Playlist, Week of 2025-09-21

As much as I enjoy Mary Halvorson's guitar work (and I do), I gotta say, I enjoy her playing as a member of other people's groups than when she plays her own compositions as a leader... cases in point: Ingrid Laubrock Anti-House and the Tom Rainey Trio... Still working my through all the "Dark Stars," and, again, I feel compelled to say how tired I'm getting of the "Feelin' Groovy" section... looking forward to when they drop it for good... Also still much enamored with Duke Ellington these days... I doubt that will ever change...

Playlist 2025-09-22:

*Beatles: The Beatles' Second Album (mono 2024) (side 2)
*Beatles: Help! (2009 stereo remaster) (side 1)
*Beatles: Rubber Soul (2009 stereo remaster) (sides 1, 2)
*Beatles: 1967-1970 (2023 Edition) (side 5)
*Anthony Braxton: Trillium J (DVD) (Act IV)
*Butthole Surfers: Double Live (disc 2)
*Bob Dylan/Various artists: Theme Time Radio Hour S01 E47 "Fools"
*Duke Ellington: The Complete Duke Ellington, Vol. 4: 1932 (side 2)
*Duke Ellington: The Indispensable Duke Ellington and the Small Groups (Vol. 9/10) 1940-1946 (sides 3, 4)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: A Drum Is a Woman (side 2)
*Duke Ellington: The Reprise Studio Recordings (disc 5)
*Tomas Fujiwara: Pith
*Gjerstad/Schlippenbach/Narvesen: Seven Tracks
*Grateful Dead: 1970-09-19 Fillmore East NYC (CDR) "Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: 1970-10-11 Wayne, NJ (CDR) "Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: 1970-10-17 Cleveland (CDR) "Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: 1971-02-24 Port Chester, NY (Enjoying the Ride, discs 4, 5)
*Joe Henderson: Mode for Joe
*Jimi Hendrix Experience: Axis: Bold as Love
*Joachim Kühn: Échappée (disc 1)
*Ingrid Laubrock Anti-House: Strong Place
*Getatchew Mekuria/The Ex & Guests: Moa Anbessa
*Matt Mitchell: Sacrosanctity
*New Ting: 2024-07-14 "Magic Duck Feet" (wav)
*New Ting: 2025-08-30 Test Run, Richmond VA (wav)
*Prince: Blast from the Past 5.0 (excerpts)
*Wayne Shorter: Schizophrenia (side 1)
*Tyshawn Sorey: The Inner Spectrum of Variables (disc 2) "Movement V + VI + Reprise"
*Cecil Taylor: In Transition [Love for Sale] (side 3)
*Cecil Taylor/The Ensemble: The Light of Corona "Two"
*Cecil Taylor/Tony Oxley: Flashing Spirits
*Lewis Taylor: Stoned- Part I
*Henry Threadgill Zooid: This Brings Us To (side 3)
*UYA: 1993-12-02 It's Butter Now Isn't It? (wav) (selections)
*Dan Weiss/Miles Okazaki: Music for Drums and Guitar

Reading List, Week of 2025-09-21

With The Blue Hammer I have finally finished my reread of all of Ross Macdonald's Lew Archer novels in order. They really are wonderful on so many levels: the plots, the characters, and the language all work together for an unbeatable series of perfectly-crafted detective novels. For further reading, I highly recommend Gilbert Sorrentino's "Ross Macdonald: Some Remarks on the Limitations of Form," appearing in Sorrentino's essay collection Something Said.

Reading List 2025-09-22:

*Nadel, Dan. Crumb: A Cartoonist's Life (started)
*Osman, Richard. The Last Devil to Die (started)
*Macdonald, Ross. The Blue Hammer (reread/started/finished)
*Osman, Richard. The Bullet That Missed (started/finished)
*Shakespeare, William. King Lear (Arden 2nd series, ed. Kenneth Muir) (reread/finished)
*Everett, Walter. The Beatles as Musicians: The Quarry Men through Rubber Soul (reread/in progress)
*Lambert, Eddie. Duke Ellington: A Listener's Guide (reread/selections)
*MacDonald, Ian. Revolution in the Head, 3rd ed. (reread/in progress)
*Pollack, Allan W. Notes on … Series (reread/in progress)
*Riley, Tim. Tell Me Why: A Beatles Commentary (reread/in progress)
*Shakespeare, William. Othello (Arden 3rd series, ed. E.A.J. Honigmann) (reread/in progress) 

Playlist, Week of 2025-09-14

The new Sparks EP, Madder!, is a lot of fun... more of same, really, but four more great new songs? Yes, please... Spectrum Road is nice, but just makes me want to hear the Tony Williams Lifetime originals... 

