Playlist, Week of 2026-07-05

 

Listening to Fire! Orchestra's cover of "At Last I Am Free" led me back not to the original Chic song but to Robert Wyatt's perfect version... Finished up the Art Ensemble of Chicago 1978 Public Theatre run... what an amazing improvisational band!... Lotta great music out there...

Playlist 2026-07-06:

*Art Ensemble of Chicago: 1978-03-11 NYC (CDR) (disc 2)
*Daniel Carter: Makeshift Spirituals, Vol. 1
*Rodger Coleman/Sam Byrd: Eras
*John Coltrane: Live in Japan (disc 3) "Leo"
*Dark Carpet: Factory Side
*Miles Davis: Filles de Kilimanjaro
*Miles Davis: A Tribute to Jack Johnson
*Duke Ellington: The Reprise Studio Recordings (disc 3)
*Fire! Orchestra: Arrival
*Funkadelic: Maggot Brain
*Grateful Dead: 1978-04-24 Normal IL (CDR) (disc 2)
*Grateful Dead: 1991-10-31 Oakland (CDR) "Dark Star," "Space > Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: 1992-03-09 Landover MD (CDR) "Dark Star"
*Jefferson Pilot: The Optimist Field
*Neil Jendon/Mark Nagy: Cardew/Treatise, Vol. 6: Pages 131-160
*Leroy Jenkins: Space Minds, New Worlds, Survival Of America
*Thelonious Monk: Brilliant Corners
*National Health: Missing Pieces
*New Ting: 2019-09-30 "Emulsify My Desires" (wav)
*Pauline Oliveros: Reverberations: Tape & Electronic Music 1961-1970 (disc 4)
*Playfield: Playfield, Vol. 2
*John Philip Sousa: Stars & Stripes Forever and Other Famous Marches (Philip Jones Ensemble)
*Sun Ra: East Two +7
*Sun Ra and His Omniverse Jet-Set Arkestra: 1980-12-31 Detroit (CDR) (disc 1)
*Cecil Taylor Orchestra Humane: At Iridium 2004 (discs 1, 2)
*UYA: 1995-02-09 Slip Tight I (wav)
*Various artists: New Music for Electronic & Recorded Media: Women in Electronic Music 1977
*Various artists: The Stax Soul Sisters
*Brian Wilson: Smile
*Robert Wyatt: Nothing Can Stop Us 

Playlist, Week of 2026-06-28

XTC's Live Boots: energy over fidelity... Myra Melford's For the Love of Fire and Water still holds up as one of the strongest jazz releases of the last few years... Always great to dip back into early Ellington... talk about holding up... The jam session of Jimi Hendrix with Robert Wyatt on drums is disappointing, as only Hendrix jam sessions can be... The Fire! Orchestra's recordings are uniformly transcendent and inspiring, not least because of the vocals of Mariam Wallentin and Sofia Jernberg... The Art Ensemble of Chicago is truly one of the greatest improvisational groups... their 1978 Public Theatre run is outstanding... 

Playlist 2026-06-29:

*Art Ensemble of Chicago: 1978-03-10 NYC (CDR) (disc 2)
*Art Ensemble of Chicago: 1978-03-11 NYC (CDR) (disc 1)
*Ayumi Ishito: Ayumi Ishito and the Spacemen, Vol. 1
*Beach Boys: We Gotta Groove: The Brother Studio Years (disc 2)
*Anthony Braxton: 9 Compositions (Iridium) 2006 (selections)
*John Coltrane: First Meditations (For Quartet)
*Cream: Wheels of Fire (Super Deluxe Ed.) (disc 3)
*Kris Davis/Lutosławski Quartet: The Solastalgia Suite
*Miles Davis: The Cellar Door Sessions 1970 (disc 5) "Honky Tonk"
*Miles Davis: The Columbia Years 1955-1985 (disc 4)
*Duke Ellington: The Duke Ellington Centennial Edition: The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (1927-1973) (disc 1)
*Duke Ellington: Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band, 1940-1942 (disc 2)
*Fire! Orchestra: Enter
*Fire! Orchestra: Ritual
*Funkadelic: Hardcore Jollies
*Grateful Dead: 1978-04-24 Normal IL (CDR) (disc 1)
*Grateful Dead: 1991-09-24 Boston (CDR) "Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: 1991-09-26 Boston (CDR) "Dark Star"
*Jimi Hendrix w/Robert Wyatt: 1968-10 Hollywood (CDR)
*Neil Jendon/Mark Nagy: Cardew/Treatise, Vol. 5: Pages 101-130
*Ingrid Laubrock: Monochromes
*Lazro/Léandre/Lovens: For Baritone Sax, Double Bass & Drumset
*Paul McCartney: The Boys of Dungeon Lane
*Myra Melford's Fire and Water Quintet: For the Love of Fire and Water
*Mendoza Hoff Revels: Echolocation
*Merzbow/Balázs Pándi/Mats Gustafsson/Thurston Moore: Cuts Up Cuts Out
*Harry Miller: BBC Sessions, 1976-1977 (CDR)
*Muffins: Baker's Dozen (disc 11)
*Naked City: Heretic: Jeux des Dames Cruelles
*New Ting: 2026-05-11 "Battering Wham" (wav)
*Angelika Niescier: Chicago Tapes
*Pauline Oliveros: Reverberations: Tape & Electronic Music 1961-1970 (discs 1, 2, 3)
*Playfield: Stepping Out, Vol. 1
*Sonny Rollins: East Broadway Run Down (side 2)
*Sonny Sharrock: Ask the Ages
*Sparks: MAD! (sides 1, 2)
*Sparks: MADDER! (sides 1, 2)
*Sun Ra: The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vol. 2 "Cosmic Chaos"
*Sun Ra: East Two +5 (sides 1, 2)
*Sun Ra and His Omniverse Jet-Set Arkestra: 1980-12-30 Detroit (CDR) (disc 3)
*Cecil Taylor: 3 Phasis (side 2)
*Test: Ecstatic Peace
*Pat Thomas & XT: Strata, Act (Joy Contemporary)* (disc  1)
*Weather Report: Black Market (side 1)
*XTC: Live Boots: Emerald City, Cherry Hill, New Jersey 17th April 1981 (sides 3, 4)

Playlist, Week of 2026-05-10

Nice playing from Daniel Barbiero on Moon in Winter... It's been while since I revisited Quartet (New Haven) 2014... it's great hearing Nels Cline and Greg Saunier in the context of Braxton... I'd love a reprise, Mr. Braxton... John Gilmore shines like a golden beacon of sound on Dizzy Reece's From In to Out... Still working my way through the remarkable run of George Lewis replacing Lester Bowie in the Art Ensemble of Chicago at Storyville in 1977... 

