Just another couple of weeks left on the Bowery for DMG!

John Zorn's Filmworks 23! Frith & Arte Qt Vols 1 & 2! Roberto Rodriguez! Paul Dunmall Sun Qt! Denman Maroney Qnt! Michael Blake & Kresten Osgood!

FAB :Fonda/Altschul/Bang 4th Live! Gary Lucas & Gerald Zbinden! Two Historic Reissues from Nessa: Wadada Leo Smith & Charles Tyler! Lol Coxhill! Ivor Cutler! ..




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THE SAGA OF DMG (DOWNTOWN MUSIC GALLERY)

This coming week, the end of February 2009, will be our final stand on the Bowery. We have already moved more than half of our goods to our new space in Chinatown and hope [!] to finish this week. It will probably takes us another week to reorganize, so hopefully we will reopen between March 6th - 9th.
There are a number of rumors floating around about the future of DMG that need to be addressed.
First off, although times are tough for us (and just about everyone else), WE WILL SURVIVE! We have signed a 10-year lease and intend to spread the word of adventurous music for a long time to come.
Rumor #2: we are going to do mail-order only - WRONG! Yes, we will be concentrating on mail-order, but DMG will continue to be home and meeting place for those who need this music to survive. Our new schedule is being worked out... So far, we will be closed to the public on Wednesdays and perhaps in the future on Tuesdays as well. We will see.
We are also considering closing a bit earlier at 7pm. Big question on everyone's minds: Will we continue to have free live shows on a regular (weekly) basis? We hope so, but we have to see how things work out with our neighbors. We know it has been a tradition since the days at Manny's Lunch For Your Ears, (over 20 years ago) - attendance has not been that good, but we are still committed. We know that it has been convenient for many folks that we were on the Bowery, but things have changed. It is now a hostile, overpriced environment, and we need to move on. We already know - from you directly - that many will follow us to our new home.
For the days at our old location, we will be having a sale for our local customers of 25% off all used CD's and used LP's, anything with an orange sticker. This will help lighten our load for our move. Remember, just like the Dead sings, We Will Survive! So live long & prosper!

- Bruce, MannyLunch, Chuck, Joe, Bret & Mike


Keep yr eye on our Website - the day that visiting us switches from 342 Bowery to 13 Monroe St will be the same day that our address changes on the homepage

[kinda like the call signal changing for Air Force One .. or running up the pirate flag!]


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IMPORTANT NOTICE!

As we said above, we are still open for business at our old address on The Bowery for the next couple of weeks, BUT

Because of our imminent move, FROM THIS POINT ON...

If you are sending us anything [letter OR package] via your POSTAL SERVICE [USPS et al], please address it to our mail drop:

Downtown Music Gallery
POB 153
New York, NY 10002-0153


If you are sending us any PACKAGES through UPS, FedEx, DHL or any other PRIVATE PARCEL SERVICE, please send to our new STORE address:

Downtown Music Gallery
13 Monroe Street
New York, NY 10002-7351


"F" Train to East Broadway stop when you visit - call first for times

Tel: 212 473-0043 / 800 622-1387


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Time is running out for the
LIMITED ENGAGEMENT FOREMAN-ZORN THEATRICAL EVENT!

Richard Foreman is one of the most important theatre directors in the world, and has been a personal hero of John Zorn's for over 30 years. This theatre/music piece is the historic first-time collaboration for two masters of the bizarre (both MacArthur geniuses) who individually have challenged, enlightened and entertained adventurous audiences for decades.

ASTRONOME: A NIGHT AT THE OPERA is a work dominated by ecstatic groans, grunts and babbling, and explores the initiation of a group of people into a world where ambiguous behavior alone leads to freedom--perhaps under the tutelage of the necessary "false messiah." This is one of those events that can only happen downtown - culminating from a chance meeting in the street - independent of any special grants, funding, institution or administration.

Based on ASTRONOME, the intense second CD of a series featuring Mike Patton, Trevor Dunn and Joey Baron, Richard Foreman's staging of it is absolutely stunning!

Please make a special effort to see this once in a lifetime event, which opened FEBRUARY 5th and is RUNNING FOR ONLY TWO MONTHS through APRIL 5th at the ONOTOLOGICAL-HYSTERIC THEATRE
@ St Marks Church in the East Village, 131 East 10th St on Second Ave!


to purchase tickets, go to:

https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/633735


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JOHN ZORN - FilmWorks XXIII: el General [sndtck] (Tzadik 7373; USA) Eleven cues recorded for a striking documentary focusing on the life of controversial Mexican dictator Plutarco Elias Calles who was called everything from a nunburner to the father of modern Mexico. Beautiful and dramatic, the music is scored for guitar, marimba, accordion/piano and bass and subtly draws upon Mexican, Spanish, minimalist and soundtrack traditions. Zorn's fifth film score in as many months is a pure delight. Moody and exotic music for a creative and revealing film dealing with truth and the complexity of history! TZADIK ARCHIVAL SERIES
CD $14

ROBERTO RODRIGUEZ - The First Basket (Tzadik 8136; USA) Charming and imaginative music for a controversial film that follows the Jewish basketball experience from ash cans placed on the stoops of brownstones to the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. Composed by Roberto Juan Rodriguez, whose CDs of modern Cuban-Jewish fusion have become Tzadik best sellers, the score jumps from klezmer to classical, dixieland, pop, rock and back again. Featuring an astounding array of downtown musicians, The First Basket establishes Roberto as a versatile composer who is capable of just about anything. TZADIK RADICAL JEWISH CULTURE SERIES
CD $14

DAPHNA SADEH & THE VOYAGERS - Reconciliation (Tzadik 8134; USA) To composer/bassist Daphna Sadeh, Jewish Music is the cross-cultural patchwork quilt of the diaspora experience. Born in Israel, she has studied in New York and since 2002 has been based mostly in London where she leads her own ensemble and performs with a variety of fabulous musicians. Her first contribution to the Radical Jewish Culture series is a brilliant and hypnotic mix of Jazz, Western Classical, Middle Eastern/Arabic Taqsim and Jewish music from the Sephardi/Ashkenazi tradition, reflecting her eclectic life experiences. Seductive and powerful music from this sensitive Israeli globe trotter. TZADIK RADICAL JEWISH CULTURE SERIES
CD $14

URI GURVICH - The Storyteller (Tzadik 8135; USA) The Storyteller is another exciting release out of the New Israeli Jazz scene, this time featuring alto saxophonist Uri Gurvich. Born and raised in Israel, Uri moved to Boston in 2003. He has studied at Berklee with Joe Lovano and Herb Pomeroy and now lives in New York, where he appears regularly with his own ensembles. His work places Israeli, Yemenite, East European and North African music into a prog ressive Jazz context. Passionate and virtuosic, The Storyteller is a fabulous debut CD by this brilliant and talented composer/saxophonist. TZADIK RADICAL JEWISH CULTURE SERIES
CD $14

and, in case you blinked..

RICHARD FOREMAN - Ontological-Hysteric Theatre Vol. 1 - Sophia: The Cliffs/35+ Year Retrospective Compilation (Tzadik 3008; USA) NTSC Region 0. [All Regions] Since the late 1960's Richard Foreman has been writing, designing and directing one of the most important and innovative theater experiences in the world. Documenting dozens of productions, and replete with commentary and interviews, this first release in a series of DVDs from the Ontological Archives is an inner view into the mind of one of the world's greatest and most acclaimed theatrical geniuses. This special edition contains a retrospective of three decades of work, and a document of one of Richard's earliest plays complete from beginning to end. TZADIK DVD SERIES
DVD $23



FRED FRITH and ARTE QUARTETT - Still Urban (Intakt 155; Switzerland) Featuring Fred Frith electric guitar with The Arte Quartet: Beat Hofstetter soprano saxophone, Sascha Armbruster alto saxophone, Andrea Formenti tenor saxophone, Beat Kappeler baritone & alto saxophones. All music composed by Fred Frith recorded in January 2008 at the Studios of Swiss Radio DRS2, Zuric.
Beginning with what sounds like an outdoor scene of cars moving in the distance and moving around us while a lone soprano sax plays a sad refrain. Slowly, the other saxes comes in and play some exquisite, forlorn harmonies. This music is lovely, warm and quite haunting. Eventually Fred adds some of his magical, distinctive sustained guitar drones. On the second piece Fred blends some noisy guitar fragments with some twisted sax lines while balancing things with selective moments of silence. These two new Fred Frith discs have just come in as we go to press. Longer review sometime soon. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $20

FRED FRITH And ARTE QUARTET + KATHARINA WEBER/LUCAS NIGGLI - The Big Picture (Intakt 156; Switzerland) Featuring Fred Frith electric guitar with the Arte Quartet: Beat Hofstetter soprano saxophone, Sascha Armbruster alto saxophone, Andrea Formenti tenor saxophone, Beat Kappeler baritone & alto saxophones, plus guests Katharina Weber on piano and Lucas Niggli on drums. All music composed by Fred Frith recorded in January 2008 at the Studios of Swiss Radio DRS2, Zurich.
This amazing second volume of the Frith/Arte (Sax) Quartett collaborations features two pieces: "The Big Picture" and "Freedom in Fragments", which was originally commissioned and recorded by the Rova Sax Quartet. The title piece features the Arte (Sax) Quartett, who have previously worked with Tim Berne plus Frith and two guests: Katharina Weber on piano and Lucas Niggli on drums. The writing and playing is serious and well constructed. Lucas Niggli's percussion sounds more careful and classical in sound is works perfectly with the saxes and piano. Check out any and all of Lucas' seven discs on Intakt since they are all worthy. Although I wasn't familiar with Ms. Weber before this, she is also most impressive on piano. Frith's demanding and diverse composing keeps this sax quartet on their toes and they often sound like they've gone beyond whatever one thinks a sax quartet should sound like. Although Mr. Frith had the Rova Quartet perform his "Freedom in Fragments" for an earlier Tzadik CD, tis version has been redone with seven new sections added. This already wonderful work is now even better and longer than before. Long review when and if I have the time. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $20



