To all our friends the world over- We wish you and yours the best of
the Holidays and Good Tidings for the future to come.

- Bruce, Mike and Manny

THE PREMIERE of a DOCUMENTARY on JOHN ZORN TONITE!

Premiere of CLAUDIA HEUERMANN'S "BOOKSHELF ON TOP OF THE SKY: TWELVE
STORIES ABOUT JOHN ZORN" documentary at 8:30 at MOMA at the Gramercy
Theatre - 127 E. 23rd St. at Lexington - info: 212-708-9480; Many
years in the making & our good friend Bill Dubilier provided some of
live Naked City footage - Zorn fan-addicts, do not miss this one!!!!!
DMG will close early, so Manny & myself can get to this, see you
there!

A BUNCH OF ESP GEMS & SOME NEW ITEMS for DECEMBER 20th, 2002

AKIRA SAKATA - Kaigarabushi CDep (Dogtail; Japan) From one of the
monster albums of the year, Sakata's 'Fisherman's.com' with Bill
Laswell, Hamid Drake and PETE COSEY! (what? You don't own it
already?!!), comes a remix by none other than DJ crush of the 1st cut
on the CD. This disc is appx 28 minutes long and contains the
reworking followed by the original. (Our shipment of this should be
in Monday 12/23) The CD case comes wrapped in a "tenugui" which is a
traditional Japanese towel used by fishermen working outdoors. There
will also be a 12" vinyl with a slightly different mix released in
late January. We haven't heard it yet but can only imagine...!
Japanese CDep for $16

SHELLEY HIRSCH - The Far In, Far Out Worlds of Shelley Hirsch (Tzadik
7705/Oracle Series) This is a completely fascinating and utterly
charming collection of works from our favorite downtown chanteuse and
vocalist extraordinaire, Shelley Hirsch. Although some of this has
been released before, everything has been redone, focused and made
into one solid work which flows into a kaleidoscopic stream that only
Shelley's various characters and voices could provide. This long,
evolving collection is broken into six sections and each deals with a
different story or part of the Shelley puzzle/world. The "The Vidzer
Family" is the first part and it is a touching tale of a transplanted
Jewish family who moved into Shelley's neighborhood in Brooklyn. The
dialogue, sung vocals and samples create a world which captures
Jewish family life in the late 50's/early 60's and reminds me of my
own upbringing and family gatherings. The "States" section is next
and swirls with enchanting layers of vocals and samples. Shelley
often cracks me up as she moves between different and often hilarious
characters with different but familiar (Nu Yawk) accents. The "War
of Dreams" features a strange tale with words by Angela Carter and
some mysterious keyboard samples by David Weinstein. Many (all?) of
the samples seem to from Shelley's own bizarre vocal sounds, making
an alluring swarm of possessed voices. "For Jerry" is an homage to
late composer/shaman and friend/collaborator of Shelley's - Jerry
Hunt. Shelley utilizes Jerry's own electronic music here and
together they create an alien world of haunting voices and strange
sounds. "Sitting in a Room" closes our fabulous journey with a more
somber, hushed and gentle vibe as a typewriter and (sampled) birds
chirp in a soft haze around Shelley's soothing voice. A perfect way
to bring us back down to mother earth.
CD only release for $14.

WADADA LEO SMITH - Luminous Axis/The Caravan of Winter and Summer
(Tzadik 7083) This is Leo's sixth release for the Tzadik label and
third for (classical) Composer Series. Each of his Tzadik cds has
been quite different and this one features mostly Leo's wonderful
trumpet accompanied by various computer wizards from The Hub (bay
area electronic music collective), Ikue Mori and percussion hero,
William Winant. About of these pieces feature Leo with four members
associated with The Hub, three pieces with Leo and two computer
players, three duets with Ikue Mori and one duo with Leo and Winant
on acoustic percussion only. The Hub players include Chris Brown,
Tim Perkis, Mark Trayle and John Bischoff, and it sounds as if they
have been performing for quite a while, since they seem to select
their sounds with utmost discrimination. Leo's trumpet is also
processed with well-selected electronics and is often at the center
of everything that occurs here. The opening piece, "Garden of the
Heart", reminds me of Herbie Hancock's incredible 'Sextant' release,
one of best examples of modern jazz and electronic music coming
together as one strong force. On "Garden of the Soul" Leo's
flugelhorn and William's percussion are immensely well crafted and
seem to flow with eerie and organic suspense. The three trios with
Leo and two different Hub computer players are more subtle
explorations in which Leo's mysterious and occasional fragile trumpet
is bathed in some ultra-subtle electronic spice. The final third of
this release is three outstanding duets with Ikue Mori, own local
computer/sampler wiz. This is where it really comes together as a
highly focused duo of two giants on their respective instruments.
There is an amazing balance as both players weave their sonic
specialties into an engaging tapestry. There are moments here when
high selective kernels just buzz or drone, creating a subtle haunting
haze. Special thanks to Zorn and Tzadik for giving Wadada Leo Smith
the opportunity to explore new worlds once more.
CD only release for $14.

