PRE-NEWSLETTER 61

SIX NEW and EXCITING RELEASES FROM THE TZADIK LABEL THE RELEASE DATE IS 10/23 & PRE-ORDERS ARE ACCEPTED

1. BOBBY PREVITE - The 23 Constellations of Joan Miro (Tzadik 7072) Featuring Ned Rothenberg, Wayne Horvitz, Lew Soloff, Ralph Alessi, Jane Ira Bloom, Jamie Saft, Elizabeth Panzer and others. This is downtown drummer and composer extraordinaire Bobby Previte's dream project which he has worked on for the past six years. The large lush booklet contains beautiful reproductions of 33 of Joan Miro's masterpieces to check out while you listen to this outstanding music. $14.

2. ELLIOTT SHARP - Suspension of Disbelief (Tzadik 7512) This is a rare solo project which showcases Elliott's full range of talents as a composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. A fascinating compilation of engaging electronics, jungle-jazz-psychedelia, sonic fragments and distorted club sounds from one of the masters of downtown border crossings. $14.

3. FIMA EPHRON - Soul Machine (Tzadik 7152) Featuring David Torn, Jim Black, Adam Rogers, Greg Wall, Dave Binney, Edward Simon and others. Fima Ephron is the dynamic bassist for Hasidic New Wave and former local fusion unit Lost Tribe. This is his first solo effort and it blends Jewish scales with riveting Miles/Weather Report-like jazz/rock sensibilities. David Torn provides a moody remix collage. $14.

4. MAKIGAMI KOICHI - Hikashu History (Tzadik 7235) Featuring Otomo Yoshihide, Lauren Newton and the insane vocals of Makigami Koichi. This is a compilation of the 25 year journey of the legendary Japanese pop band - Hikashu. From early techno to noise/sampler improv to jazz, folk, pop and beyond. Musical mayhem from private tapes, rare demos and exciting live recordings. $14.

5. CHRISTIAN WOLFF - Burdocks (Tzadik 7071) Organized by percussion wizard William Winant and featuring Fred Frith, Jennifer Choi, Stephen Drury, Miya Masaoka, Gordon Mumma, Bob Ostertag, Joan Jeanrenaud and Christian Wolff. Legendary composer and scholar Christian Wolff has created a very personal musical universe and was an associate of John Cage. This all-star ensemble play an incredible rendition of Wolff's most famous and challenging work - "Burdocks". $14.

6. SYZYGYS - Eyes on Green/Live at Tokyo Inkstick 1988 (Tzadik 7236) With the cute/sly innocence of Shonen Knife and the microtonal organ of Harry Partch as references, Syzygys have been fashioning twisted pop tunes since 1985. This is a live date from 1988 that sounds like a perfect studio recording. Legendary Japanese guitarist - Imahori Tsuneo plays amazing Frisell-like swirls to Arto Lindsay-like skronk. Absolutely charming! $14.

OCTOBER IS A GREAT MONTH FOR MANY OF DOWNTOWN'S BEST!!!

7. HENRY THREADGILL & MAKE A MOVE - Everybody's Mouth A Book (Pi Recordings 01) It's here! This is the much anticipated new Make a Move cd with a slightly altered cast and it is still a blessing of riches! Make a Move still features the superb acoustic and electric guitar work of Brandon Ross, master composer Henry Threadgill on flute and alto sax, Bryan Carrott on vibes (replacing Tony Cedras who is on tour w/ Paul Simon), the slippery electric bass of Stomu Takeishi and an inspired new drummer Dafnis Prieto. Smoldering, radiant, intertwining, undulating and complexly elegant. Recorded by Bill Laswell, but produced and arranged by Mr. Threadgill. $15.

8. HENRY THREADGILL'S ZOOID - Up Popped the Two Lips (Pi Recordings 02) This is Henry's latest all acoustic world music ensemble - it features a bunch of wonderful new musicians that Henry has well selected to interpret his vision - Liberty Ellman on acoustic guitar, Tarik Benbrahim on oud, Dana Leong on cello, Jose Davila on tuba and once again Dafnis Prieto on drums. This band has continued to grow, evolve and get better each time I've heard them play their unique blend of ethnic-jazz tapestry! $15.

9. BILL FRISELL - With Dave Holland and Elvin Jones (Nonesuch 79624) This has just come out of the blue and is said to be both laid back and quietly engaging simultaneously. We will see/hear soon enough when that promo appears. Bill's new quartet with special guest Jenny Scheinman on violin (Tony Scherr & Kenny Wollesen) is at the Village Vanguard this week - hope to seen some of you there. Probably $16.

10. DALE BRUNING & BILL FRISELL - Reunion (Jazzlink 440072) This lovely gem came out a few months back, but received very little attention except for one article in one of those guitar zines. Dale Bruning was Frisell's jazz guitar teacher way back when Bill was still living in Colorado and here both of these fine plectrum specialists play numerous jazz standards for two guitars only. Two cd set for $22.

