DMG Newsletter for July 17th 2015

Post Vision Fest 20 / Mid Summer Jamboree of Dynamite Discs from:

Roscoe Mitchell/Tomeka Reid Qt! Dick Griffin Sun Ra Tribute! New from Rogue Art: Matt Shipp Qt: Sabir Mateen/William Parker/Gerald Cleaver! The Turbine!: Harrison Bankhead/Hamid Drake..! William Parker Conversations II 500 Page Book!

Ivo Perelman with Matt Shipp/Mat Maneri & Joe Morris/Whit Dickey! Wayne Horvitz Septet! Tony Wilson/Peggy Lee/Jon Bentley! Ron Anderson Oblique Qt! Paul Dunmall & Tony Bianco Trane 2 CD Set! Yoni Kretzmer & Andrew Drury! Merzbow! 3 from Eighty Pound Pug!

Plus Historic Discs from: Hugh Hopper Vol Seven: Elton Dean/Sophia Domancich! Robert Wyatt/Dave McRae/Gary Windo/Richard Sinclair! Third Ear Band! Iskra 1903 Chapter One! Art Zoyd! Plus LPs from Joe McPhee! Mike Cooper! Mulatu Statke! Big Maybelle! Return to Forever! Herbie Hancock! Patti Smith and much more..!

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The DMG FREE Weekly In-Store Concert Series Continues With:

Sunday, July 19th:
6pm: RAS MOSHE & LEX SAMU - Reeds & Trumpet!

Sunday, July 26th:
6pm: FRANCOIS GRILLOT/TOMAS ULRICH/JEREMY CARLSTEDT!

Sunday, August 9th - Tuba Double-Header:
6pm: CARL LUDWIG HUBSCH - Solo Tuba!
7pm: BEN STAPP - Solo Tuba!

Sunday, August 16th Early Double-Header:
5pm: LEAP OF FAITH: PEK-clarinets, saxes, double reeds/GLYNIS LOMON-cello, aquasonic/STEVE NORTON-clarinets, saxes/YURI ZBITNOV-drums!
6pm: THOMAS HEBERER..!

*****

ROSCOE MITCHELL QUARTET With TOMEKA REID/JUNIUS PAUL/VINCENT DAVIS - Celebrating Fred Anderson (Nessa 37; USA) Featuring Roscoe Mitchell on reeds, Tomeka Reid on cello, Junius Paul on bass and Vincent Davis on drums. The recent Roscoe Mitchell set of two trios apart & combined at Vision Fest 20 (on 7/7/15) was for myself and many other attendees the best set of this years' week long festival! The great Chicago cellist Tomeka Reid also played at the Vision Fest this year in a great trio with Mazz Swift & Silvia Bolognesi, as well as with Hamiet Bluiett's Telepathic Big Band. I know of bassist Junius Paul from his work with Ernest Dawkins and Kahil El'Zabar, and drummer Vincent Davis from his work with Malachi Favors, Scott Fields and a previous disc with Roscoe Mitchell. A promo of this disc should be on its way. Can't wait to hear it.
CD $15


DICK GRIFFIN With MARSHALL ALLEN/BENNIE MAUPIN/DANNY RAY THOMPSON/DONALD SMITH/CECIL McBEE/NASHEET WAITS - Homage to Sun Ra (Ruby Records 004; USA) Featuring Dick Griffin on trombone, Marshall Allen on alto sax & kora, Bennie Maupin on alto flute, bass clarinet & soprano sax, Danny Ray Thompson on bari sax, Donald Smith on piano, Cecil McBee on bass and Nasheet Waits on drums. Who knew? Iconic trombonist, Dick Griffin's first professional job was playing in the Sun Ra Arkestra (late fifties?) where he met Marshall Allen & John Gilmore and learned to play Sun Ra's unique music. Mr. Griffin has long wanted to do an homage to Sun Ra and finally organized his dream band when Bennie Maupin got stuck in NY during Hurricane Sandy. As most Sun Ra fans know, Mr. Ra's music was extremely diverse and embraced many styles, from early big band music to the blues, avant-garde and space music. Although Mr. Griffin's group covers just two Sun Ra songs, the rest of this disc features the same wealth of styles. Commencing with a fine, earthy blues called "Blues for Sun Ra", right away we are feeling great. An early Sun Ra song called "Fate in a Pleasant Mood" is done and seems to emanate from a dream world, with lush harmonies for the horns and exquisite, harp-like piano flourishes. The one vocal track here is "Interplanetary" which is also sublime, dreamy and quite nice. What I find most interesting about this disc is this: the Sun Ra Arkestra is often known for their over-the-top free jazz (saxists especially) and intense space music. That is not what we find here yet the cerebral, spacey effect is similar and does a fine job of taking us away on warm, welcoming journey to the stars. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $15


Three Treasures from Rogue Art:

MATTHEW SHIPP QUARTET [With SABIR MATEEN/WILLIAM PARKER/GERALD CLEAVER] - Our Lady of the Flowers (Rogue Art 0057; France) Featuring Matt Shipp on piano, Sabir Mateen on tenor sax & clarinet, William Parker on double bass and Gerald Cleaver on drums. Downtown piano master, Matthew Shipp, has been on a roll. His new trio (with Michael Bisio & Newman Taylor Baker) played at the final night (7/12/15) of the Vision Fest 20 and were sensational! A handful of duo sets with Mr. Bisio have also been consistently great. Not forgetting three recent CDs, a duo with Mat Walerian (Polish reeds player) on ESP and a trio with William Parker & Jeff Cosgrove, are also most impressive and quite different. Perhaps the best of the recent bunch is that incredible chamber trio with Mat Maneri & Mr. Bisio (on Relative Pitch). Which brings us to this one.. Matt Shipp has not recorded with his own quartet in a long while, although he has worked William Parker and Gerald Cleaver on many projects, most recently for saxist Ivo Perelman. Sabir Mateen and Mr. Shipp have also collaborated on some half dozen discs, although Since Mr. Mateen moved to Italy a couple of years back, recordings with both will be much less frequent. The music here is extraordinary! - BLG/DMG RogueArt released Salute To 1000001 Stars with a Genet text read by French actor Denis Levant & music written & played by Matthew Shipp & this same quartet he assembled for that occasion which he called Declared Enemy - continuing with that homage Shipp has chosen to name this cd after Genet's in/famous novel Our Lady of The Flowers > here are duos, trios & solos selected/composed by Shipp, the totality of which, represents his further feelings & involvement with Genet's work as well as his own ideas of individual & group voicing & expression." - Steve Dalachinsky, excerpt from the liner notes
CD $16

