13 Monroe St., New York, NY 10002-7351
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Email: dmg@downtownmusicgallery.com
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DOWNTOWN MUSIC GALLERY PRESENTS:
PAUL ROGERS SOLOS 6 STRING BASS & TRIO w/ NICK DIDKOVSKY & KEVIN NORTON at 7pm at Bowery Poetry Club for one set only! Paul is a phenomenal bassist who rarely comes to town & this is his solo debut here! The second half with a trio of Nick Didkovsky [Dr. Nerve guitar hero/composer] and Kevin Norton [jazz skins supremo) should also be amazing!!!
SNOW STORM TREATS from DAVE DOUGLAS, BJORKENHEIM-LIGETI, FUJII/YOSHIDA QT, NEW VICTO RELEASES, HACO/THAEMLITZ, AMT, BASIL KIRCHIN, ARTHUR RUSSELL, PHILIP GAYLE & more from TUM!
PLEASE NOTE: On our HAT sale list last week, we listed the
FRANZ KOGLMANN With RAN BLAKE et al - Orte Der Geometrie (hat hatArt 6018; Switzerland) CD $12.00
as a Fritz Hauser album! OOOPS!
DAVE DOUGLAS - Strange Liberation (RCA/Bluebird 82876) Featuring Bill Frisell on guitar, Chris Potter on tenor sax & bass clarinet, Dave Douglas on trumpet & compositions, Uri Caine on Fender Rhodes electric piano, James Genus on basses and Clarence Penn on drums. Recorded exactly one year ago, this is local trumpet hero, multi-bandleader and master composer Dave Douglas' longtime dream of working with and writing for the wonderful Bill Frisell. On the opener, "A Single Sky", the frontline of trumpet, guitar and electric piano floats lusciously in the clouds in a simmering dream-world. The title track is superb and sounds like Miles' amazing electric quintet from the late sixites with Frisell adding his sly, slinky touch to the quintet's subtle, funky groove. Uri also plays a righteously sly solo that blends perfectly with the haunting harmonies that Dave has written for the horns and guitar. Chris Potter's fine bass clarinet and Bill's unique country/jazz touch are featured nicely on "Skeeter-Ism", but it both Uri and Dave that take tasty laid back solos. Dave's haunting muted trumpet and Bill's exquisite guitar blend beautifully on "Just Say This", another dream delight. "Seventeen" swings furiously with some intricate writing that pushes the group through some amazing stop and start changes and strong solos from the tenor, el. piano and trumpet (go Dave!). Frisell's fragile, eerie treated guitar opens "Mountains from the Train", which has a mysterious drifting quality. "Rock of Billy" features Frisell rocking out a bit and has an infectious, fun-filled vibe that will keep your dogs' tail waggin'. "The Frisell Dream" has more rich and sumptuous harmonies and thoughtful writing and playing from all. The first release from this quintet included three pop covers which was a good way to lure in those younger (soon-to-be hopefully) jazz fans, while 'Strange Liberation' just features Dave's maturing and consistently intriguing writing, as well as strong playing from his outstanding all-star quintet/sextet. Excellent throughout and certain to rank amongst this year's best discs! This marvelous quintet will be at the Village Vanguard from February 3rd - the 8th - get on down!
CD release for $17
SATOKO FUJII QUARTET - Zephyros (Natsat 3011) Featuring Natsuki Tamura on trumpet, Satoko Fujii on piano & compositions, Takeharu Hayakawa on electric bass and Tatsuya Yoshida (from RUINS!) on drums & voice. This the third amazing release from the ever incredible pianist, composer and multi-bandleader Satoko Fujii with her husband and ace trumpeter Natsuki Tamura plus former Ruins bass great Takeharu Hayakawa and that ubiquitous monster drummer & Ruins founder Tatsuya Yoshida. Satoko and Tatsuya also have two superb duo discs out as well, a live from Victo from last year and a new studio one on Tzadik from earlier this month. What I find most fascinating about this quartet is that although Satoko & Natsuki come from a mostly diverse jazz background, those crazed Ruins dudes have created their own progressive/punk world. Quite an odd combination of extremes which grows stronger with each disc by challenging each member and the audience as well. All, but the long opening piece, are new ones written by Satoko and that first piece, "The Future of the Past", was done earlier by one of Satoko's big bands. This piece is an intense and explosive work with powerful drums and piano shaking the foundations over the equally impressive el. bass which balances underneath with great skill, occasionally playing some fine solo spots that are stark and pensive and often leading the way by navigating the currents masterfully. Naksuki plays a long and exciting trumpet solo that just keeps going as the rest of the quartet push higher and higher. An incredible epic! "As Usual" starts quietly, but soon bursts into some Ruins-like complex explosiveness, including an impressive electric bass solo. "Flying to the South" features a fabulous, majestic solo piano intro which soon works its way through more great intricate quartet intensity/insanity, strong writing which seems to come from a progressive meets jazz hybrid. "First Tango" features a solo of Tatsuya's drums being played through a flanging device, something we rarely here nowadays, the piece itself has an almost tango-like groove and another fine piano solo from Ms. Fujii. Satoko appears to have worked long and hard on the material here, as each piece features layers on complex arrangements, as well as tight ensemble playing. "One Summer Day" shows a more restrained side with some delicate playing from the trumpet and piano, while "Clear Sky" brings back another sort of odd Latiny riff with a playful theme. "15 Minutes to Get to the Station" features some that wacky Magma-like vocal weirdness that Tatsuya loves to do with some hypnotic freer playing floating around, but breaking into a more intense, progressive, rocking thing, which moves through complex sections while Naksuki plays a difficult hair-pin turn solo, winding down to more somber conclusion. Once more Satoko Fujii's outstanding quartet delivers!
Japanese CD for $18
RAOUL BJORKENHEIM & LUKAS LIGETI - Shadowglow (TUM 006) Featuring (our good pal Raoul, Finnish guitar god and leader of the incredible Scorch Trio, with Austrian master drummer/composer Lukas Ligeti, both of whom are currently living here. Just last Saturday (1/24/04), Raoul and Lukas were a part of Henry Kaiser's amazing quartet with Jim O'Rourke on bass at Tonic for a devastating rock/prog/improv set! Raoul pulled off of the hottest wah-wah/fuzz solos I've heard in quite a while during that set. This wonderful duo have been together for almost two years and have played here at DMG, as well as at our benefit at Tonic just a year ago with E. Sharp on bass & sax. This is their first duo release on the great new TUM label that is based in Finland and has a small yet impressive catalogue of treasures which are reviewed below. What is so great about this duo is how diverse they are, both men have extensive backgrounds in quite a variety of genres and styles, from jazz, rock, world, noise, etc. Commencing with "Into Fall" which features mesmerizing slide guitar, odd picking techniques and spacey percussion. Laswell collaborator/engineer Bob Musso has recorded this duo with extreme care and attention to detail. Even at its most free, there is a constant music connection/thread that runs through everything. Raoul works hard at coaxing sounds out of his guitars that are always fascinating, yet difficult to figure out without actually seeing what he is doing. Lukas is the perfect partner as he also approaches his drums with a more musical sense, with rhythm only one aspect of what he excels at. Sometimes Lukas will set up an engaging groove while Raoul rides the pulse, often soloing on top. Raoul has a handful of guitars and numerous devices as well, so that his sound is changing throughout. Sometimes he will put a wire through the strings, place the guitar on a table or in his lap and play percussively, but both musicians remain consistently creative throughout. From the noisy to the sublime and everything wonderful in between. "Four Thumbs Up!" - Mannylunch
Finnish CD for $16
JUST IN FROM THE VICTO LABEL!:
BARRE PHILLIPS/JOELLE LEANDRE/WILLIAM PARKER/TETSU SAITOH - After You Gone: In memory of Peter Kowald (Victo 91: Canada) These four double-bassists came together in quartet performance at last year's Victoriaville Festival [5/23/03] to make this moving musical statement to the memory of one of the greatest of avant/free bassists. "If you think about where the players of this quartet paying tribute to Kowald are coming from, you 'll get a glimpse of the network he helped to establish and was involved with: William Parker from Afro-American Free Jazz, Jolle Landre from European Classical and New Music, Barre Phillips an American in Europe, experienced in the aesthetics of both these worlds, Tetsu Saitoh from Japanese Traditional Music,tango ensembles and, most importantly,Free Improvisation. It was Peter 's belief already in the late seventies,when he started the trio with Leo Smith and Gnter Sommer, that musicians coming from different cultural traditions could find a common base of communication via the language of free improvisation. His concept of a Global Village,which differs fundamentally from any kind of world music, was developed from this belief. Peter refused to play from the smallest common denominator; he forced exchange and sometimes even incited contradictions. When he spoke about respect for the unknown and the process of coming to know it, he mentioned that it would be wise to play with the experiences of others as well as with ones own experiences" Bert Noglik, November 2003 Already in stock - Bruce will review both this disc and his memory of the actual performance next week.
CD for $15
XAVIER CHARLES/DIANE LABROSSE/KRISTOF K ROLL/MARTIN TRETAULT - Tout Le Monde En Place Pour Un Set Americain (Victo 90; Canada) Recorded Live at the Victoriaville Fest in 2003. "The most successful was the Saturday afternoon concert by Diane Labrosse (electronics), Martin Ttreault (turntables etc),Xavier Charles (clarinet and electronics) and French duo Kristoff K.Roll (household objects). The five were place on a platform in the middle of the Colise, and the audience was free to walk around and observe the musicians at close range, which de-mystified the process. The improvisation was powerful and atmospheric, dominated by Labrosse's inventive use of samples taken from around her house. Ttreault was drolly inventive, while Charles and K.K.Roll added splashes of colors" Michael Chamberlain, Signal To Noise Already in stock - Bruce will review both this disc and his memory of the actual performance next week.
CD for $15
ALSO JUST IN [NO TIME FOR REVIEWS] ON THE 482 LABEL:
JOELLE LEANDRE & MARK NAUSEEF - Evident (482 Music 1024) The first-ever collaboration between these two worldly and multi-faceted musicians, Joelle Leandre (contrabass, voice) and Mark Nauseef (percussion) at a WDR-sponsored concert on May 14th, 2002 in Eupen, Belgium. The music was created without previous discussion through listening and spontaneous interplay.
CD for $14
CONFERENCE CALL (GEBHARD ULLMAN/MICHEAL JEFRY STEVENS/JOE FONDA/ GEORGE SCHULLER] - Spirals: The Berlin Concert (482 Music 1028) Conference Call's Gebhard Ullmann (bassclarinet, tenor and soprano saxophone), Michael Jefry Stevens (piano), Joe Fonda (bass), George Schuller (drums, cymbals, bells) third release catches them live at B-Flat in Berlin, Germany on March 11th, 2003. The material features compositions from each musician in this all-star group's line-up, including the versatile Schuller who replaces Matt Wilson and Han Bennink respectively from the band's first two recordings.
