Playlist, Week of 2024-05-05

Winding down my Muhal Richard Abrams binge... but then I found a cassette copy of a concert I'd forgotten about, so there will be more, and of course, I won't ever stop listening to this great man's great music... I still feel like I don't have a handle on his solo playing... 

Playlist 2024-05-06:

*Muhal Richard Abrams: The Visibility of Thought

*Beatles: Beatles VI (side 2)

*Paul Bley: Annette

*Anthony Braxton: 10 Comp (Lorraine) 2022 (disc 4) (streaming) 

*Centipede: Septober Energy (disc 1) "Part 2"

*Bill Dixon: Tapestries for Small Orchestra (disc 1)

*Dave Douglas: Five

*Forebrace: Steeped

*Kate Gentile: Find Letter X (disc 2)

*Grateful Dead: Road Trips Vol. 2 No. 2 (1968) (disc 1)

*Grateful Dead: 1970-09-17 Fillmore East (CDR) "Dark Star"

*Happy the Man: "Better Late…" (side 1)

*Haters: Tractor 2023

*Jimi Hendrix Experience: San Francisco 1968

*Kaluza/Roder: Am Frankfurter Tor

*Michael Mantler: The Jazz Composer's Orchestra Update

*Myra Melford's Fire and Water Quintet: Hear the Light Singing

*Merzbow: 1930

*Matt Mitchell/Kate Gentile: Snark Horse (disc 6) "Glue Cube|Inkblot Terrain|Clock Levitation|Cat Secrets|Bludgement"

*Roscoe Mitchell and Muhal Richard Abrams: Duets and Solos

*Ivo Perelman: The Art of the Improv Trio Vol. 6

*Prince/New Power Generation: The War

*Matana Roberts: Coin Coin Chapter Two: Mississippi Moonchile

*Rolling Stones: The Rolling Stones (side 1)

*Sharp/Lopez/Kaiser/Amendola: Minus X: A Tribute to the Music of Iannis Xenakis (disc 1)

*Matthew Shipp Trio: Root of Things

*Catherine Sikora/Susan Alcorn: Filament

*Sun & Steel: Off the Hook! Live at Motvind

*Sun Ra: Calling Planet Earth (side 1)

*Sun Ra: In Some Far Place: Roma '77 (disc 2)

*Sun Ra: At the Showcase: Live in Chicago 1976-1977 (discs 1, 2)

*Cecil Taylor: Double Holy House

*Kit Watkins: Labyrinth (side 1)

*Brian Wilson: At My Piano

*Various artists: WSAM: Plunderzombie (CDR compilation)

*Otomo Yoshihide/Paal Nilssen-Love: 19th of May 2016 

Playlist, Week of 2024-04-28

Some random Muhal Richard Abrams shows this week... on the 1977 Chico Freeman sets (audience recordings), he's unfortunately underrecorded... too bad, because as a whole, the lineup is incredible (Freeman and Henry Threadgill on horns and the unbeatable rhythm section of Steve McCall, Fred Hopkins, and Muhal on piano)... Muhal was given a lot of solo space on the jam from the Jimmy Lyons tribute... even in a great band featuring Archie Shepp and Andrew Cyrille, Muhal stands out... finally, another stellar performance of Muhal with the Art Ensemble of Chicago... again, pretty muddily recorded, but I have a high tolerance for bootlegginess, especially with artists like these... In other great piano jazz, Paul Bley's Turning Point (also released as Turns) features some of John Gilmore's best playing outside the Arkestra... 

Playlist 2024-04-29:

*Muhal Richard Abrams: 1976-07-18 NYC (CDR)

*Art Ensemble of Chicago with Muhal Richard Abrams: 1974-08-07 Laren, The Netherlands (CDR)

*Beatles: Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band (Anniversary Ed.) (disc 5, PCM Stereo)

*Paul Bley: Turning Point

*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (Standards) 2020 (disc 10)

*Anthony Braxton: 10 Comp (Lorraine) 2022 (discs 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10) (streaming)

*Rodger Coleman/Sam Byrd: Who Doesn't Fade? "Who Doesn't Fade?"

*Rodger Coleman/Sam Byrd: The Mathematics of War "New Landscape"

*Colla Parte: Live at Rhizome DC

*D’Angelo and the Vanguard: Black Messiah (sides 1, 2, 3, 4)

*Miles Davis: The Complete On the Corner Sessions (disc 2)

*Chico Freeman Quintet: 1977-02-11 NYC (CDR) (discs 1, 2)

*Genesis: Foxtrot "Supper's Ready"

*Gentle Giant: Playing the Fool (side 2)

*Benny Goodman: Fletcher Henderson Arrangements (CDR compilation) (discs 2, 3)

*Grateful Dead: 1973-06-10 Washington DC (CDR) "Dark Star"

*Grupo Folklorico y Experimental Nuevayorquino: Concepts in Unity

*Happy the Man: "Better Late…" (side 2)

*Alexander Hawkins Trio: Carnival Celestial

*Fletcher Henderson's Sextet: 1950

*Hüsker Dü: Zen Arcade

*George Lewis/Douglas Ewart: Jila-Save! Mon.-The Imaginary Suite

*Butch Morris: Butch Morris Conducts Berlin Skyscraper (disc 2)

*New Ting: 2024-04-17 OSB, Richmond VA (wav) 

*Pavement: Slanted and Enchanted

*Soft Machine: 5 (side 1)

*Sonic Youth: Evol

*Sparks: Hello Young Lovers (sides 1, 2, 3, 4)

*Sun Ra: In Some Far Place: Roma '77 (disc 1)

*Tasavallan Presidentti: Lambert Land (side 1)

*UYA: 1992-11-10 O.D.-in' w/Donald  (wav) "Old Dick Donald Had a Duck"

*UYA: 1992-12-06/08 We Got (wav)

*UYA: 1992-12-15 Buntcake Wonderland (wav)

*Various artists: Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos (discs 1, 2)

*Various artists: Jimmy Lyons Benefit 1986-02-01 NYC (disc 2) "All Star Jam"

*Way Out Northwest: The White Spot

*Joe Zawinul: Zawinul

*John Zorn/Simulacrum: Inferno

*John Zorn: Bagatelles Vol. 12: Cleric

Playlist, Week of 2024-04-21

 Well, it would appear I am not quite done with my deep dive into Muhal Richard Abrams yet... I discovered a few more concert recordings I'd lost track of, and I am still getting a lot out of returning to the '90s albums... between Muhal (these days), Anthony Braxton, Sun Ra, and Cecil Taylor (all the time), my playlist must seem a bit same-y from week to week... but of course the music sustains and encourages this kind of repeated listening, and I am not tired of it yet... 

