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The Bell Atlantic-Knitting Factory Jazz Fest was a big ball of confusion that tried too hard to pull together the many threads that make up that which is called jazz. Complaints from critics and fans both that there are too many gigs going on the same night and that it is too expensive to see a set or two, when there are 7 or more sets to choose from. The gigs at the seaport atrium were mostly not jazz, had good sound up close but not further back, were the best attended sets, since they were aimed more for the horde crowd. My suggestion is that the Knit should hire a small committee of open minded jazz historians-musicians-composers to put together a more well rounded jazz fest that covered the vast world of creative musics. There were a slew of unknown German units downstairs that I heard good reports of, but the one thing that certainly was missing was any of those European improvising giants that come to NY so rarely. There were a number of amazing sets, as well as disappointments, but this is to be expected. I was blown away by FRITH-ZORN-LASWELL-LOMBARDO, FRITH & BARON, MAGMA (but I did miss Masada), MISAKO KANO does TRANE, COLEMAN-NATHANSON-RIBOT, HORVITZ-PREVITE-ANDERSON, and the JOE MORRIS QT. I missed a number of sets (like the NY Art Qt.) that I would have loved to check out due to overlapping programming, work or occasional exhaustion. Michael Dorf tells me that he feels bad that I no longer love the Knit. Not true. I have too many memories of outstanding sets in the history of the Knit, with lots more to come. Still, there are & will always be room for improvement, even if it often seems to take too long, keeps those comments coming. How about some new chairs and better sound in the AlterKnit? NEW RELEASES FOR JUNE 1999! NEW RELEASES FOR JUNE 1999! NEW RELEASES FOR JUNE 1999! NEW RELEASES FOR JUNE 1999! 1.MARK FELDMAN & SYLVIE COURVOISIER-Music for violin and piano (Avant 065) Considering Mark Feldman is thee incredible violinist of the downtown scene, having done hundreds of sessions in Nashville before moving to NY and playing with New & Used and the Masada String Trio & Sextet, he has recorded only one cd (on Tzadik) under his own name. Swiss pianist Sylvie Courvoisier has moved to NY in recent years and has played duos with Fred Frith & Thomas Chapin. The spirit of adventure is found throughout this wonderful release, both players pushing each other to new heights. Sylvie has written most of the pieces here, with three duo compositions and one by Mark. Sylvie's composing, as well as her playing, is strong and diverse, often allowing both players to dazzle us with their extended technique and pieces which combine modern classical and avant jazz in an intricate communion. Minimal pieces like "La Goualante de l'idiot" and "Kit" show a delicate and haunting side to this duo. On "Valse Nise" Sylvie rumbles on the low end of the piano, while Mark lets the drama build to a passionate conclusion. Nice to hear a pianist other than Denman Maroney working inside the piano as successfully as Sylvie does on a number of the pieces found here. A dynamic duo, overflowing with ideas. $18. 2.MARTY EHRLICH'S DARK WOODS ENSEMBLE-Sojourn (Tzadik 7136) Marty is one of the most well rounded of all the downtown reed players and hence, one of the busiest. From the legendary Human Arts Ensemble in '73, through gigs with Anthony Braxton and (still with) Muhal Richards Abrams. He plays a variety of saxes, flutes and clarinets, and is a fine player, composer, reader and leads a number of superb ensembles. His Dark Woods Ensemble features classical instrumentation with Erik Friedlander on cello, Mark Helias on contrabass, Marty on clarinet & soprano sax only and here special guest Marc Ribot on guitar. This is the DWE's fourth great release. 'Sojourn' explores Marty's Jewish roots, he composed all but two of these pieces. The covers include a somber & beautiful version of Bob Dylan's "Blind Willie McTell" and the traditional Hebrew song "The Modzitzer Nigun." All of these pieces shows this quartet to be exploring luscious, haunting melodies, with warm, resonant results. Ribot plays with nimble and soulful taste, especially on the Dylan tune. The trio selections are a perfect combination of dark wooden spirits - clarinet, cello and acoustic bass cover the same range of timbres with delightful results. Each member of this wonderful ensemble seem to be reaching into their hearts and souls to come up with this work of ancient and modern beauty. $14 3.JERRY HUNT-SongDrapes (Tzadik 7045) Jerry Hunt was an astonishing pioneer of live electronic music, as well as a modern-day shaman. To say he was an odd character, an American original, would be putting it mildly. 'SongDrapes' was one of the last compositions he worked on before his death in 1993. Although this work was composed for live performance in collaboration with avant vocalist Karen Finley, who provided the texts, on this release the vocals and texts are also furnished by Jerry's friend Shelley Hirsch, as well as Zorn's pal Mike Patton, in addition to Karen's work. The "Song Drape" pieces are complex alien soundscapes with layers of fractured piano lines intermixed with strange electronic samples. The "String" pieces feature a vast cast of weird, hilarious and fascinating characters from each of the three vocalists involved. The vocal performances are split up evenly between Karen and Shelley, while Mike gets only one piece. Each vocal piece tells a bizarre tale and is sandwiched between evocative instrumental tracks. What makes this entire endeavor so magical is how well the vocals/stories work with the accompanying soundscapes creating rich& weird worlds of interwoven tapestry. Karen Finley continues to explore a number of taboo subjects on pieces like "Think of me while you're fucking her." Shelley tells enchanting stories from the pages of Jerry Hunt's strange life. This is another classic gem of distinctive weirdness from the ever-expanding Tzadik catalogue, hallelujah! $14. 