CD for $14
URI CAINE/GUSTAV MAHLER - Dark Flame (Winter & Winter 095) This is local piano hero Uri Caine's 12th treasure for the W&W label and it features a stellar cast with Mark Feldman on violin, Don Byron on clarinet, David Gilmore on guitar, Ralph Alessi on trumpet, DJ Olive on turntables, Uri on piano, Michael Formanek on bass and Jim Black on drums, plus guests Sisi Chen, Tao Chen, Bao-Li Zhang & Yi Zhou on exotic eastern instruments and vocalists - Aaron Bensoussan, Sadiq Bey, Sepp Bierbichler, Shulamith Caine, Tong Qiang Chen,Julie Paton, Barbara Walker and the Kettwiger Bach Choir. This is Uri's third adaptation of Mahler's music, the first one 'Primal Light' was a major success and his double live one 'Mahler in Toblach' another great effort. Although I am not familiar with any of the original pieces on 'Dark Flame', it seems that Uri has taken liberties once more and seasoned Mahler with jazz, Asian, Jewish and middle-eastern influences. The title piece features Julie Patton's spoken word voice and poetic/political text with some fine jazz/klez clarinet music. "Only Love Beauty" features Barbara Walker's feisty gospel voice with the Bach Choir, a strong yet winning contrast. Sepp Bierbichler's serious German operatic vocals are featured on four tracks that blend classical and jazz themes nicely and describe a number of tales which are translated into English for us to ponder. There sections like "Two Blue Eyes" where Uri gets a chance to stretch out and let his jazz piano chops spin intensely, but often they change midstream into another genre or section, yet it always works seamlessly. None of the great instrumental soloists here get a chance to solo at length, yet the music is a consistently fascinating blend, keeping all the players on their toes as everything evolves organically and continuously for some 77 plus minutes. There is appears to be layers of meaning underneath the text which moves through different languages, yet there is a thread. Some folks were rather mystified by this music when we were playing it in the store this week, since it not as 'out' as the free jazz or progressive weirdness that most associate us with and that is certainly a good thing. Uri Caine has done it again.
CD for $15
YUSEF LATEEF / ADAM RUDOLPH GO: ORGANIC ORCHESTRA - In the Garden [2 CD set] (Meta/Yal 008) This orchestra consists of 16 woodwinds, 1 viola and 6 percussionists. Besides the two leaders (Yusef on numerous reeds & Adam on exotic percussion), I recognize just a few of the mostly LA based musicians - Benny Maupin (when was the last time we heard from him?!?), Ralph Jones, Alex Cline and Harris Eisenstadt. Yusef Lateef was one of the first sax players in jazz to play an assortment of exotic reeds, as far back as the fifties. He still plays instruments like the shenai, wooden flutes, cruzaphone and duckaphone and continues to an inspiration to many. Members of this orchestra play things like bansuri, longhorn, oboe, suling, pungi and kena. Both Yusef and Adam have a marvelous job here of putting together this unique improvisational orchestra. Mesmerizing layers of exotic woodwinds, viola and percussion dance and weave and organically grow throughout this two hour work. Solos, duos, trios emerge from the orchestra in sections and all is warmly and wonderfully captured/recorded. It feels as if we are on an ancient journey the some enchanted jungle or desert, everything unfolds with organic grace and intoxicating mystery. The occasional written or conducted sections also emerge magically.
2 CD set for $16
YESTERDAY'S HEROES [HACO & TERRE THAEMLITZ] - 1979 (La Louche 001) Japanese vocal sorceress Haco is consistently quirky, crafty and uniquely charming. Since her days in After Dinner (two decades ago), she has released a handful of strange pop discs and also leads that wonderful trio Hoahio. I recall Terre Thaemlitz from a cover article in the Wire from a few years ago in which he was cross-dressing, as well as a duo disc with Bill Laswell called 'Web'. Once based in NY, he still runs the notorious ComaTonse label, has a vast website and now lives in Japan. Their duo collaboration Yesterday's Heroes is a tribute to the new wave scene of the late 70's', an era which I felt showed much promise with Talking Heads, Elvis Costello & The Clash, but ended with too many silly and best forgotten bands. "Yesterday's Heroes" is a quaint tune with Haco singing in English and Terre playing cheesy keyboards. Haco sings in Japanese for the first half of "New Wave, New Days", another rather touching and goofy treat with minimal keyboards and a bit of drum machine. The lyrics deal with memories of the "the new wave scene" - silly haircuts and clothes, smoky clubs, andÉ "Conveyor Belt Sushi" features some vocoder vocals listing the different sushi, I can't remember the last time I heard a vocoder. Hmmm. Although I do find this disc somewhat charming, I am unsure who this will really appeal to.
French CD for $14.
BASIL KIRCHIN - The Abominable Dr. Phibes [OST] (Perseverance 004) This is the historic Basil Kirchen soundtrack from 1971, issued on CD for the first time. From the super classic black comedy horror film: "A disfigured madman holds a team of doctors responsible for the death of his wife, and proceeds to kill them one by one, using the ten Biblical curses of Pharaoh, while a Scotland Yard Inspector and the main target join forces to try to track him down." It would appear that the story behind the composition of the music for 'The Abominable Dr. Phibes' would make a drama on its own; certainly, it is an experience that still leaves the composer; Basil Kirchin, smarting from a sense of injustice, even after more than thirty years. As he recalls it, he was living in Switzerland when he was approached to write the score for 'The Abominable Dr. Phibes'. He later met the star of the film, Vincent Price, and asked the actor whether he would play it straight or try for comedy. Price replied with one word - "straight". Kirchin then created an atmospheric underscore of suspense based on two principal themes, for Dr. Phibes and his assistant, Vulnavia. However, the composer fell victim to what he describes as a power struggle -- 'political in-fighting between the producer, the director and the man with the money' - which resulted in a fearful row and the majority of Kirchin's score being discarded. The film's soundtrack was finally an unusual mixture of classical music, popular songs of the Twenties and what was left of Kirchin's atmospheric score. However, this CD presents the complete score as written by Kirchin! Check out the excellent article on Mr. Kirchin by our own Alan Licht in the January edition of the Wire magazine.
CD for $16
ILMILIEKKI QUARTET - March of the Alpha Males (TUM 005) Featuring Verneri Pohjola on trumpet & melodica, Tuomo Prattala on piano, Antti Lotjonen on bass, Olavi Louhivuori on drums and Jaska Lukkarinen on percussion. This young Finnish quartet plus one won first price in the Young Nordic Jazz Comets competition, their name means "open fire" or "full blaze" and their name seems appropriate at times. Besides the seven original pieces here, they cover songs by Bjork, Radiohead and Ornette Coleman, all bands/composers I dig. Opening with an exquisite duo for melodica and piano, they soon take off with a near Latin groove as Verneri's trumpet dances intensely on top of both drums/percussion fellows. Their ever-changing dynamics are fascinating as they go from quiet melodic to some more explosive segments. Bjork's "Anchor Song" is given a luscious and haunting rendition as both the trumpet and piano delicately caress its lovely melancholy melody. Both the trumpeter and pianist write enchanting melodies, both are not afraid of playing lyrically and gracefully. Both their drummer and percussionist work well together, spinning infectious rhythms as one force. The title track is a quirky march with sorta talking muted (classical style) trumpet. On "Melankolinaa" there are a couple of lines of muted trumpet that float together in dreamy haze over the melancholy piano. Radiohead's "The Tourist" is another slow and dreamy piece, which is stripped down to its skeletal structure, yet builds to an impressive majestic conclusion. Ornette's "What Reason Could I Give" first appeared on 'Science Fiction' record, but this quartet was inspired by a duo version by Don Cherry and Bobo Stenson; it is also stripped down to an elegant, pensive and haunting piece with Verneri's trumpet again caressing each note one-at-a-time. Timeless.
Finnish CD for $16
IRO HAARLA & ULF KROKFORS - Heart of a Bird (TUM 004) Featuring Iro Haarla on piano & harp and Ulf Krokfors on bass with Rasmus Korsstrom on soprano & tenor saxes. Ms. Haarla and Mr. Krokfors first played together in Edward Vesala's Sound & Fury Ensemble from 1988-1990, when Iro was married to the late Edward Vesala. Iro has performed with a number of Scandinavia's best jazz musicians like Juhani Aaltonen (also on TUM), Trygve Seim and Tomasz Stanko (both on ECM). Ulf was once part of Raoul Bjorkrnheim's legendary Krakatua ensemble (also on ECM). 'Heart of a Bird' was recorded just one year ago in the middle of an unusually cold and snowy winter, thus there is an extremely somber, melancholy vibe that runs throughout. The lush recording is warm and often haunting, yet the music does have a rather ECM-like subtlety and solemn aura. Rasmus' tenor sax has a rich and enchanting tone that fits perfectly with the sad and lyrical beauty of the exquisite piano and contrabass. As I gaze out my kitchen window at all the snow we've gotten over the past few days, I see so few people out and about, that this music seems like the perfect soundtrack. This music is extremely stark and touching, with a great deal of care and space surrounding each note. One must lay back and just let it happen, just let those notes unfold ever so slowly and preciously. Perhaps I will play this disc later on late at night and sip on some saki before I fade into dreamland. That would be just right.
Finnish CD for $16
RALPH PETERSON QUINTET - Tests of Time (Criss Cross 1240) Featuring Jeremy Pelt on trumpets, Jimmy Greene on tenor & soprano sax, Orrin Evans on piano, Eric Revis on bass and Ralph Peterson on drums. The first time I caught Ralph Peterson live was at the old Knit with Bill Frisell many moons ago, I remember thinking that he played too hard for that situation, even Frisell was wincing each time Ralph wacked those drums. Mr. Peterson has obviously matured through the years and I've come to dig his playing more and more. Can't say that I am very familiar with any of the members of his current quintet, but I have seen their names around and saxist Jimmy Greene was on a Mario Pavone disc from the past year or two. Ralph wrote four of the eleven tunes here, the rest of the group also contributed four more plus a few standards like Cole Porter's "I Love You", Freddie Hubbard's "Neo Terra" and "When I Fall in Love". This fine quintet has that mid-sixties Blue Note sound with that hard swinging groove, memorable melodies, strong horn harmonies and solid soloing from all quintet members. Ralph no longer plays too hard, knowing when to lay back and let the those somber tunes just flow, like the title track. He has chosen his other musicians well as each contributes strong songs and solos.
CD for $15
PETE NAMLOOK/KLAUS SCHULZE/BILL LASWELL - The Dark Side of the Moog 6 (Fax/Ambient World 029) After Pete moved to his new studio the choice was easy which project would be the first to start a new era in Fax production with. Klaus Schulze (from Tangerine Dream) was asked and didn't hesitate to come to the small town at the Mosel river (not far away from Peter's home base in Frankfurt). The recording sessions took place and the features (as well as the difficulties) of a new studio created a life on their own. What came out is a recording that shows the aspects of vintage space music combined with the innovations of today to a further creation of Electronic Fusion Music. Bill Laswell adds his own cosmic throbbing bass to one track here.
CD release for $16
ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE & THE MELTING PARAISO U.F.O. - Last Concert in Tokyo (AMT 012) Complete document of the last gig that AMT played in Tokyo in February 1999. The gig was also Tsuyama's first with us after officially joining the group and it took place about a month before the release of their second album 'Pataphisical Freak Out MU'!!. For this recording, AMT consisted of Cotton Casino (voice, synthesizer), Tsuyama Atsushi (monster bass), Higashi Hiroshi (synthesizer, guitar), Koizumi Hajime (drums) and Kawabata Makoto (guitar). Limited to 1000 copies only, this is the first issue of AMT Official Bootleg Series of AMT label.