11. BILL LASWELL - Points of Order (Inner Rhythmic 011) Featuring Buckethead, Graham Haynes, Toshinori Kondo, Karsh Kale, Karl Berger and members of the Anti-Pop Consortium on hip-hop vocals. This was previously available only as a download on eMusic under the title "Cyclops". Released on October 23rd. $15.

12. COSMOSAMATICS - s/t (Boxholder 22) Featuring legendary ESP sax giant Sonny Simmons, NY sax master Michael Marcus, contrabass wonder William Parker, great drummer - Jay Rosen, plus special guests James Carter on baritone sax and Karen Borca on bassoon. A truly colossal and burning studio date where everyone involved plays positively possessed throughout! This is the first time that William and Jay have played together and do they ever rise and push the soloists up to the skies! The mighty spirits of Coltrane and Dolphy live on through this music! $14.

13. MARK HELIAS' OPEN LOOSE - New School (enja 9413) Featuring Tony Malaby on tenor sax, Mark Helias on contrabass & compositions and Tom Rainey on drums. This is Mark's newest trio and they have been out on the road recently wowing audiences far and wide! A superb and provocative release from a spectacular all-star trio! $15.

14. CRAIG TABORN TRIO - Light Made Lighter (Thirsty Ear 57111) This is Craig's second release as a leader and his rhythm team includes Chris Lightcap on bass and Gerald Cleaver on drums. Since moving to town, he has kept increasingly busy playing both acoustic piano for Roscoe Mitchell and electric keyboards for Tim Berne and Dave Douglas. An excellent piano trio date. $14.

15. STEW CUTLER TRIO - Insignia (Naim 058) Jazz-rock-blues guitar wiz Stew Cutler used to play in a later version of Wayne Horvitz' The President and is one best under-recognized jazz guitar heroes I have ever encountered. This is his second trio date as a leader, the first one was sublime, but this one is amazing! His trio consists of Booker King on bass and Garry Bruer on drums. This time, everything is perfect - immensely well recorded in a church, the trio plays an outstanding blend of bluesy, spacy, electric jazz-rock ever so well-balanced throughout. Superb! $15.

16. [STEVE BERNSTEIN'S] SEX MOB - Does Bond (Rope-a-Dope 93054) Sex Mob is Steve Bernstein on slide trumpet, Briggan Krause on sax, Tony Scherr on bass, Kenny Wollesen on drums and special guest John Medeski on organ. This is their sly tribute to James Bond film theme music and it is a blast! $16.

17. JOHN MEDESKI-ROBERT RANDOLPH-NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALL-STARS - The Word (Rope-s-Dope 93046) Burnin', bluesy and funky gospel tunes pushed hard to their limits. Robert Randolph plays pedal steel guitar and is only 22, but is one of the heroes of Arhoolie's 'Sacred Steel' compilations that have been knocking out steel guitar fans for the past few years. The North Mississippi All-Stars include Luther & Cody Dickinson (sons of Jim - the great southern producer and pianist) on guitar and drums with Chris Chew on el. bass. John Medeski, from Emergency and MM&W, plays wicked & greasy organ throughout! Somewhat like Little Feat or the Meters, this shit kicks hard! $16.

18. DAVID TRONZO - PETER HERBERT - segmente (Aziza Music 1001) We can never get enough of our favorite slide guitar hero - Dave Tronzo. This is a wonderfully recorded live duo with the talented Austrian acoustic bassist and composer - Peter Herbert. Peter, you may recall from a fine recent tribute to Bach release on Between the Lines. Both of these players are banging on their instruments with great percussive effects and the award winning cover art features their heads on bodies of nude women once you scratch of their suits. No US distribution and only found here at DMG for $15.

19. LOREN MAZZACANE CONNORS - For NY 9/11/01 (self produced) This is an immensely sad cd/ep - short and poignant. Loren says to put it on repeat and consider that sad state of affairs of the world. The cover has a shadowy figure of a woman with an umbrella on a dismal sepia toned urban street. As I listen to this bleak yet hopeful revelry over and over, I sip on my third glass of Zinfandel and think about the 25th reunion of my college graduating class coming up and the thief I threw into a rack of cds at another local record store - getting back the Zorn cds he had stolen. Life stinks sometimes. Limited edition cd-ep of 25 and signed by Loren for $8.

20. DANIEL CARTER & ANDREW BARKER - s/t (Qbica 2) LP only. An amazing live duo record from Daniel Carter - multi-reeds and trumpet hero for Test & Other Dimensions in Music & too many improv situations to keep track of with drum wizard - Andrew Barker from the Gold Sparkle Band & Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra! Very limited edition lp only release of 200 copies for $15.

