DMG Newsletter for January 26th, 2018

Slowly the Sun Peeks through the Clouds
And Radiates the Planet Earth, Bringing Warmth and Rays of Hope
Here We go again with Another Weeks Worth of Sonic Treasures
To Inspire, Uplift, Challenge and Show Us Another World to Consider
Created by the Sounds We Listen to Closely and Reflect Upon from These folks:

John Zorn’s ‘Urmuz Epigrams’! Henry Kaiser’s ‘The Deep Unreal’ Solo Guitar! Kris Davis & Craig Taborn’s ‘Octopus’! Two from Tomchess: Trio & Quartet! The Core-Tet: Evelyn Glennie / Szilard Mezei / Jon Hemmersam / Michael J Stevens! Robbie Basho!

Luke Barlow’s Death Drag! Plus Historic Discs from: Frank Zappa & The Mothers’ 1974!
John Coltrane’s Classic Collaborations! Phil Woods’ ‘Classic Albums’! Janis Joplin’s Early Sessions!

Monochrome Set Big Box! Sly & Robbie Meet Dubmatix! Dennis Brown! Judge Dread! K. Leimer! Plus Vinyl from: Charles Hayward & Thurston Moore! Roscoe Mitchell! Cluster! Alvin Curran! Nikki Sudden & Roland S. Howard! High Rise: II! And Even More..!

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THE DMG 27TH ANNIVERSARY SERIES OF SONIC CELEBRATIONS Continue with:

Sunday January 28th:
6pm: MICHAEL VATCHER & JACK WRIGHT - Drums and Sax
7pm: MICHAEL FOSTER / BEN GERSTEIN / SEAN ALI / FLIN VAN HEMMEN - While We Still Have Bodies - Sax / Trombone / Acoustic Bass / Percussion

Sunday, February 4th 2018:
6pm: ZERO POINT: DANIEL CARTER / DERIC DICKENS / MICHAEL BATES / MARIUS DUBOULE
7pm: BEYOND TRIO: CHERYL PYLE / CLAIRE de BRUNNER / DANIEL CARTER

Sunday, February 11th:
6pm: DAVE SEWELSON TRIO With WILLIAM PARKER and MARVIN BUGALOO SMITH
7pm: MICHAEL FOSTER / INGRID LAUBROCK - Double Soprano Sax & Drums Trio

DMG is located at 13 Monroe St. (between Catherine & Market Sts) in a basement below a small gallery. Take the F train to East Broadway or the 6 train to Canal or the B or D to Grand, or the M-15 bus to Madison & Catherine. Come on Down, the Sunday Music Series is Always Free & the Vibes are Always Cosy

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Bruce’s Recommended Gig This Week:

MATTHEW SHIPP TRIO & ROSCOE MITCHELL!
This Saturday, January 27th at 9pm
At Zankel Hall, underneath Carnegie Hall
881 7th Ave, New York, NY 10019 - (212) 903-9600

Check: https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2018/01/27/MATTHEW-SHIPP-TRIO-ROSCOE-MITCHELL-SAXOPHONE-0900PM

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JOHN ZORN - The Urmuz Epigrams (Tzadik 8358; USA) With The Urmuz Epigrams Zorn returns to his roots, using the recording studio as instrument to create an intensely personal suite of compositions in the style of his legendary File Card compositions and Zoetropes. Dedicated to the visionary Romanian writer Urmuz whose small, scattered body of work predated Dadaism by decades, The Urmuz Epigrams is a suite of surrealistic miniatures more akin to philosophical aphorisms than actual music. The pieces are presented here in two iterations, as a set of “rare 78rpm records” complete with surface scratches and limited dynamic range, and as a modern reconstruction of same with the full blown studio sound presented in all its perplexing glory. Some of the craziest music in the Zorn catalog!
CD $17

HENRY KAISER - The Deep Unreal - Solo Guitar 2017 (Metalanguage ML 2017; USA) Featuring Henry Kaiser on solo electric guitar, recorded on December 18th of 2017 in one session. All improvised, no overdubs or looping, just long delays. Henry tells us that this disc was recorded quickly and mainly for fun. What I find most interesting is this: Mr. Kaiser had just gotten back from his 3 month sojourn to Antarctica, was able to create something that captures the fleeting experience of being at the end (bottom or top) of the world. The first of three long (22-25 minutes) and one short tracks is called, “The Story of My 2017 Austral Spring at the McMurdo Intake Jetty” and I played this piece in the store, I found myself floating with the currents of the ocean. Starting out calmly, the notes are round, warm, graceful, carefully chosen, rather harp-like in the way the strings are caressed. Although there are no loops, Mr. Kaiser stills lets certain notes hang in the air as he adds soft flurries on top, like some exotic spice. There is a delicate balance going on here between the drifting currents below and the evolving tapestry interconnected patterns on top. As this piece evolves, Mr. Kaiser adds a layer of lines or waves to keep us adrift yet still standing on the raft or boat in the middle of the ocean. Kaiser seems to be reaching deep into the collective history of traditional melodies and then weaving them into magical thread. On the title track, the lower notes seem to shimmer, stretch and drone creating a dream-like suspense, like ghosts or spirits trying to escape from one world into another. Eventually, Kaiser unleashes that wondrous, majestic, uplifting psychedelic sustain, bringing us higher and higher, the waves crashing over us, growing in intensity as they erupt with several mind-blowing spirits dancing together in a most ritualistic fashion. At certain points, Kaiser’s guitar sounds almost Frippish, somewhere in between an organ and a mellotron, yet with his own distinctive, dynamic touch. If like me, you wish to escape the everyday blitz of bad news, fake news and other BS, you might want to slip this disc in and let yourself be swept away to another more welcoming world. Next stop Jupiter. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10

KRIS DAVIS & CRAIG TABORN - Octopus - Live in Ann Arbor, Columbus & San Diego (Pyroclastic Records 03; USA) Featuring Kris Davis and Craig Taborn on pianos, recorded on tour in Ann Arbor, Columbus and San Diego. One of my favorite discs from last year was Kris Davis’ ‘Duopoly’, a two CD/DVD set where Ms. Davis plays duos with Tim Berne, Bill Frisell, Julian Lage and others. One of the duos was with fellow pianist Craig Taborn, another one of Downtown’s best, busiest and most inventive musicians. Luckily for most of us serious listeners who live in the tri-state area, we get many opportunities to hear both of these great pianists in varied projects. Ms. Davis is in residency at The Old Stone this week and last night I checked out here trio with Trevor Dunn and Tom Rainey. The set was just incredible and concluded with an extraordinary version of Eric Dolphy’s “Miss Ann”, in which Ms. Davis added an undercurrent of crisscrossing lines, nothing like the original version by Mr. Dolphy.
For this CD, which includes pieces from three different concerts, the duo each contributed a couple of songs, plus two well-selected covers by Carla Bley and Sun Ra. Although some of the pieces started out as written, the pieces evolved throughout the tour. “Interruptions One” starts off with one minimal phrase, the pianists slowly adding flurries around the central sparse theme. Building in waves and them calming down to elegant spaciousness. For “Ossining”, certain strings are muted, something which Ms Davis has been become an expert at over the last few years. The muted notes are slightly bent and sound like a machine breaking down or morphing into a more human, less mechanical sound. This piece is most sublime, superbly balanced. The appropriately titled, “Chatterbox” has some rich explosive moments, with several crisscrossing lines bouncing back and forth. It sounds as if the duo is on the verge of exploding yet somehow things remain focused, no matter how fast certain lines are cast off. Carla Bley’s “Sing Me Softly of the Blues” was first covered by the Art Farmer Quartet in 1965 and played by Ms. Bley on several occasions. Although it starts off like a ballad it evolves into another multilayered monster, speeding up and slowing back down and ending some elegant restraint followed by some simmering suspense. On each of the three pieces called, “Interruptions”, the duo try to push each other beyond breaking point, while the tempos increase into a dizzying conclusion. Sun Ra’s “Love in Outer Space” has been done by Mr. Ra on several albums. This version seems perfect for the last piece as it blends gospelish chords with slightly twisted muted strings spice. This duo works extremely well together and sounds like they got better as the tour progressed. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $15