Playlist 2025-09-15:

*Beatles: Beatles VI (side 2)
*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (England) 1985 (disc 6)
*Bill Bruford: Feels Good to Me (Remastered)
*Butthole Surfers: Double Live (disc 1)
*John Coltrane: Live in Japan (disc 4)
*Lol Coxhill: Digswell Duets
*Duke Ellington: The Indispensable Duke Ellington and the Small Groups (Volumes 9/10) 1940-1946 (side 1)
*Grateful Dead: 1969-06-08 Fillmore West, SF (Enjoying the Ride, disc 3)
*Grateful Dead: 1970-09-17 Fillmore East NYC (CDR) "Dark Star"
*Jimi Hendrix: The Baggy's Rehearsal Sessions
*Earl Hines: Earl Hines Plays Duke Ellington (side 3)
*Matt Mitchell: Vista Accumulation (disc 2)
*New Ting: 2025-08-30 Test Run, Richmond VA (wav)
*Ivo Perelman/Tyshawn Sorey: Parallel Aesthetics (disc 2)
*Prince: Blast from the Past 4.0 (excerpts)
*Prince: Blast from the Past 5.0 (excerpts)
*Wayne Shorter: Etcetera
*Tyshawn Sorey Trio: The Susceptible Now
*Sparks (selections)
*Sparks: Indiscreet (side 2)
*Sparks: Exotic Creatures of the Deep (side 2)
*Sparks: MADDER! (sides 1, 2)
*Spectrum Road: Spectrum Road
*Sun Ra: Exotica (side 2)
*Sun Ra: God Is More than Love Can Ever Be!
*UYA: 1994-01-13 Havin' a Good Day!! (wav)
*Wolf Eyes/Anthony Braxton: Live at Pioneer Works, Red Hook, NY, October 26th 2023
*John Zorn/Secret Chiefs 3: Xaphan (Book of Angels Vol. 9)

Reading List, Week of 2025-09-14

Reading List 2025-09-15:

*Atwood, Margaret. The Year of the Flood (started/finished)
*Atwood, Margaret. MaddAddam (started/finished)
*Atwood, Margaret. Oryx and Crake (finished)
*Everett, Walter. The Beatles as Musicians: The Quarry Men through Rubber Soul (reread/in progress)
*Lambert, Eddie. Duke Ellington: A Listener's Guide (reread/selections)
*MacDonald, Ian. Revolution in the Head, 3rd ed. (reread/in progress)
*Pollack, Allan W. Notes on … Series (reread/in progress)
*Riley, Tim. Tell Me Why: A Beatles Commentary (reread/in progress)
*Shakespeare, William. King Lear (Arden 2nd series, ed. Kenneth Muir) (reread/in progress)
*Shakespeare, William. Othello (Arden 3rd series, ed. E.A.J. Honigmann) (reread/in progress)
 

Sparks in DC

 

 

We saw Sparks in DC at the Lincoln Theatre on Tuesday night, and it was fantastic... they are such powerful performers, the band was in tip-top shape, and the sound was crystal clear. This is the only picture I got because, well, I can't take pictures. Was able to score the new EP, Madder!, and it's really good. A lovely evening!

 

Playlist, Week of 2025-09-07

 

 

Excellent tactile electronics and inventive percussion from Ikue Mori and Steve Noble...  Great to hear Tyshawn Sorey on drums in a "relatively" straight jazz quartet setting, with Mario Pavone... then to hear him stretch out with Kirsten Carey is exquisite... then to hear more stretching out with Ivo Perelman, and on piano, too! Amazing... Anthony Braxton really takes it out with his operas... Yes, as always, this blog is a real source for incisive criticism...

 

Playlist 2025-09-08:

*Derek Bailey: Aida
*Beatles: Help! (US Capitol LP) (sides 1, 2)
*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (England) 1985 (disc 5)
*Anthony Braxton: Trillium J (disc 4)
*John Butcher/Eddie Prévost: Interworks
*Gerald Cleaver: The Process
*Bob Dylan/Various artists: Theme Time Radio Hour S01 E46 "More Trains"
*Duke Ellington: The Indispensable Duke Ellington and the Small Groups (Volumes 9/10) - 1940-1946 (side 3)
*Duke Ellington: The Symphonic Ellington
*Grateful Dead: 1969-06-05/07 Fillmore West, SF (Enjoying the Ride, disc 2)
*Grateful Dead: 1970-05-24 Newcastle, England (CDR) "Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: 1970-06-24 Port Chester NY (CDR) "Dark Star > Attics of My Life > Dark Star > Sugar Magnolia > Dark Star"
*Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced
*Master Musicians Of Joujouka: Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Joujouka
*Mephista: Black Narcissus
*Matt Mitchell: Vista Accumulation (disc 1)
*Roscoe Mitchell Quintet: Turn
*Ikue Mori/Steve Noble: Prediction and Warning
*New Ting: 2025-08-30 Test Run, Richmond VA (wav)
*Mario Pavone/Dialect Trio +1: Blue Vertical
*Ivo Perelman/Matthew Shipp String Trio: Armageddon Flower
*Ivo Perelman/Tyshawn Sorey: Parallel Aesthetics (disc 1)
*Prince: Blast from the Past 2.0 (excerpts)
*Prince: Blast from the Past 3.0 (excerpts)
*Prince: Blast from the Past 4.0 (excerpts)
*Tyshawn Sorey: Pillars (disc 2)
*Tyshawn Sorey/Kirsten Carey: Vociferously Yours
*Sparks: A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing (sides 1, 2)
*Sparks: The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte (sides 1, 2)
*Sun Ra: Stray Voltage (sides 2, 3, 4)
*Sun Ra: Uncharted Passages (sides 3, 4)
*Lewis Taylor: Lewis Taylor
*Lewis Taylor: Lewis II
*Henry Threadgill Zooid: In for a Penny, In for a Pound "Dosepic (for Cello)"
*John Zorn: Fantasma: Illusions from a Surrealist Mirror
*John Zorn/Brian Marsella Trio: Impromptus

Reading List, Week of 2025-09-07

Reading List 2025-09-08:

*Atwood, Margaret. Oryx and Crake (started)
*Osman, Richard. The Man Who Died Twice (finished)
*Rushdie, Salman. Midnight's Children (finished)
*Everett, Walter. The Beatles as Musicians: The Quarry Men through Rubber Soul (reread/in progress)
*Lambert, Eddie. Duke Ellington: A Listener's Guide (reread/selections)
*MacDonald, Ian. Revolution in the Head, 3rd ed. (reread/in progress)
*Pollack, Allan W. Notes on … Series (reread/in progress)
*Riley, Tim. Tell Me Why: A Beatles Commentary (reread/in progress)
*Shakespeare, William. King Lear (Arden 2nd series, ed. Kenneth Muir) (reread/in progress)
*Shakespeare, William. Othello (Arden 3rd series, ed. E.A.J. Honigmann) (reread/in progress)
 

The Magic Jukebox: On the Road

 

Time for another installment of a Magic Jukebox playlist.... this one is a small sampling of what was heard on a recent cross-country car trip...

1. XTC - Battery Brides (Andy Paints Brian)
2. Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song
3. Duke Ellington - Bonga
4. R.D. Burman - Dance Music
5. Beatles - You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
6. Jack White -  Take Me with You when You Go
7. Deerhoof - Mario's Flaming Whiskers III
8. Coasters - Poison Ivy
9. Alemayehu Eshete - Tashamanaletch
10. Deerhoof - Dead Beast Queen
11. David Bowie - Suffragette City
12. Beatles - I Saw her Standing There
13. James Brown - Night Train
14. Elvis Costello - Baby's Got a Brand New Hairdo
15. Terry & the Lovemen - The Good Things
16. XTC - Ban the Bomb
17. Elvis Presley - Hound Dog
18. Sir Douglas Quintet - She's ABout a Mover
19. D'Angelo - Playa Playa
20. John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band - I Found Out
21. Beatles - Keep Your Hands Off My Baby
22. Sean Kuti & Egypt 80 - IMF
23. Deerhoof - Damaged Eyes Squinting into the Beautiful Overhot Sun
24. Led Zeppelin - How Many More Times
25. Earth Wind & Fire - Mighty Mighty
26. Alemayehu Eshete - Telantena Zare
27. Dead Kennedies - Stealing Peoples' Mail
28. Pere Ubu - Petrified
29. David Bowie - Rebel Rebel
30. Santana - Para Los Rumberos
31. Deerhoof - Scarcity Is Manufactured
32. Kinks - This Man He Weeps Tonight
33. Solomon Burke - Stupidity
34. Time - My Summertime Thang
35. Deerhoof - Who Do You Root For
36. Alemayehu Eshete - Yeweb Dar
37. Rutles - Get Up and Go
38. B-52s - Planet Claire
39. LaVern Baker - Jim Dandy
40. James Brown - I Got the Feelin'
41. Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club band
42. Little Junior's Blue Flames - Feelin' Good
43. XTC - No Thugs in Our House
44. Charlie Parker - Koko
45. Johnny Kidd & the Pirates - Shakin' All Over
46. Paul McCartney - My Brave Face
47. White Stripes - Seven Nation Army
48. English Beat - Mirror in the Bathroom
49. Asha Bhosle - O Mere Sona
50. Who - I can See for Miles
51. Beatles - Any Time at All
52. Jose Chepitos Areas - Guarafeo
53. Beach Boys - Here Comes the Night
54. Bill Haley - Rock the Joint
55. Marvelettes - Don't Mess with Bill
56. Asha Bhosle - Ankhen Meri Maikhana
57. Alemayehu Eshete - Addis Abeba Bete
58. Asha Bhosle - Karle Pyar Karle
59. Deerhoof - Black Pitch
60. Eddie Bo - Hook 'n' Sling, Pt. 2
61. Beach Boys - Child Is Father of the Man
62. Beatles - Martha My Dear
63. R.D. Burman - Mehbooba Mehbooba
64. Gene Chandler - Duke of Earl
65. Human Beinz - Nobody But Me
66. Rolling Stones - Complicated
67. Elvis Costello - Riot Act
68. Beatles - Savoy Truffle
69. Beat - Sorry
70. Beck - Qué Ondra Guero
71. Brian Eno - Kurt's Rejoinder
72. James Brown - Make It Funky
73. Bad Brains - Attitude 10_81
74. Beatles - Lady Madonna
75. Deerhoof - Kafe Mania!
76. Led Zeppelin - In the Light
77. Deerhoof - Overrated Species Anyhow
78. Sivaji Ganesan & Jayalalitha - Engal Kalyanam
79. Kinks - Party Line
80. Beach Boys - I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
81. Prince - She's Always in My Hair
82. Elijah & the Ebonites - Hot Grits!!!
83. Beat - Jeanette
84. Led Zeppelin - That's the Way
85. Ramones - Rock 'n' Roll High School
86. Prince - I Wonder U 
87. Deerhoof - Learning to Apologize Effectively
88. White Stripes - Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
89. Rolling Stones - Connection
90. Temptations - I Heard It Through the Grapevine
91. Rolling Stones - I Wanna Be Your Man
92. Isley Brothers - Fight the Power
93. De La Soul - The Magic Number
94. Muffins - Angle Dance
95. Led Zeppelin - Down by the Seaside
96. Sam & Dave - I Thank You
97. Beach Boys - Little Deuce Coupe
98.Ululating Mummies - Adios
99. Bob Dylan - All I Really Want To Do
100. Beach Boys - Let Him Run Wild