Playlist 2024-04-22:

*Muhal Richard Abrams: FamilyTalk
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Think All Focus One
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Song for All
*Muhal Richard Abrams: One Line, Two Views
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Celestial Birds
*Zoh Amba: The Flower School
*Jeff Beck Group: Rough and Ready (side 1)
*Anthony Braxton with the Creative Jazz Orchestra: Composition No. 175, Composition No. 126 Trillium-Dialogues M (disc 1)
*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (Standards) 2020 (discs 6, 7, 8, 9)
*Anthony Braxton: 10 Comp (Lorraine) 2022 (discs 6, 7) (streaming)
*Sonny Clark: The Complete Sonny Clark Blue Note Sessions (disc 2)
*Kris Davis Trio: 2022-05-13 NYC (CDR)
*Jack DeJohnette/Made in Chicago: 2015-07-11 Rotterdam (CDR)
*Duke Ellington: 1899-1974 (sides 5, 6)
*Bill Evans: Trio 64
*Robert Fripp: Love Cannot Bear: Soundscapes - Live in the USA
*Benny Goodman: Fletcher Henderson Arrangements (CDR compilation) (disc 1)
*Lesley Gore: The Golden Hits of Lesley Gore (side 2)
*Grant Green: Street of Dreams
*Mary Halvorson/Jessica Pavone: Departure of Reason
*Alexander Hawkins Trio: Alexander Hawkins Trio
*Fletcher Henderson: Tidal Wave (selections)
*Ingrid Laubrock/Tom Rainey: Stir Crazy (CDR compilation) (discs 2, 3)
*Michael Mantler: No Answer/Silence (disc 1)
*John Medeski: Crawlspace
*Myra Melford: 2009-07-07 NYC (CDR) (disc 1)
*Mendoza Hoff Revels: Echolocation
*Minutemen: Introducing the Minutemen
*Muffins: 1979-03-03 Bethesda MD (CDR) (disc 2)
*New Ting: 2024-04-17 OSB, Richmond VA (wav)
*Zeena Parkins/Ikue Mori: Phantom Orchard
*Pere Ubu: New Picnic Time (sides 1, 2)
*Tomeka Reid Quartet: 3+3 (side 1)
*Sonic Youth: Sister
*Sun Ra and His Arkestra: Media Dreams (sides 1, 2)
*Li Chin Sung: Past
*Justin Timberlake: Tiny Desk Concert
*UMO Jazz Orchestra: UMO Plays the Music of Muhal Richard Abrams
*UYA: 1992-12-02/06 Attitude Extrusion (wav)
*Alex Ward: Gated
*John Zorn: Bagatelles Vol. 10: Julian Lage and Gyan Riley
*John Zorn: Bagatelles Vol. 11: Jim Black Quartet

Playlist, Week of 2024-04-14

Getting into some later Muhal Richard Abrams this week... the 2012 reuniuon show of the Experimental Band from Saalfelden is a knockout, with a truly awesome lineup including Roscoe Mitchell, Henry Threadgill, Amina Claudine Myers, Wadada Leo Smith, and George Lewis... the AACM All-Stars... I need to listen more to the 2016 quintet with Jonathan Finlayson... In the meanwhile, Jack DeJohnette's Made in Chicago project is another mindblower, again with Mitchell and Threadgill... Muhal especially shines on the Threadgill composition "Leave Don't Go Away"... and this live version of "Chant" (a classic Roscoe Mitchell composition) features Muhal joyfully stretching out, especially at the end... great playing all around...

Playlist 2024-04-15:

*Muhal Richard Abrams Experimental Band: 2012-08-25 Saalfelden (CDR)

*Muhal Richard Abrams Quintet: 2016-01-31 Milano (CDR)

*Art Ensemble of Chicago: The Paris Session "The Ninth Room" 

*Beatles: Beatles for Sale (2009 stereo remaster) (sides 1, 2)

*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (Standards) 2020 (discs 4, 5)

*Anthony Braxton: 10 Comp (Lorraine) 2022 (disc 5) (streaming)

*James Brown and the Famous Flames: Think! (side 2)

*Don Cherry/Penderecki/New Eternal Rhythm Orchestra: Actions "Actions"

*Sonny Clark: The Complete Sonny Clark Blue Note Sessions (disc 1)

*Rodger Coleman: Guitar Experiments

*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2023-12-29 Nashville (rough mix wav)

*John Coltrane: Evenings at the Village Gate (side 2)

*Sylvie Courvoisier: Signs and Epigrams

*Jack DeJohnette: Made in Chicago

*Fire! Orchestra/Krzysztof Penderecki: Actions

*Aretha Franklin: Aretha Now (side 2)

*Fully Celebrated Orchestra: Sob Story

*Mary Halvorson: Cloudward

*Alexander Hawkins Mirror Canon: Break a Vase

*Fletcher Henderson: Swing's the Thing (1931-1934) (side 1)

*High Llamas: Hey Panda

*Dave Holland New Quartet: 2023-07-13 Pori, Finland (CDR)

*Kinks: The Journey: Part 1 (side 3)

*Ingrid Laubrock/Tom Rainey: Stir Crazy (CDR compilation) (disc 1)

*Michael Mantler: The Hapless Child

*Michael Mantler: Many Have No Speech

*Myra Melford's Fire and Water Quintet: 2024-03-23 Knoxville TN (CDR)

*Roscoe Mitchell Orchestra: Littlefield Concert Hall, Mills College, March 19-20, 2018

*Butch Morris: Butch Morris Conducts Berlin Skyscraper (disc 1)

*Evan Parker ElectroAcoustic Septet: Seven "Seven-2"