21. BURNT SUGAR - Blood on the Leaf (Trugroid) Superb, slow-burn, acid-jazz-funk-rock-psych voodoo groove mainly instrumental and a simmering treasure. Led by longtime Village Voice writer Greg "Ironman" Tate, who used to run Women in Love. Although I am unfamiliar with most of the crew - the four guitars, piano, synth, violin, two basses, occasional vocals and various percussionists - do a marvelous job of weaving the cosmic, space-jazz-rock groove through the layers of Frippian guitars and mesmerizing inner fires. No distribution as of yet - $14.

22. SABIR MATEEN - Symphony for the Creator (self-produced) Recorded in September of 1996 and released by Test's phenomenal reeds hero himself - playing alto & tenor saxes, clarinet, flute, drums, vocals and even some synth. Sabir always delivers strong and inspired sets no matter who he collaborates with (from Sunny Murray to Raphe Malik). Limited edition CDR with a handmade insert for $14.

23. THE HERBIE NICHOLS PROJECT - Strange City (Palmetto 2077) This is the second great Herbie Nichols tribute put together by the Jazz Composers Collective which features Ted Nash & Michael Blake on saxes, Wycliffe Gordon on trombone, Frank Kimbrough on piano, Ben Allison on bass and Matt Wilson on drums. Once again they cover more unrecorded tunes by the wonderful and quirky jazz composer - Herbie Nichols. $15.

NEW RELEASES AND HISTORIC RELEASES FROM EUROPE'S FINEST!!

24. DEREK BAILEY & SHOJI HANO - Fish (PSF 8009) Latest in a long line of guitar and drum improv duo releases from the master of free-guitar Derek Bailey. He has previously encountered such drummers as Han Bennink, Jamie Muir, Tony Oxley, John Stevens, Cyro Baptista, Susie Ibarra, Eddie Prevost and most recently with Michael Welch. Shoji Hano is a powerhouse Japanese drummer who has worked with the speed-freak noise/rock band - High Rise as well in an intense trio with Peter Brotzmann & Keiji Hano. The results of this amazing duo are extremely intense and often throttling! $19.

25. SPONTANEOUS MUSIC ENSEMBLE - Plus Equals (Emanem 4062) Although this reissue features such known players as John Stevens, Evan Parker and Trevor Watts, it is indeed the pinnacle of John Steven's largest ensemble (21 musicians) of experienced improvisers. This also includes a previously unreleased 20 minute track performed a year earlier by a large ensemble with unknown personnel. $17.

26. KONK PACK - Warp Out (Grob 323) Earlier this week, Konk Pack played an extremely intense and focused set of European improv insanity at its finest at the Knit. Their second set included special guest Shelley Hirsch on vocal weirdness, which added some humor and that human quality to their often dense eruptions. Konk Pack is Tim Hodgkinson on flat guitar & clarinet, Thomas Lehn on analogue synth and Roger Turner on drums & odd percussion. They are playing some 22 dates across the US, so I urge you to check them out if you can. This cd is a rambunctious studio date which also captures their immense, spontaneous and colossal spirit. $15.

27. KEITH ROWE & TOSHIMARU NAKAMURA - Weather Sky (Erstwhile 018) Keith Rowe is a pioneer of sonic explorations utilizing the guitar-on-table technique as a member of AMM - legendary British new music and serious improv ensemble since the mid-sixties. His work outside of AMM is rare and well selected with only three cds in the past decade. He runs the Music in Movement Electronic Orchestra (MIMEO) - an all-star European ensemble in recent years as well. Mr. Nakamura plays "no input mixing board" and has collaborated with Sachiko M and Andrea Neumann. 'Weather Sky' was recorded in France in June of this year and consists of three long improvisations - creating a world of abstract feedback, occasional flecks of jumping sound fragments and that ominous sonic sorcery that Erstwhile does best. $13.

28. IAN SMITH - Daybreak (Emanem 4059) Participants include Derek Bailey on guitar, Veryan Weston on chamber organ, Gail Brand on trombone, Oren Marshall on tuba and Ian Smith on trumpet & flugelhorn. This is Ian's second release as a leader and it features improvisations for quintet and various sub-groupings. Great to hear this fine new brass trio of strong improvisers with two seasoned stars. $17.

29. KENT CARTER - Beauvais Cathedral (Emanem 4061) Kent Carter is an immensely talented contrabassist who has few peers. This is his long awaited reissue of his first highly regarded solo (double bass & cello) album, with much overdubbing involved. Kent has recorded great records with Steve Lacy and Paul Bley in the past. This wonderful cd includes three previously unreleased pieces including a work for a one-man string quartet. $17.