Playlist, Week of 2025-08-31

 

 

 

 

 

Lotta road trip music from my son... will be getting back into the "Dark Star"/Ellington/Sun Ra groove pretty soon... 

Playlist 2025-09-01:

*100 Gecs: 1000 Gecs
*Alexisonfire: Alexisonfire
*Alexisonfire: Crisis
*Alexisonfire: Old Crows/Young Cardinals
*Animals as Leaders: The Joy of Motion
*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (England) 1985 (disc 4)
*James Brown: Live at the Apollo (1962) (Expanded ed.)
*Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band: Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) (selections)
*John Coltrane: The Major Works of John Coltrane (disc 1) "Om"
*Deerhoof: Noble and Godlike in Ruin
*Eidola: Mend
*Duke Ellington: Duke Ellington's Jazz Violin Session
*Tomas Fujiwara: Triple Double
*Bobby Hutcherson: Components
*Machine Girl: Neon White (Soundtrack, Pt. 1:  The Wicked Heart)
*Machine Girl: RePorpoised Phantasies
*Machine Girl: MG Ultra
*Warne Marsh/Sal Mosca Quartet: Volume 2
*Muffins: Bandwidth
*Haru Nemuri/Frost Children: Soul Kiss
*New Ting: 2025-08-30 Test Run, Richmond VA (wav)
*Ovlov: Am
*Ovlov: Tru
*Ovlov: Buds
*Santana: Borboletta (side 2)
*Tyshawn Sorey: Pillars (disc 1)
*Sparks: MAD! 
*Sun Ra: Apple Purchases (CDR compilation) (discs 3, 4) 

Reading List, Week of 2025-08-31

Definitely read the book, but by all means stay away from the film; it's terrible...

Reading List 2025-09-01:

*Osman, Richard. The Man Who Died Twice (started)
*Osman, Richard. The Thursday Murder Club (started/finished)
*Shakespeare, William. Othello (Arden 3rd series, ed. E.A.J. Honigmann) (reread/started)
*Everett, Walter. The Beatles as Musicians: The Quarry Men through Rubber Soul (reread/in progress)
*Lambert, Eddie. Duke Ellington: A Listener's Guide (reread/selections)
*MacDonald, Ian. Revolution in the Head, 3rd ed. (reread/in progress)
*Pollack, Allan W. Notes on … Series (reread/in progress)
*Riley, Tim. Tell Me Why: A Beatles Commentary (reread/in progress)
*Rushdie, Salman. Midnight's Children (in progress)
*Shakespeare, William. King Lear (Arden 2nd series, ed. Kenneth Muir) (reread/in progress)