The Downtown Music Gallery grand re-opening celebration is finally over, thank heavens. Now the real fun/challenge begins. Thanks to everyone who attended any or all of our 4 gigs, the music/magic was really flowing. A special thanks to all of the participating musicians, you are what DMG is all about-inspiration through music. Both nights at Context studios provided a diverse history of 7 sax sets on the 1st night and 7 guitar sets on night 2, all great! Attendance should've been better, but then we up against the overblown CMJ shebang & there were no heavy hitters like Zorn or Thurston this time around. The Knit fest was truly a blast, with over 150 attendees. Rare appearances by Mazzacane/Licht , Kramer, the Controlled Bleeding trio, Fibre, the Elliott Sharp- Bobby Previte duo w/ John Zorn sittin' in & Ribot's Cuban thing , really made this gig very special. The champagne party at DMG itself was also a total groove. Thanx to Ginger, Robin & my sister Bonnie for the snacks. We gave away dozens of posters & Gary Lucas played 2 sets of amazing picking, especially the Hebrew tunes in the second set! Special mention also to Kat, Dean & Daniel for helping paint, to journalists Richard Gehr, Andy Lampert & Glenn Kenny for their kind words & once again to my pal Steve Dalachinsky for working the door at Context. The new era at DMG is here, the place looks brighter & more spacious, if only the paint smell would end. Greetings to our new friends from Florida-Marcus & Brett, who came a long ways to help us celebrate.  

NEW RELEASES NEW RELEASES NEW RELEASES  
NEW RELEASES NEW RELEASES NEW RELEASES:  