ROB BURGER - Lost Photograph (Tzadik 7170) Rob plays mainly accordion
in the ever-charming bay-area based Tin Hat Trio, while here on his
first solo effort, he also plays some dozen other odd keyboards. He
is joined by the other Masada rhythm team of Greg Cohen on bass and
Kenny Wollesen on drums, vibes and percussion. Like many of the
releases on Tzadik's Radical Jewish Culture series, this is just
another klez-based offering, but a diverse collection of quirky
themes, only some of which are obviously from klez-land. On
practically each of the fourteen tunes, Rob plays a different
keyboard or two, and comes up with comes up with consistently
infectious melodies throughout. It is nice to hear old fashioned
keyboards like pump organ, tack piano, clavinet, celeste, Hammond
organ and Chamberlin synth, that seem to rarely heard these days.
Although Rob wrote all but three of these songs, the covers include
two traditional Yiddish tunes and Kurt Weill's "Youkali", all of
these songs seem to have an old fashioned feel to them and are
completely charming throughout. As the holiday seasons are upon us,
this is another gem from the vast Tzadik catalogue that could easily
be shared with our parents, romantic partners or our other loved ones.
CD only release for $14.

PRAMROD SEXENA is JAMIE SAFT & MR. DORGON - Crackwells (Jumbo
Recordings) [2 CDR set] Jamie usually plays keyboards and does a good
deal of engineering for numerous Zorn projects. The ever mysterious
and elusive Mr. Dorgon is known for playing sax and clarinet, as well
as his sly/strange sense of humor and hilarious liner notes. This is
their second duo project, after that limited vinyl thing earlier this
year. On this twisted duo release, they seem to using a sampler,
records and electric keyboards. "Garmonbozia" opens CD#1 with some
warped, slowed down vocals/records and smoky, somber electric piano.
The title track, "Crackwells", which refers to something that clogs
one's pipe for smoking herb, is a swirling, dub piece with layers of
echoed vocals taken from different records, something that Jamie has
become an expert at. On "Try Again Later", a double reed instrument,
vocals at various speeds and other noises are mutated until it hard
to tell what's what. Bob Dylan's voice floats in and out of the
haze, as my brain starts to hurt. This odd duo do a fine job of
piling up strange layers samples and records that slowly buzz, hum,
erupt, twist, groove in short bits, swinging in one section and then
getting noisy and falling apart in the next. On the cover of this
DVD-like package is a picture of some high-end marijuana probably
taken from the centerfold in High Times, probably an indication of
the substance that one might need in both the making and listening of
this swell and at times disorienting soundscape musical weirdness.
This more than two hour experience has some of the sickest turntable
and sampler work I've heard in quite a while, nice work dudes!
This 2 CDR only release comes in a limited edition of only 50 copies for $20.

BURKHARD STANGL/DIEB 13 - eh (Erstwhile 025) Burkhard plays guitars
and electronic devices and you may recall him from his work with the
mostly Austrian electro-acoustic all-star ensemble Polwechsel, as
well as Efzeg and SSSD. Dieb 13 plays turntables and computer and
has worked with other likely suspects Martin Siewert, Günter Müller
and Werner Dafeldecker. The duo played at Tonic a few weeks back and
provided that highly charged, yet refined Erstwhile style sonic
manipulation that a handful of us serious listeners cherish. All ten
titles are four letter variations on the two letters of the cd's
title 'eh', like "eeeh" or "hehe". Starting with "eeeh", quietly
strummed and drifting acoustic guitar is spiced with small particle
fragments from samples or record static. Soon some more violent
electronic sounds erupt, as the guitar continues to play subdued,
folky, dream-like subtleties. A great deal of space is used,
floating sounds drift in and out of range, the rumbling of fragile
electric guitar-on-table tension glides over the near-silence. Like
John Cage's new way of listening philosophy points out, Erstwhile
recordings allow is to be patient and listen to ultra-subtle sounds
in a new way. Earlier today, while doing my laundry, I sat listening
to the washing machine and dryer do there spinning cycles and heard
patterns of music in their combined sounds. Sometimes Dieb 13
selects snippets of scratchy old records to balance the technology of
modern electronic sounds or samples. Everything here seems to move
at a slow pace so we can listen to each sound as it appears - an
occasional drone, hum, rubbed string, squeak, pluck, short
unidentified sample, growl, all blending together to create a
suspenseful sonic landscape. Nice to hear some acoustic sounds on an
Erstwhile release, besides Ami Yoshida's voice, which doesn't sound
that voice-like anyway. Your patience will be rewarded on this
hour-plus journey of often subtle sonic manipulation and seasoning.
The occasional explosion, like on "ehhh", are well placed as well.
CD only release for $13.

