I don't know what they mean when they say 'swing hard' anyway. Rolling Jazz Dflat 2014 Thread

Guess there are some other stories as well.

Went to the Jazz Gallery last night to see Jerome Sabbagh's quartet—Ben Monder on guitar, Joe Martin on bass, Jochen Rueckert on drums. I filmed the first piece, will post it on Burning Ambulance this week. They've got a new CD coming out on Sunnyside in September.

Cool. Looking forward to seeing that. Did you talk to them at all? Ben is a pretty interesting guy.

I talked to Jerome for a few minutes before the set. Nice guy. Looking forward to hearing the new album—the song I recorded is the title track, apparently.

Reviewed two new octet albums today on Burning Ambulance - the new Steve Lehman, and one by Chicago bassist Jason Roebke. I like the Roebke better. [link]

4th of July, so I thought of checking me out some Barbecue Dog, for the first time in ages: some bits (guitar synth, Massey's overdubbed saxes)* seemed a bit fusion-y cliche even in '83, but still a lot of wit and vitality bursting through the filigree, often enough. Except on "Mystery at Dawn, " where Reid's nice banjo conundrum is pretty much left alone with the damn saxes, but then, "Gossip," "When Cherry Trees..." and most of "Harlem Opera" (especially the end) mor than save the second half. This and Mandance were recently reissued as downloads, and I suppose remastering might help---anyway, Spotify's got several live albums I haven't heard yet, some with a later line-up; anybody know those?
*(Massey's okay solo; wish the trumpet got to solo more)

Of the ones available on Spotify, Earned Dreams and Montreux Jazz Festival feature that Vernon Reid/Melvin Gibbs iteration of the band, and both are great; I particularly love Montreux. Not sure about the others. I remember hearing some of the others, but I'm not 100% sure which ones, and I don't think they were as ferocious as the Reid/Gibbs material.

Thanks, I'll check those out. Also unearthed my ancient copy of Mandance, which I seem to recall preferring to Barbecue Dog(Justified? We'll see.)

Really been getting into this Argentinian composer/bandoneon player called Dino Saluzzi, his latest offering El Valle de la Infancia is the first I have heard of him and couldn't find any thread love on here. Nueva cancion jazz/improv/Argentinian folk/exquisite storytelling type music. It treads a fine line between too damn pretty and very nice at times but is worth checking out.

I heard a record of his on ECM from a few years ago that was really nice—Ojos Negros, a series of duets with cellist Anja Lechner.

Thanks I will check that one out.

I reviewed the new album by saxophonist Eric Wyatt (he's Sonny Rollins' godson, which makes picking up the saxophone a pretty ballsy move, if you ask me).

The New Yorker posted a satirical "interview" with Sonny Rollins. Jazz critics lost their shit on Twitter and Facebook. I had a few thoughts.

The jazz musicians I know have mostly remained silent. (A notable exception would be Nick Hempton, who tweeted, "I'M SO OUTRAGED AT SOMETHING I READ ON THE INTERNET, I'M THROWING MY COMPUTER OUT THE WINDOW!"

I did miss that - none of the musicians I'm friends with on FB posted anything.

Phil, do you subscribe to the Smalls newsletter?

long passages of squawking, clattering and clanging

Based on my reading of your blog and you on here, I thought you like this type of sound?

I do!

And no, I don't subscribe to the Smalls newsletter.

BTW, Nicholas Payton has now weighed in on the Rollins "controversy." TL;DR: He's as big an ignorant, gaping asshole as ever.

http://www.jazzwax.com/2014/08/sonny-rollins-and-the-new-yorker.html

He's as big an ignorant, gaping asshole as ever.

nah.

he's right a whole lot of the time.

can't hate on anyone who drops this kind of youtube post:
http://nicholaspayton.wordpress.com/2014/07/08/masters-of-funky-new-orleans-drumming-vol-1/

Been wracking my brain trying to think under what circumstances I might find that sort of thing funny. Came up with
1) It was delivered by an insider, perhaps playing the dozens, another cat who had paid his dues and knew where it was at, of similar stature or at least within striking distance of Sonny.

And
2) It was actually funny.

In more positive jazz news, I got the newish (it came out in May) Jemeel Moondoc album, The Zookeeper's House. He plays alto sax, obviously; Matt Shipp is on piano on two tracks; Roy Campbell on trumpet (I think this might have been his last ever session) and Steve Swell on trombone on two other tracks; Hilliard Greene on bass; Newman Taylor Baker on drums. Four originals and a version of Alice Coltrane's "Ptah, the El Daoud." It's on Relative Pitch and it's really fucking good; I'm in the process of trying to set up an interview with Moondoc for Burning Ambulance.