*Annette Peacock: Sky-Skating

*Annette Peacock: Paradiso, Amsterdam February 21 1991

*Annette Peacock: 31:31

*Annette Peacock: 4 Emilia-Romagna W/LV

*Tomeka Reid Quartet: 3+3 (side 1)

*Yamamoto Seiichi: Nu Frequency

*Ches Smith: Laugh Ash

*Bessie Smith: The Complete Recordings Vol. 1 (selections)

*Soft Machine: Fifth

*Sparks: Balls (sides 1, 2, 3)

*Cecil Taylor Orchestra of Two Continents: 1984-10-20 Rubigen, Switzerland (CDR) (disc 2)

*Cecil Taylor Feel Trio: Two Ts for a Lovely T (disc 2)

*Henry Threadgill Very Very Circus: Spirit of Nuff…Nuff

*Henry Threadgill's Zooid: This Brings Us To, Volumes I & II (side 1)

*UYA: 1992-11-17 Sonic Extruder (wav)

*Anna Webber/Matt Mitchell: Capacious Aeration

*Nate Wooley: Mutual Aid Music (disc 1)

*John Zorn/Bladeunner: 2000-07-03 London (CDR)

Playlist, Week of 2024-04-07

SoundDance has primo live piano work from Muhal Richard Abrams, duetting with Fred Anderson (and joined by George Lewis on disc 2)... The trio recordings with Lewis and Roscoe Mitchell are key later AACM works... I'll be wrapping up my runthrough of Muhal's work soon but there are still lots of loose ends and repeats to come... I'm liking the new Myra Melford Fire and Water Quintet album more than the first one... it's more cohesive... just lovely playing... Duke Ellington never had a better singer than Ivie Anderson... I swoon when "A Lonely Coed" comes on... Not so sure about the new High Llamas... too much autotune, not enough strong melodies... this, after 5-6 listenings... the title track is nice... Bandmate Fred lent me this old Sun Ra LP to identify it... he bought it from the band in the late '70s... totally blank white cover, white label, but markings on the vinyl plus the music itself revealed it to be Media Dreams... I got chills playing it: the first Saturn I've ever actually touched and played... it sounded great... 

Playlist 2024-04-08:

*Muhal Richard Abrams: Lifea Blinec (side 2)

*Muhal Richard Abrams/George Lewis/Roscoe Mitchell: 2008-08-17 Antwerp (CDR)

*Muhal Richard Abrams/George Lewis/Roscoe Mitchell: 2009-08-29 S. Anna Arresi, Italy (CDR)

*Muhal Richard Abrams/Roscoe Mitchell: Spectrum

*Muhal Richard Abrams: SoundDance (discs 1, 2)

*Erykah Badu: Mama's Gun

*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (Standards) 2020 (discs 2, 3)

*Anthony Braxton: 10 Comp (Lorraine) 2022 (discs 2, 3, 4) (streaming)

*James Brown: In the Jungle Groove (sides 3, 4)

*Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band: Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)

*Ornette Coleman: Love Call (side 1)

*Rodger Coleman: Guitar Experiments

*Rodger Coleman and Andrew Dickson: 2016-11-02 Nashville (CDR)

*Kris Davis Trio: 2022-05-13 NYC (CDR)

*Mike Elder/Harry Forrest/Greg Jordan/Sam Byrd: New CDR Compilation (disc 1) "Dental Clarity"

*Duke Ellington: Duke Ellington Presents Ivie Anderson (sides 2, 3, 4)

*Tomas Fujiwara's Triple Double: March

*Frode Gjerstad/Isach Skeidsvoll: Twenty Fingers

*Grateful Dead: 1970-02-04 San Francisco (Download Series Vol. 8)

*Grateful Dead: 1971-11-07 San Francisco (CDR) "Dark Star"

*Alexander Hawkins Trio: Carnival Celestial

*Fletcher Henderson: A Study in Frustration (side 2)

*Jimi Hendrix Experience: Miami Pop Festival

*High Llamas: Hey Panda

*Ahmad Jamal: The Complete Ahmad Jamal Trio Argo Sessions 1956-62 (disc 3)

*Layers of Memory: 2019-12-07 RVA (wav)"Improvisation No. 4"

*Myra Melford's Fire and Water Quintet: For the Love of Fire and Water

*Myra Melford's Fire and Water Quintet: Hear the Light Singing

*Matt Mitchell: Fiction

*Neighbours: Neighbours with Anthony Braxton

*P-Funk Guitar Army: Tributes to Jimi Hendrix, Vol. 1

*Zeena Parkins/Ikue Mori: Phantom Orchard

*Annette Peacock: 1982-09-16 BBC Radio 3 "Jazz in Britain" (CDR)

*Annette Peacock: Abstract-Contact

*Tomeka Reid Quartet: 3+3 (sides 1, 2)

*Bessie Smith: The Complete Recordings Vol. 1 (selections)

*Sonic Youth: Evol

*Sparks: The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte (sides 1, 2)

*Sun Ra and His Arkestra: In the Orbit of Ra (side 1)

*Sun Ra and his Arkestra: Media Dreams (sides 1, 2)

*Sun Ra: On Jupiter (side 2)

*Henry Threadgill Sextet: Subject to Change (side 2)

*Henry Threadgill Society Situation Dance Band: 1997-07-12 Den Haag (CDR)

*Henry Threadgill's Zooid: This Brings Us To, Volumes I & II (sides 1, 2, 3, 4)

*UYA: 1992-11-08/10: Double Load Love (wav)

*UYA: 1992-11-10 O.D.-in' w/Donald (wav) 

Playlist, Week of 2024-03-31

I am easing back into my deep dive into the music of Muhal Richard Abrams... I will definitely return to the mid-sized group recordings of the '90s, but now I am starting to delve into the remarkable series of trio recordings he did with George Lewis and Roscoe Mitchell... a most formidable lineup, for sure... especially with the layer of Lewis's Voyager electronics added in the mix... I am also excited about the release of the new Anthony Braxton box set, which I will be streaming over the next few days...

