Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Playlist, Week of 2016-08-28

Image result for grona lund duke ellington


Playlist 2016-08-29:

*Rodger Coleman & Sam Byrd: 2008-03-24 Nashville "No. 3 [tt, synth, drums]"
*John Coltrane: Live in Seattle "Out of This World"
*John Coltrane: Live in Japan "Peace on Earth"
*Kris Davis Trio: Waiting for You to Grow
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, Vol. 8 (disc 1)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: Duke Ellington in Gröna Lund 1963 (disc 1)
*Mary Halvorson Trio: Ghost Loop
*Charles Mingus: Band sequences from film "Mingus" (1968) (youtube>mp3)
*Alphonse Mouzon: Mind Transplant "The Real Thing"
*New Loft: 2013-05-20 “Pasadena Jump Start” (wav)
*New Ting Ting Loft: 2015-04-13 “Honestly, Back and Forth” (wav)
*New Ting Ting Loft: 2016-08-01 "Extending the Range of Extension" (wav)
*New Ting Ting Loft: 2016-08-22 "Something About Not Knowing What Silence Sounds Like" (wav)
*Paradoxical Frog: 2011-06-10 Vision Festival, NYC (CDR)
*RAIC: 2016-08-13 Richmond VA (mp3)
*Tom Rainey Trio: 2016-07-01 NYC (CDR)
*Sonny Rollins: Road Shows, Vol. 2
*Sun Ra: Live Highlights (CDR compilation) (discs 6, 7, 8, 9) (selections)
*Sun Ra: Further Live Highlights (CDR compilation) (discs 1, 2)
*Sun Ra and the Space Research Humanitarian Myth Science Arkestra: 1981-01-07 Whitney Museum, NYC (CDR)
*Cecil Taylor Unit: 1982-01-05 Lush Life, NYC (CDR)
*Cecil Taylor: 2016-04-23 Whitney Museum, NYC (CDR)
*Henry Threadgill Zooid: In for a Penny, In for a Pound (disc 1)
*Kevin Ayers and the Whole World: The Garden of Love
*George Clinton: Chocolate City: London, P-Funk Live at Metropolis
*Bob Dylan and The Band: The Basement Tapes- Complete (disc 5)
*Guided By Voices: Suitcase Four (Captain Kangaroo Won The War) (disc 2)
*George Harrison: All Things Must Pass
*Heldon: Interface
*Jefferson Pilot: 2016 Demos/Rough Mixes (CDR)
*Ed Motta: AOR
*Nihilist Spasm Band: No Record
*Muffins: 1977 Washington DC (CDR) (disc 2)
*Prix: Historix
*Sly and the Family Stone: Higher! (disc 5)
*Soft Machine: Somewhere in Soho (disc 1)
*Various artists: WCAL: Geo-Uphonics (cassette compilation)(side A)

Reading List, Week of 2016-08-28



Reading List 2016-08-29:

*Banks, Iain M. Excession (started)
*Munro, Alice. Selected Stories (started)
*Banks, Iain M. Use of Weapons (finished)
*Munro, Alice. The Beggar's Maid (finished)
*Kirby, Jack, and Stan Lee. Essential Fantastic Four, Vol. 2 (reread/in progress)

Monday, August 29, 2016

Barbiero-Byrd-Ghapery Trio, Rhizome, DC 2016-08-27

Here's a photo from the trio gig Saturday night. The space was really nice, the folks there even nicer.

     L to R: Jimmy Ghaphery, Sam Byrd, Daniel Barbiero. Photo by Chris Videll.

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Upcoming Gigs!



I'm so pleased to be playing with Daniel Barbiero this weekend in DC! And of course, it's always a privilege to get to play with Jimmy Ghaphery...I'm spoiled because he's in town and we play most weeks. But this trio event promises to be very special....this will be our first trio performance outside of the context of dance.

I will also be playing as part of a large ensemble put together by drummer Samuel Goff, along with Jimmy and members of the Harry Partch Appreciation Society, on September 1, here in RVA, details forthcoming. Go here for a taste of what it might sound like. Should be interesting (and probably very, very loud!).

