A Short one - with very few reviews - 'cause we're stuffed - like turkeys!

so .. New! Crispell/Moholo! Cecil Taylor/William Parker/Masashi Harada! Schlippenbach/Takase! Oxley/Bailey Qt! David Murray Qt! John Larsen/Jimmy Carl Black!...

and so much more!




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TWO DOWNTOWN MUSIC GALLERY BENEFITS PLANNED FOR DECEMBER!

Wednesday December 17th - 10pm at Bowery Poetry Club!
Featuring
TISZIJI MUNOZ HEART-BURN TRIO w/ BOB "RA-KALAM" MOSES, DON PATE, and REBAZAR MUNOZ!
THE ROBERT MUSSO/RAOUL BJORKENHEIM EXPERIENCE!
ELLIOTT SHARP'S BOOTSTRAPPERS!

Saturday December 20th - 8:30 at Roulette!
Featuring:
JOHN ZORN, LOUIE BELOGENIS, SHANIR BLUMENKRANZ, KENNY WOLLESEN!
a MYSTERY BAND [?] FOR THE 2ND SET!

Stay tuned...


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Tzadik Music Label - Concert Series Presentation IV

TRIBUTE TO TEIJI ITO

Curated by John Zorn and Presented in association with Tzadik

Featuring Guy Klucevsek Ensemble & Steve Gorn Ensemble

Friday December 12 2008, 7:30 PM - 11 PM
$35 for non-members

@ The Japan Society
333 East 47th Street, New York City
Box Office: 212.715.1258

The late Japanese American composer Teiji Ito (1935-82) was known as the founding composer of the experimental new music scene and for his scores for the avant-garde films by his former wife, Maya Deren. The fourth in the Tzadik Music Label series curated by John Zorn, this is the first ever large-scale tribute to the music of Ito, one of the pioneering composers who incorporated musical instruments from many world cultures into his work. Creating an innovative combination of sounds, Ito had a diverse career composing music for stage and film, including the original Broadway production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The evening will be divided into three programs, music for theater, film and dance, exploring the range of Ito's music as studied, arranged and performed by Guy Klucevsek and Steve Gorn and their ensembles.

The marathon concert will include:

Music for Theater
The Coach with the Six Insides & music from King Ubu Performed by Guy Klucevsek and ensemble, including Rinde Eckert, Steve Elson, Todd Reynolds, Michael Sirotta, and Yukio Tsuji.

Music for Film
Lifelines (Ed Emshwiller, 1960)
Meditation on Violence (Maya Deren, 1948)
Arabesque for Kenneth Anger (Marie Menken, 1961)
Moonplay (Marie Menken, 1964-66)

Music for Dance - Watermill Directed by Steve Gorn and performed by Watermill Ensemble, including Ito's daughter Tavia Ito, Mara Purl, Yukio Tsuji, Ralph Samuelson, Zishan Ugurlu and Gorn.

Plus a discussion with John Zorn and musicians who worked with Ito himself.

"I make it to very few performances nowadays, but I can't miss this! Thanks to Zorn for making the recordings available on Tzadik, and curating this event ..and waking me up" - MannyLunch

***

WHAT?!?! You haven't heard ITO?

BONE UP before this rare one-time event with these AMAZING RECORDINGS:

TEIJI ITO - Watermill (Tzadik 8058; USA) The fifth CD in Tzadik's initiative to make available the music of Teiji Ito presents his undisputed masterpiece Watermill. Created in 1971 for the controversial ballet by Jerome Robbins and named for the town on Long Island where Robbins had a peaceful country home, Teiji draws upon Chinese, Tibetan, African, Native American and Japanese ceremonies in creating what many consider his most profound compositional achievement. Based on the ideas of cycles - years, moons, ages and seasons, Watermill is brilliantly brought to life by Teiji colleague Steve Gorn and a brilliant ensemble that includes Teiji's daughter Tavia Ito. This is music of deep spirituality composed by a pioneer of the New York Underground who is finally getting the recognition he has long deserved. TZADIK COMPOSER SERIES
CD $14