Playlist 2026-05-11:

*Rashied Ali Quartet: New Directions in Modern Music (side 1)
*Art Ensemble of Chicago: 1977-07-30 NYC (CDR) (disc 1)
*Ayumi Ishito: Ayumi Ishito and the Spacemen, Vol. 1
*Béla Bartók: 6 String Quartets (Emerson String Quartet) (disc 2)
*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (England) 1985 (disc 2)
*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (New Haven) 2014 (disc 1)
*Will Bryce/Sam Byrd/Jimmy Ghaphery: 2026-05-02 RVA (CDR)
*Daniel Carter: Open Question, Vol. 1
*Andrea Centazzo: Moon in Winter
*Nels Cline: Dirty Baby (disc 2)
*Ornette Coleman: Beauty Is a Rare Thing: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (disc 3)
*John Coltrane/Don Cherry: The Avant-Garde
*Deerhoof: Miracle-Level
*Deerhoof: Deerhoof and the Sound Sanctuary
*Bob Dylan/Various artists: Theme Time Radio Hour S02 E54: California
*Duke Ellington: Midnight in Paris
*Duke Ellington and Count Basie: First Time! The Count Meets the Duke
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: Latin American Suite
*Entropic Hop: Live at Downtown Music Gallery
*Grateful Dead: 1974-10-18 Winterland, SF (CDR) "Seastones Jam > Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: The Closing Of Winterland: December 31, 1978 (disc 4) "Dark Star > The Other One > Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: 1979-01-10 Nassau NY (CDR) "Dark Star"
*Jefferson Pilot: Spirit of '77
*Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Orchestra/Small Unit: Spectral Fiction
*Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66: Crystal Illusions
*New Ting: 2026-05-04 "Watering Can Holler"
*Angelika Niescier: Chicago Tapes
*OOIOO: The Horizon Spiral
*Eddie Prévost et al.: The Secret Handshake With Danger, Vol. 2
*Dizzy Reece: From In to Out
*Santana: Caravanserai
*Santana: Welcome
*Archie Shepp: The Magic of Ju-Ju (side 1)
*Tyshawn Sorey: Alloy "Movement"
*Sparks: Whomp That Sucker (side 1)
*Sun Ra: Jazz by Sun Ra, Vol. 1 [Sun Song]
*Sun Ra & His Arkestra: The Cymbals​/​Symbols Sessions (New York City 1973) (disc 2)
*Sun Ra and His Omniverse Jet-Set Arkestra: 1980-12-28 Detroit (CDR) (disc 5)
*Sun Ra and His Arkestra: Saturn XIII (sides 1, 2)
*Cecil Taylor Orchestra of Two Continents: 1984-10-20 Rubigen, Switzerland (CDR) (disc 2)
*Various artists: Rockabilly (disc 1)
*Alex Ward Item 10: Volition (Live At Cafe Oto) "Volition"

Playlist, Week of 2026-03-29

 

For me, Curtis Mayfield's solo work, as interesting as it is, can't hold a candle to the music he produced with the Impressions... the writing is better (he never equaled songs as powerful as "They Don't Know," "We're a Winner," or "I'm Loving Nothing," with the possible exception of "Move On Up" from Curtis), the blend of voices is more interesting, Mayfield's guitar work is stronger and subtler, plus there's the orchestrations of Johnny Pate, adding texture, acting almost as a fourth voice... I've been enjoying working my way through a lot of live Art Ensemble of Chicago sets... very open-ended, with melodies as signposts along the way, or springboards for nuanced improvisations... 

Playlist 2026-03-30:

*Art Ensemble of Chicago: 1977-07-26 NYC (CDR)
*Art Ensemble of Chicago: 1987-03-06 Cambridge MA (CDR)
*Anthony Braxton: Creative Music Orchestra "Comp. 25" (selections)
*Anthony Braxton: Sextet (Istanbul) 1996 (disc 2)
*Anthony Braxton: Trillium X (disc 5)
*Daniel Carter: Makeshift Spirituals, Vol. 1
*Nels Cline: Dirty Baby (disc 2)
*Nels Cline Singers: Draw Breath
*Miles Davis: Someday My Prince Will Come (side 1)
*Miles Davis: The Cellar Door Sessions 1970 (disc 6) "Directions"
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: Masterpieces by Ellington (side 2)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: A Drum Is a Woman (side 2)
*Duke Ellington: Copenhagen 1964
*Duke Ellington: Yale Concert
*Duke Ellington: The Private Collection, Vol. 5: The Suites
*Marvin Gaye: What's Going On (50th Anniversary) (sides 1, 2)
*Grateful Dead: 1972-05-18 Munich (CDR) (disc 3) "Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: 1973-03-16 Long Island, NY (CDR) (disc 3)
*Grateful Dead: 1973-09-11 Williamsburg VA (CDR) (disc 3) "Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: Dick's Picks 19 (1973-10-19 Oklahoma City OK) "Dark Star > Mind Left Body Jam"
*Craig Harris: Black Bone (side 1)
*Heldon: Electronique Guerilla
*Julius Hemphill: Dogon A.D.
*Julius Hemphill: The Boyé Multi-National Crusade for Harmony (disc 7)
*Impressions: This Is My Country
*Impressions: The Young Mods' Forgotten Story 
*Allen Lowe: Jews and Roots: An Avant-Garde of Our Own (disc 1)
*Magda Mayas' Filamental: Murmur
*Maurice McIntyre: Humility in the Light of the Creator (side 1)
*Thelonious Monk: The Complete Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection (disc 2)
*New Ting: 2026-03-23 "Red Fire Extinguishers on Parade" (wav)
*Sonny Rollins Quintet: Rollins Plays for Bird (side 1)
*Fie Schouten: Open Space
*Sparks: Balls (sides 1, 2, 3)
*Sun Ra and His Astro Ihnfinity Arkestra: The Intergalactic Thing (side 3)
*Sun Ra and His Astro Infinity Arkestra: My Brother the Wind Vol. 1
*Sun Ra and His Omniverse Jet-Set Arkestra: 1980-12-27 Detroit (CDR) (disc 2)
*Sun Ra Arkestra under the Direction of Marshall Allen: Lights on a Satellite (side 1)
*Gebhard Ullmann/Basement Research: Impromptus and Other Short Works
*UYA: 1994-10-15 Loud Connection (wav)
*Various artists: Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues (A Musical Journey) (disc 3) 

Playlist, Week of 2026-01-11

 

Components is yet another excellent Blue Note recording from Bobby Hutcherson... Herbie Hancock is brilliant on this, and Joe Chambers' drumming, and compositions on all of Side 2, are tasteful and exhilarating... with its "components" (sorry) of avant-garde, outside/inside playing typical of the work of Hutcherson, Andrew Hill, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, etc. of this period, this album is one of the reasons I keep returning to mid-sixties Blue Note... The 1980 Art Ensemble of Chicago show features an hour-long rendition of "People in Sorrow" that is beautiful and stirring... Blissing out with Sun Ra and Duke Ellington... 

