And if you go chasing rabbits
And you know you're going to fall
Tell 'em a hookah-smoking caterpillar
Has given you the call
He called Alice
When she was just small
When the men on the chessboard
Get up and tell you where to go
And you've just had some kind of mushroom
And your mind is moving low
Go ask Alice
I think she'll know
When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead
And the White Knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen's off with her head
Remember what the dormouse said
Feed your head
Feed your head
Last night (8/6/2025) I went to a performance at The Stone featuring Vernon Reid, Laaraji and members of the Burnt Sugar Arkestra. The entire set was spectacular blending funk, rock, jazz, layers of dynamite vocals with Butch Morris-like conduction. A righteous, compelling blend that made me want to dance, sing and go wild along the band. It is guitar great Vernon Reid's first curation at The Stone and he chose his friends, members of the great collective Burnt Sugar Ark as his collaborators, a wise choice no doubt. I will be there for each night of this curation and you should also attend as it is/will be one of this year's highlights. Today Vernon Reid turns 67 and to celebrate this, this evening's performance will be a tribute to 1967 with select covers from that year. Including, what promises to be a powerful rendition of the above song, "White Rabbit" (a hit for Jefferson Airplane in 1967).
Having been born in 1954 and witnessing the Beatles on Ed Sullivan's weekly TV show in February of 1964, I am and remain a 1960's rock and soul fanatic. In my estimation, more classic rock, soul and folk albums were released in 1967 than any other year before or after. I can think of at least 100 plus albums and singles that were released that year that still sound astonishing today, more than a half century later. My favorite bands at this time include the Mothers of Invention, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, the Byrds, the Who, the Supremes, the Temptations, the Bee Gees, Traffic, Eric Burdon & the Animals, the Grateful Dead, Love, and many, many more. After the Mothers and the Stones, Jefferson Airplane were my next favorite band. I remember buying "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit" as singles in 1967 as well as getting a mono copy of 'Surrealistic Pillow', which I kept playing over and over. I just listened to a mono LP copy at the store recently and it still sounds great to me. I still love Grace's singing and lyrics here. My favorite JA record is called 'After Playing at Baxter's' from 1968 and it was/is their true psychedelic masterpiece. I finally got a chance to check out Jefferson Airplane live in August of 1969 at the Atlantic City Rock Festival (I ran away from home to attend). They had their own amazing light show and their set was spine-tingling great! I am really looking forward to tonight's 1967 celebration at The Stone. Those in attendance are in for a treat! Happy Birthday to Vernon Reid and thanks to him and the members of Burnt Sugar for their great, positive and infectious vibes! - Peace and Love Always from MC-BruceLee
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A WORD TO VINYL FREAKS and THOSE WHO STILL BUY CD'S:
We are still getting donations and buying the occasional collections as time goes on. We've gotten upwards of 6,000 CD's in donations over the past few years so we are still sitting on many boxes, large and small, many of which are in the back of the store. We've gotten in a couple of great used LP and used CD collections as well. 400 LP's of Downtown, avant-jazz, modern classical, electronic and between categories weirdness, some of which we post in our Discogs store, the rest in a large box across from the counter or on display on top of CD shelves. Hence, I urge you to come visit or at least check out our Discogs store if you still collect Creative Music. Since we have around 4,000 CD's of avant & even more mainstream jazz, prog and assorted rock, folk, soul or country, we've also been working out way through pricing as many discs as we can but it does take time. Over the next few months, we hope to put out a number of 30 count CD boxes under our CDs shelves as we put them in categories and price what we can. There are now 4 boxes of jazz & pop vocal CD's underneath our vocal music section to check out. The summer has been very slow as far as walk-in traffic goes so it would be nice to see some new faces here at DMG. Please check out our in-store concert listings and our InstaGram account where I post short daily excerpts from our in-store series. - Thanks, as always, for your support. - Bruce Lee Gallanter at DMG
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THE DMG 34th ANNIVERSARY IN-STORE CONCERT CELEBRATION CONTINUES with:
Tuesday, August 12th:
6:30: ROBERT DICK and LESZEK "HEFI" WISNIOWSKI - Flute Duo
7:30: KILLICK HINDS / LUCIANA BASS - Guitar Duo
8:30: DAFNA NAPHTALI - Electronics-Voice / SARA SCHOENBECK - Bassoon / YUKO TOGAMI - Drums
Tuesday, August 19th:
6:30: DUSTIN CARLSON - Guitar
