA'S UPCOMING RESIDENCY (JULY 23rd - 26th) AT THE STONE WILL FEATURE A DOZEN BAY AREA/WEST COAST CREATIVE MUSICIANS, MANY OF WHOM ARE MAKING THEIR DEBUTS IN NYC! Ms. Mezzacappa founded her own Queen Bee Records label and sent us five recent CD's. Here's a list of what we got & I will do reviews as time allows. PLEASE go to The Stone next week and check these musicians out! - BLG at DMG
JORDAN GLENN'S BEAK with KARL EVANGELISTA / LISA MEZZACAPPA / SUDHU TEWARI / et al - The Party (Queen Bee Records QB007; USA) Featuring Karl Evangelista & David James on electric & modified guitars, Mark Pascucci-Clifford on vibes, gongs & bundtmonica, Lisa Mezzacappa on acoustic bass, Sudhu Tewari on no string guitars, YEMRS & bundtmonica, JOn Arkin & Robert Lopez on drums & percussion. Recorded live at Dresher Studio in Oakland in February of 2024. I know of drummer Jordan Glenn from his work with the great Fred Frith Trio and Bay Are prog band Jack O' the Clock. I recall the great guitar work of Karl Evangelista from his three great discs (with Louis Moholo & Trevor Watts!) on the Astral Spirits & Fundacja Sluchaj labels. I've caught Sudhu Tewari working with Fred Frith on a couple of occasions at The Stone. Busy Bay Area bassist Lisa Mezzacappa I've known for years from her half-dozen plus records as a leader as well as collaborating with Aaron Novik, Vinny Golia & Jason Levis. The other members of this ensemble I don't know very well although I do see that guitarist David James used to play with Spearhead while Jon Arkin has worked with Ben Goldberg (another Bay Area pioneer).
If we look at the outside and inside photos on this disc, we see that each of the bandmembers are wearing a hooded, robed costumes. Jordan Glenn composed and conducted this music and is also wearing a strange costume. "Shades of Purple and Other Scrambles" opens with a most hypnotic, vibes-led groove fest. The guitars also become part of the groove, as well as Meezzacappa'd pumping bass. When the rhythm team drops out the fractured guitars & vibes continue to swirl together. The groove here is infectious with someone injecting occasional bursts of electronic oddities. The infectious groove continues throughout "It Goes Boodigga Popdee" into "What Keeps You Up at Night". Although it is hard to tell certain instruments apart, it sounds like the guitars and electronics stay in the groove and play their lines together. On "Free Three Leaves of Tea", the groove/vibe calms down for a sly, eerie, skeletal guitar solo over a hypnotic repeating vibes line. One of the instruments used here is called a YEMRS (a/k/a Yasmin Electro Magnetic Rhythm Sequencer). This invention was created by band member Sudhu Tewari who I've caught working with Fred Frith in concert. Throughout much of this disc, there is some sort of sequencer which is playing different rhythmic patterns which the drummers here play along with. Hence, we have a series of grooves with guitars and/or vibes linking with. Those grooves are usually not very complex and feel good to groove along with/to. Often one of the guitars will link into the groove/patterns while the other guitar solos or just adds nifty punctuation. Even with weird costumes and odd/unique instruments, the music here is not that strange. It is consistently compelling and it is filled with some great grooves. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $12
* BRISTLE with RANDY McKEAN / CORY WRIGHT / MURRAY CAMPBELL / LISA MEZZACAPPA - Archimera (Queen Bee Records QB 008; USA) Bristle features Randy McKean and Corey Wright on woodwinds, Murray Campbell on violin & oboes and Lisa Mezzacappa on contrabass. This is the third disc from Bristle, a Bay Area-based quartet whose first record was released in 2011. You should recall the name of saxist Randy McKean, who was an Anthony Braxton collaborator when he was living on the east coast. Woodwinds player Cory Wright, has also recorded with Adam Rudolph's Go Organic Orchestra (west coast version), Vinny Golia, Jack O' The Clock and for Anthony Braxton's 'Trillium R' opera. I don't know anything else about Murray Campbell except for his playing in Bristle. Lisa Mezzacappa is a fine bassist, composer, multi-bandleader and runs this, the Queen Bee label.