Playlist 2026-01-12:

*Art Ensemble of Chicago: 1980-02-23 New Haven (CDR) (disc 2)
*Fred Astaire: Starring Fred Astaire (discs 1, 2)
*Beatles: Meet the Beatles! (mono 2024) (sides 1, 2)
*Anthony Braxton: 12 Comp (ZIM) 2017 (Comp. 416)
*Anthony Braxton: Trillium X (discs 3, 4, 5)
*Patricia Brennan Septet: 2025-11-01 Berlin (CDR)
*Patsy Cline: Imagine That: The Lost Recordings 1954-1963 (disc 2)
*Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Smiles
*Duke Ellington: Duke Ellington 1939 (side 1)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Ellington Suites "The Queen's Suite"
*Duke Ellington: Anatomy of a Murder
*Duke Ellington: His Piano and His Orchestra at the Bal Masque (side 2)
*Duke Ellington: The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse
*Globe Unity Orchestra: Globe Unity ‘67 & ‘70 "Globe Unity '70"
*Grateful Dead: 1972-09-15/16 Boston (Enjoying the Ride, disc 12)
*Grateful Dead: Dick's Picks 36 (1972-09-21 Philadelphia) (disc 3) "Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: 1974-10-17 Winterland, SF (CDR) "The Other One"
*Grateful Dead/John Oswald: Grayfolded (disc 2) "73rd Star Bridge Sonata"
*Elmo Hope Ensemble: Sounds from Rikers Island
*Bobby Hutcherson: Components
*Ingrid Laubrock: Purposing the Air (discs 1, 2)
*Joe Morris: Abstract Forest
*Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle: Exhaust
*Sam Rivers: Contours
*Wayne Shorter: Etcetera
*Wayne Shorter: Schizophrenia
*Sun Ra: The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vol. 2
*Sun Ra and His Astro Infinity Arkestra: Atlantis
*Sun Ra: Astro Black (side 2)
*Sun Ra & His Astro-Infinity Arkestra: Sign of the Myth (side 1)
*Sun Ra and His Astro Infinity Arkestra: Friendly Love
*Sun Ra and His Intergalactic Arkestra: Outer Space Employment Agency
*Sun Ra: A Fireside Chat with Lucifer (side 2)
*Sun Ra: Celestial Love (side 2)
*Sun Ra: Blue Delight
*UYA: 1994-06-14 Acid Stipulation (wav)
*Maria Valencia/Brandon López/Matt Moran: Tarabita Espiral
*Various artists: The Bottle Tapes: Selections from the Empty Bottle Jazz and Improvised Music Series 1996-2005 (disc 1)
*Weather Report: 1974-09-27 Boston (CDR)
*Baby Face Willette: Stop and Listen
*Baby Face Willette: Face to Face 

Playlist, Week of 2025-03-30

I have almost all the stuff in the 4-CD Louis Armstrong box set Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man: 1923-1934 on other discs, but it's been a real treat to spend some deep listening time with the box... the music, of course, is fantastic... the selection is solid, and the annotations by Dan Morgenstern and Loren Schoenberg are brilliant... it's always a joy when Armstrong pops up on the Magic Jukebox, but it was a great weekend being immersed in this music... I have a slew of live Art Ensemble of Chicago I'll be working my way through, in addition to my ongoing Duke Ellington, Sun Ra, and Grateful Dead forays... Speaking of Ellington, I am loving Anatomy of a Murder madly... I rewatched the movie, and the music really adds extra spice... plus we get to see Duke himself playing a duet with Jimmy Stewart... 

Playlist 2025-03-31:

*Marshall Allen: New Dawn

*Louis Armstrong: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man 1923-1934 (discs 1, 2, 3)

*Louis Armstrong and His All-Stars: Satch Plays Fats

*Art Ensemble of Chicago: 1974-11-16 Tokyo (CDR)

*Art Ensemble of Chicago: 1975-09-09 Five Spot, NYC (CDR) (disc 1)

*Blue Notes: Blue Notes for Johnny

*Anthony Braxton: Ninetet (Yoshi's) 1997, Vol. 4 (disc 1)

*Anthony Braxton Quartet: Standards (Brussels) 2006 (discs 4, 5, 6)

*John Butcher/John Edwards/Mark Sanders: Last Dream of the Morning

*Dustin Carlson: Air Ceremony

*John Coltrane: A Love Supreme (deluxe ed.) (disc 2) "Pursuance"

*John Coltrane: Live in Seattle "Out of This World"

*Miles Davis: 1972-10-01 Palo Alto, CA (CDR)

*Bob Dylan: The Bootleg Series Vol. 1-3 (disc 2)

*Bob Dylan/Various artists: Theme Time Radio Hour S01 E27 "Dance"

*Bob Dylan/Various artists: Theme Time Radio Hour S01 E28 "Sleep"

*Bob Dylan/Various artists: Theme Time Radio Hour S01 E29 "Food"

*Silke Eberhard/Céline Voccia: Wild Knots

*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: A Drum Is a Woman

*Duke Ellington: Happy Reunion

*Duke Ellington: 1899-1974 (sides 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: Newport 1958 "Princess Blue"

*Duke Ellington: Anatomy of a Murder

*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: Festival Session (sides 1, 2)

*Ingebrigt Håker Flaten/Paal Nilssen-Love: Guts & Skins

*Grateful Dead: 1969-04-04 San Francisco (CDR) "Dark Star"

*Grateful Dead: 1969-04-05 San Francisco (CDR) "Mountains of the Moon > Dark Star"

*Grateful Dead: 1969-04-11 Tucson AZ (CDR) "Dark Star"

*Grateful Dead: 1969-04-12 Salt Lake City (CDR) "Dark Star"

*Grant Green: Idle Moments

*Mary Halvorson: Belladonna

*Mary Halvorson: Amaryllis

*Earl Hines: Giants of Jazz (disc 1)

*Noah Howard: The Black Ark

*Freddie Hubbard: Hub-Tones

*Jefferson Pilot: Recordeo

*Henry Kaiser/Wadada Leo Smith: Yo Miles!: Sky Garden (disc 2)