• 1.JOHN ZORN-1977-1980-The Parachute Years (Tzadik 7316) 7 cd set box w/ outstanding packaging. Includes all three double lp sets of "Pool", "School" & "Archery" plus 4 more cd's of outtakes & rehearsals. These are Zorn's early game pieces & some of his most challenging & rewarding music ever. Players include Chadbourne, Wayne & Bill Horvitz,Mark Kramer,Bill Laswell,Henry Kaiser, Davey Williams, Bob Ostertag, George Lewis, Robert Dick, Polly Bradfield & Tom Cora. $85. 
• 2.JOHN ZORN/BOBBY PREVITE-Euclid's Nightmare (Depth of Field 1) 41 minutes of incredible sax/drum duos. Often short pieces that cover all areas of improv from two masters. The 1st release on Bobby's new label. $14. 
• 3.DAVEY WILLIAMS-"Charmed, I'm Sure" (Ecstatic Peace #92) 21 trax of scary, twisted, amazing, brilliant & bizarre layered el. guitars from the unsung hero of the frets. A member of Curlew & Trans Muziq w/ LaDonna Smith. $12. 
• 4.BILL LASWELL-MICK HARRIS-ERALDO BERNOCCHI-Equations of Eternity (Word Sound 015) Dark ambient, brooding, throbbing & heavy praise from the Wire magazine. $14. 
• 5.BOB MARLEY/BILL LASWELL-Dreams of Freedom (Island/Axiom 524-419) Long awaited remix project of Bob Marley material ambiently translated by Bill Laswell. Guests include Ayib Dieng, Tetsu Inoue & Karl Berger. $14. 
• 6.MISHA MENGELBERG TRIO-No Idea (DIW 619) Second superb & unique trio effort, produced by John Zorn & with the Masada rhythm team of Greg Cohen & Joey Baron. Mostly standards, distinctly done by Misha! $16.  
• 7.MATTHEW SHIPP-Before the World (FMP 81) Solo piano gem from our local hero & new master of the keys! $17. 
• 8.WILLIAM PARKER & the LITTLE HUEY CREATIVE MUSIC ORCHESTRA-Sunrise in the Tone World (AUM Fidelity 002/3) 2cd set from this monsterous & all consuming orchestra. "The secret of life is revealed..." feat: Roy Campbell, Rob Brown, Susie Ibarra, Steve Swell, Marco Eneidi, Jason Hwang, John King, Gregg Bendian, Assif Tsahar, Kono, Lewis Barnes...$18. 
• 9.DAVID S. WARE QUARTET-Wisdom of Uncertainty (AUM Fidelity 001) Another powerful studio date from this burning quartet, which consists of new wonder-drummer Susie Ibarra, plus Matt Shipp & William Parker. $14. 
• 10.THE JULIUS HEMPHILL SEXTET-At Dr. King's Table (New World 80524) Beautiful, heartfelt tribute to one of our finest saxists/ composers who passed away in '95. 16 outstanding pieces by Mr. Hemphill, featuring his sax sextet, now directed by Marty Ehrlich, w/ Andy Laster, Sam Furnace, Gene Ghee, Andrew White & Alex Harding. $14. 
• 11.MARTY EHRLICH'S DARK WOODS ENSEMBLE-Live Wood (Music & Arts 986) 2 cd set, live in Europe, superb trio w/ Erik Friedlander on cello & Mark Helias on acoustic bass. True music of the world-combining jazz, world music and modern classical influences. Excellent. $27. 
• 12.JOE MORRIS/WILLIAM PARKER-Invisible Weave (No More No.4) Adventurous duo of el. guitar/acous. bass, two titans erupting together. Live at the Knit. Like wow! $14. 
• 13.VINNY GOLIA QUINTET-Dante No Longer Repents (Music & Arts 992) Yet another solid effort from one of our finest reed players, who can do no wrong!! $14. 
• 14.KEITH & JULIE TIPPETT-Couple in Spirit II (ASC 12) Second incredibly beautiful spiritual journey from this magical couple, my fave pianist & vocalist. A must. $15. 
• 15.VOLUPUK-Slang! (Cuneiform 94) Superb french acoustic trio, feat. Guigou-drummer from Etron Fou, w/ bass clarinet & cello. Unique, complex & often lovely but weird. $13. 
• 16.OTOTLITHEN-S.O.D. (Cuneiform 97) Wacky duo offshoot of Belgium's Blast. Skeleton Crew like, in that each dude shares percussion parts. Comparable to Tim Hodgkinson & U Totem. Very cool progressive duet. $13. 
• 17.BOOM-One Hour Talisman (Cune. 96) Diverse & unique power trio w/ Pippin Barnett-ace drummer for Curlew & No Safety. From fractured acid wah wah jamming to Massacre like thick rocking free jazz wildness. $13. 
• 18.BILLY BANG-Commandment (No More No.5) Solo violin journey through standards & twisted originals as well. His best release in quite a while. $14. 
• 19.RY COODER-The End of Violence (Outpost 30007) Sinister soundtrack of mostly thick echoed guitars & other mysterious sounds. Guests include Jon Hassell, Blood Ulmer & Flaco Jimenez. Mesmermizing. $14. 
• 20.LEO SMITH.PETER KOWALD.GUNTER SOMMER-Touch the Earth (FMP 67) 1st time on cd for this great improvising trio. AACM space trumpet giant meets two of Europe's finest acous. bass & drum players. $17. 
• 21.ZUSAAN KALI FASTEAU-NOAH HOWARD-BOBBY FEW-Expatriate Kin (CIMP 140) Zusaan is a consistently fine player on various reeds, here on soprano sax & cello. She is joined by a her old ESP labelmate Noah Howard on alto sax & great pianist Bobby Few, both currently living in France, hence the title. Another gem from CIMP. $14. 
• 22.PHILLIP JOHNSTON-normalogy (Eighth Day 80006) former co-leader of the Microscopic Septet, a quirky, but great jazz group from NYC, that rarely got the recognition they deserved. Even Zorn played with them in the early 80's. Phillip's composing just keeps getting better, his dry sense of humor at the center. A fine soprano saxist, as well. He has two other great releases on Avant & Black Saint. All three worth checking out. $14. 
• 23.CHRISTIAN MARCLAY-Records/Early Recordings '81-'89 (Atavistic 62) Finally! Christian's first solo cd of his turntable genius, delayed for over 6 months. This sets the standard for all turntable wizards to match. Outstanding & well worth the long wait. $14. 
• 24.ELLERY ESKELIN 3-One Great Day (Hatology 502) Second superb release from one of downtown's finest trios. W/ Andrea Parkins on accordian & Jim Black on drums. Currently on tour, be on the lookout. $17. 
• 25.MATT SHIPP/JOE MORRIS-Thesis (Hatology 506) An intense suite of written & improvised piano/el. guitar greatness. Their recent Knit gig was overwhelming! Check out Matt's current cover article in the much improved Jazziz magazine. $17. 
• 26.NED ROTHENBERG/EVAN PARKER-Monkey Puzzle (Leo 247) Two masters of circular breathing saxes record their 1st cd together. An historic event!! $15.  