FAB TRIO [JOE FONDA/BARRY ALTSCHUL/BILLY BANG] - Live In Amsterdam (Porter 4014; USA) Featuring Joe Fonda on bass, Barry Altschul on drums and Billy Bang on violin, recorded live at the Bimhuis in Amsterdam in April of 2008. This is fourth fabulous disc from the great FAB trio and like the previous ones, this one is also live. For this disc, the trio plays three long, organic and inspired pieces. You can tell that this trio has been playing and touring for the past few years since they play so well together. The first piece is appropriately called "FABMusic Opening" and with a hot solo by Billy Bang at the beginning and at the end. In the middle, Joe and Barry solo together and do an amazing job of swirling intricately around one another. The second piece is quite long (nearly 31 minutes) is in two parts, "Go East" by Joe Fonda and "Da Bang" by Barry Altschul. While Billy plays a slow, bluesy and exotic solo, Joe burns underneath with streams of bubbling bass notes. Billy's unaccompanied violin is exquisite and features Billy's distinctive and haunting sound/approach. Barry Altschul, who has been one of the creative avant/jazz drummers since the mid-sixties, takes a long, impressive drum solo that only an old master of percussion like himself could do. The final piece "FABMusic Continuation / Spirits Entering" is a thoughtful, freer excursion that builds organically to a grand conclusion. The FAB Trio remain one of the finest of all modern avant/jazz trios. - Bruce lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $15



Five fantastic new releases from Clean Feed!

PAUL DUNMALL SUN QUARTET With TONY MALABY/MARK HELIAS/KEVIN NORTON - Ancient And Future Airs (Clean Feed 138; Portugal) The day after a rare and triumphant presentation in New York (with Henry Grimes and Andrew Cyrille, at the 2008 edition of the Vision Festival), British saxophonist Paul Dunmall recorded this album with Tony Malaby, Mark Helias and Kevin Norton. It was hot, very hot, in that day (the 15) of June, and the music here recorded has the same high temperature. But that doesn't mean you'll find in Ancient And Future Airs an explosion of sounds. His present musical approach, less and less Coltranean (his reference in the use of the tenor saxophone), is meditative, even in the most expansive moments, atmospheric and with a generous use of spaces. In this encounter with American musicians, we find him more close to the free/bop tradition - and that means this CD swings more (blame Helias, very specially, for the balance of this music), and is more bluesy (Malaby's direct responsibility), than all those that document his European combos. One particularity of this new edition is the larger timbral spectrum considering that this his a quartet, with Paul Dunmall also playing bagpipes in full effect, Norton adding the vibraphone to the drumset and Malaby choosing the soprano sax as complementary voice. What great combinations they propose for this slow combustion of improvisational skills!
CD $16

DENMAN MARONEY QUINTET With NED ROTHENBERG/DAVE BALLOU/REUBEN RADDING/MICHAEL SARIN - Udentity (Clean Feed 137; Portugal) Udentity by the Denman Maroney Quintet has the 'hyperpiano' as main focus. The title is a word coined by Harry Partch meaning undertone identity. In the tradition of Henry Cowell, John Cage and George Crumb, Maroney offers here a new and very convincing opus of his always imaginative attempts, in a jazz context, to extend the possibilities of the instrument invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori. But because there's much more in Udentity than the piano, and because this complex yet accessible music is structured with different simultaneous tempos, we find him in the company of superlative musicians. Saxophonist/clarinetist Ned Rothenberg is on the top of his guts-and-brain approach to jazz, trumpeter David Ballou adds his 'third stream' expertise, and the rhythm section formed by Reuben Radding (bass) and Michael Sarin (drums) contributes with a solid backup to all things happening. A must have, demonstrating what is jazz in this beginning of the 21st century.
CD $16

WHO TRIO [MICHEL WINTSCH/GERRY HEMINGWAY/BANZ OESTER] - Less Is More (Clean Feed 135; Portugal) "Less is More" brings this decade lengthed collective trio into its finest document to date shining with its uncanny ability to interact with extraordinary subtlety and delicacy yet scrupulously controlled power. As the trio has developed it's sound and conception, a compelling evolution has developed from the diverse compositional sensibilities of all three members. What has grown from those sensibilities is an openness, a willingness to listen and dig deeply into open improvisation. The WHO trio are now clearly three musicians whose refined listening yields an uncommon musical sensitivity, an unspoken agreement that the collective creation is priority over individual contributions, and an honesty and immediacy that engage every audience in every context. In the course of their many years of touring together as a trio and occasionally with larger ensemble settings, the WHO trio have developed what in music is often enigmatic, a sound as a group. This sound has many characteristics, among them, a transparency that allows the more delicate and subtle details to be perceivable to every listener. They have also achieved a more elastic sensibility with rhythm that lends a fluency, tension and excitement to their powerful rhythmic interaction.
CD $16

MICHAEL BLAKE/KRESTEN OSGOOD - Control This (Clean Feed 136; Portugal) The saxophone/drums duo format has a great tradition in jazz music. Control This is a collection of improvisations rooted in the history of this musical idiom, yet it sounds like completely new music. Stripped of chords and bass notes the musicians are free to compose in the moment and converse musically in a completely free environment. It is to their credit that we have to remind ourselves when listening to these tracks that there isn't bass or chord instruments involved. They are implying that information: the bass is coming out of the bass drum and floor tom. Blake's lines are fueled with an endless amount of harmonic information that never distracts from his melodic intent. Especially on alto saxophone (his debut, for Blake is primarily recognized for his tenor and soprano playing) the communication between Blake and Osgood is clearly inspired. If there is any proof that the living art of jazz exists it is in these moments of pure improvisation.
Their partnership goes way back: the drummer holds a commanding presence in the Copenhagen music community and frequents New York City where he has produced albums with Oliver Lake, Sam Rivers and Paul Bley. He is a member of the band Blake Tartare, lead by the saxophonist, and they both recorded with Dr. Lonnie Smith. Blake has won accolades as a saxophonist ever since he joined the Lounge Lizards in 1990. He has released 8 albums as a leader (including "Right Before Your Very Ears" on Clean Feed) and is extremely active on the New York scene. Perhaps both players personalities and kinship has never been so well represented as on 'Control This'. Immediately we feel a complicity between the two musicians; they know each other very well and they are in close synchrony. But what could function as a guarantee of security, turns to be the basis of a journey that goes deeper into the realms of cooperative research - of the music and of themselves. Remarkable.
CD $16

TRINITY [KJETIL MOSTER/MORTEN QVENILD/INGEBRIGT HAKER FLATEN/THOMAS STRONEN] - Breaking The Mold (Clean Feed 139; Portugal) With a past in hardcore/metal bands, mostly playing the bass guitar, soon Kjetil Moster changed to the tenor saxophone and became interested in crossing jazz and rock with a strong improvisational approach. Specially interested in the ecstatic music of John Coltrane, his personal signature consists in a renovation of the Coltranean stylings. Involved in many top projects centered in Oslo, like Zanussi Five, Fe-Mail, Ultralyd and Crimetime Orchestra, or in collaboration with musicians like Paal Nilssen-Love, Havard Wiik, Fredrik Ljungqvist, Per 'Texas' Johansson, Raymond Strid, Mike Pride, Michael Zerang and Nate Wooley, Moster is also the mentor of the project Trinity. His partners in this quartet couldn't be less notable: keyboardist Morten Qvenild is a former member of the band Jaga Jazzist and the founder of the piano jazz trio In the Country, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten comes from Mats Gustafsson's The Thing and Raoul Bjorkenheim's Scorch Trio, and Thomas Stronen is well known from his drumming with Food and Humcrush. With strong connections to the patrimony of jazz, Breaking The Mold is innovative, inventive, spelling and vibrant, with the glitter and strength of the most inspiring music coming nowadays from the North of Europe. Don't miss it.
CD $16



GARY LUCAS & GERALD ZBINDEN - Down The Rabbit Hole (Border; EEC) Featuring Gary Lucas and Gerald Zbinden on assorted electric, acoustic, steel and hollow-body guitars & electronics with Marcel Papaux on drums for three tracks. I always look forward to a visit from our longtime friend and local guitar hero Gary Lucas, since each of his releases is special in some unique way. For this one, Gary has collaborated with Swiss guitarist, Gerald Zbinden, who sounds like a perfect match in the way of unlimited guitar licks, tricks and creativity. Mr. Zbinden is a gifted guitarist who has worked with dozens of fine improvisers like Michel Doneda, Le Quan Ninh, Gunter Muller and Daunik Lazro.
Although I recognize Gary's playing and use of devices, both guitarists do have a similar palette of sounds to work from. "The Game of Life" features both pickers using some swirling echoplexed waves together. It sounds like a great space jam from an Ash Ra Temple or other likely Krautrock delight. The title track consists of somber, haunting, drifting sustained and spacy guitars. Each piece feels like a journey into the vast void of inner or outer space. Even when we are traveling through space, I dig the way the guitars keep changing their textures and adding a variety of odd and unique sounds. On three tracks, drummer Marcel Papaux, who has worked with Gerald in the past adds his percussive textures and pulse to the proceedings, helping to balance things and help navigate. On "Time to Go" it reminds me of a Hendrix-like jam with Marcel's propulsive drums grounding the electric guitars as they wail together and reach for the cosmos. Pretty f**king heavy! Gary pulls out his trusty steel guitar for "The Pulp Beneath the Bone" and adds a nice earthy quality while Gerald adds those soft swirls. Marcel again adds some righteous percussive spice to the epic-length "Sea Spawn and Sea Wrack", which slowly builds with waves of swirling colors. Their is a sublime dreamy quality when this piece first drifts in, the soft swirls leaving quaint traces in my mind's eye. Both of these fine guitarists are more like magicians here transforming their guitars into a magic carpet ride for us to go traveling to far away places within and without. A most impressive duo/trio that refuses to rest. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $17