TOMCHESS With RYAN SNOW / WILL McEVOY / DAN KURFIRST - Momentarily Endless (Foot Jumbo Records; USA) Featuring Tomchess on oud, ney & compositions, Ryan Snow on trombone, Will McEvoy on acoustic bass and Dan Kurfirst on percussion. Ethnic multi-instrumentalist, Tomchess, played here at DMG and left us with a handful of discs, going back to 2007 and coming back in 2014. Last Saturday (1/20/18), he returned to play a duo set with Turkish bassist Esat Ekinioglu. He also left with two newer CD’s, featuring a trio and a quartet.
‘Momentarily Endless’ features a quartet: Ryan Snow on trombone (worked with Shayna Dulberger in the E.R.A.), Will McEvoy on bass (working with saxist Patrick Breiner, Myk Freedman & Flip City) and drummer Dan Kurfirst (played at DMG with Abraham Mennen). Starting with “Arc”, the quartet combines the East and West, the music is rather raga-like with the oud up front, a strong tight, rhythm team with Mr. Kurfirst on hand percussion. “Stepping Out of Circles” starts with the oud and bass playing the same tricky lines tightly as one, soon shadowing each other and weaving their lines quickly back and forth. Tomchess keeps the quartet on their toes by writing complex themes which all four members must play together. Mr. Chess switches to ney on a could of these pieces, a Persian flute-like instrument. The ney (one of the oldest instruments) is an end-blown flute in which bent, breathy notes sail around one another. The rhythm team often whip up a storm, spinning quick, tight lines together while the oud or ney burn profusely on top. I find this music to be both exotic, intoxicating and intense. The oud is especially well recorded here, warm, expanding and continually vibrating. Tomchess is a virtuostic player, whether playing solo or with a duo, trio or quartet. His solo piece, “Oud Taksim Coverage” is extraordinary and shows him a force to be reckoned with. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10

TOMCHESS With MIMI JONG & DAN KURFIRST - Secret Key Sun Heart Wing Ear Sky (Foot Jumbo Records; USA) Featuring Tomchess on oud, ney, tuned paracho (legendary Mexican acoustic guitar) & compositions, Mimi Jong on erhu & zonghu and Dan Kurfirst on drums & percussion. Oud virtuoso & composer, Tomchess, comes to visit us and play in the store every few years. Whenever he comes by, he always leaves with a CD or two. He played here last Saturday (1/20/18) and left us with a couple of newer discs. Oud players in NYC are still relatively rare, although we’ve seen a few in the last few years: Brian Prunka (from Nashaz), Shanir Blumenkranz (from Abraxas) and Yossi Fruchter (from the Sandcasters). Tomchess might just be the best of the bunch since his solo piece on his other new CD (‘Momentarily Endless’), places his in a class of his own. For his other new CD, Chess is joined by Mimi Jong on erhu (2 string Chinese violin) and zonghu (another Chinese string instrument a bit larger than the erhu) and Dan Kurfirst on drums & percussion. I hadn’t heard of Ms. Jong before now, although Mr. Kurfirst plays on the other new disc from Tomchess and once played here with saxist Abraham Mennen.
Opening with a frame drum, ney and erhu, the music has a ritualistic vibe, slow, hypnotic, like a stroll through the desert with the sun beating down. Although the ney and the erhu are from different parts of the world, they sound just right together as does the frame drum keeping the pulse going at the enter. I think I hear the sound of chanting in the distance or I am imagining it? Hmmmmm, hard to tell the difference. Tomchess’s trio is captured with great care, blending the ancient and the modern, various cultures into one righteous, uplifting blend. The erhu or zonghu might just be what sounds like chanting voices, no actual words but most haunting nonetheless. “Oud Taksim-Tiger in the Smoke” is another incredible solo for the oud, telling a tale with lightning flash runs peppered throughout. Similar to the way a sitar or sarod tells a story in a raga. Each of the seven pieces evokes a different middle East/far East vibe with consistently strong solos from the oud, ney, erhu or zonghu. On “Between Earth and Sky”, the oud and frame drum are locked into one groove while the Chinese string thing dances or weaves like a ghost in the background, a bit of echo adds an eerie, ghost-like vibe to the ancient strings. Mr. Chess played what sounds like a hammered dulcimer on “Sacred Time”, which might be the paracho, a handmade Mexican instrument. This disc concludes with “Ney Taksim” a long, almost prayer-like solo piece for the ney, which filled with several layers vibrations: sorrow, joy, fragility, strength, religious-sounding reverence, the soft winds blowing through the desert… a great way to bring our journey to a humble conclusion. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10

THE CORE-TET PROJECT [EVELYN GLENNIE / SZILARD MEZEI / JON HEMMERSAM / MICHAEL JEFRY STEVENS] - The Core-Tet Project (Naxos 8.573804; USA) This premiere recording of master percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie’s new international ensemble offers a program of fourteen improvised pieces that push the boundaries of spontaneous music-making. The group brings together musical traditions from four varied cultures (Scotland, Serbia, the United States and Denmark) but with a common goal: to create spontaneous music of great beauty and power which utilizes the basic formal elements of musical composition- melody, harmony, rhythm, and form.
It is pretty rare for the Naxos label to present a release of completely improvised music but this is what we have here. When I saw this disc listed in our new release catalogue I was rather surprised, but not too much. Dame Evelyn Glennie, world renown percussionist, does have a CD and DVD with master improviser Fred Frith, amongst a few dozen releases of contemporary classic music. Former New Yorker, currently Memphis-based pianist has a couple of dozen discs out with co-leader Joe Fonda, as well as solo, duo, trio & quartet offerings. I’ve reviewed several CD’s from Danish guitarist Jon Hemmersam in recent years with Rakalam Bob Moses, Dave Liebman and Dom Minasi. Serbian violist Szilard Mezei is immensely prolific, including several previous discs with MJ Stevens and Mr. Hemmersam. This disc was recorded at Real World Studios in the UK, the sound is superb, all acoustic and perfectly balanced. It is often hard to tell who is doing what since the playing is so close-knit, once phrase or line melts into the next. The piano part on “The Calling” sounds like it was written, a most sublime, organic set of fragments enhanced by exquisite acoustic guitar and delicate percussion. The results are often extraordinary, creating a new world as they go, filled with wonder, suspense and surprising twists and turns. This is improvisations at its best although it does;t often sound like improvisation but something original, organic and incredible. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $14 (In stock soon)

