DMG Newsletter for June 5th, 2020: Happy Birthday to MR. ANTHONY BRAXTON!

Happy Birthday to You!
Happy Birthday to You!
Happy Birthday Anthony Braxton!
Happy Birthday to you!

HAPPY 75th BIRTHDAY TO MR. ANTHONY BRAXTON TODAY - June 11th, 2020!!!

I bought my first two albums by Anthony Braxton in 1974 (’New York, Fall 1974’) and 1975 (‘Five Pieces 1975’), both of which were on the Arista/Freedom label. Those records changed my life, my understanding of modern jazz at that point. I had only started buying jazz records in 1972 when I was a freshman at Glassboro State College in South Jersey. I hadn’t heard much about Mr. Braxton before that, aside from some journalists panning/misunderstanding Braxton’s early solo sax 2 LP set, ‘For Alto’ (from 1968). But those first two Arista records were a breath of fresh air and Braxton was working with Kenny Wheeler, George Lewis, Dave Holland & Barry Altschul, all of whom would become heroes of my friends & myself. Mr. Braxton went on to make another dozen albums for Arista, all different and all worth checking out. They were released as a box set on Mosaic but are long out of print. I went back to discover his Braxton’s earlier records with other members of the AACM and discovered even more riches, more treasures to savor. I have been a Braxton fan-addict ever since and have heard him in concert many times and have collected  a large quantity of records from his vast 50 year career. Along with Sun Ra (one of Braxton’s main inspirations) or perhaps Duke Ellington, Mr. Braxton might have more releases than any other 20th/21st century composer. I was honored to actually meet and hang out with Mr. Braxton a couple of times nearly a decade ago, first when he wanted to sell off the old Braxton House label back catalogue and then when he did an in-store at DMG (when we were on the Bowery), signing copies of his Iridium box set and graciously meeting & shaking hands with his many of his fans for three hours that day. Later on the day we went across the street and had dinner at a thai restaurant that used to be the Tin Place avant/jazz club that existed during the loft jazz days. While we ate, Braxton was interviewed by Ted Pankin for Downbeat and he asked some tough questions. His answers were long and fascinating, I can still hear him describing the essence of Ghost Trance Music, a decade-long style of music that he had invented and which had continually evolved. After teaching at Wesleyan University for a long period, Mr. Braxton finally retired from academia and now works hard on his music and the Tricentric Foundation, which documents his music and encourages other musicians and composers with grants and other sources of inspiration.

This week sees the release of a new Braxton box - hip hip hooray! - ANTHONY BRAXTON / EUGENE CHADBOURNE - “Duo (Improv) 2017”, an 8 CD box set! Doc Chadbourne told me that Braxton has been talking about doing some improvising with him for several decades but that they never had the time to pull it off. They finally did and I can’t wait to hear it. Although it is on the New Braxton House label, we will not be getting copies to sell. Here is the bandcamp link to purchase a copy: https://newbraxtonhouse.bandcamp.com/album/duo-improv-2017 - I urge you to get it and start or continue your Braxton collection today!

I want to raise a toast to the incredible ANTHONY BRAXTON for the all of the great work he has done: alto sax pioneer, multi-reeds great, beyond-category composer, multi-bandleader, philosopher, professor, author and an incredibly sweet human being who has inspired so many of and will continue to do so for many years to come! We love you Mr. Braxton!

At the end of this newsletter is a list of more than 100 musicians who have collaborated with Anthony Braxton! It is a long list but you should check it out. If I have forgotten anyone, please forgive me.

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PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE STILL TRYING TO CATCH UP ON ORDERS & BACK-ORDERS. Those of you who ordered from the USED CD list earlier this week, will have their orders processed shortly. Plus we have been selling more items on Discogs and through the Tzadik website!?! This has been keeping us even busier.
 
New Stuff for June 5th, 2020:

* THE KARUNA TRIO with ADAM RUDOLPH / RALPH M. JONES / HAMID DRAKE - Imaginary Archipelago (Meta Records 024; USA) Featuring Adam Rudolph on mythic/mystic percussion, drums, overtone singing & electronic processing, Ralph M. Jones on assorted reeds & voice and Hamid Drake on mythic percussion & voice. The Karuna Trio have been working together for what seems like centuries. Ancient-to-modern percussionists, Adam Rudolph & Hamid Drake, met in high school and have continued to work together on and off throughout the many years. Reeds master, Ralph M. Jones, has also been working with Mr. Rudolph for many years as well, in duos, this trio and as a member of Moving Pictures.
   An archipelago is a group of islands which are close to one another, the title of this disc, ‘Imaginary Archipelago’, refers to the way we are all islands stuck in the sea yet we are also connected, all having ancient roots somewhere in our histories and herstories. Music has a way of reaching backwards and forwards at the same time when it meets in the present. While listening to this disc, I can hear the way the musicians connect several streams simultaneously, ancient and modern, African, European, Asian & American, Native or natural & electronic or samples sounds. The first piece, “Okomibo”, sounds like the beginning of the day or our lives, solemn, calm and peaceful. Mr. Jones switches selectively between flutes, saxes or clarinets, softly chirping like the birds outside my kitchen window. As things evolve, both percussionists combine into a strong, unified organic force. Throughout this disc, there are/is a subtle use of electronics, samples or reverb which add a wonderful dream-like haze. Both Adam and Hamid are percussion wizards whose experiences bridge many cultures and genres. They continually sound connected and work their way through a series of grooves, pulses and steams. Each groove seems to evoke another spirit or vibe. They are taking us on a journey within and outside as well. Each of these grooves sound like they are part of some ancient ritual and the rituals have a way of bringing us together, each pattern or pulse like our heartbeats. Throb, throb, throb, like the blood pulsing through our veins. When I first put this disc on (6/3/20), it was overcast and raining moderately. As this disc progressed, the sun finally came out and the rain stopped. The natural organic vibe of the music is enhanced by the sunshine and cool breeze flowing in. The ‘Imaginary Archipelago’ is not really a fictitious place, it does take place in the minds of us listeners, the inner journeys that we can all take together if we can find the time to do just that. Give a listen and be swept away. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG            
CD $12


ADAM RUDOLPH / OGURI - Wildflowers (Self-Produced; USA)[LTD Edition of 250; signed by Adam & numbered]. This is a rare solo/duo percussion disc from the great Adam Rudolph in which he is playing with a Butoh dancer named Oguri. This disc was recorded at Roulette in October of 2007. These are the words of Oguri: “ Today the world is top-heavy with information. Humans are losing instinct and are like domestic animals without masters. Dance is the only way to restore the senses to a body in crisis.” I have only seen Butoh dancing a couple of times in my life but I was impressed by the work of Min Tanaka when I saw him with Derek Bailey, Milford Graves and Cecil Taylor. Although it would be great to actually see Oguri dancing here, the music stands on its own and is superbly recorded, warm and clean. The music here unfolds slowly, quietly and is sublime. Mr. Rudolph does a great job of combining ancient and modern spirits with assorted percussion from around the world. His main instrument is a set of conga drums with assorted hand percussion attached plus a rack of cymbals, gongs and other percussives. Plus some cerebral overtone chanting. This is a lovely set, organic sounding and most enchanting. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG  
CD $5 with purchase of any other Adam Rudolph CD or LP listed in this newsletter, see below
CD $10 purchased by itself

* We are have a large ADAM RUDOLPH CD Sale CD which will appear further down in this newsletter


* INGRID LAUBROCK & KRIS DAVIS - Blood Moon (Intakt 345; Switzerland) Featuring Ingrid Laubrock on tenor & soprano saxes and Kris Davis on piano. Both Ingrid Laubrock and Kris Davis keep quite busy juggling several bands and projects, as well as working in a variety of side projects: for Anthony Braxton, Mary Halvorson (for Ingrid) or Rob Mazurek & Nick Fraser (for Kris). They also play in each other's different projects. For this disc they’ve decided to do something different, a rare duo CD. While Ms. Laubrock does have a wonderful ongoing duo with Tom Rainey (3 CD’s & 10 recent downloads), Ms. Davis released a sprawling relatively recent CD/DVD set of 8 duos with Tim Berne, Craig Taborn and Angelica Sanchez. Since both of these women are seasoned composers as well as players, all but two of the pieces here were composed by either, with just a couple of duo improvs. I caught this duo a few months ago at The Stone and was knocked out by their set, especially the diversity of ideas. Both women brought new pieces for this session. Starting with Ms. Davis’ “Snakes and Lattice”, I can hear what sounds like the ghost or influence of Anthony Braxton, a gnarly, intricate work with sharp twists and turns, sections which are tightly played together with more minimal, solemn interludes. The title piece, “Blood Moon”, also has a more restrained, calm center when it begins and slowly escalates as it goes with Ms. Davis revving up and playing some intense waves as Ms. Laubrock plays some quirky soprano sax selectively on top. “Flying Embers” starts off with a hushed, suspense-filled drone, things seem to be moving in slow motion. Ms. Laubrock’s “Whistlings” has a number of short, tightly written episodic twists for her soprano and the piano. Ingrid’s piece “Maroon” reminds me more of the more difficult side of chamber music with some majestic playing from Kris’ splendid piano. I love the way the sax & piano play that one phrase while Ms. Davis some odd counterpoint with her other hand, no easy feat from either musician. My favorite piece here is Ms. Davis’ “Golgi Complex”, which has this odd repeated phrase in which Kris repeats at opposite ends of the piano while Ingrid calmly plays charming harmony on her soprano. One of the things that makes this disc so good is the way the duo often take their time to create some more restrained yet harmonically complex music. Things are not often what they seem, there are some dark and probing moments going on below the surface. Thoughtfully well composed music that takes some time to get used to, while protestors, looters and other bad actors take to the streets to make us all feel confused. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG          
CD $18

* We are having a sale of some older rare titles by INGRID LAUBROCK which can be found further on down in the newsletter.