Gary also gave us the remaining copies of his out-of-print classic solo CD:

GARY LUCAS - The Edge of Heaven: Plays Mid-Century Chinese Pop (Label Bleu 2582; France) Gary Lucas' recent solo effort was a dream project for him, one that he has been working on for a number of years. 'The Edge of Heaven' is a wonderfully produced collection of Chinese pop tunes performed both vocally by Celest Chong and Gisburg, as well as instrumentally, with some backing from Gary's Gods & Monsters rhythm team. Everything about this cd is done perfectly - superb cover art, insightful liner notes and lush production. Lush, haunting and ethereal.
"Gary Lucas -- charmingly oddball pop songwriter, musical world traveler, utterly hellacious guitarist -- is perhaps at his most hellaciously, charmingly cosmopolitan on this frankly amazing album, which finds him adapting popular Chinese songs that were originally recorded in the 1960s and which he heard and fell in love with during a sojourn in Taiwan in the mid-'70s. His girlfriend at the time had a cassette tape of such local superstars as Chow Hsuan and Bai Kwong, and it was, he says in his liner notes, "like almost no other music I had ever heard before." Twenty-five years later he put together this quirkily gorgeous tribute, which includes jaw-droppingly virtuosic fingerstyle guitar arrangements ("Mad World," "Wall") and song settings using guest vocalists. Among the best of the latter are the limpidly beautiful "Night in Shanghai" (again, note the guitar playing) and the country-flavored "I Wait for Your Return," which is simply a hoot. He's not playing this stuff for laughs, though; his genuine affection for the music comes through loud and clear, and even when he has fun with it he is obviously trying to do so in a way that brings its haunting loveliness to the fore. Very highly recommended." ~ Rick Anderson, AMG
CD $25


BYARD LANCASTER With FRANCOIS TUSQUES et al - Funny Funky Rib Crib (Kindred Spirits 04; EEC) R&B honking and Afrobeat rhythms meet spiritual Coltrane/ Sanders-style Seventies free jazz. Ex-Sun Ra saxophonist Lancaster swapped Philly for Paris in the Nixon era, where this shockingly contemporary-sounding album was recorded.
The band is a Franco-African aggregation and Lancaster plays a bit of piano and flute as well as sax. It's powerful groove-based music, and although it becomes repetitious, that's probably the point. - Phil Johnson, The Independent [in stock Monday]
CD $23


THURMAN BARKER With JAMES EMERY/ROB SCHWIMMER et al - Voyage (UpTee 103; USA) Featuring James Emery on guitars, Rob Schwimmer on piano & synth, Alonzo Gardner or Ed Schuller on bass and Thurman Barker on drums, marimba, percussion & compositions. Includes 3 bonus tracks from 1999 with special guests: Sam Rivers, James Carter and Bobby Watson on saxes.
CD $16

THURMAN BARKER STRIKE FORCE - Presents Strike Force (UpTee 5553; USA) Featuring Brian Carrott, Eli Fountaine, Wilson Moorman, Ray Mantilla and Thurman Barker on assorted percussion.
CD $16



STEVE HARRIS ZAUM - A is for Ox: Field Recordings 2006-7 [2 CD Set] (Amazon 18; UK) Featuring the late Steve Harris on drums, Cathy Stevens on viola & violectra, Udo Dzierzanowski, Matthew Olczak & JM Black on guitars, Karen Wimhurst on clarinets, Geoff Hearn on saxes, Mary Potter on piano and Adrian Newton on samples. It is most ironic that drum wiz and bandleader, Steve Harris and his band Zaum, finally got some of the recognition that they have well deserved last year when their disc, 'I Hope You Never Love Anything...' was released. Especially since Steve passed away suddenly in December of 2007, after Amazon Records had reissued a couple of his previous Slam CD's. I was saddened by Steve's death since we had become e-mail friends and I looked forward to each and every Zaum disc.
Good news: this is a wonderful two disc set of Zaum live from various gigs in 2006 and 2007. The personnel includes mostly the same sextet with three guests sitting in on piano and guitars on a few tracks each. Like SME legend & drummer John Stevens, Steve Harris had a way of focusing and leading his group through fascinating terrain. Steve's exquisite, quietly rambunctious drums drive "Women and Men" while Cathy's viola paints layers of rich colors around him. Geoff Hearn's warm-toned tenor and Karen Wimhurst's swell clarinet swirl around one another while Adrian Newton's soft yet weird samples float around with some skeletal percussion added. Although some of the sounds are manipulated or sampled, nothing is superfluous or overdone. This music breathes and develops organically. The occasional solo (clarinet or guitar) always occurs at just the right time, emerging form the focused chaos and adding a little story to the ongoing dialogue. The second disc features an entire set from Brighton in October of 2007 and again we find that Steve Harris and Zaum work their wonders by playing improv as if it were pre-planned and like an exciting journey into a fascinating new world. It is only February (2009) and already we have a contender for avant/improc disc of the year. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
2 CD set for $20

also available..

STEVE HARRIS ZAUM - The Little Flash Of Letting Go: Live At The Spitz (Amazon 17; UK) This Steve Harris' third disc with Zaum, after two on Slam. Zaum features Steve on drums, Cathy Stevens on violectra & viola, Geoff Hearn on saxes, Udo Dzierzanowski & Matthew Olczak on guitars and Adrian Newton on samples. "Let's Call it Myth" opens with the eerie sampled female voice of Chilean poetess Cecilia Vicuna and some strange yet somber manipulated strings. One by one, the other instruments slowly enter, the percussion, the sax and the guitars, building slowly, droning ominously together and taking us along on their journey. This music rarely deals with solos and most often the sextet work best at evoking ghosts, dreams and other sonic spirits. This soundtrack music for our inner journeys or movies projected on our eyelids. Never too thick or dense. Both guitarists have much different sounds, one is often jazz like or acoustic and the other depends on various devices to turn his guitar inside-out with different textures. Steve's careful drums are often used skeletally, adding punctuation, moving the story along without really taking over the proceedings. Very thoughtful and well played throughout. - BLG
CD $16

STEVE HARRIS ZAUM QUINTET - Above our heads the sky splits open (Amazon 16; UK) This is the second disk from former Pinski Zoo drummer Steve Harris and his grand improv band, Zaum. Zaum includes Harris on drums, Cathy Stevens on 6-string violectra & viola, Geoff Hearn on tenor & soprano saxes, Karen Wimhurst on clarinets, Udo Dzierzanowski & Matthew Olczak on guitars and Adrian Newton on samples, plus the four Chrome Strings. Recorded live in March of 2004 from the Studio Gallery in Poole, UK. Spacious, thoughtful and hypnotic improvisations with dreamy layers of strings, guitars, sax , clarinet and drums. As with many discs on the great Slam label, I am unfamiliar with all of the players here except for the leader, yet this is one the best improv discs I've heard this year. Although there are upwards of ten players on these dates, it never gets too dense or chaotic. It sounds like some preparation or minimal charts are involved, when they get into a focused groove at a couple of points. Probably it is just the way these musicians have learned to anticipate each other and build upon that into a more structured (sounding) region. Time to search for the previous Steve Harris Zaum date on Slam. - BLG
CD $16

STEVE HARRIS ZAUM SEPTET + ANDREA PARKINS - I Hope You Never Love Anything As Much As I Love You (Amazon 14; UK) Featuring Steve Harris on drums, Cathy Stevens on Violectra, Geoff Hearn on saxes, Karen Wimhurst on clarinets, Udo Dzierzanowski & Jim Black on guitars, Adrian Newton on sampler and Andrea Parkins on accordion & laptop. A recent review in The Wire called this on the finest improv recordings of the year and I must admit that this is an extraordinary effort from all involved. This is the fourth disc from British drum wiz, Steve Harris Zaum and each one has been great as they continue to makes strides on each release. "Rise in Sin" opens with a small chorus of chanting vocals from four women. It is immensely haunting and reminds me some ghost floating in a cemetery. Unlike free/jazz eruptions, is music more focused with magic moments of surprising occurrences or combinations. It often sounds as if someone is conducting or al least prompting the musicians to focus themselves into more organized areas. The music unfolds slowly so that no one gets lost and it never becomes too dense. The guitarists sound like they are selectively using elements of sixties psychedelic sounds which blend in just right with the eerie samples or electronic sounds that seem to drift in waves. During "Juarez", Andrea Parkins' accordion provides a perfect foil for the Geoff Hearn's tenor sax, I kept thinking that they were about to break into a song that we could sing along to, it sounds so familiar. I haven't heard an improvised disc sound as consistently magical and surprising as this one in a long while, so it makes sense that The Wire would grant such large accolades. - BLG
CD $16