DEATH DRAG With LUKE BARLOW / SANTIAGO HORRO / ROBERTO SASSI / MIKE CARATTI - Shifted (Iluso 10; Earth) “Iluso Records presents its 10th release and the first of 2018, Shifted by Death Drag. Shifted is perhaps the most ambitious excursion in noise terror from drummer/composer Mike Caratti, who calls upon his long-time London based collaborators to bring life to his extreme experiment.
Unadulterated avant-garde noise-metal, Shifted moves from a dream-like trance into a frenzied state of thrashing chaos, transporting the listener to an unknown world where the elements of contemporary creative music are distorted beyond recognition.
Caratti’s compositional approach crosses the worlds of contemporary classical music and avant-garde jazz in a noise metal context. Blurring the schism between compositional form and free-improvisation, inspiration is widely drawn from the harmonic theories of Messiaen, electric period Mile Davis through to 90’s thrash metal.
Death Drag are Mike Caratti on drums and compositions, Roberto Sassi on electric guitar, Sanitago Horro on electric bass and Luke Barlow on Fender Rhodes and keyboards. Each artist is a veteran of the UK noise/rock and improvised music scenes. Sassi and Horro are long time collaborators of Alex Ward and members of his acclaimed band Forebrace. Barlow and Horro form half of the iconic UK art rock band Nøught.
The album was recorded and mixed by Frank Byng at Snorkel Studios in South London. Original artwork and design by Shea Walsh. ‘Shifted’ is essential listening for fans of John Zorn, The Thing, Massacre, Lightning Bolt, Zu and all discerning listeners of fearless, creative music.” This just arrived so I hope to do my own review in time for next week’s newsletter. - BLG
CD $12

HAMA SANKARE - Ballebe - Calling All Africans (Clermont Music 018; USA) Alpha Ousmane "Hama" Sankaré (aka Pedro) is a legend. He has anchored the bands of many great artists of Mali: Ali Farka Toure, Afel Bocoum, le Troupe Regionale de Niafunké, l'Orchestre de Gao, Songhoy Allstars, and Mamadou Kelly's BanKaiNa, and he can be heard on many of the seminal recordings of Mali's music. He is the master of contemporary calabash percussion and defined it's the playing style. He has toured the world. Hama's influence is unchallenged as composer, arranger, and instrumentalist. Unbelievably, Ballébé - Calling All Africans is the first album in his own name! A musical adventurer, Hama explores sounds and is constantly expanding his repertoire. His knowledge of tradition reaches deeply into the past as he looks into the future for inspiration. For this album, Hama sought a variety of sounds. He asked Grammy-winning guitarist Cindy Cashdollar, whom he met in Woodstock New York in 2016, to bring her distinctive slide guitars to some of the tunes. He also asked the young singer Sekou Touré to join him. Oumar Konaté brought his guitar virtuoso skills and Sekou Bah anchors the tracks on bass. Also joining in were Mahalmadane Traoré on drums and Brehima "Yoro" Cissé and Bouba Cissao on traditional stringed instruments. To explore contemporary electronic sounds, Hama asked David Harrow in Los Angeles to mix two of the songs, pushing genre boundaries. Hama looked for loops and effects in the mix to reflect his diverse influences, while always remaining centered in Niafunke desert blues, his home in the Niger River Delta of Mali. A tour de force by Malian master musician Hama Sankaré. CD version includes two tracks: an instrumental of "Middo Wara" and a radio edit of "Haira Alhawa".
CD $14

Important Historic & Archival Recordings:

FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS With NAPOLEAN MURPHY BROCK / GEORGE DUKE / RUTH UNDERWOOD / TOM FOWLER / CHESTER THOMPSON - Have a Little Tush (Leftfield Media 567; EEC) By early 1974 Frank Zappa was touring with a smaller band of musicians, albeit one still going under The Mothers Of Invention moniker. This ensemble variously included Ian Underwood (reeds, keyboards), Ruth Underwood (vibes, marimba), Sal Marquez (trumpet, vocals), Napoleon Murphy Brock (sax, flute and vocals), Bruce Fowler (trombone), Tom Fowler (bass), Chester Thompson (drums), Ralph Humphrey (drums), George Duke (keyboards, vocals), and Jean-Luc Ponty (violin), the majority of whom also appeared on Zappa's two albums released that year: March's "solo" LP Apostrophe, and September's Roxy And Elsewhere (largely recorded live at the end of '73). In the latter months of the 1974, he was out again, but now just with Murphy-Brock, Duke, Thompson, Fowler and Ruth Underwood - for reasons unknown husband Ian was not onboard. It was this line-up who performed with Frank at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI on 23rd November, a show which was recorded for live FM Broadcast, albeit only by the University's own radio station, making reception of the gig fairly limited in its geographical scope. This show is now available on this double CD set, a recording rarely heard before and one that Zappa fans will certainly wish to add to their collections.
2 CD Set $20

ROBBIE BASHO - Live in Forli, Italy 1982 (ESP-Disk 5024; USA) Robbie Basho (1940-86), who died young after a stroke, never got his due in the culture at large, but steel-string guitar enthusiasts have known for decades that he was one of the greats of "American Primitivism". Technically adept and compositionally imaginative, fusing the music of many cultures into a mesmerizing solo style, he has been an inspiration for many; his music has generated a surge of interest in recent years. This 1982 concert was part of a four-show Italian tour. It took place at the 18th-century Palazzo Gaddi that housed the local music high school and was mostly used for classical concerts, in an intimate space co-organizer Mario Calvitti (whose memories of the events surrounding this concert make up the bulk of the liner notes) says Basho called it "one lovely little room where I could play all night." Only previously released incompletely as a download, this show can now be heard in its full glory. This release is in cooperation with the Official Robbie Basho Archives. No. 2 in the RB-Archives-Live series. Produced by Buck Curran; Co-released with Obsolete Recordings.
"American musician Robbie Basho (1940-1986) is without doubt one of the greatest pioneers of world guitar music. To this day, his songs and compositions for the acoustic guitar remain wholly unique, contemporary, and otherworldy. Though largely unknown in Italy when he toured there in 1982 (in the company of Italian acoustic guitarist Maurizio Angeletti), the small to medium size audiences who attended his performances were overwhelmingly sympathetic to his musical vision and deeply entranced in the glow of his musical presence. From what is documented on this recording from Forlì, we are given witness to Basho's idiosyncratic spirit and musical artistry. Wielding only a six and twelve-string guitar and his powerful voice, we hear rapturous fingerpicking and singing. As the concert evolves, Basho's spirit rises high above terra firma as he transforms into a wild mythical winged stallion, riding waves of colour and sound ... charging across plains of cosmic light towards the outer regions of space and time." --Buck Curran, September 11, 2017, Bergamo, Italy
CD $12