OMRI ZIEGELE TOMORROW TRIO with CHRISTIAN WEBER / HAN BENNINK - All Those Yesterdays (Intakt 333; Switzerland) Swiss saxophonist Omri Ziegele presents with the Tomorrow Trio an adventurous line-up featuring the legendary Dutch drummer Han Bennink and accomplished Swiss double bassist Christian Weber. A collaboration that offers a perfect platform for Ziegele's robust, powerful sound and his dynamic phrasing, while at the same time showing interest in poetry and the spoken word. "If the Tomorrow Trio has a defining feature it is the potent communicative dialogue of the three individuals. It can be felt in the tight entwining of certain motifs by sax and drums; the snapchat rhythmic exchange of horn and drums; the well-judged release of cumulative tension by the whole band," writes Kevin Le Gendre in the liner notes.
   Featuring Omri Ziegele on alto sax, voice & compositions, Christian Weber on bass and Han Bennink on drums. When Intakt Records released a duo CD by Irene Schweizer and Omri Ziegele in 2014, I had little knowledge of whom Swiss saxist Ziegele was. That duo disc turned out to be excellent and I was glad to have been introduced to this wonderful saxist. Since then, Intakt has released eight more discs with Mr. Ziegele, another duo, three different trios and a fine tentet disc. This is Ziegele’s 10th disc for Intakt and it yet another trio, this time with Swiss bassist Christian Weber and legendary Dutch drummer Han Bennink. One of the things I like most about Mr. Ziegele is the way he uses African melodies as a central launching point for his songs. All of his discs have that jubilant spirit throughout. “Line for a Friend of Mine” kicks things off with a joyous hard swinging groove which keeps speeding up and slowing down in a most organic way. “O. My God” leaps up even more intensely and is dedicated to Ornette Coleman. I can hear that Ornette spirit in there with the way the elastic rhythm team keeps the flow moving like some fast water rapids. The ever incredible and exuberant Han Bennink is often at the center of this trio, revving up the rhythm and energy to several quick eruptions. I really dig the Yeats poem that Ziegele recites midway through this disc, it fits just right. Mr. Ziegele has a strong, swaggering tone on alto, somewhere between Ornette & Eric Dolphy, someone who Mr. Bennink played for his last dates in Europe in 1964. This trio has a way pushing things to boiling point here that feels great so that we all can let off some steam. This is a most dynamic trio that keeps reaching higher and higher. You should soar with them if you do get the chance. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG        
CD $18


NICK DIDKOVSKY / TOM MARSAN - CHORD III (Punos Music; USA) This is the third disc from Chord which consists of Nick Didkovsky and Tom Marsan, both on electric guitars. No doubt you should recognize the name of prog/metal guitarist from his work with Dr. Nerve, Frith Guitar Quartet and Vomit Fist, as well as being a well respected composer of all sorts of contemporary classical music(s). I don’t know Mr. Marsan that well, although he is a member of Delta Garage and Superjail. There is always a dark, brooding undertow to the sound of Chord, two electric guitars being strummed slowly with those powerful metallic chords. There is a throbbing, pulsating quality going on, several layers of molten guitars being strummed over and over. One layer higher, more fragile & more up front, the other in the distance, pounding the chords over and over. This is the sound of the long (15 minutes) opening track, “Martyrs”. The tempo of the strums slowly picks up, as the sound of the repeating chords is beating altered or mutated as it goes, certain notes ringing like distorted bells. The way the notes buzz or vibrate changes slowly and speeds up at the same time. On “Draw Near”, which is even longer than the first piece, both guitars hum  quietly together, the soft sustain still rather ominous vibe-wise. Slowly certain chords start expanding, mutating and eventually erupting more intensely. The pounding throb becomes more deadly as it goes. I can describe the way things sound to me here but I can’t describe the effect they have on me or you. The last piece, “Help Her” is perhaps, the darkest and the most intense. It sounds as if there are some ghosts or indescribable spirits being conjured here. It sounds as if the metal is screaming out, like it has its own voice and is crying for help! This is appropriate music for the apocalyptic scenes that we’ve seen this week of protesting, looting and the destruction of our fragile democracy. Down with fascists, up with FREEDOM! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG      
CD $10  


ASMUS TIETCHENS - Bleiche Brunnen (Stille Andacht 005; Germany) "Asmus Tietchens, one of the most prolific German composers in the electronic/musique concrete direction since late '70s. Bleiche Brunnen is his 3rd album on Stille Andacht, the sub-label of Dark Vinyl. Electronic music of extreme abstraction. Sounds and noises far from human beings from pale, forgotten wells. Porous remains in deserted landscapes, crystalline evidence of inorganic states of highest transparency. The music conveys calm, but in no way invites contemplation. For fans of: Pierre Henry, Stockhausen, Nurse With Wound, Hafler Trio. 6 Page-Eco-Digifile, 500 copies."
CD $15


SONNY SHARROCK with LINDA SHARROCK / BEB GUERIN / JACQUES THOLLOT - Monkey-Pockie-Boo (BYG Records 337; USA) 37th volume in the BYG Actuel series; gatefold sleeve, 180 gram vinyl. The quintessential Actuel album and your basic cornerstone of Free Music 101. "An album recorded in Paris (on June 22nd, 1969) with his wife Linda plus Ben Guerin (bass) and Jacques Thollot (drums). Sonny Sharrock was one of the top avant-garde guitarists and his playing was intense and ferocious. He mixed together Jimi Hendrix and Pharoah Sanders." "Sharrock was the first guitarist to really embrace fire music. He wanted his playing to mirror the emotional scream of the tenor saxophone." --Thurston Moore and Byron Coley.
LP $15

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Since moving here in 2009, INGRID LAUBROCK, has become an integral part of the Creative Music/Downtown Scene. Aside from her ongoing duo with her spouse/music partner Tom Rainey, she leads several great and different ensembles: Antihouse, SleepThief and Paradoxical Frog, as well as collaborating with Anthony Braxton, Mary Halvorson, Andrew Drury, Stefan Crump and Kris Davis. Iy you want to check some of Ms. Laubrock’s more serious writing, check out any of her dozen discs on the Intakt label. Below is a sale list of rarities from Mr. Laubrock, all on sale with prices reduced and with reviews to ponder.      

* INGRID LAUBROCK SALE:

PARADOXICAL FROG with KRIS DAVIS / INGRID LAUBROCK / TYSHAWN SOREY - Paradoxical Frog (Clean Feed 183; Portugal) This exciting new trio release sees Drummer Tyshawn Sorey, pianist Kris Davis and reedist Ingrid Laubrock, all extremely thoughtful and engaging composer-improvisers, join forces. German 2009 SWR-Jazz Prize and winner Ingrid Laubrock has recently moved to NY from London. She performed with some of the most important names of the improvised and the avant-jazz scenes such as Tim Berne, Mark Helias, Evan Parker, Mary Halvorson, John Edwards, Django Bates, Tom Rainey, and Veryan Weston. Lyrical and introspective at times, eccentric and restless at others, Laubrock uses both the tenor and the soprano saxophone in a refreshing and unconventional manner.She is also a prolific composer and won the 2006 Fellowship in Jazz Composition by the Arts Foundation. Pianist Kris Davis is possibly one of the most surprising discoveries of the new jazz piano generation. She is an extraordinarily gifted musician, capable of both incisive interventions and delicate sound poems. Performing with Tony Malaby, Kermit Driscoll, John Hollenbeck, Chris Speed, Tom Rainey and John Hebert, Davis is becoming one of the most sought out pianists for her contributions to composed and improvised music. Tyshawn Sorey is one of the most outstanding drummers around and a visionary composer. He has composed numerous commissions and is by now an indispensable figure in the NY Jazz and creative music scene. Tyshawn has worked with chamber ensembles and collaborated with a diverse array of musicians, including Muhal Richard Abrams, Ray Anderson, Wadada Leo Smith, Steve Coleman, Michele Rosewoman, Peter Evans, Mat Maneri, Steve Lehman, Mario Pavone, Ellery Eskelin, Vijay Iyer, Dave Douglas, Mark Helias and Butch Morris, among many others. All three musicians contribute their own unmistakable compositions to the group's sound. AllAboutJazz has described their unique interplay as "a taut set, as if they'd agreed to avoid the easy way to make a fire and instead rubbed sticks telekinetically". On this CD you will find music on a superior level using a wide range of dynamics, density and expression. The music is spontaneous yet deliberate, thought provoking yet trance inducing. 'Paradoxical Frog' is an extraordinarily rare debut that will make the listener want more.
CD Sale $10

VERYAN WESTON / INGRID LAUBROCK / HANNAH MARSHALL - Haste (2011)(Emanem 5025; UK) “‘Haste’ is a improvising trio that has been in existence for a few years. This Barcelona concert shows how well they create together. Pianist Veryan Weston has been a leading member of the London improvisation scene for decades with numerous releases on Emanem and elsewhere. Cellist Hannah Marshall is a newer arrival who is already much in demand. Both have also been involved in pre-composed music. Saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock has been a part of the London jazz scene since she arrived here around 20 years ago, but has been moving in somewhat freer circles since her recent move to New York City. Together they improvise chamber music of the highest order.”
CD Sale $10