Playlist 2024-04-01:

*Muhal Richard Abrams: The Visibility of Thought

*Muhal Richard Abrams/George Lewis/Roscoe Mitchell: 2003-09-20 Venice (CDR)

*Muhal Richard Abrams/George Lewis/Roscoe Mitchell: Streaming

*Ahleuchatistas: Expansion

*Beatles: With the Beatles (2009 mono remaster)

*Tim Berne's Snakeoil: Incidentals "Sideshow"

*Paul Bley: Live in Haarlem "Blood"

*Anthony Braxton: 12 Comp (ZIM) 2017 (Comp. 410)

*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (Standards) 2020 (disc 1)

*Anthony Braxton: 10 Comp (Lorraine) 2022 (disc 1) (streaming)

*John Coltrane: The Prestige Recordings (disc 12)

*Kris Davis Trio: 2022-05-13 NYC (CDR)

*Duke Ellington: Duke Ellington Presents Ivie Anderson (side 1)

*Extra Large Unit: More Fun Please

*Kate Gentile: Find Letter X (disc 3)

*Grateful Dead: 1990-03-19 Hartford CT (CDR) (discs 2, 3)

*Barry Guy/London Jazz Composers Orchestra: Ode (discs 1, 2)

*High Llamas: Hey Panda

*Kinks: The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (Special Deluxe Ed.) (disc 2)

*Led Zeppelin: III

*John Mayall with Eric Clapton: Blues Breakers

*Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Orchestra/Small Unit: Spectral Fiction

*Myra Melford's Fire and Water Quintet: Hear the Light Singing

*Myra Melford's Fire and Water Quintet: 2024-03-23 Knoxville TN (CDR)

*Matt Mitchell: Fiction

*Muffins: 1979-03-03 Bethesda MD (CDR) (disc 1)

*New Ting: 2024-03-04 "Slippery Traffic" (wav)

*Harry Nilsson: Nilsson Schmilsson

*Annette Peacock: I Have No Feelings

*Matthew Shipp Trio: 2012-11-10 London (CDR)

*Ches Smith: Interpret It Well

*Ches Smith: Laugh Ash

*Sparks: Progress (12-in. maxi-single) (sides 1, 2)

*Sparks: Pretending To Be Drunk (12-in. maxi-single) (sides 1, 2)

*Trio M: 2009-10-31 Tampere, Finland (CDR) (track 1)

*Various artists: Golden Voices from the Silver Screen Vol. 2

*Various artists: Studio One 007: Licensed to Ska

*Various artists: Mix 4 Sammy (CDR compilation)

*Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life (selections) 

Playlist, Week of 2024-03-17

These four medium-sized big band Muhal Richard Abrams studio recordings from the early '90s all kind of run together in my mind... I obviously need to listen to them more in order to differentiate them... there's a lot going on in them, with each piece stylistically its own thing... Something I need to come to terms with: I am not so fond of his synthesizer work... what he's playing is fine, and fits in with the pieces, sort of, but it feels like he is using manufacturer pre-set tones... perhaps it's grossly unfair to compare his synth work with Sun Ra's, but who else in the jazz big band universe employs synthesizers in these ways? (I'm sure there are others.... let me know who I'm missing...)... to me, Sun Ra's use of synthesizers is more organic and inventive, and is better integrated into the music... but (in all seriousness) what do I know? Muhal's synthesizer work doesn't move me like Ra's does... This coming week I'll be taking a short break from my Muhal Richard Abrams deep dive... I'll be attending Big Ears and thus will be otherwise preoccupied! Will pick it back up the week after... 

Playlist 2024-03-18:

*Muhal Richard Abrams Sextet: 1973-11-04 Berlin (CDR)
*Muhal Richard Abrams: 1986-03-28 Charlottesville VA (CDR)
*Muhal Richard Abrams: FamilyTalk
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Think All Focus One
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Song for All
*Muhal Richard Abrams: One Line, Two Views
*Louis Armstrong: The Louis Armstrong Story Vol. 3: Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines (side 1)
*Art Ensemble of Chicago: Non-Cognitive Aspects of the City: Live at Iridium (disc 2)
*Daniel Barbiero/Cristiano Bocci: Now/Here
*Paul Bley: Live in Haarlem
*Terri Lyne Carrington: New Standards, Vol. 1
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2023-12-29 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*John Coltrane: The Prestige Recordings (disc 11)
*Chick Corea: The Complete "Is" Sessions (disc 2)
*Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited (side 2)
*Duke Ellington: The Best of Duke Ellington (side 2)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, Vol. 6 (disc 1)
*Farmers By Nature: Love and Ghosts "Aquilo"
*Kate Gentile: Find Letter X (disc 2)
*Samuel Goff: Transmissions
*Grateful Dead: 1973-06-10 Washington DC (CDR) (disc 4)
*Grateful Dead: 1990-03-19 Hartford CT (CDR) (disc 1)
*Mary Halvorson: Cloudward
*Andrew Hill Trio: 1972 Yellow Springs, OH (CDR)
*London Jazz Composers Orchestra featuring Anthony Braxton: 1988-03-25 Basel, Switzerland (CDR) (disc 2)
*Charles Mingus and His Jazz Groups: Mingus Dynasty (side 1)
*Roscoe Mitchell and the Note Factory: 2000-09-02 Chicago (CDR)
*Roscoe Mitchell: Not Yet: Six Compositions
*National Health: National Health (side 1)
*New Ting: 2024-03-04 "Slippery Traffic" (wav)
*Sam Rivers: Sizzle (side 1)
*Ernesto Rodrigues/Guilherme Rodrigues/Daniel Barbiero: [The] Nature [of Things] Likes to Hide
*Ches Smith: Laugh Ash
*Soft Machine: Fourth (side 2)
*Sparks: Propaganda (sides 1, 2)
*Sparks: The Rest of Sparks (side 1)
*Sparks: Big Beat (sides 1, 2)
*Sun Ra And His Intergalactic Research Arkestra: Paradiso Amsterdam 1970
*Sun Ra and His Arkestra: Saturn XIII (side 1)
*Sun Ra and His Arkestra: Omniverse (side 2)
*Cecil Taylor Quartet: In Europe (side 1)
*Cecil Taylor Feel Trio: Two Ts for a Lovely T (disc 7)
*Henry Threadgill Ensemble: The Other One
*UYA: 1992-10-27: The Flaw Won (wav)
*UYA: 1992-11-01: Actifact (wav)
*Various artists: 7 x 7
*Anna Webber: Shimmer Wince 

Playlist, Week of 2024-03-10

My Muhal Richard Abrams deep dive continues... as you can tell, I am repeating a lot of albums, since these recordings are so dense and rich and I love returning to them... I am starting to get into the later orchestra and medium-sized group albums, which I am less familiar with, and they sound great!... On Anthony Braxton's Creative Orchestra Music 1976, "Comp. 55" (side 2, track 2) has a beautifully compact Muhal piano solo... 