Playlist, Week of 2016-08-21



Playlist 2016-08-22:

*John Cage: Works for Percussion (Quatuor Helios)
*Derek Bailey & Min Xiao-Fen: Viper
*Anthony Braxton: 1982-04-24 Detroit (CDR)
*Anthony Braxton: Ensemble Montaigne (Bau 4) 2013
*Convergence Quartet: Song/Dance
*Günter Christmann/Torsten Müller/LaDonna Smith/Davey Williams: White Earth Streak
*Rodger Coleman: Real Gone
*John Coltrane: Expression
*John Coltrane: Interstellar Space
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, Vol. 7 (disc 2)
*Mary Halvorson: Meltframe
*London Jazz Composers Orchestra featuring Anthony Braxton: 1988-03-25 Basel, Switzerland (CDR)
*Chris McGregor: Very Urgent
*Joe McPhee: Sonic Elements (For Pocket Trumpet and Alto Saxophone)
*Tony Oxley: 4 Compositions for Sextet
*RAIC: 2016-08-13 Richmond VA (mp3)
*Tom Rainey Trio: Hotel Grief
*Irene Schweizer & Louis Moholo: Free Mandela!
*Sun Ra and His Astro Ihnfinity Arkestra: The Intergalactic Thing (sides 3, 4)
*Sun Ra & His Intergalactic Solar Research Arkestra: 1971-11-11 Delft, The Netherlands (CDR)
*Sun Ra: Live Highlights (CDR compilation) (discs 4, 5) (selections)
*Henry Threadgill Zooid: In for a Penny, In for a Pound (disc 2)
*Cecil Taylor Unit: 1982-01-05 Lush Life, NYC (CDR)
*Cecil Taylor: 2016-04-14 Whitney Museum, NYC (CDR) (disc 2)
*Deerhoof: The Magic
*Aretha Franklin: Lady Soul
*Aretha Franklin: Aretha Now
*Aretha Franklin: Spirit in the Dark
*Guided By Voices: Suitcase Four (Captain Kangaroo Won The War) (disc 1)
*Heldon: Un Rêve Sans Conséquence Spéciale
*Neutral Milk Hotel: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
*Richard Pinhas: 2014-05-16 Victoriaville (CDR)
*Sly and the Family Stone: Higher! (disc 4)
*Unknown Mortal Orchestra: Unknown Mortal Orchestra
*Van Der Graaf Generator: Pawn Hearts
*Various artists: The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Cumbia

Reading List, Week of 2016-08-21



Reading List 2016-08-22:

*Banks, Iain M. Use of Weapons (started)
*Munro, Alice. The Beggar's Maid (started)
*Granville-Barker, Harley. "The Merchant of Venice," in Prefaces to Shakespeare, Vol. 1 (started/finished)
*Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice (Arden 2nd series, ed. John Russell Brown) (reread/finished)
*Thorne, Jack. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two (finished)
*Kirby, Jack, and Stan Lee. Essential Fantastic Four, Vol. 2 (reread/in progress)

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Playlist, Week of 2016-08-14



Playlist 2016-08-15:

*John Cage: Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano (Maro Ajemian, piano)
*Muhal Richard Abrams Quintet: 2016-01-31 Milano (CDR)
*AMM: Laminal (disc 2)
*Daniel Barbiero & Chris Lynn: Doubting All Things Aligned
*Anthony Braxton Quintet: 1979-09 Minneapolis (CDR)
*Anthony Braxton: Ensemble Montaigne (Bau 4) 2013
*Anthony Braxton: Echo Echo Mirror House
*John Coltrane: Stellar Regions
*John Coltrane: The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live Recording
*Anthony Davis: Of Blues and Dreams
*Massimo Discepoli/Daniel Barbiero: An Eclipse of Images (selections)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, Vol. 7 (disc 1)
*New Ting Ting Loft: 2016-08-01 "Extending the Range of Extension" (wav)
*Paradoxical Frog: Union
*Tom Rainey Trio: Hotel Grief
*Tom Rainey Trio: 2016-07-01 NYC (CDR)
*Sun Ra and His Astro Ihnfinity Arkestra: The Intergalactic Thing (sides 1, 2)
*Sun Ra: Intergalactic Research
*Sun Ra and His Blue Universe Arkestra: Universe in Blue (2014 remaster)
*Sun Ra: ESP Radio Tribute (CDR) (disc 6)
*Sun Ra: 1971-10-12 Stockholm (CDR)
*Sun Ra: Astro Black (2014 remaster)
*Cecil Taylor Feel Trio: Two Ts for a Lovely T (disc 2)
*Cecil Taylor: 2016-04-14 Whitney Museum, NYC (CDR) (disc 1)
*Deerhoof: Fever 121614
*Deerhoof: The Magic
*Emerson Lake & Palmer: Brain Salad Surgery (disc 2)
*Gentle Giant: Playing the Fool - The Official Live Gentle Giant
*Guided By Voices: Sunfish Holy Breakfast
*Hatfield and the North: The Rotters’ Club (side 2)
*Jefferson Pilot: Soundtrack to Welcome Stranger
*Joy Division: Closer
*Richard Pinhas/Oren Ambarchi: Tikkun
*Prix: Historix
*Soft Boys: Underwater Moonlight
*Zephyr: Zephyr

Reading List, Week of 2016-08-14




Reading List 2016-08-15:

*Thorne, Jack. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two (started)
*Banks, Iain M. The Player of Games (started/finished)
*Banks, Iain M. Consider Phlebas (finished)
*Kirby, Jack, and Stan Lee. Essential Fantastic Four, Vol. 2 (reread/in progress)
*Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice (Arden 2nd series, ed. John Russell Brown) (reread/in progress)

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Summer


Lots of great new music has been entering the World of Abstract Dreams this summer!  Here's a quick overview of some of the stuff that's been capturing my imagination for the last couple of months....

A Listener's Guide to Free Improvisation by John Corbett.
Corbett's writing is so persuasive and articulate that he does a great job explaining the value of free improvised music for listeners who are not familiar with it. In the opening section, he makes the point that we all grow up exposed to songs, and thus grow up used to their structure and grow to accept that that's what all music should sound like. "But for the purposes of  listening to improvised music, anticipating a song is actually a hindrance." And he goes on throughout the rest of the book to explain why. It makes sense to me, but then again I am prejudiced. I may not be the ideal reader for this book, since I am part of the choir. As a player deeply enmeshed in improvisation, I can say with absolute certainty that he nails it time and again. He understands improvising deeply, and he gives improvising musicians a wonderful guide and inspirational model. How useful would this book be for novices? Hard to say, but if friendly experiencers follow a tenth of his advice here they're in for a wonderful ride.

Sun Ra and His Astro Ihnfinity Arkestra: The Intergalactic Thing. This 2-LP set is a treasure trove of fourteen heretofore unknown Sun Ra compositions, plus a handful of familiar tunes in different guises. All of these tracks come from 1969 rehearsals, but unlike most of the other Ra rehearsal stuff I've heard (Oakland 1971, Untitled Recordings, etc.) these are completely formed run-throughs with little to no stopping or vocal directions from Ra. (At one point he does call out "Tyrone" for a trombone solo, attesting to the presence of Tyrone Hill, who is not credited on the sleeve). It's pretty amazing that even with all the available live recordings we're lucky to have that none of these seems to have shown up anywhere. Drums on only a few tracks, bass on only one, lots of percussion, pretty full horn sections. And wonderful, wonderful keyboard and horn lines and melodies! Only a couple of short Gilmore solos (the one on "Do the Intergalactic Thing" is a doozy!). Liner notes from Robert Campbell. An absolute must-have.



Rodger Coleman: Real Gone. Rodger has expanded his sonic palette considerably with new equipment like analogue synth, Moogerfoogers, etc. (detailed here and here), and he puts them all into service of beautifully crafted improvisations that are spacey and compelling. I can't wait to play with Rodger again to get my improvisational drum rocks off with this new sonic universe!