7:30: KRIS GRUDA - Guitar / STAN ZENKOV - Saxes & Clarinets
8:30: MIKE McGINNIS - Clarinet / SARA SCHOENBECK - Bassoon / DANA LYNN - Violin
Saturday, August 23rd: The Gauci-Music Series continues with:
6:30: THOMAS MILOVAC - Solo Bass
7:30: STEPHEN GAUCI - Tenor Sax / JAMES McKAIN - Bari Sax / ANNA ABONDOLO - Bass / KEVIN SHEA - Drums
8:30: HARUNA FUKAZAWA - Flutes / STAN ZENKOV - Bass Clarinet / SHU ODAMURA - Guitar
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THIS WEEK'S DYNAMITE DISCS BEGIN WITH:
MARCO ENEIDI QUINTET with DARREN JOHNSTON / JOHN FINKBEINER / DAMON SMITH / VIJAY ANDERSON - Wheat Fields of Kleylehof (Botticelli Records 1018 / BPACD27027; USA) Featuring Marco Eneidi on alto sax & compositions, Darren Johnston on trumpet, John Finkbeiner on guitar, Damon Smith on contrabass and Vijay Anderson on drums. This session was recorded in the fall of 2004, most likely in the Bay Area. Legendary Free/Jazz alto saxist, Marco Eneidi, was something else entirely! One of the heaviest of all free/jazz sax players. I caught Mr. Eneidi numerous times in NYC when he was living here and playing William Parker, Cecil Taylor (workshop bands) and Glenn Spearman. Mr. Eneidi moved to Europe after being a part of the Downtown Scene and eventually ended up in Oakland, California, organizing his own bands with a number of West Coast greats: Lisle Ellis, Vinny Golia, Donald Robinson and Henry Kaiser. Eneidi also lived in Mexico for a bit and recorded a couple of discs with a strong Mexican rhythm team. Although Mr. Eneidi recorded some 18 discs as a leader or co-leader between 1986 and his passing in May of 2016, his West Coast collaborations are rare as far as recordings go.
According to the liner notes by bassist Damon Smith, Eneidi did play often with a number of Bay Area musicians. For this session, Eneidi has organized a formidable quintet with trumpet great Darren Johnston, guitarist John Finkbeiner, bassist Damon Smith and drummer Vijay Anderson. Darren Johnston played here in a trio with Sean Conly & drummer Hamir Atwal last week (7/29/25) and was burnin'! I know of John Finkbeiner from his work with Lisa Mezzacappa, Aaron Novik and Adam Lane. Bass giant Damon Smith keeps busy and runs the BPA label. Former Bay Area drummer, Vijay Anderson, has left us with two great discs over the last few years, the most recent one with Bobby Bradford and Vinny Golia fronting the band.
Marco Eneidi composed all of the pieces on this disc, hence it is not just the usual free/jazz blowout that some might expect. This disc starts off with a powerful two minute free blowing intro with Mr. Eneidi blasting his unique jagged lines over the uptempo rhythm team. "Part 1" starts with a theme played tightly by the sax, trumpet and guitar frontline. Bassist Damon Smith is pumping frenetically with Mr. Anderson's pulsating drumming. Eneidi takes the first solo with Mr. Finkbeiner taking the next inspired guitar solo while the rhythm team erupts in tight waves underneath. Darren Johnston also takes an explosive trumpet solo on this piece, showing off his impressive talents, as does Damon Smith on bowed bass. One of things that I like best about this disc and group is the way that Eneidi had written a collection of short themes that are played underneath whomever is soling at the time. "Part 2" is a solemn, prayer-like piece for slow moving simmering horns (muted trumpet), bowed bass and sizzling cymbals. Mr. Eneidi takes a scary, blood curdling sax solo which sounds like a spirit rising from depths. For "Part 3", Eneidi again has the quintet play restrained, eerie, ghost-like sound while Darren Johnston takes marvelous, spooky trumpet solo. Whoa! On "Part 4", Eneidi's alto sax and Johnston's trumpet trade, furiously going back and forth while the guitar, bass and drums provide a pulsating cushion underneath. "Part 5" is somber yet bristling with the band simmering while guitarist Finkbeiner plays thoughtful low key solo and is joined by Eneidi's powerful weeping toned sax. This entire disc flows together most organically and feels like we are at a prayer meeting at some church of sorts. One of this year's most enchanting gems. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $14
JON IRABAGON / PLAINSPEAK with RUSS JOHNSON / CLARK SOMMERS / DANA HALL - Someone to Someone (Irabbagast Records 032; USA) Featuring Jon Irabagon on alto sax & compositions, Russ Johnson on trumpet, Clark Sommers on contrabass and Dana Hall on drums. Since moving back to the Chicago area during the pandemic, award-winning saxist, Jon Irabagon has released a series of discs on his own label, each one with a different cast of musicians. For this disc, Irabagon has a new quartet with Russ Johnson on trumpet, Clark Sommers on bass and Dana Hall on drums. I recall Russ Johnson from the time he was living here and playing in the Other Quartet and have heard him on records in recent years with Max Johnson, Tim Daisy and Ethan Philion. I see that bassist Clark Sommers also has worked with Darren Johnston and Tim Daisy. Drummer Dana Hall has worked with Damon Locks, Ben Goldberg and Darren Johnston as well.