First-time CD editions of these two classic Chuck Nessa recordings:

WADADA LEO SMITH With KAHIL EL'ZABAR/JOE FONDA/BOBBY NAUGHTON - Procession of the Great Ancestry (Nessa 26; USA) Recorded in 1983 in Nessa's Acme studio in Chicago, Procession of the Great Ancestry is among Wadada Leo Smith's most obscure, but ultimately most satisfying, recordings. Featuring Kahil El'Zabar, Louis Myers, Joe Fonda, John Powell, Mchaka Uba, and Bobby Naughton, this was the first album to showcase Smith's expansive vision, which included all forms of black music -- from the myriad languages of jazz to gutbucket blues, reggae, and various African folk musics as well as a little R&B groove for measure. It was also the first to feature his wonderful vocals as a mainstay on his projects. Fans can think of this disc as Kulture Jazz, Vol. 1, with a band. The disc opens with "Blues: Jah Jah Is the Perfect Love," a deeply moving blues that is equal parts funky backbeat and Nigerian rhythm with a reggae groove. Smith sings with soul as the band weaves a magic spell around him. This is immediately followed by the title track, a gentle but very abstract piece written for Miles Davis that incorporates Davis' modal science and Smith's sense of space and dynamic. This is the first of four pieces for trumpeters; the next work, "The Flower That Seeds the Earth," is for Booker Little, and "The Third World, Grainery of Pure Earth" is for Roy Eldridge. Track six, "Celestial Sparks in the Sanctuary of Redemption," is for Dizzy Gillespie. All of these works are in the free jazz mode, but their gentleness is their attraction. Smith here is playing a poetic balladry for these men, while musically elucidating his cosmology -- the rhythm section is so attuned, so finely restrained and tasteful, Smith could sing it out if he wanted to, but instead he creates long melody lines that whisper to completion. The set closes with "Nuru Light: The Prince of Peace," a short processional in minor mode that has Naughton's vibraharp playing fills under the horn lines and through El'Zabar's brushed drums. After its deeply moving, sonorous theme, a pair of kalimbas and the vibraharp play a lullaby to balance the weight, taking it out with enough grace and elegance to make the listener nod in wonder before playing it again. - Thom Jurek, AMG
[PLEASE NOTE: This was previously available as limited UK import more than a decade ago, now properly remastered direct from Nessa]
CD $16

CHARLES TYLER With EARL CROSS/JOHN ORE/RONNNIE BOYKINS/STEVE REID - Saga of the Outlaws (Nessa 16; USA) Other than a couple of obscure ESP dates and two albums for the tiny Ak-Ba label, Charles Tyler was largely undocumented on records before this blowout, one of his strongest recordings. The avant-garde altoist performs the 37-minute "Saga Out of the Outlaws" (which is supposed to depict musically a tale of the old West) with trumpeter Earl Cross, both John Ore and Ronnie Boykins on bass and drummer Steve Reid. Whatever the "plot," the music is quite stirring and features the adventurous Tyler at his best. ~ Scott Yanow, AMG
CD $16

Other Nessa CDs still available..

ROSCOE MITCHELL With ANTHONY BRAXTON/HENRY THREADGILL/JOSEPH JARMAN/GEORGE E LEWIS/MALACHI FAVORS/MUHAL RICHARD ABRAMS/WALLACE McMILLAN - Nonaah.. plus! [2 CD set] (Nessa 09/10; USA) [pronounced No Nay Ah] Originally a double-LP, this is one of Mitchell's best solo statements - it's tough, so many of his records are amazing - and it's never been on CD! And it now has 5 previously unreleased BONUS cuts - 35 minutes of solo recordings, effectively making this 3 LPs on 2 CDs! Ye Gods!
It includes a full-side [old-school LP lingo] treatment of the title cut, solo works, duos with Anthony Braxton (sopranino sax) & Malachi Favors (bass), a trio with George Lewis (trombone) & Muhal Richard Abrams (piano), and an incredible sax quartet with Mitchell, Henry Threadgill (as), Joseph Jarman (reeds), and the undervalued/underrecorded Wallace McMillan (bass). Whew! This truly historic double album was released in 1977 and has long been out-of-print. Don't even bother to vacillate - this BELONGS at your home, in your player. Period! - BLG & MannyLunch
2 CD set for $24

ROSCOE MITCHELL With LEO SMITH/ANTHONY BRAXTON/HENRY THREADGILL/GEORGE E LEWIS/JOSEPH JARMAN/MALACHI FAVORS/DON MOYE et al - L-R-G, The Maze, S II Examples (Nessa 14; USA) Like Sound and Nonaah, the three compositions that make up this double LP/single CD on Chuck Nessa's home label offer a picture of Roscoe Mitchell not only as a composer and instrumentalist, but as a sound sculptor. Unlike his contemporary Anthony Braxton, Mitchell's compositions always have a deep concern with the very nature of sound. On "L-R-G," which stands for Leo Smith, Roscoe Mitchell and George Lewis, the nature of sound in all its registers is the concern. From the extreme low end of the sousaphone played by Lewis, through the various members of the trombone family to Mitchell on the reeds and woodwinds in the middle, and all of its shapes and colors through to Smith, whose expertise on the trumpet and cornet family moves to the upper register of the piccolo trumpet, Mitchell explores the various interactions -- in improvised context -- of the relationships between single and grouped sounds. "The Maze" is a piece for percussion and sound octet. Among those included are Anthony Braxton, Henry Threadgill, Thurman Barker, Douglas Ewart, and fellow Art Ensembles members Don Moye, Joseph Jarman, and Malachi Favors. This is a long strangely intervallic piece, with doors opening onto one set of textured improvisations while another closes, all of them within the context of sonic relationship. Finally there is the mammoth soprano saxophone meditation "S II Examples." This work is perhaps the most sustained tonal meditation on the soprano saxophone on record. Far being a recording of "improvisations," what "S II Examples" proposes and accomplishes is the evocation and elocution of the sonic palette of the soprano horn as it mingles with breath control, and its own microtonal reverberations. This is a very slow, controlled, and gradually unfolding work that is one of Mitchell's masterpieces in terms of giving himself and the listener a total view of how numerous the sonic and spatial possibilities are on the straight horn. Taken together, these three works mark the turn in Mitchell's work from the early years into his more mature period, which continues into this 21st century along a continuum: the preoccupation of the composer with the mystery of sound and its various incarnations in ensembles or in relationship to itself. - Thom Jurek, AMG
CD $16

ROSCOE MITCHELL And THE SOUND ENSEMBLE - Snurdy McGurdy and Her Dancin' Shoes (Nessa 20; USA) What an absolute joy this album is, surely Mitchell's most brilliant since his late-'60s masterpieces like Congliptious and Old Quartet. His Sound Ensemble, at the time comprised of four young and relatively unproven musicians, is the perfect foil for his compositions, able to handle the most abstract ideas as well as the down and dirty funky ones. The opening piece, "Sing/Song," is a perfect case in point, beginning with delicately lyrical, even pastoral flute work, seguing into a staccato quasi-march and from there into seemingly chaotic drones and welters, before ultimately emerging into the sunniest, most relaxed melody you can imagine, with trumpeter Hugh Ragin holding court. Two more thoroughly abstract numbers, "CYP" and "Round," are explored with fine minimalist (in the Morton Feldman sense) approaches and an open idea of space that's quite appealing. "Stomp and the Far East Blues" is by turns righteously funky and ethereally bluesy, with the leader's signature sour-apple alto doing its best to play into and against the melody rather than simply following it along. Throughout, guitarist Barefield supplies wonderful ringing chords of an almost sitar-like quality and the rhythm team of Shahid and Tabbal is rock-solid, hyper-imaginative, and telepathic. When the closing, irresistibly hummable title track is reached, the listener is utterly satiated, as if having finished a rich and complex dinner. Snurdy McGurdy belongs in the collection of any serious fan of late-20th century jazz. Very highly recommended. -- Brian Olewnick, AMG
CD $16

AIR [HENRY THREADGILL/FRED HOPKINS/STEVE McCALL] - Air Time (Nessa 12; USA) The trio Air aimed to have close interplay between three musical equals. This Nessa release (their first recording for an American label) has plenty of explorative solos and is highlighted by Threadgill's three extended compositions; check out his hubkaphone feature on "G.V.E." -- Scott Yanow
CD $16

FRED ANDERSON With LARRY HAYROD/HAMID DRAKE/ADAM RUDOLPH - The Missing Link (Nessa 23; USA) This set, which features Anderson on tenor, or course, sided by Hamid Drake on drums, Larry Hayrod on bass, and Adam Rudolph on percussion, was recorded by Chuck Nessa in 1979, while the mighty saxophone player was in his late 50s and at the height of his obscurity. Only Moers Music in Germany had issued another Anderson record in the late '70s. Why he was so obscure is anybody's guess, based on the quality of the recordings. Here, Anderson's landmark tone, harmonic invention, and odd melodic preoccupation with atonality and dissonance are marked for what they are. Anderson is as much a theorist as a blower, and The Missing Link is the evidence for this, perhaps the best there is. His notion of the quartet being one extended, four-sided voice with a bottom more rounded out and full than the top is the extension of a formula that includes great control over dynamics, and a drummer and percussionist who work with each other to further not only the beat but the sound of the band (check "Twilight" and "The Bull") as much as the music they play. For his part, Anderson is pushing the blues; however elongated and angular, they are recognizable as such and are the spiritual conscience of all the music he plays here. The bassist's role is unique: to play the melodist and add spatial and durational elegance to the insistent, at times even boisterous approach by the rest of the band. But in a lyric mode, such as "A Ballad for Rita," Hayrod shines so black he's blue. This band becomes the four-sided voice of the dream, carrying a sweet yet toughened-up blues back to the streets from the heavens. -- Thom Jurek, AMG This CD edition has 1 bonus cut
CD $16