4.CAPTAIN BEEFHEART & HIS MAGIC BAND-Grow Fins/Rarities 1965-82 (Revenant 5cd box set) We have been hearing about this immense important release for over a year, as it has been delayed seemingly forever. Is the holy chalice of avant-rock finally within reach?!? Will the corporate gorillas from WB seize all the copies of this fast & bulbous masterwork!?! We will know this Friday June 18th, so be prepared. Capt. Beefheart was perhaps the strangest and most influencial of 60's rock outer fringe, a visionary like his occasional collaborator Frank Zappa, graced with one of the most completely distinctive and bizarre voices (like Howlin' Wolf on acid) and a true poet-lyricist in the Dylan Thomas like tradition of almost impenetrable word play. The Magic Band were the true masters of their own brand of fractured rockin' rhythms, that the Capt. claimed he had taught them. Although the personnel changed slowly from record to record, their sound was completely unique and recognizable. They recorded ten classic full length lps between 1965and 1982, currently three essential titles are out-of-print-'Strictly Personal,' 'Lick My Decals Off' and 'Shiny Beast.' Their story is one of myth and mystery. Avant-rock bands from the 60's onwards from around the world, and the downtown scene especially owes them a great debt. Although Beefheart experts like Henry Kaiser collect rare live tapes and demos, most of us will be relieved to finally own a large portion of Beefheart rarities. Luckly for us freaks, some of us have received an incredible 73 plus minute 26 track pre-release single cd. A big glimpse of the holy grail ? Yes, a revelation from beginning to the end. There so many surprises and rare treats found here, covering their entire 17 year history. From their convincing early blues/rock finesse to the brilliant and twisted instrumental passages complete with amazing demented horn blasting from the Capt. during the 'Trout Mask' demos! It is these demos that show how clever the playing/direction became--with the interlocking double (and oft slide) el. guitars and the bent spastic avant/funk drumming of tubmaster Drumbo! My fave moment is an excellent duo off the radio of Zappa & Beefheart doing a great version of "Orange Claw Hammer." The cover has a nifty infra-red picture of the good Capt. pulling a vacuum cleaner from his top hat. The old fart was smart. This outstanding box set includes a thick booklet of rare pix and info, as well as cd rom of ultra-rare film footage!?! What more could one ask for?!? Big eyed beans from Venus?! Order soon before we all disappear. Five cd box set for $85. 5.DAVKA-Judith (Tzadik 7135) Davka are a San Francisco based klezmer trio who have a few other impossible to find releases out. The trio consists of Daniel Hoffman on violins, Moses Sedler on cello and Peter Maund on hand percussion. They are joined by a guest clarinet and bassist. The 'Judith' of the title was an ancient Jewish heroine who seduces and then decapitates an Assyrian general, an enemy of the Jews. The trio composed all but one of the tunes here and are a well balanced unit, each member an integral part of their sound. The percussionist sounds like he is playing dumbek and frame drums, is often at the center, providing an exotic pulse, ever uplifting the spirits. Both the violin and cello constantly weave radiant lines that swirl and combine klez, chamber and jazz threads into a golden embroidery. Guest clarinetist Sheldon Brown also has a warm and sunny tone that adds nicely to their warm sound. Davka have refined their magical blend of ancient and modern melodies and overall sound into a completely delightful work that touches both the heart & soul, and stimulates the imagination as well. $14. 6.THOMAS CHAPIN TRIO-night bird song (KFW 240) I recently wrote a long article about my friend and inspiration Thomas Chapin for a magazine that the Knit is starting. The article explored our ten year friendship and history, highlighted when I convinced the Knit to let Thomas' trio open for a Zorn trio where everyone in attendance was blown away by both units. The Knit soon started their own label, signed Thomas' trio and eventually released six cds by this wonderful trio. This cd was actually recorded in 1992, during the early days of this trio. It was shelved until now and as Thomas wished, it would be released after last year's final effort 'Sky Piece.' Although three of the pieces on this cd were also on "Sky Piece', the versions found here are earlier and different. I recall all these pieces with deep affection, after witnessing this amazing trio on dozens of gigs through the years, as well as playing 'Sky Piece' every day at DMG for months after Thomas' devastating and untimely passing in February of '98. On "Opening" it is Thomas' gorgeous flute playing that soothes a world filled with dark spirits. It is also Thomas' flute that fills "Aeolus" with a sad but breathtakingly beautiful vibe, it was also the very last piece Thomas played in public just two weeks previous to his passing. "Alphaville" was often a set opener, due to its rambunctious groove, it explodes with passion and the celebration of life after the opening alarm clock wakes us all up. It is here where Thomas' bittersweet tone and honking swagger sound rather Dolphy-esque. For many of us, this was thee perfect trio that could do anything-Mario Pavone's contrabass and Michael Sarin's drum are a constant source of combustion, release and surprise, from whirlwinds to soft breeze. Besides alto sax and flute, Thomas also played the rarely heard sopranino on two pieces found here. The sopranino is both shorter and higher pitched than a soprano sax, still Thomas sails with this exotic sounding horn, once more parting the heavens with his soaring sound. Thomas' laughter at the beginning of the final piece "Changes Two Tires" reminds me of the happy spirit that always defined his vibe, this final piece explodes as his alto unleashes frenzied lines for the last wonderful assault on our senses. Thomas chose the mystical Panamanian cloth cover art as well. Just the right cover to adorn this superb release. $13. 