JOHN COLTRANE With DUKE ELLINGTON / TADD DAMERON / RED GARLAND / TOMMY FLANAGAN / McCOY TYNER / PAUL QUINCHETTE / MAL WALDRON / KENNY BURRELL / JOHNNY HARTMAN / PAUL CHAMBERS / PHILLY JOE JONES / JIMMY COBB / et al - The Classic Collaborations 1957-1963 (Enlightenment 9137; EEC) Coltrane recorded his finest work as a collaborator, and this collection features the best of these recordings. This began with the saxophonist appearing alongside pianist Tadd Dameron on Mating Call (Prestige, 1957), which also saw him reunited with Philly Joe Jones, along with bassist John Simmons. In addition, he would join forces with other Miles Davis alumni on John Coltrane With The Red Garland Trio (Prestige, 1959) - which included appearances from Paul Chambers and drummer Art Taylor - while the same year saw the release of his only pairing with fellow saxophonist Paul Quinichette on Cattin' With Coltrane And Quinichette (Prestige) in a group that showcased too the talents of Julian Euell on bass, Ed Thigpen on drums and Mal Waldron on piano. Bags And Trane (Atlantic, 1961). 1961 also saw the release of Thelonious Monk And John Coltrane (Jazzland). The record also featured Art Blakey, Coleman Hawkins, Gigi Gryce and Wilbur Ware in a meeting of such prestige that the album would be inducted into the Grammy Award Hall Of Fame in 2007. In 1962 Trane moved away a move away from his more traditional line ups for, Kenny Burrell And John Coltrane (New Jazz) a record which blended his saxophone with Burrell's guitar, alongside Paul Chambers' double bass, Tommy Flanagan's piano and Jimmy Cobb's drums. Fittingly, Coltrane concluded this era with: 1963's Impulse! release, John Coltrane And Johnny Hartman - supported by Coltrane's regular group of pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones - and Duke Ellington And John Coltrane (Impulse!), backed again by Tyner, Jones, bassist Aaron Bell and drummer Sam Woodyard. This collection, spanning almost five hours of music across four discs, brings together the very finest albums John Coltrane recorded in collaboration with other jazz greats, including eight complete, original records, remastered to this highest possible standard.
4 CD Set $18

PHIL WOODS With GENE QUILL / JON EADRLEY / AL COHN / ZOOT SIMS / SAHIB SHIHAB / KENNY DORHAM / BENNY BAILEY / DONALD BYRD / CURTIS FULLER / TOMMY FLANAGAN / RAY COPELAND / RED GARLAND / AL HAIG / CHARLIE PERSIP / et al - The Classic Albums Collection 1954-1961 (Enlightenment 9138; EEC) Phil Woods stood out among saxophonists of his era, most notably because of his unique approach and refusal to follow the most popular forms. Woods signed with Prestige in 1954, releasing his first album, Pot Pie, with trumpeter Jon Eardley the same year, backed by a band of George Syran on piano along with long-standing bass and drums duo Teddy Kotick and Nick Stabulas. Woods developed a fondness for dual saxophone-fronted band arrangements. This style was evident on a string of albums he recorded with fellow saxophonist Gene Quill, including Pairing Off (Prestige, 1956) - which also showcased again the playing of Byrd, Flanagan, Watkins and Jones alongside trumpeter Kenny Dorham - and Phil And Quill (RCA-Victor, 1957), featuring pianist Dave McKenna, Buddy Jones on bass and Shadow Wilson on drums. Woods then began to branch out musically, leaving Prestige in 1957 to record freelance, releasing Sugan (Status, 1957) with pianist Red Garland and trumpeter Ray Copeland alongside Kotick and Stabulas. In 1958 he made the more serene and contemplative Warm Woods (Epic, 1958), backed by Stabulas, bassist Sonny Dallas and drummer Bob Corwin. In 1961, Woods recorded the Rights Of Swing album for Candid Records, a five-part, big band composition. This four CD collection, comprising over five hours of music in all, compiles eight original Phil Woods albums made between 1954 and 1961, all of which have been superbly remastered. Paying tribute to this, perhaps on occasion underrated, jazz maestro, who courageously stepped out of the shadow of his forebears to create a sound and style that was truly his own, this box set will provide both a perfect introduction to the music of Phil Woods, and a welcome reminder of this fine musician's extraordinary work.
4 CD Set $18

THE MONOCHROME SET - 1979-1985: Complete Recordings (Tapete 393; Germany) 6LP boxset edition. Includes CD versions of each album; Edition of 700. Emerging at the end of punk era, The Monochrome Set's estrangement from society came from a more arty angle. This boxset is the full account of their frantically productive early period, the perfect document of an under-appreciated chapter of British pop history. Though widely unknown, they are one of the most influential British bands of the last 40 years, with the early Morrissey and Marr, Blur's Graham Coxon, and Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos among their admirers. Though Ganesh Seshadri, aka Bid, never went to college, The Monochrome Set are often seen as an archetypal art school band. In 1979 they released a string of snappy, now highly collectible singles on Rough Trade, followed by early masterpieces Strange Boutique (1980) and Love Zombies (1980). In 1982 they released their third LP Eligible Bachelors on Cherry Red Records. Their major label effort The Lost Weekend (1985) contained their biggest hit "Jacob's Ladder".
"... the early Monochrome Set sound betrayed a fondness of Lou Reed and American psychedelia, and though they shared their generation's sense of estrangement, they certainly weren't part of the punk revolution. . . . [the Hornsey School of Art] was where lead guitarist Tom Hardy, later to be known as Lester Square, studied with a certain Stuart Goddard aka Adam Ant . . . The Monochrome Set's lack of breakthrough success is usually attributed to their inability to churn out the hits, but in hindsight their now highly collectible first four seven inches for the Rough Trade label, united here on one disc with all the singles from the early eighties period, prove that they started out as bona fide masters of pop's ultimate format. Released in February 1980, their first album Strange Boutique, featuring the band's percussion-heavy theme song and the Johnny Marr-anticipating 'Love Goes Down The Drain', caught the Monochrome Set in full flight, quickly followed by the equally taut, funny and adventurously dynamic Love Zombies. 1982 saw them move to Cherry Red Records on their third LP Eligible Bachelors, with the catchy lead single "The Jet Set Junta" promptly banned because of its non-existent connection to the Falklands War. . . . After a financially disastrous American tour, the band were resigned to taking the major label shilling with The Lost Weekend (1985), scoring their biggest airplay hit with 'Jacob's Ladder'..." --Robert Rotifer, Canterbury 2017
6 CD 6 LP Box-Set $170

JANIS JOPLIN - Little Girl Blue: Early California Sessions (Copacetic 002; Italy) Very early 1962 recordings featuring a very young Janis Joplin. Recorded in part at the Folk Theatre in San Jose, 1962 where Janis is joined by Steve Talbot on stage, and the remainder at the Coffee Gallery in San Francisco, 1962. This collection of raw blues tunes is essential for any fan of the iconic performer.
CD $14

SLY & ROBBIE MEET DUBMATIX - Overdubbed (Echo Beach 125; Germany) In reggae, all roads lead to the "Riddim Twins", Sly & Robbie. They've been revered as style-defining icons for years, and together and individually have a massive influence on the genre. They are also renowned for their willingness to shatter boundaries and experiment with sounds. Over the past decades, they have never been shy of leaping over into other genres -- for instance, their timeless, super-tight production work for Grace Jones. Now, Sly & Robbie meet Dubmatix. The Canadian producer and multi-instrumentalist got his hands on original Sly & Robbie tracks and spent months crafting this new album, Overdubbed. Dubmatix is celebrated for his out-of-the-box thinking and willingness to experiment, and the album shines with fresh ideas. Sly & Robbie's tunes, which are originally without vocals, haven't simply been dubbed; extracting the individual essence of each track, Dubmatix has added a plethora of tweaks, ideas and individuality, making his musical signature clearly audible. On some tracks, he invited vocalists, including Jay Spaker (John Brown's Body), Screechy Dan, and Prince Alla, to contribute their unique style. As well as Dubmatix himself, the album features many other musicians. The result is an album that shines with eclectic diversity. From roots-oriented tunes to dubs for the clubs, there's a bit of everything. Dubmatix's refreshingly playful, bass-heavy approach creates new highlights while at the same time paying deserved homage to two world-class musicians. Also features Megative and Treson.
CD $17