AB BAARS / IG HENNEMAN / INGRID LAUBROCK / TOM RAINEY - Perch Hen Brock & Rain - Live @ The Jazz Happening Tampere (Relative Pitch 1051; USA) Featuring Ab Baars on tenor sax, clarinet & shakuhachi, Ig Henneman on viola, Ingrid Laubrock on tenor & soprano saxes and Tom Rainey on drums. Last year we received a great disc from the quartet: Luc Ex/Ingrid Laubrock/Ab Baars/Hamid Drake called ‘Assemblee’. Around the same time another quartet emerged featuring two couples: Ig Henneman & Ab Baars (Netherlands-based) and Ingrid Laubrock & Tom Rainey (NY-based). Ms. Hennenman plays viola, composes and runs the Wig label while Mr. Baars is a longtime member of the ICP Orchestra & leads several of his own bands. Ms. Laubrock is the current rising star saxist of the Downtown Scene, also leads several bands and is a truly fine ever-evolving composer. I caught Ms. Laubrock three nights in a row last week (early July, 2016) in the solo, duo & trio settings and was knocked out by each performance. Mr. Rainey reigns as one of the finest & most distinctive drums in NY, his trio (with Ingrid & Mary Halvorson) is just incredible! This disc was recorded at the Tampere Jazz Happening (festival) in Finland in November of 2014 and the sound is superb. Since both couples have worked together in duos and larger settings for so long, we can hear the way they converse in a most engaging way, exchanging ideas, lines flowing back and forth throughout. There are sections when both Ms. Laubrock and Mr. Baars play some multiphonic high note interaction which is quite breathtaking. Ms. Laubrock has been playing more soprano sax in recent years and her playing is getting better & better. The interaction between her soprano sax and Ms. Henneman’s viola is especially riveting. There are a number of great viola players currently around (like Jessica Pavone & Charlotte Hug), however Ig Henneman remains one of the best. She is in especially fine form here, weaving her lines amongst the two spirited reeds and organic, distinctive drumming of Mr. Rainey. This is a most extraordinary quartet, one of the finest improvising units of the year. We can only hope that this fine quartet will find their way here in the near future. In the meantime, check this dynamite disc! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD Sale $10

LARK with INGRID LAUBROCK / RALPH ALESSI / KRIS DAVIS / TOM RAINEY - Lark (Skirl 22; USA) "Kris Davis, Ingrid Laubrock, Tom Rainey, Ralph Alessi offer us a very intricate 60 minutes on LARK, an album with a rarely seen need for attention. The not-knowing part comes in handy during the first listen, with the first mystery that unveils the question - is this completely improvised or some written material was brought by some of the musicians? I have spent hours and days with that question. It is simply unreal how Ingrid / Ralph / Kris / Tom feed off each other's ideas, how they complement each other's movement, how they hold patiently till their time comes. This simply can not be improvised, or I'm listening to some very rare and genuine improvised mastery. The musicians in this quartet had played countless times together in different formations, many of them with composed material - but this doesn't sound like it. I can't recognize anything that references Ingrid Laubrock's material, like last years Anti-House or Paradoxical Frog. Ralph Alessi, on this album is more like a gentler, more subtle version of Taylor Ho Bynum, bursting bright 'bird' sounds all over the place, nothing with what you'll connect him to Baida (ECM, 2014) or any recent release of his. Well, maybe the more open and brave parts of his This Against That formation, but that's all you get. The thing that bothers me the most is how melodic this release is even when they all play different things at the same time in a very small and confined space. Especially then, it's just too deeply melodic. Every time you point your ears to it, the music unveils some different layer, you catch some phrase and how that phrase leads to a new movement. All the way, this music kindly rewards the listener with complex melodic subtleties that are the most important clues that form the general picture. And it's a never ending process with this album. You don't often get music that has this amount of inspiration and depth. Take Tom Rainey for instance, no matter what the others are doing, he just grooves the hell out of it (certainly, not in the common sense of groove) and with his really warm and nice sound, makes this music quite accessible. Not his usual thing, but man, he does it with such vigor. Bottom line, for this to be composed and previously prepared, even in a completely democratic, almost utopian collaboration for the composing - they had a really tough job and a really hard time getting it done. That's how good its sounds. The clarity of the language from all the four musicians and the narrative is just simply stunning. No matter what the nature is behind this release, improvised or composed, LARK is a pure thriller, a greatly told story. It unfolds right in front of the listener with an unparalleled graciousness." - Filip 'Booka' Bukrshliev
CD Sale $10

INGRID LAUBROCK/OLIE BRICE/JAVIER CARMONA - Catatumbo (Babel 12103; UK)  Ingrid Laubrock on tenor sax, Olie Brice on double bass and Javier Carmona on drums. For 2012, the Most Valuable Player award for women in the current Downtown Scene should go to Mary Halvorson, Kris Davis and Ingrid Laubrock. All three have come a long way over the past decade and have been extremely busy with several projects going on simultaneously. I caught a quartet set last night (12/12/12) with Ms. Laubrock, Ralph Alessi, Kris Davis and Tom Rainey at The Stone and it was pretty amazing thoroughly improvised set. Although originally from Germany and now living in Brooklyn, Ms. Laubrock spent some time in England playing with a number of fine UK musicians. As far as her Uk contacts go, Ingrid has an ongoing trio with Liam Noble (2 discs on Intakt), as well as another trio with Veryan Weston and Hannah Marshall (CD on Emanem). 'Catatumbo' features another solid trio with Ingrid on just tenor sax, Olie Brice on double bass and Javier Carmona on drums. Olie Brice has recorded with Neil Metcalfe & Nick Malcolm (both CDs on FMR) and a new 2 LP set (on No Business) with the Riverloam Trio (Mikolaj Trzaska & Mark Sanders). Javier Carmona has recorded with UK keyboardist Alexander Hawkins. This trio disc was recorded live at the Vortex in London, one of the few spaces left in London that still has creative music on most nights of the week like the Cafe Oto. The recording is clean and captures the spirit of the trio perfectly. What I find most intriguing about Ms Laubrock is that she is always pushing herself and taking chances, bending and twisting the notes on her sax, interacting quickly and pushing her collaborators as they ascend together. There is a tight connection between all three players here, one focused spirit moving together. The trio move from explosive to more cautious or quiet sections organically. There is a section on "The Fabric of Air" where it sounds as if the trio are about to break into a standard when Ingrid presents a few melodic fragments. "Cocuyos" is quieter and sounds like lower-case improv at times before they move into more rambunctious terrain again. A strong trio on a strong date. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music GalleryCD Sale $10

INGRID LAUBROCK / TOM RAINEY - Utter (Relative Pitch 1076; USA) Featuring Ingrid Laubrock on soprano & tenor sax and Tom Rainey on drums. This is the third duo disc from Downtown’s great couple and they have continued to improve, evolve and explore. In addition to be being married, Ms. Laubrock and Mr. Rainey, often work together in each othe's projects: Tom Rainey Trio, Sleepthief, Anti-House and Obbligato. While each of these projects are successful in their own ways, it is the duo where these two highly creative musicians must balance their talents in perfect sync. What makes this disc different from the first two is that the duo had decided to compose pieces for their second extended tour instead of mainly improvising, so this disc is the results: partially written and recorded in a Brooklyn studio. Right from the gitgo, we can hear the duo thinking together, the tenor and drums are tightly wound, intricate in the way the move, expanding, interweaving like a fascinating, heated conversation. Although many fans give credit to Joey Baron for the unique way he plays his drums set with just his hands (on a number of Masada songs), Tom Rainey has been doing this for just as long and is also a master at this technique. Watching Mr. Rainey play live reveals his unique approach to the drums, an organic magic that is his own. On this disc, we hear Mr. Rainey rubbing the surfaces of his drums, tapping lightly and creating several layers of nuanced percussion. Since moving to New York, Ms. Laubrock’s sax playing has expanded in leaps and bounds, taking chances by working with a wide variety of other strong creative spirits: Anthony Braxton, Ben Goldberg, Kyoko Kitamura and many more. On “Chant II”, Ms. Laubrock dips into the Dexter Gordon-like warm & lyrical bag before she launches onto some Trane-like lines on “Riddled”. One of the things I like most about this disc is that the duo sounds most relaxed, often calm at the center, with occasional bursts of controlled chaos. When Ingrid and Tom play in the Rainey Trio with Mary Halvorson, they usually go pretty far into the outer regions of free playing, yet this duo here show quite a bit of restraint, making it easier for those who have a hard time with the engaging intensity of the trio. Another winner is at hand. - Bruce Lee Gallanter

INGRID LAUBROCK / TOM RAINEY - Buoyancy (Relative Pitch 1048; USA)  This is the second duo disc from the dynamic duo: Ingrid Laubrock on soprano & tenor saxes and Tom Rainey on drums. Ms. Laubrock and Mr. Rainey are a married couple who have been working together musically as well, playing in each other’s projects, supporting each others visions. Since each project is so different, things evolve in a variety of ways due to the personnel and direction of each one. I’ve caught this duo a few times live and they have gotten better through time. This disc was recorded live at Audio for the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin during a tour in 2014. Over the past few years both of these gifted musicians have made many more fans around the world since all of their recordings and concerts are so inspired. This disc captures them at their best, listening closely and interacting superbly. An intimate, intricate conversation evolves as it unfolds. I have a drum teacher friend named Ken who is a Tom Rainey fanatic, anything Mr. Rainey records, he wants. I feel the same way about Mr. Rainey and Ms. Laubrock, especially after hearing them so much over the past few years, always pushing themselves to a higher level of adventure and creativity. The four pieces on this disc are long and take their time to develop. “Twenty Lines” starts with soft rustling static-like sounds, calmly building from there. When Ms. Laubrock switches to soprano midway, the tempo increases and the vibe changes into a more free and fractured excursion, finally sailing into a more restrained ending. “The Museum of Human Achievement” has a poignant elegance, organic in the way it naturally unfolds eventually erupting into an intense fever pitched foray. The last piece, “Thunderbird” also starts quietly and remains subdued throughout, bringing us down to a calm conclusion. The title of this disc, ‘Buoyancy’ reminds me of the way these two play together, floating on a raft in the ocean, sometimes calm, sometimes stormy. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD Sale $10

INGRID LAUBROCK / TOM RAINEY - And Other Desert Towns (Relative Pitch 1018; USA) Featuring Ingrid Laubrock on tenor & soprano sax and Tom Rainey on drums. Besides being a couple, Ingrid and Tom, are part of another select Downtown family of musicians who work together often in many different combinations. The family includes: Mary Halvorson, Kris Davis, Tim Berne, Matt Mitchell, Ralph Alessi, Chris Speed, Ches Smith... I caught this duo play two phenomenal sets last year at JACK to just a handful of serious fans. Another jewel in the Relative Pitch treasure chest! - BLG  
CD Sale $10