Limited edition Japanese import CD for $17
GHOST - Hypnotic Underworld (Drag City 249) For the first time in many moons, the tribes of Earth have real call to celebrate -- the return of Ghost. Their new offering, Hypnotic Underworld, is their best album ever - more colorful than Ghost, heavier than Temple Stone, deeper and wider than Lama Rabi Rabi, more psyched and folked than Snuffbox Immanence and Second Time Around and with a more mountainous jam than "Tune In, Turn On, Free Tibet". Believe it. Yes, 'Hypnotic Underworld' is heavy with highlights, ranging the continents in quicksilver fashion, adding 70 minutes of Ghost sounds to this world, all streamlined to an ultimate intensity. Best Japanese psych band, besides Acid Mother Temple - BLG
CD release for $14 / 2 LP set for $16
MICHALOWSKI/KHOURY/BUKOWSKI - close embrace of the earth (abzu recordings 001) This Michigan based improv trio feature Lenni Bukowski on clarinets, alto & baritone saxes, Mike Khoury on violin, Piotr Michalowski on clarinets, baritone, tenor, soprano & sopranino saxes and all three on little instruments. This was recorded at various locations in Ann Arbor during 2002 and much more about these fine improvisers I can't tell you. An extremely thoughtful, focused and well matched trio who often remind me of Braxton/AACM style of cautious, spacious improv spirits. Except for Anthony Braxton and his collaborators, we rarely get to hear any contrabass, contra-alto or alto clarinets at length, so this is indeed a treat. Those dry wooden tones and quiet violin abstractions sound great to me. You can tell that these cats have been at it for a while as there is a carefully crafted thread that runs through it all and it sounds as if this is partially charted material. Well thought out, nice use of space and no screaming.
CD for $12
OH YEAH, BEFORE YOU FORGET [and in case you missed the mailing], check out our ongoing HAT [ Ology/Now/Art ] Label SALE Many descriptions that list side players have been added to the older items since we sent it out!
HENRY FLYNT & THE INSURRECTIONS - I Don't Wanna (Locust 39) Our man Flynt shatters the categories once again with this surprise collection of his short lived basement rock protest band, The Insurrections, from 1966. Let there be no doubt in anyone's mind: Flynt's version of protest music isn't your cultural-commissar school of folk posturing. It's agro and Flynt is an unhinged showman on helium induced vocals and the electric guitar (his teacher was none other than Lou Reed). Imagine a mix of Sky Saxon (of Seeds fame) with a dash of Roky Erickson thrown in on vocals, a little bit of the Cramps' scary monster dramatics thrown in for good measure and the swamp chugalug laziness of vintage Pussy Galore and you get an idea what Flynt was up to at this phase in his non-career. Features legendary sculptor Walter De Maria on drums, confirming our hidden suspicion that in every great artist there's a desire to rock and beneath every fine gallery, there is a basement. Photos by George Maciunas.
CD release for $14
ESPERS - Espers (Locust 44) Espers are a boy/girl/girl trio from Philly featuring singer/songwriter Greg Weeks, Meg Baird and Brooke Sietinsons who combine the elemental sound of acid-folk with the baroque arrangements of late 60s chamber rock. Fully versed in the sumptuous vernacular of drug music, the cradle of Appalachian song, and the succinct truths of the three-minute pop ballad, their full length debut is an irresistible collection of sweet and subtle songs essential for fans of Fairport Convention, Pentangle, Jackson C. Franck, Bread, Love & Dreams and Bert Jansch. Espers are the sound of the New Weird America the way it should be heard -- with the ease, infectious grace and absolute beauty of an ever expansive trio bound for ever greater pastures.
CD release for $14
VOCOKESH - The Tenth Corner (Strange Attractors 019) Vocokesh seriously tweak the standard rock trio infrastructure by processing the guitars beyond earthly recognition and inoculating the cacophony with an arsenal of vintage analog electronics. With seven songs totaling over an hour of music, 'The Tenth Corner' explores some seriously alien terrain with an elusively mechanical, intensely lysergic sound. Unfurling like mellow smoke from some alien opium den, the title track introduces the sonic soiree in a pleasant mood, as distant acoustic plucking and electronic oscillations provide a pillowing backdrop for some elegant electric guitar flourishes. Imbued with an intense array of moods and textures, 'The Tenth Corner' is a tremendously cinematic listening experience - in fact, three tunes are envisioned as supplemental/alternate soundtracks to some particularly vivid cult films. Composition and improvisation coalesce into a sound that draws from the early flights of 70's German avant rock (Agitation Free, Cosmic Jokers, Ash Ra Tempel) and synth-powered cosmic (Cluster, Tangerine Dream, Popol Vuh) if it were created in the embryonic electronic music labs of the 60's and 70's. Transcendent, gritty, hallucinatory - 'The Tenth Corner' is undoubtedly Vocokesh's finest hour.
CD release for $14
THE GAMELAN SON OF LION - The Complete Gamelan in the New World [2 CD set] (Locust 41/42) This is the first proper re-release of two legendary recordings by the innovative Gamelan Son of Lion. This New York performance group has counted as its founding members Fluxus pioneer Phillip Corner, electronics composer Daniel Goode (Tzadik) and core member Barbara Benary. Equally inspired by the resonant decaying sounds of New York school composers like Morton Feldman, the stunning pacific gamelan music of its namesake & the wild antics of Fluxus, their sound is trancelike and beautifully inspiring collection. Brought back into print for the first time in over 20 years, this fully re-mastered features new liner notes by Author Marcus Boon.
2 CD set for $18
THE FIRST 7 VOLUMES of the WONDERFUL 'MUSIC OF ISLAM' SERIES are now HERE:
ALL 16 VOLUMES of the below GREAT SERIES COME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! WE WILL LIST the NEXT SEVEN VOLUMES NEXT WEEK as WE SLOWLY ABSORB EACH ONE
THE MUSIC OF ISLAM - Volume 1 / various artists (Celestial Harmonies 13140) Classic 1997 series of Islamic music, 15 volumes spread out over 17 CDs, available individually or all together in a wooden box. Nearly all traditions of Arabic music, including Egyptian, are strongly defined by rhythm. This first volume in The Music of Islam series clearly reflects this, belonging to both old and new styles - in repertoire and performance the music in this recording reflects the new Egyptic style while the orchestration follows the older Arab practices. What is unique about this volume is that it incorporates only instrumental recordings.
CD for $15
THE MUSIC OF ISLAM - Volume 2 / various artists (Celestial Harmonies 13141) Bedouin music is probably the oldest part of the entire repertoire of folk music in the Arab world. Thus, this recording is a celebration as well as a sound document of their traditional culture and unique identity. From the harsh and beautiful land of desert plains and rugged red-brown and black mountains - the South Sinai - this volume features the traditional folk music of the legendary desert nomads. Recorded in a single night, in a dry riverbed under a full moon, the backdrop of the desert offered a priceless doorway into this ancient culture, people and music, capturing their very essence.
CD for $15
ASWAN TROUPE FOR FOLKLORIC ARTS - The Music of Islam / Volume 3 (Celestial Harmonies 13142) From ancient times, Nubian peoples have flourished in the land along the Nile River. But Egyptian projects to dam the river at Aswan have, over time, submerged the Nubian territories along the Nile under water. And with the completion of the Aswan High Dam and Lake Nasser came the inundation of the entire Nubian valley in southern Egypt. As a result, the Egyptian Nubians irrevocably lost what remained of their ancestral lands along the Nile and were forcibly relocated. The resettlement has given rise to a range of social problems, and many aspects of Nubian culture and social organization that previously existed have now changed or disappeared.
CD for $15
LELO & HAITHAM HASAN, MOHAMMED SALEH ABD AL-SAHEB - The Music of Islam / Volume 4 (Celestial Harmonies 13143) Volume Four embraces some of the most beautiful Islamic music from Iraq, featuring the 'ud and various percussion instruments, performed by Iraqi master musicians who keep their music traditions alive in Qatar. 1389/1969, began playing percussion instruments at the age of nine. In this recording, Haitham is featured on the tabalah (a goblet drum), kasur (a small single-headed drum), riqq (tambourine), tar (a single-headed frame drum), sajat (copper finger cymbals), drenga (like the tabalah but more metallic in sound) and the tabl (a double-headed cylindrical drum.
CD for $15
THE MUSIC OF ISLAM - Volume 6 / various artists (Celestial Harmonies 13146) This volume features songs from various sections of the lila (music ritual) repertoire of the Gnawa. The Gnawa inhabit the same religious world as Arab Muslim Moroccans, yet find their entry into it via a different path. The songs are flexible in length, allowing the leader to shorten or lengthen a song to accommodate the needs of dancers in trance. The Gnawa use three main instruments, which are particular to them: the sintir or hajhaj, a long-necked lute of the guinbri family; the qraqeb or qraqesh, a pair of hand held metal clappers; and the tbel, a barrel drum with two heads struck with sticks.
CD for $15
THE MUSIC OF ISLAM - Volume 7 / various artists (Celestial Harmonies 13147) North Africa became the stronghold of Arab-Andalusian music after the fall of Granada in 897/1492, yet the existence of the nubah (plural nubat, literally rotation or succession) system in Morocco can be traced back earlier, to at least the XI/12th century. Much of the repertoire has been lost over the years, and different areas preserve different nubat. In Morocco today, there are at least two distinct styles of Arab-Andalusian music, al-Ala, which is the most prevalent one across the country, and Gharnati, specific to Oujda in eastern Morocco and to Tlemcen in Algeria. These traditions are considered to be Morocco's classical heritage.
CD for $15
LOFTI JORMANA GROUP - The Music of Islam / Volume 8 (Celestial Harmonies 13148) According to producer David Parsons, this volume was the most difficult in the series, both technically and information-wise. "It was a classic case of trying to record, with one stereo microphone, a group of singers who also played drums", exclaims Parsons. Yet, however technically challenging it may have been, the end result is nonetheless superb. Two of the most beautiful songs on the recording feature the mawwal - a vocal form which usually follows the performance of the layali - vocal improvisations. The form was known as early as the III/9th century where it was described in connection with the working class. Performed by the Lotfi Jormana Group, this volume features the melodic mizwid - Tunisian bagpipe played in the central regions of Tunisia accompanied by percussion.
CD for $15
A FEW YEARS AGO, WE RECEIVED A CD BY AN EXPERIMENTAL ACOUSTIC GUITARIST NAMED PHILIP GAYLE FROM THE BOSTON AREA WHICH WAS AS BRILLIANT AS IT WAS BIZARRE. AFTER OUR DISTRIBUTOR RAN OUT OF COPIES, WE HEARD NOTHING FROM MR. GAYLE. THIS WEEK PHILIP WANDERED INTO DMG AND FILLED US IN WITH HIS JOURNEY FROM TEXAS TO JAPAN. HE IS NOW LIVING HERE AND WILL BE PLAYING IN OUR STORE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. HE LEFT US WITH THESE FOUR CDS TO SELL, TWO OF WHICH ARE VERY LIMITED! HERE GOES:
PHILIP GAYLE - Keguribap (Yabyum no number) This is the solo effort that introduced us to Philip Gayle. He plays 4 string, 5 string, 11 string, 12 string & classical guitars and banjo with assorted acoustic devices like brushes and bottles, often two or three at a time, overdubbed I believe. The only comparison I can make is early Eugene Chadbourne who was/is equally chaotic but there is always a method to his madness. This music appears very free and frantic, yet there is a well paced flow and crafty touch, a great deal of frenetic tapping. Philip uses space well and takes his time through both sparse and dense sections. I hear him pulling a loose string or wire through the other strings, something I've seen/heard Fred Frith do on occasion. Titles range from Japanese to ditties like "pustular eruption" and at nearly 70 minutes, this is a bit much to take in at one sitting, but I wasn't bored for a moment.