*Henry Kaiser/Robert Musso: Echoes for Sonny

*Brandon Lopez: Nada Sagrada

*Jimmie Lunceford: The Complete Jimmie Lunceford Decca Sessions (discs 5, 6)

*Massacre: Meltdown

*Matt Mitchell: Zealous Angles

*Jemeel Moondoc/Hilliard Greene: Cosmic Nickelodeon

*New Loft Quartet: Mergus Goes to Baltimore

*New Ting: 2025-03-24 "Retroactivity Noticed" (wav)

*Painkiller: Samsara

*Zeena Parkins/Chris Brown/William Winant/Ben Davis: Scree

*Jon Rose/Mark Dresser: Band Width

*Alexander von Schlippenbach/Globe Unity Orchestra: Globe Unity: 50 Years

*Sun Ra and His Myth Science Arkestra: Angels and Demons at Play

*Sun Ra and His Myth-Science Arkestra: The Nubians of Plutonia

*Sun Ra and His Myth Science Arkestra: When Angels Speak of Love (side 1)

*Sun Ra: Kingdom of Discipline (side 2)

*McCoy Tyner/Joe Henderson: Forces of Nature: Live at Slugs' (disc 1)

*UYA: 1993-09-26 We Salute You (wav)

*Various artists: That Devilin' Tune (Vol. I, disc 8)

*Various artists: Latin Rhythms in Hi Fi

*Ben Webster: Ballads (sides 3, 4)

*John Zorn/JACK Quartet: The Complete String Quartets (disc 1)

Playlist, Week of 2024-11-17

We Are on the Edge just gets better and better every time I listen to it... a true landmark record... Nice to have more Charlie Parker but nothing earth-shattering or revelatory on Bird in Kansas City... Brilliant piano trio playing from Matt Mitchell, but from him I expect no less... Revisiting old favorites: Juju: comfort food for the ears... Joe Henderson rocking it on Unity... John Gilmore smoking on Music from Tomorrow's World... I had it in my mind that he didn't solo so much on the Majestic session, but he definitely does, especially on "Possession"... that whole CD is damn revelatory, and explores whole sides of Sun Ra not heard elsewhere... specifically, live 1960 Arkestra and the superlative arrangements on the Majestic session (more florid and worked-out than the Transition albums)... 

Playlist 2024-11-18:

*Art Ensemble of Chicago: We Are on the Edge: A 50th Anniversary Celebration (disc 1)
*Beatles: Real Love (maxi CD single)
*Paul Bley/Evan Parker/Barre Phillips: Time Will Tell
*John Blum Quartet feat. Marshall Allen: Deep Space
*Kim Cass: Levs
*George Clinton/P-Funk All Stars: How Late Do U Have 2BB4UR Absent? (disc 1)
*John Coltrane: The Prestige Recordings (disc 15)
*Miles Davis: Miles at the Fillmore: Miles Davis 1970: The Bootleg Series Vol. 3 (disc 1)
*Bob Dylan: Together Through Life
*Bob Dylan: Tempest
*Duke Ellington: The Complete 1936-1940 Variety, Vocalion, and Okeh Small Group Sessions (disc 7)
*Farmers By Nature: Out of This World's Distortions
*Agustí Fernández Ensemble: Via Augusta
*Forebrace: Steeped
*Grateful Dead: 1989-10-09 Hampton VA (CDR) "Dark Star"
*Mary Halvorson: Reverse Blue
*Hatfield and the North: The Manor Demos
*Alexander Hawkins Trio: Carnival Celestial
*Dave Holland New Quartet: 2023-07-13 Pori, Finland (CDR)
*Jackie McLean: Action
*Matt Mitchell: Zealous Angles
*Roscoe Mitchell's Cards For Orchestra Project: 2009-08-30 Sant'Anna Arresi, Italy (CDR)
*Roscoe Mitchell: Conversations II
*New Ting: 2024-11-11 "Wall Hangings and a Crustacean"(wav)
*Charlie Parker: Bird in Kansas City
*David Sancious and Tone: Transformation (The Speed of Love)
*Wayne Shorter: Juju (side 1)
*Sparks: Big Beat (side 2)
*Sun Ra and His Arkestra: Music from Tomorrow's World
*Sun Ra and His Astro Infinity Arkestra: Strange Strings (Expanded Edition) (sides 1, 2)
*Sun Ra and His All-Star Inventions: 1991-11-17 NYC (CDR) (disc 1)
*Sun Ra: Saturn Research: Rarities and Oddities (CDR compilation) (discs 1, 2)
*Craig Taborn/Tomeka Reid/Ches Smith: 2023-03-05 Vienna (CDR)
*Sharon Tandy: You Gotta Believe It's... Sharon Tandy
*Cecil Taylor Unit: 1966-11-30 Paris (CDR)
*Thumbscrew: Wingbeats
*Lennie Tristano: Personal Recordings 1946-1970 (disc 5)
*Anna Webber: Shimmer Wince
*Anna Webber: simpletrio2000
*Larry Young: Unity

Playlist, Week of 2024-02-04

This week I have focused more on Muhal Richard Abram's work as a "sideman" (hard to think of him that way since he plays such a strong role on everything he guests on)... On Roscoe Mitchell's Live at "A Space" 1975, he contributes to the drummerless jazz chamber orchestra feel beautifully, with the kind of playing he had already exhibited on Anthony Braxton's first LP, 3 Compositions of New Jazz... I love Muhal's playing with the Art Ensemble of Chicago--he is not a guest; he is fully integrated into their sound and approach... On the live Kalabala he is agressive and energetic; on the studio Fanfare for the Warriors he is an integral part of the texture... Of his own albums, Lifea Blinec is one of my absolute favorites... the double piano lineup of Abrams and Amina Claudine Myers is killer... First session in 2024 for New Ting... nice to play again with a full contigent... 