INGRID LAUBROCK With TIM BERNE / BEN GERSTEIN / DAN PECK / TOM RAINEY - Ubatuba (Firehouse12 04-01-022; USA) Featuring Ingrid Laubrock on tenor & soprano sax & compositions, Tim Berne on alto sax, Ben Gerstein on trombone, Dan Peck on tuba and Tom Rainey on drums. I caught this new project from the great, ambitious saxist Ingrid Laubrock at Cornelia Street Cafe and thought they were pretty great, unlike anything else I've heard from Ingrid.
CD Sale $12

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BIG ADAM RUDOLPH CD SALE LIST:

Master percussionist, ADAM RUDOLPH, has been leading different ensembles for several decades. He grew up in Chicago, where he met fellow percussion great, Hamid Drake, when both were still in high school. Mr. Rudolph has been recording since 1973, lived & studied in Ghana and collaborated with Don Cherry, Foday Musa Sosu, Hassan Hakmoun, as well as with elders like Yusef Lateef, Wadada Leo Smith, Sam Rivers and Pharoah Sanders. After living and teaching in L.A., Mr. Rudolph moved to the NY area a decade ago. Since moving here, I have had the opportunity to hear Mr. Rudolph with several of his marvelous ensembles: Moving Pictures and the Go Organic Orchestra many times and have heard him at The Stone throughout several residencies. I look forward to each & every performance as well as each of his many releases. His latest disc by the Karuna Trio is reviewed at the top of this newsletter and it is superb. I worked out a deal with Adam so that we could offer 20 of his previous discs for sale prices, so dig in and enrich yourself. First the skeletal list of releases and then the same list with reviews pasted in.  

HAMID DRAKE / RALPH M. JONES / ADAM RUDOLPH - Karuna (Meta Records 022; USA) - 2018
CD SALE $10

ADAM RUDOLPH - Morphic Resonances (Meta 021; USA) - rel 2017
CD Sale $10

ADAM RUDOLPH'S MOVING PICTURES With HAMID DRAKE / GRAHAM HAYNES / RALPH M. JONES / KENNY WESSELL / ALEXIS MARCELO / JAMES HURT / DAMON BANKS - Glare of the Tiger (Meta 020; USA) - 2017
CD SALE $10

HU VIBRATIONAL [ADAM RUDOLPH/TIM KIEPER/KEITA OGAWA/BRAHIM FRIBAGANE] With BILL LASWELL/EIVIND AARSET/STEVE GORN/ALEX MARCELO - The Epic Botanical Suite: Boonghee Music 4 (Meta 19; USA)- 2015
CD SALE $10
 
YUSEF LATEEF / ROSCOE MITCHELL / ADAM RUDOLPH / DOUGLAS EWART - Voice Prints: Live At Walker Art Center, December 2008 (Meta 018; USA) - 2013
CD SALE $10

IgBo DUO with ADAM RUDOLPH / JOSEPH BOWIE - Good Medicine (Meta 016; USA) - rel 2013
CD SALE $10

ADAM RUDOLPH / RALPH M JONES - Merely A Traveler On The Cosmic Path (Meta 015; USA) - 2012
CD SALE $10

ADAM RUDOLPH'S MOVING PICTURES - Both / And (Meta 013; USA) - 2011
CD SALE $10

YUSEF LATEEF / ADAM RUDOLPH - Towards The Unknown (Yal/Meta 012; USA) - 2010
CD SALE $10

ADAM RUDOLPH / RALPH M JONES - Yeyi: A Wordless Psalm Of Prototypical Vibrations (Meta 011; USA) - 2010
CD SALE $10

ADAM RUDOLPH'S MOVING PICTURES With NED ROTHENBERG / GRAHAM HAYNES / STEVE GORN / HAMID DRAKE / et al - Dream Garden (Justin Time 8537) - rel 2008
CD Sale $12

OMAR SOSA / ADAM RUDOLPH - Pictures Of Soul (Meta/Ota 1012; USA) - 2004
CD SALE $10

SAM RIVERS / ADAM RUDOLPH / HARRIS EISENSTADT - Vista (Meta 009; USA) - rel 2004
CD 10.00 AVAILABLE

YUSEF LATEEF & ETERNAL WIND [ADAM RUDOLPH/RALPH JONES/KENN COX] - Live At Luckman Theater (Yal 127; USA) - 2001
CD Sale $10

YUSEF LATEEF / ADAM RUDOLPH With JOSEPH BOWIE / MARK HELIAS et al - Beyond The Sky (Yal/Meta 005; USA) - 2000
CD SALE $10

PHAROAH SANDERS / HAMID DRAKE / ADAM RUDOLPH - Spirits (Meta 004; USA) - 2000
CD SALE $10

YUSEF LATEEF / ADAM RUDOLPH - Live in Seattle (Yal 229; USA) - 1999
CD SALE $10

YUSEF LATEEF & ETERNAL WIND [ADAM RUDOLPH / RALPH JONES / KENNY COX] - Live At Montreux Detroit Jazz Festival 1999 (Yal 120; USA) - 1999
CD Sale $10

ADAM RUDOLPH'S MOVING PICTURES With RALPH JONES / FEDERICO RAMOS / HAMID DRAKE - Contemplations (Meta 002; USA) - 1997
CD SALE $10

YUSEF LATEEF/ADAM RUDOLPH - The World At Peace: Music For 12 Musicians [2 CD set] (Meta/Yal 753; USA) - rel 1997
2 CD Set Sale $14

ADAM RUDOLPH CD SALE LIST WITH REVIEWS:

HAMID DRAKE / RALPH M. JONES / ADAM RUDOLPH - Karuna (Meta Records 022; USA) Featuring Hamid Drake on drums & percussion, Ralph M. Jones on soprano & tenor saxes, assorted flutes, ney & bass clarinet and Adam Rudolph on drums, keyboards, sintir, thumb pianos, dusun’ goni and percussion. Hamid Drake and Adam Rudolph first met in 1969 when both were 14. They have been collaborating ever since, working with many important musicians: Don Cherry, Fred Anderson, Pharaoh Sanders and Yusef Lateef. Mr. Rudolph and reeds wiz, Ralph Jones go way back as well, first meeting in 1974, and working together in various ensembles ever since: Eternal Wind & Moving Pictures. Mr. Rudolph put together Moving Pictures in 1997 with evolving yet relatively stable personnel, which includes all three of these musicians. In May of this year (2018), Mr. Rudolph did a 5 day residency at The Stone and this trio, known as the Karuna Trio, performed. I caught several sets that week and each one was wonderful, spiritually and musically uplifting. This is a studio session which was recorded in June of 2016 and January of 2017. This disc was recorded at Bill Laswell’s studio by James Dellatacoma, hence the sound is especially warm, superbly balanced, both ancient and modern sounding simultaneously. “Watergoddess Blues” kicks things off with one of those joyous, hypnotic Hamid Drake drum grooves, his sly hi-hat at the center. Both Mr. Drake and Mr. Rudolph create these righteous, festive, spiritually enchanting grooves throughout, ofter layering various percussion instruments as well as occasional samples, sintir (north African bass-like instrument) and dusun’goni (hunter’s harp with gourd-like body). Mr. Jones switches between various saxes, flutes (including ethinc flutes like ney & hulusli) and bass clarinet. Mr. Rudolph selectively uses a keyboard or sampler for drones or other eerie, haunting sounds to evoke or awaken ancient spirits. I especially like when Mr. Rudolph plays the sintir (or gimbri), a Northern African 3-stringed bass-like instrument, also played by William Parker & Shanir Blumenkranz. All of this music has an organic, outdoors, African village meets other ethnic influences vibe. In the mist of the daily stress of life due to staring at our phones or computer screens in disbelief, I found this disc to be an oasis of positive vibes. Didn’t want it to end anytime soon. Need some sweet, spiritual medicine, this is the potion that we all need! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD SALE $10

ADAM RUDOLPH With MOMENTA STRING QUARTET / KAORU WATANABE / MARCO CAPPELLI - Morphic Resonances (Meta 021; USA) Featuring Adam Rudolph as the composer and director of three ensembles: Momenta String Quartet, Odense Percussion Group and Kammeratorkestret Ensemble plus soloists: Marco Cappelli on guitar, Kaoru Watanabe on flute and Sana Nagano on violin. Multiple percussionist, composer and conductor, Adam Rudolph, is nearly impossible to pin down since he works so well on several different levels. Besides running two very different ensembles: Moving Pictures and the Go Organic Orchestra, Mr. Rudolph has had longtime collaborations with the late Yusef Lateef, Wadada Leo Smith, Fred Anderson and Jon Hassell. Since running his own Meta label, Mr. Rudolph has been evolving as a composer, as well as a multi-bandleader, always trying out new ideas. Mr. Rudolph’s new disc,’Morphic Resonances’, features seven compositions going back to 2013, utilizing the talents of three ensembles, solo violin and a flute & guitar duo. The title track is first and “Morphic Resonances” refers to the idea that memory is inherent in nature and the life-force of music reaches across time and space. The piece works on several levels, from calm, lush sections which occasionally erupt into elegant dancing dervishes. “Syntactic Adventures” id dedicated to Yusef Lateef, Mr. Rudolph’s mentor and longtime musical collaborator. After working with the Momenta String Quartet previously, he was able to write for the special talents. In the liner notes, Mr. Rudolph refers to music as “the ancestor of spoken languages,the language of feeling”. Again, there seems to be several layers of ideas, threads taking place. It sounds as if memories or melodies rise to the surface, some familiar, some not, but all thoughtfully constructed and well-woven into the whole. “Garden, Ashes” is played by the duo of Marco Cappelli on acoustic guitar and Kaoru Watanabe on flute, both members of Rudolph’s Go Organic Orchestra. This piece was recorded on what would’ve been the 91st birthday of Mr. Rudolph’s father and deal with ancient memories. It starts off most sublime, like the soft spirit of Mother or perhaps Father) Nature, working its way through various contours. “Orbits” is performed by the Odense Percussion Group from Denmark and Rudolph spent years working out the complex rhythmic schemes involved. We can hear various layers going on from both both historic and different cultural perspectives. “Coincidentia Oppositorium” is performed by a combined chamber octet and deals with the interaction of opposites. The last piece, “Lamento” is for noh flute and acoustic guitar and each note seems to resonant deeply. It sounds as if ancient spirits are being evoked, carefully pulled apart and reassembled. There is a certain peaceful spirit at the center of this music, restless yet perfectly aligned. Feels so good to me. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD Sale $10