Miles at the Fillmore - Miles Davis 1970: The Bootleg Series Vol. 3
Yesterday I listened to the first disc (of five)

http://www.jazzmessengers.com/images/BigProductsImages/141490_1.jpg

The 2-LP Teo edit was the first jazz album I heard, and the best bits of that jump out of (my) ancient murk. Still an impression of a missing center, but man what a periphery. Great to hear the tracks added from April 11, but I do wonder if five versions of, say, "Directions," aren't going to seem redundant. Very vivid sound, up close, but with added perspective (the LPs were a bit thin, although that added to thee tendrils of smoke etc). Amazing finally to *hear*, not just sense Holland on electric bass; Miles is just suddenly there at the right moments (moments are the thing here, not sustained build); Grossman is the cogent journeyman, Corea and Jarrett slip and fling bits of texture, Dejohnette!!! I dreamed I was at a session of his last night, then woke up early and high.
Don't suppose that somewhere there might be a trio of Miles, Holland and DeJ--?

What other recent releases should I check out if I really like Landmarks?

Shorter's Without a Net from last year has really grown on me!

can't hate on anyone who drops this kind of youtube post:
http://nicholaspayton.wordpress.com/2014/07/08/masters-of-funky-new-orleans-drumming-vol-1/

― festival culture (Jordan), Monday, August 4, 2014 6:54 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I hadn't thought about the Hook and Sling in a while, one of my favorite all-time beats.

the real find for me out of those is Smokey Johnson's 'I Can't Help It', that beat is so New Orleans. very similar to 'Ain't My Fault', which i feel like every New Orleans drummer references (i got it from Shannon Powell and Herlin Riley years before hearing the original record).

This guy loves, loves, loves that Smokey Johnson record.

I wonder if Hurting knows him. I've met him many times, plays with various people I know. He is very intense but he loves all kinds of R&B drummers. Other one he likes as much Smokey Johnson is James Gadson.

Just received another Smalls broadside from Spike about the WP article about teh jazz.

Stan Getz, Focus, with Eddie Sauter's modernistic yet hep to the mainstream strings. Always heard good things about it, finally listening, and the first track, "I'm Late, I'm Late", jumps right out and runs around (Getz uptempo for 8 minutes and change! No prob), demanding that I make it my fave. It is, in part me because we also get Getz trading solos with Roy Haynes on this track (only), plus bass agility from John Neves, and only a small gaggle of strings--elsewhere, they can be a little too much with us. But Sauter, student of Bartok, can turn a phrase, though I keep wondering how it might be to hear SG's always articulate responses, without always having to hear what he's responding to (strings). But the whole thing may grow on me (Radio edit of "I'm Late, I'm Late" is one of the bonus tracks, and sure does get the gist of the original---maybe I'll call in a request to Bob Parlocha, since he's Mr. Mainstream Jazz 'n' shit).

Jazz pianist Cecil Taylor conned out of $500,000 prize

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/12/us-usa-crime-taylor-idUSKBN0GC1GA20140812

That is fucking enraging. Can't think of anyone more deserving of that prize, and less deserving to have it stolen from him.

Ugh.

:( What a dispiriting story, I genuinely hope that con-man gets his comeuppance.

Jemeel Moondoc has a great new album out. I interviewed him.

hmm this is not very 2014 but was looking for a jazz box set and this seems like it's great value http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Ultimate-Jazz-Archive-Lunch/dp/B005BV5E0O tempted, but then again I'm not sure, maybe I'd be better off buying one really good lp?

to add a bit to thread, the new Stefano Bollani record sounds pretty great
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNryYt-e0fU

http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-gerald-wilson-20140909-story.html#page=1

a bandleader, trumpeter, composer, arranger and educator whose multifaceted career reached from the swing era of the 1930s to the diverse jazz sounds of the 21st century, has died. He was 96.

Arranged for Ella, Ray Charles and many others in addition to playing, and more.

http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/jazz-needs-a-better-sense-of-humor-1632954724

the pharoah sanders/rob mazurek album mentioned in there sounds interesting, i'm currently enjoying this live video (free playing against a rhythmic vamp >>>):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bowL0boJE_w

Steve Coleman got a Macarthur Genius award grant

yep

http://www.macfound.org/fellows/911/

And at the Stone in NY for 2 weeks of gigs

Most of what I hate in modern jazz (long, winding, impact-free melody lines that never resolve in any satisfactory manner; non-swinging rhythms; hyper-complex compositions) comes directly from Coleman. So, um, hooray?