• 1.JOHN ZORN'S MASADA-The Knit- Sept. 25 8&10pm, Sept. 26 & 27 9&11pm . possibly their last gigs in NYC 
• 2.J.D. PARRAN & KELVYN BELL-@ Downtown Music Gallery -Sun. Sept. 28 @ 8pm. Our free in-store music series continues w/ this outstanding reeds & guitar duo celebrating the release of J.D.'s 1st solo/band CD!! C'mon down & support free music!! 
• 3 PETER BROTZMANN-THOMAS BORGMAN-WILLIAM PARKER-the Knit-Sun. Sept. 28 @10pm $10. 
• 4.PETER BROTZMANN-THURSTON MOORE-THOMAS BORGMANN-TOM SURGAL-w/ members of PHLEGM-spazz jazz noise improv from down under-The Cooler-Mon. Sept .29- free like all Mondays at the Cooler 
• 5.TERJE RYPDAL-Hemispheres-the Knit-Tues. Sept.30 @ 8 pm. One of most distinctive el. guitar players alive. First gig in the US in over 15 years!! Amazing & unique tone!! $10.  
• 6.CECIL TAYLOR TRIO w/ Dominic Duval & Jackson Krall. THURSTON MOORE & TOM SURGAL duo, and CECIL TAYLOR- THURSTON improv thing-The Cooler-Fri & Sat October 3rd & 4th. $20. at the door, $15.in advance! 
• 7.JOEY BARON's Down Home, w/Bill Frissel, Arthur Blythe & Ron Carter-The Knit-Wed. & Thurs, October 15 & 16, $10., celebrating their first cd release on Intuition. 
• 8.JOEL HARRISON-3 + 3 =7 downstairs @ the AlterKnit @ 9 pm, featuring guitar god-Nels Cline & his brother percussionist-ALEX CLINE. The cd from this amazing double trio of 3 guitars & 3 drummers is one of 96's finest moments . Worth missing one Baron/Frisell set upstairs. 
• 9.JOHN ZORN-MARC RIBOT-JOHN MEDESKI-KENNY WOLLESEN-CYRO BAPTISTA do the music of Larry Young-Oct. 22nd at the Knit! 
• 10..DEREK BAILEY festival @ the Knit- Mon. Oct. 27 w/ John Zorn & Ikue Mori, 8pm $10. in advance-Tues. October 28 @ 8&10pm -COMPANY STYLE IMPROV FEST , lead by Zorn & Bailey; Wed. Oct. 29th @ 8pm: DEREK BAILEY & THE RUINS!!! plus ZUBI ZUVA-avant acapella Ruins offshoot, also at the Knit for $10. A must see gig!!!  

• 1.SECONDS magazine-issue 44-Brilliant 10 page in depth & well researched KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN article & interview, with discography & way to order his cd's direct. Also, an amazingly bizarre 7 page LEE PERRY article/interview!! 
• 2.THE WIRE-Sept. '97-Important cover article/interview with our favorite vocalist/philospher/Marxist of all time-ROBERT WYATT!! Also great articles on SUN RA, SILVER APPLES, CURRENT 93, TERRE THAEMLITZ & VAN DYKE PARKS blindfold test. Plus dozens of integral record reviews. As OPTION slides down the toilet, THE WIRE just gets better. New Robert Wyatt cd not out in US til Jan. '98!? 
• 3.JAZZIZ-Oct. '97-Lengthy cover article & controversial interview with local piano giant Matt Shipp, great article w/ cool pix of William & Patricia Parker's important annual avant jazz Vision Festival, plus reviews of downtowners Andy Laster, Marty Ehrich, Ben Goldberg, Anthony Braxton, Saft/Vu...As Downbeat gets more mainstream, Jazziz covers our local heroes. 

This edition of MIKESSPACE is dedicated to Leslie C. of EMD for getting me connected also to those who've passed on since we last met- the late, great William Seward Burried, Princess Died, Mother Deceasa, Fela Kuti. Finally, to musical styles that your girlfriend will never understand.  

Again I will begin with APOLOGIES. Here I try to make amends for past mistakes or failures. This edition I'd like to apologize to all of you little sexist guys (and gals) who really seem to miss the HOT BABES LIST. I've heard from quite a few of you and I appreciate the fact that you all actually take the time to read my mindless ranting. Anyway, I now present the opportunity for anyone out there who wants to do it to send in a timely and regular fashion a HOT GUYS REPORT and I will again do the HBL. If not, things will stay this way because it seems that conservativism is where the money's at and you can't run a campaign on Cheez Wiz. Politics...  