ADAM RUDOLPH'S MOVING PICTURES With HAMID DRAKE / GRAHAM HAYNES / RALPH M. JONES / KENNY WESSELL / ALEXIS MARCELO / JAMES HURT / DAMON BANKS - Glare of the Tiger (Meta 020; USA)Moving Pictures currently consists of Adam Rudolph on percussion, sintir & composition, Graham Haynes on cornet & flugelhorn, Ralph M. Jones on flutes, saxes & bass clarinet, Alexis Marcelo on Fender Rhodes & Hammond B3, Kenny Wessel on electric guitar, Damon Banks on electric bass and James Hurt on percussion, Fender Rhodes & synth and Hamid Drake on drums & percussion. Formerly Chicago-based percussionist, Adam Rudolph, is always juggling several ongoing projects, as well as collaborations with musical elders like Wadada Leo Smith and Yusef Lateef (R.I.P.). Aside from the Go Organic Orchestra, Mr. Rudolph has run an octet called Moving Pictures since their first recording in 1992. This is the their seventh release, which includes longtime members Hamid Drake and Ralph Jones, plus newer members like Graham Haynes and Kenny Wessel. Oddly enough, the overall sound/approach to Moving Pictures remains constant yet evolving. “Glare of the Tiger”, the lengthy opening track has an enchanting, electric Miles-like voodoo groove, complete with sly, slinky guitar, (Bennie Maupin-like) bass clarinet & soprano sax, layers of greasy electric keyboards, fat, thumb-tapping electric bass and infectious percussion. Mr. Rudolph does a swell job of writing several interlocking grooves together while someone solos on top. I dig the way Rudolph stacks up the layers with flutes or reeds, electric piano or organ, guitar, bass and percussion. The effect is most hypnotic, a never-ending series if grooves to bathe in with occasional dream-like currents passing through. This session was recorded at Bill Laswell’s studio in Orange, NJ by Laswell’s right hand man James Dellatacoma. Hence, the sound is super! Both Mr. Rudolph and his old cohort Hamid Drake are master percussionists, their sound and playing are especially well-captured throughout. Mr. Rudolph also plays sintir, a North African bass-like 3-stringed instrument also known as a gimbri. The sintir is at the heart of the other long piece here, “Wonderings”, another most mesmerizing, dream-like piece. Graham Haynes’s cornet stands out also and sounds like Jon Hassell with that swell echo added. When the sun finally came out today (3/22/17), even though it is still cold & windy out, the light and warmth were most uplifting. The music here feels the same way after a long, often dark and turbulent winter. This is music as medicine to help get through the day and smile. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD SALE $10

HU VIBRATIONAL [ADAM RUDOLPH/TIM KIEPER/KEITA OGAWA/BRAHIM FRIBAGANE] With BILL LASWELL/EIVIND AARSET/STEVE GORN/ALEX MARCELO - The Epic Botanical Suite: Boonghee Music 4 (Meta 19; USA) Hu Vibrational's The Epic Botanical Beat Suite - Boonghee Music 4 mixes deep percussive African rhythms and Afro-jazz with elements of hip-hop and electronica. Recorded and mixed at Bill Laswell's state of the art studio, this is the fourth album for Hu Vibrational. Produced and mixed by Adam Rudolph together with longtime Laswell engineer James Dellatacoma, the album features seven world percussionists along several special guests including Bill Laswell hitting the deep pockets on bass plus Norwegian guitar whiz Eivind Aarset creating ethereal electronic palettes. Joining Rudolph in the groove department are percussionists from his Go: Organic Orchestra project: Brahim Fribgane, James Hurt, Matt Kilmer, Tim Kieper, Keita Ogawa and Tripp Dudley. Each of these great drummers has performed extensively worldwide; here they perform Rudolph's rhythm compositions on a wide variety of world percussion. The tracks were then electronically processed and transformed into a true ancient-to-future expression; a dance music style Hu calls "Boonghee Music". With two acclaimed releases on Soul Jazz Records, Beautiful - Boonghee Music 2 (2003) and Universal Mother - Boonghee Music 3 (2006), and one release on Scott Heren's (Prefuse 73) Eastern developments label , Boonghee Music 1 (2002), Hu Vibrational's deep spiritual music draws on the links between Africa, jazz music and avant-garde hip-hop. Adam Rudolph is known for work with Don Cherry, Pharaoh Sanders and other great jazz artists, as well as his 25 year partnership with the legendary Yusef Lateef. He currently also leads his Moving Pictures Octet and the 36 piece Go: Organic Orchestra. Almost ten years since the last Hu Vibrational release of Boonghee Music, Rudolph turns his creative energies back to Hu by creating a deep groove masterpiece - indeed; a vision of future dance music. As Tommy Chong so aptly puts it, "When you hit a groove, it's not you; it's the spirit world."
CD SALE $10
 
YUSEF LATEEF / ROSCOE MITCHELL / ADAM RUDOLPH / DOUGLAS EWART - Voice Prints: Live At Walker Art Center, December 2008 (Meta 018; USA) Yusef Lateef on tenor sax, oboe, flutes & voice; Roscoe Mitchell on soprano, sopranino & alto saxes, flute & percussion; Douglas Ewart sopranino sax, flute, bass clarinetglass digeridoo & percussion and Adam Rudolph on hand percussion, conga, frame drum, kalimba & berber horn. This is a truly inspired meeting of four master musicians, two from the AACM and two with long careers in jazz, improv and ethnic musics. This collective quartet's music transcends any expectations considering that these are elders who been on this planet for many years and draw from a wide world of experiences, ensembles and diverse music streams. This set was recorded live at the Walker Arts Center in Minneapolis in December of 2008 and the sound is superb. There is a magical, ritualistic aura that pervades as if time has been suspended and we all all floating in another world together. Since there are three reeds wizards involved and everyone but Mr. Lateef plays percussion, it is hard to tell who is doing what. There is some sort of double reed (perhaps an oboe, perhaps not) that sails in and out of the blend. Each piece unfolds most organically with Mr. Rudolph provides a rhythm center at times. What this most reminds me of is/are those early AACM records, like the solo albums from Roscoe Mitchell or Joseph Jarman, where the borders between in and out or improvised and composed music are blurred. There is a great deal of inspired sax and flute interplay which is consistently evolving as the three reedsmen switch between different instruments. The ever-dependable Roscoe Mitchell takes at least one solo (on sopranino or soprano sax) which bristles with intense energy and pushes the soaring spirits even higher than one would imagine. This is an outstanding offering from four heavy cats who know how to help heal us with their own brand of special sonic medicine. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD SALE $10

IgBo DUO with ADAM RUDOLPH / JOSEPH BOWIE - Good Medicine (Meta 016; USA) Joseph Bowie on trombone, brass-electronics, balaphon, waterphone, thumb piano, caxixi & percussion and Adam Rudolph on handrumset, sintir, cajon, thumb piano, bells, gongs, flute and assorted percussion to much to mention. Joseph Bowie (leader of Defunkt) and Adam Rudolph (leader of Go: Organic Orchestra) worked together with elder/legend Yusef Lateef as well as in Adam's Moving Pictures band. Both of these musicians are from Chicago and have long histories of bands, sessions and travels. Mr. Rudolph had done a handful of duos (with Wadada Leo Smith, Yusef Lateef and Ralph Jones) and each one is special. This disc was recorded in Bill Laswell's studio so the sound is superb. Joe Bowie has developed his own unique use of electronics or devices so that we hear some strange (echoey) sounds floating in the mix like ghosts floating in a graveyard. The communication between the trombone and congas is something else with bits eerie electronics added as well. "Atmos" is filled with suspense and natural spirits, it is like opening the door to another dimension and slowly walking in. It feels weird yet familiar, as if we have been here before but we can't pinpoint when or here that was. Due to the careful and expansive production here, this disc has a magical sound. It has a way of transforming the everyday stress and strain into a more positive, healing space. Joe Bowie adds his infectious, earthy voice to the great groove song, "Y-Do-U Treat Me So Bad". There ain't like a disc that makes you feel go to be alive! We certainly need more of that. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD SALE $10

ADAM RUDOLPH / RALPH M JONES - Merely A Traveler On The Cosmic Path (Meta 015; USA) Adam Rudolph on hand drums, thumb piano, gongs and assorted percussion and Ralph M. Jones on tenor & soprano saxes, alto & C flutes, bass clarinet, ney, hulusi, umtshingo & piano. This is the second duo disc for Adam Rudolph and Ralph Jones, both of whom are also members of Rudolph's Moving Pictures ensemble. This disc was well recorded at Bill Laswell's studio and has incredible sound. The vibe is ritualistic, thoroughly enchanting and each of the fourteen pieces creates a hypnotic mood. It doesn't sound as if there is any overdubbing going on, just two or three instruments at once used selectively so that each instrument enhances the other one. Much of this has a lovely, haunting, laid back quality that I found most soothing. The congas or other hand drums occasionally sound like distant thunder or some such other natural occurrence. This disc is consistently mesmerizing and often feels as if we are entering another world.- Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD SALE $10