Playlist 2024-03-11:

*Muhal Richard Abrams: Spihumonesty
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Mama and Daddy (side 2)
*Muhal Richard Abrams Quintet: 1977-03-04 NYC (CDR) (disc 1)
*Muhal Richard Abrams Orchestra: The Hearinga Suite
*Muhal Richard Abrams Orchestra: Blu Blu Blu
*Muhal Richard Abrams Orchestra: 1991-11-01 Berlin (CDR)
*Muhal Richard Abrams: FamilyTalk
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Think All Focus One
*Art Ensemble of Chicago: Non-Cognitive Aspects of the City: Live at Iridium (disc 1)
*Beach Boys: Wake the World: The Friends Sessions
*Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13, Op. 130 (Juilliard String Quartet)
*Anthony Braxton: The Complete Braxton 1971 "Comp. 6J"
*Anthony Braxton: Creative Orchestra Music 1976 (side 2)
*Anthony Braxton Large Ensemble: 2008-12-03 Wesleyan (CDR) "Comp. 100/134/91"
*Anthony Braxton's Sonic Genome Project: 2010-01-31 Vancouver (CDR) (disc 1)
*James Brown: Papa's Got a Brand New Bag (side 2)
*Rodger Coleman: Real Gone "Moogertron"
*Rodger Coleman and Andrew Dickson: 2016-11-02 Nashville (CDR)
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2023-12-29 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*John Coltrane: The Prestige Recordings (disc 10)
*Chick Corea: The Complete "Is" Sessions (disc 1)
*Sylvie Courvoisier/Ikue Mori/Evan Parker: 2017-06-04 Moers (DVD)
*Creative Construction Company: Creative Construction Company Vol. II
*Daft Punk: Discovery
*Danger Mouse: The Grey Album
*Miles Davis: 1973-01-12 NYC (DVD)
*Duke Ellington: 1938 (side 3)
*Kate Gentile: Find Letter X (disc 1)
*Grateful Dead: 1970-02-05 Fillmore West, NYC (CDR)
*Grateful Dead: 1983-10-12 NYC (CDR) (disc 3)
*George Lewis: Shadowgraph, 5 (Sextet)
*Muffins: 1979-02-25 Bethesda MD (CDR)
*New Ting: 2024-02-19 RVA (wav)
*Annette Peacock: I'm the One
*Prince: 1999 (side 4)
*Sparks: Angst in My Pants (sides 1, 2)
*Sun Ra and His Solar Arkestra: Secrets of the Sun (side 2)
*Cecil Taylor: 1999-04-21 Culver City, CA (CDR)
*Cecil Taylor Ensemble: Almeda
*Henry Threadgill Zooid: In for a Penny, In for a Pound (disc 2) "Unoepic (for Guitar)"
*David Torn/Tim Berne/Ches Smith: Sun Of Goldfinger "Spartan, Before It Hit"
*UYA: 1992-09: Live Masscann and After (wav)
*UYA: 1992-09-29/10-04: Puff Rub (wav)
*UYA: 1992-10-04/10: Melt the Chocolate (wav)
*XTC: Rag & Bone Buffet
*Dionne Warwick: The Complete 1960s Singles Plus (selections)
*Anna Webber: Shimmer Wince

Playlist, Week of 2024-03-03

Two major big band masterpieces from Muhal Richard Abrams this week: The Hearinga Suite and Blu Blu Blu... so much to say about both of these... well, I ain't saying anything now... except that Blu Blu Blu has an excellent reworking of "Bloodline" that features absolute killer piano from Abrams... and: let's hear it for the whistler!

Playlist 2024-03-04

*Muhal Richard Abrams: 1978 Laren, Holland (CDR)
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Rejoicing with the Light (side 2)
*Muhal Richard Abrams Orchestra: The Hearinga Suite
*Muhal Richard Abrams Orchestra: Blu Blu Blu
*Muhal Richard Abrams and Roscoe Mitchell: Duets and Solos
*Barry Altschul: You Can't Name Your Own Tune
*Arctic Monkeys: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
*Beach Boys: The Smile Sessions (sides 1, 2, 3, 4)
*Jacob Bivins/Ian Davis: Benthic
*Anthony Braxton: The Complete Arista Recordings of Anthony Braxton (discs 7, 8)
*Anthony Braxton: Two Compositions (Orchestra) 2005
*Anthony Braxton: Echo Echo Mirror House (NYC) 2011
*Ornette Coleman: Ornette at 12, Crisis to Man on the Moon Revisited
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2023-12-29 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*Elvis Costello: Taking Liberties (sides 1, 2)
*Aaron Diehl and the Knights: Zodiac Suite
*Fats Domino: They Call Me the Fat Man... (The Legendary Imperial Recordings) (selections)
*Duke Ellington: Ellington '66 (side 2)
*Nick Fraser/Kris Davis/Tony Malaby: Zoning
*Glass Triangle: Blue and Sun-Lights
*Grateful Dead: 1983-10-12 NYC (CDR) (disc 2)
*Fletcher Henderson: The Complete Fletcher Henderson 1927-1936 (side 4)
*Ingrid Laubrock/Tom Rainey: 2017-01-04 NYC (CDR)
*Thelonious Monk: Monk's Music
*New Ting: 2024-02-19 RVA (wav)
*Original Silence: The Second Original Silence
*Tony Oxley/Derek Bailey Quartet: Tony Oxley/Derek Bailey Quartet
*Tony Oxley Sextet: 1998-09-10 Cologne (CDR)
*Jeff Parker: The New Breed
*Annette Peacock: 4 Emilia-Romagna W/LV
*Max Roach: The Max Roach Trio Featuring the Legendary Hasaan
*Rolling Stones: Aftermath (Expanded mono ed.)
*David Sancious: The Bridge
*Sleepwalker: Skopofoboexoskelett
*Tamio Shiraishi: Sora
*Tyshawn Sorey and Marilyn Crispell: The Adornment of Time
*Sun Ra And His Intergalactic Research Arkestra: Paradiso Amsterdam 1970 (side 2)
*Cecil Taylor Big Band: 1995-07-03 NYC (CDR) (disc 2)
*Traffic: John Barleycorn Must Die
*UYA: 1992-09-09: What Gomer Likes (wav)
*Various artists: Masters of the Modern Piano 1955-1966 (side 2)
*Various artists: Ethiopian Groove: The Golden Seventies
*WSAM: D.Reamin' (CDR compilation)
*John Zorn Electric Masada: 2003-01-30 NYC (CDR) (discs 1, 2)
*John Zorn/Brian Marsella Trio: 2023-09-01 San Francisco "Suite for Piano" (CDR) 