THE TURBINE! [HARRISON BANKHEAD/BENJAMIN DUBOC/HAMID DRAKE/RAMON LOPEZ + JEAN-LUC CAPPOZZO /LIONEL GARCIN/WILLIAM PARKER] - Entropy/Enthalpy [2 CD Set] (Rogue Art 0058; France) The Turbine! features the double rhythm team of Harrison Bankhead & Benjamin Duboc on double basses and Hamid Drakes & Ramon Lopez on drums & percussion plus guests Jean-Luc Cappozzo on trumpet, Lionel Garcin on alto sax and William Parker on double bass. This double disc set was recorded live in France in February of 2014 during a tour. You no doubt know the premiere Chicago rhythm team of Harrison Bankhead and Hamid Drake from dozens of great sessions. French bassist Benjamin Duboc can be found on a dozen discs on the Clean Feed, Ayler and Improvising Beings label. Spanish drummer Rayom Lopez can also be found on a dozen discs with Agusti Fernandez & Joachim Kuhn. I've caught Italian trumpeter Jean-Luc Cappozzo with the Globe Unity Orchestra, as well as an international trumpet sextet over the past few years. If you think that having a double rhythm team would limit the sound or ideas in any way, you would be wrong since the sound of this group is magnificent, powerful, consistently awe-inspiring. The blend of both bassists, drum set or frame drum and tablas is expansive and joyous. While one rhythm team plays the groove or pulse, the other one plays around or with them, all four (or five when William Parker is added), ascending their spirits together. Sometimes the sets break down to solos, duos or trios, yet the ever-enchanting central core/spirit remains throughout. Another outstanding offering from the consistently grand Rouge Art label. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
2 CD Set $24


WILLIAM PARKER//JEFF SCHLANGER/JACQUES BISCEGLIA/KIDD JORDAN/ED HAZELL - Conversations II - Dialogues and Monologues [ 500 Page BOOK + CD] (RogueArt; France) Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice! This is the second incredible offering of important interviews/monologues with more than thirty musicians and artists that bassist/composer/multi-bandleader/visionary William Parker has done and again he and the Rogue Art label have done another outstanding job. I just finished reading Mr. Parker's first thick book of interviews that Rogue Art released a few years back and have savored learning so many things about the many musicians that help us to understand our world in different ways. Besides the interviews, there is also the artwork of MusicWitness Jeff Schlanger, pictures by the great French avant/jazz photographer Jacques Bisceglia plus a swell CD with William Parker and Kidd Jordan. Here a short list of the interviewees: Yusef Lateef, Jemeel Moondoc, Mark Helias, Marshall Allen, Tim Berne, Jerome Cooper, Butch Morris, Wadada Leo Smith, Steve Swell, David S. Ware, William Hooker, Henry Grimes and many more! This is essential reading if you care about the future of creative music. - BLG/DMG
BOOK + CD $45


Three New Ivo Perelman CDs from Leo Records:

IVO PERELMAN / MATTHEW SHIPP - Callas [2 CD Set] (Leo 728/729; UK) Featuring Ivo Perelman on tenor sax and Matt Shipp on piano. This double CD dedicated to the memory of Greek diva Maria Callas, Ivo Perelman and Matthew Shipp, who have recorded on some dozen disc s previously, open a new chapter in their musical partnership. It is not just two improvising musicians with telepathic understanding of each other. It goes beyond that. There are many brilliant examples of saxophone-piano duets but this one is different. It is a kind of a new genre. The flow of music is so natural, so organic, there are not two but one mind at work. As I was saying in an earlier review today (7/14/15), Matt Shipp is on a roll, with three amazing discs released in the past six months. This is the fourth fabulous disc in a row. Each of the 16 pieces here are named after different characters who the great opera singer Maria Callas has played in her lifetime. I can't tell if there is or was any direct influence from the operas that Ms. Callas was a part of, but the way this duo works together is thoughtful, often warm and consistently enchanting. Without getting too dense or dark, there is a fine, hypnotic, intelligent conversation going on here. It turns out that Mr. Perelman has been practicing by playing the arias that Ms. Callas sung, thus being influenced by her distinctive voice and the music. In many ways, this is an immensely well-matched duo that do sound as if they are playing with one common mind. Superb. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
2 CD Set $28 ($1 off for first week until 7/24/15)

IVO PERELMAN / MAT MANERI / JOE MORRIS - Counterpoint (Leo 730; UK) Featuring Ivo Perelman on tenor sax, Mat Maneri on viola and Joe Morris on guitar. Three masters of improv doing what they do best. Mat Maneri and Joe Morris once had a trio with Joe Maneri on reeds, Mat's father, with two great discs out on ECM and Hatology. Mat and Joe had not played together in along while, until recently when Mr. Morris did a fine quartet disc on Clean Feed called "Balance". This is the first time that this particular trio has recorded. Brazilian-born, NY-based saxist, Ivo Perelman, brought them together again recently for this session and what a glorious session it is. Mat Maneri has a most distinctive sound on the viola, bending notes in his own way, playing between the cracks. Both Mr. Perelman and Mr. Morris must adapt and play those odd notes/sounds, in between the usual established territory. This makes for challenging playing and demanding listening, which is well worth the effort. There is a calm center to this quiet storm which erupts, expands and then contracts. Over the past few years, Joe Morris has continued to evolve by playing with more musicians and challenging himself. I've heard with John Zorn on a couple of occasions and was knocked out by the outcome. This is an incredible session, restless, diving deeply into the unknown and with strong, spirited results. Highly recommended! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $17 ($1 off for first week until 7/24/15)

IVO PERELMAN / WHIT DICKEY - Tenorhood (Leo 714; UK) For this meditation session, we ask you not to think about the legends of the tenor saxophone. Just listen to the interplay between Ivo Perelman and drummer Whit Dickey. Press play, and ignore the track titles dedicated to Hank Mobley, Ben Webster, John Coltrane, Albert Ayler, and Sonny Rollins. Why? Because, the saxophonist did just that when he created Tenorhood, a totally improvised collection of pieces the pair recorded in 2014. As with all his later work, this music is improvised. A switch is flipped and the magic happens. With Tenorhood, he created these titles after playback- Perelman hearing the gestures and fragments of his tenor saxophone heroes within his own creations. The pleasure here is finding those gestures in this music. The easiest to recognize is "For Ayler," a sound Perelman has conjured from his earliest days. Listen again to Soccer Land (Ibeji, 1994) and Albert Ayler's spirit is ever present in the wail and yowl of the master. Then there's "For Coltrane," and certainly no modern player has escaped feeling the weight of John Coltrane's music in life. Perelman and Dickey exercise the music of Intersteller Space (Impulse!, 1967), Dickey is a dynamo here, but more importantly, he is as much an accompanist to Perelman as pianist Matthew Shipp. He can color his sound, support, or challenge the saxophonist. He is even given all of the title track to solo with mallets and cymbals. There is spirit here, and life. The beauty of Ben Webster and the swing of Hank Mobley, both laid out in only barely recognizable signals. The pair end with Sonny Rollins. Perelman works that upper altissimo register that both he and Rollins are famous four. If you listen to Tenorhood with the openness of a meditator's mind, you are certain to hear all the spirits that inhabit the person that is Ivo Perelman. - Mark Corroto, AAJ
CD $17 ($1 off for first week until 7/24/15)