7.BRAINVILLE-The Children's Crusade (Shimmy/KFW 5096) Brainville are of course that Canterbury-NY supergroup featuring Daevid Allen (original Soft Machine & Gong founder), Hugh Hopper (Softs Vol. Two-Six), Pip Pyle (Gong, Hatfield, National Health...) and Kramer (Shockabilly, Bongwater & Shimmy founder). They played at the Canterbury comes to the Knit Fest last September and recorded their first cd which is finally here! Hugh piles on his cosmic fuzz bass thick with various mutating lines, while Daevid's glissando guitar drones and hovers like ghosts floating in a haunted house. There is a looseness to much of this, a rare opportunity for these weathered psych/prog/jazz greats to just have a blast jammin' and usually doing the space-rock boogie likes there'd no tomorrow! Kramer's production serves the spirits well with select 60's psych studio flourishes. Hugh's fat el. bass has a constant throbbing presence, that is the heart of this beast. Daevid also layers loads of humming, phased and fuzzed acid rock guitars to massage the mind even further. On "the revenge of clare quilty" both Hugh & Daevid try to outdo each other until their dense jammin' erupts into a monstrous mass...too much! That mesmerizing, hypnotic Canterbury repetition/groove is also alive and well on this groovy platter or disc. I hear the psychedelicized spirit of Jimi Hendrix in there as well, Soft Machine did once tour with and befriend Hendrix in the good old days. Jeeez, my brain is starting to hurt as I play air guitar in my seat in front of the home computer. Brainville is quite a tasty morsel from some of our favorite heroes. Take one home to share with your loved ones for $13. 8.TEST -s/t (AUM Fidelity 012) The waves of nostalgia for 60's free jazz erupted as New York Art Qt. played their 35 year reunion in the Seaport atrium at the Bell-Atlantic Jazz Fest just last week-hooray!! What about TEST-veterans of current NY free jazz scene, they also have been at it for years, and pull off mind-bending free jazz bouts on subway platforms too often to ignore. Fronted by two powerful and unstoppable multi horn playing local heroes-Sabir Mateen and Daniel Carter, who turn up to play in more situations than anyone could imagine. I've seen drummer Tom Bruno at sessions for well over a decade, he has a duo cd with Sabir that came out just last year. Bassist Matthew Heyner is the young one and even he seems to keep real busy playing as often as possible, occasionally with Loren Mazzacane. This is their first cd release after a limited edition lp. Test are serious contenders and this cd captures their overwhelming fury! Recorded last August live at the AUM Fidelity HQ-an apartment in Brooklyn by two friends of mine. Test have a very organic approach, with moments of quiet resolve to long stretches full blown blasting, all nicely woven together. Their long years of playing together as often as possible has given them a natural flow to the proceedings. Their busy, dense sound often reminds me of the hustle and bustle of NYC-the city that never sleeps. More recently Test have been getting better gigs to give them more visibility, playing at a Thurston Moore gig at the Knit and at the No Neck loft up in Harlem. Has their time finally come, will they finally get their due?!? You can help yourself and Test too by checking out this energized offering! $14. 9.RASHID ALI-LOUIE BELOGENIS-Rings of Saturn (KFW 232) It has been 32 years since John Coltrane and Rashid Ali recorded Trane's final release-the colossal 'Interstellar Space'!! Trane died that very same year-1967 and Rashid continued on his own journey. The singular intensity that Rashid brought to IS, had matured into waves of more focused densities when I saw/heard him play with his own unit at his own place-Ali's Alley in the late 70's. Over the past half dozen years Rashid has found a kindred spirit with local tenor sax hero Louie Belogenis, friend and only student Zorn taught some tricks. Rashid & Louie put together Prima Materia who perform the daunting task of covering later period Coltrane and Albert Ayler only! Prima Materia have three strong cds out on KFW, with a fourth out in the near future covering another late Trane session of 'Stellar Regions.' On this remarkable release Rashid & Louie boil down the essence their quintet and reprise 'Interstellar Space' some 32 years later, and even covering Trane's "Saturn" here as well. Rashid has refined his pace with a more circular flow. Louie has obviously worked hard at getting those Trane-like dark, thick notes & screams and now has also learned to let things slowly build to their inevitable overflowing conclusion. There is certain peaceful center that emanates from within these two that keeps the entire journey balanced just right. Beauty transformed. $13. 10.NELS CLINE/GREGG BENDIAN-Interstellar Space Revisited (Atavistic 102) Guitar god Nels Cline continually blows my mind on each project he tries, yet it took me a while to appreciate the multi-dimensional drumworks of my Jersey based homey-Gregg Bendian. Although Gregg had played with the giants of avant jazz - Cecil Taylor, Derek Bailey & Peter Brotzmann, it wasn't until he organized two amazing bands of his own - the one with Nels & his bro Alex and the other with Vinny Golia, Paul Smoker and Mark Dresser, that I realized what an outstanding player and composer he really is. Like the above mentioned duo of Rashid Ali & Louie Belogenis, this duo release is also a tribute to the very same final Coltrane duo recording. Only here, Nels & Gregg rework 'Interstellar Space' in its entirety for el. guitar and drums!?! Nels Cline stood out with a number of incredible solos on Henry Kaiser's Miles tribute cd of last year and also wowed the crowd at all Mike Watt Trio sets. Here, both he and Gregg get to go overboard, surfing on the crest of waves of immense proportions. Although this a definite communion of the spirits, there is only occasional letup, the vibrations are often exploding and building into a hurricane of undeniable force. On "Venus" the storm finally subsides and the sun comes out, the duo lay back creating soft webs, sort of like the better Dead space jams of yesteryear. Nels also spews that howling, wailing, screaming sound that Trane inspired so many saxists to try, while Gregg does an amazing job of matching wits - speed, intensity and an array of warped sounds. At times, this is almost too much to bear, but it is definitely worth the demanding journey!! $14. 