In the quest to keep this idiot box column interesting I like to try out new things as often as I can. In that spirit I present ACTUALLY SEEN- this will be an open forum (send in your stuff) in which I will showcase unbelievable but actual sightings of funny stuff. First up is PUTZMEISTER. The other day I'm walking to work when I spy with my little eye a piece of heavy construction equipment with PUTZMEISTER emblazoned on a hydraulic arm and across the back. I'm sure most of you know what's so funny about that, but for the unenlightened I'll elaborate. "Putz" is Yiddish for penis, "Meister" is German/Yiddish for master and I'll say no more. Second sighting is the catalog for Vintage Distributors a wholesaler of music store type stuff- their toll free number? 1-888-I-WANT-VD. Would the Emperor lie to you?  

This issue's DI__________ list comes from Ken Egbert, Publisher of Tone Clusters (a fine little journal that's well worth the price, which is low too. BONUS!). As always, these little gems are verbatim, and in this case, copied by me from a fax. DIY lives.  

"Appreciated our chat the other day, and I have compiled here my own Desert Island Whatsits list for your consideration. Good luck reading my handwriting.  
 

• 1. Pink Floyd - UMMAGUMMA (Nostalgia; what can I say?) 
• 2. A stereo that can play the above record in all its psychotica glory. 
• 3. Keith Tippett's Ark - FRAMES (As divine as British jazz gets) 
• 4. W.A. Mozart - IL NOZZE DE FIGARO (...you have to laugh sometime) 
• 5. Diana Rigg, at 57 still breathtaking (I'm 42, I have to be realistic) Actually, if Diana were willing to join me she could have the last 5 choices. Failing that, I'd take as many videocassettes (and a VCR and television, of course) of the old Avengers episodes as possible. 
• 6. Francois Poulenc - DIALOGUES OF THE CARMELITES (...you can't laugh all the time) 
• 7. The Who - QUADROPHENIA (see #1) 
• 8. John Zorn's Masada - BAR KOKHBA (no eggsplanation necessary) 
• 9. Caravan - CANTERBURY TALES (I can't get through a month without listening to "Memory Lain, Hugh"/"Headloss" at least once) 
• 10. Dirk Campbell - MUSIC FROM A ROUND TOWER (the best CD I've heard all year, and probably next year too) 

• 11. Miles Davis - GET UP WITH IT (he could rock the cool and did) 
• 12. Willima Burroughs/Material - SEVEN SOULS (otherwise I wouldn't be able to remember which is which) 
• 13. J.G. Ballard - A USER"S MANUAL FOR THE 20th CENTURY (and it is) 
• 14. National Health - Complete (see #9--ditto for "Tenemos Roads") 
• 15. Iannis Xenakis - KRAANBERG (see #6) 

Ken Egbert, Publisher & Token Tokenist  
TONE CLUSTERS  

My own DI__________ for this issue will be DI videos.  

• 1. Romeo Is Bleeding (2 words- Lena Olin, 2 other words- good movie) 
• 2. Strange Days (2 words- sick, sick. 2 other words- Juliette Lewis) 
• 3. Sting- Bring On The Night (In case I find myself not so alone some night) 
• 4. 9 1/2 Weeks (no comment) 
• 5. Skinny Puppy- Ain't It Dead Yet (I'm not going without it) 
• 6. Ferris Bueller's Day Off or Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (Death as Little Bo Peep... sublime) 
• 7. The Blues Brothers (shut up!) 
• 8. The Alien Trilogy Box Set (for when the guys are over) 
• 9. Reservoir Dogs or Desperado or True Romance (gotta have Quentin) 
• 10. The Princess Bride (funny!) 

The latest Too-Good... Go-Out-And-Buy-It-Now!! CD comes from... PIZZICATO FIVE: Happy End Of The World. Don't kill me, please. I can't help it, this disc is #@*$)^%! amazing. Imagine the 80's Japanese pop princesses Pink Lady doing the Burt Bacharach songbook and being produced and re-mixed by Goldie or LTJ Bukem. Sick? Yes. Funny? Hilarious. Well done, too. Available on Matador. Also deserving a notice is Space Ghost's Musical Bar-B-Que on Cartoon Network/Kid Rhino a must for fans of Cartoon Planet and yes... I am. Damn proud of it, too. This contains almost all of my favorite songs including "Hoodleehoo" Do you care? Probably not. Is this my column? Yep.  