I have long admired the city of Chicago as far as all of the great music that has been created there from from jazzers like Sun Ra, John Gilmore, Johnny Griffin & Fred Anderson through many of the original electric blues greats onwards to Butterfield & Barry Goldberg Blues Bands, the influential AACM Spirit/School (Muhal, Braxton, Art Ensemble, Wadada & many more) through the current scene (Vandermark, Dave Rempis, Mars Williams (RIP)) and many more. Inside this disc, Jon Irabagon has written a lengthy essay about his love and admiration for Chicago, describing many of the things (music, food, comedy & more) which make Chicago unique. Each of the six songs here (all written by Mr. Irabagon) seems to be titled about the distinctive traits which make Chicago special.
The title track, "Someone to Someone" is first and it is a lovely, forlorn sounding ballad. Irabagon's alto sax and Johnson's trumpet sound warm and tender together with sublime, subtle support by the bass and drums. Midway the tempo increases as Irabagon and Johnson solo tightly together, spinning their lines in focused orbits. "Buggin' the Big" has a moderate tempo groove with the sax and trumpet exchanging spirited lines, a most expressive exchange of dialogue. Irabagon and Johnson sound as if they were playing together for many years as they complete each other's lines in perfect tandem. "Malort is My Shepherd" has another tender theme when it opens but soon freer in sections. The main melody is most memorable and sounds somewhat familiar yet the freer parts show how well this quartet plays together, moving in a most organic way. When Irabagon solos in the last section, he pushes things further out for a short bit before the quartet goes back to the original melody. "At What Price Garlic" has a great, repeating, memorable bass line at the center with the sax and trumpet shadowing each other just right. Irabagon takes a long, spirited and inventive solo here, showing why he is amongst the best saxists around, navigating the inside and outside in a most seamless way. Bassist Sommers and trumpeter Johnson also take inspired solos here as well. The superb blend of Irabagon's alto and Johnson's trumpet often remind me of the way John Zorn's alto and Dave Douglas' trumpet blended so well in the original Masada quartet, which is no small feat. The last piece, "The Pulseman" is even more Masada-like in sound and it is a marvelous closing gem with extraordinary solos from Irabagon and Johnson. I must admit that this is one of the best jazz quartet releases of this year and I truly hope that the popular jazz media (Downbeat & WBGO) do their job and promote this treasure as one of this year's best releases. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $14
ANDY HAAS & BRIAN SKOL - The Honeybee Twist (Resonant Music 021; USA) Featuring Andy Haas on sax & live effects and Brian Skol on drums & percussion. I've known Downtown saxist Andy Haas for around forty years and have watched his playing evolve over time. Mr. Haas has played in a variety of ensembles like the Holy Ghost Brotherhood & Radio I-Ching, as well as a number of Downtowners like John Zorn, Ikue Mori and Zeena Parkins. Mr. Haas plays here at DMG a few times a year with David Grollman, Don Fiorino and Sabrina Salamone. Mr. Haas also leaves us with a new disc once or twice a year. For this disc, Haas is working with Brian Skol, a drummer from Toronto, which is where this disc was recorded. "The Eagle and Prometheus" opens with Mr. Haas playing a jubilant theme over Mr. Skol's ritualistic groove. Music moves between repeating patterns with the drums often establishing the groove. Although there is a different groove on each piece, Haas usually adds different effects to his saxes. Each piece has a different groove, all of which have a way of getting our bodies and minds a chance to dance along within and without. Anthony Braxton once referred to a decade-long engagement with "Ghost Trance Music", something that is trance-like on different levels. The music here also has a trance-like nature which has the ability to provide us with an ongoing, trance-like groove or vibe. Throughout this disc, the music had me slow dancing or just nodding my head to the groove. This feels like some sonic medicine to me, which is perfect for a day when it is not too hot or humid out there. This is music for smiling. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $12
PETER GARLAND // CARSON COOMAN - Plain Songs "Love Comes Quietly" (After Robert Creeley)(Colk Blue CB0070; USA) Composition by Peter Garland, performed by Carson Cooman on organ. Thanks to important labels like New World, Avant, Tzadik, New Albion, mode and Cold Blue, I've dug the music of Peter Garland. I own arouns a dozen of Mr. Garland's records and cherish each one. I couldn't recall seeing or hearing anything new from Mr. Garland in a while but it turns out that he does have two more recent discs on the Cold Blue label, neither of which I own, but hope to acquire in the future.
