Playlist, Week of 2018-12-30

Happy new year to everyone!  Inspired by the Art Ensemble of Chicago biography, I am beginning to delve back into their amazing discography.... and continuing to be blown away by Craig Taborn... the Flaga set is a brilliant showcase for his acoustic piano playing, and it's got some of the best drumming by Tyshawn Sorey I've heard yet... speaking of him, the new Tyshawn Sorey album promises to be amazing... I've only had time to play the first disc (of three!) so far, and the textures and moods of that disc are sumptuous and beguiling... can't wait to check out the rest... didn't realize Joe Morris was on it... Also exciting is the new Insurrection disc... lotsa killer guitar work!... Continuing to explore the new Beach Boys digital releases of alternate takes, backing tracks, and other goodies from 1968... nice to hear "My Little Red Book" finally officially released... Brian really puts his heart and soul into that one!

Playlist 2018-12-31:

*Horacee Arnold: Tales of the Exonerated Flea
*Art Ensemble of Chicago: A Jackson in Your House
*David Binney: Third Occasion
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2017-11-19 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*John Coltrane: Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album (Deluxe Edition) (disc 2)
*Duke Ellington: The Complete 1932-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra (disc 8)
*Duke Ellington: Afro Bossa
*Flaga: Flaga (Zorn/Masada Book Two: The Book of Angels Vol. 27)
*Michael Formanek:  The Rub And Spare Change
*Vince Guaraldi Trio: A Charlie Brown Christmas
*Billie Holiday: Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia 1933–1944 (disc 5)
*Ingrid Laubrock: Contemporary Chaos Practices
*Tyshawn Sorey: Pillars (disc 1)
*John Zorn/Insurrection: Salem 1692
*Animal Collective: Strawberry Jam
*Animal Collective: Centipede Hz
*Beach Boys: I Can Hear Music: The 20/20 Sessions
*Beatles: The Beatles (Super Deluxe Edition) (disc 2)
*Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland (50th anniversary ed.) (discs 1, 3)
*George Jones and the Jones Boys: Live in Texas 1965
*Queens of the Stone Age: Songs for the Deaf
*Residents: Duck Stab/Buster & Glen (pREServed Edition) (disc 1)
*Phil Spector: A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
*Various artists: The Spirit of Christmas Past

Reading List, Week of 2018-12-30

Reading List 2018-12-31:

*Jemisin, N. K. How Long 'til Black Future Month? (started)
*Chazal, Malcolm de. Sens-Plastique (trans. Irving Weiss) (finished)
*Jemisin, N. K. The Stone Sky (finished)
*Schwartz, Jeff. Free Jazz: A Research and Information Guide (in progress)
*Showcase Presents: Challengers of the Unknown (in progress)
*Steinbeck, Paul. Message to Our Folks: The Art Ensemble of Chicago (in progress)
*Thomson, David. The New Biographical Dictionary of Film (4th ed.) (in progress)

Playlist, Week of 2018-12-23

KRIMBLE!!!

Playlist 2018-12-24:

*Art Ensemble of Chicago: A Jackson in Your House
*Steve Ashby & Daniel Barbiero: The Elongated Path
*Bennett, Ben/Jack Wright: Tangle
*Anthony Braxton Septet: 2010-10-07 Strasbourg, France (CDR)
*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (Mannheim) 2010
*Anthony Braxton: Echo Echo Mirror House
*Anthony Braxton Falling River Quintet: 2012-10-10 Berlin (CDR)
*Anthony Braxton/Falling River Music Quartet: 2012-10-11 Ulrichsberg, Austria (CDR)
*Gerald Cleaver/William Parker/Craig Taborn: Farmers By Nature
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2017-11-19 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2017-11-20 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*Duke Ellington: The Complete 1932-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra (disc 7)
*Duke Ellington: Three Suites
*Hermeto Pascoal & Grupo: No Mundo Dos Sons (disc 1)
*Pete Robbins: Do The Hate Laugh Shimmy
*Craig Taborn: Avenging Angel
*Cecil Taylor Unit: The Unreleased 1976-77 Compositions (Alex Ward youtube compilation)
*David Torn Prezens: 2008-01-10 Cologne (CDR) (disc 2)
*David Torn Prezens: 2008-01-14 London (CDR)
*David Torn & Prezens: 2008-01-19 Budapest (CDR)
*Alex Ward: Volition (Live At Cafe Oto)
*John Zorn: Insurrection
*Lily Allen: No Shame
*John Barry: From Russia with Love (Definitive Soundtrack Collection)
*Beach Boys: Ultimate Christmas
*Beach Boys: Sunshine Tomorrow 2: The Studio Sessions
*Beach Boys: Wake the World: The Friends Sessions
*Beatles: With the Beatles (2009 stereo remaster)
*Beatles:  The Christmas Records
*Beatles: Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band (Super Deluxe Ed.) (disc 1)
*Beatles: The Beatles (Super Deluxe Edition) (disc 1)
*Bob Dylan: Theme Time Radio Hour No. 34: Christmas & New Years (CDR)
*Mike Elder/Harry Forrest/Greg Jordan/Sam Byrd: 2018-12-15 (wav)
*Various artists: Country & Western Hit Parade 1945: Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, and Hillbilly Music
*Various artists: It's Christmas Time
*Brian Wilson: Brian Wilson
*XTC: Black Sea (Surround Sound Series) (disc 1)