Jefferson Pilot: Soundtrack to Welcome Stranger. I'm not gonna say too much about this now since Jeff is still working on it, a musical project commissioned by artist Jim Nolan to accompany his installation in Dallas last spring.  Do check out the photos from Jim's work, it looks fabulous-- too bad it was all in Texas, so far away (from me, here, now). Anyway, this batch of tunes is mostly new work incorporating old family tapes, lots of backwards effects, groovy melodies, and a sense of fun and adventure that rivals Jefferson Pilot's Hello Mississippi.


Anthony Braxton: 3 Compositions (EEMHM) 2011. This new phase of Braxton's, called Echo Echo Mirror House Music, is some of his most sonically challenging yet: each musician comes equipped with an iPod loaded with nothing but older Braxton recordings, which they play along with their instruments. I'm not explaining it very well, but the overall effect is a dense maelstrom of sound, with no beginning and no end, like being dropped into a whirlpool of Braxton sound, very fluid, very abstract. This 3-CD set marks the first studio recording of this new direction (there is an earlier-released live set of EEMHM on Victo, recorded around the same time, and there are also audience recordings of shows from Wesleyan). Paradoxically, I think I prefer the effect when the sound is not so clear; to my ears the overall sonic density is intensified when it's harder to identify the sources--so I think the Victo live CD and the various Wesleyan shows convey better the sense of total, floating immersion Braxton is after here. The performers in the studio recordings also seem to go for the same samples in all three CDs--but I don't know if that's because of a limitation of samples available, or because the choices are dictated by the score (based on the sample score images included in the booklet, I'd say not, but what do I know?). All I know is with the wide spectrum of Braxton's oeuvre available, why focus on an applause segment in all three sets? The first time it comes up, it's fun and exciting (applause, after all, has almost always been present on Braxton's live recordings), and the band seems to play along with it, but the second and third time you hear it it's not as interesting. Same goes for the "greatest hits" aspect of the chosen samples. But don't get me wrong--this is heady, exhilarating stuff, extremely advanced and worthy of multiple listens. I've been scratching my head over it with Rodger via email, and I'm sure I'll continue to grapple with for years to come. I love it. For a much better sense of the importance and vitality of this new direction in Braxton's work, see the excellent review by Alexander Hawkins.

 

Ingrid Laubrock/Tom Rainey: Buoyancy.
Tom Rainey Trio: Hotel Grief.
I continue to be amazed by the brilliant playing of drummer Tom Rainey, saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, and guitarist Mary Halvorson. Hotel Grief, the trio's first live recording, is full of surprises, wonderful moods, and ferocious explorations. Buoyancy, a studio duo album, was recorded at the end of a live tour in 2015. Improvisation of the highest order.


Deerhoof: The Magic.
I'm still absorbing this, but I can say without a doubt this is another fantastic gem of an album from this always unique and inventive band. They're definitely on a role for the last, oh, five, six, or seven albums, especially since they added the second guitarist Ed Rodriguez, and each new album has been brilliant  and original in its own quirky, individualistic way. Standout track: "Nurse Me."


Photograph: Barbara Woike/AP, used in the Guardian

Finally, Cecil Taylor: live recordings from his Whitney Museum residency.  Rather than try to describe these, I'll just point you to these two excellent reviews by Hank Shteamer. Let me just say that Taylor's playing here is sublime.

So, that's it! Hope your summer listening has been as exciting as mine has so far!