Both Randy McKean and Cory Wright wrote most of the pieces here. "Lines of Work" sounds sorta like a bebop tune which was written by Lennie Tristano with the bass at the center, holding down to rhythm/groove and no drummer involved. The piece is mostly written out and provides some quirky ensemble arranging for the two reeds and violin. Considering that there is no drummer here, the quartet sounds like a modern chamber with thoughtful and diverse scores to work with. "Basset" reminds me somewhat of Renaissance music, something like the melody of "A Hunting We Will Go", with three reeds all swirling together and occasionally making some barking sounds. While the three reeds play what sounds like written lines, Ms. Mezzacappa bows up a storm which adds a disorienting vibe to the proceedings. Each of the 6 pieces here is/are well written and/or well thought out. The one odd cover here is called "Flight II", which was written & performed by a Bay Area pop duo known as Ramon and Jessica, most likely cohorts of someone(s) in this quartet. The piece is a lovely, solemn chamber pop piece, quite charming in its own way. The more I listen to this disc, the more I realize how much thought and work went into the composing, playing and recording of this disc. It doesn't quite sound like any other disc I've heard in recent memory. I am Looking forward to Bristle's performance at The Stone next week (7/24/25). - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $12
* BRISTLE will be making a rare east coast set at The Stone next week on Thursday, July 24th
GERRIT HATCHER / PETER MAUNU / JULIAN KIRSCHNER - Poem of the Obtuse Angle / Bronze Mine (Kettle Hole Records 007; Chicago, USA) Featuring Gerrit Hatcher on tenor sax, Peter Maunu on guitar, violin & mandolin amd Julian Kirshner on drums. Last week (July of 2025), Chicago tenor saxist Gerrit Hatcher came to visit my store and left us with a half dozen different discs that he has released on his own limited edition Kettle Hole label. Aside from some of the bigger names like Ernest Dawkins, Ken Vandermark, Nicole Mitchell, Dave Rempis and Mars Williams, there is a vast underground of creative musicians from the Chicago area which continues to evolve. Saxist Gerrit Hatcher and drummer Julian Kirshner appear to have their own network of musicians, some I know of and other names are new to me. String wiz Peter Maunu has been around for a while and has worked with more established musicians like Mark Isham, Patrick O'Hearn and Mars Williams.
"Poem of the Obtuse Angle" is nearly 24 minutes long and unfolds slowly with just somber tenor sax and drums at first before the fractured guitar slowly enters. Guitarist Peter Maunu builds by adding more furious, faster lines with, his tone distorted and actually similar to the sound of Hatcher's tenor sprawl. The three members of the trio are well-matched and play together as one Spirit/Force quite well throughout. This disc is comprised of only two tracks, 35 minutes total. The music is spirited, free, focused and often quite intense. On the second piece, it sounds like Mr. Maunu is bowing some strange sounds on his violin (or guitar or mandolin, hard to tell). Tasty Spirit Medicine! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10 [Limited Edition of 300]
REISSUES:
ACCORDION TRIBE with GUY KLUCEVSEK / LARS HOLLMER / BRATKO BIBIC / OTTO LECHNER / MARIA KALANIEMI - Accordion Tribe (Intuition 3220; Germany) Accordion Tribe is both the name of a truly exceptional working band and the title of their first album. In May 1996, five of the world's most innovative contemporary accordionists converged in Europe for a three week tour. Each of these players is/are recognized in classical, jazz, folk or avant-garde music circles as being not only technically skilled but having profound compositional ability as well as an unquenchable thirst for adventure. Individually, they are uncompromising and driven by a deep passion for breaking down musical barriers. Collectively, they make the challenge to integrate these forces into a whole, of which the combined energy is greater than the sum of its parts.
The program featured solos and combinations, compositions and collaborations from individual and collective group members. The full presentation was a major event in the accordion renaissance, a turning point for the accordion as a contemporary instrument and a powerful, thrilling experience for all modern music enthusiasts lucky enough to witness it.