ANDREA NEUMANN/BURKHARD BEINS - Lidingö (Erstwhile 026) Ms. Neumann
plays a smaller version of an inside piano frame, which she
manipulates and adds electronics. She has collaborated with (other)
acoustic specialists - John Butcher and Axel Dorner, whom we caught
up in Victoriaville and was most impressed by. Burkhard plays
percussion and strings and has worked with AMM's Keith Rowe, as well
as with projects Perlonex and Activity Center. What makes this
different from other Erstwhile releases is that it is mostly
acoustic, although some of the sounds have been manipulated or
treated. Eerie, sonic fragments drift in space, scraping inside the
piano frame and bowed/rubbed cymbals drone or hum together.
Sometimes mesmerizing, occasionally scary and rather AMM-like at
times. Even without the sonic manipulation, we still find that
highly selective Erstwhile alien soundscape synthesis. Some of these
sounds are harsh and intense, but rarely last long before they evolve
to more subdued scrapings. The agitated percussion recalls Zev's
often extreme explorations and can be rather nerve-wracking at times.
Another strange sonic stew from the ever-demanding Erstwhile crew.
CD only release for $13.

BOB OSTERTAG - DJ of the Month (Seeland 526) Bob Ostertag's second
volume of solo electronic improvsation. As 'DJs' multiply like
bunnies in a field, Seeland invites you to check out the work of
someone who has been working at electronic music for more than five
minutes. A lifetime, in fact. A true master. Is he sampling?
Manipulating turntables? Playing a synthesizer? To tell the truth, we
don't really know, and neither will you. But he is playing it live,
and it sure sounds cool. Like music, as a matter of fact. By almost
any measure, Ostertag is an extreme radical. His strategies range
somewhere between those of John Cage, academic computer musicians,
brutally expressive free improvisers, and Che Guevara. With entrance
into Ostertag's world comes a severe attitude adjustment. You have to
curb your brain, dump your 'common sense' judgments, and peel away
the calluses that have built up over the vulnerable core of your
senses."
CD only release for $14.

WILL HOLSHOUSER TRIO + - Reed Song (clean feed 005) Will's fine trio
features himself on accordion, Ron Horton on trumpet, David Phillips
on double bass and Kevin Norton guests on drums on just two tracks.
The accordion has come a long way in the twenty years since Guy
Klucevsek has become an important part of the downtown scene. In the
past decade, a few other great accordionists have also added their
unique approach - Andrea Parkins and Ted Reichman and more recently
Rob Burger and Will Holshouser. What's interesting is how cultural
baggage is attached to the accordion - from polkas to Cajun to
eastern European wedding music, there is a never-ending association
of styles that encompass the accordion's history. Will has worked
with many of these styles, plays with Raymond Scott Orchrestrette and
with a few of downtown's further out players. Will wrote all the
pieces here and they do have a certain elegant, down-home charm.
While David's bass hold is down, Ron's trumpet plays many a quaint,
exquisite and impressive solo. Each piece seems to deal with a
different style or vibe, mixing jazz, folk and ethnic influences.
"Blue Light Special" has an infectious, jumpy groove and melody,
sort-of cajun rockabilly, but then it turns around into a slower
cinematic section. "Tang" is tango-like, but has a more fractured
structure, Astor Piazzolla meets Thelonius Monk maybe? Ron takes a
great, twisted solo here. The title track features the bassist
playing the main line and has a touching, melancholy melody, majestic
and sad. "Inside the Park" has two cool melodies that play against
each other with some sparkling trumpet and great percussive slapped
acoustic bass. This is a fine first effort, with some sunny and a
bit quirky memorable songs throughout.
CD only release for $14.

STEN SANDELL - Solid Musik (Nuscope 1013) Quite a few years back,
someone from the Scandinavian based Alice label, left a half dozen
cds here on consignment, the only musician whose name I recognized
was Marilyn Crispell in a trio with Anders Jormin and Raymond Strid.
Since then, we've become with more of these fine players thanks to
Ken Vandermark, Mats Gustafsson and the Nuscope label. Keyboard wiz
Sten Sandell had a couple of releases on Alice, two solo efforts on
LJ and a trio cd with Fred Longberg-Holm and Michael Zerang on
Nuscope from the last couple of years, which I reviewed and dug
immensely. This is Sten fourth solo recording, but his first on just
piano and it is just stunning. Sten has an exquisite touch, playing
muted and mysterious notes at the beginning, but the soon the real
adventure erupts as he reaches into the depths and uncovers dense
streams, twisted lines, fractured melodies, all balanced just right
with spacious sections as well. Sometimes Sten will mute the inside
of the piano as he plays through more restrained parts, but the more
angular and slightly bent lines are right around the corner. All the
titles here but one are called "not ____", as in "not liquid" or "not
fixed", telling what these pieces are not, so we must figure out what
they are, which are diverse in their different approaches or
dynamics. On "no frames", Sten starts with banging on the wood of
the piano and slowly adding suspense by playing a few muted notes at
a time, slowly increasing the tension as the fractured notes build in
density. The long piece finally lets up and becomes almost playful
as the darkness slowly submerges in a dream-like sequence. 'Solid
Musik' covers a wide range of textures, moods, densities and changes
in direction. It is a marvelous piano recital from an
under-recognized giant, who seems to slowly get his due.
CD only release with another of those superb Nuscope covers to ponder for $14.