TEIJI ITO - The Shamanic Principles (Tzadik 8048; USA) Now hailed as one of the downtown scene's founding fathers, Teiji Ito blended world music, avant-garde classical and improvisation as early as 1952. This fourth volume of music out of the Ito archives features the original recordings of two of his last and most important extended compositions. Drawing upon cosmic and shamanic principles learned first hand from a variety of spiritual masters around the world, Axis Mundi (using an orchestra of homemade instruments) and Quetzalcoatl (performed with Singers from the Sioux Nation) are the culmination of a lifetime of spiritual study by this elusive and enigmatic musical explorer. Another mind bending view into the fascinating musical universe of Teiji Ito! TZADIK COMPOSER SERIES
CD $14

TEIJI ITO - Music for Maya: The Film Music of Teiji Ito [2 CD set] (Tzadik 8038; USA) Focusing on his remarkable relationship with the legendary cinematic poet Maya Deren, Tzadik's third Teiji Ito release highlights his versatile and evocative music for films. Included are two major Deren scores and recently discovered music for a rare film she scripted alongside pieces written for industrial films, documentaries, dance films and the avant-garde. Much of this remarkable collection is being released for the first time through the cooperation of the Ito estate. Includes an extended booklet filled with scores, storyboards, photos, notes and a rare interview Maya Deren conducted with Teiji Ito in the late 1950's. A fascinating view into the early groundbreaking work of an American maverick seen through the lens of his muse and wife, filmmaker Maya Deren. TZADIK COMPOSER SERIES
2 CD set for $20

TEIJI ITO - Tenno (Tzadik 8031; USA) The second in a series of releases by the legendary downtown pioneer Teiji Ito presents his postmodern masterpiece Tenno, blending Japanese, African, Carribean and Western musical instruments with sound effects, voice and electronics to create the most startling long form composition in his catalog. Born in Japan in 1935, Ito moved to New York and worked closely with Maya Deren, Jerome Robbins and Julian Beck creating music for film, dance and theatre for nearly half a century. These are the original 1964 recordings of the composer overdubbing himself in his studio, released with the cooperation of the Ito Estate. Astounding and essential music by one of Downtown New York's unsung musical geniuses, who combined improvisation, composition, world music and electronics into a remarkably original and coherent musical system as early as 1952. TZADIK COMPOSER SERIES
CD $14

TEIJI ITO - King Ubu [sndtck] (Tzadik 7036; USA) The first release of Ito's original 1961 recordings, authorized by the composer's estate. Teiji Ito was one of contemporary music's most elusive mavericks. Born in Tokyo in 1935, he moved to NY at the age of six, and by 1952, at the age of seventeen, he was already composing music for the influential avant-garde film work of Maya Deren. Accompanying her to Haiti in 1955, Ito learned ceremonial and secular drumming techniques from the legendary Haitian musician Coyote. Applying these principles to his knowledge of traditional Japanese music, contemporary classical and African traditions, Ito's scores are a shocking precursor to today's cutting-edge composers. King Ubu, originally written for a 1961 NY production of Alfred Jarry's pre-dadaist masterpiece, is a delightful and eclectic score filled with sly humor and ingenious dramatic effects. Intermixing a wide range of traditional and ethnic instruments, all of which are performed with great skill by the composer himself on this rare original recording, Ito's score to King Ubu establishes him as one of the most extraordinary and personal composers in the NY underground. Teiji Ito: all instruments. TZADIK COMPOSER SERIES
CD $14


Now, if only someone would re-release the ESP "Coach With Six Insides" album, perhaps as a bonus disc to another package [hint, hint]...


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New on Intakt!