The music here, "Plain Songs", is a seven movement work which was written for organist Carson Cooman. Although I wasn't familiar with Mr. Cooman before this disc arrived, it turns out that he has some 35 discs out as an organist and composer. "Movement 1" begins slowly, quietly with an eerie drone, the organ has a flute-like sound. There is a low-end bass note drone which remains at the bottom of the mix, resonating quietly yet has a somewhat disorienting quality. One thing I notice about this piece is the way that long tones here have a way of altering our reality as if the hum has a way of messing with our perception of what is going on around us at this moment of listening. On "Movement 2", I notice that the texture or tone of each organ note resonates at different speeds, hence we feel an inner rhythm pulsation which also alters our perception of time and/or space. The organ, as an instrument, has been around for many years and is often considered to be an integral part of certain Christian church services. The organ used here, from the Memorial Church at Harvard University, has an ancient sound. Its overall sound is loaded with some baggage which we can hear and/or feel depending on our feelings about being in church. Being a Jew, I have only been in churches perhaps a dozen times in my life. I still feel some religious or spiritual vibes within this music. "Movement 4" has a short melody which is repeated throughout the piece and reminds me of an old pop song melody which is expanded at times. Each of the seven movements here evoke a different vibe, scene or short tale. Each time I listen I hear different things which appear in my mind's eye, as well as the vibrations affecting my own inner pulse. This should be a great late night listen, in the dark with a candle burning across the room and some spirits dancing within or without. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $14
THE RETURN OF DRUMMER/COMPOSER/MULTI-BANDLEADER SEAN NOONAN:
I have long admired the work of drummer/composer/multi-bandleader SEAN NOONAN. Starting with a great yet under-recognized power trio called The Hub (6 discs, 1998-2006), Noonan has led some great bands like Brewed by Noon and Pavee's Dance. I've caught each of these bands live and I marvel at Noonan's ever-inventive bandleading, composing and drumming. Mr. Noonan currently lives in London and his way back to NY from time to time. He just came to visit us last week and left us with four fine, diverse discs. I intend to review each one over the next few weeks' newsletters.
SEAN NOONAN PAVEES DANCE with MALCOLM MOONEY / ARAM BAJAKIAN / JAMAALADEEN TACUMA - There's Always the Night (Self Produced; USA) Featuring Malcolm Mooney on vocals, Aram Bajakian on guitar, Jamaaladeen Tacuma on bass and Sean Noonan on drums, vocals & compositions. Pavees Dance have been around since 2014and have two discs out. This is their first release from 2014. Sean Noonan always chooses great musicians to work with and hence this is an all-star band. Vocalist Malcolm Mooney once sang lead for the German band Can, when they started out (1968-1969). More than a half century later, Mr. Mooney has just a few discs outas a leader or collaborator. Under-recognized guitar great Aram Bajakian has worked with Tzadik bands like Zion80, Abraxas and Kef and is currently in Dalava. Electric bass master Jamaaladeen Tacuma has worked in Ornette's Prime Time band, Jayne Cortez' Firespitters and the Free Form Funky Freqs (playing this Saturday - 8/9/25 at The Stone).