SAKADA [MATTIN/ROSY PARLANE/EDDIE PREVOST] - Undistilled (Matchless
49) This is another immensely dark and engaging release from Eddie
Prevost (of AMM)'s label. Sakada features Rosy Parlane (from New
Zealand band Thela) on computer/radio, Eddie on percussion and
someone named Mattin on digital transfiguration. It was recorded
live at three gigs in London and Rotterdam in the first three months
of 2002. I played this in the store a few nights ago and a couple
who wandered in seemed to find this quite disturbing. Eddie's
selective, orchestral and occasionally eerie cymbal work floats
through as more dark, sonic eruptions counter-balance any more
positive vibes. It is often difficult to figure out what any
specific sound sources are, as dark and harsh electronic drones bathe
the proceedings in an unnerving haze. Most of the percussion is
surrounded by a shroud of echoes, which also add a sinister presence.
This overall effect is closer to industrial music, than anything I've
encountered in quite a while. The occasional violent eruptions are a
bit too much at times, yet the rare change in dynamics allow for a
few moments of reflection. Once again, the disturbing arsenal of
Zev-like metal percussion sounds make this rather nightmarish at
times. I keep thinking about wanting to get up and switch to some
more folky or somber world music (later on for that), but I must
persevere, thus is the lonely life of a music journalist. The cover
art is purposefully out-of-focus, but just may be the bloody claws of
some animal caught in a trap behind a barbed wire fence. This also
seems most appropriate. Your choice sonic abandon seems to be for
the brave mostly.
UK import CD only release for $16.

K-SPACE [TIM HODGKINSON/GENDOS CHAMZYRYN/KEN HYDER] - Bear Bones
(Slam 247) Tim plays lap steel, clarinet, alto sax and electronics
and used to perform with Henry Cow (the ultimate UK prog band) more
than two decades ago. Gendos is from Mongolia and plays amplified
doshpulur, percussion, piano and sings. Ken Hyder is another Brit
who plays (jazz) drums and electronics. For myself and a few of my
college buddies, Henry Cow were the best and further out of all
progressive bands (along with Soft Machine). Out of their ashes,
came Art Bears and New from Babel. Fred Frith moved to New York from
1980 through 1993 and we became friends, I had already corresponded
with Chris Cutler and Fred during the Henry Cow days. For many of
HC/Art Bears freaks, we have long held our prog(ressive) inspirations
up to high standards and are rarely disappointed, but still
occasionally surprised.

Tim Hodgkinson played alto sax, clarinet and keyboards in HC,
has much fewer releases than the ever-prolific Fred Frith or Chris
Cutler, but seems to be quite selective of any recording endeavor, so
each one is very different and all are successful in different ways.
Tim has done ahandful of electronic, modern classical and more
recently hardcore improv recordings over the past two decades. He is
currently in an amazing improv trio called Konk Pack with Thomas Lehn
and Roger Turner (two fine releases) and now has another improv trio
which is completely different. This is one strange combination of
Tuvan vocals, growling and throat singing, with bent clarinet musings
and at times goofy drumming. There is a certain playful charm to
this odd mix stripped down instrumentation and wacky vocals. I don't
know what a doshpulur is, but I would guess that it is a Tuvan
stringed instrument that has a banjo-like sound that I hear or
perhaps it is a double reed thing?!? This is not traditional world
music, by any means, but a strong collaboration between three fine
musicians who have found some magical and earthy common ground to
work with. Some of it is noisy and out there, while other parts are
quirky and funny in part. There seems to be a natural bond between
these three and a fun-filled spirit of adventure, that never goes too
far out. A pleasant change from Tim's more outside improvisations.
British import CD only release for $17.