Playlist, Week of 2024-02-25

 

My Muhal Richard Abrams listening this week focused on the amazing run of albums he released on Black Saint in the 1980s and '90s, which will culminate next week with two of his big band masterpieces... the groundwork for those masterpieces was laid especially with Blues Forever and Rejoicing with the Light, in that both albums are stylistically all over the place, spanning the entire history of jazz while shining light on more obscure, unexplored territories... his piano playing is masterful and assured on these, but as usual he often steps out of the way and lets his arrangements and band members do the talking... when I was younger, I was drawn to the more swinging pieces like "Bloodlines" and "Blues Forever," but now (in my dotage, er, as my more mature and seasoned self) I am attracted to the more abstract tone poem pieces like "Cluster for Many Worlds" and "Blessed Be the Heavens at 12"... well, it's all amazing... 

Playlist 2024-02-26:

*AACM Great Black Music Ensemble: Umbria Jazz 2009, Perugia, Italy (CDR) (discs 6, 7)
*Muhal Richard Abrams: 1-OQA+19
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Spihumonesty
*Muhal Richard Abrams feat. Amina Claudine Myers: Duet (sides 1, 2)
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Spiral: Live at Montreux 1978
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Mama and Daddy (sides 1, 2)
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Blues Forever (sides 1, 2)
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Rejoicing with the Light (sides 1, 2)
*Muhal Richard Abrams Octet: View from Within
*Muhal Richard Abrams Octet: Colors in Thirty-Third
*André 3000: New Blue Sun
*Beach Boys: I Can Hear Music: The 20/20 Sessions (disc 2)
*Beatles: A Hard Day's Night (OST) (side 1)
*Beatles: 1962-1966 (2023 Edition) (side 2)
*Beatles: 1967-1970 (2023 Edition) (side 5)
*Anthony Braxton Ensemble: 1976-06-27 Carnegie Hall, NYC (CDR)
*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (FRM) 2007 (discs 3, 4)
*Circle: 1971-03 Bologna (CDR) (disc 2)
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2023-12-29 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*John Coltrane: The Prestige Recordings (disc 9)
*John Coltrane: Ascension (Edition II)
*John Coltrane: Meditations "Love/Consequences/Serenity"
*Miles Davis: Miles Davis at Carnegie Hall (side 1)
*DJ Shadow: Endtroducing.....
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, Vol. 25 (discs 1, 2)
*Duke Ellington: The Bethlehem Years, Vol. 1 (side 2)
*Farmers By Nature: Love and Ghosts (disc 2) "Bisanz"
*Aretha Franklin: Two Sides of Love (sides 1, 2)
*George: Leave It
*Jimmy Giuffre 3: 1961 (disc 2)
*Grateful Dead: 1973-12-08 Durham NC (CDR) (disc 3) "The Other One"
*Grateful Dead: 1974-07-25 Chicago (CDR) "Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: So Many Roads (1965–1995) (disc 2) "Dark Star Jam > Spanish Jam > U.S.Blues"
*Grateful Dead: 1983-10-12 NYC (CDR) (disc 1)
*Grant Green: Idle Moments
*Drew Gress: The Irrational Numbers
*Jimi Hendrix Experience: An Evening with the Jimi Hendrix Experience (disc 2)
*Dave Holland Prism: 2013-10-25 Umea, Sweden (CDR) (disc 1)197611
*Kinks: The Journey: Part 1 (sides 3, 4)
*Henry Mancini: Breakfast at Tiffany's (OST)
*Matt Mitchell: A Pouting Grimace
*Roscoe Mitchell: Nonaah (disc 2)
*Muffins: Secret Signals 3
*Annette Peacock: Sky-Skating
*Stephanie Richards: Fullmoon
*Sparks: Music That You Can Dance To (sides 1, 2)
*Cecil Taylor: Conquistador! "With (Exit)"
*Cecil Taylor Feel Trio: Two Ts for a Lovely T (disc 1)
*John Zorn Electric Masada: 2003-01-29 NYC (CDR)
*John Zorn: Bagatelles Vol. 8: John Medeski Trio
*John Zorn/Heaven and Earth Magick: 2023-09-23 San Francisco (CDR)

Playlist, Week of 2024-02-18

This week in my Muhal Richard Abrams explorations, I primarily focused on his appearances as a sideman, mostly with Anthony Braxton... the 1976 Carnegie Hall recording, one long suite listed by the Library of Congress as "Suite For Duke Ellington," consists of compositions I am not familiar with... Muhal excels on the Basel date, especially on "Comp. 69G"... in the Milan show, it's great to hear the band romp through several of the "40" series of Braxton compositions, especially since the original recorded versions don't have piano... On the Creative Construction Company recordings, Muhal is, as he so often is, self-effacing, definitely a team player... On Marion Brown's Sweet Earth Flying, he shares keyboard duties with Paul Bley, but they really don't get into each other's way... The Muhal-led quintet performance from 1978 in Holland features extended takes on two songs from the album 1-OQA+19, with everybody from that album except Braxton: Henry Threadgill and George Lewis fronting a powerhouse rhythm section of Muhal, Leonard Jones, and Steve McCall... 