VON FREEMAN - Serenade and Blues (Nessa 11; USA) It is surprising that Von Freeman's [father of Chico Freeman] supporters never seem to grasp why the veteran tenor saxophonist has never become all that popular. Freeman has one of the odder tones of any saxophonist and it takes some getting used to. This Nessa release -- which finds Freeman joined by pianist John Young, bassist Dave Shipp, and drummer Wilbur Campbell -- is as accessible as any of his recordings. Von Freeman performs lengthy versions of two ballads, an original blues, and his theme song, "After Dark." -- Scott Yanow, AMG This CD edition has 1 bonus cut
CD $16

WARNE MARSH - All Music ..plus! (Nessa 07; USA) This CD edition has 7 BONUS cuts! The mid-'70s were a prime time for tenor saxophonist Warne Marsh, and this 1976 studio session is one of his best dates from this portion of his career. Leading a quartet with pianist Lou Levy, bassist Fred Atwood, and drummer Jake Hanna, Marsh's sophisticated solo work shines no matter what the setting, be it his brisk bop vehicle "I Have a Good One for You," a warm rendition of a standard like "Easy Living," or Levy's slow, engaging blues "On Purpose." The leader also revisits familiar territory with a wild take of Lennie Tristano's "317 East 32nd" (itself based on the standard "Out of Nowhere") and also tackles frequent saxophone partner Lee Konitz's "Subconscious-Lee" (based on "What Is This Thing Called Love"). - Ken Dryden, AMG
"Though recognizably "modern jazz" in terms of its harmonic and rhythmic features, as well as in its deployment of ensemble resources, Warne Marsh's music is nuanced both texturally and textually to an astonishing degree, perhaps even to an extent that generic qualifiers - bop, Tristano School, free - become distracting rather than edifying. His tone is often described as "gray", "neutral" or even "glacial" (as Richard Cook and/or Brian Morton have it), but to my ears, it has a remarkable, light but not insubstantial heft, and its grain is an attractive mixture of both the coarse and the fine; there is almost nothing metallic about his timbre. Via subtle alterations of volume and by means of what I can only think to call, borrowing from the discipline of scansion, "enjambment" within his lines, Marsh can almost literally disappear into his phrases or, alternately, leave the listener with the sense that he has - with nonchalant, semi-acrobatic maneuvers - wriggled free of their chains at last. No mean feat when one begins to reflect on the almost monolithic discipline that looms over Marsh's work." - Joe Milazzo
CD $16



JON HASSELL & MAARIFA STREET With RICK COX/EIVIND AARSET et al - Last Night The Moon Came Dropping Its Clothes In The Street (ECM 2077; USA) "Back on the ECM label for the first time in 22 years, Jon Hassell's Fourth World music is a blend of influences - distant hand drums, minimalist ambient atmospheric washes, jazz, exotica and his studies with Hindustani Kirana raga singer Pandit Pran Nath and German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen. He was present on the premiere recording of Terry Riley's In C and has performed with La Monte Young's legendary Theatre of Eternal Music. Collaborations have included Ry Cooder, David Sylvian, the Talking Heads, Peter Gabriel and others.
The music is slow and breathes with timelessness, contemplating amazing, the long melody sometimes over a sparse beat. His transparent trumpet could be easily mistaken for a flute, a voice, synthesizer or a maybe a conch shell. Those who think the special sound of his horn is created by electronics alone should check out his 1999 acoustic recording Fascinoma for proof that this myth is not true. I was fortunate to hear his group at the World Financial Center with Brian Eno at the soundboard about 20 years ago. The night was magic, the music like a film unfolding between our ears - the sound of the Fourth World.
Knee-Violinist Kheir Eddine M'Kacich is a surprising addition to this constantly evolving band, which features: Jon Hassell - trumpet, keyboard; Rick Cox and Eivind Aarset - guitars; Peter Freeman - bass; Jan Bang and Dino J.A. Deane - samples; Jamie Muhobera - keyboard; Helge Norbakken and Pete Lockett - drums." - David Beardsley, DMG guest reviewer
CD $17



SUN CITY GIRLS - Fruit Of The Womb/Polite Deception [2 LP set] (Eclipse 60; USA) "Fifth reissue in the Cloaven Cassettes series by Sun City Girls. Both cassettes were released in 1987. About Fruit of the Womb: 'Recorded 1984-85 between the first and second Sun City Girls LPs in mono. The performances on this tape are superb. Near Eastern instrumentals, extended improvisation, ostracized jazz plus impossible versions of Sun City Girls standards.' Like the other titles in this series, some tracks from the original tape releases have been removed for the LP versions and some unreleased tracks are included, too. About Polite Deception: 'Side one is a continuation of the previous tape listed (Fruit Of The Womb). And side two was described by an Albanian diplomat as: 'An industrial Mesopotamian environmental piece followed by Egyptian trance jazz.' Of course, we all know that this description is false.' Recordings are from 1984-1985. Limited edition of 950 copies in ultra thick gatefold sleeve with lots of pictures from the mid-80s. Series is back on track -- you won't have to wait 3 more years for the next one!"
2 LP set for $25


More ltd exclusive vinyl releases from QBICO

BMN TRIO [THOMAS BORGMANN/WILBER MORRIS/REGGIE NICHOLSON] - Throw Up In The Sky/With Fine Clinking Magnets (QBICO 86; Italy) Thomas Borgmann (tenor and soprano sax, ocarina), Wilber Morris (bass), Reggie Nicholson, (drums). "Only available recording of a kind of historic festival that EP and Laura Moja organized in Milan in 2000. other sets were Sunny Murray/Arthur Doyle, Mego night with Rehberg & Bauer, Peter Kowald/Daunik Lazro, Frank Perry solo, the music of Conrad Schnitzler, Han Bennink solo, John Butcher/Phil Durrant. It's a live set full of passion and warmth, in total contrast with the cold cover. This trio evolve from the original one of Borgmann/Morris/Dennis Charles (which I had the pleasure to see and invite in 1998). Reggie Nicholson took Charles's chair after his premature passing. Dedicated to you, Wilber."
LP $24

HARMUT GEERKEN/JOHN TCHICAI - The Kabul And Teheran Tapes [2 LP set] (QBICO 87; Italy) Hartmut Geerken (piano, piano strings, prepared piano, percussion, sun harp (bandura) Tibetan tchinkas, short wave receiver, thumb piano, Peking opera gongs). John Tchicai (soprano and alto sax, flute, darabukka, voice, bells, Egyptian bendire). Ustad Mohammed Aref (tabla). Recorded on May 5, 1977 in Teheran, Iran and May 22, 1977 in Kabul, Afghanistan. "Unreleased music, available here for the 1st time, of this mythical journey to the East. Two side-long spontaneous compositions on side A/B, some far out and alien sounds on side C, two perdidoboogie for the underdogs on side D."
2 LP set for $38

PETER KOWALD - Bass Solo (QBICO 88; Italy) Recorded live at Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant; May 17, 2000. "Finally! Maybe a few of you already know that the Qbico #02 was a solo of Peter Kowald over animal sounds. He had already prepared a tape to improvise over, I had already booked a studio, but unfortunately Peter started to feel sick. Kiki Smith agreed on using one her artwork for the cover. Anyway, this is the right recording that I had been waiting for so long and it's thanks to my dear friend Mike Johnston of the Northwoods Improvisers, who recorded this incredible solo by Peter back in 2000. Simply the best bass solo I ever heard! A definitive statement from one of the greatest musicians and xhol that I had the honour to met." 180 gram vinyl.
LP $24

CONRAD SCHNITZLER - Silver (QBICO 89; Italy) Recorded 1974/75. "Vintage Schnitzler, available here for the first time. This recording from 1974/75 was part of the legendary colored series of albums: Rot, Grun, Gelb, Schwartz." 180 gram vinyl.
LP $24

NORTHWOOD IMPROVISORS - Constellations (QBICO ETA; Italy) One-sided release. Paste-on front/back cover. "Recorded live to tape by Mike Johnston in 2007/08. Mike Gilmore- guitar, saz, kalimba, shakers. Mike Johnston- bass, inanga, bone guitar. Kirk Lucas- guitar, tamboura, tambourine. Mike Last- tabla, kosika. Mike Khoury- violin. Don Barber- bells, frame drum. 1st ever vinyl release by the Northwoods Improvisers. I know, I'd have printed more, it's a wonderful one-sided! But only for a few..."
LP $46

MAURIZIO ABATE - Armonicum (QBICO THETA; Italy) "Limited edition 99 copies. Recorded 2008; solo, instruments played: guitar, steel guitar, tanpura, harmonica, kalimba. Maurizio already appeared on Qbico with the Neokarma 8et and with the Neokarma Jooklo Trio. He also released a couple of other solos previously on Troglosound (including a one-sided LP). Deep, esoteric stuff and pretty unique in the whole Qbico catalog. This'll be the only available recording on Qbico of a solo by an Italian musician; he's the man with the blues..."
LP $48


