Playlist, Week of 2024-12-29

Tingen and Chambers both rate Pangaea lower than Agharta, but I have to disagree... Agharta may be more energetic overall, but side 1 of Pangaea is as fierce as anything from the afternoon show, and Pete Cosey's solo spots are outstanding... the closest thing we'll ever get to guess at what Jimi Hendrix might have sounded like with Miles... but Cosey is more than just a Hendrix stand-in... he bends sound and incorporates atonal "noise" elements in ways that Hendrix touched on but didn't immerse himself in... not like this... With both Run the Gauntlet and her work with David Holland, Kris Davis is on fire these days... there's always been a strong rhythmic element to her playing that really comes to the fore on Gauntlet... I miss, a bit, the more abstract leanings of some of her earlier work, but I love what she's doing here... well, there's always the Borderlands Trio... would love to hear a return of Paradoxical Frog... 

Playlist 2024-12-30:

*Art Ensemble of Chicago: Urban Bushmen (side 4)
*Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 1–6 (English Chamber Orchestra/B. Britten) (disc 1)
*Beatles: Meet the Beatles! (mono 2024)
*Beatles: Something New (mono 2024) (side 1)
*Beatles: Happy Christmas Beatle People! (The Christmas Records) (side 4)
*Al Bowlly: Greatest Hits
*Anthony Braxton: Willisau (Quartet) 1991 (disc 2) "No. 23C + 32 + 105B (+ 30)"
*Peter Brötzmann/Fred Hopkins/Rashied Ali: Songlines
*Kris Davis Trio: Run the Gauntlet
*Miles Davis: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings of the Miles Davis Quintet 1965-1968 (disc 6)
*Miles Davis: Pangaea (side 1)
*Bob Dylan/Various artists: Theme Time Radio Hour S01 E15 "Eyes"

*Bob Dylan/Various artists: Theme Time Radio Hour S01 E16 "Dogs"
*Duke Ellington: Dance Date Air Force U.S.A. March 1958 (sides 1, 2)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: Jazz at the Plaza Vol. II (side 2)
*Duke Ellington: His Piano and His Orchestra at the Bal Masque
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: Three Suites "The Nutcracker Suite"
*Bobby Hutcherson: Classic Bobby Hutcherson Blue Note Sessions 1963-1970 (disc 1)
*Korekyojinn: Isotope
*Matt Mitchell: Vista Accumulation (disc 1)
*Mozart: The Concertos for Piano & Orchestra (Murray Perahia/English Chamber Orchestra)
*Jon Rose/Mark Dresser: Band Width
*Tyshawn Sorey Trio: The Susceptible Now
*Sparks: Introducing Sparks (sides 1, 2)
*Sun Ra and His Arkestra: Thunder of the Gods (sides 1, 2)
*Sun Ra: Lights on a Satellite: Live at the Left Bank (side 1)
*Sun Ra Arkestra: Live At Pit-Inn Tokyo, Japan, 8, 8, 1988 (side 1)
*Sun Ra Arkestra under the Direction of Marshall Allen: Lights on a Satellite (sides 1, 2)
*Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Favorite Excerpts (London Symphony Orchestra)
*UYA: 1993-02-07: Cosmoplasm (side A) (wav)
*Various artists: Santa Swings
*Webber/Morris Big Band: Both Are True
*Brian Wilson: At My Piano

Reading List, Week of 2024-12-29

I absolutely loved The Ten Thousand Doors of January... a mixture of Philip Pullman and John Barth...