ALEXANDER VON SCHLIPPENBACH/AKI TAKASE - Iron Wedding: Piano Duets (Intakt 160; Switzerland) Two grand pianos, quasi two orchestras, driven by two of the most distinguished personalities of contemporary jazz: Aki Takase and Alexander von Schlippenbach - they are having a conversation within the medium of sound. But they complement one another in a way that makes any stylistic differentiation irrelevant. With all the transparency in the course of their playing the dialogical principle opens out into an holistic piano language. What counts is freedom and the responsibility to create something new, driven by the awareness of continuous change. - Bert Noglik
CD $20

LOUIS MOHOLO-MOHOLO With MARILYN CRISPELL - Sibanye (We Are One): Duets With Marilyn Crispell (Intakt 145; Switzerland) Call it inspiration, magic or what you will. The music then takes on a larger aspect, one that is extremely vivid to the senses, but is fundamentally resistant to description. This first meeting between Louis Moholo-Moholo and Marilyn Crispell is one of them.
"Call it inspiration, magic or what you will. The music then takes on a larger aspect, one that is extremely vivid to the senses, but is fundamentally resistant to description. This first meeting between Louis Moholo-Moholo and Marilyn Crispell is one of them. After listening to this gem a half dozen times, I got to admit that it is one of the most exquisite and enchanting discs that I've heard this year!" - BLG
CD $20

JURG WICKIHALDER OVERSEAS QUARTET - Furioso (Intakt 153; Switzerland) Jurg Wickihalder: Soprano and Alto Saxophone; Achille Succi: Bass Clarinet, Alto Sax; Mark Zubek: Bass; Kevin Zubek: Drums Jurg Wickihalder is a Zurich saxophonist who works with pianist Irene Schweizer. He published last year the first CD of his own music, in a duo with the equally fine pianist Chris Wiesendanger. Now Wickihalder, a master of melody, presents his Overseas Quartet with Achille Succi, Mark and Kevin Zubek. Subsequently, there is an abundance of song and dance on this impressive debut of Jurg Wickihalder's Overseas Quartet. - Bill Shoemaker
CD $20

ERNST-LUDWIG PETROWSKY/MICHAEL GRIENER - The Salmon (Intakt 148; Switzerland) Ernst Ludwig Petrowsky Alto Saxophone, Clarinet; Michael Griener Drums
The duo saxophone-drums - a classical formation in jazz - offers remarkable possibilities. The Berlin musicians Ernst-Ludwig Petrowsky and Michael Griener use this situation that offers freedom as well as intimacy to undertake adventurous journeys into a wondrous world of sound and groove.
The drummer Michael Griener represents the current dawn of jazz in Berlin, one of the most thrilling drummers of the younger generation; to be heard on drums already on the recording of the Ulrich Gumpert Quartet released at Intakt. The saxophone and clarinet player Ernst-Ludwig Petrowsky is one of the outstanding personalities of the European jazz modernity, saxophonist in the legendary Zentralquartet, member of the Globe Unity Orchestra and the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band.
CD $20

and, back in stock

LOTTE ANKER/SYLVIE COURVOISIER/IKUE MORI - Alien Huddle (Intakt 144; Switzerland) Of the three, Anker has the deepest background in jazz; she came up in the Scandinavian jazz scene during the late 1980s, initially playing in ensembles led by Marilyn Mazur, Pierre Dorge and others. She soon assumed leadership roles in several ensembles, a trio with Craig Taborn and Gerald Cleaver, and the 12-piece Copenhagen Art Ensemble. Steeped in post-serial composition and non-idiomatic improvisation. Her own projects such as Abaton and Lonelyville emphasize a compositional formalism and improvisational rigor as commonly associated with the frontiers of classical music as it is with the jazz circuit. This is even the case when the terms of improvising are as wide-open as with Mephista, Courvoisier's collaboration with Mori and Susie Ibarra. Mori first made her mark during the late 1970s as the drummer of the No Wave band DNA. During the late 80s, Mori transformed the drum machine, then an annoying novelty in pop music, into a viable instrument for new music. During the past decade, Mori's main ax has been the laptop.
Throughout the album, these three trajectories alternately collide and commingle. A groan from deep within the bell of jazz tenor saxophone archetypes scrapes against laptop textures; the shimmers of directly excited piano strings hover about kindred digital specters; a double-tongued soprano phrase flutters in the grand decay of the piano. It is a mercurial dialogue in which voices rise and recede unexpectedly, fragments suddenly elongate into flowing verse and rapid-fire repartee abruptly atomizes. It is propelled by inscrutable impulses; unlike some long-observed forms of improvised music, where quiet murmurings groundswell as if on cue, and then ebb on schedule, these improvisations take shape in unexpected ways. The trio's tactical stealth in this regard is often startling, even when the resulting music has subtle shadings.
CD $20



New releases on the FMP label!!!!!!!!!!!!