Reading List, Week of 2018-12-23

Reading List 2018-12-24:

*Jemisin, N. K. The Stone Sky (started)
*Adler, Renata. Pitch Dark (finished)
*Nabokov, Vladimir. The Tragedy of Mr. Morn (transl. Anastasia Tolstoy and Thomas Karshan) (finished)
*Chazal, Malcolm de. Sens-Plastique (trans. Irving Weiss) (in progress)
*Schwartz, Jeff. Free Jazz: A Research and Information Guide (in progress)
*Showcase Presents: Challengers of the Unknown (in progress)
*Steinbeck, Paul. Message to Our Folks: The Art Ensemble of Chicago (in progress)
*Thomson, David. The New Biographical Dictionary of Film (4th ed.) (in progress)

Playlist, Week of 2018-12-16

More of same.... lotsa Anthony Braxton, lotsa Craig Taborn, and a healthy dose of the Beach Boys!... Time getting crowded... haven't even mentioned the marvelous White Album set yet....

Playlist 2018-12-17:

*Anthony Braxton: Sextet (Parker) 1993 (disc 1)
*Anthony Braxton Diamond Curtain Wall Trio: 2009-10-30 Frankfurt (CDR)
*Anthony Braxton 12tet + 1: 2010-01-29 Vancouver (CDR)
*Anthony Braxton's Sonic Genome Project: 2010-01-31 Vancouver (CDR)
*Anthony Braxton Diamond Curtain Wall Quartet: 2010-10-05 Mannheim, Germany (CDR)
*Rob Brown Ensemble: Crown Trunk Root Funk
*Dave Bryant: 2018-11-17 Sediment, RVA (wav)
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2017-11-19 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2017-11-20 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*Scott Colley: Architect of the Silent Moment
*Duke Ellington: Three Suites
*GRB Trio: 2018-12-08 Richmond VA (wav)
*Herbie Hancock Septet: Live at the Boston Jazz Workshop
*Thomas Larcher: IXXU
*New Ting Ting Loft: 2018-11-17 Sediment, RVA (wav)
*Gino Robair: Solo Drums with Ebow
*Gary Rouzer: Studies and Observations of Domestic Shrubbery
*Cecil Taylor Unit: The Unreleased 1976-77 Compositions (Alex Ward youtube compilation)
*David Torn & Prezens: 2007-08-24 Saalfelden (CDR)
*David Torn Prezens: 2008-01-10 Cologne (CDR) (disc 1)
*Vector Trio: Cabal
*Beach Boys: Wild Honey
*Beach Boys: Wake the World: The Friends Sessions
*Beach Boys: I Can Hear Music: The 20/20 Sessions
*Beatles: The Beatles (Super Deluxe Edition) (discs 1, 2, 3)
*Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
*Tito Puente: Tambó
*Frank Sinatra: White Christmas
*Phil Spector: A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector

Reading List, Week of 2018-12-16

Reading List 2018-12-17:

*Jemisin, N. K. The Obelisk Gate (started/finished)
*Nabokov, Vladimir. The Tragedy of Mr. Morn (transl. Anastasia Tolstoy and Thomas Karshan) (started)
*Adler, Renata. Pitch Dark (in progress)
*Chazal, Malcolm de. Sens-Plastique (trans. Irving Weiss) (in progress)
*Schwartz, Jeff. Free Jazz: A Research and Information Guide (in progress)
*Showcase Presents: Challengers of the Unknown (in progress)
*Steinbeck, Paul. Message to Our Folks: The Art Ensemble of Chicago (in progress)
*Thomson, David. The New Biographical Dictionary of Film (4th ed.) (in progress)

Playlist, Week of 2018-12-09

I find that I like to have some kind of game plan in my listening... still leaves lots of room for serendipity... hence my working through the discography of Craig Taborn... the David Binney and Chris Potter albums were new to me... not as much Taborn as I would have liked!... next week I'll start working through several live performances of his with David Torn... And hence my going through all the Anthony Braxton recordings I have with Mary Halvorson... And hence my digging into the Mosaic box of Duke Ellington Reprise recordings... Lots of gems in there, even some of the Mary Poppins material... Ellington and Billy Strayhorn spun gold from dross for years... Had a wonderful trio session with cellist Gary Rouzer and Jimmy Ghaphery over the weekend... for inspiration, he suggested checking out the Tr!o recording, which is really nice... Still absorbing the sessions with Rodger Coleman... conceptualizing potential albums... Had an opportunity to sit down with my brother and check out some of the new Dark Carpet material... rocking as always.... waiting for that next album!... As always, I feel behind in my listening....