11.A.D.D. TRIO-Instinct (Bellaphon 45104) A.D.D. stands for Steve Arguelles (on drums), Robert Dick (flutes) and Christy Doran (el. guitar w/ devices) and this is their second superb release. They are based in Switzerland where American flute wizard Robert Dick now lives. Both Robert and Christy have done their great tributes to Jimi Hendrix, an inspiration and common bond for these two virtuosos. Both of these fine players continue to dip into the wide palette of sounds that Hendrix help invent some 30 years ago, always expanding on the old psychedelic sounds and bringing them into the present. Most of this material is composed, not free improv, all three contribute pieces, and each comes up with a variety of genres/styles to work with. Both the guitar and flutes constantly challenge one another as well as the drummer into leaps through the fire, hairpin turns and an ever changing kaleidoscope of sounds. "Twists and Turns" is just that. On "Cerulean Blues," the trio due a fine job of getting an oriental sound, by bending their tones into a different area. It is a challenge for the listener as well, as pieces constantly shift from one genre or texture to another, we too must often shift gears to keep up with the ever-changing scenery. The pace actually slows down at times, and there are quite a few melodic inventions to behold also! A most impressive collection of pieces for the adventurous amongst us. A Swiss import for $15. 12.BARRY GUY.ROBERT DICK.RANDY RAINE-REUSCH-Gudira (Nuscope 1003) Barry Guy is the British premier contrabassist who is a long time member of the Evan Parker Trio, as well as the founder/leader of the incomparable London Jazz Composers Orchestra. Barry is as much a marvel to watch and as he is to listen to. Robert Dick is thee flutist of extended techniques and currently lives in Switzerland. Randy Raine-Reusch is also a wonder to behold as he has collected and plays some 600 world music instruments. On this release Randy concentrates on Asian zithers and Asian & Middle Eastern winds. All three of these gifted improvisers consistently push the boundaries of their respective instruments, silence and intricate whispers often color these pieces. Both Robert and Randy match wits as their exotic tones often swim around and through each other's palette of sounds, while Barry also lets the spirits soar with his bowed bass mastery, often increasing the level of intensity a notch or two. Robert's new slide flute gets a good workout as notes often melt or slide in between other notes. Randy plays the sho, luo, guanze, ajeang & kuria and also prepares his exotic instruments like the guzheng to get even stranger sounds. Perhaps it is time for me to search through my World Music Library cds to see what these instruments look like. Both the production and the cover are once again a delight from new Texas based label that specializes in new European improv riches. $14. 13.STEVE LACY TRIO-The Rent (Cavity Search 44) When this trio played at the Knit a few months back, it was one of the best sets I have witnessed this year, an amazing trio at the height of their power. This double cd also captures two marvelous sets from their previous 25 city US tour in November of '97 at the Old Church in Portland Oregon. Lacy claims all (his) music is about or dedicated to something or someone. The title piece is dedicated to his close friend French jazz critic Laurent Goddet, whose suicide in the late 80's ripped the fabric of the French music scene. Other pieces are dedicated to inspirations like Dexter Gordon, Kid Ory, Joseph Haydn, Stevie Wonder and Lester Young. This trio has been together as an entity since '95 when Lacy stripped down his twenty year sextet, and consists of Jean-Jacques Avenel on acoustic bass and former NYC loft scene drummer John Betsch. A more perfect trio I can't imagine, it sounds as if they have been playing together forever! Opening with an obligatory Monk tune, a Lacy specialty since the 50's, the trio seems to play Monk's unique & quirky rhythms with such ease. Lacy composed the rest of the pieces here, which also have their own nutty charm, the skeletal trio often packs each piece with deep lyrical vibes, but never too many notes. The title cut balances perfectly both its lighter and darker sections, playful and serious simultaneously, a balance we all strive for in life. On "Prayer" Lacy stretches the soft, sad notes out, like balm on a psychic sore, while the arco bass and mallads weave somber support. It is often Steve Lacy's endearing and transcendent sound of his soprano sax that stirs them magic emotions in great ways, plus the mutual support this superb rhythm team that makes things flow so beautifully throughout. The warm and rich recording make this pure magic. Two cd set for $16. 14.PETER BROTZMANN/'DIE LIKE A DOG' QUARTET-From Valley to Valley (Eremite 018) $14. Featuring Roy Campbell, William Parker and Hamid Drake. Although tenor sax monster Peter Brotzmann is most often known for his sand-blasting sax intensity, last year's incredible 'Chicago Octet/Tentet' triple cd and this year's amazing set at Victo, showed a much more diverse side to his composing, direction and playing. The large unit played a wealth of styles and densities. The 'Die Like a Dog' Quartet is an outstanding all-star unit, whose members preceded and evolved into the Octet/Tentet. Originally an Albert Ayler tribute, with two smokin' cds on FMP, this is their third live release, this time with downtown trumpet hero Roy Campbell replacing the rarely heard trumpet great Toshinori Kondo, much different players. Hamid Drake's drumming is a constant source of amazement, he wowed us all at the Vision fest this year with the Kondo version of this unit and with Fred Anderson, and also added some much needed fire to Pharoah's set at the Knit jazz fest The mind-blowing set on this cd is from the Fire in the Valley fest from Amherst Mass from July of last year. Once