Reading List 2024-12-30:

*Robey, Tim. Box Office Poison: Hollywood's Story in a Century of Flops (started)
*Harrow, Alix E. The Ten Thousand Doors of January (started/finished)
*Powell, Padgett. The Interrogative Mood (finished)
*Dylan, Bob. The Philosophy of Modern Song (in progress)
*Mendelson, Cheryl. Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House (in progress)
*Shakespeare, William. Macbeth (Arden 3rd ed., ed. Sandra Clark, Pamela Mason) (reread/in progress)

Playlist, Week of 2024-12-22

Crimble! Hope everyone has had/is having a wonderful holiday season! I want to write more about Brian Marsella at some point... was introduced to him via his wonderful electric piano work in John Zorn's group Chaos Magick... his piano trio work is superlative, and I have just barely started to dig into Mediatas, the second album from his group iMAGiNARiUM... outside of the sphere of Zorn's compositions, his stylistic impulses are all over the place, ranging from Brazil to Broadway to Zappa... fun stuff!

Playlist 2024-12-23:

*Beatles: Hard Day's Night (2009 stereo remaster)
*Beatles: 1967-1970 (2023 Edition) (side 5)
*Blood Incantation: Hidden History of the Human Race
*Blood Sweat & Tears: B, S & T; 4
*D’Angelo and the Vanguard: Black Messiah
*Miles Davis: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings of the Miles Davis Quintet 1965-1968 (disc 2)
*Miles Davis: Miles at the Fillmore: Miles Davis 1970: The Bootleg Series Vol. 3 (disc 3)
*Miles Davis: The Complete On the Corner Sessions (disc 2) "Ife"
*Miles Davis: The Complete On the Corner Sessions (disc 6)
*Miles Davis: Agharta (disc 2)
*Miles Davis: 1975-07-01 NYC (CDR)
*Bob Dylan: Biograph (disc 2)
*Bob Dylan/Various artists: Theme Time Radio Hour S01 E14 "The Devil"
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, Vol. 10 (disc 1)
*Duke Ellington: The Complete Capitol Recordings of Duke Ellington (disc 1)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: Festival Session (side 2)
*Duke Ellington: Ellington '66 (side 2)
*Stan Getz: The Complete Roost Recordings (discs 1, 2)
*Stan Getz: Captain Marvel
*Vince Guaraldi Trio: A Charlie Brown Christmas
*Mary Halvorson: Code Girl (disc 1)
*Dave Holland New Quartet: 2024-09-14 Santa Fe (CDR) (disc 1)
*Steve Howe: Beginnings
*Kinks: The Journey: Part 1 (side 4)
*Brian Marsella’s iMAGiNARiUM: Mediatas (disc 3)
*Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop: 1956-07-05 Newport (CDR)
*Matt Mitchell/Kate Gentile: Snark Horse (disc 5) "Phoofaux/Rejected Names/High Popes"
*Roscoe Mitchell Sound Ensemble: 1980-12-27 Detroit (CDR)
*Roscoe Mitchell & the Note Factory: Song for My Sister
*Tyler Mitchell featuring Marshall Allen: Dancing Shadows
*New Ting: 2024-11-25 "Range and Range" (wav)
*Andy Partridge: My Failed Songwriting Career, Vol. 2
*Annette Peacock: Abstract-Contact
*Ivo Perelman Trio: Garden of Jewels
*Soft Machine: Breda Reactor (disc 2)
*Sun Ra: Calling Planet Earth (side 1)
*Sun Ra: Sleeping Beauty (side 2)
*Sun Ra: Outer Reach Intensity-Energy "Stars That Shine Darkly... (Part 2)"
*Cecil Taylor: Conquistador! "With (Exit)"
*Cecil Taylor Orchestra Humane (Ubuntu): 2005-12-14 (CDR) (disc 2)
*Henry Threadgill Zooid: In for a Penny, In for a Pound "Dosepic (for Cello)"
*Various artists: You've Got Mail (Music from the Motion Picture)
*Weird of Mouth: Weird of Mouth
*John Zorn/Brian Marsella Trio: Suite for Piano
*John Zorn/Brian Marsella Trio: The Fourth Way
*John Zorn/Chaos Magick: The Ninth Circle
*John Zorn/Chaos Magick: Parrhesiastes

Reading List, Week of 2024-12-22

Reading List 2024-12-23:

*Dylan, Bob. The Philosophy of Modern Song (started)
*Powell, Padgett. The Interrogative Mood (started)
*Fry, Stephen. Mythos: The Greek Myths Reimagined (finished)
*Mendelson, Cheryl. Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House (in progress)
*Shakespeare, William. Macbeth (Arden 3rd ed., ed. Sandra Clark, Pamela Mason) (reread/in progress)

Playlist, Week of 2024-12-15

I've read in several places that Cecil Taylor cites (in addition to Duke Ellington) Bud Powell and Horace Silver as major influences... Bud Powell I get, because of the melodic fast-run flourishes, but I'd been having trouble with Horace Silver... I wasn't really hearing Cecil in Song for my Father... but then I listened again to some of Silver's 1954 work with Miles Davis, and I got it, big time... especially "Blu 'n' Boogie'  and "I Remember April" ... I can hear a direct line from Silver to Taylor, primarily with Silver's jabbing percussive attack in his solos... just brilliant... I hope to check out some Silver with Art Blakey from around this time to see what else I can hear... 

Playlist 2024-12-16:

*Art Ensemble of Chicago: Kabalaba (pt. 2)
*Beach Boys: Friends (sides 1, 2)
*Beatles: Rubber Soul (2009 stereo remaster) (side 1)
*Beatles: The Beatles (side 3)
*Marion Brown: Afternoon of a Georgia Faun
*Miles Davis: The Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection, Vol. 2 (LP 1: side 1; LP 2: sides 1, 2)
*Miles Davis: Black Beauty: Miles Davis at Fillmore West (sides 3, 4)
*Miles Davis: Miles at the Fillmore: Miles Davis 1970: The Bootleg Series Vol. 3 (disc 2)
*Miles Davis: The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions (disc 1)
*Miles Davis: Dark Magus (discs 1, 2)
*Miles Davis: Agharta (disc 1)
*Miles Davis: 1975-06-11 NYC
*Miles Davis: Tutu
*Bob Dylan/Various artists: Theme Time Radio Hour S01 E11 "Flowers"
*Bob Dylan/Various artists: Theme Time Radio Hour S01 E12 "Cars"
*Bob Dylan/Various artists: Theme Time Radio Hour S01 E13 "Rich Man Poor Man"
*Duke Ellington: The Indispensable Duke Ellington (Volumes 5/6) - 1940 (side 1)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, Vol. 9 (disc 2)
*Dave Fox Group: Gatewalk
*Robert Fripp: Love Cannot Bear: Soundscapes - Live in the USA
*Mary Halvorson Octet: 2018-11-12 Venice (CDR)
*Herbie Hancock: 2024-08-14 Hollywood (CDR) (discs 1, 2)
*Joe Henderson: Barcelona
*Henry Cow: Unrest
*Joseph Jarman: As If It Were the Seasons "As If It Were the Seasons/Song to Make the Sun Come Up"
*Jefferson Pilot: Recordeo
*Henry Mancini: Breakfast at Tiffany's (OST)
*Rob Mazurek/Exploding Star Orchestra: Live at the Adler Planetarium
*Jackie McLean: Jacknife
*Roscoe Mitchell: Composition/Improvisation Nos. 1, 2 & 3 "Movement III"
*Roscoe Mitchell with Ostravská Banda: Distant Radio Transmission
*David Murray Octet: Picasso
*Andy Partridge: My Failed Songwriting Career, Vol. 2
*Andy Partridge: My Failed Christmas Career, Vol. 1
*Annette Peacock: An Acrobat's Heart
*Sun Ra and His Arkestra: Live at Montreux (side 1)
*Sun Ra: Kingdom of Discipline (side 1)
*Sun Ra: Lights on a Satellite: Live at the Left Bank (disc 1)
*Sun Ra Arkestra under the Direction of Marshall Allen: Lights on a Satellite
*Cecil Taylor: Jazz Advance
*McCoy Tyner/Joe Henderson: Forces of Nature: Live at Slugs' (discs 1, 2)
*Various artists: That Devilin' Tune (Vol. I, disc 5)
*Various artists: Anthology of Noise and Electronic Music vol. 1: First a-chronology 1921-2001 (disc 1)
*John Zorn/Chaos Magick: Multiplicities: A Repository of Non-Existent Objects
*John Zorn: Multiplicities II

Reading List, Week of 2024-12-15

My only first edition Lew Archer...