JUDGE DREAD - Dreadmania (It's All In The Mind)(Radiation Roots 323; Italy) “Radiation Roots present a reissue of Judge Dread's Dreadmania (It's All In The Mind), originally released in 1972. Dreadmania (It's All In The Mind) is Judge Dread's (nee Alexander Hughes) very first album, originally released by Trojan Records in 1972, and is a confirmed ska and skinhead reggae classic. The least likely of reggae stars, the white, Brixton-raised Dread had previously served as a club bouncer (where he met Derrick Morgan and Prince Buster), wrestler, bodyguard, DJ, and debt collector for Trojan Records, before hitting it big in 1972 with "Big Six" -- inspired by Prince Buster's classic "Big 5" -- which reached number 11 on the UK chart and sold nearly a half a million copies. On the back of that hit, and its follow up "Big Seven", the label quickly assembled an album to cash in on their success, and its title, Dreadmania, aptly summed up the state of the nation, as Judge Dread fever gripped the island. Of course, the two hits were included within, as was "Oh She Is a Big Girl Now", which was subsequently spun off as a single, and "Dr. Kitch", which later reappeared as a B side. Appropriately enough, the Chuck Berry hit "Ding A Ling" was covered, and just in case there were any remaining doubts about the album's contents, there's even a track titled "Donkey Dick". "It's all in the mind/It's all in the mind/The rudeness it's all in the mind," the Judge ruled on the opening track. Perhaps, but Dread could make even a nun blush. He was the king of the double entendre, his clever wordplay and wit a revelation for the staid British. But he also captured the imagination of Jamaicans. Dread wrapped his rude lyrics within perfect reggae backdrops, with many of his songs built around classic Jamaican rhythms, adding further authenticity to his sound.”
CD $15

DENNIS BROWN - Stick By Me (Abraham CTCD 7801; Canada) A collection of tracks from Jamaica's favorite singer Dennis Brown, also dubbed the "Crown Prince of Reggae". Dennis spent his career working with Jamaica's best, perfecting his sound with producers like Lloyd Daley, Joe Gibbs, Aquarius, and most notably Winston "Niney" Holness. This collection is mostly taken from his '70s output, but it features tracks from throughout his career. Topic matter includes: dancing, time, love, and team exercise.
CD $14

SICILY JASS - The World's First Man In Jazz (Goodfellas 2799; Italy) A journey inside the Sicilian chromosome of jazz, forgotten by the official history; the incredible story of a Sicilian who became the world's first man in jazz. Sicily Jass: The World's First Man In Jazz is a film directed by Michele Cinque, about the life, the music, and times of Nick La Rocca, a son of Sicilian immigrants, a self-taught cornet player, and leader of the Original Dixieland Jass Band, the New Orleans based combo which eventually recorded the first jazz record, in New York, in 1917. Moving between fiction and documentary, while travelling from a timeless Sicily through New Orleans past and present, the film follows the infectious rhythms of early jazz and goes deep into an introspective journey narrated by the voice, the gestures and the puppets of Sicilian master Mimmo Cuticchio. Thanks to the special contribution of historians and jazz critics and along with the discovery of precious archive materials, the film will give the audience the chance to re-live both the incredible success and the sad decline of La Rocca and his fellow musicians. The voice of Nick La Rocca himself, caught in a hitherto unpublished interview, together with the intimacy of the tale of Nick's son, Jimmy, will lead the viewer to discover why La Rocca and his men are often forgotten within the official history of jazz. Needless to add that Sicily Jass comes with an amazing soundtrack, curated by Mark Berenford and carefully remastered by Nick Dellow. The accompanying CD features the ODJB's historical 1917 recordings, along with a selection of extra tracks by illustrious contemporaries such as Louis Armstrong Orchestra, Joe Venuti, Bix Beiderbeck & His Gang, Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra, and Red Nichols 5 Pennies, amazing recordings from the beginning of jazz, over 100 years old. Mark Berenford who also curated the extensive liner notes, is considered one of the most respected experts and most passionate collectors of early jazz and blues. Since 1990, Mr. Berenford has been the editor of Vintage Jazz Mart, the world's leading means for buying and selling rare jazz and blues 78s. Sicily Jass, the film and the soundtrack, come together in two formats: CD DVD and LP DVD. DVD language: English; Subtitles: Italian, English, French, Portuguese, Japanese. DVD is PAL format, region free.
CD DVD $21

K. LEIMER - Imposed Order / Imposed Absence (Remastered Expanded)(Palace of Lights 006-2017; USA) "The first phase of K. Leimer's recorded work began in 1972 with the production of the Grey Cows cassette and culminated in 1983 with the release of Imposed Order. Though work seemingly stopped following the release of I/O, Leimer continued to record and experiment with sound during what proved to be a 15-year interregnum for his Palace of Lights label. That work, never before issued, is included in this expanded remaster. Imposed Absence features ten tracks recorded in the years between Imposed Order and his return to releasing music with The Listening Room. Imposed Absence features the addition of Mellotron and early digital synths, some excursions into lo-fi and, unusual in his catalog, a few improvised tracks. Combined with the VOD double album of his earliest tape recordings and RVNG's A Period Of Review double album, the release of Imposed Order / Imposed Absence brings the entirety of Leimer's early work into view. Remastered by Taylor Deupree at 12K Mastering. K. Leimer founded Palace of Lights in 1979. Leimer has been actively producing music since the mid-1970s -- his current catalog includes eighteen solo albums plus collaborative albums with Savant and Marc Barreca. His work is included in the collection of The British Library."
2 CD Set $17

OTTO SIDHARTA - Indonesian Electronic Music 1979-1992 (Sub Rosa 452; Belgium)
Fascinating and unreleased before music by Otto Sidharta, pioneer of Indonesian electronic music. Electronic compositions that integrated natural sounds and urban sounds to this extent were extremely rare at the time they were recorded, which in turn gives them a unique form of intensity. This collection is released as an entry in Sub Rosa's Early Electronic series.
Otto Sidharta was born in Bandung, Indonesia November 6, 1955. In 1978 he studied music composition in Jakarta Institute of Arts under guidance of Slamet Abdul Sjukur. In 1984 he continued his post graduate study in composition and electronic music with Professor Ton de Leeuw in Sweelinck Conservatorium Amsterdam. In 2015 he started his doctoral study at Institute Seni Indonesia Surakarta, finishing in 2016. Sidharta's interest in using environmental sounds and synthetics sounds to express his musical ideas developed when he was a student at the Jakarta Institute of Arts. He performed his first electronic music piece, "Kemelut", based on water sounds in the First Indonesian Young Composer Festival (Pekan Komponis Muda) in 1979. In 1979 he begin to collect some nature and animal sounds on Nias Island, Borneo (Kalimantan) jungle, Riau islands, and other remote places. These sounds were used as material for some of his works such as "Ngendau", "Hutan Plastik", and "East Wind". Otto Sidharta is still alive and performing around the world.”
2 CD Set $17

LP Section:

CHARLES HAYWARD AND THURSTON MOORE - Improvisations (Care of the Community 112; UK) Earlier in 2017 iconic artists Charles Hayward (This Heat) and Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) spent an afternoon improvising. Charles Hayward on drums and Thurston Moore on guitar. This LP is the result. Improvisations is a vinyl-only release, limited to 500 copies worldwide. The seven tracks are unnamed but are identified by the side and order in which they appear, ie. A1-3 and B1-4. This was the third time Hayward and Moore played together. The session was recorded at Lynchmob studios through the famous 1969 Neve console originally built for the BBC. Charles Hayward has been a prominent figure in British music over the last 40 years: Gong at 19 years of age, Quiet Sun with Phil Manzanera and Brian Eno, Camberwell Now, and of course the revered This Heat now touring the world in its phoenix-like rebirth as This Is Not This Heat. Thurston Moore spent thirty years fronting the groundbreaking and massively influential Sonic Youth, in addition to numerous collaborative and experimental side-projects and running the SYR imprint, as well as his own Ecstatic Peace label. One-off, very limited pressing; Heavyweight foil block sleeve.
LP $45