more, the level of intensity is throttling as each member is possessed by the demons that made Ayler's music so frightening. Solos are ultra-inspired, with often at the edge of your seat type of excitement. There even moments when the tension breaks and Peter's tarigato and Roy's flugelhorn finally wind down to softer finale. But not for long. William whips out one of those massive, ever buzzing acoustic bass solos to astonish us all, before the quartet explodes once more. Whoa! 15.ALAN SILVA & WILLIAM PARKER-a hero's welcome: pieces for rare occasions (Eremite 017) Alan Silva was the free/jazz acoustic bass giant of the 60's NYC scene who played with the heavies Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor & Albert Ayler, before he split to live in Europe and organize his own Celestial Communications Orchestra. He has triumphantly returned to the current avant/jazz scene in NY over the past few years, surprising all who know of his cosmic bass excursions, by playing a sampler & acoustic piano only!?! This cd is Alan's first recording in many years and it is an unusual duo effort with the current avant/jazz bass hero & orchestra leader - William Parker. Both of these masters approach their instruments as if they were large orchestras of players/sounds. Dedicated to Sun Ra, Alan's sounds like he is sampling some of the way out synth sounds that Sun Ra specialized in. William's powerful bowed bass throbs, erupts and constantly soars all over, as Alan provides orchestral colors, lunar surfaces and sounds from other dimensions. Silva's samples sometimes sound somewhat limited compared to amazing array of sounds that William has developed over decades. Alan's piano fits with the bass even better, since it is a bit less busy, more sparse and in a similar acoustic terrain. The mix of the piano & bass with the selective use of the synth, also seems to work best, as the sounds swirl together across the spectrum. While Alan did finally return to the bass for the Joseph Jarman Quintet at this year's Vision Fest, his sampler playing with Kidd Jordan and William Parker did ruffle many feathers, as it often just didn't connect with the other musicians. Here it is much more successful, as both musicians take their time to build their soundscapes carefully. Mostly, this is an impressive excursion through alien yet recognizable worlds. $14. 16.CHARLES WATERS-10+4[59.99] (nuboutique) Charles Waters co-leads the great avant/jazz Gold Sparkle Band - transplanted from Atlanta to Brooklyn, is a member of William Parker's Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra and has played with Eugene Chadbourne. Charles plays mostly alto sax in these units, but here plays exclusively solo clarinet. Both the title and notes claim inspiration from Anthony Braxton (obviously) and also Stockhausen. This cdep consists of 14 short pieces in under 20minutes, the order selected in a Cageian random method by visitors to the studio the day it was recorded. The actual music quite Braxtonian with its dry tone and scientific little squawks. Each piece tells a short story or vignette, exploring various twisted patterns on the clarinet. The entire is tightly focused, each piece quite distinct, the flow of events quite natural, even though selected by a random method. There are moments when Chas hits certain notes in that high end area where bird songs also find a home and dogs begin to howl. Charles tells me that has been enjoying playing and composing for a local chamber group, certainly an interesting direction for our new friends to explore. This is a limited edition of 300 cdep for $8. 17.CHIM NWABUEZE & SYLVIE MENTA-The means of the deck/Improvisations for saw & piano harp (self produced) Although I have no background info, Chim did play quite a lovely duo on his bowed saw with local free & outdoors fretless el. guitarist Kenta Nagai here at DMG a few months back. I can only recall old downtowner Charles Noyes playing musical saw live and maybe once in a bluegrass band. Certainly a first, this odd & unique duo of saw & piano harp. The bowed saw has a sound like high pitched ghosts shimmering together in space. The piano harp is found inside a piano, and here it is plucked with oft gentle grace. As the saw sounds slowly get weirder, so too the piano harp is rubbed with different objects, the mixture of sounds turn slightly more alien. There are stretches of silence to give us time to absorb the natural stream of events, like minimalist modern classical composers or those work inside the piano only (like Stephen Scott). Gentle spirits rumble like clouds floating slowly by. $12. 18.DAVID THOMAS & THE PALE ORCHESTRA-Act 1: Mirror Man (Thirsty Ear 57068) David Thomas is an original. He is & was the leader, lead vocalist and only original member of one of the institutions of American avant-rock - Pere Ubu and has pursued an equally odd & unique solo career in between Ubu formations. In either pursuits, his strange & magical powers come through with his great storytelling talents, as well as his freaky singing voice. He has been touring with his wonderful & weird 'Disastodrome' troup which changes members occasionally and played a great gig at the Knit last year. This cd comes from their fine show at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, England (Thomas' new home) in April of '98. Participants for this show included Linda Thompson (finally out of retirement), Chris Cutler, Peter Hammill (on instruments, not vocals), Daved Hild (from the legendary Girls & early Thomas solo bands), NYC poet Bob Holman, the two Pale Boys and the Kidney Bros. Like a wonderful and captivating radio play, each of 'Mirror Man's' seven vocalists, tell a part of the ongoing story. The story of a once small world made big by the greed of Disney. So good to hear Linda Thompson's delightful voice again after a decade of retirement, doing uncharacteristically quirky material from Pere Ubu-land. Both Pale Boys- Andy Diagram on echoplexed trumpet and Keith Moline on mutant el. guitar, do a fine job of providing layers of scenery for the traveling story. A marvelous experience for $14. 