Reading List 2024-12-16:

*Fry, Stephen. Mythos (started)
*Shakespeare, William. Macbeth (Arden 3rd ed., ed. Sandra Clark and Pamela Mason) (reread/started)
*Macdonald, Ross. Sleeping Beauty (reread/finished)
*Powell, Padgett. Typical (finished)
*Shakespeare, William. Macbeth (Arden 2nd ed., ed. Kenneth Muir) (reread/finished)
*Mendelson, Cheryl. Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House (in progress)

 

New Release from Jefferson Pilot: Recordeo

Recordeo is the new release from Jefferson Pilot (aka my brother). It's a suite, a collection of interconnected songs typical in its mixture of "lo-fi" rock and pop tinged with atonal effects, found sounds, and unusual voicings, and untypical in its interwoven themes and topics. Recordeo deals with ornithology: not with the Charlie Parker type of bird, but with the characteristics of birds in flight, birds being watched, the act of flying, and our family. I say the latter because the suite features our mom on piano, playing a hauntingly beautiful piece from the 1920s (laced with occasional cymbal flourishes and mysterious embellishments) on "Recital," and our dad, recorded in 1941 (using the Recordio) when he was 10 or 11, his voice high and unbroken, coming down through the years and providing the foundation for a exotica-tinged percussion piece.

There are also appearances by "J. Pilot" reading his poetry, first with avant-garde backing (by the Troubled Youth Orchestra?) and then by himself, saying to the audience, "Thank you both for staying on." The poetry itself speaks of falling skies, flying birds, and men in flight (tiny astronauts). The music reflects this in its tonal shifting and in the subtle changes of sonic atmosphere and voice manipulation heard throughout the suite. Like so much of Jefferson Pilot's music, the slower songs create moods never experienced before, all in service of the theme. We even get an ode to the rufous-sided towhee, with the use of a loping cockeyed Sun Ra-esque drum machine/synth line (think "Constellation" on Media Dreams) supplied by Lucas & Corey, and backing vocals reminiscent of John and Paul's on the Stones' "We Love You." 

I can't pretend to be unbiased on this, but I love this album. I think it's one of Jefferson Pilot's strongest efforts: great tunes, tribal drums, a flowing concept, and subtly psychedelic touches--it's a gas to listen to. 

Playlist, Week of 2024-12-08

 

After the maelstrom of 1973 to 1975, I have to say it's a slog to listen to Miles Davis post-1980... not because of his playing, but mainly because of the cheesy, dated sounds of the keyboards, which give the music a smooth-jazz sheen that it doesn't deserve... just not doing it for me... I am also not crazy about the material or about his choice of cover tunes... I just can't warm to it, even though his playing is often as beautiful as ever... I will keep trying... In the meanwhile, I have also been enjoying revisiting some great Duke Ellington suites... Phil Lesh is the undisputed star of the December 1971 Boston "Other One"...

Playlist 2024-12-09:

*Art Ensemble of Chicago: We Are on the Edge: A 50th Anniversary Celebration (disc 2)
*Tim Berne's Snakeoil: Incidentals "Sideshow"
*Gus Bodenheim: A Fistful of Gus
*Boredoms: Soul Discharge '99
*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (New Haven) 2014 (disc 2)
*Kris Davis Trio: Run the Gauntlet
*Miles Davis & Gil Evans: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings (discs 3, 4)
*Miles Davis: The Complete In a Silent Way Sessions (disc 2)
*Miles Davis: The Complete Bitches Brew Sessions (disc 4)
*Miles Davis: The Complete On the Corner Sessions (disc 1) "On the Corner (unedited master)"
*Miles Davis: 1973-06-19 Tokyo (CDR) (discs 1, 2)
*Miles Davis: We Want Miles "My Man's Gone Now"
*Miles Davis: Decoy
*Miles Davis: Live Around the World
*Bob Dylan: Biograph (disc 1)
*Bob Dylan/Various artists: Theme Time Radio Hour S01 E08 "Wedding"
*Bob Dylan/Various artists: Theme Time Radio Hour S01 E09 "Divorce"
*Bob Dylan/Various artists: Theme Time Radio Hour S01 E10 "Summer"
*Duke Ellington: Latin American Suite
*Duke Ellington: New Orleans Suite
*Duke Ellington: The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: Togo Brava Suite (Storyville)
*Alèmayèhu Eshèté: Ethiopiques 22: More Vintage!
*Agustí Fernández Ensemble: Via Augusta
*Grateful Dead: 1971-12-01 Boston (CDR) "Cryptical Envelopment/The Other One"
*Earl Hines: Earl Hines Plays Duke Ellington (sides 1, 2)
*Jefferson Pilot: Recordeo
*Ingrid Laubrock/Tom Rainey: Brink
*Mars Volta: Tremulant
*Brian Marsella’s iMAGiNARiUM: Mediatas (disc 2)
*Roscoe Mitchell Quintet: Turn
*Charlie Parker: Live and Private Recordings in Chronological Order (discs 17, 18)
*Sparks: A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing (sides 1, 2)
*Sun Ra: Saturn Research: Rarities and Oddities (CDR compilation) (disc 3)
*Sun Ra: Excelsior Mill
*Sun Ra and the Cosmic Love Arkestra: 1988-10-31 San Francisco (CDR) (disc 2)
*Sun Ra and the Disney Adventure Odyssey Arkestra: 1989-04-08 Oakland (CDR) (discs 1, 2, 3)
*Cecil Taylor Orchestra Humane (Ubuntu): 2005-12-14 (CDR) (disc 1)
*Tower of Power: Tower of Power
*Anna Webber/Matt Mitchell: Capacious Aeration
*Anna Webber: simpletrio2000

Reading List, Week of 2024-12-08

Reading List 2024-12-09:

*Macdonald, Ross. Sleeping Beauty (reread/started)
*Fry, Stephen. The Stars' Tennis Balls (started/finished)
*Tingen, Paul. Miles Beyond: The Electric Explorations of Miles Davis, 1967-1991 (finished)
*Powell, Padgett. Typical (in progress)
*Mendelson, Cheryl. Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House (in progress)
*Shakespeare, William. Macbeth (Arden 2nd ed., ed. Kenneth Muir) (reread/in progress)

 

Playlist, Week of 2024-12-01

Well, as you can tell, I've been on a bit of a Miles Davis kick lately... finished reading Miles Beyond finally, been meaning to get to that for years... I have been especially drawn again to the whole period where he began incorporating electric keyboards into the mix, with Dave Holland on bass (before the whole Michael Henderson era, which is its own exciting and mindblowing beast)... it's amazing how totally out Holland, Chick Corea, and Jack DeJohnette take things on Black Beauty... I am also a fan of Teo Macero's edited Fillmore suites on At Fillmore... don't get me wrong, it's also wonderful to have the full unedited sets on the box set, and maybe it's just nostalgia, since that 2-LP set was an early Miles purchase of mine, but I think the album sides flow beautifully, and the playing is really intense and exciting... Steve Grossman had a mighty hard act to follow (I mean, Wayne Shorter, forget it), but he acquits himself admirably... and Miles's playing is extraordinary... and it's equally ferocious on Black Beauty... It's about that time: I meant the time for a big box set of the Pete Cosey band! Come on, Columbia! (or Sony, or whoever the hell is putting this stuff out)... 

