Playlist, Week of 2019-07-28

All over the place this week....

Playlist 2019-07-29:

*Daniel Barbiero: A Multiplication of Arcs (wav)
*Anthony Braxton: Creative Orchestra Music 1976
*Anthony Braxton: Trillium R: Composition 162 - An Opera in Four Acts/Shala Fears for the Poor (disc 2)
*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (New Haven) 2014 (discs 1, 2, 3, 4)
*Duke Ellington: The Great Paris Concert (disc 1)
*Full Blast & Friends: Sketches and Ballads
*Roscoe Mitchell Sextet: 1976-02-08 Studio RivBea, NYC (CDR) (selections)
*Roscoe Mitchell Orchestra: Littlefield Concert Hall, Mills College, March 19-20, 2018
*Tony Oxley/Derek Bailey Quartet: 1993-09 Crawley, England (CDR)
*Hermeto Pascoal: Slaves Mass
*Hermeto Pascoal & Grupo: Só Não Toca Quem Não Quer (Only If You Don't Want It, You Can't Do It)
*Tom Rainey Trio: Combobulated
*Sara Serpa: Close Up
*Alex Ward Item 10: Volition (Live At Cafe Oto)
*Beau Hunks: The Beau Hunks Play the Original "Little Rascals" Music
*Bob Dylan: The 1966 Live Recordings (disc 11)
*Marvin Gaye: You're the Man
*Gentle Giant: Octopus
*Grateful Dead: Cornell 5.8.77 (disc 1)
*Jefferson Pilot: Shadow Hobby
*King Crimson: The Power to Believe (2019 remaster)
*King Crimson: The ReconstruKction of Light
*Tito Puente: The Complete 78s: Vol. 4 (disc 2)
*Rascals: 1971-05-20 Fillmore West (CDR)
*Roxy Music: The Thrill of It All (disc 1) (selections)
*Shirelles: Foolish Little Girl
*Shirelles: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
*Syzygys: The Complete Studio Recordings
*Various artists: Country & Western Hit Parade 1948: Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, and Hillbilly Music
*Various artists: Exotica for Monty (CDR) (disc 1)
*Various artists: Woodstock: Back to the Garden: 50th Anniversary Collection (discs 1, 2)
*Xiu Xiu: Women as Lovers

Reading List, Week of 2019-07-28

Reading List 2019-07-29:

*Dreyer, Benjamin. Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style (started)
*Stephenson, Neal. Fall, or, Dodge in Hell (finished)
*Goldbarth, Albert. Across the Layers: Poems Old and New (in progress)
*Joyce, James. Finnegans Wake (ed. Henkes, Bindervoet, Fordham) (reread/in progress)
*Tindall, William York, A Reader's Guide to Finnegans Wake (in progress)

Playlist, Week of 2019-07-21

Outside of his recording with Wolf Eyes, Quartet (New Haven) 2014 is the most "rock"-ish thing Anthony Braxton has done...  not surprisingly, he is perfectly at home with the rock-edged drumming of Greg Saunier and the sonic effects Nels Cline gets from electric guitar.. as it always seems to be with him, Braxton brings out the best of whoever he's improvising with... he and Taylor Ho Bynum already have an established relationship, and it shows, as they often seem to think and respond as one...  I've always loved Saunier's drumming in Deerhoof and I just knew he had it in him to be a wonderful totally free player, and he doesn't disappoint here... with the cutting-edge precision of Chris Cutler and the sense of dynamic structure and drama of Robert Wyatt, his drumming is quite inventive here with all the twists and turns the music takes (and it's worth noting that many of those twists and turns are instigated by him as much as anybody)... the music is very fluid, but not meandering, always with a purpose, like the flow of a particularly feisty river... Cline supplies more than just rock guitar, of course... there are lots of electronic, keyboard-like sounds as well as lower-register passages that fill in some of the bass spectrum as well... Braxton is clearly inspired by all this and he turns in some amazing playing on an array of reeds, including wonderful passages on bass and contrabass saxophones... again, no surprise but just beautiful in this context... this is really an amazing set of recordings... take this band on the road and bring them to Richmond, Mr. Braxton!