19.THE VANDERMARK 5-Simpatico (Atavistic 107) Chicago based tenor titan & clarinetist - Ken Vandermark - consistently challenges himself in a variety of situations. He used to co-lead the demanding NRG Ensemble, is an important part of Brotzmann's Chicago Tentet, is a member of a more restrained trio with Joe Morris & Hans Poppel, has a crazed sax duo with Mars Williams, and is in too many other ensembles to mention here. His main unit is the Vandermark 5, who played a pretty scary set at Tonic last Saturday June 19th at midnite! This unit features another saxist - Dave Rempis on alto and Jeb Bishop on more noise guitar than his usual trombone contributions. Actually it is/was Jeb's shards of thick guitar noise that both opens this cd and the set last week. Like Steve Lacy, Ken dedicates each piece to another musician and/or inspiration. On "Vent" for Glenn Spearman, the piece goes through sections of different genres, but it is the two horns playing tight charts while the third solos ferociously on top that holds it together. The pieces here are often intricate and sectional, tight and well thought out. Both the cool school aesthetic as well as the European players who frequent Chicago, seem an obvious influence for these well-crafted compositions. "Fact & Fiction" for Curtis Counce swings like all get out, while "Full Deck" for Jack Montrose deal with a much more laid back piece. Ken unleashes a fat blast of tenor swagger on "Anywhere Else" while the rest of the five play an almost funky groove for a change. This another ace from our fine friends in the wind city to blow us all away. $14. 20.HASIDIC NEW WAVE-Kabalogy (KFW 239) Third cosmic release by our fave psych/klez/jazz/rock quintet, co-lead by head Klezmatic Frank London on trumpet & Greg Wall on saxes, plus featuring local el. guitar legend Dave 'The Fuze' Fiuczynski, Fima Ephron (of Lost Tribe)on el. bass and Aaron Alexander on drums. Tighter, even more inspired and refining their special blend of mesmerizing muted trumpet, hazy hypnotic guitar and sax bliss. Kramer's production is just right, adding subtle psychedelic spice to this jazz/rock stew with klez-like melodies that are friendlier, but no less intoxicating. The title tune reminds me a song that could have come from Oliver Nelson's 'Blues & the Abstract Truth. ' "h.w.n." opens with an old Jewish prayer-like chant, backed by drums only - most affective. The Fuze continues to dazzle all of us el. guitar nuts with awesome slinky note-bending fury and distinctive slippery tone. Everyone in HNW contributes strong tunes to this fine work, with two traditional tunes and a rather hilarious and surprising cover of the Dead Kennedys classic with new & more appropriate words called "Guiliani Uber Alles"! In some ways this is most laid back of the three HNW cds, but no less amazing. "The Frank Zappa Memorial Briss" is ridiculously cool, funny and sounds sped up, an old Zappa trick that would probably make Frank smile. The two traditional tunes are equally inspired and have outstanding solos by London, Wall & the Fuze once more. "Giuliani Uber Alles" is completely hilarious and almost too true to believe with the current events & police state tactics of our scumbag mayor & his henchmen! Hasidc New Wave are surfing (dovening?) on the tidal wave of outstanding and diverse post-klez bands like Piamenta, Masada, Sephardic Tinge, Klezmer Madness, Naftule's Dream, Psamim and Davka. Take a dive, bubaleh! $13. 21.DAVID BUDBILL & WILLIAM PARKER-Zen Mountains Zen Streets (Boxholder 001-002) One of the more memorable sets at the Vision Fest this year was this great duo of poet David Budbill and bassist extraordinaire William Parker. This engrossing double cd was recorded at three gigs in October of '98 in Vermont. Besides acoustic bass, William also plays pocket trumpet, valve trombone, gralle (double reed from Barcelona), shakuhachi & percussion, while David also plays whistle & percussion. David is a zen poet from the mountains, while William is a bass giant from (the streets of) NYC. This makes for an interesting combination. From the ritualistic opening of double reed & gong, we are on a long journey that David illuminates with scenes and observations from his life story. A friendly voice, a wise voice, a natural voice like the wind blowing freely through the woods of Judivine Mountain. David moved from the craziness of New York at 25 in the 60's, before moving to the mountains to find peace for the next 35 years. William does a fine job allowing these poems to unfold at their own pace, while he accompanies the stories with haunting resolve and a constant inner dialoque. David's observations often ring true for all of us - the lifelong struggle for survival, our darker side taking over our positive side and the healing power of music & poetry. Even a few funny moments to ponder. There is a refreshing unrushed purity to this entire endeavor, quite moving. Two cd set for $20. 22.TREVOR DUNN'S TRIO CONVULSANT-debutantes & centipedes (Buzz 76003) Trevor is a fine bassist who seems at home on acoustic bass with the New Klezmer Trio & west coast Masada, as well as wailing on el. bass with Mr. Bungle & the Fantomas. This is his first cd as a leader and it features former bay area musicians Adam Levy on el. guitar & the ubiquitous Kenny Wollesen on drums. This unique trio moves between the laid back cool el. guitar jazz and the heavy crunch of ornery post-punk rock. Adam's guitar usually buzzes thick mean distorto riffs, even while Trevor plays dark arco contrabass behind it. The trio is ultra tight, each member an equal part of the whole, constantly shifting gears mid stream. Is that wah-wah acoustic bass I hear in there? Actually, it sounds as if Trevor is playing all acoustic bass here, no matter how heavy things get. Adam unleashes a number of sick, hard rocking guitar solos throughout, even though things often get quiet when one would least expect it. Trevor is soon moving here after the Mr. Bungle tour finishes, so we will be able to see this great, intense trio sometime soon. Watch out! $14. 