WAYNE HORVITZ With RON MILES/TIM YOUNG/PEGGY LEE/SARA SCHOENBECK/KEITH LOWE/ERIC EAGLE - Some Places are Forever Afternoon [11 Places for Richard Hugo] (Songlines 1612; Canada) Featuring Wayne Horvitz on piano, Hammond organ, electronics & compositions, Ron Miles on cornet, Sara Schoenbeck on bassoon, Peggy Lee on cello, Tim Young on guitar, Keith Lowe on bass and Eric Eagle on drums. Mr. Horvitz composed these eleven pieces inspired by the poems of Richard Hugo. He organized a fine seven-piece ensemble with musicians he has worked with in the past, time and again. The personnel includes two members of Wayne's old band Zony Mash, Mr. Young and Mr. Lowe, as well as the drummer from the Acoustic Zony Mash. The poems and pictures of some of the places that inspired them are included in the 26-page booklet. As I read through the poems, I realize how wonderful they are. Like short stories or scenes from movie or novel, they capture a certain tangible spirit. The music also has that enchanting, rural Americana vibe that sounds so familiar. I hear a waltz of sorts on "Those Who Remain are the Worst", a lilting melody, with dreamy guitar and cornet gently interwoven. The music often has that wide-open spaces sound, something we rarely get a chance to experience in tangled web of distractions in NYC. I love the carnivalesque atmosphere on "All Weather is Yours No Matter How Vulgar?", are we in New Orleans or somewhere similar? It sounds as if Mr. Horvitz is writing for a small orchestra, the way he uses each instrument, things seem larger of more full due to the sly, though full arrangements. "For Jim and Lois Welch" recalls the best of that folky yet cerebral sound that Bill Frisell often evokes on his better discs. There is an earthy, human quality to this offering that I find most endearing. Everything about this disc is most enchanting, like a welcome reunion with your family or friends, the ones you still love and get along with. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $15


WAXWING [TONY WILSON/PEGGY LEE/JON BENTLEY] - A Bowl of Sixty Taxidermists (Songlines 1611; Canada) Featuring Tony Wilson on guitar, Peggy Lee on cello and Jon Bentley on tenor, soprano & C-melody saxes, bass & percussion. This is the second CD from this Vancouver-based trio, the first was on Drip Audio. Both Tony Wilson and Peggy Lee have led several bands, as well as being busy collaborators for folks like Francois Houle, Wayne Horvitz and Dave Douglas. Mr. Wilson and Ms. Lee have also played in each others bands through the years so they have developed a strong musical bond in their playing. All three members contributed songs as well as doing a couple of group improvs. The title track opens with nifty interlocking lines of the guitar, tenor sax and cello, calmly played yet intricately written. While the guitar plays this folky phrase over and over, the cello and tenor sax spin tightly around one another playing hushed bent notes. A most impressive opener. "For Ross" is a lovely ballad with all three members playing the touching melody together. Elegant, touching and dedicated to the memory of Ross Taggart, an inspiration for this disc. You can that a great of time and thought went into creating this disc since each piece sounds complete, using all three members to their fullest. "Ponderosa" has one of those repeating guitar lines which will quickly draw you in and not let go, hypnotic and most enchanting. If someone were to ask what type of music this is, I would say that is beyond regular categories: somewhere between chamber jazz and folk/rock, often elegant, consistently crafty and unpredictable. Even the freer pieces are economical & thoughtfully expressed. In other words, magical. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $15


OBLIQUE QUARTET [With RON ANDERSON/MARCO FIERRO/CARLOS FIERRO/AZAEL GONZALEZ] - Tlaloc Beat [LTD Ed of 150] (Alphatauri 001; Mexico) The Oblique Quartet features Ron Anderson on lead guitar, Marco Fierro on synth, Carlos Fierro on bass and Azael Gonzalez on drums. Ron Anderson is difficult to pin down - being a longtime Downtown player, living in the Bay area for a decade, playing in bands like the Molecules, RonRuins and Pak and working with a diverse crew of players: Tatsuya Yoshida, 99 Hooker, Steve Buchanan, Jason Willett and Chris Pitsiokos. Ron has toured in Europe and Japan, collaborating with musicians from around the world. For this disc, Mr. Anderson traveled to Mexico City to work with three Mexican musicians. The results: brain-blasting prog/metal played tight and with immense power! Marco Fierro plays what sounds like an analogue synth (static-like screeches) and is a perfect match for Anderson's awe-inspiring prog/metal guitar. When Mr. Anderson cuts loose on "Agua Celeste", he reaches deep and pulls off an incredible brain-frying guitar solo! On "Fourth Layer" bassist Carlos Fierro is featured and shows his incredible, fleet-fingered playing. Too much! I haven't heard any music like this in a long while, so it sure feels great to have this immense blast kicking my and your butts from here to eternity! This disc is around 28 minutes, which is just long enough to inspire this who need it! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $12


Important Historic, Archival & Reissued Recordings:

HUGH HOPPER With ELTON DEAN/SOPHIA DOMANCICH/SIMON GOUBET - Volume Seven: Soft Boundaries (Gonzo 249; UK) Featuring Hugh Hopper on bass, Elton Dean on alto sax & saxello, Sophia Domancich on grand piano & Fender Rhodes and Simon Goubet on drums, plus guest Jean Michel Couchet on alto sax. This was recorded live at Le Triton in Paris in 2005 and this quartet was also known as Soft Bounds.
CD $17

WMWS [ROBERT WYATT/DAVE McRAE/GARY WINDO/RICHARD SINCLAIR - One Night Stand (Gonzo 310; UK) WMWS were a short-lived English group formed in Spring 1973 by Robert Wyatt, Dave MacRae, Gary Windo and Ron Mathewson (the band's name being the initials of its member), which played only a handful of gigs, of totally improvised music. For one concert in April 14th, 1973 at Ronnie Scott's Upsairs Club in London, Mathewson wasn't available and Richard Sinclair was asked to stand in for the bass player - this concert was recorded on cassette and eventually released officially in 2015 with the band name becoming WMWS. WMWS features Robert Wyatt (Soft Machine, Matching Mole) on drums & vocals, Dave McRae (Matching Mole, Nucleus) on electric & acoustic piano, Richard Sinclair (Caravan, Hatfield & the North) on bass guitar and Gary Windo (Carla Bley Euro Band) on tenor sax.
CD $17