Pavees Dance sounds like a harmolodic funk/rock/prog band. "Man in the Moon" erupts open, combining rock, funk and prog elements into one focused hard rockin' quartet. The title track is next and switches between rock/funk sections with prog-like detours. Malcolm Mooney has a unique odd voice that one digs or not and I happen to enjoy it immensely once I got used to it. Mr. Noonan adds his own quirky/silly/fun-filled back-up vocals at times as well. Mr Mooney sings in spoken word and oddly lyrical distinctive voice harks back to his time with Can. The band plays consistently tight and does a good job of revving up and rocking hard at times. Mooney does a compelling spoken word tale on "No Strings Attached", describing urban life and in a most realistic way. Mr. Tacuma takes a strong, inspired electric bass solo here in his own distinctive way. Sean Noonan joins Mooney here singing the chorus parts in his own charming way. "Portrait of a Heartless Lover" closes out this disc it is a unique, oddball rock/jazz/prog song which doesn't quite sound like anything else I can think of. It is well-constructed with cascading riffs which go up and down the scales and features some truly cool yet bizarre vocals by Mooney and Noonan both. Has I head this disc when it came up, I would've thought that it was one of that year's highlights and unlike anything else produced at the time. It still sounds fresh, inventive and beyond category today. Bravo! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $14
SEAN NOONAN PAVEES DANCE with AVA MENDOZA / MALCOLM MOONEY / JAMAALADEEN TACUMA / ALEX MARCELO - Tan Man's Hat (Rare Noise 106; UK) Released in 2019. “A drummer and composer whose music enthusiastically defies category, Sean Noonan prefers the title "Rhythmic Storyteller" an apt description for a modern-day sonic griot who spins imaginative yarns in the ancient tradition of wandering minstrels while weaving captivating narrative tapestries via his unique polyrhythmic language. On Tan Man's Hat, the second release by his harmolodic jazz-rock ensemble Pavees Dance, Noonan draws inspiration from the soul to the stars with his stunningly adventurous collaborators: original Can vocalist Malcolm Mooney, bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma (Ornette Coleman's Prime Time), guitarist Ava Mendoza (Unnatural Ways) and keyboardist Alex Marcelo (Yusef Lateef). Tan Man's Hat confronts the listener with a vibrant, shocking swirl of sound, a dauntless tempest of varied influences: prog rock and avant-garde classical create sparks from clashes with harmolodic improvisation and African folk traditions, with jolting infusions of psychedelia and campfire tales. The band also thrives on its blend of generations, with experimental elders Mooney and Tacuma passing a still-blazing torch to their cutting-edge compatriots.
CD $15
FINALLY IN STOCK AFTER A THREE MONTH DELAY:
NELS CLINE with TIM BERNE / STACY ROWLES / ERIC VAN ESSEN / ALEX CLINE - Angelica (Enja ENJ 9577; Germany) This is an important reissue of Nels Cline's second album as a leader from 1988. The personnel features: Nels Cline on guitars & compositions, Tim Berne on alto sax, Stacy Rowles on trumpet & flugelhorn, Eric Von Essen on acoustic bass and Alex Cline on drums. Guitar hero Nels Cline has evolved quite a bit since he recorded this disc more than twenty years ago. Both Nels and his occasional collaborator Tim Berne have had led a number of different bands through the many years, each one taking another step in another direction. After this record, Nels put together an amazing (loud) jazz/rock power trio. Nels has evolved through Gregg Bendian's Interzone (prog/fusion quartet) & Interstellar Space Duo, punk or post-rock mayhem with Thurston Moore, Mike Watt & the Geraldine Fibbers, Downtown noise/improv with Elliott Sharp & Zeena Parkins and yet another amazing trio - the Nels Cline Singers. Nels has had parallel ongoing collaborations with his brother Alex, reeds wiz Vinny Golia and Crypto mainman Jeff Gauthier for many years as well. Besides that Nels has been playing his magic rock guitar licks with the high profile roots rock band Wilco. And that ain't all... Listening to 'Angelica' now, who knew where Nels would end up today? All but one of the six pieces is dedicated to artists like Vinny Golia, Dino Saluzzi, Booker Little, Maria Farantouri and Victor Jara. The sad thing is that two members of this fine quintet have since passed away, Stacy Rowles and Eric Von Essen. Considering that this was the one and only time that this particular quintet played together, they play magically throughout. As Nels mentions in the liner notes, he was trying to create a more reflective mood, showing a more subdued, warm and chilling sound to Tim Berne's often more stringent alto sax. Nels plays some poignant, harp-like acoustic guitar on "Angel of Death". The haunting harmonies of the sax, trumpet and guitar are most sublime with a lovely muted solo from Ms. Rowles. Nels plays some especially exquisite acoustic guitar here. "The Lung" sounds like one of those great mid-seventies fusion burners but without the cliched super-fast heavy guitar licks. Nels sounds great with his semi-acoustic tone and quick yet modest guitar but it is Tim Berne's smokin' sax solo that is the highlight. Ms. Rowles also follows with a great high flying solo, then its Nels' turn to soar as well plus some great interplay between sax, trumpet and guitar in between the solos. Another elegant piece is "Bandoneon" (for Dino Saluzzi) which is somber and quite lovely. "Fives & Sixes" begins with softly strummed acoustic guitar with sublime trumpet and sax harmonies. This pieces is a collection of opposites. While Nels and Stacy play more melody parts, Tim and Alex push things further out. Two very different circles spinning at the same time yet it still works since they all come together during the main theme. I can't recall Nels Cline playing acoustic guitar at any live gigs over the past decade. This is his main instrument on this disc and his playing is superb throughout this entire disc. There is an understated, reflective quality to most of this disc while the playing of the entire quintet is consistently excellent. This is a long lost gem from our good pal Nels Cline. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $13