23.URI CAINE/ZOHAR-Keter (KFW 236) Featuring Uri Caine on acoustic, electric & prepared piano, Aaron Benssousan on oud & vocals, Adam Rogers on guitar, Lefteris Bournias on clarinet, DJ Olive on sampler & as producer, Emmanuel Mann on bass and Gilad on percussion. Uri is one of my favorite jazz pianists, each of his projects carefully selected with a concept in mind. First he recorded great jazz works for JMT, then it was his successful tributes to Mahler and Wagner for W&W, a burnin' jazz trio cd and upcoming will be his Tin Pan Alley tribute for W&W. Zohar is his ever-evolving post-klez new band and 'Keter' is their first release. Half of these tunes are traditional, the rest written & arranged by Uri & Aaron. It is Aaron's exotic voice & oud playing that are the center of half of these pieces. It often makes me wonder where the belly dancer is. Every other tune is an instrumental excursion fueled by Uri's always inspired & spinning jazz piano. Uri adds some mysterious 'Bitches Brew' like el. piano to the groove and plays some spirited latin-tinged piano on "Joshua's Song". The hand percussion of Gilad also adds nice spice to the mid-eastern grooves, as does DJ Olive's subtle samples. Both the clean production and nifty cover art show Knitting Factory Works to be moving in the right direction. This is a well balanced mix of traditional klez-like tunes and modern jazz sonic explorations seamlessly sewn together. Shalom means hello, goodbye & peace. $13. 24.PAUL PLIMLEY TRIO-Safe-Crackers (Victo 066) Another outstanding set from the Victo fest this year was by this superb avant/jazz piano trio. Paul Plimley resides in Vancouver and is an old & dear friend of mine that I have known for about a decade. Lisle Ellis is the dazzling contrabassist and longtime partner of Paul's, and now resides in the Bay area, along with happening drummer Scott Amendola (from TJ Kirk-funky/jazz unit). The trio begins with beautiful, restained and uplifting pieces of modern jazz purity, never pushing things too much, too soon. The energy level starts to erupt by the time we get to "Cookie's Coffee," the trio plays together as one unified source, strong & effervescent. Pianist Plimley used to utilize much of that Cecil Taylor-like explosive energy, but here is more successful at being a bit more sparse, letting each piece takes its time to unfold and blossom into a less dense landscape. There is also a playful, not overwhelming vibe found here, like sunshine bursting out of dark clouds. Bassist Lisle Ellis & drummer Scott Amendola are a wonderful rhythm team, consistently on their toes, always pushing this perfect trio to new heights. Lisle has kept quite busy since moving to the Bay area a few years back, he was sparkling with Larry Ochs' What We Live Trio at the Knit Jazz Fest just a couple of weeks ago. Another complete delight from our friends at Victo for $14. 25.JEROME HARRIS QUINTET-Rendezvous (Stereophile 013) w/ Jerome on acoustic bass guitar, Marty Ehrlich on alto sax, Art Baron on trombone, Steve Nelson on vibes & Billy Drummond on drums. Jerome Harris is a great guitarist & acoustic bass guitarist, who has played for Sonny Rollins, Jack DeJohnette and Ned Rothenberg's Double Band & Sync. Jerome's own records are few & far between, this is only his fourth release in 14 years. On 'Rendezvous' Jerome plays his Taylor acoustic bass guitar, a rarely used instrument with a warm & beautiful tone and composed all but one of the tunes here. This is Stereophile's (label & mag) first non-classical release and is lusciously recorded with warmth and clarity. Jerome has put together a solid quintet that seems to be having a blast, everyone contributing to the balance of swinging ideas and wealth of fine soloing. It is actually Jerome's beautiful composing and arranging that really makes one smile, each piece a gem of understatement and grace. The one cover is of "The Mooche" by Duke Ellington and it features an amazing old style trombone solo by Art Baron who played in Duke's last orchestra. This is a mostly straight ahead date, elegant in execution and radiant in its subtle glow. $14. 26.GLENN SPEARMAN TRIO-first and last (Eremite 015) w/ Matthew Goodheart on piano & Rashid Bakr on drums. Glenn Spearman is & was one of the greats, one of those tenor saxists who could blow a hurricane of insensity. This is his very last recording, made a short time before his untimely death by cancer last summer. Although weakened by the disease, nothing stopped Spearman from erupting like a volcano, molten lava spewing forth from his sax - a celebration of life & death, like the liner notes say. Both Matthew's piano and Rashid's drums also provide rich, deep and powerful cushion to the screaming spirits being set free. Rashid has played with other giants like Cecil Taylor, Charles Gayle and is also still with Other Dimensions in Music. Matthew is someone I am unfamiliar with, but did just do a duo recording with Leo Smith for Cadence. His piano playing seethes with dark tension, giving Glenn passionate support for his heaven bound storms, his solo piano on the second piece an outstanding mass of notes. Towards the end of "Intertextual Reference", the trio actually lays back and lets the energy wind down, before they take their time & let it build once more on "Under the Incalculable Sky..". Rest in peace Glenn, you've left us with a great deal to listen to and ponder. $14. 27.ELISE KERMANI-Solos for Air (Ishtar 301) Elise is an experimental vocalist, a member of notorious Trousers (avant female trio) and someone I've known & admired for her weird vocals, often electronically processed and persistence in releasing these challenging sounds. 'Solos for Air' is not for her vocals though, it is solo electronic music composed for 17 dancers coming together in three Sacred Spaces as part of a Spirit Festival in Indiana. The music or sounds themselves are rather ambient, somber meditations buzzing quietly, small bubbling waves, gentle yet evocative, dancing like a flickering flame, economical echoes bouncing around in our minds like the electronic pulse of life's inner current. The sounds of the fan in my kitchen and the sounds coming from outside mix nicely with the soft ghosts that escape my little speakers. Delicate and enchanting, the soft shades of humming drones appear in the almost silent environment of my quiet apartment. Certainly not for those whose veins flow with the neurotic energy of the city that never sleeps. Time to chill a bit. $12. 