THIRD EAR BAND - Necromancers of the Drifting West (Gonzo 311; UK) Third Ear Band were a British psychedelic folk band that evolved within the London alternative and free-music scene of the mid-1960s. Members came from The Giant Sun Trolley and The People Band to create an improvised music drawing on Eastern raga forms, European folk, experimental and medieval influences. They recorded their first session in 1968 for Ron Geesin which was released under the pseudonym of The National Balkan Ensemble on one side of a Standard Music Library disc. Their first actual album, Alchemy, was released on the EMI Harvest label in 1969, (featuring John Peel playing jaw harp on one track), followed by Air, Earth, Fire, Water (aka Elements) in 1970. They recorded two soundtracks, the first in 1970 for an animated film by Herbert Fuchs of Abelard and Heloise (which first saw release as part of Luca Ferrari's Necromancers of the Drifting West Sonic Book in 1997) Luca writes: On 1996, when I decided to write a book on the Third Ear Band, I collaborated with of all the members of the group, except Richard Coff (apparently no one knew where he was) and Ursula Smith. The first time the title was intended for the book, it was called "Tickling the Third Ear" and the idea was to make an historical, chronological reconstruction of the TEB's story to free the band from that aura of mystery surrounding his story. But just at the end of the writing, when I completed the essay for the introduction, I decided for "Necromancers of the Drifting West": for myself, in fact, the Band has advanced the so-called World Music and the multicultural/intercultural dimension of the relation between West and the rest of the world. At the same time, in my opinion, their music was a sort of sign, a monition of musical (and cultural) decline of the old Europe (for that reason the image of 'necromancers'). A group strongly political, I think, because "silence", acoustic (as natural) sounds (no words), minimalism aesthetic, are really 'political' today, in this age of excess of experiences.
CD $17


ISKRA 1903 [PAUL RUTHERFORD/DEREK BAILEY/BARRY GUY] - Chapter One 1970-1972 [3 CD Set] (Emanem 5311; UK) Iskra 1903, named after a newspaper founded by Lenin, has had several incarnations. This one, as befits a disc entitled Chapter One, was the first: Paul Rutherford (trombone and piano), Derek Bailey (guitar), and Barry Guy (double bass). The first revelation is that Rutherford plays piano, and that he's a worthwhile improviser on that instrument. The second is that this music, for all its uncompromisingly unpremeditated and atonal character, contains a great deal that beguiles and fascinates. This massive 3-disc set contains music from a September 2, 1970 concert, a May 3, 1972 recording session, a 1971 session, and three fall 1972 German tour dates. The first disc, containing the 1970 concert, features Rutherford on piano on three tracks only. He is a spacy, searching pianist-in his laconic use of space, he's rather like a Herbie Hancock of free playing. Perhaps because of the nature of the instrument, the piano tends to anchor the music and suggest, at times rather insistently, tonalities that Bailey nonetheless effortlessly avoids-especially in moments on the lengthy "Improvisation 1." When Rutherford switches to trombone, which he plays for the bulk of disc one and for all of discs two and three, he coils lines around Bailey's, sometimes accenting and extending, sometimes cutting off. Guy is his usual percussive self. There is, of course, no narrative flow as such to this music; rather, it progresses by the creation of evanescent soundscapes that vanish almost as quickly as they appear. Many are fascinating, especially on disc two, which is the one to which I found myself returning most often. But to isolate them is to try to catch a snowflake and frame it. So it is with all of Derek Bailey's music-as well as that of the other two. Certainly Rutherford brings a certain dash to these sessions, whereas some of the guitarist's other partners let matters slip into the cagiest of murmurings. Thus these three discs may be good entry points for those who want to hear what Derek Bailey can do as an improviser, and how he interacts with other masterful free musicians. In any case, this is a superabundance of gripping music that amply rewards close listening. - Robert Spencer, AAJ
3 CD Set $36


PAUL MOTIAN With BILL FRISELL/JOE LOVANO/CHARLIE HADEN - Standards Plus One (W&W 910 223; Germany) Reissue compilation from various recordings, some of which are currently out-of-print.
CD $15


New on Slam:

PAUL DUNMALL / TONY BIANCO - Homage to John Coltrane [2 CD Set] (Slam 296; UK) Featuring Paul Dunmall on tenor sax, flute & saxello and Tony Bianco on drums. This is the third tribute to the legendary saxist John Coltrane that this duo has done and it was recorded live at Delbury hall in Shropshire and at Cafe Oto in London, both in 2013. It is no secret that UK sax giant, Paul Dunmall, was heavily influenced by the American sax master John Coltrane. For the past couple of decades, the majority of records that Dunmall has done have been completely improvised, rarely covering anyone's else music. Until now. For this double disc, Dunmall and his cohort, Tony Bianco, cover eleven songs written by Trane plus Trane's hit, "My Favorite Things". Opening with "Ascension", which originally featured five saxes and was often considered to be too much for many of his listeners. Does it work as a duo? Hell yes! This duo do a great job of capturing that intense, vibrating spirit, spinning a web of waves together. Coltrane's final studio recordings were called "Interstellar Space" and were indeed a duo with drums (Rashied Ali). Mr. Bianco actually reminds me of the great Rashied Ali at times, weaving a similar web. It does sound as if Dunmall and Bianco have been playing for a long while and they have on more than a dozen discs going back to the late nineties at the very least. Long, spiritual pieces like "Resolution" & "Psalm" both from "A Love Supreme" and "Transition" are all well handled. Dunmall switches to flute on "Psalm' and to saxello on "My Favorite Things" to show another approach to these pieces, the inner flame still burning bright. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
2 CD Set $18 (almost sold out of the dozen copies we just got in, but will get more very soon)


GEORGE HASLAM/RICHARD LEIGH HARRIS/STEVE KERSHAW - Suite of Dreams (Slam 330; UK) The OxJaMS trio features George Haslam on bari sax, clarinet & tarogato, Richard Leigh Harris on piano & other keyboards and Steve Kershaw on double bass & electronics. The Oxford Jazz Masters Series (Oxjams) has been around for 20 years and has featured the same trio as on this disc, often with guests like Evan Parker, Lol Coxhill and Paul Rutherford. This disc features a series of solos, duos and trios. The first piece, "Sostenuto" is a trio of taragato, synth and bass and it is spacious and eerie with strong walking bass in the mid-section. Each piece seems to evoke a different spirit or vibe. Mr. Harris plays synth or sampler, selectively adding colors or shades without taking over. Whether solo, duo or trio, there is a calm, careful and often haunting quality to this music that I dig. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $13