*Muhal Richard Abrams: Lifea Blinec
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Spiral: Live at Montreux 1978
*AMM: Ammmusic "After Rapidly Circling the Plaza"
*Art Ensemble: 1967/68 (disc 1) "Quartet No. 1"
*Art Ensemble of Chicago: Kabalaba
*Art Ensemble of Chicago: Fanfare for the Warriors
*Béla Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra (Stokowski/Houston Symphony Orchestra) (sides 1, 2)
*Beatles: 1962-1966 (2023 Edition) (sides 4, 5)
*Beatles: 1967-1970 (2023 Edition) (side 5)
*Booker T & the MGs: Play the "Hip Hits"
*Anthony Braxton: 3 Compositions of New Jazz
*Anthony Braxton: Tentet (Wesleyan) 1999 (disc 2)
*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (FRM) 2007 (disc 2)
*Anthony Braxton: Sonic Genome (2019-10-31 Berlin) (CDR)
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2023-12-29 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*Colla Parte: 2010-09-19 Sonic Circuits, Fairfax VA (CDR)
*John Coltrane: Evenings at the Village Gate "Africa"
*Elvis Costello and the Attractions: Armed Forces (sides 1, 2)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, Vol. 22 (disc 1)
*Grateful Dead: Live/Dead
*Grateful Dead: Fillmore West 1969: The Complete Recordings (disc 7) "Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: Dave's Picks Vol. 48 (1971-11-20 UCLA) (disc 2) "The Other One"
*Grateful Dead: 1972-05-10 Amsterdam (CDR) (disc 3) "The Other One"
*Grateful Dead: Road Trips Vol. 4 No. 3 (1973-12-06 Cleveland) (bonus disc) "Dark Star > Eyes of the World"
*Grateful Dead: 1974-07-25 Chicago (CDR) "Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: Sunshine Daydream (Veneta, Oregon, August 27, 1972) (disc 2) "Playing in the Band"
*Jimi Hendrix Experience: Hollywood Bowl August 18, 1967
*Dave Holland: Uncharted Territories (disc 1)
*Joseph Jarman: As If It Were the Seasons
*Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings: 2010-06-28 KCRW-FM, Santa Monica CA (CDR)
*Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings: 2014-01-15 KCRW-FM, Santa Monica CA (CDR)
*Kinks: The Journey, Part 2 (sides 1, 2)
*George Lewis: Shadowgraph, 5 (Sextet)
*Minutemen: Introducing the Minutemen
*Grachan Moncur III: Some Other Stuff
*Garry Martin Project (CDR compilation) (discs 10, 11)
*Charles Mingus Sextet: 1961-10-21 Birdland, NYC (CDR)
*Roscoe Mitchell: Nonaah (disc 1)
*Roscoe Mitchell Quartet: Live at "A Space" 1975
*New Ting: 2024-01-29 "Here's Your Organ Donor" (wav)
*Original Silence: The Second Original Silence
*Annette Peacock: 31:31
*Matana Roberts: 2009-04-01 London (CDR)
*Matana Roberts: Coin Coin Chapter Three: River Run Thee (sides 1, 2)
*Terje Rypdal: Odyssey in Studio & in Concert (disc 1)
*Shirley Scott: Queen of the Organ
*Sharp/Lopez/Kaiser/Amendola: Minus X: A Tribute to the Music of Iannis Xenakis (disc 2)
*Sleepwalker: Skopofoboexoskelett
*Tamio Shiraishi: Sora
*Sun Ra and His Solar Arkestra: Secrets of the Sun (side 2)
*Sun Ra And His Intergalactic Research Arkestra: Paradiso Amsterdam 1970 (side 1)
*Supremes: Time Changes Things: The Best of the Rest 1961-67 (CDR compilation)
*Art Tatum: The Art Tatum Solo Masterpieces Vol. 6
*Cecil Taylor: Another Material Complex from Cecil Taylor's 1988-91 Music
*Cecil Taylor Feel Trio: Two Ts for a Lovely T (disc 8)
*Trio What (Else): 2024-01-28 Richmond VA (mp3)
*Various artists: 7 x 7
*John Zorn: Bagatelles Vol. 6: Brian Marsella Trio

Playlist, Week of 2023-10-15

Of all the many incredible recordings the Art Ensemble of Chicago made in Paris in 1969-1970, "The Ninth Room" is my absolute favorite... anchored by a mighty Malachi Favors bass line and punctuated by sparse and thoughtfully integrated bells and little percussion instruments, the melody line is stated and deconstructed by the three horns... and what a melody it is...the saxes and trumpet play at the same time without stepping on each others' toes, allowing a lot of space for the percussion punctautions and for each other... plus it swings heavily and masterfully... Respiration is a Cecil Taylor solo masterpiece that stands well with Silent Tongues and Indent... 

Playlist 2023-10-16:

*Art Ensemble of Chicago: The Paris Session "The Ninth Room"
*Beatles: Abbey Road (Anniversary Edition) (disc 2)
*Anthony Braxton: Trillium E (disc 3) "Act 3, Part 2"
*Anthony Braxton: Tentet (Paris) 2001
*Anthony Braxton's Sonic Genome Project: 2010-01-31 Vancouver (CDR) (discs 1, 2)
*Sonny Clark: Cool Struttin'
*John Coltrane: Live in Paris (side 2)
*Marilyn Crispell/Gary Peacock/Paul Motian: Nothing Ever Was, Anyway (disc 2)
*George Duke: A Brazilian Love Affair
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, Vol. 5 (disc 1)
*Grateful Dead: 1972-04-08 London (CDR) (disc 3)
*Grateful Dead: 1972-04-14 Copenhagen (discs 1, 2, 3, 4)
*Grant Green: Idle Moments
*Ingrid Laubrock: Dreamt Twice, Twice Dreamt (disc 1)
*Ingrid Laubrock: The Last Quiet Place
*Ingrid Laubrock: Monochromes
*Charles Mingus: Right Now
*Charles Mingus: 1968 Peabody MA (CDR)
*Roscoe Mitchell with Ostravská Banda: Distant Radio Transmission (side 2)
*New Ting: 2023-10-10 "The Heavy Box" (wav)
*Charlie Parker: Bird at the Roost, the Savoy Years: The Complete Royal Roost Performances, Vol. One (side 1)
*Charlie Parker: Bird: The Complete Charlie Parker on Verve (disc 5)
*Annette Peacock: An Acrobat's Heart
*Pere Ubu: Live at the Longhorn April 1, 1978 (sides 1, 2, 3)
*Sam RIvers: The Quest (side 1)
*Matana Roberts: Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the Garden
*Knoel Scott featuring Marshall Allen: Celestial
*Sun Ra: ESP Radio Tribute Highlights (CDR compilation) (disc 4)
*Sun Ra and His Arkestra: Jazz in Silhouette (Expanded Edition) (side 1)
*Sun Ra: Disco 3000 (Complete Milan Concert 1978) (disc 1)
*Ches Smith: Interpret It Well
*Sparks: A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip (sides 2, 3, 4)
*Taylor Swift: My Perfect 10 (Vol. 21) (CDR compilation)
*Cecil Taylor: Unit Structures (Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series) (side 2)
*Cecil Taylor: Conquistador! "Conquistador"
*Cecil Taylor: Respiration
*Cecil Taylor: 3 Phasis (side 1)
*Cecil Taylor/Tony Oxley: 2007-10-11 Modena, Italy (CDR) (discs 1, 2)
*Henry Threadgill Zooid: Poof
*Lennie Tristano: Lennie Tristano
*XTC: The Big Express (Surround Sound Series) (disc 1)
*Larry Young: Mothership
*John Zorn/Chaos Magick: 2023-09-02 San Francisco (CDR)
*John Zorn: Bagatelles Vol. 1: Mary Halvorson Quartet
*John Zorn: Bagatelles Vol. 2: Michael Nicolas/Erik Friedlander
*John Zorn: Bagatelles Vol. 16: Sam Eastmond
*John Zorn/Incerto: Full Fathom Five