30. JOHN RUSSELL & ROGER TURNER - The Second Sky (Emanem 4058) Seeing and hearing British drummer and percussionist Roger Turner earlier this week with Konk Pack was a revelation - like Paul Lytton or Tony Oxley, his approach to percussion is completely unique to listen to and fascinating to watch. John Russell is also a fine improviser on acoustic guitar and together they have been playing since 1978. Totally fresh, inventive and impressive improvisations! $17.

31. PETER HERBERT - Aktiontheatre Ensemble (Aziza Music 1002) Featuring Dave Liebman, Bob Moses, Dave Tronzo, Jamie Haddad, Mordy Ferber, Peter Madsen, Tomas Ulrich, Tom Varner, Theo Bleckman & Dominique Eade on vocals and many others. Peter Herbert is a provocative composer and acoustic bassist from Austria, but lives in the downtown local. This marvelous cd is a collection of pieces for various theatre works. This long cd is long and flowing and evolves through a wide variety of different scenes and genres. Award winning packaging and no US distribution make this an even more worthy treasure. $15.

32. JANNICK TOP - Soleil d'Ork (French import) Three amazing archival releases, put out by Magma's supreme electric bass god - Jannink Top on his new label, with much better sound than one would imagine. 'Soleil d'Ork' is a collection of recordings composed by Top from 1974-'76. It includes an extremely rare single and numerous unreleased tracks with an appearance by Fripp-like guitar hero Richard Pinhas from Heldon. $16.

33. UTOPIC SPORADIC ORCHESTRA - Nancy '75 (French import) This one features the very first recording of "De Futura" by a big band version of Magma from 10/16/75! This is a legendary and oft talked about recording and includes the rehearsal and more rarities. Electric bass wonder Jannink plays at his best here, so watch out!!! $16.

34. VANDER/TOP [MAGMA] - Paris '76 (another French import) This one is the most exciting of the bunch - this is the only available recording of the short period when Jannink joined Magma as a co-leader and the band was called Vander/Top. It is an hour long odyssey of classic Zeuhl progressive splendor including the never before heard 22 minute track - "La Musique Des Spheres". Astonishing! $16.

NEW RELEASES OF ELECTRONIC and MODERN CLASSICAL CD'S:

35. COR FUHLER/GERT-JAN PRINS - The Flirts (Erstwhile 017) Both are prominent members of Euro improv world and both live in Amsterdam, yet rarely crossed paths before working with MIMEO in 1997. Fuhler is a fine Dutch pianist who has worked with Han Bennink, Michael Moore and Tristan Honsinger and has a superb solo prepared piano cd - '7CC in 10' out from 1994. More recently Fuhler has been manipulating the sounds from turntables and mbiras, filtering them through an analoque synth. Prins' is known as a drummer, but has moved into electronic noise-based music over the past decade, working with radio and television transmitters. Relentless, yet subdued energy with an endless stream of new sounds and ideas, and stunning packaging as well. $13.

36. CONRAD SCHNITZLER - Conal 2001 (Submergence 0053) Brand new release by this legendary electronic composer who used to work with early Tangerine Dream and Kluster when both were at their most engaging. An hour of new and demanding sonic explorations plus a twenty minute track of previously unreleased and reconstructed sounds from a 1981 recording. $14.

37. FRANCOIS BAYLE - Camera Oscura/Espaces Inhabitables (Ina Gram 1400) "Camera Oscura" is a 39 minute tour-de-force of Bayle's stereophonic fabric. At first, a rhythmic maze of mirrors form which are more-or-less alike they are then assembled , woven and altered. We are thrown into windings and crystallized sonorities, in which the lines would be lost if they were not supported by lower layers, from plateau to plateau, seemingly leading to a deeper well, as well as to the bottom of an abyss that heat and light might also reach. Multidimensional sounds stretched, extended, transposed, harmonized, reverberated and dissipated. $15.

38. ICEBREAKER - Extractions (Between the Lines 018) An impressive British new music ensemble perform new works by Damian Le Gassik ["Mad Legs in a Sack"] and Gordon McPherson ["The Baby Bear's Bead" and "Goldylox"]. "These works provide the listener with a plethora of musical impressions which directly address their imagination - numerous highly diverse sequences emerge, some evoking naturalistic landscapes, others in a stark contrast -the jungle of a futuristic metropolis." $15.

39. LAINHART, RICHARD: Ten Thousand Shades of Blue (Experimental Intermedia 115). Double CD (for the price of one) of beautifully processed electronic sound, one of the quintessential XI releases. "Lainhart's music rings true to the spirit of possibility that once defined electronic music. It brings with it a sense of past, present and future that transcends time, technology and cultural assumptions. It's a music that is beholden to no one, yet informed by a diverse sphere of appreciations, rich in both intellectual and emotional interest, at once distant and interior, actual and implied." - Ron Goldberg. Featured works: "Bronze Cloud Disk" (1975, for multitracked, processed bowed tam-tam); "Two Mirrors Face One Another" (1976, for multitracked, processed bowed Japanese temple bells); "Cities of Light" (1980, for multitracked, processed voice); "Ten Thousand Shades of Blue" (1985, for realtime interactive computer music system; "Staring at the Moon" (1987, for realtime interactive computer music system with bowed and struck vibraphone); "Walking Slowly Backwards" (1989, for vibraphone). Two cd set for $15.