IMPROGRESSIVE [ERRICO DE FABRITIIS/ALBERTO POPOLLA] - Primo (Slam 564; UK) Primo is an Italian reeds duo which features Errico De Fabritiis on alto & soprano saxes and Alberto Popolla on alto, bass & regular clarinets. Half of these songs were recorded in a studio in Rome, the other half live in concert. This is an excellent tribute to a number of our favorite seventies progressive bands/and/or solo artists covering songs from: Soft Machine, King Crimson, Gong, Hatfield & the North, Caravan, Kevin Ayers and Robert Wyatt. The international influence of the Canterbury Scene is hard to deny at this point, even though that term was invented by journalists and fans and often denied by its members. Although this discs features songs from the key members/bands of this scene, Soft Machine, Caravan & Gong, it also includes two songs from King Crimson. Since each of these bands and/or solo artists are/were so different, what is the common bond to this disc? It is those charming, quirky, crafty and enchanting melodies of each of the well-chosen songs here. What also makes this endeavor unique is that the music is performed by a reeds duo and a fine one at that. Hearing Hatfield's "Calyx" as well as the Softs' "Dedicated to You but You Weren't Listening" is something quite special. One highlight is hearing King Crimson's "Pictures of the City" done with two charming reeds instead of that satanic/metalish guitar sound of the original. Canterbury fans worldwide, this delectable treasure is for you! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $13


TRIOLOGOS [PAOLO CERBONI BAJARDI/MIRCO BALLABENE/BRUNO CERBONI BAJARDI] + MASSIMO BONOMO - Traces of Chants (Slam 562; UK) Triologos features Paolo Cerboni Bajardi on saxes, Mirco Ballabene on double bass and Bruno Cerboni Bajardi on percussion plus Massimo Bonomo on piano. The "Trace of Chants" projects features the exploration of folk melodies from around the world: Pakistan, Italy, Argentina, Syria, Kenya, Hungary and Japan. The Slam label has a way of introducing to new musicians from both Italy and South America who were previously unknown to most of us. Often with great results. This is again the case here since I hadn't heard of any of the members of this trio/quartet from Italy. Although each song was inspired by a melody from a different country, the trio have their own sound. "Sanson Ki Mala" comes from Pakistan, the trio sound rich and warm with austere tenor sax, quick, spirited bass in the center and nimble hand drums backing. Mr. Ballabene's delicate, magic bass is again the heart of "Amor me fa Cantar" with some lovely soprano sax from Paolo Bajardi. Each song has a haunting quality with a melody that sounds ancient. This is a lovely, heartfelt effort that sounds better or more enchanting each time I hear it. It is as if this trio trio has tapped into ancient spirits that need to be cut loose from the chains of history or geography. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $13


THE SPIRIT FARM [CHRISTOPHE DE BEZENAC/ADAM FAIRHALL/ANTON HUNTER/JOHNNY HUNTER/DAVE KANE/COREY MWAMBA] - The Spirit Farm (Slam 299; UK) Spirit Farm features Christophe De Bezenac on tenor sax, Adam Fairhall on grand piano, prepared pianet, toy piano & harmonium, Anton Hunter on electric guitar, Dave Kane on double bass, Corey Mwamba on vibes & swarmandal (Indian zither) and Johnny Hunter on drums. This is an eclectic sextet with just three members that I had heard of previously: Christophe De Bezenac from TrioVD, Adam Fairhall from a fine sextet CD under his own name on Slam and Dave Kane who has worked with Paul Dunmall, Matthew Bourne and Dave Stapleton. This disc consists of a series of six improvisations, three from all six members, one trio and two duos. It was recorded live at Axis Art Centre in Chesire, UK. It begins with a long sextet improv with some twisted prepared piano sounds first. The music evolves organically with each member entering slowly one at a time, the tension building as it goes. As the tenor player starts to erupt, he is backed by a flurry of interaction between the vibes, keyboards, bass and drums. The music is mostly continuous, so the sounds often flow into one another. This is an inspired session that is well-captured and fascinating throughout without any grandstanding. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $13


GIANCARLO MAZZU / LUCIANO TROJA - Tasting Beauty (Slam 563; UK) Featuring Giancarlo Mazzu on guitar and Luciano Troja on piano. These two Italian musicians recorded two trio discs with Downtowner Blaise Siwula which we listed perhaps last year. There is their second duo disc for the Slam label. All of the songs were written by either or both members of the duo. The title track is first and it is a lovely, laid back sort of ballad, with exquisite playing from both musicians. "Blues for Giuseppino" is a fine, bluesy song with tasty guitar and piano. This disc was recorded in a studio in Brooklyn when this duo played here in NY in April of 2013. What is interesting about this session is how normal this duo is, close to mainstream jazz yet still writing their own songs and still being crafty in their own way. As this disc unfolds, the music gets a bit more adventurous but remains restrained and never very far out. Impressive nonetheless, just be patient and the just rewards will arrive in a more modest fashion. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $13


YONI KRETZMER / ANDREW DRURY - Oranges (OutNow Recordings 022; USA) Featuring Yoni Kretzmer on tenor sax and Andrew Drury on drums. One of the things that makes the Downtown Scene so vital is that many of the musicians involved place themselves in new situations, with other players as often as they can. Every time I've caught Israeli saxist Yoni Kretzmer play, it has been with a new cast of players. Mr. Kretzmer is always doing something unexpected. Last April (of 2015) I heard Yoni in a new quintet with Steve Swell, Thomas Heberer, Max Johnson & Chad Taylor and they were incredible, playing music written by Mr. Kretzmer. The same can be said for Andrew Drury, who leads several bands (check out Content Provider), as well as collaborating with Jason Hwang, Jessica Lurie and Denman Maroney. Mr. Drury has a solo drum effort out on his own label, in which he concentrates on one drum, coaxing quite a bit of strange sounds. For this duo, Drury also concentrates on a variety of odd sounds, some percussive sounding, some not. There is deep concentration going on here, tight, often exciting interplay, an intense, focused conversation. This duo do a great job of matching wits, pushing each other higher and higher. When you see Mr. Drury play live, you can get an idea of his unique approach to the drums, blowing or humming into pieces of metal on drum heads or rubbing surfaces with different objects. Mr. Kretzmer appears to enjoy the challenge of the bending his own notes to match the weird sounds that Mr. Drury utilizes. Alien and familiar at the same time, that is what these Downtowners are all about. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $14