ADAM RUDOLPH'S MOVING PICTURES - Both / And (Meta 013; USA) Collective personnel includes: Joseph Bowie (trombone & bamboo trumpet), Graham Haynes (cornet & flugel), Ralph Jones (reeds), Brahim Fribgane (oud, cajon...), Kenny Wessel (guitars & banjo), Jerome Harris (acoustic bass guitar & slide) and Matt Kilmer (percussion) plus Charles Burham, Skye Steele, Jason Hwang, Daniel Levin (strings). I've caught different versions of this ensemble at Roulette more than a handful of times and was often knocked out by what I heard. Adam Rudolph has a unique way of conducting his large ensemble and watching it take place live is always a treat. Mr. Rudolph is a gifted percussionist himself and knows the value of the a special pulse or cosmic groove. Hence, this disc starts off with hypnotic congas and soon equally uplifting horns, guitar and bass licks. Adam inserts selective written lines here and there to bring sections of the band together while one soloist dances on top. Gifted soloists like Graham Haynes (cornet), Joe Bowie (trombone), Ralph Jones (flute) and Kenny Wessel (guitar) each get a chance to stretch out and pull off short spirited solos. The ongoing rhythm undertow always pulls us in to the water for a refreshing swim. Each of the ten pieces involves a series of thoughtful themes as well as different colors and shades added by unexpected instruments like harmonica, subtle electronics and a variety of exotic strings & percussion. "Love's Light" sounds as if the ensemble is about to break into "Within You, Without You" (by the Beatles) with the strings floating and adding mesmerizing Indian harmonies. More so than any other release this year, Adam Rudolph has learned to capture the magic that only occurs with the right balance of varied elements, acoustic & electric, exotic and familiar, composed and improvised. It can't get any better than this. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD SALE $10

ADAM RUDOLPH / RALPH M JONES - Yeyi: A Wordless Psalm Of Prototypical Vibrations (Meta 011; USA) Adam Rudolph on assorted exotic percussion, thumb piano, sintir, melodica, berber reed horn & multiphonic singing and Ralph Jones on flutes, bass clarinet, saxes, ney, percussion & odd instruments too numerous to mention. Like another reeds wizard named Yusel Lateef, Adam Rudolph has had a longterm musical partnership with Ralph Jones. This disc was recorded live at Delta College in Michigan in April of 2009 and the sound is splendid. All of the pieces are continuous and connected like the spirits that were present when this event took place. Adam has done a number of duos in the past with Wadada Leo Smith, Yusef Lateef and Omar Sosa, hence this is also a magical, complete collaboration and connection. Ralph plays some cosmic double reeds in the early part of this disc which work perfectly with Adam's congas. I love the way this duo embrace the ancient to modern sound, transporting us with completely acoustic instruments and the occasional organic vocal sounds. This is music to heal troubled minds and damaged souls. Yes indeed. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD SALE $10

ADAM RUDOLPH'S MOVING PICTURES With NED ROTHENBERG / GRAHAM HAYNES / STEVE GORN / HAMID DRAKE / et al - Dream Garden (Justin Time 8537) Featuring Adam Rudolph on ethnic percussion & thumb pianos, Hamid Drake on drumset & frame drum, Ned Rothenberg on shakuhachi, alto sax & flutes, Graham Haynes on cornet & flugel, Brahim Fribgane on oud, cajon, bendir & tarija, Kenny Wessel on electric & acoustic guitars, Steve Gorn on bansuri bambee flutes & Pakistani oboe and Shanir Blumenkranz on acoustic bass & sintir. I was fortunate to have attended two nights with Adam Rudolph's Go Organic Orchestra at Roulette a few months back and was blown away by Adam's distinctive blend of jazz and world music as well as his conducting. Moving Pictures is Adam's smaller ensemble and they are equally impressive. Since Adam is currently LA-based, the personnel on each Moving Pictures disc are different with his old cohort from Chicago, Hamid Drake, being a common member. For 'Dream Garden,' Adam has put together an incredible all-star ensemble with most members based in the New York area. I've dug everything I've heard from Adam in the past, but this disc is extraordinary. With two master percussionists involved, this music is often rhythmically based and we often hear layers of interlocking rhythms. "Oshogbo" has some infectious, swirling waves of el. bass and percussion, with sly guitar, trumpet and alto sax riding the waves. Graham Haynes' muted trumpet and Ned Rothenberg's bass clarinet sound extra quite mysterious on "The Violet Hour," as does Steve Gorn's bamboo flutes and Brahim's oud on "Twilight Lake". Adam's selective use of suspense and space add just the right spice throughout many of these pieces. This music is often very cinematic, hence the name of the band. This wonderful, quietly intense music also combines many cultures, as well as the ancient with the modern. My only complaint is that a few of these pieces are too short, you just wish they would go on forever. Perhaps it is just the time to hit that instant repeat button. - BLG
CD Sale $12

OMAR SOSA / ADAM RUDOLPH - Pictures Of Soul (Meta/Ota 1012; USA) Omar Sosa: piano, modified piano, fender rhodes, harmonium; Adam Rudolph: handrumset (congas, djembe,tarija, dumbek, tabla), thumb piano, cajon, udu drums, okonkolo, gongs, cymbals, selya overtone flute, multiphonic vocal, berber reed flute, percussion. "With freedom extreme as the primary condition, we have been carried to places where we have never before thought to explore. Thank-you to the Spirits and the Ancestors who have given us their strength to realize this project. Thank-you to all those who in one way or another have put their hands and energy into this project. To all who listen, and read these notes - Ache, Light, Peace and Love." - Omar Sosa
CD SALE $10

SAM RIVERS / ADAM RUDOLPH / HARRIS EISENSTADT - Vista (Meta 009; USA) Featuring Sam on tenor & soprano saxes & flute, Adam on hand drums & percussion and Harris on drumset. Nothing can stop the mighty Sam Rivers! It's been forty years since Sam Rivers blew up a storm while touring with the phenomenal Miles Davis Quintet. He soon recorded two classic albums for Blue Note, two more with Tony Williams, ran the Studio Rivbea on Bond St. during mid-to-late seventies and recorded a number of classic avant jazz gems with his trios (Dave Holland & Barry Altschul at first) and various big bands. He moved to Jersey in the eighties and then to Florida in the nineties, where he still resides, is a professor and has yet another great trio and a couple of big bands. Mr. Rivers also does a few outside projects like his ongoing work with Alex Von Schlippenbach and Tony Hymas. Here Sam works with two fine LA based percussionists - Adam Rudolph who works often with Yusef Lateef and my friend Harris Eisenstadt who we know from his fine cds on CIMP. 'Vista' shows that Sam Rivers remains undaunted, filled with energy and ideas, an incredible match for any of his collaborators and here he has two strong percussive wizards. "Susurration" begins our journey with some magnificent flute and swirling percussion. Even with no bassist present, Adam and Harris still keep that low-end spirit humming with bass drums, conga and other deep skinned rhythms. Sam plays a different instrument on each piece and both percussionists have that ancient-to-modern vibe which keeps Mr. Rivers on his toes, balancing perfectly between worlds.
CD 10.00 AVAILABLE

YUSEF LATEEF & ETERNAL WIND [ADAM RUDOLPH/RALPH JONES/KENNY COX] - Live At Luckman Theater (Yal 127; USA) Yusef Lateef is one of the most innovative and influential artists working in the arena of creative and world musics. Join him here with his longtime collaborators, the Eternal Wind Ensemble as they travel on a sonic journey through creative landscapes. This is an aurally stunning document of their 2001 concert performance at the Luckman theater featuring Autophysiopsychic interpretations of new compositions by Dr. Lateef.
CD Sale $10

YUSEF LATEEF / ADAM RUDOLPH With JOSEPH BOWIE / MARK HELIAS et al - Beyond The Sky (Yal/Meta 005; USA) Beyond the Sky features 10 new compositions by Rudolph and Lateef, 3 of which were co-composed. The music, written for eight musicians, was premiered at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully hall in honor of Yusef Lateef's sixty years of performing [His 80th birthday in 2000]. This CD was recorded the following day, while everyone was hot!
CD SALE $10

PHAROAH SANDERS / HAMID DRAKE / ADAM RUDOLPH - Spirits (Meta 004; USA) Long out-of-print recording [for some unknown reason Pharoah Sanders is said to be unenthusiastic about this recording - which is a mystery as it's one of the best things he's done in a very long while!] This in-concert recording (locale unidentified) is a continual performance that acts as a suite in three basic parts, with Sanders on tenor sax, wood flutes, and percussion, helped by multi-percussionists Hamid Drake and Adam Rudolph. The music is as the title suggests: spiritual, multi-ethnic, mostly serene, and quite improvisationally derived. It's a beautiful statement from Sanders, very similar to the music Yusef Lateef has played (with Rudolph and Eternal Wind) and different then his more major-label efforts. "Sunrise," running over 19 minutes, begins the hour-long program. Soft drone tones set up tenor meditations, slight percussive inserts, mbira and driftwood wordless vocals, and soulful chanting, then move back to tenor musings with bells, and visceral, gutteral chants. "Morning in Soweto" and "The Thousand Petaled Lotus" segue together with hand drum and tenor groove in a manner reminiscent of Thelonious Monk's "Well, You Needn't" nestled in the Sudan! The next movement of the suite is in five parts. A demure gong, animal growls, and moans from "I & Thou" easily move into free and repeated wood flute phrases and insistent hand percussion as a driving force on "Uma Lake." "Molimo" is a separate entity, as counterpointed wood flutes hoot like owls with sexual overtones and rattling percussion. Fans of Sanders will be easily able to connect this music with his past glories, but it could be a portent of bigger things, and bigger ensembles, to come. Recommended. -- Michael G. Nastos
CD SALE $10