CECIL TAYLOR DANCE PROJECT With WILLIAM PARKER/MASASHI HARADA - CT - The Dance Project (FMP 130; Germany) Never before released! Recorded live July 8th, 1990 with Cecil piano, William Parker bass, and Masashi Harada percussion. Review next week, but why wait!
CD $20

ILINX [SERGE BAGHDASSARIANS/BORIS BALTSCHUN/LARS SCHERZBERG/JACOB THEIN] - Ilinx (FMP 119; Germany) Serge Baghdassarians: electric guitar, electronics; Boris Baltschun: sampler, electronics; Lars Scherzberg: alto saxophone; Jacob Thein: drums, percussion. Recorded in 2000 & 2001 live at Podewil
Originating in Bremen, Germany, the Ilinx quartet has been based in Berlin since 1999. The name refers to the last of four basic categories of games identified by French intellectual Roger Caillois in his book Man, Play and Games. It's no accident that this category comprises the type of games focused on obsession and physical intensity. In his book, Caillois describes the category of ilinx as "games that are based on the pursuit of vertigo and which consist of an attempt to momentarily destroy the stability of perception and inflict a kind of voluptuous panic upon an otherwise lucid mind."
Modern laptop ensembles of the type that flourish in cities like Vienna or Berlin, might be considered the most extreme breed of improvised music's electronic renaissance. In comparison, the Ilinx approach feels pretty traditional:
these four musicians use all their concentration and intensity to establish a kind of "reciprocal connectivity" in order to integrate and permeate electronic and acoustic sounds and textures. By rendering electronic sounds flexible, as opposed to predetermined, they keep the outcome of their sounds erratic. They create, reproduce, and modify electronic sounds to make them "playable".
CD $20

ALEXANDER VON SCHLIPPENBACH - Piano Solo 1977 (FMP 129; Germany) The classic FMP LP from 1977 finally on CD!
CD $20

JALI NYAMA SUSO - Kora Music from Gambia (FMP 121; Germany) Jali Nyama Suso-kora & voice Finally! a CD edition LP SAJ-51 plus three additional takes found on the original recording tapes.
CD $20


New from Jazzwerkstatt!

TONY OXLEY/DEREK BAILEY QUARTET With PAT THOMAS/MATT WAND - Tony Oxley/Derek Bailey Quartet: Live 1993 (Jazzwerkstatt 33; Germany) Recorded at Chapter Arts Center, Cardiff/Wales on September 10, 1993. NOT the same recording as the Incus release, which was from 1992.
CD $17

DAVID MURRAY BLACK SAINT QUARTET With LAFAYETTE GILCHRIST/JARIBU SHAHID/HAMID DRAKE - Live In Berlin 2007 [DVD] (Jazzwerkstatt 2002; Germany) [NTSC Region "0" (all regions)
DVD $28
also available on CD for $17

DAS WEIMARER DREIECK [V.A. With TOMASZ STANKO QUARTET/FRIEDHELM SCHONFELD TRIO/MARC DUCRET TRIO] - Berlin*Warsaw*Paris [DVD + CD] (Jazzwerkstatt 2000; Germany) [NTSC Region "0" (all regions). DVD is live from October 24th 2007 and contains:
Marc Ducret Trio with Bruno Chevilion and Eric Echampard: "Porteurs Des Lanternes";
Tomasz Stanko Quartet with Marcin Wasilewski, Slawomir Kurkiewicz and Michael Miskiewicz: "Liatania" (Komeda);
Friedhelm Schonfeld Trio with Gerhard Kubach, Janusz Stefanski + Ekkehard Jost and Zbignbiew Namyslowski: "A Good Hour"
CD is live from October 24th 2007 and contains:
Friedhelm Schonfeld Trio with Gerhard Kubach, Janusz Stefanski + Ekkehard Jost and Zbignbiew Namyslowski: "Heimweh" and "Start";
plus a long panel session with various musicians DVD + CD set for $32