DAVID LEE MYERS & THOMAS DIMUZIO - Uncertain Symmetry (Korm Plastics
3008) New York's David Lee Myers and San Francisco's Thomas Dimuzio
shared a stage at Tonic in New York City in March 2001. It was
Myers' first public performance in ten years, since he was known as
Arcane Device and invented a feedback machine. This collaboration
immediately sparked a year long regenerative process. The ensuing
year-long project actually picks up where a paused 1991 collaboration
for the Generations Unlimited label left off. Myers' first round of
source material represented a veritable sound library of feedback
tones, texture and contours for Dimuzio to compose from. The
structures Dimuzio created, along with several tracks of
feedback-induced source sound (recorded for their project ten years
prior) were sent back to Myers for additional manipulation and
arrangement; the result of this phase became the first section of
their new effort. A second stage involved Myers sending material
(from a rehearsal for an upcoming performance) to Dimuzio, who
sliced, diced and reworked the sounds into a series of in-depth sonic
beds, eventually returning the mixes, along with a new disc of
live-sampled feedback, to Myers who reworked and honed them into the
second half of the album. The product of these manipulations is
titled Uncertain Symmetry, the result of a bi-coastal ping-ponging
which is an even balance between the two artists--symmetrical-- but
which the specific contributions from each can no longer be
determined.
CD only release for $15.

RYOJI IKEDA - op. (Touch 60) A brilliant new Ikeda release, utilizing
string quartet sounds (mostly recorded in France at the Art Zoyd
studios), with no electronic sounds used. Some tracks include: "op. 1
[for 9 strings]", "op. 2 [for string quartet]", "op. 3 [for string
quartet]". "This is Ryoji Ikeda's sixth solo release and his fourth
for Touch, following the highly acclaimed '+/-' [1996], '0*C' [1998]
and 'matrix' [2001]. He previously released 1000 Fragments on his own
CCI recordings and 'Time and Space', a double 3 inch CD, for the
Staalplaat label. 'op.1' was originally commissioned by 'experience
de vol #3'. One notable aspect fans of his previous work will
highlight upon, is his declaration that "no electronic sounds have
been used on this recording?" This is not to say that Ikeda has in
any way renounced the world of electronic music that he has done so
much to shape over the past seven years. 'op. 1' is a brave and
deliberate step that also lends a new dimension to his previous
output, with the acoustic space created by his string arrangements
being subject to the same forensic attention to detail as before.
CD only release for $14.

ANGUS MACLISE - Astral Collapse (Quakebasket 016) Here we go. It has
finally arrived - the third volume of (Tim Barnes') Quakebasket Angus
MacLise series. At this point, you will probably sleep a little
better having been exposed to the obvert psychedelia and
commune-esque bump and grind of Angus' previous releases. Well, here
is an exploration into the genius of Angus MacLise that will throw
you back into that insomniatic haze you truly enjoy. There are no
large ensembles of New York's who's who here. Instead, the focus is
just on Angus and his compositions, some of which are the last things
he ever recorded. Even though there is a piece for hand drum and
prepared tape on this record, this is not an Angus drum record. In
the 70s, Angus's interest in tape music, noise, and the extreme
gradualisms of music had reached its apex, and these pieces were
born. Nowhere else will you hear Angus shredding apart the circuits
of an Arp synthesizer or the powerful undertow of his shimmering
organ waves. Angus, of course, worked with LaMonte Young and was the
first drummer for the Velvet Underground, as if you didn't know. The
CD version is forthcoming, but this...
Gatefold sleeve, high quality vinyl only release sells for $14.

ROBERT POSS - Crossing Casco Bay (Trace Elements 1022002) Crossing
Casco Bay is the companion CD to Distortion is Truth by ex-Band of
Susans guitarist Robert Poss. It starts of with some longer pieces:
Crossing Casco Bay is track of droning pulsating synthesizers
twitching away for a third of an hour. Equally lengthy is Drift was
recorded live at Experimental Intermedia, NYC. Poss (bowed electric
bass, oscillators) is joined by Kato Hideki (double bass) and Susan
Stenger (baritone guitar) for amazing drifting drones that pan around
the stereo spectrum. A short piece, Daybreak in Hanga Roa sounds like
a location recording - crickets or frogs, waterS.the chill zone, but
not for long. The wacky Theme for an Imaginary Car Commercial
twitches along with the theme on analog synths and a drum machine for
a few minutes. And lastly, Throne of Blood (Reprise) lays down a
groove with tabla and a sinister bass line that are foundation to
guitar and synth overdubs, a repeating melody that rotates off into
the sunset. The trip across Casco Bay has been very interesting. It's
good to hear what Robert Poss has been up to lately.
CD only release for $14.
(guest review by DMG webmaster and micro-tonal samurai David Beardsley)

AND NOW FOR THOSE FABULOUS REISSUES & RESTOCK GEMS to SAVOR, HERE THEY ARE:

MARION BROWN QUARTET - Marion Brown Quartet (ESP 1022/Abraxas CD/Get
Back LP) Alto sax hero Marion Brown was a key member of the
avant-garde jazz scene and first arrived in New York in 1965, where
he landed his first session playing on John Coltrane's historic
'Ascension' album. By the end of that same year, Brown had already
recorded this self-titled debut as front man on ESP-Disk, featuring
Alan Shorter on trumpet and Ronnie Boykins on bass.
Both CD and LP reissue versions are now available for $14.