CD $14
CHARLIE MARIANO with BERNHARD PICHI / RUDI ENGEL / BILL ELGART / WURZBURG PHILHARMONIC - Not Quite A Ballad (Intuition 33732; Germany) In November 1998 Charlie Mariano celebrated his 75th birthday on stage with the Würzburg Philharmonic, thereby fulfilling a long and dearly cherished wish: finally get the chance to play with a symphonic orchestra. That occasion was the springboard for various new arrangements, which now appear here for the first time on CD. Two years later a second artistic collaboration in Würzburg took place: this concert resulted in the current recording. A decisive element in the successful communication between the symphony orchestra and jazz musicians was the presence of the New On The Corner Trio, which has been organizing jazz productions with the Würzburg Orchestra on a regular basis since 1994, including a CD recording with Benny Bailey. Thus we hear four of the titles here in an arrangement for quartet. Charlie`s Italian roots, and the fact that he often heard arais at home in his younger days are the reason for the arrangements from the aria "Vesti la giubba" from I Pagliacci, and from Albinoni`s Adagio which we hear here. Some listeners may well prefer Charlie`s alto sax to many an Italian tenor! The Next Last Wave, the original compositions by Peter Fulda is in fact already available on CD in various versions (big band, piano solo, piano trio), but this is a first-time recording of the version for quartet and symphony orchestra. Charlie Mariano`s years of involvement with the music of the Indian subcóntinent are reflected in the large-scale Yagapriya by the Indian composer Ramamani, in an arrangement by Peter Fulda. The first half of this work is a gigantic tambura or free improvisation by thew soloist over a changing "bordun" in the orchestra. The second half is rhythmically defined, but in 7/4 time. The notes are all pitched within one single, unchanging scale. The conductor of these recordings, Jonathan Seers, puts it simply this way: "This is where "world music" is created in the best sense of the word".
CD $14
RL CRUTCHFIELD'S DARK DAY - Exterminating Angel (Mark MK 004CD; USA) Keyboardist Robin Crutchfield was a founding member of DNA before being replaced by Tim Wright on el bass. All 13 songs on Exterminating Angel use cheap synthesizers to create cyclical, machine-like keyboard riffs as a foundation for the moody, Teutonic music. Crutchfield sings like a lost member of Kraftwerk with a dry detachment creating a starker and chillier atmosphere. Lyrics were derived from cut-up methods similar to those used by the surrealists, fluxus artists, and William Burroughs and Bryon Gysin and pit the subjected against their torments and tormentors. All songs on Exterminating Angel were originally recorded at Sorcerer Sound, NYC. 1979 and produced by Charles Ball.
CD $17
LP SECTION:
ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO - Les Stances a Sophie (Play Loud! Productions PL 135LP; Germany) On May 28, 1969, four American musicians -- reed/wind players Roscoe Mitchell and Joseph Jarman, bassist Malachi Favors, and (accompanied by his wife, singer Fontella Bass) trumpeter Lester Bowie -- boarded the ocean liner S.S. United States, bound for Le Havre, France. After landing five days later, they moved on to Paris, where they got to work. On August 22, 1970, in the waning days of their stay overseas, the group, with Bass on vocals, would record their second release for EMI's Pathé Marconi: the movie soundtrack Les Stances à Sophie. The record, an exciting, eminently listenable combination of soul, classical, and jazz strains that survives as the Art Ensemble of Chicago's most stylistically diverse album, has long been admired by a devoted cult. Its durability is largely due to the popularity of its "hit": Over the years, "Theme de Yoyo" has been covered repeatedly, essayed by acts as varied as German funk band the Boogoos (and the offshoot Deep Jazz, both featuring singer Julia Fehenbeger), British nu-jazz combo the Cinematic Orchestra, Polish jazz man Wojtek Mazolewski, Norwegian rockers Motorpsycho, French dance music artist Étienne Jaumet, and London-based remixer, Shall I Bruk It. More than half a century later, "Theme de Yoyo" and Les Stances à Sophie still bring it. Limited-edition LP reissue from play loud! Productions, supplemented with new notes by U.S. music journalist Chris Morris.