HEIMATLIEDER [MANFRED SCHOOF/MATTHIAS SCHRIEFL/CONNY BAUER/HANS REICHEL/UTE VOLKER/WOLFGANG SCHMIDTKE/CHRISTIAN RAMOND/PETER WEISS] - Heimatlieder: Live November 2007 (Jazzwerkstatt 30; Germany)
CD $17

HR JAZZENSEMBLE [RALF HUBNER/ALBERT MANGELSDORFF/CHRISTOPH LAUER/GUNTER LENZ/HEINZ SAUER et al] - Unauffallige Festansage (Jazzwerkstatt 42; Germany)
CD $17

ULRICH GUMPERT WORKSHOP BAND With MARTIN KLINGEBERG/CHRISTOF THEWES/MICHAEL THIEKE/HENRIK WALSDORFF/MICHAEL GRIENER/JAN RODER/BEN ABARBANEL-WOLFF - Suites (Jazzwerkstatt 54; Germany)
CD $17

THE REAL LATINOS [HENRIK WALSDORFF/HIGH DE PRIME/JAN RODER/KAY LUBKE] - Good Groove (Jazzwerkstatt 40; Germany) HIGH DE PRIME(p), HENRIK WALSDORFF(sax), JAN RODER(b), KAY LUBKE(ds)
CD $17

SQUAKK [MICHAEL GRIENER/JAN RODER/CHRISTOF THEWES] - Squakk (Jazzwerkstatt 46; Germany)
CD $17

ERNST-LUDWIG PETROWSKY - Ein Nachmittag in Peitz (Jazzwerkstatt 18; Germany)
CD $17

JAZZXCLAMATION [KATHRIN LEMKE et al] - Odds And Ends (Jazzwerkstatt 43; Germany) kathrin lemke - saxophone; zoran terzic - piano, wurlitzer; berit jung - kontrabass;peter horisberger - drums
CD $17



New to the DMG store!

ALAN SKIDMORE QUARTET With MIKE GORMAN/AIDAN O'DONNELL/IAN PALMER - Impressions Of John Coltrane: Live At The Fleece [2 CD set] (ITM 920006; Germany) I suppose I've never been huge on saxophonist Alan Skidmore's output, but "Impressions of John Coltrane" is a different matter altogether. Instead of playing it safe, Skidmore is roughing up a storm on the 2 CD set. With a tight band made up of pianist Mike Gorman, bassist Aidan O'Donnell and percussionist Ian Palmer, the leader looks to Coltrane's music as his main inspiration. Don't mistake this for another salute to Coltrane. In fact only three of the eight pieces are Coltrane standards, with the rest being split between Duke Ellington ["Take the Coltrane"], George Gershwin ["But Not For Me" and "Summertime"] and others. The quartet's take of "Impressions" is pure fury and bliss. In just under 17 minutes, they tear the original apart. As Skidmore plays unashamed walls of thick tenor clusters, Gorman lets rip a slew of piano notes, while the rhythm section keeps a tight pulse on the proceedings. Warm in its not-so-gentle persuasive power and fresh with fervent energy, this live record is worth every single second of your attention and then some! - Tom Sekowski
2 CD set for $22