Playlist 2019-07-22:

*Daniel Barbiero and Cristiano Bocci: 2019-06-22 Rhizome, Washington DC (wav)
*Paul Bley: Ballads
*Anthony Braxton: Creative Music Orchestra (NYC) 2011
*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (New Haven) 2014 (discs 1, 2, 3, 4)
*Pete Christlieb/Warne Marsh Quintet: Apogee
*Decoy with Joe McPhee: Spontaneous Combustion (disc 2)
*Adam Lion/Matt Nelson: 2019-07-13 Gamelan Raga Kusuma, University of Richmond (wav)
*New Ting: 2019-07-08 "Backhand Volley" (wav)
*RAIC: The Heart's Message Cannot be Delivered in Words (wav rough mix)
*RAIC: 2019-07-13 Gamelan Raga Kusuma, University of Richmond (wav)
*Schlippenbach Trio: First Recordings
*Harvey Sorgen/Joe Fonda/Marilyn Crispell:  Dreamstruck
*Beatles: With the Beatles (2009 stereo remaster)
*James Brown: The Singles, Vol. 4: 1966-1967 (discs 1, 2)
*Gentle Giant: In a Glass House
*Grateful Dead: Dick's Picks 2 (1971-10-31 Columbus OH)
*John Lee Hooker: Hooker (discs 1, 2, 3)
*Jefferson Pilot: Shadow Hobby
*King Crimson: Heavy ConstruKction (disc 3)
*Little Richard: Specialty Sessions (disc 1)
*Paul McCartney: Beautiful Junk (CDR compilation) (discs 4, 5)
*Esperanza Spalding: Radio Music Society
*Sunn O))) & Boris: Altar
*Various artists: Exotica for Monty (CDR) (disc 1)
*Various artists: Fame Northern Soul
*Various artists: Powerpop Explosion Volume 2 (CDR compilation) (discs 1, 2)
*Various artists: Top Shelf 8/8/88
*Junior Wells' Chicago Blues Band: Hoodoo Man Blues

Reading List, Week of 2019-07-21

Gettin' there...

Reading List 2019-07-22:

*Goldbarth, Albert. Across the Layers: Poems Old and New (in progress)
*Joyce, James. Finnegans Wake (reread/in progress)
*Stephenson, Neal. Fall, or, Dodge in Hell (in progress)
*Tindall, William York, A Reader's Guide to Finnegans Wake (in progress)

"Shadow Hobby:" New Jefferson Pilot

Shadow Hobby, the new EP-length release from Jefferson Pilot is overall more subdued than The Optimist Field, but that doesn't mean there's not a lot of energy here... as with all his work, each song is established with its own sonic identity... lots of manipulation of voices, lots of overlaying of vocals, several '70s Beach Boys-inundated feels... Jeff includes his wife Sarah on vocals on three cuts, and she blends in wonderfully, adding a new dimension... her voice has appeared in his work before, but never quite so prominently... really nice... great cover photo from Alan Duffy... "Our Country Ways" is an entirely new song over the same backing track as Optimist's "Poor Dead Soldier," complete with Ringo-esque drumming... the surrealistic sax of "The Movie's About to Begin" closes out the album proper, then comes "Denny"... I don't know what the hell's going on there... many beautiful, catchy songs here! Highly recommended...

Playlist, Week of 2019-07-14

All Summer Long: the perfect album for this sweltering weather... Lots of musical heat from Herbie Hancock, Decoy, and Mingus...

Playlist 2019-07-15:

*Derek Bailey/George Lewis/John Zorn: Yankees
*Anthony Braxton: Trillium R: Composition 162 - An Opera in Four Acts/Shala Fears for the Poor (disc 1)
*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (New Haven) 2014 (discs 1, 2, 3, 4)
*Decoy with Joe McPhee: Spontaneous Combustion (disc 1)
*Jan Garbarek-Bobo Stenson Quartet: Witchi-Tai-To
*Herbie Hancock: Sextant
*Charles Mingus: Jazz in Detroit/Strata Concert Gallery/46 Selden (discs 3, 4, 5)
*New Ting: 2019-06-10 "Anytime Could Be Now" (wav)
*RAIC: Lamentations
*Terje Rypdal & the Chasers: Blue
*McCoy Tyner: Sama Layuca
*McCoy Tyner: Atlantis
*John Zorn/Simulacrum: The Garden of Earthly Delights
*Beach Boys: All Summer Long
*Deerhoof: Misc. EPs and singles (CDR compilation)
*Brian Eno: Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
*Jimi Hendrix: 1969-07-10 Tonight Show (youtube)
*Jefferson Pilot: Shadow Hobby
*King Crimson: Heavy ConstruKction (disc 2)
*Paul McCartney: Beautiful Junk (CDR compilation) (discs 2, 3)
*Muffins: Double Negative
*Rascals: 1968-08-16 Hollywood Bowl (CDR)
*Shirelles: Lost & Found: Rare & Previously Unissued
*UYA: 1992-02-08/11: Vas Pole (wav)
*UYA: 1992-02-18: When I Get Hungry (wav)
*Various artists: Stax '68: A Memphis Story (disc 5)
*Various artists: Powerpop Explosion Volume 1 (CDR compilation) (discs 1, 2)