40. SMITH, CHAS: Aluminum Overcast CD (Cold Blue 0007). The six-movement set of variations that comprise 'Aluminum Overcast' play with the listener's sense of time -- the perceived pace and the clock pace at which musical events take place -- as they slowly progress, the spare advancing to the dense. The first five sections/variations are built from shared/recurrent phrases -- melodic phrases (for bowed and struck metal), rhythmic phrases derived from geometric and Fibonacci structures, and phrases of 'harmonic noise' that vary in density. The sixth movement, something of a coda to the whole work, steps aside from the variations structure and into a purely textural, Ligeti-like soundworld. Aluminum Overcast is scored for metal instruments of the composer's design -- resonators that sprout rods, which are bowed and struck; large, clangorous sculptures of titanium; metal strings strung across multiple resonators; and vibraphone-like arrays of metal plates -- along with an understated touch of pedal steel guitar and electronically processed flute and woman's voice. Chas Smith is a Los Angeles-based composer, performer, and instrument designer and builder who, in the spirit of Harry Partch, creates much of his music for his own exotic instruments. His compositions, which always display his dualistic fascination with the scientific and the sensual, might owe their split personalities to the diverse collection of composers he studied with in the 1970s: Morton Subotnick, Mel Powell, James Tenney, and Harold Budd. $13.

41. COX, RICK: Maria Falling Away CD (CB 0006). Featuring Jon Hassell on one track, Thomas Newman, Jeff Elmassian, Chas Smith. This CD brings together six of Rick Cox's elegantly sparse, dark, sensuous, vaguely desolate soundscapes in which emotions seem to bubble just below cool surfaces (tracing a history of his work from 1990 through 2001). Most of these pieces display Cox's subtle, idiosyncratic electric guitar playing techniques, which sometimes employ preparations placed amid the strings (similar to those utilized in prepared piano works) and the use of such objects as sponges and brushes and glass lab slides to set the instrument's strings in motion. (Cox has been developing these techniques since the early 1970s.) These works also highlight Cox's ear for unusual and interesting harmonies. $13.

NEW RELEASES & HISTORIC RECORDINGS FROM NON-DOWNTOWNERS:

42. NELS CLINE-ROD POOLE-JIM McAULEY - Acoustic Guitar Trio (Incus 46) Extraordinary L.A. based acoustic guitar trio recorded last year. Rod Poole is a master of just-intonation guitar explorations, his recordings quite rare. He played a provocative set here at DMG earlier this year, as did our favorite guitar hero - Nels Cline! Jim McAuley is a specialist in renaissance and baroque classical guitar. This great cd was released by Derek Bailey, so it must be a treasure for guitar fanatics worldwide! $16.

43. MUSHROOM - Foxy Music (Innerspace 49) This is the third full length cd from the wonderful bay area psych/prog/jazz/rock/funk band that once backed Kevin Ayers, with off-shoot members still backing Daevid Allen. Obvious influences include Canterbury's best, early 70's Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis' 'Big Fun' era, Blood Ulmer and Can!?! Art rock meets space jazz with some funky grooves thrown in. Released at the end of October. $14.

44. SECRET CHIEFS 3 - Book M (Mimicry 006) Featuring Mr. Bungle members Trey Spruance, Trevor Dunn, Danny Heifetz, Bar McKinnon plus Eyvind Kang & William Winant. An instrumental odyssey with a full string section, an assortment of Persian, Turkish & Arabic string & percussion instruments, microtonal synth, organ, guitars with innovative composing and off-the-wall recording. Moments of violent aggression are merged with tenderness and subtlety in another world of alien sounds. $14.

45. ESTRADASPHERE - Buck Fever (Mimicry 008) An odd fusion of Balkan, throat-singing, Latin, surf, rock, jazz, video game music, death/black-metal & even more. There are many layers of tracks on each tune, dada-like compositions, orchestrations and improvisations. Trey Spruance from Mr. Bungle and Secret Chiefs 3 does some of the engineering and production and word is that their local gigs have been amazing and off-the-wall! (Emperor Mike here- Buy this!!! They do every style they touch on with great authenticity. They've beaten Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, Primus and in my humble, tempt-the-wrath-of-Bruce opinionS Naked City at their own game!!!) $14.