SONNY SIMMONS - Music From The Spheres (ESP 1043/Abraxas CD/Get Back
LP) Young alto sax great Sonny Simmons was one of the most talented
(if unfortunately lesser known) free jazz musicians of the 1960s.
Born in Oakland, CA, Simmons began playing alto sax as a teenager in
the early '50s and spent his early years collaborating with Prince
Lasha and Charles Mingus. Except for a brief stint in New York in the
early '60s, where he recorded with Elvin Jones and Eric Dolphy,
Simmons spent most of his life in California where he met and married
trumpet player Barbara Donald (featured on this album). His 'Music
From the Spheres', recorded for ESP-Disk in 1966, with Michael Cohen
on piano, Juney Booth on bass and Jim Zitro on drums, represents one
of the highlights of his career. After almost completely disappearing
from the jazz scene for nearly 20 years, Simmons made an amazing
comeback in the early '90s with his brilliant 'Ancient Ritual', and
another half dozen great releases since.
Both CD and LP reissue versions are now available for $14.

BURTON GREENE QUARTET - Burton Greene Quartet (Get Back 1079 LP)
Although nearly 40 years have passed since the release of this album
for ESP-Disk in 1966, Chicago-born pianist and composer Burton Greene
still considers it to be one of his best recordings. All compositions
are written by Greene and feature Marion Brown on alto sax, Frank
Smith on tenor sax, Henry Grimes on bass, Dave Grant and Tom Price on
percussion. Greene made his way to New York City in 1962 just as the
free jazz movement was beginning to gain momentum. The following year
he and bassist Alan Silva formed the Free Form Improvisation
Ensemble, often considered the first spontaneous composition
(free-jazz) group. Greene has remained committed to music over the
past four decades, most recently exploring his Eastern European
Jewish roots with various klezmer-jazz projects. One of his klez
bands will be at the Knitting Factory next week.
Currently available on vinyl only, LP for $14.

RONNIE BOYKINS - The Will Come, Is Now (ESP 1084/Abraxas CD/Get Back
LP) Legendary avant-jazz bassist Ronnie Boykins is perhaps best known
for his work in Sun Ra's Arkestra, of which he was an intrinsic
member for nearly a decade. His inimitable bass style can be heard on
all of Ra's most significant recordings and Mr. Ra had a difficult
time finding someone to fill Boykins' shoes when he left the Arkestra
in 1966. His 1975 self-titled release, featuring all original
material, is from his post Sun Ra period and represents one of the
last great releases in the ESP-Disk catalogue. Featuring Joe Ferguson
on tenor sax and flute, Monty Waters and James Vass on alto and
soprano sax, Daoud Haroom on trombone, and Art Lewis and George
Avaloz on percussion. Also includes various bells and hand shaken
instruments played by all musicians. Truly cosmic music, from those
fine folks at ESP.
Both CD and LP reissue versions are now available for $14.

THE SEA ENSEMBLE - We Move Together (ESP 3018/Abraxas CD/Get Back LP)
The highly experimental free jazz duo, Sea Ensemble, was formed in
1971 by the husband and wife team of Donald Rafael Garrett and Zusaan
Kali Fasteau. Both multi-instrumentalists, Fasteau and Garrett played
a variety of Asian instruments (like the ney and the Japanese bamboo
flute) as well as more traditional jazz instruments, creating an
innovative world music-influenced sound that was unique to their
genre. Besides his work with the Sea Ensemble, Garrett is perhaps
best known for his bass playing on John Coltrane's most significant
albums ('Om', 'Kulu Se Mama', 'Selflessness' and 'Live in Seattle').
The Ensemble came to an end with Garrett's death in 1989, but the
ever-incredible Kali Fasteau continues to play, record and
consistenly blow minds.
Both CD and LP reissue versions are now available for $14.

CAN - Delay 1968 (Spoon/Mute 9062) Classic early recordings (think of
this as #0 in the series) with Malcolm Mooney on vocals, recorded in
Nörvenich, Germany in 1968-69, not released until 1981. A collection
of cuts featuring early vocalist Malcolm Mooney, these seven songs
are among the very first Can ever recorded; while nowhere near as
intricate or assured as the group's later work, the visceral energy
of tracks like the deranged "Uphill" and "Butterfly" is undeniable.
CD only release for $15.