Reading List, Week of 2019-07-14

Best Rebus so far....

Reading List 2019-07-15:

*Stephenson, Neal. Fall, or, Dodge in Hell (started)
*Modan, Rutu. The Property (transl. Jessica Cohen) (started/finished)
*Rankin, Ian. Set in Darkness (started/finished)
*Goldbarth, Albert. Across the Layers: Poems Old and New (in progress)
*Joyce, James. Finnegans Wake (reread/in progress)
*Tindall, William York, A Reader's Guide to Finnegans Wake (in progress)

New RAIC Single

I think this is only temporarily available, so check it out fast! Stillness is a single from saxophonist Erik Schroeder's  RAIC session this past March. Not sure when the album is coming out. It was a pleasure to delve into a kind of late-Coltrane free spiritual jazz mode for this.

Playlist, Week of 2019-07-07

Jazz in Detroit is primo late-period Mingus... almost four hours' worth of top-notch playing, with Don Pullen shining throughout... plus a strong addition to the available discography of John Stubblefield, who hasn't been featured nearly enough, considering his beefy tone and commanding presence... the only thing missing is Dannie Richmond, but that's not to slight the wonderful drumming of Roy Brooks... it's great that these recordings were saved by Brooks' widow for posterity... I'll have much more to say about the new Braxton quartet release after I absorb it, but suffice it to say for now that it's marvelous...

Playlist 2019-07-08:

*John Abercrombie: Night
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Blues Forever
*Nik Bärtsch's Ronin: Awase
*Bix Beiderbecke: Bix Restored Volume 3: February-June 1928 (disc 2)
*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (New Haven) 2014 (discs 1, 2, 3, 4)
*Anthony Braxton Zim Sextet: 2018-05-29 London (CDR)
*Rosemary Cloony and Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: Blue Rose
*Miles Davis: Complete Birth of the Cool (remastered)
*Miles Davis: In a Silent Way
*Kenny Dorham: Una Mas
*Dutch Jazz Orchestra: Portrait of a Silk Thread: Newly Discovered Works of Billy Strayhorn
*Fire! Orchestra: Arrival
*Full Blast & Friends: Sketches and Ballads
*Giovanni Guidi: Avec les Temps
*Coleman Hawkins: Wrapped Tight
*Mat Maneri Quartet: Blue Decco
*Charles Mingus: Jazz in Detroit/Strata Concert Gallery/46 Selden (discs 1, 2)
*Charles Mingus: Cumbia & Jazz Fusion
*New Ting: 2019-06-10 "Anytime Could Be Now" (wav)
*Larry Ochs/Nels Cline/Gerald Cleaver: What Is to Be Done
*Sara Serpa: Close Up
*Craig Taborn: Light Made Lighter
*James Brown: The Singles, Vol. 3: 1964-1965 (discs 1, 2)
*Jefferson Pilot: Shadow Hobby
*King Crimson: Heavy ConstruKction (disc 1)
*Paul McCartney: Beautiful Junk (CDR compilation) (disc 1)
*Tito Puente: The Complete 78s: Vol. 1 (disc 1)
*Rascals: Complete Singles As & Bs 2 (1969-72)
*Shirelles: Foolish Little Girl
*Shirelles: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
*Superhomard: Meadow Lane Park
*Various artists: Stax '68: A Memphis Story (discs 3, 4)

Reading List, Week of 2019-07-07

Reading List 2019-07-08:

*Goldbarth, Albert. Across the Layers: Poems Old and New (started)
*Ellroy, James. This Storm (finished)
*Mullen, Harryette. Muse & Drudge (finished)
*Joyce, James. Finnegans Wake (reread/in progress)
*Tindall, William York, A Reader's Guide to Finnegans Wake (in progress)

Playlist, Week of 2019-06-30

Been on a Shirelles kick lately.... definitely my favorite girl group... Lovely live Rhizome set from Daniel Barbiero and Cristiano Bocci... wish I could have been there... Satisfied my need for large orchestral ensemble improvising/compositions with Roscoe Mitchell, Ingrid Laubrock, and Alexander Hawkins...