46. JACKIE-O MOTHERFUCKER - Liberation (Roadcone 031) This is JOMF's 7th bizarre and challenging full-length release and it moves into some new sonic realms. Strings and vibes add to the fragile beauty, both free and filled with twisted patterns. Shimmering noise, soft clouds and primitive psychedelic chaos wind their way using saxes, guitars, percussion, strings and electronics turns their listener's minds inside-out! If you are interested in adding to your JOMF vinyl catalogue, Tom Greenwood from this crazy band just stopped in DMG and sold us his last copies of three different lp's, all of which are limited and will soon disappear for good. Descriptions & prices will follow in the vinyl selection listed below. This new cd sells for $13.

47. MEL BROWN & THE HOMEWRECKERS - Homewreckin' Done Live (Electro-Fi 3370) Mel Brown is sort of the missing link between Jimi Hendrix and another master of jazz/blues/funk/rock guitar. He recorded five pretty amazing records in the early to mid 70's for Bluesway which remain sadly out-of-print and which blurred the lines between blues/jazz with some wah-wah psych/funk as well. I believe this is only his third release since then and it is surely grand to hear that burnin' funky blues geetar once more! $14.

48. SUSAN ALCORN - "Uma" (Loveletter 010) Solo pedal steel guitar with a bit of trombone provided by David Dove. Susan Alcorn is a marvelous pedal steel player from Texas that Eugene Chadbourne has worked with and he has been raving about for a while now. Susan and her band back Eugene on his forthcoming Boxholder release and it is just incredible! "Uma" is mainly a solo pedal steel effort which is sublime, moody, lovely, melancholy and often haunting. Susan wrote most of the tunes, but also does a Thelonius Monk medley and ends with a transcendent version of "Amazing Grace" $14.

49. HERBIE HANCOCK - Future 2 Future (Transparent 500112) Produced by Bill Laswell & Herbie and featuring Wayne Shorter, Jack DeJohnette, Charnett Moffett, Carl Craig, Karsh Kale, Gigi and Laswell on bass. This has been growing on me and it certainly is much better than anticipated mix of funk, pop, world, techno and hip-hop, but not much jazz!?!. Finally in stock at $16.

50. UMAR BIN HASSAN-To the Last (Baraka Foundation 016) Produced by Bill Laswell, with Aiyb Dieng and Hamid Drake on assorted ethnic percussion and Mr. Laswell on bass. Umar is a longtime member of the legendary Last Poets, the grandfathers of spoken word rhythmic, confrontational and serious truth music, pre-dating rap by more than a decade. This is Umar's second solo release, the previous one was 'Bebop or Be Dead' on Axiom - which was great, but is now out-of-print. This one is also pretty strong. $15.

51. MASASHI HARADA & BARRE PHILLIPS - Voluminous Venture (Cadence Jazz 1128) Masashi plays tuned percussion and piano and teaches in Boston at the New England Conservatory as well as in Japan. He recently paid DMG a visit and left me with three fine and different cds of his music. This one is an engaging duo with contrabassist supreme Barre Phillips and I am much impressed with excitement and inventiveness involved. $10.

52. MASASHI HARADA - Condanction Ensemble (Emanem 4041) Completely different than the above duo improv, this features a fine Boston ensemble with Greg Kelley on trumpet, Bhob Rainey on soprano sax, Phil Tomasic on electric guitar, plus a number of fine musicians I am unfamiliar with. Mr. Harada studied with John Cage and David Avram and claims to have been influenced greatly by Stravinsky and Takemitsu. Masashi is also a modern dancer and has worked for many years by conducting his ensemble through dance moves, thus calling it "condanction" and this is what we have here. The results are a fascinating blend of focused improvisations. $14.

53. TOWNES VAN ZANDT-STEVE EARLE-GUY CLARK - Together at the Blubird Café (Koch AMO 4006) Excellent, intimate, never before released live set of three great singer-songwriters - two of Texas' finest elder statesmen of song - the late, great, legend - Townes Van Zandt and the equally well respected Guy Clark, plus the hard working, all knowing and equally gifted southern songwriter - Steve Earle. $14.

54. THE LANGLEY SCHOOLS MUSIC PROJECT - Innocence and Despair (Bar/None 122) This was put together by Irwin Chusid - influential WFMU dj who was responsible for the Shaggs, Raymond Scott and Esquivel reissues. This is a sixty voice choir of rural school children, recorded in a gym in western Canada in the mid-70's doing performing 19 soft rock gems from David Bowie, the Beach Boys, Paul McCartney, Neil Diamond and the Eagles. Had I not heard this, I would think that this is some type of bad joke - but I must admit that there is something oddly charming and mildly twisted about the results. Their version of Bowie's "Space Oddity" is completely wonderful. $14.