CD for $12
PHILIP GAYLE - solo live '98 (Yabyum 002) Recorded on radio shows (in Houston & Bloomington, IN), at a record store and at a small concert hall, during the second half of '98. On this compilation Philip plays a modified 3-string toy guitar, a mandolin and a 6-string guitar. More stripped down than his previous studio disc which sounded like he was overdubbing 2 or 3 guitars at once. The strings resonate and hum with more space surrounding each note giving this a more solemn vibe. Philip also does much more slow motion note bending, giving things a cautious, yet alien quality. He seems to be exploring a certain section of the guitar or a certain approach on each piece. In many ways this is the complete opposite of the frantic paced insanity of Philip's previous effort, yet occasionally erupts as he percussively bangs on the strings and twists them into strange sounds.
CD for $10
PHILIP GAYLE - pnbna (Fleece Records #13) This another studio solo effort from 1998 in which Philip plays 4, 6 & 12 string guitars, mandolin, 5-string acoustic bass, cello, waterphone and assorted percussive objects, when he was still in Houston, Texas. Like his first solo effort 'Keguribap', this one also features Philip overdubbing layers of at times alien-sounding acoustic guitars, mandolin, bass and/or cello. Philip sounds as if he is having more fun here, occasionally throwing in a couple of swinging jazz lines, not pushing the envelope too hard. There sections of more sparse, high note fragments, more measured tapping and percussive string manipulation which is done quite carefully with more restrained results. If one were going to start with just one of the four releases mentioned here, this would be a good place to begin as it has a more relaxed and less alien vibe, yet remains fascinating throughout.
CD for $12
RICHARD CHOLAKIAN/PHILIP GAYLE - Hud Pes / duet improvisations [2 CD set] (yabyum 003) Featuring Richard on drums, gong & assorted percussion and Philip on 12, 6 & 4 string guitars, mandolin, waterphone & water bottles. Recorded live in the studio in Houston in May & November of 1998, during the sessions for Philip's 'pnbna' disc. There are three long pieces here, the 78 minute "OK" which was recorded organically in the old studio with natural sounds and interruptions, bookended by two shorter pieces recorded in a newer studio with less going on around them. Richard and Philip work well together, as their percussion/drums and guitar(s) move freely always connecting on some level. Much of this is quite restrained and rather magical as it floats freely and swims in subtle waves. Philip often spends less time trying to twist his strings into alien shapes or sounds, playing a bit more melodically so that the drums are able to connect more readily. They occasionally work into a groove for short bits which adds some fun to the proceedings and rarely freak out too much, thus making it easier to go along for the ride.
2 CD set for $16
REISSUES/RESTOCKS/OUT-OF-PRINTS:
CARAVAN - Travelling Man (Mooncrest 029) As many of you know, Caravan emerged from the Wilde Flowers along with Soft Machine and put out their first album in 1968. Both Caravan and the Softs were from Canterbury, UK when they started and launched the careers of influential musicians/characters like Daevid Allen, Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, Richard Sinclair and Hugh Hopper. Both bands had a sort of parallel path/sound when they started - both had that unique high and low vocal combination and both featured that fuzz organ sound. Caravan chose the more rockin', song-oriented path, still progressive in their own way, while Soft Machine evolved further into avant jazz with no more vocals by 'Volume Four'. While the Softs broke up by the mid-seventies, Caravan still exist today with 3 of their 4 original members and played at the NEAR Fest in NJ just two years ago (available on a DVD). Caravan made six great albums in row and then their recordings became less interesting, less consistent, less magical. 'Travelling Man' was released in 1998 and includes a half dozen earlier tunes redone, as well as newer material. Longtime leader, lead vocalist and guitarist, Pye Hastings, is still out front and wrote all of the songs here except for two early songs which were group collaborations. Starting with the wonderful title tune from their third and best album, "In the Land of Grey and Pink", which was originally sung by Richard Sinclair (he of the deep voice), who has long since departed. Still, it is a lovely rendition. Overall this disc is worth getting, even good for those who don't have any Caravan yet!
CD for $16
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - United States Of America (Edsel; UK) Outstanding, mind-blowing and bizarre psychedelic masterwork, somewhere between modern classical and acid rock, from this wonderful Bay Area quintet in 1968. We just have a handful of this out-of-print CD.
CD for $18
MEDITATIONS ON MINGUS [V.A.] - Weird Nightmare (Columbia; US) "For producer Hal Willner's [veteran of wonderfully off-kilter but on-target tributes to Monk, Rota, Weill, and even Disney songs] Charles Mingus project, his central idea was as inspired as it was loony: He even incorporates the amazing instruments invented and designed by another equally maverick composer, Harry Partch, into reinterpretations of Mingus' work. By and large, it works, making Weird Nightmare a strange and wonderful one-off event. There's a central band at work based around bassist Greg Cohen and guitarist Bill Frisell, with guests including Gary Lucas, Bobby Previte, Vernon Reid, Leonard Cohen, Geri Allen, Don Byron, Elvis Costello, Robert Quine, Henry Rollins, Diamanda Galas, Robbie Robertson, Dr. John, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Chuck D! Highlights abound; when Partch's Marimba Eroica is struck during "Pithecanthropus Erectus," the floors of the listener's dwelling may buckle. Elvis Costello's reading of the title song is, well, eerily weird. One special high point is the version of "Gunslinging Bird" where text from Mingus' autobiographical Beneath the Underdog is angrily and righteously declaimed by Chuck D.; it's arguably as pure and forceful as anything he ever accomplished with Public Enemy and makes one wonder why he never pursued this seemingly rewarding path. There are several missteps as well, to be sure. Most egregiously, Keith Richards' sneering condescension on "Oh Lord, Don't Let Them Drop That Atomic Bomb on Me," as though he had better things to do, is embarrassing. But eventually, it's simply the gorgeous music of Charles Mingus that carries the day, showing itself more than capable of shouldering the ghost of Harry Partch and the wayward inclinations of its interpreters. Most of the pieces glow in these unusual treatments, and make Weird Nightmare a must for any serious Mingus fan." - Brian Olewnick
We just have a handful of this out-of-print CD for $13
DMG RECOMMENDED CALENDER of GIGS the 1st week of FEBRUARY 2004
Friday Jan 30th & Sat Jan 31st
MARCO CAPPELLI'S EXTREME GUITAR PROJECT: Marco commisioned rigorous written structures that he could perform from Elliott Sharp, Otomo Yoshihide, Ikue Mori, Marc Ribot, David Shea, Anthony Coleman, Nick Didkovsky, Mark Stewart, Erik Friedlander, and Annie Gosfield! 8 PM both nights at ISSUE PROJECT ROOM, 619 East 6th St., 212 598 4130
Saturday January 31st-
PAUL ROGERS SOLOS 6 STRING BASS & TRIO w/ NICK DIDKOVSKY & KEVIN NORTON at 7pm at Bowery Poetry Club for one set only! Paul is a phenomenal bassist who rarely comes to town; this is his solo debut here! The trio w/ Dr. Nerve guitar hero (Nick) and wonder drummer/percussionist (Kev) should also be amazing - sponsored by us folks here at DMG!!!
RAZ MESINAI/OKKYUNG LEE/DOUG WEISELMAN/BEN PEROWSKY at Tonic at 10pm - Raz' s music is always an exotic treat!
REGGIE WORKMAN w/ KYOKO KITAMURA / WILL CALHOUN / YAYOI IKAWA/ KEVIN JONES / JASON MARSHALL / JOHN BEATY
at Sista's Place, 456 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, (718) 398 1766
Sunday February 1st-
CHRIS FORSYTHE & MARY HALVERSON here at DMG at 7pm for free! Both are wonderful new improv guitarists - Mary studied w/ Braxton & has become a local legend!
SUNDAY NITE FREE-STYLE SERIES [$10 for the whole night!] at CB's Lounge
7pm - Chainworks; dan dechellis, matt hannafin, brian moran
8pm - Project Grudge: Russ Johnson, Jason Gillenwater, Jon Goldberger, Eivind Opsvik, Jeff Davis
9pm - louie belogenis, ken filiano, jackson krall, francois grillot
Monday Feb 2nd-
MONO & SHAHZAD ISMAILY at Tonic at 8pm - Mono are an intense Japanese psych band w/ a great cd on Tzadik & Shahzad works w/ Eyvind Kang, Carla Kilhstedt & others
Tuesday Feb 3rd-
DOM MONASI TRIO at Tonic at 8pm - Dom is an extraordinary jazz guitarist!
DOWNRIVER at Tonic at 10pm - featuring guitarist & bassist for Blind Idiot God, but not like them at all!?!
JOEL HARRISON'S FREE COUNTRY does a tribute to GEORGE HARRISON at 7:30 PM and and Jazz arrangements of Appalachian and Country music at 9:30 at Jazz Standard - 116 East 27th St.
Mario Pavone Quartet showcasing their April 2004 debut, Boom (Playscape), 8:30 PM at Barbs, 376 9th Street (at 6th Avenue), Brooklyn, NY (Park Slope) (718) 965-9177
Tuesday Feb 3rd - Sunday Feb 8th-
DAVE DOUGLAS QUINTET CD release celebration at the Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave; w/ URI CAINE/CHRIS POTTER/JAMES GENUS/CLARENCE PENN - Hey! The new cd rules - so catch it live!!!
Wednesday Feb 4th-
OKKYUNG LEE QUINTET at Tonic at 8pm - our favorite feisty cellist always knocks us out!!
CHARLES WATER QUARTET at Tonic at 10pm - Charles plays great alto sax & clarinet w/ Gold Sparkle & the Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra!
Brilliant Coroners - a jazz ensemble with the weirdest arrangements and covers! Knitting Factory Tap Bar 8-9 PM, $5, 76 Leonard Street
Thursday Feb 5th-
LOU HARRISON MEMORIAL CONCERT at the Riverside Church - 91 Claremont Ave, west of Broadway at 120th St. at 8pm - performed by the Locrian Chamber Players!
Friday Feb 6th-
MUHAL RICHARD ABRAMS TRIO & SEPTET at Alice Tully Hall/Lincoln Center
- 65th & Broadway at 8pm - the Trio features Mark Feldman & Tani Tabbal & the septet includes Aaron Stewart, Eddie Allen, Brad Jones, Warren Smith & Reggie Nicholson - Muhal is the founder of the AACM & a brilliant pianist, composer & visionary bandleader!!