Playlist 2019-07-01:

*Art Ensemble of Chicago: We Are on the Edge: A 50th Anniversary Celebration (discs 1, 2)
*Daniel Barbiero and Cristiano Bocci: 2019-06-22 Rhizome, Washington DC (wav)
*Anthony Braxton: Sextet (Parker) 1993 (discs 9, 10, 11)
*Anthony Braxton: GTM (Syntax) 2017 (disc 10) (streaming)
*Bruford: Gradually Going Tornado
*James Cicatko: web selections (mp3)
*Alice Coltrane Sextet: Live at the Berkeley Community Theater 1972
*Kris Davis and Craig Taborn: Octopus
*Elder Ones: From Untruth
*Fire! Orchestra: Arrival
*Herbie Hancock Septet: Live at the Boston Jazz Workshop
*Alexander Hawkins: Unit[e] (disc 2)
*Alexander Hawkins: Iron into Wind (Pears from an Elm)
*Ingrid Laubrock: Contemporary Chaos Practices
*Mat Maneri: Sustain
*Steve Miller/Lol Coxhill: "The Story So Far​.​.​." ".​.​.​Oh Really?" (disc 2)
*Roscoe Mitchell Discussions Orchestra: Discussions
*Roscoe Mitchell Orchestra: Littlefield Concert Hall, Mills College, March 19-20, 2018
*New Loft: 2011-02-23 "Ask Any Waiter" (wav)
*New What: 2011-03-03 Bon Air Community Center, Richmond VA (wav)
*Tom Rainey Trio: Combobulated
*David Torn/Tim Berne/Ches Smith: Sun Of Goldfinger
*John Zorn/Insurrection: Salem 1692
*Beatles: Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band (Super Deluxe Ed.) (disc 1)
*James Brown: The Singles, Vol. 1:  The Federal Years 1956-1960 (disc 2)
*James Brown: The Singles, Vol. 2: 1960-1963 (discs 1, 2)
*James Brown: Dead on the Heavy Funk 1975-83 (discs 1, 2)
*Emerson Lake & Palmer: Tarkus (side 1)
*Flying Lotus: Flamagra
*Aretha Franklin: Lady Soul
*Gentle Giant: Three Friends
*Grateful Dead: Spirit of '76
*Guided By Voices: Scat Box (CDR compilation)
*Heldon: Interface
*Jimi Hendrix: 1968-10 TTG Studios, Hollywood CA (CDR)
*Joyce to the World! (CDR)
*King Crimson: THRaKaTTaK
*Lemon Twigs: Do Hollywood
*Lemon Twigs: Go to School
*Manna/Mirage: Rest of the World
*Mars Volta: De-Loused in the Comatorium
*PFM: The World Became the World
*Rascals: Complete Singles As & Bs 1 (1966-68)
*Residents: Whatever Happened To Vileness Fats? and The Census Taker
*Rolling Stones: Beggars Banquet
*Shirelles: Tonight's the Night
*Shirelles: The Shirelles Sing to Trumpets and Strings
*Shirelles: Baby It's You
*Shirelles: The Shirelles and King Curtis Give a Twist Party
*Shirelles: Swing the Most
*Shirelles: Hear & Now
*Various artists: Stax '68: A Memphis Story (discs 1, 2)
*XTC: Drums and Wires

Reading List, Week of 2019-06-30

Reading List 2019-07-01:

*Mullen, Harryette. Muse & Drudge (started)
*Mullen, Harryette. S*PeRM**K*T (finished)
*Nelson, Paul, and Kevin Avery with Jeff Wong. It's All One Case: The Illustrated Ross Macdonald Archives. (finished)
*Ellroy, James. This Storm (in progress)
*Joyce, James. Finnegans Wake (reread/in progress)
*Tindall, William York, A Reader's Guide to Finnegans Wake (in progress)