ROSCOE MITCHELL - Discussions (Wide Hive 340; USA) "Referred to an as 'American Iconoclast' by the New York Times, Roscoe Mitchell is an internationally recognized saxophonist, composer, and founder of the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Discussions Orchestra is derived from several musical improvisations found on Roscoe Mitchell's Conversations with Kikanju Baku and Craig Taborn. The songs have been transcribed and performed by a twenty piece orchestra."
2 LP Set $26

CLUSTER - Zuckerzeit (Lilith 333; Russian Federation) 2018 repress. Originally released in 1974, Zuckerzeit marked a turning point for these seminal German space rockers. Recorded shortly after their move away from the metropolis of Berlin, it sees some of the abrasiveness of their earlier material slightly diffusing. With the addition of proto drum machines and the producing talents of Michael Rother, their sound here - while remaining firmly in anchored in experimental territory - has more pop sensibility. Newly packaged with the CD of the album.
LP CD $24

ALVIN CURRAN - Natural History (Black Truffle 022; Australia) Black Truffle present the first-ever vinyl issue of Alvin Curran's Natural History, originally released on cassette by Edition Giannozzo Berlin in 1983. A founding member of the radical electronic improvising group Musica Elettronica Viva, since the early 1970s Curran has developed an idiosyncratic body of solo work that occupies a unique position in the post-Cageian experimental tradition. Singularly undogmatic, Curran's work takes the Cageian experience as the starting point for a radical openness to all forms of music and sound. Refusing to abstract music from its human functions, his work draws on existing musical genres, cutting-edge electronics and environmental recordings to craft compositions that mimic the hazy texture of everyday life, moving from the abstract to the referential, from the observational to the emotive, from the structured to the random. As he reflects in the liner notes written especially for this edition: "This infinite stream of sound became my life and my music all at once". Curran's other classic solo works of the 1970s and 1980s, such as Songs and Views of the Magnetic Garden (1975) and Canti Illuminati (1982) are elaborate collages that combine keyboard and voice improvisation and composition with field-recorded environments. Natural History consists entirely of field recordings from Curran's archive, arranged as a series of "still lifes", sometimes layered, but without any additional processing. Sounds recorded over the course of nearly twenty years, at Curran's home in Rome or while traveling: constructions sites, insects, children's toys, a piano being tuned, foghorns, familiar to admirers of Curran masterful Maritime Rites (2004), lovemaking, a singing neighbor. It is, as Curran says, an attempt to "put the sound of the entire world on a cassette tape". Heard against the backdrop of the increasing prevalence of field recordings in contemporary music over the last few years, Natural History is like a refreshing breeze, suffused with the joy of discovery. Gatefold sleeve with liner notes and photos by Alvin Curran and design by Stephen O'Malley. Vinyl cut by Rashad Becker at Dubplates.
LP $26

NIKKI SUDDEN & ROWLAND S. HOWARD - Johnny Smiled Slowly (Bang! Records 119; Spain) An absolutely killer recording of Nikki Sudden with Rowland S. Howard, where they perform only songs of The Jacobites. If you can imagine the sound of The Jacobites with the guitar of The Birthday Party, then you are still far away from the extreme mix of beauty and distortion included in this recording that these two legends of rock n' roll performed back in 1987. A totally necessary recording for all fans of these magnificent artists. Released under license from Easy Action Records. 150 gram vinyl; Edition of 500.
LP $25

HUGO RACE & THE TRUE SPIRIT - Spiritual Thirst (Bang! Records 117; Spain) Spiritual Thirst, the magnificent album from Hugo Race & The True Spirit, is finally released on vinyl here, originally released only in Europe 1993 on CD. Spiritual Thirst was at the peak of Hugo Race's period delivering the rawest blues sound. The sound of this album is like mixing The Beasts Of Bourbon's Black Milk (1980) with Rowland S. Howard's Teenage Snuff Film (1999). Raw, bluesy, swampy, and brutal. For those who follow the music of Hugo Race, it is a must. For those who don't know it yet, there is no better door to enter into his music. Released on limited edition in order to make justice to this wonderful record, it has been remastered by Hugo Race himself. 150 gram vinyl; Edition of 500.
LP $25

HIGH RISE - II (Black Editions 002; USA) Black Editions present a reissue of High Rise's II, originally released in 1986. High Rise exploded onto Tokyo's underground music scene with the roar and reckless abandon of a motorcycle accelerating headlong into a dead man's curve. Born from the explosive chemistry of bassist/vocalist Asahito Nanjo and frenetic guitarist Munehiro Narita, the band blazed a wild new stream of psychedelic guitar music. Their second album is a defining document of the band and unquestionably one of the greatest albums to emerge from 20th century underground Japan and beyond. With Nanjo's distorted thunder bass and Narita's wildly narrative lead guitar playing, II is a non-stop tour de force of improvised rock music. Combining elements of garage rock, punk, and no wave, the band pushed all levels fully in-the-red and transcended the limits of rock and psychedelia to create a raw, unique expansion of the music. Black Editions present High Rise's II, newly mixed and mastered by Asahito Nanjo in what the band states is the definitive version of their most quintessential recording. This new edition restores the original vinyl version's textured black and silver artwork. Housed in heavy Stoughton tip-on jacket. Pressed onto high quality vinyl by RTI.
LP $24

Back in stock:

SAM NEWSOME / JEAN-MICHEL PILC - Magic Circle (SopranoSaxTalk 62449; USA) Featuring Sam Newsome on soprano sax and Jean-Michel Pilc on piano. After five discs of solo soprano sax (!?!), Sam Newsome decided to try something different so he organized a duo session with French ex-pat pianist Jean-Michel Pilc. It turns out that Mr. Newsome and Mr. Pilc have been collaborating for a while with Newsome being a member of Pilc’s quartet (CD on Dreyfus). The duo cover seven well-known standards (Ellington, Monk & Coltrane) but do them in a unique way. Most of the songs are first (and only) takes, hence they sound fresh. “Autumn Leaves” has been covered by just about everyone, but I must admit that I dig this version since the duo seem to jump in and out of the stream, leaving space for the listener to add his or her own central current/flow (ongoing melody or structure). The music is exquisite, without too much embellishment or too many notes when a few will do. After concentrating on playing soprano sax exclusively for a number of years, Mr. Newsome has a wealth of ways to play and alter his approach, coming up with novel sounds for his special sax. He often bends and stretches his notes out, notes expanding and contracting in completely distinctive ways. Their version of Ellington, “In a Sentimental Mood” is sparse and filled with suspense, using as few notes as possible yet somehow most effective. Mr. Pilc spins a thick web of lines on “Giant Steps” when it begins while Mr. Newsome softly adds spiraling notes on top, the tempo increasing as it evolves. Pilc mutes a few of the strings, giving them a slightly bent yet playful quality on “In a Mellow Tone”. At times it sounds as if the duo are heading in opposite directions yet end up back together when we least expect it, especially the two pieces which are freely improvised and move in odd directions. Even when the duo play a bebop standard like “Out of Nowhere”, they seem to spin it in their own way. Mr. Plic does a marvelous job of playing two separate themes with each hand while Mr. Newsome plays those twisted notes on top. Considering that this discs features merely a duo, these two master musicians have found ways to reinvent the many different ways that they can work together in a fascinating, surprising dialogue. Excellent! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10