Playlist 2024-02-19:

*Muhal Richard Abrams featuring Malachi Favors: Sightsong
*Muhal Richard Abrams: 1978 Laren, Holland (CDR)
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Mama and Daddy
*Beach Boys: Love You (side 2)
*Anthony Braxton: Creative Orchestra Music 1976 (side 1)
*Anthony Braxton Ensemble: 1976-06-27 Carnegie Hall, NYC (CDR)
*Anthony Braxton: Quintet (Basel) 1977
*Anthony Braxton Quintet: 1977-06-03 Milan (CDR)
*Marion Brown: Sweet Earth Flying
*Circle: 1971-03 Bologna (CDR) (disc 1)
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2023-12-29 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*Elvis Costello: My Aim Is True (side 1)
*Creative Construction Company: Creative Construction Company
*Creative Construction Company: Creative Construction Company Vol. II
*Miles Davis: Sketches of Spain
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, Vol. 23 (disc 2)
*Firesign Theater: I Think We're All Bozos on This Bus (sides 1, 2)
*Grateful Dead: 1969-06-14 Monterey (CDR) "Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: 1974-07-21 Hollywood (CDR) (discs 1, 2, 3)
*Fletcher Henderson: Swing 1929-1937
*Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland
*Booker Little: Out Front (side 1)
*Muffins: 1977 Washington DC (CDR)
*Pere Ubu: Live at the Longhorn April 1, 1978 (side 1)
*Pere Ubu: We Do What We Do
*Prince & the New Power Generation: Diamonds and Pearls (Super Deluxe Ed.) (disc 1)
*Tito Puente: The Complete 78s: Vol. 1 1949-55 (disc 2)
*Matana Roberts: Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the Garden (side 1)
*Sparks: Whomp That Sucker (side 1)
*Sun Ra: Crystal Spears (Remastered)
*Sun Ra and His Interplanetary Vocal Arkestra: The Space Age Is Here to Stay
*Art Tatum: The Art Tatum Solo Masterpieces Vol. 8
*Cecil Taylor: Respiration
*Cecil Taylor Unit: 1969-11-04 Copenhagen (youtube)
*Cecil Taylor: Silent Tongues (side 1)
*Cecil Taylor: 1999-04-21 Culver City, CA (CDR)
*Tower of Power: East Bay Grease (side 1)
*Trio What (Else): 2024-02-11 Richmond VA (mp3)
*June Tyson/Sun Ra: Saturnian Queen of the Sun Ra Arkestra (side 2)
*XTC: English Settlement (sides 3, 4)
*John Zorn: Bagatelles Vol. 7: Brian Marsella

Playlist, Week of 2024-02-11

The 1977 Muhal Richard Abrams quintet gig is a wonderful audience recording from Ali's Alley in NYC, featuring Roscoe Mitchell, Henry Threadgill, Steve McCall, and Fred Hopkins...now there's a lineup!... as always, Muhal is generous with the solo space, so there's lots of stretching out here... I thank the music gods that I got to see McCall and Hopkins together with Arthur Blythe at the Vanguard... right place, right time... Spihumonesty is another great chamber jazz album from Muhal with knotty melodies that I can't quite wrap my head around... I love the uncertainty... Barry Altschul's You Can't Name Your Own Tune is a brilliant album with generous helpings of Muhal on piano, especially on "Cmbeh" (incidentally, a Muhal composition)... Ethan Iverson has a nice review of this album here... For some great ensemble keyboard playing that's not Muhal, check out Alexander Hawkins on Ingebrigt Håker Flaten and Paal Nilssen-Love's Guts & Skins: super-exciting...

Playlist 2024-02-12:

*AACM Great Black Music Ensemble: Umbria Jazz 2009, Perugia, Italy (CDR) (discs 2, 4)
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Lifea Blinec
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Spihumonesty (sides 1, 2)
*Muhal Richard Abrams Quintet: 1977-03-04 NYC (CDR) (discs 1, 2, 3)
*Barry Altschul: You Can't Name Your Own Tune
*Tim Berne's Snakeoil: The Deceptive 4 (Live) (disc 1) "Perception"
*Anthony Braxton: Nine Compositions (DVD) 2003 " (tracks 1-4, 6)
*Rodger Coleman and Andrew Dickson: 2016-12-14 Nashville (CDR)
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2023-12-29 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*John Coltrane: The Prestige Recordings (discs 7, 8)
*Wild Bill Davis/ Johnny Hodges: Con-Soul and Sax (side 2)
*Dimitriadis/Dörner/Freedman/Parkins/Williams: BeingFive
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, Vol. 22 (disc 2)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, Vol. 23 (disc 1)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: Masterpieces by Ellington (sides 1, 2, 3, 4)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: Ellington Indigos (side 1)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: Festival Session (side 2)
*Duke Ellington: Ellington '66 (side 1)
*Ensemble Dedalus & Erikm: Fata Morgana
*Farmers By Nature: Love and Ghosts (disc 2) "Bisanz"
*Aretha Franklin: Runnin' Out of Fools (sides 1, 2)
*Ingebrigt Håker Flaten/Paal Nilssen-Love: Guts & Skins
*Kate Gentile: Mannequins
*Grateful Dead: Dick's Picks 4 (1970-02-13 Fillmore East) (disc 2) "That's It for the Other One"
*Grateful Dead: 1970-09-19 Fillmore East NYC (CDR) "Dark Star"
*Dave Holland: Uncharted Territories (disc 2)
*Curtis Mayfield: There's No Place Like America Today
*Matt Mitchell/Kate Gentile: Snark Horse (disc 6)
*Nicole Mitchell's Sonic Projections: The Secret Escapades of Velvet Anderson
*Roscoe Mitchell: Sound Songs (disc 1)
*New Ting: 2024-01-29 "Here's Your Organ Donor" (wav)
*Sam & Dave: Hold On, I'm Comin' (side 1)
*Sun Ra And His Intergalactic Research Arkestra: Paradiso Amsterdam 1970 (side 2)
*Art Tatum: The Art Tatum Solo Masterpieces Vol. 7
*Cecil Taylor: Unit Structures (side 1)
*Cecil Tayor: Conquistador! "With (Exit)" (alternate take)
*Cecil Taylor: Algonquin
*Henry Threadgill 14 Or 15 Kestra AGG: Dirt... And More Dirt

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 2024-01-28

I've started my deep Muhal Richard Abrams dive... the amount of variety and sheer ingenuity displayed on these four early studio albums is just stunning... with the cream of the AACM crop aboard... I've always dug Duets 1976 with Anthony Braxton, and I absolutely love the version of "Maple Leaf Rag"... Lots to think about with the new Sun Ra LP Paradiso Amsterdam 1970... I made some comments about it over at the Hoffman All-Purpose Sun Ra Thread here... More amazing Braxton (and early Chick Corea, back when he was interesting) on the new (to me) Bologna Circle concert... Lots to get excited about...