NELS CLINE TRIO With MARK LONDON SIMS / MICHAEL PREUASSNER - Silencer (Enja 9568; Germany) Essential reissue from guitar god Nels Cline's incredible (jazz/rock) power trio. I caught this trio at the old Knitting Factory in the late eighties/early nineties and both Thurston Moore & myself were completely blown away by their colossal performance. All I can say is "Hallelujah", 'Silencer' is finally back in print. This amazing trio made four fabulous albums and we might still have copies of 'Chest' & 'Sad' on Little Brother around. If only someone would reissue the ultra-obscure title 'Ground', then those newer Nels Cline fan-addicts could die happy. - BLG
CD $13
HABIBI FUNK - A Selection From Libyan Tapes (Habibibi Funk HAB 031CD; Germany) "Habibi Funk presents its 31st release which happens to be its third Various Artist compilation. The album is dedicated to the cassette tape scene in Libya from the late '80s to early 2000s, from disco to reggae to pop. All songs previously unreleased outside of Libya and not available on any DSP platforms. This compilation isn't a sweeping history of Libyan music -- it's a personal journey into the sounds the label fell in love with while digging through tapes, conversations, and stories across Libya and beyond. Rather than spotlighting the country's most famous musical exports, the compilation brings forward a mix of overlooked gems and local classics of the cassette era: artists whose work thrived despite political limitations, and scarce international exposure. The music featured here blends reggae rhythms, synthy disco grooves, gritty pop, house, and funk, a vibrant collision of genres that reflects Libya's unique sonic landscape from the 1980s to the early 2000s. Many of these recordings were recovered from the TK7 cassette factory in Sousse, Tunisia, a now-demolished site that once played a quiet but vital role in distributing and manufacturing Libyan music. Other tracks were digitized in a Cairo hotel room in 2021, where Habibi Funk transferred nearly 100 tapes over the course of three days, on-site using a high-grade cassette deck brought into Egypt. From that trove emerged artists like Ahmed Ben Ali, Cheb Bakr, and Najib Alhoush & The Free Music. Their sounds sit alongside contributions from this release from the likes of Khaled Al Melody, Fathi Aldiyqz & Sons of Africa Band, City Lights Band, Libya Music Band, and Group Hewaya. What ties all the artists on this comp together is a boundary- pushing approach to genre and style: recorded in small studios, exchanged by hand, and shaped by a cross-pollination of influences, from Benghazi to Tripoli and beyond. All tracks are licensed from their creators and in the case of the artists being deceased from their estates."
CD $17
LP SECTION:
GRATEFUL DEAD / JOHN OSWALD - Grayfolded (Important Records IMPREC 399LP; USA) "Grayfolded is literally a hundred or so great nights rolled into one extraordinary extended high. Gorgeous sonic origami." -- Rolling Stone; "An extended time-warped psychedelic jam that is meticulously hallucinatory." - The New York Times
This deluxe 2025 vinyl edition of The Grateful Dead's Grayfolded was pressed at Optimal in Germany, known for their high-end audiophile pressings. In 1993 Canadian composer John Oswald was invited by Phil Lesh to transform historical recordings of the Dead into something new, along the lines of what they had attempted in their Anthem of the Sun album. Oswald chose to focus on the Dead's Dark Star, which, over the course of a quarter century, they had expanded and transformed in myriad ways in live performances. Oswald was given access to the Vaults, where over the course of a month, with the guidance of the Dead's resident archivist Dick Latvala, he collected 105 performances, which through the following year he formed, folded, fondled, and finessed into a kaleidoscopic unstuck-in-time documentary of the Grateful Dead in some of their most psychedelic, symphonic, and rocking excursions -- a singular 110-minute fantasy performance. Here it is, Deadheads, the ultimate Dark Star. Deluxe audiophile pressing cut in Toronto under the watchful ears of John Oswald. Elaborately printed packaging in a heavy-duty triple gatefold jacket includes liner notes by musicologist Rob Bowman featuring interviews with Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, and Robert Hunter plus six "time maps" which chart the source concerts of Dark Star. Music performed by The Grateful Dead (c) Grateful Dead Productions Inc. & Ice Nine Publishing Inc. Taken from over 100 performances of Dark Star recorded between 1968 and 1993. Built, layered and "folded" to produce one large, new re-composed Dark Star. Original recordings of the Grateful Dead in performance have been processed using Plunderphonic techniques. John Oswald is best known as the creator of the music genre Plunderphonics, an appropriative form of recording studio creation which he began to develop in the late sixties. This has got him in trouble with, and also generated invitations from major record labels and musical icons. Meanwhile, in the '90s he began, with several commissions from the Kronos Quartet, to compose scores for classical musicians and orchestras, the latest of which is an orchestral work, commissioned by the BBC, combining aspects of The Beatles, Gyrgy Ligeti, and Terry Riley. He also improvises on the saxophone in various settings, dances, and is a successful visual artist, best known for the chronophotic series Stillnessence.