SAM NEWSOME - Sopranoville: New Works for Prepared and Non-Prepared Saxophone (Soprano SaxTalk 15182; USA) Featuring Sam Newsome on prepared and unprepared soprano saxes. One saxist Sam Newsome sold his tenor sax and picked up the soprano, he became a man on a mission to explore the depths of playing solo soprano sax. This is Mr. Newsome’s fifth disc of solo soprano sax and one might think that he is running out of ideas but this is far from the case. Actually, Mr. Newsome has gone even further this time by experimenting on several levels: overdubbing numerous soprano saxes and altering the sopranos with varied manipulations: aluminum foil, scotch tape, making reeds out of straws and adding chimes or other percussive effects. There are some 22 pieces here and each one explores the soprano(s) in many different ways. Starting with, “The Quiet Before the Storm”, a stark, hypnotic, solemn intro for lone soprano with soft chimes, a great way to begin our journey. “The Doppler Effect” is for three soprano saxes in circular motion, spinning together in a most mesmerizing way. Even better is “Horns of Plenty” for 15 sopranos, interlocking in strong rhythmic patterns. The aptly titled “Hiss and Kiss” is for three mouthpieces, bending and twisting their sounds just right. For Mr. Newsome’s previous CD, ‘The Straight Horn of Africa’, Sam worked on setting up African rhythms by tapping on the keys of the sax. He continues to experiment with similar rhythms here, creating shifting patterns with one of more saxes, interlinking their lines. in “Micro-Suite for Fifteen Sopranos”, Newsome layers a number of slightly bent notes in a most fascinating way, the haze of notes being somewhat disorienting. The are only two songs covered in this collection: one is John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps” for three sopranos played into a piano for resonance, all saxes swirling around one another until they play in unison near the end, all to great effect. Newsome has obviously worked hard at exploring a good deal of extended technique sounds, like using this odd flutter-tongue sounds which have been more common in recent years yet still sound fresh if one goes beyond their superficial use. I dig the way Newsome stacks up layers of bent note lines on “Soprano-ology”, combining alien sounds with something somehow familiar to those who enjoy taking chances, never knowing where things will end up. Sam Newsome has worked hard and created his own sonic world. well-with exploring. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10

SAM NEWSOME - The Straight Horn of Africa: A Path to Liberation / The Art of the Soprano Vol. 2 (Some New Music; USA) Aside from the two departed heroes of the soprano sax, Steve Lacy & Lol Coxhill, solo soprano sax recordings are still pretty rare. This is Sam Newsome's fourth disc in a row of solo soprano sax and again Mr. Newsome has worked hard to explore some areas for that straight horn. Each of his solo soprano sax discs has been completely different and this one is unique as well. Each of the twenty-one pieces here was inspired by a different section of Africa, so in a sense it is as if we are traveling the continent to hear the different ways that music, art or ideas have given each place its own distinction. The liner notes explain how or what inspired each piece so we have an idea of what Newsome is trying to evoke. Mr. Newsome does a fine job of overdubbing several lines, adding percussive effects (i.e great grooves), shades and sounds to his already compelling playing. One of the highlights here is "The Obama Song: The Man from Kenya" for our current president. I love the way the Newsome has several layers going on at once, certain figures evoking dance or celebratory vibes with the clicking of the sax keys as a percussion device. If any CD can evoke the special/magical/diverse spirit of Mother Africa, then this is a major achievement. And that is what we have here! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10

STRAY [JOHN BUTCHER / JOHN RUSSELL / DOMINIC LASH / STALE LIAVIK SOLBERG] - Into Darkness ((Iluso 09; USA) Stray features John Butcher on tenor & soprano saxes, John Russell on electric guitar, Dominic Lash on contrabass and Stale Liavik Solberg on drums & percussion. This internationally mixed quartet was recorded live at Iklektik in London in December of 2015. Both John Butcher and John Russell are leading lights of the London Underground Free Music scene, stretching back to the 1970’s. Both played together in the Chris Burn Ensemble, a trio with Phil Durrant which turned into a quintet called News from the Shed. A generation younger is London bassist Dominic Lash who is on some two dozen recordings although still in his thirties and is a member of Convergence Quartet, working with Alex Ward and the Wandelweiser composers. Scandinavian percussionist, Stale Liavik Solberg has turned up on discs with Joe McPhee, Steve Beresford and Paal Nilssen-Love (Pan-Scan Ensemble). This disc is especially well recorded so that each member of the quartet is integral to the overall sound. John Russell, a contemporary of Derek Bailey, is playing electric guitar, something he rarely plays as he prefers an acoustic guitar on many of his recordings. Russell sounds like he is using some pedals like a wah-wah and distortion at times. Is he rubbing the strings? Is the distortion going into overdrive?? Mr. Butcher is at his most Evan Parker-like, spewing out those intense fractured notes on tenor sax. Whoa! This disc bristles with intensity, showing a common ground between all four musicians” focused and forthright. Bowed strings? Rubbed cymbals or drums? Guitar or sax or something else? Keep guessing. This is edge-of-your-chair improv at its best! Quite extraordinary! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $12

DOMINIC LASH QUARTET With ALEX WARD / RICARDO TEJERO / JAVIER CARMONA - Extremophile (Iluso 06; Earth) Featuring Ricardo Tejero on alto sax & clarinet, Alex Ward on electric guitar & clarinet, Dominic Lash on contrabass and Javier Carmona on drums. British bassist Dominic Lash seems to straddle several strands of the UK improv scene, playing with the Convergence Quartet (half British/half NY), from the intense improv (Tony Bevan) to the more subtle (Axel Dorner & Wandelweiser Collective). It makes perfect sense that Lash would choose fellow London extremist Alex Ward, who plays amazing clarinet (with Derek Bailey) and often brutal guitar. The other two members of this quartet are very familiar although Mr. Carmona has worked with Alexander Hawkins and Ingrid Laubrock. Instead of the usual group improv date, Dominic Lash wrote four of the seven pieces, with a couple of select covers, like “Mixed, Mixed” by Cecil Taylor (from 1962) and “Fumeux Fume” by Solage (14th century French composer). Mr. Lash’s “Mr. S.B.” has some intricate arranging with strong interplay between the alto sax & guitar over an ever-expanding rhythm team which seems to speed up and slow down in a most organic fashion. What’s interesting is getting to hear Alex Ward stretching out on jazz/rock guitar, not drawing from his more noisy guitar side. Oddly enough, the song by Solage (mysterious composer of whom little is known) is done quaintly and probably not very different from the original. It was considered to be unusual for its time. “Palpito” erupts with some waves of furious strummed guitar and sax tightly interwoven and soaring over the rhythmic currents underneath. Each piece shows another side to this quartet which is consistently unpredictable. Alex Ward unleashes some powerful fractured note guitar on “Unbeknownst”, with equally splintered sax tightly interacting. Mr. Tejero performs a Zorn-like alto sax blast/solo on “Slailing” which has number sections showing off Mr. Lash’s diverse writing. Cecil Taylor’s “Mixed” first appeared on an Gil Evans’ ‘Into the Hot’ album and was performed by the Cecil Taylor Sextet, arranged by Mr. Evans. Cecil taylor was still composing in a somewhat more traditional way at this time before launching off into more freer terrain afterwards. The balance between free and occasionally charted or directed sections in blurred but still filled with surprising twists and turns. Another winner for the ever-evolving Iluso label. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $12