STEVE DALACHINSKY/EIGHTY POUND PUG [ALEX LOZUPONE PROJECT] - Leave the Door Open (DogAndPanda 22; USA) Featuring Steve Dalachinsky on vocals/poetry, Alex Lozupone on guitar/bass, Ayumi Ishito on tenor sax and Paul Feitzinger on drums. Steve Dalachinsky can often be cantankerous as an MC, yet he remains one of Downtown's best poets and observers. He often evokes the rare depth and difficulty of surviving in a community of artists that often gets little recognition or reward for their work. Steve and I are kindred spirits who attend as many gigs as possible to help us stay sane and inspired. This disc opens with Mr. Dalachinsky saying some silly things about "leaving the door open so someone can watch the orgy inside?!?". The band here sounds good, some sort of dark, metalish, jazz/rock which supports Dalachinsky's words just right. Dalanchinsky's words and observations are often brutally honest and occasionally embarrassing. Like voice of our conscious cut loose, perhaps we shouldn't let those demons out. Steve often hits the nail on the head by describing certain things many of us feel but may not want to admit. The words and music work together very well. Sometimes I just don't want to hear or think about certain things or be reminded of how difficult life can be or is much of the time. There was once a metal band called Brutal Truth. Now it makes sense to me. - BLG/DMG
CD $12

EIGHTY POUND PUG [ALEX LOZUPONE PROJECT] - Live at Spectrum, NYC (DogAndPanda 21; USA) Featuring Alex Lozupone on guitar/bass, David Tamura on tenor sax & keyboard, Paul Feitzinger on drums, Chris Bacas on soprano sax and Jen Kutler on kegel synth. This disc was recorded live at the Spectrum in NYC. The Eighty Pound Pug project continues to evolve with slightly different members on each disc. This one features saxist David Tamura who has worked with Dave Burrell & Joe Chonto. The other saxist here, Chris Bacas, used to work with Buddy Rich (?!?) and recently played on a CD by Bolide with Mat Maneri & Russ Lossing. Eighty Pound Pug (EPP) are an all improvised unit, so their sound is always changing or mutating. Mr. Lozupone kicks things off with a disturbing, hypnotic riff before they move into a more krautrock like groove with synth and sax swirling together. Is this a long lost Hawkwind gig? Sounds like it at times. Lozupone does a good job of playing riffs, which set the band up to jam, saxes riding on top of the synth, guitar and drum grooves. Although this music has a loose, almost sloppy feel, there is something I like about its exuberant, crazed, jamming quality we so rarely find in most current releases. There are two different covers for this disc. One cover has an infrared woman with a bass guitar in one hand and what looks like a metal dildo in the other hand with an unhappy looking dog floating in front of her. Not so sure what that is about?!?! - BLG/DMG
CD $12

EIGHTY POUND PUG With DAVID TAMURA/PAUL FEITZINGER/CHRIS BACAS/BRUCE MACK/ et al - When the Flowers Bloom in Baltimore/Live in New York City (DogAndPanda 23; USA) This is an extended, 12 piece, version of Eighty Pound Pug with guests like Bruce Mack from Burnt Sugar and Borts Minorts from another dimension. Not all of the players are on every track, since there are guests sitting in here and there. For this disc, EEP have three different vocalists who sing on different tracks. By now, Eighty Pound Pug, do have their own wacky, wild & wooly & intense sound. This is some sort of space/rock with a grinding groove, alien vocals and brain-blasting horns. A number of the tracks on this 13 song disc, fade out due to time limitations which is a good thing so that things rarely outstay there welcome. Fans of Hawkwind and other more krautrock like space/rock should give this band a chance. They will take out out there to another dimension if you let them in. - BLG/DMG
CD $12


MERZBOW - Wildwood (Dirter 116; UK) The mighty Merzbow presents four tracks of blistering music recorded and to be played at maximum volume. This leaves the also-rans at the gate and is full of psychedelic twists and turns, with one completely guitar-based track. Incredible stuff from Masami. It's also a benefit release for the Wildwood Trust in Kent. All proceeds from sales will go to them, toward the care of two rescued European brown bears. Comes in beautiful reverse board digipak.
CD $16


ART ZOYD - Generation Sans Futur (Sub Rosa 380; Belgium) Generation Sans Futur (Generation Without a Future), Art Zoyd's third LP originally released in 1980 through Atem Records, returns to the sound (and lineup, plus Daniel Denis (Univers Zero)) of the group's first album, Symphonie Pour le Jour ou Bruleront les Cites (SR 330CD/LP). The 17-minute "La Ville" is a powerful epic, featuring Thierry Zaboitzeff's prehistoric grunts, complex time shifts, and a tribal/ritualistic feel once again close to the spirit of Magma. But unlike "Musique pour l'Odyssee" (the title-track of Art Zoyd's second album (SR 364CD/LP)), the music here is fast-paced, less atmospheric, more organized. It plays on the tension that would remain the basis of Art Zoyd's originality: a tribal, atavistic feel contrasting with contemporary classical aesthetics. Actually, Generation Sans Futur may lean more toward the contemporary side, as exemplified by pieces like "Divertissement," "Trois Miniatures," and the manic "Speedy Gonzales." "Generation Sans Futur," on the other hand, taps into a more visceral progressive rock format and percussionist Daniel Denis actually gets to play drums for a couple of minutes, giving the piece an unusual drive. A strong album, unavailable for years, now reissued with new artwork. CD includes additional track.
CD $16


WAPASSOU - Wapassou (Lion Productions 684) Fancy digipack edition of legendary French art rock masterpiece. Lest we startle you with excited pronouncements of how good this album is, we'll force ourselves to be matter of fact. With their first album, legendary French art-rock band Wapassou found a distinctive musical voice: long and well-developed melodies, rhythmic support from organ -- no bass and drums! (more on that later) -- prominent violin parts, and guitar doubling-up as a rhythm instrument. They often conjure up something akin to what it might have sounded like had John Cale and Stereolab formed a band in 1974, when this album was released. The five tracks (actually seven, as the singles tracks are equally intriguing) are highly original, always varied and inventive; spacey and ethereal, but steeped in post-psychedelic rock. Although Wapassou are noted for playing without a rhythm section, two of the most striking songs on this album have bass and drums. Why some enterprising DJ hasn't created a chill mix from the drum track and provocative vocals on 'Chatiment' (guitarist Karen Nickerl murmuring about the cigarettes she has consumed and that she is a killer, 'Je suis l'assassin,' in the midst of the pulsing drone of the band), we don't know. The 13+-minute=long 'Trip' is a revelation: for the first two minutes you'll think you stumbled into the Cocteau Twin's Victorialand; the band then jam for six and a half minutes before they drop one of the trippiest ethereal breakbeat grooves you'll ever hear; the last two minutes of solo sitar are sonic lysergia of the highest quality. A unique style throughout, with slight nods to groups like Amon DXXl II, Popol Vuh, Czar, Caravan, and Ash Ra Tempel. Includes two bonus tracks from their rare single, recorded in October 1974. A colorful 16-page booklet has the detailed history of the making of the album, plus photos and other marvels. Remastered and sounding better than it ever has.
CD $16