3 LP Set $66
MASAHIKO TOGASHI & MASAYUKI TAKAYANAGI - Pulsation (Holy Basil Records 012LP; Earth)
"On May 27th 1983, drummer Masahiko Togashi and guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi, two pivotal figures in the Japanese free jazz scene that had been working together since the 1960's, performed and record this unique set at Zojoji Hall in Tokyo. At the time, Japanese jazz musicians were trying to find their own voice, welcoming creative elements coming in from the USA and Europe. The two musicians were at the fore-front of this generation, with Takayanagi developing his own guitar style through influences of mainstream and more extreme jazz, and drummer Togashi had developed a unique approach to drums and percussions, using silence as an integral part of music making, also due to an accident that forced him on a wheelchair after 1970. The record is divided in two tracks ('Inner Pulsation' and 'Outer Pulsation'), each one about 22 minutes in length, mirroring the original LP sides. The performance can be regarded as a single piece though, with a clearly symmetrical structure, even if the musicians cover much musical ground over the course of the album. The extreme abstractness of the music guarantees many possibilities, but the main themes here are pure sound and space, investigated through a massive use of silence, ever-changing dynamics and slow structural developments unfolding with a mysterious musical logic. Originally released on iconic Japanese label Paddle Wheel and out-of-print for a very long time, the album has become a very sought-after collector's item and we are glad to bring this back on vinyl in collaboration with King Record Co."
LP $36
SHANE PARISH - Solo at Cafe Oto (Red Eft 004LP; UK?) "Melodies are alive, remolded and reshaped in each performance. Guitarist Shane Parish embraces this continual evolution by transcribing songs from across musical genres, instruments, and eras for solo guitar. Albums like 2024's Repertoire, which features 14 songs across jazz, folk, and electronic music and played on acoustic guitar, showcase his skill in transcription, as does his work transforming Bill Orcutt's Four Guitars from a multi-tracked solo project into a quartet played live by four musicians. His practice is that of musical curiosity and technical virtuosity, highlighting all the ways a good song can be unraveled and sewn back together into something new. On Solo At Cafe Oto, Parish presents six poignant ballads reimagined for solo electric guitar as played at London's legendary venue in fall 2023. A European tour with the Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet brought him to the venue; they did a one-off show at Cafe Oto in which each member of the group played a solo set. It ended up being a special night, one of those shows in which there's magic in the room forged by a shared love of music. Many of the songs Parish chose to perform that evening hold a sense of mysteriousness, something immersive and intriguing to get lost in. He picked them -- some of which had stayed with him for many years -- because of their attention to atmosphere. It's a characteristically eclectic vision: Three songs are by John Jacob Niles, a Kentucky balladeer whom Parish had developed a deep knowledge of over recent years, two are by English songwriters, Anne Briggs and Shirley Collins, and one is by Angelo Badalamenti, known for his unique ability to capture the dreamy and surreal darkness of David Lynch's storied worlds. Parish's transcriptions highlight how each of these songs create a mood in their timeless melodies, and invite us to share in them."