Min Xiao-Fen solo Pipa concert at 8pm At Symphony Space (Leonard Nimoy Thalia) 2537 Broadway at 95th Street
PAUL ROGERS SOLOS 6 STRING BASS & TRIO w/ NICK DIDKOVSKY & KEVIN NORTON at 7pm at Bowery Poetry Club for one set only! Paul is a phenomenal bassist who rarely comes to town & this is his solo debut here! The second half with a trio of Nick Didkovsky [Dr. Nerve guitar hero/composer] and Kevin Norton [jazz skins supremo) should also be amazing!!!
SNOW STORM TREATS from DAVE DOUGLAS, BJORKENHEIM-LIGETI, FUJII/YOSHIDA QT, NEW VICTO RELEASES, HACO/THAEMLITZ, AMT, BASIL KIRCHIN, ARTHUR RUSSELL, PHILIP GAYLE & more from TUM!
PLEASE NOTE: On our HAT sale list last week, we listed the
FRANZ KOGLMANN With RAN BLAKE et al - Orte Der Geometrie (hat hatArt 6018; Switzerland) CD $12.00
as a Fritz Hauser album! OOOPS!
DAVE DOUGLAS - Strange Liberation (RCA/Bluebird 82876) Featuring Bill Frisell on guitar, Chris Potter on tenor sax & bass clarinet, Dave Douglas on trumpet & compositions, Uri Caine on Fender Rhodes electric piano, James Genus on basses and Clarence Penn on drums. Recorded exactly one year ago, this is local trumpet hero, multi-bandleader and master composer Dave Douglas' longtime dream of working with and writing for the wonderful Bill Frisell. On the opener, "A Single Sky", the frontline of trumpet, guitar and electric piano floats lusciously in the clouds in a simmering dream-world. The title track is superb and sounds like Miles' amazing electric quintet from the late sixites with Frisell adding his sly, slinky touch to the quintet's subtle, funky groove. Uri also plays a righteously sly solo that blends perfectly with the haunting harmonies that Dave has written for the horns and guitar. Chris Potter's fine bass clarinet and Bill's unique country/jazz touch are featured nicely on "Skeeter-Ism", but it both Uri and Dave that take tasty laid back solos. Dave's haunting muted trumpet and Bill's exquisite guitar blend beautifully on "Just Say This", another dream delight. "Seventeen" swings furiously with some intricate writing that pushes the group through some amazing stop and start changes and strong solos from the tenor, el. piano and trumpet (go Dave!). Frisell's fragile, eerie treated guitar opens "Mountains from the Train", which has a mysterious drifting quality. "Rock of Billy" features Frisell rocking out a bit and has an infectious, fun-filled vibe that will keep your dogs' tail waggin'. "The Frisell Dream" has more rich and sumptuous harmonies and thoughtful writing and playing from all. The first release from this quintet included three pop covers which was a good way to lure in those younger (soon-to-be hopefully) jazz fans, while 'Strange Liberation' just features Dave's maturing and consistently intriguing writing, as well as strong playing from his outstanding all-star quintet/sextet. Excellent throughout and certain to rank amongst this year's best discs! This marvelous quintet will be at the Village Vanguard from February 3rd - the 8th - get on down!
CD release for $17
SATOKO FUJII QUARTET - Zephyros (Natsat 3011) Featuring Natsuki Tamura on trumpet, Satoko Fujii on piano & compositions, Takeharu Hayakawa on electric bass and Tatsuya Yoshida (from RUINS!) on drums & voice. This the third amazing release from the ever incredible pianist, composer and multi-bandleader Satoko Fujii with her husband and ace trumpeter Natsuki Tamura plus former Ruins bass great Takeharu Hayakawa and that ubiquitous monster drummer & Ruins founder Tatsuya Yoshida. Satoko and Tatsuya also have two superb duo discs out as well, a live from Victo from last year and a new studio one on Tzadik from earlier this month. What I find most fascinating about this quartet is that although Satoko & Natsuki come from a mostly diverse jazz background, those crazed Ruins dudes have created their own progressive/punk world. Quite an odd combination of extremes which grows stronger with each disc by challenging each member and the audience as well. All, but the long opening piece, are new ones written by Satoko and that first piece, "The Future of the Past", was done earlier by one of Satoko's big bands. This piece is an intense and explosive work with powerful drums and piano shaking the foundations over the equally impressive el. bass which balances underneath with great skill, occasionally playing some fine solo spots that are stark and pensive and often leading the way by navigating the currents masterfully. Naksuki plays a long and exciting trumpet solo that just keeps going as the rest of the quartet push higher and higher. An incredible epic! "As Usual" starts quietly, but soon bursts into some Ruins-like complex explosiveness, including an impressive electric bass solo. "Flying to the South" features a fabulous, majestic solo piano intro which soon works its way through more great intricate quartet intensity/insanity, strong writing which seems to come from a progressive meets jazz hybrid. "First Tango" features a solo of Tatsuya's drums being played through a flanging device, something we rarely here nowadays, the piece itself has an almost tango-like groove and another fine piano solo from Ms. Fujii. Satoko appears to have worked long and hard on the material here, as each piece features layers on complex arrangements, as well as tight ensemble playing. "One Summer Day" shows a more restrained side with some delicate playing from the trumpet and piano, while "Clear Sky" brings back another sort of odd Latiny riff with a playful theme. "15 Minutes to Get to the Station" features some that wacky Magma-like vocal weirdness that Tatsuya loves to do with some hypnotic freer playing floating around, but breaking into a more intense, progressive, rocking thing, which moves through complex sections while Naksuki plays a difficult hair-pin turn solo, winding down to more somber conclusion. Once more Satoko Fujii's outstanding quartet delivers!
Japanese CD for $18
RAOUL BJORKENHEIM & LUKAS LIGETI - Shadowglow (TUM 006) Featuring (our good pal Raoul, Finnish guitar god and leader of the incredible Scorch Trio, with Austrian master drummer/composer Lukas Ligeti, both of whom are currently living here. Just last Saturday (1/24/04), Raoul and Lukas were a part of Henry Kaiser's amazing quartet with Jim O'Rourke on bass at Tonic for a devastating rock/prog/improv set! Raoul pulled off of the hottest wah-wah/fuzz solos I've heard in quite a while during that set. This wonderful duo have been together for almost two years and have played here at DMG, as well as at our benefit at Tonic just a year ago with E. Sharp on bass & sax. This is their first duo release on the great new TUM label that is based in Finland and has a small yet impressive catalogue of treasures which are reviewed below. What is so great about this duo is how diverse they are, both men have extensive backgrounds in quite a variety of genres and styles, from jazz, rock, world, noise, etc. Commencing with "Into Fall" which features mesmerizing slide guitar, odd picking techniques and spacey percussion. Laswell collaborator/engineer Bob Musso has recorded this duo with extreme care and attention to detail. Even at its most free, there is a constant music connection/thread that runs through everything. Raoul works hard at coaxing sounds out of his guitars that are always fascinating, yet difficult to figure out without actually seeing what he is doing. Lukas is the perfect partner as he also approaches his drums with a more musical sense, with rhythm only one aspect of what he excels at. Sometimes Lukas will set up an engaging groove while Raoul rides the pulse, often soloing on top. Raoul has a handful of guitars and numerous devices as well, so that his sound is changing throughout. Sometimes he will put a wire through the strings, place the guitar on a table or in his lap and play percussively, but both musicians remain consistently creative throughout. From the noisy to the sublime and everything wonderful in between. "Four Thumbs Up!" - Mannylunch
Finnish CD for $16
JUST IN FROM THE VICTO LABEL!:
BARRE PHILLIPS/JOELLE LEANDRE/WILLIAM PARKER/TETSU SAITOH - After You Gone: In memory of Peter Kowald (Victo 91: Canada) These four double-bassists came together in quartet performance at last year's Victoriaville Festival [5/23/03] to make this moving musical statement to the memory of one of the greatest of avant/free bassists. "If you think about where the players of this quartet paying tribute to Kowald are coming from, you 'll get a glimpse of the network he helped to establish and was involved with: William Parker from Afro-American Free Jazz, Jolle Landre from European Classical and New Music, Barre Phillips an American in Europe, experienced in the aesthetics of both these worlds, Tetsu Saitoh from Japanese Traditional Music,tango ensembles and, most importantly,Free Improvisation. It was Peter 's belief already in the late seventies,when he started the trio with Leo Smith and Gnter Sommer, that musicians coming from different cultural traditions could find a common base of communication via the language of free improvisation. His concept of a Global Village,which differs fundamentally from any kind of world music, was developed from this belief. Peter refused to play from the smallest common denominator; he forced exchange and sometimes even incited contradictions. When he spoke about respect for the unknown and the process of coming to know it, he mentioned that it would be wise to play with the experiences of others as well as with ones own experiences" Bert Noglik, November 2003 Already in stock - Bruce will review both this disc and his memory of the actual performance next week.
CD for $15
XAVIER CHARLES/DIANE LABROSSE/KRISTOF K ROLL/MARTIN TRETAULT - Tout Le Monde En Place Pour Un Set Americain (Victo 90; Canada) Recorded Live at the Victoriaville Fest in 2003. "The most successful was the Saturday afternoon concert by Diane Labrosse (electronics), Martin Ttreault (turntables etc),Xavier Charles (clarinet and electronics) and French duo Kristoff K.Roll (household objects). The five were place on a platform in the middle of the Colise, and the audience was free to walk around and observe the musicians at close range, which de-mystified the process. The improvisation was powerful and atmospheric, dominated by Labrosse's inventive use of samples taken from around her house. Ttreault was drolly inventive, while Charles and K.K.Roll added splashes of colors" Michael Chamberlain, Signal To Noise Already in stock - Bruce will review both this disc and his memory of the actual performance next week.
CD for $15
ALSO JUST IN [NO TIME FOR REVIEWS] ON THE 482 LABEL:
JOELLE LEANDRE & MARK NAUSEEF - Evident (482 Music 1024) The first-ever collaboration between these two worldly and multi-faceted musicians, Joelle Leandre (contrabass, voice) and Mark Nauseef (percussion) at a WDR-sponsored concert on May 14th, 2002 in Eupen, Belgium. The music was created without previous discussion through listening and spontaneous interplay.
CD for $14
CONFERENCE CALL (GEBHARD ULLMAN/MICHEAL JEFRY STEVENS/JOE FONDA/ GEORGE SCHULLER] - Spirals: The Berlin Concert (482 Music 1028) Conference Call's Gebhard Ullmann (bassclarinet, tenor and soprano saxophone), Michael Jefry Stevens (piano), Joe Fonda (bass), George Schuller (drums, cymbals, bells) third release catches them live at B-Flat in Berlin, Germany on March 11th, 2003. The material features compositions from each musician in this all-star group's line-up, including the versatile Schuller who replaces Matt Wilson and Han Bennink respectively from the band's first two recordings.