REISSUES AND HISTORIC RECORDINGS MADE AVAILABLE AGAIN:

55. TIPOGRAPHICA - God Says I Can't Dance (Mellow/Italian import) Finally! Tipographica are considered by many to be the best progressive band to emerge from Japan ever and all four of their releases were spectacular, but have been out of print for a while and did cost $25. to $30. even when they were more readily available. The great Italian reissue label has just put out there third and perhaps best release at a midline price of only $14.

56. THIS HEAT: Deceit CD (These 2) A newly re-mastered reissue in digipak packaging. This is the second and final proper studio album from This Heat, which has been out of print on CD for a number of years now (the first CD reissue by These was in 1991). Originally issued in the LP era by Rough Trade in 1981, this album features a bit more in the way of song-structure and general anger than before. In terms of dynamics, texture, studio-as-instrument use and general punk/art-rock aesthetic, This Heat were one of the most seminal bands ever. Completely influential and still compelling today. "Angry and directed edge of seat stuff with incisive lyrics. As a band they're even tighter and on the case reaching ferocious, near meltdown point at times, though never losing control. It ends with a sense of melancholy that stays with you." The core trio of This Heat was Charles Hayward, Charles Bullen & Gareth Williams. Featured instrumentation: voice, guitar, drums, bass, tapes, keyboards, mask, clarinet, etc. Hayward currently drums for Massacre, whose new live cd will be released on Tzadik at the end of November. This is certainly the most sought after reissue we sell and it continues to go in and out of print, so please grab this now before it disappears once more. $17.

56. ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO - Live in Milano (Leo GYN 16) This was a legendary bootleg recording from 1980 and word is that this is one the Art Ensemble's finest live dates ever. We shall soon see. Released through City Hall at the end of October, which means that it will probably be late, so please be patient. $16.

57. JULIUS HEMPHILL - Roi Boye & The Gotham Minstrels (Sackville 3014/15) This is a long awaited legendary solo effort by the late, great sax giant - Julius Hemphill! Recorded in Toronto in May of 1977, Julius considered this an audiodrama - archiving show business in America with New York City as the setting. Julius plays all of the instruments and conceived all of the sounds involved. A brilliant achievement! All Sackville reissues are limited editions of 1,000 copies only. Due in stock by the end of the month, hopefully. A two cd set for $33.

58. DON PULLEN - Solo Piano Album (Sackville 3008) This was wonder pianist Don Pullen's first solo effort and his first album under his own name - recorded in February of 1975, after playing in Charles Mingus' fabulous band for quite a few years. This is considered by many to be his finest solo date and what should be remembered is that with so little of his back catalogue out of print, this is a most welcome and worthy reissue. Released sometime soon. Limited edition. $17.

59. GEORGE LEWIS - Solo Trombone Record (Sackville 3012) This was AACM trombone hero George Lewis' first solo trombone effort and it is a classic with layers of overdubbed trombones to be astounded by. It was recorded in 1976 and it still sounds fresh today. $17.

60. SUN RA & HENRY DUMAS -The Ark and The Ankh (IKEF 02) This is a long lost collaboration between the late storyteller, activist and poet - Henry Dumas with the visionary composer, player and big band leader from Saturn - Sun Ra recorded in 1966 - live at Slug's Saloon. A fascinating blend of Henry's words with the cosmic music of Sun Ra and his Arkestra! $14.

61. NICKY SKOPELITIS & RAOUL BJORKENHEIM - Revelator (Inner Rhythmic) Bill Laswell produces and supplies subtle sonics, both Nicky [Ekstasis] and Raoul [from Krakatau & new 'Apocalypso' cd on Cuneiform] play various guitars and exotic string instruments while Bill Buchen plays tablas, water and log drums. This was first released on a French version of Douglas in 1997 and was almost impossible to find. Although this is a double guitar excursion, it is more a refined, exotic and an ambient journey which is completely enchanting. Newly reissued for $15.

62. GOLDEN YEARS OF SOVIET NEW JAZZ - Volume 1 (Leo GYN 401-404) An incredible four cd box set of avant-jazz recorded under the Communist regime. Most of this has never been released before and some of it is from albums that have been out of print for 15 years. The key musicians include Sergey Kuryokhin, Valentina Ponomareva and Anatoly Vapirov. This is an extremely limited edition of 750 copies, with a third of these being placed in a Soviet satellite for future aliens to treasure. Release date is October 23rd, but we are not holding our breath. Four cd set with thick booklet of essays and information for $40.

63. STEVE COLEMAN & FIVE ELEMENTS - On the Edge of Tomorrow (W&W JMT 919005) Featuring Coleman on alto sax, Graham Haynes on trumpet, Geri Allen on synth, Kelvyn Bell on electric guitar, Kevin Bruce Harris on el. bass, Marvin "Smitty" Smith on drums and Casandra Wilson on vocals. An intoxicating blend of blues, funk, free, swing, rock, jazz, fusion and rap! $15.