Monday, August 8, 2016

Playlist, Week of 2016-08-07



Playlist 2016-08-08:

*Arthur Blythe: Lenox Avenue Breakdown
*Anthony Braxton: Ensemble Montaigne (Bau 4) 2013
*Rodger Coleman: Real Gone
*John Coltrane: Offering: Live at Temple University
*Kris Davis Infrasound: Save Your Breath
*Jimmy Ghaphery: oralhistory
*Ingrid Laubrock/Tom Rainey: Buoyancy
*Alphonse Mouzon: Mind Transplant
*New Ting Ting Loft: 2016-06-13 “Honorary Ironing Board” (wav)
*Tom Rainey Trio: 2016-07-01 NYC (CDR)
*James Blood Ulmer Blues Experience: Blues Allnight
*Sun Ra and His Astro Ihnfinity Arkestra: The Intergalactic Thing
*Sun Ra and His Intergalactic Research Arkestra: Black Myth/Out in Space (disc 2)
*Sun Ra Arkestra: 1970-10-18 Amsterdam (CDR)
*Dal Niente/Deerhoof: Balter/Saunier
*Donnie and Joe Emerson: Dreamin' Wild
*Guided By Voices: Briefcase Four (Captain Kangaroo Won The War) (limited ed. sampler)
*Jackie Mittoo: Jackie Mittoo in London
*Jackie Mittoo and the Soul Vendors: Evening Time
*Jackie Mittoo: Jackie Mittoo
*Sly and the Family Stone: Higher! (disc 3)
*Soft Machine: Facelift (disc 2)
*Various artists: Movie Musicals 1927 to 1936
*Yes: Progeny: Highlights From Seventy-Two
*Zephyr: 45th Anniversary: Going Back to Colorado (disc 1)

Reading List, Week of 2016-08-07



Reading List 2016-08-07:

*Banks, Iain M. Consider Phlebas (started)
*Kirby, Jack, and Stan Lee. Essential Fantastic Four, Vol. 2 (reread/started)
*Cooper, Dennis. Zac's Haunted House (started/finished)
*Cabell, James Branch. Jurgen: A Comedy of Justice (finished)
*Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice (Arden 2nd series, ed. John Russell Brown) (reread/in progress)

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Playlist, Week of 2016-07-31




In heavy rotation...

Playlist 2016-08-01:

*Daniel Barbiero & Chris Lynn: Doubting All Things Aligned
*Anthony Braxton: 3 Compositions (EEMHM) 2011 (disc 1)
*Rodger Coleman/Sam Byrd: 2015-12 Nashville (wav) (selections)
*Rodger Coleman: Real Gone
*Kris Davis: Capricorn Climber
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, Vol. 6 (disc 2)
*Tom Rainey Trio: Hotel Grief
*Sun Ra and His Solar Arkestra: Other Planes of There
*Sun Ra and His Astro Ihnfinity Arkestra: The Intergalactic Thing
*Sun Ra: The Sub-Dwellers (side 2)
*Sun Ra and His Intergalactic Research Arkestra: Black Myth/Out in Space (disc 1)
*Henry Threadgill Zooid: In for a Penny, In for a Pound
*Joe Zawinul: Zawinul
*Amon Düül II: Tanz der Lemminge
*David Bowie: Nothing Has Changed (disc 3)
*Circulatory System: Mosaics Within Mosaics
*Deerhoof: The Magic
*Grateful Dead: Red Rocks 7/8/78 (disc 2)
*Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
*Phil Manzanera/801: Listen Now
*Jackie Mittoo: Macka Fat
*Sly and the Family Stone: Higher! (discs 1, 2)
*Sly Stone: I’m Just Like You: Sly’s Stone Flower 1969-70
*Avey Tare: Down There
*Tower of Power: 1978-06-04 Much More, Richmond VA (CDR)
*Zephyr: 45th anniversary: Leaving Colorado (disc 2)
*Zombies: The BBC Radio Sessions (side 4)

Reading List, Week of 2016-07-31



Reading List 2016-08-01:

*Cabell, James Branch. Jurgen: A Comedy of Justice (started)
*King, Stephen. End of Watch (started/finished)
*Meek, Richard, and Jane Rickard.. “'This orphan play': Cardenio and the Construction of the Author,” in Shakespeare  (2011-09) (started/finished)
*Peace, David. The Damned Utd (finished)
*Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice (Arden 2nd series, ed. John Russell Brown) (reread/in progress)