CD for $14
URI CAINE/GUSTAV MAHLER - Dark Flame (Winter & Winter 095) This is local piano hero Uri Caine's 12th treasure for the W&W label and it features a stellar cast with Mark Feldman on violin, Don Byron on clarinet, David Gilmore on guitar, Ralph Alessi on trumpet, DJ Olive on turntables, Uri on piano, Michael Formanek on bass and Jim Black on drums, plus guests Sisi Chen, Tao Chen, Bao-Li Zhang & Yi Zhou on exotic eastern instruments and vocalists - Aaron Bensoussan, Sadiq Bey, Sepp Bierbichler, Shulamith Caine, Tong Qiang Chen,Julie Paton, Barbara Walker and the Kettwiger Bach Choir. This is Uri's third adaptation of Mahler's music, the first one 'Primal Light' was a major success and his double live one 'Mahler in Toblach' another great effort. Although I am not familiar with any of the original pieces on 'Dark Flame', it seems that Uri has taken liberties once more and seasoned Mahler with jazz, Asian, Jewish and middle-eastern influences. The title piece features Julie Patton's spoken word voice and poetic/political text with some fine jazz/klez clarinet music. "Only Love Beauty" features Barbara Walker's feisty gospel voice with the Bach Choir, a strong yet winning contrast. Sepp Bierbichler's serious German operatic vocals are featured on four tracks that blend classical and jazz themes nicely and describe a number of tales which are translated into English for us to ponder. There sections like "Two Blue Eyes" where Uri gets a chance to stretch out and let his jazz piano chops spin intensely, but often they change midstream into another genre or section, yet it always works seamlessly. None of the great instrumental soloists here get a chance to solo at length, yet the music is a consistently fascinating blend, keeping all the players on their toes as everything evolves organically and continuously for some 77 plus minutes. There is appears to be layers of meaning underneath the text which moves through different languages, yet there is a thread. Some folks were rather mystified by this music when we were playing it in the store this week, since it not as 'out' as the free jazz or progressive weirdness that most associate us with and that is certainly a good thing. Uri Caine has done it again.
CD for $15
YUSEF LATEEF / ADAM RUDOLPH GO: ORGANIC ORCHESTRA - In the Garden [2 CD set] (Meta/Yal 008) This orchestra consists of 16 woodwinds, 1 viola and 6 percussionists. Besides the two leaders (Yusef on numerous reeds & Adam on exotic percussion), I recognize just a few of the mostly LA based musicians - Benny Maupin (when was the last time we heard from him?!?), Ralph Jones, Alex Cline and Harris Eisenstadt. Yusef Lateef was one of the first sax players in jazz to play an assortment of exotic reeds, as far back as the fifties. He still plays instruments like the shenai, wooden flutes, cruzaphone and duckaphone and continues to an inspiration to many. Members of this orchestra play things like bansuri, longhorn, oboe, suling, pungi and kena. Both Yusef and Adam have a marvelous job here of putting together this unique improvisational orchestra. Mesmerizing layers of exotic woodwinds, viola and percussion dance and weave and organically grow throughout this two hour work. Solos, duos, trios emerge from the orchestra in sections and all is warmly and wonderfully captured/recorded. It feels as if we are on an ancient journey the some enchanted jungle or desert, everything unfolds with organic grace and intoxicating mystery. The occasional written or conducted sections also emerge magically.
2 CD set for $16
YESTERDAY'S HEROES [HACO & TERRE THAEMLITZ] - 1979 (La Louche 001) Japanese vocal sorceress Haco is consistently quirky, crafty and uniquely charming. Since her days in After Dinner (two decades ago), she has released a handful of strange pop discs and also leads that wonderful trio Hoahio. I recall Terre Thaemlitz from a cover article in the Wire from a few years ago in which he was cross-dressing, as well as a duo disc with Bill Laswell called 'Web'. Once based in NY, he still runs the notorious ComaTonse label, has a vast website and now lives in Japan. Their duo collaboration Yesterday's Heroes is a tribute to the new wave scene of the late 70's', an era which I felt showed much promise with Talking Heads, Elvis Costello & The Clash, but ended with too many silly and best forgotten bands. "Yesterday's Heroes" is a quaint tune with Haco singing in English and Terre playing cheesy keyboards. Haco sings in Japanese for the first half of "New Wave, New Days", another rather touching and goofy treat with minimal keyboards and a bit of drum machine. The lyrics deal with memories of the "the new wave scene" - silly haircuts and clothes, smoky clubs, andÉ "Conveyor Belt Sushi" features some vocoder vocals listing the different sushi, I can't remember the last time I heard a vocoder. Hmmm. Although I do find this disc somewhat charming, I am unsure who this will really appeal to.
French CD for $14.
BASIL KIRCHIN - The Abominable Dr. Phibes [OST] (Perseverance 004) This is the historic Basil Kirchen soundtrack from 1971, issued on CD for the first time. From the super classic black comedy horror film: "A disfigured madman holds a team of doctors responsible for the death of his wife, and proceeds to kill them one by one, using the ten Biblical curses of Pharaoh, while a Scotland Yard Inspector and the main target join forces to try to track him down." It would appear that the story behind the composition of the music for 'The Abominable Dr. Phibes' would make a drama on its own; certainly, it is an experience that still leaves the composer; Basil Kirchin, smarting from a sense of injustice, even after more than thirty years. As he recalls it, he was living in Switzerland when he was approached to write the score for 'The Abominable Dr. Phibes'. He later met the star of the film, Vincent Price, and asked the actor whether he would play it straight or try for comedy. Price replied with one word - "straight". Kirchin then created an atmospheric underscore of suspense based on two principal themes, for Dr. Phibes and his assistant, Vulnavia. However, the composer fell victim to what he describes as a power struggle -- 'political in-fighting between the producer, the director and the man with the money' - which resulted in a fearful row and the majority of Kirchin's score being discarded. The film's soundtrack was finally an unusual mixture of classical music, popular songs of the Twenties and what was left of Kirchin's atmospheric score. However, this CD presents the complete score as written by Kirchin! Check out the excellent article on Mr. Kirchin by our own Alan Licht in the January edition of the Wire magazine.
CD for $16
ILMILIEKKI QUARTET - March of the Alpha Males (TUM 005) Featuring Verneri Pohjola on trumpet & melodica, Tuomo Prattala on piano, Antti Lotjonen on bass, Olavi Louhivuori on drums and Jaska Lukkarinen on percussion. This young Finnish quartet plus one won first price in the Young Nordic Jazz Comets competition, their name means "open fire" or "full blaze" and their name seems appropriate at times. Besides the seven original pieces here, they cover songs by Bjork, Radiohead and Ornette Coleman, all bands/composers I dig. Opening with an exquisite duo for melodica and piano, they soon take off with a near Latin groove as Verneri's trumpet dances intensely on top of both drums/percussion fellows. Their ever-changing dynamics are fascinating as they go from quiet melodic to some more explosive segments. Bjork's "Anchor Song" is given a luscious and haunting rendition as both the trumpet and piano delicately caress its lovely melancholy melody. Both the trumpeter and pianist write enchanting melodies, both are not afraid of playing lyrically and gracefully. Both their drummer and percussionist work well together, spinning infectious rhythms as one force. The title track is a quirky march with sorta talking muted (classical style) trumpet. On "Melankolinaa" there are a couple of lines of muted trumpet that float together in dreamy haze over the melancholy piano. Radiohead's "The Tourist" is another slow and dreamy piece, which is stripped down to its skeletal structure, yet builds to an impressive majestic conclusion. Ornette's "What Reason Could I Give" first appeared on 'Science Fiction' record, but this quartet was inspired by a duo version by Don Cherry and Bobo Stenson; it is also stripped down to an elegant, pensive and haunting piece with Verneri's trumpet again caressing each note one-at-a-time. Timeless.
Finnish CD for $16
IRO HAARLA & ULF KROKFORS - Heart of a Bird (TUM 004) Featuring Iro Haarla on piano & harp and Ulf Krokfors on bass with Rasmus Korsstrom on soprano & tenor saxes. Ms. Haarla and Mr. Krokfors first played together in Edward Vesala's Sound & Fury Ensemble from 1988-1990, when Iro was married to the late Edward Vesala. Iro has performed with a number of Scandinavia's best jazz musicians like Juhani Aaltonen (also on TUM), Trygve Seim and Tomasz Stanko (both on ECM). Ulf was once part of Raoul Bjorkrnheim's legendary Krakatua ensemble (also on ECM). 'Heart of a Bird' was recorded just one year ago in the middle of an unusually cold and snowy winter, thus there is an extremely somber, melancholy vibe that runs throughout. The lush recording is warm and often haunting, yet the music does have a rather ECM-like subtlety and solemn aura. Rasmus' tenor sax has a rich and enchanting tone that fits perfectly with the sad and lyrical beauty of the exquisite piano and contrabass. As I gaze out my kitchen window at all the snow we've gotten over the past few days, I see so few people out and about, that this music seems like the perfect soundtrack. This music is extremely stark and touching, with a great deal of care and space surrounding each note. One must lay back and just let it happen, just let those notes unfold ever so slowly and preciously. Perhaps I will play this disc later on late at night and sip on some saki before I fade into dreamland. That would be just right.
Finnish CD for $16
RALPH PETERSON QUINTET - Tests of Time (Criss Cross 1240) Featuring Jeremy Pelt on trumpets, Jimmy Greene on tenor & soprano sax, Orrin Evans on piano, Eric Revis on bass and Ralph Peterson on drums. The first time I caught Ralph Peterson live was at the old Knit with Bill Frisell many moons ago, I remember thinking that he played too hard for that situation, even Frisell was wincing each time Ralph wacked those drums. Mr. Peterson has obviously matured through the years and I've come to dig his playing more and more. Can't say that I am very familiar with any of the members of his current quintet, but I have seen their names around and saxist Jimmy Greene was on a Mario Pavone disc from the past year or two. Ralph wrote four of the eleven tunes here, the rest of the group also contributed four more plus a few standards like Cole Porter's "I Love You", Freddie Hubbard's "Neo Terra" and "When I Fall in Love". This fine quintet has that mid-sixties Blue Note sound with that hard swinging groove, memorable melodies, strong horn harmonies and solid soloing from all quintet members. Ralph no longer plays too hard, knowing when to lay back and let the those somber tunes just flow, like the title track. He has chosen his other musicians well as each contributes strong songs and solos.
CD for $15
PETE NAMLOOK/KLAUS SCHULZE/BILL LASWELL - The Dark Side of the Moog 6 (Fax/Ambient World 029) After Pete moved to his new studio the choice was easy which project would be the first to start a new era in Fax production with. Klaus Schulze (from Tangerine Dream) was asked and didn't hesitate to come to the small town at the Mosel river (not far away from Peter's home base in Frankfurt). The recording sessions took place and the features (as well as the difficulties) of a new studio created a life on their own. What came out is a recording that shows the aspects of vintage space music combined with the innovations of today to a further creation of Electronic Fusion Music. Bill Laswell adds his own cosmic throbbing bass to one track here.
CD release for $16
ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE & THE MELTING PARAISO U.F.O. - Last Concert in Tokyo (AMT 012) Complete document of the last gig that AMT played in Tokyo in February 1999. The gig was also Tsuyama's first with us after officially joining the group and it took place about a month before the release of their second album 'Pataphisical Freak Out MU'!!. For this recording, AMT consisted of Cotton Casino (voice, synthesizer), Tsuyama Atsushi (monster bass), Higashi Hiroshi (synthesizer, guitar), Koizumi Hajime (drums) and Kawabata Makoto (guitar). Limited to 1000 copies only, this is the first issue of AMT Official Bootleg Series of AMT label.