As for the rest, I've decided that I like Critique Poetique and so it will be a regular part of my reviews. Kinda break things up... As always, the format is; artist-title-label-RIYL (recommended if you like)  
 

Terre Thaemlitz- G.R.R.L. [Comatonse](RIYL: intelligent beats and curve ball sound sculptures, i.e. Autechre)  

Electro to jungle to just plain groovin'/executed oh so well makes me write this glowing review/to help the underground sell  

KMFDM- S/T? [Wax Trax/TVT](RIYL: KMFDM- The better years)  

a new fave for me 
here's their best disc since "Money" 
with focus to spare 

Portishead- Portishead [Go Beat/London] RIYL: film noir soundtrack over Wu-Tang type beats)  

Very, very good but darker than before/singing style is cynical to boot I guess it's 'cuz they started this "musique noir"/and the Sneaker Pimps have gotten all the loot  

Today Is The Day- Temple Of The Morning Star [Relapse](RIYL: brutal, southern chug-core/distilled aural hatred)  

These guys may visit your town on tour/so smoke 'em while you got 'em How deeply sick is this hateful album?/the world may never see the bottom  

The Crystal Method- Vegas [Outpost Recs.](RIYL: mad funk with your techno)  

Deep Funk trance you will find here/If you listen very long Influenced by Chemical Bros./and Children of the Bong  

Steve Roach- On This Planet [Fathom](RIYL: tribal electronic, i.e. Tuu, Stephen Kent)  

Steve returns to form embracing his early styles 
and ancient memories 

Not Breathing vs. Dead Voices on Air- A Fire In The Bronx Zoo [Invisible](RIYL: dark ambient, drone)  

In places nothing much happens here/which isn't to say it's dull the void is filled with rumbles and washes/that recalls the greatness of Lull  

Juno Reactor- Bible Of Dreams [TVT Recs.](RIYL: Goa/Hard Trance)  

nothing else comes close 
to the ideas on this disc 
so phat they're heavy 

Flux- Protoplasmic [Release](RIYL: O.L.D. doing pop songs)  

Pretty original to this guy's ears/No influence comes to mind Weird and warped and twisted pop/Pleasant at the same time  

Various Artists- World Domination 2 [Osmose](RIYL: Extreme Metal Samplers)  

2 cds of metal/Filled with darkness, death and squalor Black noise filled with so much hate/All for just $9  

Subarachnoid Space- Almost Invisible [Release](RIYL: that sick break in the middle of Led Zep's "Whole Lotta Love")  

space Rock excursion 
to the outer edge and back 
using sound, not drugs 

Brutal Truth- Sounds Of The Animal Kingdom [Relapse](RIYL: Grindeathateviscerationsickness)  

What can I say Kevin is back/with Danny and friends for another attack Of bone-searing grind riffs and death metal vocals/that are shoved down your throat until you... chokle?  

Sarah McLachlan- Surfacing [Arista](RIYL: Kate Bush's brilliance without all the quirkiness?)  

words cannot express 
how I do love this album 
Sarah hits the mark 

Six Feet Under- Warpath [Metal Blade](RIYL: Death Metal 101)  

why are these guys famous?/their chops are oh so childish and when compared to their brethren/this album's kind of mildish  

Stellamara- Star Of The Sea [City Of Tribes](RIYL: Goth tinged Middle Eastern music)  

just like Dead Can Dance 
without Brendan's bad vocals 
and a hint of hope  

Hecate Enthroned- Upon Promethean Shores [Death Records] (RIYL: Cradle Of Filth... outdone) (older title recently licensed for the US)  

Iron Maiden meets Mercyful Fate/sped up for these modern times So black, so fast and so well done/I won't even bother with rhymes  

The Sundays- Static & Silence [Geffen](RIYL: Belly, Autour De Lucie, Rose Chronicles)  

shout oh joy of joys for this beautiful release 
5 year wait is done 

Life Tip: When was the last time you watched a sunset? Listened to the wisdom of a four year old? Ran thru a sprinkler? Jumped in a mud puddle? Were happy about the things you already have? Get off the exercise wheel and lay in the shavings...  

Sincerely,  

His Most Benevolent and Divine Appointedness, Emperor Mike I