Playlist 2024-01-29:

*Muhal Richard Abrams: Levels and Degrees of Light
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Young at Heart/Wise in Time
*Muhal Richard Abrams: Things to Come from Those Now Gone
*Muhal Richard Abrams: 1-OQA+19
*Susan Alcorn/Leila Bordreuil/Ingrid Laubrock: Bird Meets Wire
*Art Ensemble: 1967/68 (disc 4) "A to Ericka"
*Albert Ayler: The Hilversum Session
*Beatles: The Beatles (Super Deluxe Edition) (disc 7) (Dolby TrueHD 5.1) (sides 3, 4)
*Anthony Braxton with Muhal Richard Abrams: Duets 1976
*Anthony Braxton: Tentet (Wesleyan) 1999 (disc 1)
*Anthony Braxton: Two Compositions (Orchestra) 2005
*Anthony Braxton: Quartet (FRM) 2007 (disc 1)
*Circle: 1971-03 Bologna (CDR) (discs 1, 2)
*Rodger Coleman and Sam Byrd: 2023-12-29 Nashville (rough mix wav)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, Vol. 21 (disc 2)
*Duke Ellington: The Great Concerts: Cornell University 1948 (disc 1)
*George: Leave It
*Grateful Dead: Dick's Picks 4 (1970-02-13) (disc 1) "Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: Rockin' the Rhein with the Grateful Dead (disc 3) "Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: 1983-10-11 NYC (CDR) (discs 1, 2, 3)
*Grant Green: Idle Moments
*Drew Gress: The Irrational Numbers
*Drew Gress: The Sky Inside
*Andrew Hill Trio: 1972 Yellow Springs, OH (CDR)
*King Crimson: Islands (40th Anniversary Ed.) (DVD) 2010 mix
*Garry Martin Project (CDR compilation) (discs 8, 9)
*Matt Mitchell/Kate Gentile: Snark Horse (disc 2) "Thumbly"
*Matt Mitchell/Kate Gentile: Snark Horse (disc 5)
*Roscoe Mitchell and the Note Factory: 1994-08-28 Saalfelden (CDR)
*Evan Parker/Keith Rowe/Barry Guy/Eddie Prévost: Supersession
*Rasmussen/Flaherty/Rowden/Corsano: Crying in Space
*Sharp/Lopez/Kaiser/Amendola: Minus X: A Tribute to the Music of Iannis Xenakis (disc 1)
*Sparks: Live at the Record Plant 1974 (sides 1, 2)
*Sparks: Whomp That Sucker (sides 1, 2)
*Sparks: Angst in My Pants (sides 1, 2)
*Sun Ra And His Intergalactic Research Arkestra: Paradiso Amsterdam 1970 (sides 2, 4)
*Art Tatum: The Art Tatum Solo Masterpieces Vol. 5
*John Zorn/Various artists: Chamber Music 2023-09-03 San Francisco (CDR)
*John Zorn/Chaos Magick: Parrhesiastes

Playlist, Week of 2017-11-05

Saddened to hear of Muhal Richard Abram's death... a major inspirational figure for me, both in his playing and composing, and in his stature as a leader and mentor for so, so many musicians, of the AACM and beyond... check out Brian Olewnick's piece on him written last year... Olewnick says: "I doggedly followed along for a good while, however, I think up until "One Line, Two Views" (New World, 1995) at which point I gave up. So I may well have missed some fine music subsequently." Yes, Brian, you did... besides the several live recordings of Muhal trios with Roscoe Mitchell and George Lewis (plus the album Streaming), there were many other recordings of note from the last twenty years: Spectrum, Made in Chicago, Vision Towards Essence, the 2016 Milan quintet date, and the incredible Experimental Band live recording from 2012... after I finish my Threadgill sweep, I'll definitely need to go through all my Muhal recordings... I've been enjoying exploring various Krautrock groups over the past few years... on one hand, I regret not being exposed to the music of Can, Faust, Amon Düül II, Faust, Neu, etc. when it first came out... on the other hand, I probably wasn't ready for it then... I definitely wasn't ready for Sun Ra when I was younger... I'm still learning...

Playlist 2017-11-06

*Air: Air Mail
*Tim Berne's Snakeoil: Incidentals
*Anthony Braxton: Trillium J (disc 1)
*Paul Chambers: Go...
*Pete Christlieb/Warne Marsh Quintet: Apogee
*Barry Guy New Orchestra & Elliott Sharp: 2009-11-06 Berlin (CDR)
*Barry Guy New Orchestra: Amphi • Radio Rondo
*Noah Howard: The Black Ark
*Roscoe Mitchell: Bells for the South Side (disc 1)
*New Ting Ting Loft: 2017-10-23 "Value-Added Air" (wav)
*Tom Rainey Trio: 2017-09-09 Jazz Gallery, NYC (wav) (disc 1)
*Tyshawn Sorey: Verisimilitude
*James Blood Ulmer with The Thing: Baby Talk
*Nate Wooley: Battle Pieces 2
*Iannis Xenakis: Terretektorh/Nomos Gamma
*Amon Düül II: The UA Years 1969-1974
*Animal Collective: Painting With
*Becker and Fagen: Early Demos and More (1969-81)
*Big Walnuts Yonder: Big Walnuts Yonder
*Tommy Bolin & Friends: Live at Ebbets Field June 3 & 4, 1974
*Deerhoof: Mountain Moves
*Bob Dylan: The 1966 Live Recordings (disc 9)
*ESP Ohio: Starting Point Of The Royal Cyclopean