NATHAN DAVIS - If (Universal Sound 29; UK) "Soul Jazz Records continues it's occasional re-issuing of seriously collectable deep jazz records from the 1970s, on their subsidiary Universal Sound label, with this seminal release from saxophonist Nathan Davis (current eBay price 400 pounds!). The CD comes in full slipcase with sleevenotes, interview and pics! The album If was released on Nathan Davis's tiny bespoke Tomorrow International record label in 1976 and only 1000 copies were ever pressed. Davis leads his super-funky group along the narrow path between jazz and funk that so many failed to navigate successfully in the second-half of the 1970s. It's an album by an artist who is a musician's musician. More importantly -- it's a killer! Nathan Davis's career has made him a connoisseur's favourite and his records are all extremely collectable. In the 1960s Davis was drafted into the US army, and was based in Germany and France (working with everyone from Art Blakey to Donald Byrd and Ray Charles). Davis also worked as musical director of a TV and radio station, wrote film scores, studied anthropology at the Sorbonne and released a number of important records. He returned to the US at the end of the 60s and continued to release a number of amazing jazz records -- all of which have now been long out of print. His avoidance of the major record industry, working instead with various small independent labels with limited distribution has made all his releases very collectible. But have no doubt; Davis is one of the most important jazz artists of his time with a 50-year career span that continues to this day. The early Tomorrow International releases, especially If have become serious collector's items, as indeed have most of Nathan Davis's catalogue of recordings. Today, more people want these records than when they were first made and demand outstrips supply. Those who own Nathan Davis albums don't sell them - and none more so than If."
CD $17

NATHAN DAVIS - If (Universal Sound 29; UK) The vinyl edition is limited to 1000 copies worldwide - so be quick!
LP $23


IVOR CUTLER - A Flat Man (Hoorgi House 01; UK) Ivor Cutler's unique brand of musical and poetic humour was loved by generations of listeners to John Peel's radio programme. A Flat Man was his final album, originally released in 1998 on Creation Records, and exhibits the Cutler magic at its best, sharp-witted and surreal by turns. To mark the second anniversary of Ivor Cutler's death, it has become available again as the first release on Hoorgi House Records, a label set up by Ivor Cutler's family after his passing.
CD $18


FRANK ZAPPA/THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - In The 1960s [DVD] (Sexy Intellectual 545; USA) "This film reviews the true story of The Mothers of Invention and the music they made during the first incarnation of the band. With group members Jimmy Carl Black, Bunk Gardner, Don Preston and Art Tripp taking up the tale and revealing -- often for the first time -- what the real Frank Zappa was all about; and with contributions from 'scenesters' like LA wildman Kim Fowley, biographer Billy James, Zappa academic Ben Watson, music journalist Richie Unterberger and English writer and musician Alan Clayson -- acclaimed biographer of Edgar Varese -- this program is the most detailed, informative and enjoyable documentary on Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention yet to emerge. Also features rare footage of Frank and The Mothers from throughout the 1960s, archive interviews, seldom seen live performances and a host of other features." Run time: 134 minutes. NTSC format, All Region, 4:3 ratio
DVD $20



CONRAD SCHNITZLER - The '80s Work Series: Consequenz ii/Conrad & Sohn/Control/Con 85/Concert/The Russians Are Coming + Roofmusic [8 CD Box Set] (Captain Trip 614-619; Japan) "Including each of the 6 titles (CTCD-637-643, 7 CDs) and a bonus 8th CD The Russians Are Coming + Roofmusic (CTCD-643) - NOT AVAILABLE SEPARATELY.
Limited outer box set containing these classic titles (CT 637-643CD): Conrad & Sohn CD (by Conrad and Gregor Schnitzler), Control CD, Con 85 2CD set, Concert CD, Consequenz II CD (by Conrad Schnitzler & Wolf Sequenza), Congratulacion and a bonus CD: The Russians Are Coming by Berlin Express. ("Berlin Express was formed by Conrad & Gregor Schnitzler + Peter Baumann (ex-Tangerine Dream). The original was released as a 3 track 12 inch EP in 1982."). Bonus disc also includes the unreleased, all vocal-track album Roofmusic by Conrad & Gregor Schnitzler. Each reissue with miniature paper sleeves replicating the original LP artwork. Includes replica button (badge) of the original Control LP artwork.
8 CD Box set for $170

CONRAD SCHNITZLER & GREGOR SCHNITZLER - Conrad & Sohn (Captain Trip 637; Japan) "Great split album by Conrad Schnitzler and his son, Gregor Schnitzler! The original LP was pressed 500 copies in 1981. Includes previously unreleased bonus tracks by Gregor. 2009 digital remaster version with paper sleeve, same artwork as the original. Ltd. 1,000 copies."
CD $23

CONRAD SCHNITZLER - Control (Captain Trip 638; Japan) "Recorded between 1978 and 1981. Non-keyboard electronics! The original LP was released on DYS records, an American independent label in 1981. Includes 14 tracks from T5 cassette materials. 2009 digital remaster version with paper sleeve + miniature insert, same as the original. Limited 1,000 copies."
CD $23

CONRAD SCHNITZLER - Con 85 [2 CD set] (Captain Trip 639/640; Japan) "The original was released as a double cassette on Transmitter Cassetten in 1985. Includes 52 tracks on 2 CDs. 2009 digital remaster version with special gate-fold paper sleeve. First time released on CD. Limited 1,000 copies."
2 CD set for $32

CONRAD SCHNITZLER - Concert (Captain Trip 641; Japan) "The original LP was released in 1986. Includes 3 bonus tracks from same time. Cover art design: Matt Howarth. 2009 digital remaster version with paper sleeve, same artwork as the original. Ltd. 1,000 copies."
CD $23

CONRAD SCHNITZLER With WOLF SEQUENZA - Consequenz II (Captain Trip 642; Japan) "The second release of the collaboration with Wolf Sequenza (ex. Kluster-Eruption) in 1986. The original LP was released on Discos Esplendor Geometrico, a great Spanish industrial label. Including 6 unreleased tracks as bonus. 2009 digital remaster version with paper sleeve, same artwork as the original. Ltd. 1,000 copies."
CD $23

CONRAD SCHNITZLER - Congratulacion (Captain Trip 643; Japan) "Recorded in 1986. The original LP was released on Discos Esplendor Geometrico in 1988. Including 6 unreleased tracks as bonus. 2009 digital remaster version with paper sleeve, same artwork as the original. Limited 1,000 copies."
CD $23



Back in stock:

SONNY SIMMONS/BOBBY FEW - True Wind [2 CD set] (Hello World 12/13; EEC) Limited Edition of 100. Recorded live in at L'Atelier Tampon-Ramier in Paris in November of 2007. Featuring Sonny Simmons on alto sax & cor anglais (English horn) and Bobby Few on piano. Delightful duo session featuring mainly standards: "Night in Tunisia," " 'Round Midnight," "Body & Soul," "All the Things You Are" plus a few originals. Sonny Simmons and Bobby Few are both elderly statesmen jazz expatriates who live in France. This seasoned duo played a fine set at the Vision Fest earlier last summer of 2008. Dizzy Gillespie's "Night in Tunisia" is taken at slower pace than the bebop standard and still sounds great since the duo do a most spirited version. Bobby Few, who has played Steve Lacy, Noah Howard, Frank Wright, Kali Fasteau and Avram Feffer, is a master pianist who sounds as if he has the entire history of (piano) jazz at his fingertips. Bobby is a perfect collaborator for Sonny Simmons, another legendary jazz figure who has been playing and slaying for more than forty years, from sessions with Eric Dolphy and Prince Lasha to the mighty Cosmosamatics with Michael Marcus. 'True Wind' is indeed one of the best duo efforts that I've heard in the past year. Spectacular from the beginning to the very end. - BLG
2 CD set for $25

SONNY SIMMONS - Introducing Black Jack Pleasanton: The Kirk Heydt Tapes 1980-1982 [4 CD set] (Hello World 08/11; EEC) [2nd Limited Edition of 70] This was recorded at home and in the bay area from 1980 to 1981. Featuring Sonny Simmons on alto sax, Kirk Heydt on cello, Steve Suhren on flute, Martin O'Connor on bass and Arnold Young or James Baker on drums, plus some unidentified musicians. The French-based Hello World label is also known as the Sonny Simmons Appreciation Society and they continue to release rare Sonny Simmons discs, a few per year. These four discs were recorded during the time when Sonny Simmon was "homeless and shipwrecked" according to the liner notes, a time when Sonny took various aliases like Black Jack Pleasanton. Many of the exact locations are unknown and the sound is good but rarely great. However, the music remains spirited and often powerful. The first disc features a quartet with Kirk Hyedt on cello, Martin O'Connor on bass and Arnold Young on drums. The quartet do a burning version of Eric Dolphy's "Red Planet" which sounds intense and spirited and features some strong but under-miked cello by Mr. Heydt. "Flight of the Wild Geese" from the second disc is nearly 37 minutes long and features a spiritual trio with Sonny on alto sax, Kirk Heydt on cello and Arnold Young on drums. Mr. Heydt provides a fine foil for Sonny as he bows long lines with Sonny simmering sax. Mr. Young's mallet work is also just right for this somber, prayer-like piece. This piece is actually a suite which includes "Hot House" by Tadd Dameron, "Victory Dance", "A Caribbean Cruise", "Dancing in the Dirt" and "Over the 9th Zone". "Over in the Beyond" has a hypnotic middle-eastern vibe with Sonny's snake charming sax and Kirk's cello swirling together into spiritual bliss. Each of these four disc is over an hour long, so there is a great deal to absorb here. Even if the sound is not so great, the spirited playing is consistently engaging throughout.
4 CD set for $65