Playlist 2018-12-10:

*David Binney: Out of Airplanes
*David Binney: Cities and Desire
*Anthony Braxton: Septet (Pittsburgh) 2008
*Anthony Braxton Diamond Curtain Wall Quartet: 2008-06-27 Besancon (CDR)
*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (Moscow) 2008
*Anthony Braxton Diamond Curtain Wall Trio: 2008-07-02 Tivoli (CDR)
*Anthony Braxton Septet: "Accelerator Ghost Dance" 2008-07-25 San Sebastian (CDR)
*Elliott Carter: A Nonesuch Retrospective (disc 3)
*Günter Christmann/Paul Lovens/Mats Gustafsson: Tr!o (selections)
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2017-11-19 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2017-11-20 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*Duke Ellington: The Reprise Studio Recordings (discs 3, 4, 5)
*Esquivel & His Orchestra: Complete 1954-1962 Recordings (disc 5)
*Kate Gentile: Mannequins
*Dave Holland: Prism
*Makaya McCraven: Highly Rare (streaming)
*New Ting Ting Loft: 2018-11-17 Sediment, RVA (wav)
*Hermeto Pascoal & Grupo: No Mundo Dos Sons (disc 2)
*Chris Potter: Follow the Red Line: Live at the Village Vanguard
*Henry Threadgill: Double Up, Plays Double Up Plus
*John Zorn/Simulacrum: Simulacrum
*Gang Font Feat. Interloper: The Gang Font Feat. Interloper
*Dark Carpet: 2018 selections
*King Crimson: 1972 unknown

Reading List, Week of 2018-12-09

Reading List 2018-12-10:

*Adler, Renata. Pitch Dark (started)
*Steinbeck, Paul. Message to Our Folks: The Art Ensemble of Chicago (started)
*Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok (transl. Jackson Crawford) (started/finished)
*Jemisin, N. K. The Fifth Season (finished)
*Chazal, Malcolm de. Sens-Plastique (trans. Irving Weiss) (in progress)
*Schwartz, Jeff. Free Jazz: A Research and Information Guide (in progress)
*Showcase Presents: Challengers of the Unknown (in progress)
*Thomson, David. The New Biographical Dictionary of Film (4th ed.) (in progress)

Playlist, Week of 2018-12-02

Focusing on working my way through the two days' worth of recordings we did in Nashville.... it always takes a while to fully absorb these long, monstrous improvisations... As a result, slowing down a bit on the Craig Taborn trail... will get back to that soon... I'm also starting to revisit (relatively) recent Anthony Braxton recordings, especially ones with Mary Halvorson... The Alex Ward large ensemble recording is superlative... I really dug his clarinet playing on Alexander Hawkins' Unit[e]...

Playlist 2018-12-03:

*Anthony Braxton Septet: 2008-01-26 Chiasso (CDR)
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2017-11-19 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2017-11-20 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*Duke Ellington: The Reprise Studio Recordings (discs 1, 2)
*Ivo Perelman: The Art of Perelman-Shipp Volume 6: Saturn
*Ivo Perelman: The Art of Perelman-Shipp Volume 7: Dione
*Flora Purim: Encounter
*Sun Ra and His Astro Infinity Arkestra: My Brother the Wind Volume II
*Alex Ward: Volition (Live At Cafe Oto)
*Beatles: The Beatles (Super Deluxe Edition) (discs 5, 6)
*Deerhoof: Fever 121614
*Gang of Four: Entertainment!
*Dusty Springfield: The Dusty Springfield Anthology (disc 3)

Reading List, Week of 2018-12-02

Reading List 2018-12-03:

*Jemisin, N. K. The Fifth Season (started)
*Showcase Presents: Challengers of the Unknown (started)
*Le Carré, John. Absolute Friends (started/finished)
*Knausgaard, Karl Ove. My Struggle, Book Six (transl. Don Bartlett and Martin Aitken) (finished)
*Chazal, Malcolm de. Sens-Plastique (trans. Irving Weiss) (in progress)
*Schwartz, Jeff. Free Jazz: A Research and Information Guide (in progress)
*Thomson, David. The New Biographical Dictionary of Film (4th ed.) (in progress)