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Back in stock & at lower prices:

EIVIND OPSVIK [With TONY MALABY/LOREN STILLMAN/JASON RIGBY/JACOB SACKS/CRAIG TABORN/GERALD CLEAVER/ et al - Overseas (Fresh Sound 146; EEC) Norwegian bassist Eivind Opsvik, has caused a real storm in the New York jazz scene during the past months, and is now set to do the same in the rest of the world with the release of "Overseas", his debut CD as leader and first appearance on the Fresh Sound New Talent imprint. On tracks like "Punchball" or "Italian Movie Theme", Opsvik really shows that he is an outstanding bass player with a very personal view of music. He deconstructs, reconstructs and entertains with each and every one of these original compositions. On these recordings, Opsvik has assembled a group of regular players, all of them among the cream of the New York jazz young talents: Tony Malaby (tenor saxophone), Loren Stillman (alto saxophone), Jason Rigby (soprano saxophone, bass clarinet), Jacob Sacks (piano), Craig Taborn (Hammond C3 organ), Wells Hanley (fender rhodes), Gerald Cleaver (drums), Jeff Davies (drums) and Dan Weiss (percussion). This is an essential CD for all fans of interesting, young jazz with unusual flair and vitality.
CD $13 (price reduced)

EIVIND OPSVIK [With LOREN STILLMAN/JACOB SACKS/CRAIG TABORN/KENNY WOLLESEN/JEFF DAVIS - Overseas II (Fresh Sound 219; EEC) This is the second leader-session by the acclaimed Norwegian composer and bassist Eivind Opsvik for Fresh Sound New Talent. Since moving to New York in 1998 Eivind has been working on his own compositions and concepts and, in early 2002, he assembled some of his favourite musicians in the city, some of whom he's played with for years and some who are more recent acquaintances, with the intention of doing gigs around the city and to record a CD. In selecting musicians for his band Eivind favored open-mindedness, individuality and musicians with experience from the free music scene who would give his music a certain edge and energy. Eivind has tried to avoid predictable forms and instrumentations, without sacrificing the wholeness and spontaneity of the music. Being from Norway Eivind's music is a combination of two worlds; the European and the New York jazz scene. European melody and space combined with the grooves/rhythms and intensity of New York. Essential listening for all fans of new and interesting jazz mixed with pop sensibilities and a fresh breath of northern air.
CD $13 (price reduced)

EIVING OPSVIK (TONY MALABY/LARRY CAMPBELL/JACOB SACKS/JEFF DAVIS/KENNY WOLLESEN] - Overseas III (Loyal Label 03; USA) I was a bit surprised to see the name of Larry Campbell, in-demand session steel guitar & multi-instrumentalist, who has worked with Bob Dylan & Bob Weir, on a downtown disc. Eivind Opsvik consistently keeps us guessing with the different direction he takes. This disc is a laid-back, sort of roots rock affair with tasty pedal steel at the center. "Neil" (as in Young?) is an elegant opener with solemn tenor sax, vibes and electric piano playing that sly melody. On "Everseas," it sounds as if we are drifting in a fog with simmering breath-like sax and hushed bowed bass slowly washing over us. A dark mood is created as the ghosts drift by quietly. Eivind's churning acoustic bass is often at the center of most of these pieces with some exquisite and occasionally haunting pedal steel, electric piano and tenor sax, swirling in waves around him. There is something refreshing about this music, it is quaint, somewhat charming and make too much demand on our more outside tastes. At first, I wasn't so sure how much I dug this disc, but listening to it now at home without any distractions, I realize the quiet beauty and elegance below the surface. - BLG
CD $13

EIVIND OPSVIK [With TONY MALABY/BRANDON SEABROOK/JACOB SACKS/KENNY WOLLSESN] - Overseas IV (Loyal Label 011; USA) Although in-demand Downtown bassist, Eivind Opsvik, has kept the instrumentation relatively the same throughout his previous discs, the sound of the band has evolved yet remained similar. 'Overseas IV' begins with harpsichord, hushed sax and timpani, which is quite elegant and rather quaint in sound. The combination of mandolin and harpsichord gives some of this a warm folk-rock sort of vibe which is helped by ever sympathetic percussion of Kenny Wollesen. The only thing missing from these songs is an orchestra enhancing those baroque melodies. Oddly enough, "Michelle Marie" has a bent funk groove with some great twisted guitar from the under-rated yet amazing Brandon Seabrook. Without any doubt this disc is an unexpected delight, just another surprise from what some folks might refer to as "Downtown Music". - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $13 (price reduced)


LP Section:

JOE MCPHEE - Solos: The Lost Tapes (1980-1981-1984)(Roaratorio 038; USA) In 1976, Joe McPhee recorded the landmark album Tenor, kicking off a solo period of finding and refining the distinctive voice that continues to inform his music to this day. Solos: The Lost Tapes (1980-1981-1984) is a collection of material from McPhee's personal archives that shines new light on the legendary multi-instrumentalist's work during this time. 'Wind Cycles,' for tenor saxophone, explores the permutations of breath on reed and brass, from quiet whispers to full-throated cries and back again. With 'The Redwood Rag,' McPhee takes a jaunty melody and gives it a swinging workout with Steve Lacy-like precision. The free-blowing alto excursion 'Ice Blu' is, in McPhee's words, 'a sound which evokes an image, which asks a question "What is that?" and the answer is, a sound which evokes an image which asks a question.' 'Voices,' one of his signature compositions, gets a particularly haunting treatment here on soprano, with McPhee incorporating various electronics to mesmerizing effect. All together, Solos: The Lost Tapes (1980-1981-1984) is the distilled essence of one of the most important creative improvising musicians of our time. Cover art by Judith Lindbloom. Includes a download coupon for the full album plus a bonus interview, conducted at the New Music America Festival in 1981.
LP $17