Limited edition Japanese import CD for $17
GHOST - Hypnotic Underworld (Drag City 249) For the first time in many moons, the tribes of Earth have real call to celebrate -- the return of Ghost. Their new offering, Hypnotic Underworld, is their best album ever - more colorful than Ghost, heavier than Temple Stone, deeper and wider than Lama Rabi Rabi, more psyched and folked than Snuffbox Immanence and Second Time Around and with a more mountainous jam than "Tune In, Turn On, Free Tibet". Believe it. Yes, 'Hypnotic Underworld' is heavy with highlights, ranging the continents in quicksilver fashion, adding 70 minutes of Ghost sounds to this world, all streamlined to an ultimate intensity. Best Japanese psych band, besides Acid Mother Temple - BLG
CD release for $14 / 2 LP set for $16
MICHALOWSKI/KHOURY/BUKOWSKI - close embrace of the earth (abzu recordings 001) This Michigan based improv trio feature Lenni Bukowski on clarinets, alto & baritone saxes, Mike Khoury on violin, Piotr Michalowski on clarinets, baritone, tenor, soprano & sopranino saxes and all three on little instruments. This was recorded at various locations in Ann Arbor during 2002 and much more about these fine improvisers I can't tell you. An extremely thoughtful, focused and well matched trio who often remind me of Braxton/AACM style of cautious, spacious improv spirits. Except for Anthony Braxton and his collaborators, we rarely get to hear any contrabass, contra-alto or alto clarinets at length, so this is indeed a treat. Those dry wooden tones and quiet violin abstractions sound great to me. You can tell that these cats have been at it for a while as there is a carefully crafted thread that runs through it all and it sounds as if this is partially charted material. Well thought out, nice use of space and no screaming.
CD for $12
OH YEAH, BEFORE YOU FORGET [and in case you missed the mailing], check out our ongoing HAT [ Ology/Now/Art ] Label SALE Many descriptions that list side players have been added to the older items since we sent it out!
HENRY FLYNT & THE INSURRECTIONS - I Don't Wanna (Locust 39) Our man Flynt shatters the categories once again with this surprise collection of his short lived basement rock protest band, The Insurrections, from 1966. Let there be no doubt in anyone's mind: Flynt's version of protest music isn't your cultural-commissar school of folk posturing. It's agro and Flynt is an unhinged showman on helium induced vocals and the electric guitar (his teacher was none other than Lou Reed). Imagine a mix of Sky Saxon (of Seeds fame) with a dash of Roky Erickson thrown in on vocals, a little bit of the Cramps' scary monster dramatics thrown in for good measure and the swamp chugalug laziness of vintage Pussy Galore and you get an idea what Flynt was up to at this phase in his non-career. Features legendary sculptor Walter De Maria on drums, confirming our hidden suspicion that in every great artist there's a desire to rock and beneath every fine gallery, there is a basement. Photos by George Maciunas.
CD release for $14
ESPERS - Espers (Locust 44) Espers are a boy/girl/girl trio from Philly featuring singer/songwriter Greg Weeks, Meg Baird and Brooke Sietinsons who combine the elemental sound of acid-folk with the baroque arrangements of late 60s chamber rock. Fully versed in the sumptuous vernacular of drug music, the cradle of Appalachian song, and the succinct truths of the three-minute pop ballad, their full length debut is an irresistible collection of sweet and subtle songs essential for fans of Fairport Convention, Pentangle, Jackson C. Franck, Bread, Love & Dreams and Bert Jansch. Espers are the sound of the New Weird America the way it should be heard -- with the ease, infectious grace and absolute beauty of an ever expansive trio bound for ever greater pastures.
CD release for $14
VOCOKESH - The Tenth Corner (Strange Attractors 019) Vocokesh seriously tweak the standard rock trio infrastructure by processing the guitars beyond earthly recognition and inoculating the cacophony with an arsenal of vintage analog electronics. With seven songs totaling over an hour of music, 'The Tenth Corner' explores some seriously alien terrain with an elusively mechanical, intensely lysergic sound. Unfurling like mellow smoke from some alien opium den, the title track introduces the sonic soiree in a pleasant mood, as distant acoustic plucking and electronic oscillations provide a pillowing backdrop for some elegant electric guitar flourishes. Imbued with an intense array of moods and textures, 'The Tenth Corner' is a tremendously cinematic listening experience - in fact, three tunes are envisioned as supplemental/alternate soundtracks to some particularly vivid cult films. Composition and improvisation coalesce into a sound that draws from the early flights of 70's German avant rock (Agitation Free, Cosmic Jokers, Ash Ra Tempel) and synth-powered cosmic (Cluster, Tangerine Dream, Popol Vuh) if it were created in the embryonic electronic music labs of the 60's and 70's. Transcendent, gritty, hallucinatory - 'The Tenth Corner' is undoubtedly Vocokesh's finest hour.
CD release for $14
THE GAMELAN SON OF LION - The Complete Gamelan in the New World [2 CD set] (Locust 41/42) This is the first proper re-release of two legendary recordings by the innovative Gamelan Son of Lion. This New York performance group has counted as its founding members Fluxus pioneer Phillip Corner, electronics composer Daniel Goode (Tzadik) and core member Barbara Benary. Equally inspired by the resonant decaying sounds of New York school composers like Morton Feldman, the stunning pacific gamelan music of its namesake & the wild antics of Fluxus, their sound is trancelike and beautifully inspiring collection. Brought back into print for the first time in over 20 years, this fully re-mastered features new liner notes by Author Marcus Boon.
2 CD set for $18
THE FIRST 7 VOLUMES of the WONDERFUL 'MUSIC OF ISLAM' SERIES are now HERE:
ALL 16 VOLUMES of the below GREAT SERIES COME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! WE WILL LIST the NEXT SEVEN VOLUMES NEXT WEEK as WE SLOWLY ABSORB EACH ONE
THE MUSIC OF ISLAM - Volume 1 / various artists (Celestial Harmonies 13140) Classic 1997 series of Islamic music, 15 volumes spread out over 17 CDs, available individually or all together in a wooden box. Nearly all traditions of Arabic music, including Egyptian, are strongly defined by rhythm. This first volume in The Music of Islam series clearly reflects this, belonging to both old and new styles - in repertoire and performance the music in this recording reflects the new Egyptic style while the orchestration follows the older Arab practices. What is unique about this volume is that it incorporates only instrumental recordings.
CD for $15
THE MUSIC OF ISLAM - Volume 2 / various artists (Celestial Harmonies 13141) Bedouin music is probably the oldest part of the entire repertoire of folk music in the Arab world. Thus, this recording is a celebration as well as a sound document of their traditional culture and unique identity. From the harsh and beautiful land of desert plains and rugged red-brown and black mountains - the South Sinai - this volume features the traditional folk music of the legendary desert nomads. Recorded in a single night, in a dry riverbed under a full moon, the backdrop of the desert offered a priceless doorway into this ancient culture, people and music, capturing their very essence.
CD for $15
ASWAN TROUPE FOR FOLKLORIC ARTS - The Music of Islam / Volume 3 (Celestial Harmonies 13142) From ancient times, Nubian peoples have flourished in the land along the Nile River. But Egyptian projects to dam the river at Aswan have, over time, submerged the Nubian territories along the Nile under water. And with the completion of the Aswan High Dam and Lake Nasser came the inundation of the entire Nubian valley in southern Egypt. As a result, the Egyptian Nubians irrevocably lost what remained of their ancestral lands along the Nile and were forcibly relocated. The resettlement has given rise to a range of social problems, and many aspects of Nubian culture and social organization that previously existed have now changed or disappeared.
CD for $15
LELO & HAITHAM HASAN, MOHAMMED SALEH ABD AL-SAHEB - The Music of Islam / Volume 4 (Celestial Harmonies 13143) Volume Four embraces some of the most beautiful Islamic music from Iraq, featuring the 'ud and various percussion instruments, performed by Iraqi master musicians who keep their music traditions alive in Qatar. 1389/1969, began playing percussion instruments at the age of nine. In this recording, Haitham is featured on the tabalah (a goblet drum), kasur (a small single-headed drum), riqq (tambourine), tar (a single-headed frame drum), sajat (copper finger cymbals), drenga (like the tabalah but more metallic in sound) and the tabl (a double-headed cylindrical drum.
CD for $15
THE MUSIC OF ISLAM - Volume 6 / various artists (Celestial Harmonies 13146) This volume features songs from various sections of the lila (music ritual) repertoire of the Gnawa. The Gnawa inhabit the same religious world as Arab Muslim Moroccans, yet find their entry into it via a different path. The songs are flexible in length, allowing the leader to shorten or lengthen a song to accommodate the needs of dancers in trance. The Gnawa use three main instruments, which are particular to them: the sintir or hajhaj, a long-necked lute of the guinbri family; the qraqeb or qraqesh, a pair of hand held metal clappers; and the tbel, a barrel drum with two heads struck with sticks.
CD for $15
THE MUSIC OF ISLAM - Volume 7 / various artists (Celestial Harmonies 13147) North Africa became the stronghold of Arab-Andalusian music after the fall of Granada in 897/1492, yet the existence of the nubah (plural nubat, literally rotation or succession) system in Morocco can be traced back earlier, to at least the XI/12th century. Much of the repertoire has been lost over the years, and different areas preserve different nubat. In Morocco today, there are at least two distinct styles of Arab-Andalusian music, al-Ala, which is the most prevalent one across the country, and Gharnati, specific to Oujda in eastern Morocco and to Tlemcen in Algeria. These traditions are considered to be Morocco's classical heritage.
CD for $15
LOFTI JORMANA GROUP - The Music of Islam / Volume 8 (Celestial Harmonies 13148) According to producer David Parsons, this volume was the most difficult in the series, both technically and information-wise. "It was a classic case of trying to record, with one stereo microphone, a group of singers who also played drums", exclaims Parsons. Yet, however technically challenging it may have been, the end result is nonetheless superb. Two of the most beautiful songs on the recording feature the mawwal - a vocal form which usually follows the performance of the layali - vocal improvisations. The form was known as early as the III/9th century where it was described in connection with the working class. Performed by the Lotfi Jormana Group, this volume features the melodic mizwid - Tunisian bagpipe played in the central regions of Tunisia accompanied by percussion.
CD for $15
A FEW YEARS AGO, WE RECEIVED A CD BY AN EXPERIMENTAL ACOUSTIC GUITARIST NAMED PHILIP GAYLE FROM THE BOSTON AREA WHICH WAS AS BRILLIANT AS IT WAS BIZARRE. AFTER OUR DISTRIBUTOR RAN OUT OF COPIES, WE HEARD NOTHING FROM MR. GAYLE. THIS WEEK PHILIP WANDERED INTO DMG AND FILLED US IN WITH HIS JOURNEY FROM TEXAS TO JAPAN. HE IS NOW LIVING HERE AND WILL BE PLAYING IN OUR STORE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. HE LEFT US WITH THESE FOUR CDS TO SELL, TWO OF WHICH ARE VERY LIMITED! HERE GOES:
PHILIP GAYLE - Keguribap (Yabyum no number) This is the solo effort that introduced us to Philip Gayle. He plays 4 string, 5 string, 11 string, 12 string & classical guitars and banjo with assorted acoustic devices like brushes and bottles, often two or three at a time, overdubbed I believe. The only comparison I can make is early Eugene Chadbourne who was/is equally chaotic but there is always a method to his madness. This music appears very free and frantic, yet there is a well paced flow and crafty touch, a great deal of frenetic tapping. Philip uses space well and takes his time through both sparse and dense sections. I hear him pulling a loose string or wire through the other strings, something I've seen/heard Fred Frith do on occasion. Titles range from Japanese to ditties like "pustular eruption" and at nearly 70 minutes, this is a bit much to take in at one sitting, but I wasn't bored for a moment.