CAN - Tago Mago (Spoon/Mute 9054) This was the group's third album
and it is certainly a sprawling masterpiece from 1971. Featuring the
vocal invention of Damo Suzuki. With the band in full artistic
flower and Suzuki's sometimes moody, sometimes frenetic
speak/sing/shrieking in full effect, Can released not merely one of
the best Krautrock albums of all time, but one of the best albums
ever, period. 'Tago Mago' is that rarity of the early '70s, a double
album without a wasted note, ranging from sweetly gentle float to
full-on monster grooves.
Now available as a double LP set for $20 and a single CD for $15.

CAN - Ege Bamyasi (Spoon/Mute 9056) This was the group's fourth album
from 1972, originally issued by United Artists. The follow-up to
'Tago Mago' is only lesser in terms of being shorter; otherwise the
Can collective delivers its expected musical recombination act with
the usual power and ability. Jaki Liebezeit, at once minimalist and
utterly funky, provides another base of key beat action for everyone
to go off/on from the buried, lengthy solos by Michael Karoli on
"Pinch" to the rhythm box/keyboard action on "Spoon". Liebezeit and
Holger Czukay's groove on "One More Night", calling to mind a
particularly cool nightclub at the end of the evening, shows that
Stereolab didn't just take the brain-melting crunch side of Can as
inspiration.
Now available as an LP set for $16 or a CD for $15.

CAN - Future Days (Spoon/Mute 9055) The fifth Can album was
originally issued in 1973. Damo Suzuki's final effort is Can's most
atmospheric and beautiful record, a spartan collection of lengthy,
jazz-like compositions recorded with minimal vocal contributions.
Employing keyboard washes to create a breezy, almost oceanic feel,
the mix buries Suzuki's voice to elevate drummer Jaki Liebezeit's
complex rhythms to the foreground; despite the deceptive tranquility
of its surface, 'Future Days' is an intense work, bubbling with
radical ideas and concepts.
CD only reissue for $15.

CAN - Monster Movies (Spoon/Mute) The classic 1st album (remember the
one with the Fantastic Four character Galactus on the cover and no
titles?) is now available on vinyl once again.
LP for $16

CAN - Cannibalism (Spoon/Mute) Great double album compilation from
the great early period - late '60 to mid '70s - is now available on
vinyl once again.
2LP set for $20

FUNKADELIC - Hardcore Jollies (Get Back 80210) Dedicated to 'the
guitar players of the world', and originally released in 1976, this
was Funkadelic's major label debut on Warner Brothers. The eight
tracks here include: "Comin' Round the Mountain", "Smokey", and "You
Scared the Lovin' Outta Me" plus liner notes including the short
story of 'The Titillating Tale of Tillard Tat' starring Queen
Freekalene of Funkadelia and the US Funk Mob ('the supreme and
singular distinction of the highest musical life form on Earth').
This LP only reissue sells for $14.

DOWNTOWN MUSIC GALLERY RECOMMENDED GIGS FOR THE REST OF DECEMBER, 2002:

Friday December 20th-
***Premiere of CLAUDIA HEUERMANN'S "BOOKSHELF ON TOP OF THE SKY:
TWELVE STORIES ABOUT JOHN ZORN" documentary at 8:30 at MOMA at the
Gramercy Theatre - 127 E. 23rd St. at Lexington - info: 212-708-9480;
Many years in the making & our good friend Bill Dubilier provided
some of live Naked City footage - Zorn fan-addicts, do not miss this
one!!!!! DMG will close early so Manny & me can get to this on time!

DJ LOGIC SOLO at 8pm & DJ LOGIC DUOS w/ JANE SCARPANTONI, LAURA
CROMWELL & PAMELIA KURSTON- 10pm at Tonic - looks interesting!
ARTHUR LEE & LOVE at Warsaw in Brooklyn - they were amazing a few months back!!

Saturday December 21st-
JANE IRA BLOOM/MARK DRESSER/BOBBY PREVITE at Tonic at 8pm!
ANDY STATMAN at Tonic at 10pm - Andy is a legendary klez/bluegrass
clarinet & mandolin hero!!

Sunday December 22nd-
JONATHAN LaMASTER SOLO VIOLIN here at DMG at 7pm for FREE - great
string improviser, Peter Kowald collaborator & leader of Boston's
Saturnalia String Trio pays us a rare visit!!
DAVE SEWELSON solo, TEST, RODNEY GREEN/GREG OSBY quartet & TWO BASS
BAND at CB's Lounge - should be a great bill!!

Friday December 27th & Saturday December 28th-
HENRY THREADGILL'S ZOO-ID at Tonic at 8 & 10pm - a marvelous
world-music, avant-jazz experience!!

Friday December 27th -
JIM CARROLL & MARC RIBOT at the Bottom Line!?!
ERIC MINGUS/ELLIOTT SHARP QT. at Tonic at midnite - Eric is a
powerful singer & great bassist!