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 / VERNON REID / AUG 6-9
The Stone is proud to present a fabulous and historic four-night residency with Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber (VR-Stoned Edition) for three nights and the legendary trio Free Form Funky Frēqs with Jamaaladeen Tacuma and Grant Calvin Weston on the fourth night. They’ll be performing different music each night with some very special guests! DON'T MISS A SINGLE NIGHT!!! ADMISSION IS THIRTY DOLLARS EACH NIGHT
8/6 Wednesday
8:30 pm - A Night of Radiance featuring Ambient pioneer Laraaji; Featuring: Vernon Reid (conduction, guitar) Shelley Nicole (vocals) Miss Olithea (vocals, electronics) Lewis Flip Barnes (trumpet) V. Jeffery Smith (alto, tenor, baritone saxes) Leon Gruenbaum (keyboards, samchillian, vocoder) Ben Tyree (electric guitar) Chris Eddleton (trap drums, electronics) LaFrae Sci (trap drums, electronics) Shawn Banks (congas, percussion) Jason DiMatteo (acoustic bass) Jared Michael Nickerson (electric bubble bass) Laraaji Venus (electric auto harp) ADMISSION THIRTY DOLLARS
8/7 Thursday
8:30 pm - Summertime of Love ~ The Psychedelic Conductions (turning 67 on the 22nd….Why Not!?) Vernon Reid (conduction, guitar) Shelley Nicole (vocals) Miss Olithea (vocals, electronics) Lewis Flip Barnes (trumpet) V. Jeffery Smith (alto, tenor, baritone saxes) Leon Gruenbaum (keyboards, samchillian, vocoder) Ben Tyree (electric guitar) Chris Eddleton (trap drums, electronics) LaFrae Sci (trap drums, electronics) Shawn Banks (congas, percussion) Jason DiMatteo (acoustic bass) Jared Michael Nickerson (electric bubble bass) ADMISSION THIRTY DOLLARS
8/8 Friday
8:30 pm Bohos & Blues featuring David Barnes - Vernon Reid (conduction, guitar) Shelley Nicole (vocals) Miss Olithea (vocals, electronics) Lewis Flip Barnes (trumpet) V. Jeffery Smith (alto, tenor, baritone saxes) Leon Gruenbaum (keyboards, samchillian, vocoder) Ben Tyree (electric guitar) Chris Eddleton (trap drums, electronics) LaFrae Sci (trap drums, electronics) Shawn Banks (congas, percussion) Jason DiMatteo (acoustic bass) Jared Michael Nickerson (electric bubble bass) David Barnes (harmonica) ADMISSION $30
8/9 Saturday
8:30 pm - Free Form Funky Frēqs #79 - Featuring Vernon Reid (guitar)) Jamaaladeen Tacuma (bass) Grant Calvin Weston (drums) and Special Guests ADMISSION THIRTY DOLLARS
8/12 Tuesday
8:30 pm - THE STONE STUDENT CONCERTS—Kate Pass - Colin McClure (trumpet) Julie Kim (cello) Johannes Ravn (guitar) Kate Pass (bass) Maya Cohen (drums) - ADMISSION IS FREE!
THE STONE RESIDENCIES - JOHN ZORN - Composer
Four nights of Brian Marsella performing Zorn's exciting books of music composed for piano trio.
NOT TO BE MISSED! ADMISSION THIRTY DOLLARS
8/13 Wednesday
8:30 pm - SUITE FOR PIANO - Brian Marsella (piano) Jorge Roeder (bass) Ches Smith (drums)
ADMISSION THIRTY DOLLARS
8/14 Thursday
8:30 pm - BALLADES / IMPROMPTUS / NOCTURNES - Brian Marsella (piano) Jorge Roeder (bass) Ches Smith (drums)
ADMISSION THIRTY DOLLARS
8/15 Friday
8:30 pm - THE BAGATELLES - Brian Marsella (piano) Trevor Dunn (bass) Kenny Wollesen (drums)
ADMISSION THIRTY DOLLARS
8/16 Saturday
8:30 pm - THE HIEROPHANT / MEDITATIONS ON THE TAROT - Brian Marsella (piano) Trevor Dunn (bass) Kenny Wollesen (drums)
ADMISSION THIRTY DOLLARS
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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41st Parallel Records Presents:
MARCO CAPPELLI AT 60
August 9th and 10th
Saturday August 9th, 8pm
Elliott Sharp, Lucian Ban, Marco Cappelli
Plus surprise special guest
Sunday August 10th, 8pm
MARCO CAPPELLI ACOUSTIC TRIO
Marco Cappelli, classical guitar
Ken Filiano, double bass
Satoshi Takeishi, percussion
Plus surprise special guest
Sunday August 10th, 10pm
ITALIAN SURF ACADEMY
Marco Cappelli, electric guitar
Damon Banks, electric bass
Dave Miller, drums
special guest: Denver Butson, poet
Plus additional surprise special guest
Taking place at Barbès
376 9th St,
Brooklyn, NY.
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WILLIAM PARKER’S ELLINGTON IN MOURNING
At the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park
Friday, August 15th at 7pm (doors at 6pm)
Admission is FREE
Plus Vibraphonist Nikara Warren opens with NIKARA presents Black Wall Street, a sound collage that weaves Hip-Hop, jazz, neo-soul, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latino, and experimental influences into one bold statement.
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Saturday, August 16, 2025
JOEL HARRISON'S Mastery in Motion:
An Evening of Guitar Artistry -
Featuring: Wolfgang Muthspiel, Fareed Haque, Dan Lippel & Joel Harrison
7:00 PM 9:00 PM
Taking place at:
Christ & St. Stephen's Church
120 West 69th Street New York, NY, 10023
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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