YUSEF LATEEF / ADAM RUDOLPH - Live in Seattle (Yal 229; USA) Featuring Yusef Lateef on tenor sax, flutes, shenai, keyboards & voice and Adam Rudolph on hand percussion, thumb piano, gongs, multiphonic voice and selyafluten (Norwegian overtone flute). Although this concert was recorded in 199, it has not been distributed until now. This set was superbly recorded. It begins with solemn flute and hushed percussion sounds. There is an exquisite balance/dynamic between these two master musicians, a magical, organic flow that goes back and forth, expands and contracts. Both Mr. Lateef and and Mr. Rudolph do a small amount of singing which is subtle and fits perfectly with the vibe of the music. The overall feeling is ritualistic and casts a hypnotic spell. This music has a special way of transporting us to another world which seems hopeful and calm at the center. I have six more Yal CDs to go and look forward to each and every one. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD SALE $10

YUSEF LATEEF & ETERNAL WIND [ADAM RUDOLPH / RALPH JONES / KENNY COX] - Live At Montreux Detroit Jazz Festival 1999 (Yal 120; USA) A  homecoming for native Detroiter Yusef Lateef, this recording captures his mighty tenor sax and otherworldly flute on the Hart Plaza Main Ampitheatre stage for this performance of historical and musical importance. Eternal Wind, with Charles Moore (trumpet, flugelhorn, and percussion), Ralph "Buzzy" Jones (woodwinds), Adam Rudolph (percussion), and guest Kenn Cox (piano) back Lateef in his audio autophysiopsychic quest for original music-making. The crowd is rapt in mesmerized quietude and respectful silence as Lateef and friends cast their mostly mezzo piano, multi-ethnic improvised music spell on the large crowd. This hour-long continuous performance works as a giant concerto, with named compositions segueing from one to the next. "Ode to Detroit" starts with signature meditative solo flute from the leader, then Cox's piano, more flute from Jones, with trumpet and percussive discourses as a set up to "Big Buddy," as echoed tenors and trumpet act as call-and-response vehicles in textural waves. Pensive roiling congas from Rudolph to free counterpoint and some ruminations from Cox informs haunting wood "moan" flute from Lateef during "Hold Your Light," with Lateef chanting the title in Arabic styled or Native American and English spoken word over Jones' dark bass clarinet. A light tribal Indian beat with serene piano and deep tenor informs "Delta Dance." Cox quotes Lateef's famous composition "Morning," introducing flute and a simmering percussion bed under an overblown soprano sax line from Jones during "Luxor," and light, spatial tenor/flute counterpoint to piano and trumpet insertions in calm repast lead to horns swirling about on "Little Buddy." Sounds of luminescent flute and middle Eastern strings (courtesy of Moore) on "Jupiter Rising" evoke more spacey inferences from the collective group in a softer dynamic mode. The 16-minute finale, "Multiclustonics," produces Serengeti sounds, again mostly cosmic, followed by an R&B/bop unison line repeated over churning Afro-Cuban percussion, a percussion solo, then counterpointed horns firing off light beacons that flash on and off, growing more intense, then fading in the distance, providing some stark African based imagery of which Lateef can conjure at will. This recording is a perfect representation of the music Lateef is attempting to perfect and bring to the world. Because of his rare public appearances at any concert, club date, or festival, this has to be deemed a very important date in his lengthy career, and it unquestionably is his best musical offering of the past two decades. - Michael G. Nastos, AMG
CD Sale $10

ADAM RUDOLPH'S MOVING PICTURES With RALPH JONES / FEDERICO RAMOS / HAMID DRAKE - Contemplations (Meta 002; USA) "They successfully meld influences from across the globe through cogent, vibrant performances."- **** - Jon Andrews, Down Beat Magazine Adam Rudolph: udu drum, hand drums, thumb pianos, talking drum, bendir, selya flute, balafon, brekete, tajida, naqqara, keyboards, gongs, cymbals, percussion. Hamid Drake: trap drums, vocal, def, tumba, bendir. Ralph Jones: soprano & tenor saxophone, c and alto flute, bass clarinet, bassoon, piano, shenai, ney, bamboo flutes. Federico Ramos: acoustic guitar, charango, 'ud, bamboo flutes.
CD SALE $10

YUSEF LATEEF/ADAM RUDOLPH - The World At Peace: Music For 12 Musicians [2 CD set] (Meta/Yal 753; USA)Recorded live at the Jazz Bakery - Los Angeles" In composing this piece I explored avenues I hadn't explored before. A plant living within another plant is known as an endophyte in biology, and I relate some of these ideas to constructing melodies and counter-melodies from intervals already existing within a vertical chord. I also create a certain aesthetic by assigning a group of notes to a certain instrument, exclusive to other instruments which are assigned tp other groups of notes. I derived this idea from Chaos Theory, and the music that results brings to my mind the music of the Banda, a group of people from Central Africa. And as always, I meld my soul with the composition." Yusef Lateef "In composing ' The World At Peace,' one of the ways I attempted to extend my use of musical elements was to apply the shapes and gestures of language to sound and rhythm. In 'Wheel of Life' for example, the movement of call-and-response patterns allows each performer to weave their instrumental language into the musical fabric. Another compositional tool I call Cyclic Verticalism integrates a cyclic concept of rhythm (such as is used in much North Indian music) with a polymetric concept (such as is used in certain West African drumming practices). For example, in 'Africa 35' each instrumentalist has the freedom to develop the thematic materials through time with their own individual motion, creating tension and release while still relating to the overall form. I use these musical concepts in my composition to better serve my own aesthetic intent as well as that of the performers, so that sincere thoughts and emotions may be expressed."- Adam Rudolph
2 CD Set Sale $14

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ATTENTION ALL CREATIVE MUSICIANS OUT THERE, Around the world.

If you have a link, for some music that you are working on and want to share it with the folks who read the DMG Newsletter, please send the link to DMG at DMG@Downtownmusicgallery.com. Many of us are going stir crazy staying at home so if you want to inspire us and help us get through these difficult times, please show us what you got. I listed some these last week but have also a few more.

MORE THINGS TO DO WHILE YOU ARE WAITING AROUND FOR THE WORLD TO END OR GET BETTER:

STILL STIR CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS!

This is the section where I usually recommend upcoming concerts in the NYC area. As far as I can tell there are no upcoming shows anywhere around here, except perhaps on-line. All places I usually frequent are now closed for the foreseeable future. And everyone is worried about the near future, their health and their sanity for their friends and family. I am trying to come up with something inspirational to put out there but I am also very worried about myself, the store, all of the creative musicians that we need and support, as well as everyone else who has lost their jobs.  

 I have been at home at my old apartment in New Jersey, cleaning, reorganizing my collection, finding lots of doubles, listening to dozens of records, CD’s,cassettes and DVD’s. And working on my ongoing series of discographies and assorted music lists.

   Over the past month a number of musicians have been putting up some music on-line for anyone to check out. I know that many of us are going a bit stir crazy so it is time to do some soul searching and serious listening. Here is a list of some music links to check out:

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THIS IS FROM MY GOOD FRIEND JESSICA HALLOCK,

who runs the New York Noise website and helps to promote creative music from hundreds of different musicians! At the beginning of April, Jessica convinced me not to go to the store and stay at home & work from there/here. Thanks to Jessica, Frank Meadows and Charmaine Lee, I have taken their advice seriously and I remain safe and alive (at home) while the store continues to do mail-order. Thanks Jessica, I do appreciate your tough love, this is what it takes sometimes to get the elder folks to break with their usual routine or habits and think more clearly about life.

This is from Jessica Hallock, please do check it out, there is so much to explore here and I know some of you are bored and need some inspiration/distraction:

Livestreams are obviously no replacement for live shows, but they're all the community we have right now––so experimental music calendar NYC-Noise.com now provides links to livestreams (with artist / curator donation info); a roundup of local musicians' releases; COVID-19-related resources, including links to grants, petitions, & a local venue donation list; & an Instagram account (@NYC_Noise) promoting artists and releases. Please let me know about your livestreams &/or new records at www.nyc-noise.com/submit.

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Every Week for the entirety of this pandemic/lockdown INGRID LAUBROCK & TIM RAINEY have been posting a new duo offering. I have listened to every one of these as they were sent out and am much impressed by the way this duo continues to evolve and work their way through many ideas. You can check out each one here:

From INGRID LAUBROCK & TOM RAINEY:
https://ingrid-laubrock.bandcamp.com/track/stir-crazy-episode-10
https://ingrid-laubrock.bandcamp.com/track/stir-crazy-episode-9
https://ingrid-laubrock.bandcamp.com/track/stir-crazy-episode-8
https://ingrid-laubrock.bandcamp.com/track/stir-crazy-episode-7
https://ingrid-laubrock.bandcamp.com/track/stir-crazy-episode-6
https://ingrid-laubrock.bandcamp.com/track/stir-crazy-episode-5
https://ingrid-laubrock.bandcamp.com/track/stir-crazy-episode-4
https://ingrid-laubrock.bandcamp.com/track/stir-crazy-episode-3
https://ingrid-laubrock.bandcamp.com/track/stir-crazy-episode-2
https://ingrid-laubrock.bandcamp.com/track/stir-crazy-episode-1

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This is from Kevin Reilly at Relative Pitch Records:

JAMES BRANDON LEWIS Live at The Spectrum, In Brooklyn:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA_Xh4bgLwE/?igshid=xvbxhvq6dxrr

Support your favorite artists on Friday through bandcamp.
They are waiving their revenue share.

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TJG ONLINE PRESENTS

LIVE FROM THE JAZZ GALLERY ARCHIVAL PERFORMANCES

This new series Live From The Jazz Gallery is where we will be posting videos & audio from past live shows. The donations received from each show will be shared directly with each artist, another way to show support for our musicians during this period of drastic loss of income.

Check this out:  https://www.youtube.com

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THIS COMES FROM PIANIST & COMPOSER ROBERTA PIKET:

A couple of opportunities to virtually share music and thoughts with you have come my way and I wanted to let you know.