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Bruce Lee Gallanter’s Recommended Gig List for January of 2018:

THE STONE AT THE NEW SCHOOL—55 WEST 13TH STREET
RYUICHI SAKAMOTO
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS JANUARY 26-27 AT 830PM
FRIDAY JAN 26—Ryuichi Sakamoto (piano) with Camille Norment (glass harmonica)
SATURDAY JANUARY 27—Ryuichi Sakamoto (piano) with guest Ami Yamasaki (voice)

THE STONE RESIDENCIES - KRIS DAVIS - JAN 23–28

1/26 Friday
8:30 pm - Jen Shyu (voice) Ikue Mori (electronics) Trevor Dunn (bass) Mat Maneri (viola) Ches Smith (drums) Kris Davis (piano)

1/27 Saturday
8:30 pm - Jen Shyu (voice) Ikue Mori (electronics) Trevor Dunn (bass) Mat Maneri (viola) Ches Smith (drums) Kris Davis (piano)

1/28 Sunday
8:30 pm - Kris Davis (piano) Terri Lyne Carrington (drums) Val Jeanty (dj)

THE STONE RESIDENCIES - MARY HALVORSON - JAN 30–FEB 4

1/30 Tuesday
8:30 pm - Mary Halvorson (guitar) and Randy Peterson (drums)

1/31 Wednesday
8:30 pm - Mary Halvorson and Liberty Ellman (guitars)

2/1 Thursday
8:30 pm - Mary Halvorson, Ben Monder (guitars)

THE STONE AT THE NEW SCHOOL—55 WEST 13TH STREET
LINDA MAY HAN OH
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS FEBRUARY 2–3 AT 8:30PM
Linda May Han Oh (bass)

2/2 Friday
8:30 pm - Mary Halvorson Trio
Mary Halvorson (guitar) John Hébert (bass) Ches Smith (drums)

2/3 Saturday
8:30 pm - Mary Halvorson Quartet plays Masada Book of Angels; Mary Halvorson, Miles Okazaki (guitars) Drew Gress (bass) Tomas Fujiwara (drums)

2/4 Sunday
8:30 pm - Mary Halvorson’s Reverse Blue - Chris Speed (tenor sax, clarinet) Mary Halvorson (guitar) Eivind Opsvik (bass) Tomas Fujiwara (drums)

All Sets at the Old Stone start at 8:30pm Tickets: $20
There are no refreshments or merchandise at The Stone.
Only music. All ages are welcome.
Cash Only at the door. There is no phone.
There is no food or beverage served or allowed
just a serious listening environment.
The Stone is booked purely on a curatorial basis

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The CORNELIA STREET CAFE - 212-989-9319
29 Cornelia St in the heart of the West Greenwich Village, NYC

Friday
Jan 26
8:35PM ISRAELI JAZZ FEST: SHAI MAESTRO TRIO - Shai Maestro , piano; Jorge Roeder, bass; Ofri Nehemya, drums

Saturday Jan 27
8:35PM GEORGE GARZONE TRIO - George Garzone, tenor sax; Peter Slavov, bass; Niclas Campagno, drums

Sunday Jan 28
8:01PM DJANGO FEST: DAN LEVINSON - To commemorate the birthday of Django Reinhardt, Cornelia Street Café will extend the monthly Django At Cornelia concert series to three nights.

Mon Jan 29th:
8:01PM DJANGO FEST: ANOUMAN - Peter Sparacino, saxes; Koran Agan, guitar; Josh Kaye, guitar; Eduardo Belo, bass

Tuesday Jan 30
8:01PM DJANGO FEST: ULTRAFAUX - Sami Arefin, guitar; Michael Joseph Harris, guitar; Eddie Hrybyk, bass

Wed Jan 31st:
8:01PM - IGOR LUMPERT & INNERTEXTURES, CD RELEASE: ELEVEN - Jonathan Finlayson, trumpet; Igor Lumpert, tenor sax; Masa Kamaguchi, bass; Kenny Grohowski, drums

Thursday Feb 01
8:01PM ZACK FOLEY QUARTET, CD RELEASE - Zack Foley, voice; Jesse Elder , piano; Chris Tordini, bass; Devin Gray, drums

Friday Feb 02
8:35PM DUANE EUBANKS QUARTET - Duane Eubanks, trumpet; James Hurt, piano; Tarus Mateen, bass; Eric McPherson, drums

Saturday Feb 03
8:35PM LAGE LUND, PETER BERNSTEIN DUO - Lage Lund, guitar; Peter Bernstein,

Sunday Feb 04
8:30PM JANE IRA BLOOM EARLY AMERICANS - Jane Ira Bloom, soprano sax; Mark Helias, bass; Bobby Previte , drums

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Shapeshifter Lab Presents:

Jan 26
7pm: "Butterflies in the Wind of Change” Eliane Delage and Jackie Forzano 
"A versatile musician, composer, singer/songwriter; Eliane Delage sprouts her brazilian roots in a wide range of styles developing great music and harvesting a multitude of projects. Eliane's current project "Butterflies in the Winds of Change" to be released in the Spring of 2017 explores her singer/songwriter skills in a collection of self reflective themes organically wrapped in rock, blues and folk."  
 
Shapeshifter is located at
18 Whitwell Place in Brooklyn, NY
R train to Union stop

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I-Beam Presents:

Saturday, January 27th 8:30 PM
Joe Fiedler’s Stunt Chicken
Playing music from the golden age of Sesame Street
2 sets (8:30 and 10:00)
Joe Fiedler/Trombone & Arrangements
Jeff Lederer/Soprano & Tenor Saxophones
Sean Conly/Electric Bass
Allison Miller/Drums

Saturday, February 3rd 8:00 PM
Novoa / Kamaguchi / Takeishi: Barcelona Meets Brooklyn series.5
Eva Novoa (p) / Masatoshi Kamaguchi (bs) / Satoshi Takeishi (dr)

Thursday, February 8th 8:30 PM
Joe Morris Tomas Fujiwara
Joe Morris – Guitar
Tomas Fujiwara – Drums
Sean Lovato’s Cycles of Animation Noriega / Novoa / Yang

Saturday, February 10th 8:00 PM
Sean Lovato’s Cycles of Animation (8 pm)
Oscar Noriega, alto saxophone
Brad Shepik, guitar
Santiago Leibson, piano
Sean Lovato, bass and compositions
Chris Carroll, drums
Noriega / Novoa / Yang (9 pm)
Oscar Noriega (asx & dr)
Eva Novoa (p)
Jeong Lim Yang (bs)

I-Beam is located at 168 7th Street in Brooklyn, NY 11215 - Directions: SUBWAY: Take the F or R trains to 4th Ave & 9th Street. Walk down 4th ave to 7th street. Make a left on 7th and walk past 3rd ave. We are located on the ground floor, the grey doors to the right of the stairs of #168.

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ESP-Disk’ 55th Anniversary Winter Concert
January 27, 2018 at 7:30 PM

Greenwich House
46 Barrow Street

Part of the Sound It Out series
Stephen Dydo & Alan Sondheim with Azure Carter
Kali Fasteau
Megumi Yonezawa/Masa Kamaguchi/Ken Kobayashi
Talibam! with Matt Nelson and Ron Stabinsky