LP $28
MAREK POSPIESZALSKI OCTET & ZOH AMBA - Now! (Instant Classic 099LP; Earth) "Brand new studio album from Marek Pospieszalski Octet featuring Zoh Amba. 'This band turned out to be an effective working unit from day one,' Pospieszalski admits. 'Its musical concepts leave a lot of space for creative playing and that's why I decided to use the Octet as a platform open for outside participation. One of the musicians I considered for this purpose was Zoh who is well recognized for her direct and limitless approach to music. And this opportunity came on the occasion of our concert at NOSPR concert hall in Katowice. The next day we visited Emil Berliner Studios where the album was recorded,' he explains. For most of the music recorded here, sheet music is treated only as a guideline, a rough entry point, and it's only thanks to collective improvisation that Now! sounds as good and coherent as an album. 'And that's one of the reasons why I decided to add titles only once the music got recorded,' Pospieszalski says. 'And despite the fact that I am being really direct here, I prefer to have listeners interpret the album's message on their own. Individual context is key here -- place, time and most importantly, personal emotions.' Leading a 9-person band may seem like a challenge on a lot of levels but Pospieszalski prefers to treat it as a set of new opportunities instead. 'Although everything here is focused on my artistic vision, it wouldn't sound as good if it weren't for other musicians involved,' he admits. 'Each member of the group has their influence over the final result of our collective playing. I tend to give them direction but it is up to them to interpret it.'"
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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THE STONE RESIDENCIES / MATT MITCHELL / JULY 16-19
Pianist/composer Matt Mitchell celebrates his 50th birthday with four fabulous nights of cutting-edge music at The Stone. Come and celebrate!
7/16 Wednesday
8:30 pm - TRIO: Matt Mitchell (piano, compositions) Kim Cass (bass) Ches Smith (drums)
7/17 Thursday
8:30 pm - QUARTET: Matt Mitchell (piano, compositions) Miles Okazaki (guitar) Chris Tordini (bass) Dan Weiss (drums)
7/18 Friday
8:30 pm - QUARTET: Matt Mitchell (piano, compositions) Brandon Seabrook (guitar) Kim Cass (bass) Kate Gentile (drums)
7/19 Saturday
8:30 pm - 50TH BIRTHDAY SOLO CONCERT - Matt Mitchell (piano)
* THE STONE RESIDENCIES / LISA MEZZACAPPA / JULY 23-26
For her first Stone Residency musical visionary Lisa Mezzacappa presents four nights of adventurous music with all-Bay Area line-ups! Not to be missed!
7/23 Wednesday
8:30 pm - duo B. AND Cory Wright's Green Mitchell Trio
duo B. Lisa Mezzacappa (bass) Jason Levis (drums) and
Cory Wright's Green Mitchell Trio
Cory Wright (saxes, clarinets) Lisa Mezzacappa (bass) Jason Levis (drums)
7/24 Thursday
8:30 pm - duo B. AND Bristle
duo B. - Lisa Mezzacappa (bass) Jason Levis (drums) AND Bristle - Randy McKean (saxes, clarinets) Cory Wright (saxes, clarinets) Murray Campbell (oboes, violin) Lisa Mezzacappa (bass)
7/25 Friday
8:30 pm - Lisa Mezzacappa: Cosmicomics - Aaron Bennett (tenor sax) Mark Clifford (vibraphone) Brett Carson (piano, keyboard) Lisa Mezzacappa (bass) Jordan Glenn (drums)
7/26 Saturday
8:30 pm - Lisa Mezzacappa Six(ish) - Aaron Bennett (tenor sax) Kyle Bruckmann (oboes, electronics) Mark Clifford (vibraphone) Brett Carson (piano, keyboard) Lisa Mezzacappa (bass) Jordan Glenn (drums) and special guests
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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Saturday, August 2nd, 2025:
UNTETERED Featuring:
PAUL GEISS - Trumpet & Electronics
BRANDON ROSS - Guitar
TIN=MOTHY RAGSDALE - Bass
GRANT CALVIN WESTON - Drums
Doors: 7pm
1st set: 7:30
2nd Set: 8:45
At Nublu
151 Ave C
NYC, NY
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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=rgcxTkoIgQI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAWxt3EJSPw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcvoYygehqE
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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