Saturday December 28th-
ASSIF TSAHAR/MAT MANERI/JIM BLACK at Tonic at midnite!

Tuesday December 31st/New Year's Eve-
JOHN ZORN'S NEW ELECTRIC MASADA & MARC RIBOT'S MYSTERY TRIO at Tonic
at 7:30 & 11pm - an incredible double bill!! Be There Or Be
Trapezoidal!?!

--
____________________________________________________________
To order your chosen items, please send all of the following
information (both (A) & (B)) via email or fax:

(A) All 3 items of your pay info**:

(1) CC# (2) exp date (3) verification #

(MC and VISA: The verification # is the last 3 digits to the right on
the back of the card where you sign your name;
AMEX: it is the 4 digits printed above the CC # on the front;
we cannot accept your order without this information)

[** You may cut up your CC# into two emails if you feel unsafe
sending it in one email].

(B) ...And complete billing/shipping address:

First Time Customers: For security reasons we can ONLY ship to your
billing address - that is the address that your credit card company
sends your bill to.

Repeat customers: (...of longer than 3 months duration AND 2
sucessful transactions)
may have the option of specifying an alternate shipping address for
their convenience (as long as we continue to have the correct billing
address on file).

You may also call during store hours using our 800 # below if you're
in the US outside of NYC. You must still be able to provide all the
info asked for above.

PLEASE NOTE: There no longer is a voice mail box on our phone. Orders
will only be accepted by phone during business hours AND not after
6PM on Sundays.

SHIPPING CHARGES:

Shipping charges (in the US) for CDs only, are $3.00 for the first
disc, $1.00 ea. addl. disc
(that's per disc - a 2CD set counts as 2 discs, etc.) Rates diminish
for large packages.

Shipping (in the US) for any package that includes an LP or Book or
oversized item, are $5.00 for the first disc/item, $1.00 ea. addl.
disc Rates diminish for large packages.

CANADIAN & MEXICAN : $4.00 for the 1st CD, $1 each additional. LPs
and books are at a proportionately higher rate.

REST OF THE WORLD: Foreign rates for shipping are higher, naturally
(begins at an average of $6 for the 1st CD, and $3 each additional,
of course diminishing somewhat for larger packages), but are charged
within $1 - $4 of actual cost, depending on size of order and
packaging material.

We reserve the right to insure large packages (generally about
$100.00 and over) at your expense to whichever countries such service
is available, unless particularly instructed not to at time of the
order, in which case we cannot be held responsible for loss or damage
to package while in transit.

____________________________________________________________

Downtown Music Gallery
342 Bowery
New York, NY 10012-2408
USA

Tel: 212 473-0043 / 800 622-1387
Fax: 212-533-5059

DownTownMusicGallery.com

dmg@downtownmusicgallery.com

Hours: Sun-Thurs noon `till 9pm, Fri. & Sat. noon to 10pm.

Closed Independence Day (7/4), Thanksgiving, Christmas (12/25), New Years Day

Sundays we have in-store concerts from 7 to 8:30, please don't call
then. We're between Cooper Square, (aka 3rd Avenue), and 2nd Avenue.

____________________________________________________________

OUR WEBSITE (DTMGallery.com) NOW HAS A SEARCH ENGINE!
Since Oct 26th '02 you are now able to search for items by
Artist Name, or Title, or Keyword In Description text (or
an"Everything Search" which encompasses these first three searches),
and/or Label, as well as othersub-search features like which items
are LP/Vinyl, or only items included in the "Buy 6, get 7th CD Free"
Sale, etc, etc, Or ANY COMBINATION OF THESE SEARCHES!
We've only loaded a small portion of the cornucopia to be found when
one visits the store - most of the recent 25 newsletters and the
complete catalogs of many of the main labels which we specialize in
and/or represent. We hope to add at least 200 items from our current
stock each week (including the contents of each latest newsletter)
until we catch up with our basic available stock somewhere in the
next few months.

You may begin using this immediately to search for stuff you remember
reading about in our newsletters (the information/compiled
newsletters at the site have never been in a [re]searchable order)
and we welcome your comments and criticisms as to how helpful you
find it.

The search page is found at
http://DownTownMusicGallery.com/WWW_DMG_Search.cgi

____________________________________________________________

Ask to be put on our eMail Newsletter list**. We think you won't want
to miss out knowing about the unusual and hard to get Avant / Jazz /
Out / contemporary classical / and Ultra Off-beat CD and LPs we get
from the world over and report on each week.

Visit our website to see what we our collected offerings are:

http://DownTownMusicGallery.com/

Regards,

--DMG.

** you may unsubscribe at any time by emailing us with "unsubscribe"
in the subject.

Check out our rare vinyl auctions on eBay; go to:

http://DownTownMusicGallery.com/Main/ebay.htm

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