MAGMA [CHRISTIAN VANDER et al] - Magma Studio Zund: Kobia/1001 Degrees Centigrade/M.D.K. (Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh)/Wurdah Itah [sndtck]/Kohntarkosz/Udu Wudu/Attahk/Merci/K.A. (Kohntarkosz Anteria)/Archiw Vol I & II with '24 heures Seulement' [sndtck] [12 CD boxset] (Seventh/Le Chant Du Monde; France) Well, this is the ultimate beautiful Christmas-type thingy for the Magma fan. This is their 9 studio albums: Kobia [2 CDs], 1001 Centigrade, M.D.K., Wurdah Itah [the Tristan And Isolde sndtck is not strictly a 'Magma' album, but is considered part of the canon], Kohntarkosz, Udu Wudu, Attahk, Merci and K.A. (Kohntarkhosz Anteria).
The 11th and 12th discs are a bonus double CD called Archiw Vol I & II, which are made up ENTIRELY OF PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED RECORDINGS! [These Archiw discs should not be confused with the Restrospektiw CDs - not in this box - which are entirely different materials]
ARCHIW DISC 1: The first 8 cuts are the previously unreleased film soundtrack '24 heures Seulement' [33 minutes], which was recorded by the 'Kobaia' era band in July, 1970. The last cut [track nine] is a 35-minute studio quartet version, with Jannick Top, of Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh, cut before the originally released version, but after the alternate earlier [non-Top] lineup version released more recently as the 'Mekanik Kommandoh' CD; nor is it the alternate earlier [non-Top] lineup version found on the Retropektiv v1&2 set.
ARCHIW DISC 2: The first attempt at recording [a demo?] their initial album Kobaia [52 minutes], recorded in April, 1970 at Studio des Dames, Paris - these are earliest-ever recordings by Magma and are quite fun and revealing. They are taken from a acetate disc and sound like it, but it's still very listenable. The ninth cut is an alternate take of Eliphas Levi (from Merci).
This is really, really nice, truly a gorgeous package. You get a digipack for each album and every one includes a 32 page (or larger) booklet within the digipack which contains notes on each album by Christian (in French and English), as well as many rare/previously unpublished photos and archival material (magazine ads, reviews, posters) from the time period which the recording covers.
Two questions sure to be frequently asked, so we'll kill 'em right now 1) Q: Is the material remastered?
A: It was not advertised to us as remastered [although I listened to MDK right away and it sure seemed the best listening I ever had! - MannyLunch], so you should not assume that it is, but this is a darn sight cheaper than buying the albums individually [$20 each - Ouch! - umm, that would be $240! ...if they all were available] and with much better packaging!
2) Q: Will the bonus Arkiw double-CD be made available separately later?
A: Funny you should ask that. Here is an exact quote from an email conversation our pal Steve Feigenbaum had with Stella Vander when she gave info on this box. "Hi Stella - Will the bonus CD be made available separately later?" "NO!" Highest Recommendation! - BLG & MannyLunch
12 CD Box for $135

OFFERING [MAGMA PRESENTS: CHRISTIAN VANDER et al] - Part 1&2/Part 3/Part 4/A Fiieh [4 CD box set] (Seventh REX XXI; France) For more 30 years Christian Vander has followed his own path. Pleasing the crowd has not been his way. Since 1983, OFFERING has born witness to the importance of John Coltrane's music in the Vander universe. This fundamental creative inspiration is of course found in MAGMA. But OFFERING, being improvised, and acoustic, has the character of an ongoing research and exploration into Christian's source of inspiration.
Beyond form, it is the presence of the inner 'cry' which is the thing that counts. Moments of joy, of suffering, rising waves of hope, and beauty! Black magic, white magic - in short - just magic.
The gift offered by OFFERING touches the hearts of all.
Disc 1: OFFERING Part 1/2
Disc 2: OFFERING Part 3 + 32mn bonus track "Out of this world"
Disc 3: OFFERING Part 4
Disc 4: OFFERING Afiieh - The fifth album from OFFERING opens with the HYMN KOBAIAN which reminds us just how much MAGMA is ever-present, not only in the soul of Christian VANDER but also in our own hearts. COSMOS and AFFIEH, well known to OFFERING fans through their regular performance in concert, have a rare unearthly beauty and are one of the most imposing evocations of the infinite ever attempted, a perfect impressionistic representation of spiritual purity invoked through an astonishing musical atmosphere which mirrors the boundless supra-physical immenseness of the ethereal worlds. Thus Christian VANDER describes the vital, super-energetic cosmic force productive of life itself AUM-like rumblings from synthesisers, waves of cymbals, choir-like voices, the harmonic richness of the piano, a full percussion section, and finally, the great beauty of the melody, culminating in a stirring crescendo which summarises all the various themes. AFFIEH is a magnificent and essential record, of such great coherence that it reaches and surpasses the confines of the physical Universe, touching us in the depth of our souls and unconscious.
4 CD set for $60



LOL COXHILL With VICTOR BROX/PAUL RUTHERFORD et al - Before My Time (Nato/Chabada/Hope St 10052; EEC) Before My Time is a fun, typically oddball Nato/Chabada release from 1987, being a mix between modern and traditional jazzers. This finds Coxhill and company covering New Orleans jazz tunes and performing some originals inspired by New Orleans music. Among the musicians joining him are trombonist Paul Rutherford and multi-instrumentalist Victor Brox. ~ Joslyn Layne, AMG Lol Coxhill, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, voice; Stan Greig, piano, drums (tracks 2, 3, 9); Paul Rutherford, trombone, euphonium (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 9); Dave Green, double bass (tracks 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12); Bruce Turner, alto saxophone, clarinet (tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 14); Victor Brox, piano, voice, cornets, guitar, pocket trumpet (tracks 3, 5, 7 8, 11, 14).
CD $12.00 7 for 6 SALE.

STEVE BERESFORD With TONY COE/LOUIS SCLAVIS/HAN BENNINK//CHARLES TRENET - L'Extraordinaire Jardin De Charles Trenet (Nato/Chabada/Hope St 10055; EEC) Charles Trenet is one of the greats in the history of French song. Playing with words, including mixing jazz, he is well known and recognized for "La Mer", "I Sing", or "The Extraordinary Garden". With his band, Steve Beresford (ex Flying Lizard, ex Alterations and member of the Melody Four) offers a visit to the country of crazy singing and in conclusion, he offers an original called "Learn French with Trenet" which explains how you can not book either method, easily learn French in just listening to Charles Trenet. [roughly translated.. indeed!]
CD $12.00 7 for 6 SALE.

STEVE BERESFORD/DAVID TOOP/JOHN ZORN/TONIE MARSHALL - Deadly Weapons (Nato/Hope St 10051; France) This collective of jazz improv weirdoes banded together for a one-off in 1986 to riff on the deep vibe of all things French and cinematic. Backing vocalist Toni Marshall, Zorn, Beresford, and Toop created a virtual and highly experimental film noir soundtrack to a movie that perhaps existed in the mind of Jean-Luc Godard in the 1950s, but was never made
CD $12.00 7 for 6 SALE.

TONY COE - Les voix d'itxassou (Nato/Hope St 10054; France) Les Voix d'Itxassou is perhaps saxophonist, composer, and arranger Tony Coe's most ambitious project. Here he pairs an orchestra of no less than 18 pieces with vocalists from all over the world to sing songs of political, social, spiritual, economic, and class alienation and resolve. With many texts written by poet Francis Marmonde, some of the singers -- who include Marianne Faithfull, Ali Farka Toure, Maggie Bell, Abed Azrie, FranXoise Fabian, Marie Atger, and Juan JosX Mosalini, to name but a few -- offer aspects of the various tragedies of nationalism and dislocation.
CD $12.00 7 for 6 SALE.

TONY HYMAS With JIM PEPPER/JEFF BECK/RAY RUSSELL/CHRIS LAURENCE et al - Oyate [2 CD set + Book] (Nato 777702/Hope St 10056; EEC) Tony Hymas played keyboards for Jack Bruce (mid-70's), Jeff Beck, Stan Sulzman and had a quartet with Tony Coe, Hughie Burns & Terry Bozzio. He has performed modern classical music (Ligeti, Tippett & Prokofiev) and currently has quartet called Ursus Minor w/ Jef Lee Johnson, Francois Corneloue & Dave King. "Oyate" is Tony Hymas' first of ten discs and was released in 1990. Mr. Hymas' music and vision of the sad history on Native Americans is presented here with taste and sincerity. A handful of Native American speakers and vocalists narrate the sad tale most effectively. This is a great soundtrack for the mind, with just enough pictures and voices to help see the unfolding story. - BLG
2 CD set for $12.00 7 for 6 SALE.

TONY HYMAS/BARNEY BUSH With EVAN PARKER/JEAN-FRANCOIS PAUVROS/JONATHAN KANE - Left For Dead [2 CD set + Book] (Nato 112139/Hope St 10057; EEC) Tony Hymas: keyboards and percussion; Barney Bush: voice; Edmond Tate Nevaquaya: voclals, flute, tambour; Evan Parker: saxophone; Merle Tendoy: vocals, tambour; Jean-Francois Pauvros: guitare, vocals; Geraldine Barney: voice, tambour, lulu; Jonathan Kane: drums; Hawk (Hawk chef du Shawnee United Remnant Band chante Ancient War Song): vocals The recordings were made during tour of autumn 1993. The flutist and singer Comanche Edmond Tate Nevaquaya (already present on the second part of the Remake American Dream) and newcomers, the Navajo singer Geraldine Barney, the Cree-Shoshone singer Merle Tendoy, saxophonist Evan Parker, guitarist Jean-Francois Pauvros and drummer Johnathan Kane complete the group. The title "Left for Dead" is a tribute to Leonard Peltier.
2 CD set for $12.00 7 for 6 SALE.