Coleman used to (maybe still?) draw from funk, but you don't think that swung?

from MVD Entertainment Group:

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Y_ltWSMhyfMs25j9gcwSlnjujwc9YGKc7k8owQ8XxWh_ZWYT4RTC6X9xtDcOXg4wPO0U40WfcWzDuqcRwZsaviTDK8kAGcWCaLgK0Rdz1_vvUwYASuacA2k_lPQ9G81rnRThcZAIHNvZL_W7P5ljzwN-OF_ZNQzdGHU-WDV2OIKEkxcI6IDv5VzkN5F9u-4WzrFpGabz4X46XM-Wam4j60Cnm1EqxqHC-Cyijz0wvoH8Nqc_jjek2Cwb0OJATard4FQYPK0aHYworOwYcAmneTJ0jcTMfU5KMU5ecNUupT5fFWqsltN64Ob4lGPY4BiNrizqi_-gfyG8yfocU-xo22iV8eo3wkUYNjJ2_vK_7KOqrTYBOuPjCDjcz-egvG4CRyGKt-CQDMJEKZaUvA3v9nAVn8VUoMmuNbmVB83RLuc=&c=is-H9NzMTqI_LxeyiqhdRk1_9Oq0m7Zs1yiusRnfrm79KzadDlBDog==&ch=S1HlKYonRMhXEPhZHL4NVPDacD2FP5F6dt-SyUdZpJ98B5oDDdqvWg==

Miles Davis' tour of Europe during the spring of 1960 marked the close of his five year association with John Coltrane.
Miles Davis & John Coltrane - All Of You: The Last Tour

List Price: $24.99
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Miles Davis' tour of continental Europe during the spring of 1960 marked the close of his five year association with John Coltrane. Although the controversial saxophonist had already embarked on his own bandleading career and had been lured back to Davis' group only reluctantly, creative sparks flew the instant the band took to the stage. Night after night stunned audiences witnessed the trumpeter and his star sidemen reinventing their regular repertoire like never before. As the tour progressed through Sweden, Germany, Switzerland and Holland, several of the bands appearances were broadcast or privately recorded, with the resulting tapes soon becoming sought after collector's items. This new Acrobat release compiles various recordings made during the trip, documenting the extraordinary creative alchemy of a legendary partnership about to disintegrate. In addition, the collection features a revealing backstage interview with John Coltrane, recorded in Sweden. The release also includes an in-depth essay by saxophonist and writer Simon Spillett.
Track Listing
Disc 1:

So What (March 21st 1960 First house)
Fran Dance (March 21st 1960 First house)
Medley: All Blues/The Theme (March 21st 1960 First house)
Interview with John Coltrane by Carl-Eric Lindgren
So What (March 21st 1960 Second house)
On Green Dolphin Street (March 21st 1960 Second house)
Disc 2:
Medley: Walkin' (March 21st 1960 Second house)
So What (March 24th 1960)
On Green Dolphin Street (March 24th 1960)
Medley: All Blues/The Theme (March 24th 1960)
So What (March 30th 1960)
Disc 3:
All of You (March 30th 1960)
So What (April 3rd 1960 First house)
'Round Midnight (April 3rd 1960 First house)
Walkin' (April 3rd 1960 First house)
So What (April 3rd 1960 Second house)
If I Were A Bell (April 8th 1960)
Fran Dance (April 8th 1960)
Disc 4:
So What (April 8th 1960)
All Blues (April 8th 1960)
The Theme (April 8th 1960)
On Green Dolphin Street (April 9th 1960)
So What (April 89h 1960)
'Round Midnight (April 9th 1960)
Walkin' (April 9th 1960)
The Theme (April 9th 1960)

Interesting that it doesn't have the famous Paris show -- maybe there's more being saved for a Sony/CBS Bootleg Series set? -- but still, should be great.

huh, she just keeps making records

http://www.freejazzblog.org/2014/10/mary-halvorson-reverse-blue-relative.html

O god that People album is like a Portlandia take on nerd jazz. Yes, they can sing anything they can write, educated chords, keys & all, but barely, and "Theese are the words/To this song," ha-hut you guise are kray-zee. A few good bits, briefly, and MH provids strong accompaniment, but to what end.jeeez

really enjoying matthew haslsall and the gondwana orchestra album "when the world was one"

great stuff in a spiritual jazz vein (very alice coltrane)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU9WphA_YpM