Playlist, Week of 2022-07-03

Beautiful, heavy sounds from the Art Ensemble... I am just now catching up to this late live set, the last (I believe) to feature Joseph Jarman... it's great, the whole band cooks, especially (no surprise here) Roscoe Mitchell... I am enjoying exploring the compositions of Annette Peacock through the prism of Paul Bley.... 

Playlist 2022-07-04:

*Art Ensemble of Chicago: Non-Cognitive Aspects of the City: Live at Iridium (discs 1, 2)
*Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour (2009 stereo remaster) (side 1)
*Ben Bennett/Jack Wright: Tangle
*Paul Bley: Annette
*Paul Bley/Gary Peacock/Paul Motian: Not Two, Not One
*Anthony Braxton: Prag 1984 (Quartet Performance)
*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (Standards) 2020 (disc 4) (streaming)
*Peter Brötzmann Octet: The Complete Machine Gun Sessions "Machine Gun"
*George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars: Dope Dogs
*Rodger Coleman/Sam Byrd: Who Doesn't Fade?
*Rodger Coleman/Sam Byrd: Imaginary Vinyl
*Miles Davis: The Cellar Door Sessions 1970 (disc 2) "Honky Tonk"
*Miles Davis: Agharta (disc 1)
*Alexander Hawkins Mirror Canon: Break a Vase
*Julius Hemphill: 'Coon Bid'ness
*Henry Kaiser/Robert Musso: Echoes for Sonny
*Lemon Demon: Spirit Phone
*Myra Melford's Be Bread Sextet: 2010-08-27 Saalfelden, Austria (CDR)
*Hank Mobley: The Complete Hank Mobley Blue Note Sessions 1963-70 (disc 7)
*Nurse With Wound/Graham Bowers: Excitotoxicity
*Jeff Parker: The New Breed
*Perch Hen Brock & Rain: Live @ The Jazz Happening Tampere
*Prince: 12-inch Remixes 2a (CDR compilation) (selections)
*Prince: Thieves in the Temple (CD maxi-single)
*Prince: The Work Vol. 3 (disc 1)
*Nino Rota: Fellini's Amarcord (sides 1, 2)
*Soundcarriers: Wilds
*Sparks: Balls (side 1)
*Staple Singers: Be Altitude: Respect Yourself
*Jack Stauber: HiLo
*Sun Ra: Continuation (Saturn/Corbett vs. Dempsey 2CD) (disc 2)
*Sun Ra Arkestra: 1974: Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City (CDR)
*Sun Ra: Ellingtonia, Vol. 1 (streaming)
*Henry Threadgill Zooid: Poof
*David Torn/Tim Berne/Ches Smith: Sun Of Goldfinger "Soften the Blow"
*Dionne Warwick: Presenting Dionne Warwick (selections)
*Dionne Warwick: Anyone Who Had a Heart (selections)
*Dionne Warwick: Here I Am (selections)
*Dionne Warwick: Here Where There Is Love (selections)
*Jack White: Fear of the Dawn
*John Zorn: Bagatelles Vol. 7: Brian Marsella
*John Zorn/Simulacrum: Spinoza 

Playlist, Week of 2021-02-14

The more I listen to We Are on the Edge, the more I think it's one of the Art Ensemble's--and Roscoe Mitchell's--finest records ever... the wonderful string textures, strengthened and overlaid by Tomeka Reid's cello, are just stirring and beautiful... It's too bad Dizzy Gillespie didn't record more with Duke Ellington... his muted trumpet solos on Jazz Party are just the ticket, and way, way more interesting than the trumpet grandstanding often done by other Ellington players in that time period... Cat Anderson, I'm looking at you... when Cootie Wiliams finally returned, it was a relief... Clark Terry was no slouch either... Just to add to the fun, I'm on a small Jimi Hendrix tear as well these days... and why not... just check the searing solo on "Stars that Play with Laughing Sam's Dice"... love the original mono mix, but also dig the amped-up guitar on South Saturn Delta... now -that's- psychedelic... Mitch Mitchell was a much better drummer in the studio than he ever was live, and this B-side proves it... Meanwhile in Miles Davis land, the classic quintet is ripping apart the space-time continuum at the Plugged Nickel... 

Playlist 2021-02-15:

*AMM: The Crypt: 12th June 1968, the Complete Session (disc 2)"Neither Bill Nor Axe Would Shorten Its Existence"
*Art Ensemble of Chicago: We Are on the Edge: A 50th Anniversary Celebration (disc 1)
*Beatles: Hard Day's Night (2009 stereo remaster) (side 2)
*Anthony Braxton/Eugene Chadbourne: Duo (Improv) 2017 (disc 1)
*Peter Brötzmann Octet: The Complete Machine Gun Sessions "Machine Gun"
*Miles Davis: The Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection, Vol. 2 (LP 2 sides 1, 2)
*Miles Davis: The Complete Live at the Plugged Nickel 1965 (discs 2b, 3)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Works of Duke: Integrale Volume 3 (side 1)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: Ellington Jazz Party in Stereo
*Duke Ellington: Duke Ellington Live! At the Newport Jazz Festival '59
*Duke Ellington: The Reprise Studio Recordings (disc 3)
*Duke Ellington: Standards: Live at the Salle Pleyel
*Duke Ellington: In Concert: Piano Solo and Orchestra
*Duke Ellington/Ray Brown: This One's for Blanton
*Duke Ellington: Duke's Big 4
*Farmers By Nature: Love and Ghosts (disc 1) "Love and Ghosts"
*Jimi Hendrix: First Rays of the New Rising Sun
*Jimi Hendrix: Rainbow Bridge
*Jimi Hendrix: South Saturn Delta
*High Llamas: Damby Delight
*Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra: Hodge Podge (side 1)
*MGs: The MGs
*Sonny Rollins: Rollins in Holland (disc 2)
*Soft Machine: Live at Henie Onstad Art Centre 1971 (disc 1)
*Sun Ra: Egypt 1971 (disc 3)
*Sun Ra Arkestra: Swirling
*Cecil Taylor: Conquistador! “With (Exit)”
*Various artists: Rough Guide to Psychedelic Bollywood (disc 2: R.D. Burman)