AKATEN [TATSUYA YOSHIDA/ATSUSHI TSUYAMA] - Chateau Du Akaten (Magaibutsu 19; Japan) Akaten is the inadvertently formed band of Yoshida Tatsuya, from Ruins, and Tsuyama Atsushi, from Omoide-Hatoba. The fifth album of Akaten provides much better sound quality by introducing hard disk recording. It's everyday life-based experimental acousticism pop music promoting living noises such as toothbrush, wine, and flush toilet.
CD $14



GROUP DOUEH - Guitar Music from the Western Sahara (Sublime Freq 030; USA) If you think you've heard all the great electric guitar styles in the world, think again. This Saharan sand-blizzard of fine-crushed glass will grind your face to a bloody pulp. Group Doueh play raw and unfiltered Saharawi music from the former colonial Spanish outpost of the Western Sahara. Doueh (pronounced "Doo-way") is their leader and a master of the electric guitar. Doueh has turned down countless offers from Morocco and Europe to release his music but he decided to offer us access to his homemade recordings and photo archive for this amazing debut album.
CD $15

CHOUBI CHOUBI! [V.A.] - Folk & Pop Sounds from Iraq (Sublime Freq 025; USA) Meticulously selected from Iraqi cassettes and LPs found in Syria, Europe and the Iraqi neighborhoods of Detroit, Michigan, this unique collection of folk and pop styles displays a wealth of outstanding music that is exclusive to Iraq and has rarely been showcased abroad. Being a folk-rock record, it's a true anomaly for Iraq. Hassan was a mouthpiece for the Iraqi Socialist movement just a few years before Saddam Hussein. But most of the music in this collection was produced during the Saddam period between the 1980s and 2002. Since the 2003 invasion and the wholesale disassembly of the country, classic tracks like these may already be part of a disappeared past.
CD $15

OMAR SOULEYMAN - Highway to Hassake: Folk & Pop Sounds of Syria (Sublime Freq 031; USA) Omar Souleyman is a Syrian musical legend. Since 1994, he and his musicians have emerged as a staple of folk-pop throughout Syria, but until now they have remained little known outside of the country. To date, they have issued more than five-hundred studio and live-recorded cassette albums which are easily spotted in the shops of any Syrian city. Born in rural northeastern Syria, he began his musical career in 1994 with a small group of local collaborators that remain with him today. The myriad musical traditions of the region are evident in their music. Here, classical Arabic mawal-style vocalization gives way to high-octane Syrian dabke (the regional folkloric dance and party music), Iraqi choubi and a host of Arabic, Kurdish and Turkish styles, among others. This amalgamation is truly the sound of Syria
CD $15



More John Cipollina psychedelia!

QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE [JOHN CIPOLLINA et al] - Live At The Avalon Ballroom, San Francisco, 9th September 1966 (Bear 105 VPT/1245; UK) Recorded in San Francisco, 9th September 1966. First in a series of live QMS from this Voiceprint subsidiary. Good-to-mediocre radio broadcast live material, but from an early/crucial era in the band's development -- so, worthwhile to those who know.
"Quicksilver Messenger Service is considered to be one of the most important bands to come from the San Francisco music scene of the '60s along with their contemporaries The Grateful Dead and The Jefferson Airplane. The band initially came together in 1965 and proceeded to play a great many gigs across America. The band became one of the most popular draws in the Bay area of San Francisco and built a solid reputation as a strong live act built around a mixture of good material and what would essentially become their calling card -- long extended jamming pieces. The original line up was guitarists John Cippolina and Gary Duncan alongside drummer Greg Elmore, bassist David Frieberg and vocalist Jim Murray. Originally vocalist Dino Valenti was also in line to become a member however he was arrested and jailed on drugs charges whilst the band was still in its formative stages. He did, however, join the band at a later date. The original line up lasted from the bands inception in late 1965 until they signed with Capitol Records in late 1967. This early period performance of the band was captured at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco on the 9th of September 1966. The Avalon Ballroom was one of the most important venues in San Francisco operated by Chet Helms and his Family Dog Productions. Amongst the highlights here are the songs 'Pride of Man' which would grace the bands debut album some 18 months later and also 'Mona' -- a key track from the 1969 album Happy Trails. Two other tracks heavily associated with Quicksilver Messenger Service also find their way into the set and they are 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' and 'Codeine.' There is also a twenty minute plus version of 'Hoochie Coochie Man' which highlights the musical interplay of the band and their jamming skills."
CD $17

QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE [JOHN CIPOLLINA et al] - Live At The Avalon Ballroom, San Francisco, 28th October 1966 (Bear 106 VPT/1246; UK)
CD $17

QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE [JOHN CIPOLLINA et al] - Live At The Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, 4th February 1967 [2 CD set] (Bear 107 VPT/1247; UK) "A performance from the Fillmore in San Francisco, by the Quicksilver Messenger Service. This recording contains many highlights including superb versions of 'You Don't Love Me' and 'A Fool For You,' 'Gold and Silver,' 'Walkin' Blues,' 'I Hear You Knocking' and 'All Night Worker,' and shows the band were flexible and able to put together a set that highlighted their musical dexterity and also their choice of material, although the performances are different."
2 CD set for $22

QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE [JOHN CIPOLLINA et al] - Live At The Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, 6th February 1967 (Bear 108 VPT/1289; UK) "This recording, while being a single disc, contains many highlights including superb versions of 'You Don't Love Me' and 'A Fool For You.' While not radically different from the set of the 4th of February, although shorter, the set does include 'Gold And Silver,' 'Walkin' Blues,' 'I Hear You Knocking' and 'All Night Worker' and shows the band were flexible and able to put together a set that highlighted their musical dexterity and also their choice of material -- although the performances are different."
CD $17

QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE [JOHN CIPOLLINA et al] - Live At The Carousel Ballroom, San Francisco, 4th April 1968 [2 CD set] (Bear 109 VPT/1296; UK)
2 CD set for $22


DOCTOR STRANGELY STRANGE - Kip Of The Serenes (Hux 104; UK) Based in Dublin, Dr Strangely Strange were friends and contemporaries of the Incredible String Band, whose producer Joe Boyd signed them to his Witchseason management and production company in 1969. This first album originally came out in mid 1969 on Island Records.
Over the years, Kip has acquired a considerable cult status; in 2007, Record Collector Magazine proclaimed it one of the UK's 'hundred most collectable progressive rock records.'
Previous CD reissues of Kip have been of variable quality, but we have now set matters right with this special Collectors' Edition. Using the tape restoration skills of the Audio Archiving Company, we have re-mastered the album directly from the original stereo mixes and added four previously unheard bonus tracks, taken from the original studio sessions. Belying the age of the tapes, the sound quality is sparkling.
Music historian Adrian Whittaker, responsible for our well-received archive Strangelies release Halcyon Days, has put together a lavish accompanying booklet including a history of the band, new interviews with the band members, Joe Boyd and writer Iain Sinclair, full lyrics to the songs and many previously unseen photographs.
CD $18

SHAWN PHILLIPS - At The BBC (Hux 102; UK) Shawn Phillips is one of the most fascinating and enigmatic musicians to come out of the 1960s singer/songwriter boom. He remains on the periphery of mainstream rock, despite selling hundreds of thousands of albums and singles since he first came on to the scene.
Once famously described by the late rock impresario Bill Graham as "the best kept secret in the music business", Shawn has collaborated with the good and great - from Stevie Winwood and Eric Clapton, to Donovan, Tim Hardin and Bernie Taupin. He was cast to play the lead in the original production of Jesus Christ Superstar, but had to pull out due to his other music commitments. He has also written soundtracks for and starred in movies.
Phillips is a fascinating and enigmatic musician. His refusal to shape his music - which crosses between folk-rock, jazz, progressive, pop, and classical - to anyone else's expectations has allowed him to hold onto a large and dedicated cult following, without ever achieving the stardom that his talent would merit.
These previously overlooked BBC radio sessions, recorded for John Peel and Bob Harris, reveal Shawn Phillips' breathtaking versatility, from stunning solo acoustic balladry to full on jazz funk workouts on which he collaborates with the English band, Quatermass.
This CD, released with the full approval of Shawn Phillips, has been digitally re-mastered by Ron Geesin. The accompanying 16 page full colour booklet features extensive liner notes, including an interview with Shawn, plus several rare photographs.
CD $18


SHADRACK CHAMELEON - Shadrack Chameleon (Gear Fab 110; USA) The song titles and length of time are the same, but the digital remastering has been done off new source data and is far superior to the earlier version. "The Humbolt, Iowa's classic 1972 Self-Titled LP along with Steve Fox and Randy Berka's earliest effort on the Sonic label 'It Was Me' b/w 'I Wonder Why', when they were known only as 'Shadrack'. This music is a cross between Traffic and Donovan."
CD $14

LESLIE'S MOTEL - Dirty Sheets (Gear Fab 235; USA) "The eighth installment of our Louisville Music series. Another great band that had members of The Oxfords sprinkled in with Blues Project drummer Ron Blumenfeld! Recorded in 1970 in Louisville, Kentucky and produced by Oxford's lead guitarist Jay Petach. Their sound is very reminiscent of Ten Years After, The Allman Brothers and the Grateful Dead."
CD $14


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