Playlist 2024-12-02:

*Muhal Richard Abrams Quintet: 1977-03-04 NYC (CDR) (disc 2) track 1
*Art Ensemble of Chicago: Phase One (side 2)
*Art Ensemble of Chicago: 1979-03-31 Verona (CDR)
*Beatles: With the Beatles (2009 mono remaster)
*Beatles: Hard Day's Night (2009 mono remaster)
*Beatles: Beatles for Sale (2009 mono remaster)
*Beatles: Revolver (Super Deluxe 4 LP Edition 2022) (side 8)
*Beau Hunks: Little Rascals Music
*Anthony Braxton: Creative Orchestra (Köln) 1978 "Comp. 45"
*George Clinton/P-Funk All Stars: How Late Do U Have 2BB4UR Absent? (disc 2)
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2015-05-14 Nashville (wav) track 6
*John Coltrane: The Prestige Recordings (disc 16)
*Miles Davis & Gil Evans: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings (disc 1)
*Miles Davis: Sorcerer
*Miles Davis: Miles Davis Quintet 1965-'68 (disc 6)
*Miles Davis: The Complete In a Silent Way Sessions (disc 1)
*Miles Davis: Bitches Brew (sides 1, 2)
*Miles Davis: Black Beauty: Miles Davis at Fillmore West (sides 1, 2)
*Miles Davis: A Tribute to Jack Johnson "Yesternow"
*Miles Davis: Live-Evil
*Miles Davis: Big Fun (sides 1, 2)
*Bob Dylan/Various artists: Theme Time Radio Hour S01 E06 "Jail"
*Bob Dylan/Various artists: Theme Time Radio Hour S01 E07 "Father"
*Bob Dylan: Triplicate (disc 3)
*Elder: 2014-03-07 track 1 (wav)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, Vol. 9 (disc 1)
*Duke Ellington: All American in Jazz
*Duke Ellington: Midnight in Paris
*Duke Ellington: All Star Road Band (side 1)
*Grateful Dead: Dark Star Comp 5 (1990) (CDR compilation)
*Mary Halvorson/Weasel Walter: Opulence
*Mary Halvorson Octet: Away with You
*Jefferson Pilot: Recordeo
*Ingrid Laubrock: 2009-08-01 The Stone, NYC (CDR)
*New Ting: 2024-11-18 "Ocean World" (wav)
*New Ting: 2024-11-25 "Range and Range" (wav)
*Charlie Parker: Live and Private Recordings in Chronological Order (disc 16)
*Annette Peacock: Paradiso, Amsterdam February 21 1991
*Nino Rota: 8 ½ (OST)
*Horace Silver: Song for My Father
*Sparks: Balls (sides 3, 4)
*Sparks: A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip (sides 3, 4)
*Sun Ra: Kingdom of Discipline (sides 1, 2)
*Sun Ra and His Arkestra: 1985-07-25 Paris (CDR)
*Sun Ra and His Arkestra: 1985-10-08 NYC (CDR)
*Sun Ra Arkestra: 1985-10-31 Munich (CDR) (disc 3)
*Sun Ra and His Arkestra: Prophet (side 1)
*Sun Ra and the Cosmic Love Arkestra: 1988-10-31 San Francisco (CDR) (disc 1)
*Cecil Taylor Orchestra Humane (Ubuntu): 2004-03-28 (CDR) (disc 2)
*UYA: 1993-01-26/31 Hold the "G" (wav)
*John Zorn/Brian Marsella Trio: Buer (Book of Angels Vol. 31)

Reading List, Week of 2024-12-01

Reading List 2024-12-02:

*Powell, Padgett. Typical (started)
*Macdonald, Ross. The Underground Man (reread/started/finished)
*Shakespeare, William. Macbeth (Arden 2nd ed., ed. Kenneth Muir) (reread/started)
*Powell, Padgett. Edisto (finished)
*Mendelson, Cheryl. Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House (in progress)
*Tingen, Paul. Miles Beyond: The Electric Explorations of Miles Davis, 1967-1991 (in progress)