28.JOHN BUTCHER/GEORG GRAEWE-light's view (nuscope 1004) Fourth great release of Euro-avant-improv from Texas based new label. John Butcher is British, plays soprano & tenor sax, and has performed with SME, Derek Bailey, Butch Morris & Phil Minton. Georg Graewe is German but has lived in Chicago, plays piano, has performed with Braxton, Barry Guy, Marilyn Crispell & Dave Douglas and has lead the Grupenklanger Orchestra and currently his own quartet. This release is an endlessly inventive duo that follow each other all over the universe of possibilities. John Butcher plays with that dry & brittle, fractured British toned stream, pinched & careful note selection. Georg also plays fractured lines on the piano, sometimes minimal passages out of Morton Feldman-land, sometimes approaching frenzy but always under control. There are points when Butcher sounds as if he is electronically manipulating his sax notes, but I am unsure - it could be acoustic phenomena exclusively. As textures expand, it becomes more of a challenge to listen to these fascinating sounds. Challenge yourself! $14. 29.OBSCURA LUMINOSA-in full armour (Unit 4107) w/ Robert Dick on flutes, Petia Kaufman on harpsichord, Conrad Steinmann on recorders, Alfred Zimmerlin on violin and Dorothea Schurch on vocals & saw. This is a contemporary new music ensemble based in Switzerland that play classical instruments and both improvise, compose and adapt classical and pop music in their own style. Here they adapt Monteverdi's "The Battle of Tancredi and Clorinda" as well as Metallica's "Leper Messiah" (rather extreme choices), plus doing four fine improvisations. The Monteverdi epic is stripped down, yet its essense shines through, the quintet twist the instrumentation in odd ways, modernizing its sound with some hilarious surprises. Even the cover art has a silly diagram. The improvised pieces are the furthest out, so nice to hear music this out played on all acoustic (& classical) instruments. The Metallica cover gets pretty ridiculous rendition, complete with (silly) hysteronic vocals and harpsichord & flute flurries replacing the metallic guitars. A hoot to boot, you got to smile at their boldness. $14. 30.MICHEL F. COTE-Compil Zouave (Ambiances Magnetiques 067) w/ Pierre Bastien, Jean Derome, Martin Tetreault, Joane Hetu and many more. Michel Cote is a longtime drummer/percussionist for the Amb. Mag. label and leads that wacky avant guitar/bass/drums trio from Montreal-Klaxon Geuelle, who played a strong set at Victo this year. This solo work utilizes some twenty musicians, but it is Michel's concept that guides it all. It sounds like an homage to 'space-age bachelor pad music' with covers of Mancini, "Let's Get Lost" made famous by Chet Baker, "I Can't Give You Anything but Love" and Johnny Mercer's "Travelin' Light." Totally fun, extremely silly, and worthy as a soundtrack for cool college students of the 90's. The entire work has a unique and nutty charm of its own. Unexpected noise guitar solos, strange samples and turntable weirdness pepper the proceedings in between the goofy tunes. Things never get too weird for too long, since each piece is short and seems to be a part of a grander scheme. When sections begin to fall apart or mutate, some funny vocals might float in for comic relief. Bruce Lee Gallanter MikesSpace- The Final Transmission. Yes folks, it's true- after 5 1/2 long and (somewhat) fulfilling years at DMG, it's time for Mike to move on to (other? greener?) pastures. I got offered a job that basically triples my salary and... well... which one of you would turn that down?!? Besides that I get the title "Consultant" which basically means that I'll get paid like "them" but get to dress like me (somewhat). So, of course I'm leaving. When I took this job in late'94 it was because I needed some cash and I needed a job that left me plenty of time to work on my music. My tunes were the most important thing in my life for many years and I and my pal John worked hard to do the best we could musically. It all paid off in the form of our CD- Eternalist's Conscious released last year to thunderous indifference, but our goal was not to get famous or rich but simply to prove that our music was worthy of release by someone other than ourselves. With that done I can now move on to the next stage of my life- a family. I've fallen for "the one" and am planning the rest of my life around being with her and spawning some little Emperors. So I've gotta take this job, besides the money's too much to mention. Bruce has been really good to me, as were Craig and Steve and I'll really miss the conversations that I've had with some of you about almost anything. This is truly a part of the job that I will miss. What I won't miss will be some of the really dumb questions that came my way and some of those bad days that just seemed to happen. Those were the days marked by loud Death/Black Metal or Industrial/Noise harshness, in case you happened to come by. Sorry. I'm leaving Bruce in the capable hands of Kat, who it seems will mind the store well in my absence. Good luck to you both Bruce and Kat. Bruce-ala you were a great boss and I mean that. Mildly saddened, Emperor Mike I PS- Final recommendations- Immolation's Failure For Gods, God Dethroned's Bloody Blasphemy, Internal Bleeding's Driven To Conquer, War's We Are War, Anthea's Words And Beats and Mortuary's Eradicate. They are (respectively) - brutal and efficient, a la SINISTER, melodic yet shredding a la NAGLFAR, 10 times better that anything previously done, a la PYREXIA, one of the nastiest Black Metal releases EVER!, a soothing trip touching on Jazz, trip-hop and Drum and Bass all blessed by Anthea Clarke's pretty decent voice and finally a sick, French, Death Metal 5 piece that will rip you r head off and spit down your neck. Enjoy. Spamming The Globe, Downtown Music Gallery
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