64. CASSANDRA WILSON- Point of View (W&W JMT 919004) Featuring the sassy voice of Cassandra Wilson with Steve Coleman, Grachan Moncer III, Jean-Paul Bourelly, Lonnie Plaxico and Mark Johnson. This was Cassandra debut from 1985 and it received 5 stars in Jazziz and 4 _ stars in Downbeat. $15.

65. CHRIS McGREGOR'S - Brotherhood of Breath (Repetoire 4468) We just received a few copies of this classic reissue of the very first Brotherhood of Breath studio effort from 1971. It features an amazing all-star cast of Dudu Pukwana, Ronnie Beer, Alan Skidmore, Mike Osborne & John Surman on saxes, Mongezi Feza, Marc Charig & Harry Beckett on trumpets, Malcolm Griffiths & Nick Evans on trombones, Harry Miller on bass, Louis Moholo on drums and the mighty Chris McGregor on piano! Astounding and now out-of-print as well! $15.

66. RUINS - Stonehenge (Shimmy 5037) The long awaited return of the early prog/punk brain melting duo's early effort with seven bonus tracks thrown in for good measure! Hooray! $13.

67. BOREDOMS - Soul Discharge (Shimmy ) Another ridiculously intense and over-the top explosion of Japanese noise/punk/rock spew from way back when and long out-of-print! $13.

68. MINIATURES - A Sequence of Tiny Masterpieces (Voiceprint ) Edited by Morgan Fisher, who played keyboards in Mott the Hoople and also did duets with Lol Coxhill!?! This is a bizarre collection of one minute tracks from 1980 which features a wide range of musical characters like Robert Wyatt, the Residents, Fred Frith ("The Entire Works of Henry Cow"), Olly Halsall, John Otway, Lol Coxhill, Robert Fripp, Andy Partridge, Gavin Bryars, Trevor Wishart, Half Japanese, Simon Jeffes, Kevin Coyne, David Cunningham, Maggie Nichols, The Work, David Bedford, Neil Innes and too many others. Only $10.

69. JOHN GREAVES - Accident (Voiceprint) John Greaves was the bassist for Henry Cow and National Health and has recorded some half dozen releases, as well as a few collaborations with Peter Blegvad since his time with two of progressive's finest bands from the seventies. His solo effort are all quirky and interesting, but not really that progressive and occasionally disappointing to some of Henry Cow's more demanding followers. I dig whatever he comes up with, but one must leave their preconceptions behind. I believe this his first solo record from 1982 and his personnel includes Pip Pyle, Yoshko Seffer (Magma) and Geoff Richardson (Caravan). Quirky, fun and intelligent pop music. $10.

A SMALL SELECTION OF RECORDS FOR US VINYL JUNKIES TO SAVOR

70. CHARLES BRACKEEN - Rhythm X/The Music of... (Strata East) Completely fantastic and featuring Don Cherry on trumpet, Charlie Haden on acoustic bass & Ed Blackwell on drums!! Ornette's old quartet members back the almighty sax wonder - Charles Brackeen! $14.

71. BILLY HARPER - Capra Black (Strata East) A dynamite Trane-like spiritual burnin' force! Billy Harper is one the unsung heroes of the tenor sax, his recordings are rare and mostly out-of-print. This one features George Cables, Julian Priester, Dick Griffin, Jimmy Owens, Billy Cobham, Warren Smith and Elvin Jones!! Superb and not available on cd! $14.

72. CHARLES TOLLIVER/MUSIC INC.-Live at Slugs -Vol. 1 & 2 (Strata East) with Stanley Cowell on piano, Cecil McBee on bass and Jimmy Hopps on drums! Charles Tolliver is another under-recognized giant among trumpeters and his recordings are also hard to come by. This is an amazing all-star quartet featuring one the finest jazz trumpeters ever!! The two separate volumes are $12. each.

73. JACKIE-O MOTHERFUCKER - Existing Oral Conditions (Imp Records) From 1995 and an extremely bizarre blend of guitars, sax, feedback, loops, harmonica and other stuff too strange to describe!?! Handmade cover and a very limited edition and bound to disappear soon! $14.

74. JACKIE-O MOTHERFUCKER - Flat Fixed (Imp Records) Two lp set in special large thick paper hand-made fold out cover that smells like some sorta paint!?! We have five copies left as of 10/9/01 and they will not last that long. Limited edition 2 lp set for $20.

Hours: Sunday though Thursday noon `till 9pm, Fri. & Sat. noon to 10pm. Sundays we have in-store concerts from 7 to 8:30, please don't call then. We're now located on Bowery, between Bond St. and Great Jones St., three blocks south of our old location on E. 5th St.

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