MIKE COOPER - Fratello Mare (Room40 462; Australia) Includes download code. Fratello Mare, which takes its title from Folco Quilici's classic 1975 film, continues UK-born, Italy-based musician Mike Cooper's ode to the Pacific, its people, and the traditions that have flowed from that part of the world into seemingly endless iterations within contemporary culture. Recorded across 2014, the tropical opus dovetails neatly with Cooper's other Room40 editions, White Shadows in the South Seas (RM 454CD, 2013) and the post-everything classic Rayon Hula (2004). It expands his combination of highly personal lap steel playing with exotic music and percussion alongside field recordings made on islands across Southeast Asia and the Caribbean while on residencies and other travels. At the record's heart is a yearning for these distant islands that dot the vast oceans. A love letter of sorts, a poetic and dreamlike wandering, that sonically traverses the ever-changing edge of land and sea and Cooper's musical imagination. Some lesser-known Mike Cooper facts: a young Mike Cooper can be spotted playing a beatnik guitarist on an anti-nuclear march in THE 1963 beat cult film That Kind of Girl; his first band, The Blues Committee, played with and supported such blues legends as John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, and Jimmy Reed; Cooper was central in launching several of the first folk and blues venues outside London, especially in and around Reading; he was a regular on John Peel's program from 1969 through 1975, recording numerous sessions; he formed his free improvised music group The Recedents with Lol Coxhill and Roger Turner in 1982, threading directly into London's vibrant improvisation community; he moved to Italy in 1988 after a slew of musical projects during the '80s in the UK and EU; since 1994 he has spent increasing amounts of time touring and exploring Oceania and other regions; one outcome of his explorations is Beach Crossings - Pacific Footprints, a radiophone work commissioned by Italian and Australian radio that traces the history of European colonization in the Pacific from Tahiti up to the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima; his recordings have been reissued numerous times by various labels across the globe, while original pressings can be found for obscene prices via various outlets; in 2015 Cooper celebrated 50 years as a professional musician -- his first recorded release, the Out of the Shades 7", was released in 1965.
LP $24


MULATU STATKE & HIS ETHIOPIAN QUINTET - Afro-Latin Soul )Worthy 1014; USA) This 1966 LP by Astatke (billed to Mulatu Astatke & His Ethiopian Quintet) isn't shaded by nearly as much African/Ethiopian influence as his later work, which was recorded between the late '60s and mid-'70s. As the title might lead you to believe, it is indeed more in the Latin soul-jazz bag than the later material, sometimes leaning toward the R&B-informed boogaloo sound of the mid-'60s. On his own compositions and arrangements (which comprise about half the LP), sometimes more exotic and African colors bubble closer to the surface, as on the eerie vibe parts he lays on 'Mascaram Setaba.'" -- Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide.
LP $13


BIG MAYBELLE - The Soul of Big Maybelle (Scepter 522; USA) Collection of mountainous blues belter Big Maybelle, produced by Tony Bruno and Luther Dixon. Tracks include "What Are You Doing To Me," "Only You," "I Know Love," "In The Still Of The Night," "Same Old Story," and "That's All."
LP $13


SOGMUSOBIL - Telefon (Subliminal Sounds 109; Sweden) First ever reissue of rare, sought-after, and stoned-to-the-max Swedish underground psych/progressive/experimental treasure from 1971, originally released on the legendary Gump label and featuring the mythic underground personalities and musicians Einar Heckscher and Johnny Mowinckel. Side A is sung in English and side B in Swedish. The band name has been mixed up many times by collectors, mistaken as either Telefon Paisa (an earlier incarnation of the band) or Telefon (the album title), but this reissue sets the record straight and tells their story. Includes booklet with lots of previously unpublished photos and in-depth liner notes. Limited edition 600 copies.
LP $30


JOHN MICHAEL ROCH - With You in My Arms (Subliminal Sounds 111; Sweden) First ever reissue of a very special, mega-rare, and practically unknown Los Angeles mid-1970s pop-rock-psych private press treasure, dedicated to the memory of Patrick "The Lama" Lundborg (1967-2014), author of the groundbreaking psychedelic literature The Acid Archives (2006) and Psychedelia (2012). Although collectors have been searching frantically to turn up every unknown North American psych treasure from the past for some time, there are still unknown and mind-blowing nuggets to be found out there! This reissue includes in-depth liner notes by the artist himself and photos. Limited edition of 500 copies.
LP $30


RETURN TO FOREVER - Electric Lady Studio, NYC, June 1975 (Hi Hat 003; UK) Return to Forever are firmly established as one of the most important fusion bands in history. Featuring the classic line-up of Chick Corea (keyboards and synthesizer), Al DiMeola (guitar), Stanley Clarke (bass), and Lenny White (drums), this remarkable set was taped in the summer of 1975 for FM radio broadcast to promote their classic No Mystery album, and is presented here in its entirety, with remastered sound, background notes, and rare images. Pressed on 180-gram vinyl; includes insert.
LP $22


HERBIE HANCOCK & THE HEADHUNTERS - Omaha Civic Auditorium 17th November 1975 (Hi Hat 002; UK) This superlative set at The Omaha Civic Auditorium, November 17th, 1975, was taped for FM broadcast soon after the release of Herbie Hancock's groundbreaking 1975 Man-Child album, and finds the great keyboardist backed by the awesomely tight combo of DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight (guitar), Bennie Maupin (reeds), Paul Jackson (bass), Bill Summers (percussion), and Michael Clarke (drums). This selection of Hancock's finest tracks includes his early classic "Watermelon Man," and is offered here in its complete form as originally broadcast, with remastered sound, background notes, and rare images. Pressed on 180-gram vinyl. Includes insert.
2 LP Set $32


PATTI SMITH GROUP - Jazz Workshop, Boston, January 9th 1976 [2 LP Set](Klondike 5012; UK) Patti Smith is an iconic and celebrated artist whose cultural standing in America remains resolute and heavily influential. In 1976, Smith, Jay Dee Daugherty, Lenny Kaye, Ivan Kral, and Richard Sohl headed out on their first U.S. tour to promote the release of their debut album Horses, released only two months earlier in November 1975. Their legendary appearance at Boston's Jazz Workshop displays the trademark riotous atmosphere of New York's punk ethos with Smith's habitual expletives being hurled around before WBCN could pull the plug on a live broadcast. The crowd is hungry for danger and provocation from the rising star, who at one point comments "I don't know if we're still on air..." Luckily, she was and with continued excesses after their euphoric closer with Van Morrison's "Gloria," John Cale punctures the low ceiling of the Workshop stage with the neck of his guitar, prompting the end of the show and the end of the live broadcast. The complete broadcast is presented here in digitally remastered sound with background liners.
2 LP Set $32




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