Tuesday June 16th at 7pm EST, I'll be doing a live-stream concert with Billy Mintz at the Soapbox Gallery in Brooklyn. We will each play some solo, and then we'll play duo. - https://www.soapboxgallery.org/events/robertaandbilly

Get Some Good Music and Help Two Great Causes

Thirteenth Note records is continuing our donation campaign Get some good music and help a great cause. If you purchase anything from the 13th Note Records web site in the month of May or June, we will donate the total proceeds to either Doctors Without Borders or the Jazz Foundation of America. We have CDs featuring side musicians like Billy Mintz, Cameron Brown, Joe La Barbera, Tony Malaby, Steve Wilson, and more. So please check out the site.

We won't even subtract the shipping charges or taxes before sending in the money. We will donate those charges out of pocket.

This offer applies to downloads as well as CDs.
https://thirteenthnoterecords.com/
Please stay safe and healthy.

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THOMAS SAYERS ELLIS is the leader of the great Poetry/Music/Confrontation Band HEROES ARE GANG LEADERS a/k/a HAGL.

HAGL has a website that you should check out at:  www.heroesaregangleaders.com
for the latest intersection of music-minded words and word-minded music and while you are there also check out The Lokotown Reverb where classic overlooked Oral Literature, Studio Recordings and Live Performances are given a fresh look!

GIANTHOLOGY is a forum for writing not whining, aesthetics not agenda, ideas not issues, vision not victimhood, GIANTHOLOGY is edited by the members of Heroes Are Gang Leaders.
Send 2 to 4 unpublished works to HeroesAreGangLeaders@gmail.com.  

Trombone giant STEVE SWELL was recently and now has four fabulous poems up on the HAGL website, you can check them out here:
https://heroesaregangleaders.com/2020/05/13/gianthology-steve-swell/?fbclid=IwAR3MTMZwnuswDjVztnUH_ljgSgjcaZk7kKxJ6AGMFMOAE86lr12sRQFwc1Q

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ANDY HAAS

saxist/composer and member of Radio I-Ching and the Holy Ghost Spermic Brotherhood, had a filmmaker named Fred Hatt assemble a trio of videos for music projects that Andy had created. “Video Trilogy by Fred Hatt for music by Andy Haas & friends Shadowtime is defined as: A parallel timescale that follows one around throughout day to day experience of regular time. Shadowtime manifests as a feeling of living in two distinctly different temporal scales simultaneously, or acute consciousness of the possibility that the near …”
 
They can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/418226236

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The RUBIN MUSEUM Daily Offering: 

Check it out at: https://www.instagram.com/rubinmuseum/channel/?mc_cid=0176fb37a6&mc_eid=39c235b0f4

Over the past few weeks, uncertainty has become a prominent part of everyday life. Although the unknown can be unsettling, we can find inspiration in the ways performing artists tap into impermanence to fuel their creativity.

https://linktr.ee/rubinmuseum

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ROULETTE AT HOME:

Music on the Rebound presents a Live Stream Mini-Marathon: Claire Chase plays works and commissions by Steve Reich, Mario Diaz de Leon, Felipe Lara, Du Yun, Dai Fujikura, Pauline Oliveros, Phyllis Chen, Pamela Z, and more
 
ANAIS MAVIEL: https://vimeo.com/343494136

MEREDITH MONK: https://vimeo.com/325756188

JAIMIE BRANCH’S FLY OR DIE: vimeo.com/407212407/822e55b8ee?utm_source=Roulette Master List&utm_campaign=4343421e80EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_08_15_09_07_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c36db137d7-4343421e80-302668229

JOE McPHEE - March 21st, 1999: roulette.org/event/joe-mcphee-2/?utm_source=Roulette Master List&utm_campaign=4343421e80EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_08_15_09_07_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c36db137d7-4343421e80-302668229

ZEENA PARKINS / April 20th, 1987: roulette.org/event/zeena-parkins-3/?utm_source=Roulette Maste List&utm_campaign=4343421e80EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_08_15_09_07_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c36db137d7-4343421e80-302668229

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We at NATIONAL SAWDUST

are thrilled to announce the launch of the Live@NationalSawdust Digital Discovery Festival, a weekly program of free live performances, interviews, and artist development.
Check it out at: https://live.nationalsawdust.org/?mc_cid=92234165f2&mc_eid=12e3f9406e

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From BOB DOWNES, amazing UK flutist, currently living in Germany:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_E_Bebe-_7e8iXeBqkM7k5Uj5l97iCZt/view
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf9tbr23QnM  
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/Bob.Downes.music@web.de/WhctKJVrBBtPdWLRjgQQkVKNcNkngDgRhHwFWmlwWBtxMZStTgKgxGmkqQMKzRXvvlDcMVB?projector=1

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My good friend & guitar master GARY LUCAS is playing half hour sets at his apartment in the West village every Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday at 3pm EST on Facebook. Different songs on each episode. This afternoon he is doing a tribute to the great Hal Wilner at 3pm.
Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/gary.lucas.5836

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From Clarinetist Extraordinaire BEN GOLDBERG:

Tomorrow Never Knows. Something tells me art will be fine, even though humans are in trouble at the moment. But right now art is precluded from its important work of gathering us together. So musicians are in a weird situation. Concerts, tours, festivals, and in-person teaching disappeared quickly. In the initial shock my thought was, I don't know what to do but I can record music at home. So on March 19 I began recording a new song every day. I made an album on Bandcamp where you can listen to the songs for free. It's called PLAGUE DIARY. The philosophy here is "use what you've got" (is there ever another option?) -- for me that means clarinets, a synthesizer I can't figure out, and rudimentary recording ability. Because it's a diary I am trying to use the recording process as a sketchbook, and an opportunity to mess around. ("Don't forget to mess around." -- Steve Lacy, as quoted by Kirk Knuffke.)

   PLAGUE DIARY is now sixteen songs and I hope it has something that can be of use to you. A link to the album is at the bottom of this email, under the mysterious photo of my parents. Here’s the link: PLAGUE DIARY (streaming for free or pay what you can at Bandcamp only): https://ben-goldberg--bag-production-records.bandcamp.com/album/plague-diary

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Here is that long list of ANTHONY BRAXTON collaborators, sorry if I missed anyone.

Muhal Richard Abrams / Bruce Ackley / Abraham Adzinyan / Pheeroan AkLaff / Barry Altschul / Ray Anderson / Michael Attias / Derek Bailey / Thurman Barker / Matt Bauder / Han Bennink / Ran Blake / Shanir Blumenkranz / Kyle Brenders / Willem Breuker / Ari Brown / Marion Brown / Dave Brubeck / Shelley Burgon / Don Byron / Taylor Ho Bynum / Eugene Chadbourne / Thomas Chapin / Nels Cline / John Connely / Chick Corea / Jacques Coursil / Lol Coxhill / Marilyn Crispell / Andrew Cyrille / Roland Dahinden / Chris Dahlgren / Carlo Actis Dato / Richard Davis / Andrew Raffo Dewar / Erica Dicker / Chris Dingman / Axel Dorner / Dave Douglas / Mark Dresser / Marty Ehlich / James Emery / Brandon Evans / Douglas Ewart / Malachi Favors / James Fei / Ken Filiano / Milo Fine / Joe Fonda / Fred Frith / Tomas Fujiwara / Giorgio Gaslini / Michael Gentile / Vinny Golia / Arjen Gorter / Georg Graewe / Milford Graves / Barry Guy / Mary Halvorson / Gunter Hampel / Phil Haynes / Albert Tootie Heath /  Mark Helias / Gerry Hemingway / Jay Hoggard / Dave Holland / Fred Lonberg-Holm / Jason Kao Hwang / James Ilgenfritz / Joseph Jarman / Leroy Jenkins / Chris Jonas / Hank Jones / Greg Kelley / Kyoko Kitamura / Guy Klucevsek / Sam Kulik /Steve Lacy / Oliver Lake / Brett Larner / Ingrid Laubrock / Joelle Leandre / Jeanne Lee / Steve Lehman / George Lewis / Victor Lewis / John Lindberg / Garrett List / Steve McCall / John McDonough / Mike McGinnis / Randy McKean / Wallace McMillan / Jason Mears / Misha Mengelberg / Nicole Mitchell / Roscoe Mitchell / Tete Montoliu / Jackson Moore / Joe Morris / Don Moye / Amina Claudine Myers / Bobby Naughton / Buell Neidlinger / Oscar Noreiga / Kevin Norton / Larry Ochs / John Olson / Kevin O’Neil / Ben Opie / Eivind Opsvik / Tony Oxley / Jair-Rohm Parker-Wells / Evan Parker / William Parker / JD Parran / Dan Peck / NH Orsted-Pedersen / Mike Pride / Hugh Ragin / Tom Rainey / John Rapson / Tomeka Reid / Reut Regev / Ted Reichman / Rufus Reid / Ann Rhodes / Max Roach / Gino Robair / Herb Robertson / Scott Rosenberg / Jay Rozen / Sara Schoenbeck / Jen Shyu / Jessica Pavone / Mario Pavone / Greg Saunier / Alex Von Schlippenbach / Marianne Schroeder / Charles Bobo Shaw / Woody Shaw / John Shiurba / Aaron Siegel / Alan Silva / Fred Simmons / Sonny Simmons / Josh Sinton / Michael Smith / Wadada Leo Smith / Warren Smith / Paul Smoker / Carey Smythe / Tyshawn Sorey / John Stubberfield / Skye Steele / Mazz Swift / Gyorgy Szabados / Mike Szekely / Mark Taylor / Richard Teitlebaum / Henry Threadgill / Kevin Uehlinger / Tomas Ulrich / Andre Vida / Andrew Voigt / Mal Waldron / Peter Warren / Matthew Welch / Kenny Wheeler /  Mark Whitecage / Peter N. Wilson / Philip Wilson / William Winant / Keith Witty / Nate Wooley / Marel Yakshieva / Katherine Young / Nathan Young