CD for $12
PHILIP GAYLE - solo live '98 (Yabyum 002) Recorded on radio shows (in Houston & Bloomington, IN), at a record store and at a small concert hall, during the second half of '98. On this compilation Philip plays a modified 3-string toy guitar, a mandolin and a 6-string guitar. More stripped down than his previous studio disc which sounded like he was overdubbing 2 or 3 guitars at once. The strings resonate and hum with more space surrounding each note giving this a more solemn vibe. Philip also does much more slow motion note bending, giving things a cautious, yet alien quality. He seems to be exploring a certain section of the guitar or a certain approach on each piece. In many ways this is the complete opposite of the frantic paced insanity of Philip's previous effort, yet occasionally erupts as he percussively bangs on the strings and twists them into strange sounds.
CD for $10
PHILIP GAYLE - pnbna (Fleece Records #13) This another studio solo effort from 1998 in which Philip plays 4, 6 & 12 string guitars, mandolin, 5-string acoustic bass, cello, waterphone and assorted percussive objects, when he was still in Houston, Texas. Like his first solo effort 'Keguribap', this one also features Philip overdubbing layers of at times alien-sounding acoustic guitars, mandolin, bass and/or cello. Philip sounds as if he is having more fun here, occasionally throwing in a couple of swinging jazz lines, not pushing the envelope too hard. There sections of more sparse, high note fragments, more measured tapping and percussive string manipulation which is done quite carefully with more restrained results. If one were going to start with just one of the four releases mentioned here, this would be a good place to begin as it has a more relaxed and less alien vibe, yet remains fascinating throughout.
CD for $12
RICHARD CHOLAKIAN/PHILIP GAYLE - Hud Pes / duet improvisations [2 CD set] (yabyum 003) Featuring Richard on drums, gong & assorted percussion and Philip on 12, 6 & 4 string guitars, mandolin, waterphone & water bottles. Recorded live in the studio in Houston in May & November of 1998, during the sessions for Philip's 'pnbna' disc. There are three long pieces here, the 78 minute "OK" which was recorded organically in the old studio with natural sounds and interruptions, bookended by two shorter pieces recorded in a newer studio with less going on around them. Richard and Philip work well together, as their percussion/drums and guitar(s) move freely always connecting on some level. Much of this is quite restrained and rather magical as it floats freely and swims in subtle waves. Philip often spends less time trying to twist his strings into alien shapes or sounds, playing a bit more melodically so that the drums are able to connect more readily. They occasionally work into a groove for short bits which adds some fun to the proceedings and rarely freak out too much, thus making it easier to go along for the ride.
2 CD set for $16
REISSUES/RESTOCKS/OUT-OF-PRINTS:
CARAVAN - Travelling Man (Mooncrest 029) As many of you know, Caravan emerged from the Wilde Flowers along with Soft Machine and put out their first album in 1968. Both Caravan and the Softs were from Canterbury, UK when they started and launched the careers of influential musicians/characters like Daevid Allen, Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, Richard Sinclair and Hugh Hopper. Both bands had a sort of parallel path/sound when they started - both had that unique high and low vocal combination and both featured that fuzz organ sound. Caravan chose the more rockin', song-oriented path, still progressive in their own way, while Soft Machine evolved further into avant jazz with no more vocals by 'Volume Four'. While the Softs broke up by the mid-seventies, Caravan still exist today with 3 of their 4 original members and played at the NEAR Fest in NJ just two years ago (available on a DVD). Caravan made six great albums in row and then their recordings became less interesting, less consistent, less magical. 'Travelling Man' was released in 1998 and includes a half dozen earlier tunes redone, as well as newer material. Longtime leader, lead vocalist and guitarist, Pye Hastings, is still out front and wrote all of the songs here except for two early songs which were group collaborations. Starting with the wonderful title tune from their third and best album, "In the Land of Grey and Pink", which was originally sung by Richard Sinclair (he of the deep voice), who has long since departed. Still, it is a lovely rendition. Overall this disc is worth getting, even good for those who don't have any Caravan yet!
CD for $16
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - United States Of America (Edsel; UK) Outstanding, mind-blowing and bizarre psychedelic masterwork, somewhere between modern classical and acid rock, from this wonderful Bay Area quintet in 1968. We just have a handful of this out-of-print CD.
CD for $18
MEDITATIONS ON MINGUS [V.A.] - Weird Nightmare (Columbia; US) "For producer Hal Willner's [veteran of wonderfully off-kilter but on-target tributes to Monk, Rota, Weill, and even Disney songs] Charles Mingus project, his central idea was as inspired as it was loony: He even incorporates the amazing instruments invented and designed by another equally maverick composer, Harry Partch, into reinterpretations of Mingus' work. By and large, it works, making Weird Nightmare a strange and wonderful one-off event. There's a central band at work based around bassist Greg Cohen and guitarist Bill Frisell, with guests including Gary Lucas, Bobby Previte, Vernon Reid, Leonard Cohen, Geri Allen, Don Byron, Elvis Costello, Robert Quine, Henry Rollins, Diamanda Galas, Robbie Robertson, Dr. John, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Chuck D! Highlights abound; when Partch's Marimba Eroica is struck during "Pithecanthropus Erectus," the floors of the listener's dwelling may buckle. Elvis Costello's reading of the title song is, well, eerily weird. One special high point is the version of "Gunslinging Bird" where text from Mingus' autobiographical Beneath the Underdog is angrily and righteously declaimed by Chuck D.; it's arguably as pure and forceful as anything he ever accomplished with Public Enemy and makes one wonder why he never pursued this seemingly rewarding path. There are several missteps as well, to be sure. Most egregiously, Keith Richards' sneering condescension on "Oh Lord, Don't Let Them Drop That Atomic Bomb on Me," as though he had better things to do, is embarrassing. But eventually, it's simply the gorgeous music of Charles Mingus that carries the day, showing itself more than capable of shouldering the ghost of Harry Partch and the wayward inclinations of its interpreters. Most of the pieces glow in these unusual treatments, and make Weird Nightmare a must for any serious Mingus fan." - Brian Olewnick
We just have a handful of this out-of-print CD for $13
DMG RECOMMENDED CALENDER of GIGS the 1st week of FEBRUARY 2004
Friday Jan 30th & Sat Jan 31st
MARCO CAPPELLI'S EXTREME GUITAR PROJECT: Marco commisioned rigorous written structures that he could perform from Elliott Sharp, Otomo Yoshihide, Ikue Mori, Marc Ribot, David Shea, Anthony Coleman, Nick Didkovsky, Mark Stewart, Erik Friedlander, and Annie Gosfield! 8 PM both nights at ISSUE PROJECT ROOM, 619 East 6th St., 212 598 4130
Saturday January 31st-
PAUL ROGERS SOLOS 6 STRING BASS & TRIO w/ NICK DIDKOVSKY & KEVIN NORTON at 7pm at Bowery Poetry Club for one set only! Paul is a phenomenal bassist who rarely comes to town; this is his solo debut here! The trio w/ Dr. Nerve guitar hero (Nick) and wonder drummer/percussionist (Kev) should also be amazing - sponsored by us folks here at DMG!!!
RAZ MESINAI/OKKYUNG LEE/DOUG WEISELMAN/BEN PEROWSKY at Tonic at 10pm - Raz' s music is always an exotic treat!
REGGIE WORKMAN w/ KYOKO KITAMURA / WILL CALHOUN / YAYOI IKAWA/ KEVIN JONES / JASON MARSHALL / JOHN BEATY
at Sista's Place, 456 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, (718) 398 1766
Sunday February 1st-
CHRIS FORSYTHE & MARY HALVERSON here at DMG at 7pm for free! Both are wonderful new improv guitarists - Mary studied w/ Braxton & has become a local legend!
SUNDAY NITE FREE-STYLE SERIES [$10 for the whole night!] at CB's Lounge
7pm - Chainworks; dan dechellis, matt hannafin, brian moran
8pm - Project Grudge: Russ Johnson, Jason Gillenwater, Jon Goldberger, Eivind Opsvik, Jeff Davis
9pm - louie belogenis, ken filiano, jackson krall, francois grillot
Monday Feb 2nd-
MONO & SHAHZAD ISMAILY at Tonic at 8pm - Mono are an intense Japanese psych band w/ a great cd on Tzadik & Shahzad works w/ Eyvind Kang, Carla Kilhstedt & others
Tuesday Feb 3rd-
DOM MONASI TRIO at Tonic at 8pm - Dom is an extraordinary jazz guitarist!
DOWNRIVER at Tonic at 10pm - featuring guitarist & bassist for Blind Idiot God, but not like them at all!?!
JOEL HARRISON'S FREE COUNTRY does a tribute to GEORGE HARRISON at 7:30 PM and and Jazz arrangements of Appalachian and Country music at 9:30 at Jazz Standard - 116 East 27th St.
Mario Pavone Quartet showcasing their April 2004 debut, Boom (Playscape), 8:30 PM at Barbs, 376 9th Street (at 6th Avenue), Brooklyn, NY (Park Slope) (718) 965-9177
Tuesday Feb 3rd - Sunday Feb 8th-
DAVE DOUGLAS QUINTET CD release celebration at the Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave; w/ URI CAINE/CHRIS POTTER/JAMES GENUS/CLARENCE PENN - Hey! The new cd rules - so catch it live!!!
Wednesday Feb 4th-
OKKYUNG LEE QUINTET at Tonic at 8pm - our favorite feisty cellist always knocks us out!!
CHARLES WATER QUARTET at Tonic at 10pm - Charles plays great alto sax & clarinet w/ Gold Sparkle & the Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra!
Brilliant Coroners - a jazz ensemble with the weirdest arrangements and covers! Knitting Factory Tap Bar 8-9 PM, $5, 76 Leonard Street
Thursday Feb 5th-
LOU HARRISON MEMORIAL CONCERT at the Riverside Church - 91 Claremont Ave, west of Broadway at 120th St. at 8pm - performed by the Locrian Chamber Players!
Friday Feb 6th-
MUHAL RICHARD ABRAMS TRIO & SEPTET at Alice Tully Hall/Lincoln Center
- 65th & Broadway at 8pm - the Trio features Mark Feldman & Tani Tabbal & the septet includes Aaron Stewart, Eddie Allen, Brad Jones, Warren Smith & Reggie Nicholson - Muhal is the founder of the AACM & a brilliant pianist, composer & visionary bandleader!!
Min Xiao-Fen solo Pipa concert at 8pm At Symphony Space (Leonard Nimoy Thalia) 2537 Broadway at 95th Street
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