Playlist, Week of 2020-02-16

I have really been enjoying the new album from OOIOO... Nijimusi is perhaps closest in spirit to Taiga and to the Boredoms' Vision Creation Newsun, with its extended grooves, layered guitar chords, and general spacey feel... six years was a long time to wait for a new album; here's hoping the next one will show up sooner... Kabalaba (with Muhal Richard Abrams) and the 1984 Paris concert with Cecil Taylor are prime examples of full-bore Art Ensemble... both feature pretty much high-energy in-your-face improvisation the whole time... and both feature excellent guest work from pianists who match their energy and power at every step of the way... gawd, I love this music... Digging deep into recent recordings with Rodger Coleman... where the hell do we come up with all this stuff?... I also continue to be energized by Henry Cow...

Playlist 2020-02-17:

*Art Ensemble of Chicago with Muhal Richard Abrams: Kabalaba
*Black Host: Life In The Sugar Candle Mines
*Bill Bruford's Earthworks: The Sound of Surprise
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: The Mathematics of War "New Landscape"
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2019-08-27 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2019-08-28 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*Alice Coltrane: Ptah the El Daoud
*Miles Davis: The Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection, Vol. 2 (LP 1, LP 2)
*Duke Ellington: Duke 56/62 Vol. 1 (sides 2, 4)
*Samuel Goff: Transmissions
*Henry Kaiser/Wadada Leo Smith - Yo Miles!: Sky Garden (discs 1, 2)
*Henry Kaiser/Wadada Leo Smith - Yo Miles!: Upriver (discs 1, 2)
*Henry Kaiser/Wadada Leo Smith - Yo Miles!: 2000-03-04 Fillmore (CDR) (disc 1)
*Layers of Memory: Hence Thrice
*Keeril Makan: In Sound
*Maybe Monday: Saturn's Finger
*John McLaughlin: My Goal's Beyond (side 2)
*New Ting: 2020-02-03 "Fred's Lane Is My Lane" (wav)
*Larry Ochs/Nels Cline/Gerald Cleaver: What Is to Be Done "Shimmer Intend Spark Groove Defend"
*David Sancious And Tone: Transformation (The Speed Of Love) (side 1)
*Soft Machine: 5
*Cecil Taylor/Art Ensemble of Chicago: 1984-10-30 Paris (CDR) (track 2)
*John Zorn: Chimeras (revised)
*Various artists: History of Electronic/Electroacoustic Music (CDR compilation) (disc 44)
*Big Star: Complete Third (disc 2)
*Chris Cutler/Fred Frith: Live In Prague And Washington (side 1)
*Dirty Projectors: Lamp Lit Prose
*Graham Central Station: Release Yourself (side 2)
*Guided By Voices: Propeller
*Guided By Voices: Vampire on Titus
*Guided By Voices: Bee Thousand
*Henry Cow: 1975-05-17 Grenoble, France (CDR)
*Henry Cow with Robert Wyatt: 1975-06-22 Rome (CDR)
*Henry Cow: Western Culture (Cow Box Redux)
*Sean O'Hagan: Radum Calls, Radum Calls
*OOIOO: Nijimusi
*Chano Pozo : El Tambor De Cuba (Life And Music Of The Legendary Cuban Conga Drummer) (disc 1)
*Sheriff Jack: Everybody Twist
*Skeleton Crew: The Country of Blinds
*Esperanza Spalding: Emily's D+Evolution
*Various artists: Country & Western Hit Parade 1966: Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, and Hillbilly Music
*Wilco: 2004-07-08 Stockholm (CDR)
*Brian Wilson: No Pier Pressure (side 2)

Playlist, Week of 2019-06-02

The new Art Ensemble of Chicago 2-CD set is marvelous... it's taking a while to absorb, because there's so much great music here... several really spacey, floating passages evoking inner and outer space... Nicole Mitchell's presence is especially welcome, as is Hugh Ragin's... true ensemble playing on a large scale... it's a blessing that Roscoe Mitchell continues to keep this music going... Been on somewhat of a Rascals kick lately... Collections has three of their greatest songs: "Lonely Too Long," "What Is the Reason," and "Love Is a Beautiful Thing"... Dino Danelli really bashes it out... and of course I'm one of the proud few who love "Cute"...

Playlist 2019-06-03:

*AMM: 1989-10-07 London (CDR) (disc 1)
*Art Ensemble of Chicago: We Are on the Edge: A 50th Anniversary Celebration (disc 2)
*Daniel Barbiero & Cristiano Bocci: Wooden Mirrors
*Boneshaker: Fake Music
*Anthony Braxton: Sextet (Parker) 1993 (disc 6)
*Peter Brötzmann: The Chicago Octet/Tentet (disc 2)
*Nels Cline Trio: Ground
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2019-05-02 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2019-05-03  Nashville (rough mix wav)
*Mao Amore: Mao Amore
*Roscoe Mitchell/Montreal-Toronto Art Orchestra: Ride the Wind
*Ikue Mori: Obelisk
*Sunny Murray: Sonny’s Time Now
*Paul Nilssen-Love: New Japanese Noise
*Matthew Shipp Trio: 2012-11-10 London (CDR)
*Matthew Shipp Chamber Ensemble: The Gospel According to Matthew & Michael
*Ches Smith: The Bell
*Cecil Taylor: The World of Cecil Taylor
*Various artists: History of Electronic/Electroacoustic Music (CDR compilation) (disc 30)
*John Zorn/Simulacrum: The True Discoveries of Witches and Demons
*Beatles: The Beatles (Super Deluxe Edition) (disc 6)
*Beatles: Beatles Lost Album (boot CDR) (disc 2)
*David Bowie: The Gouster
*David Bowie: David Live (disc 2)
*Al Bowlly with Ray Noble's Orchestra: The Echo of a Song
*Chairmen of the Board: Greatest Hits
*Martin Denny: Exotica: The Best of Martin Denny
*Gentle Giant: In a Glass House
*Mars Volta: Live
*Soul Brothers Six: Some Kind of Wonderful (CDR compilation) (disc 2)
*Carla Thomas: The Queen Alone
*Carla Thomas: Sweet Sweetheart: The American Studios Sessions and More
*Carla Thomas: Live at the Bohemian Caverns
*Carla Thomas: Memphis Queen
*Carla Thomas: "Love Means…"
*Young Rascals: The Young Rascals
*Young Rascals: Collections
*Young Rascals: Groovin'
*Rascals: Once Upon a Dream
*Rascals: Freedom Suite

Playlist, Week of 2019-04-21

As I mentioned last week, starting to re-dig into AMM... hard to stay away once you start... early dense stuff with Cornelius Cardew, middle period with the classic trio, later pieces with the Prévost/Tilbury duo, the even later reunion with Keith Rowe: I love it all... The Gospel According to Matthew & Michael is a great showcase for the excellent bass playing of Michael Bisio... the new Art Ensemble of Chicago release is a masterwork.... its added palettes of strings, chamber music orchestrations, and vocals greatly expand the sonic scope of the Ensemble, taking it closer to Roscoe Mitchell contemporary classical territory... Hugh Ragin sounds great on it as well... word has it that this version of the Ensemble really kicked it at Big Ears...

Playlist 2019-04-22:

*AACM Great Black Music Ensemble: 2009-07-14 Program #1 (CDR)
*AMM: The Crypt: 12th June 1968, the Complete Session (discs 1, 2)
*AMM: 1970-03-02 London (CDR)
*AMM: Before Driving to the Chapel We Took Coffee with Rick and Jennifer Reed
*Art Ensemble of Chicago: We Are on the Edge: A 50th Anniversary Celebration (discs 1, 2)
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: The Mathematics of War
*Elder Ones: From Untruth
*Jimmy Ghaphery/Gary Rouzer/Sam Byrd/Robert Andrew Scott: 2019-03-30 Richmond (wav)
*Billie Holiday: 1933-1941 Favorites (CDR compilation) (discs 1, 2)
*New Loft: 2013-05-20 “Pasadena Jump Start” (wav)
*New Ting: 2019-03-04 "Weather Undersky" (wav)
*New Ting: 2019-04-01 "The More You Don't Find It" (wav)
*Paal Nilssen-Love: New Brazilian Funk
*RAIC: Lamentations
*Archie Shepp: Four for Trane
*Archie Shepp: On This Night
*Matthew Shipp Chamber Ensemble: The Gospel According to Matthew & Michael
*Sun Ra: Solo Keyboards, Minnesota, 1978
*Cecil Taylor: 1983-07-27 Genoa (wav)
*David Torn/Tim Berne/Ches Smith: Sun Of Goldfinger
*Various artists: History of Electronic/Electroacoustic Music (CDR compilation) (disc 28)
*Allied Chemical Brothers: Tazz
*David Bowie: Young Americans
*Guided By Voices: How Do You Spell Heaven
*Residents: Commercial Album (pREServed Edition) (discs 1, 2)
*UYA: 1992-02-04/08 Break It (wav)
*UYA: Improvisations 3 (1993-1994): Yes, a Man (selections)
*Neil Young: Lesser Known Gems (CDR compilation) (disc 1)

Playlist for Week of 2018-02-11

Irwin Chusid and MIchael D. Anderson over at Bandcamp have done it again... by "it" I mean an excellent job of re-releasing archival Sun Ra recordings... this time, they've vastly improved Taking a Chance on Chances, which up to now had only been available on seriously defective vinyl that rendered all subsequent derivations (vinyl rips, CDRs, traded files, etc.) as damn-near unlistenable... side 1, anyway... they found a tape source that's not distorted!!... remarkable... the strength of this LP for me lies in the two brilliant John Gilmore solos on "Lady Bird/Half Nelson" and "What's New"... there's a bonus unreleased track as well... highly recommended digital-only release!... The Art Ensemble of Chicago performances with George Lewis subbing for Lester Bowie are revelatory... Lewis fits right in, of course, and the band reaches new heights of... whatever it is they do... marvelous and sublime... Lewis is easily my favorite trombone player... I'm not typically fond of trombone per se, but George Lewis makes me rethink my reticence...

Playlist 2018-02-12:

*Boulez: Le Marteau sans Maître/Sur Incises (Ensemble Intercontemporain) (CDR)
*Grieg/Schumann/Chopin (David Finckel/Wu Han)
*Mozart: Introducing the Complete Mozart Edition
*Stockhausen/Donatoni/Ligeti/Berio/Kagel/Xenakis (Nieuw Ensemble 2011-01-20) (CDR)
*Susan Alcorn/Ingrid Laubrock/Leila Bordreuil: 2017-08-18 Brooklyn NY (CDR)
*Art Ensemble of Chicago with George Lewis: 1977-07-28 NYC (CDR) (disc 1)
*Anthony Braxton Quartet: Live at Moers Festival (sides 3, 4)
*Anthony Braxton Quartet: Twelve Compositions: Live at Yoshi's in Oakland,  July 1993 (disc 2)
*Kate Gentile: Mannequins
*New Ting Ting Loft: 2016-02-01 “Featherduster” (wav)
*New Ting Ting Loft: 2016-02-08 “Optose” (mp3)
*New Ting Ting Loft: 2018-02-05 "Is That Me?" (wav)
*Other Dimensions in Music: 2006-10-12 London (CDR)
*Greg Saunier​/​Mary Halvorson​/​Ron Miles: New American Songbooks, Volume 1 (streaming)
*Wadada Leo Smith: America's National Parks (disc 2)
*Sun Ra & His Arkestra: Sun Ra Exotica
*Sun Ra & His Arkestra: Taking a Chance on Chances
*Ralph Towner: Solstice
*Various artists: Blue Note Plays Bossa Nova (disc 1)
*James Brown: Get Down With James Brown! (Live At The Apollo Vol. IV)
*Carter Family: 1927-1934 (disc 3)
*Earth Wind & Fire: Gratitude
*Earth Wind & Fire: Raise!
*Jethro Tull: A Passion Play
*King Crimson: In the Court of the Crimson King (40th Anniversary Series) (disc 1)
*Denise LaSalle: Here I Am Again
*Orckestra (Henry Cow + Mike Westbrook Brass Band): 1977-09-16 Milano, Italy (CDR) (disc 1)
*Ozric Tentacles: Jurassic Shift
*Annette Peacock: X-Dreams
*Roxy Music: The Thrill of It All (disc 1)
*Upsetters: Return of the Super Ape
*Various artists: Stax Revue Live at the 5/4 Ballroom
*Various artists: Rhythm and Blues Show at the Olympia
*Various artists: Eccentric Soul: Twinight's Lunar Rotation (disc 2)
*Various artists: Eccentric Soul: The Saadia Label
*XTC: The Uncollected (CDR compilation)
*Yes: 1974-02-26 Boston (CDR) (disc 2)
*Yes: 1974-12-10 New Haven, CT (CDR) (disc 1)