JON LARSEN With JIMMY CARL BLACK/TOMMY MARS/BRUCE FOWLER et al - Strange News From Mars (Zen 2001; EEC) It turns out that Mr. Larsen is an obvious Zappa fan and has put together a fine concept disc with mucho Zappa influence. The recently deceased Jimmy Carl Black, is the narrator here, his distinctive voice sounds perfect as he describes some strange things happening on Mars. The music has that charming, inventive, Zappa-like quirky jazz/rock that we all know and love. Rob Waring's marimba and Tommy Mars' synth sound fabulous throughout with the marimba giving the proceedings its Zaapa-esque sound, since Frank used so much marimba & vibes throughout his long career. Jimmy Carl Black is only on a few of the 19 pieces, but is hilarious nonetheless. This is a must for Mothers & Zappa fan-addicts worldwide just like you and me. The personnel features Jon Larsen & Knut Reiersrud on guitars, Tommy Mars on keyboards, Arthur Barrow bass & magic, Ole Morten Vagan on bass, Rob Waring on marimba, Jimmy Carl Black on vocals & percussion and Hakon Mjaset Johansen on drums. Although, I hadn't heard of Jon Larsen before this disc, I was intrigued since he was using a handful of Ex-Zappa sidemen like Jimmy Carl Black, Bruce Fowler, Tommy Mars & Arthur Barrow. - BLG
CD $17

JON LARSEN With JIMMY CARL BLACK/TOMMY MARS et al - The Jimmy Carl Black Story [2 CD set] (Zen 2003/4; EEC) Featuring Jon Larsen on guitar & compositions, Jimmy Carl Black on voice, Ola Kvernberg on violin, Knut Reiersrud on guitar & harmonica, Tommy Mars & Kirk Van Houten on keyboards, Rob Waring on marimba, Bill White & Ole Morten Vagan on bass and Andreas Bye & Hakon Mjaset Johansen on drums. Jon Larsen obviously loves Frank Zappa's music & sense of humor. For the first disc of this 2 CD set, he has utilized the distinctive voice of the late Jimmy Carl Black to narrate a ridiculous and hilarious story about strange folks on Mars. The music has that enchanting, inventive and occasionally humorous charm that defined so much of what Frank Zappa's music so special. Jimmy Carl Black's uses his voice, as well as the character that we Mothers' freaks grew to know and love throughout his days with the Mothers of Invention and in the film of '200 Motels'. Jimmy even quotes a few of the lines that we heard him do on Mothers records and in '200 Motels'. The second disc is mostly a long interview or a monologue with Jimmy telling much of his life story. Considering that Jimmy just passed away a couple of weeks ago, this disc makes me miss him all the more. It also allows to understand him and laugh hard at some of the ridiculous stories that he tells. Business has been a bit slow for the past month or so and this disc helped me, Joe & Chuck to crack up and laugh at the absurdity of life. If you consider yourself a fan of the Mothers of Invention or if you just like to laugh, this disc is for you! - BLG
2 CD set for $18


WAREHOUSE FIND! Get 'em while we got them - Complete your Zappa collection with this KEY recording!

FRANK ZAPPA/THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION/RPO - 200 Motels [sndtck; 2 CD set] (Ryko 10513/14; US) The Holy Grail! Zappa's Soundtrack to his 1971 feature film starring the Mothers Of Invention [Ian Underwood, Jimmy Carl Black, George Duke, Jim Pons, Martin Lickert, Aynsley Dunbar, and Flo & Eddie (ex-Turtles Mark Volman & Howard Kaylan)] as well as Ringo Starr (!) and Theodore Bikel... and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra! A sprawling surrealistic documentary of life on the road, it finally made it's CD debut in 1997, containing bonus tracks including the audio track of the original theatrical trailer. Package design was overseen by Cal Schenkel and includes an expanded version of the booklet found in the original LP pressing as well as the poster! Sadly, Ryko's licensing of this recording [the only Zappa material that he didn't win ownership of through court proceedings] from MGM/UA ran out in 2001- it's been out-of-print for over 7 years! Grab one of these last copies while you can..
2 CD set for $30



MICHAEL SNOW/ALAN LICHT/AKI ONDA - Five A's, Two C's, One D, One E, Two H's, Three I's, One K, Three L's, One M, Three N's, Two O's, One S, One T, One W (Victo 111; Canada) Michael Snow (synthetiseur CAT, radio a ondes courtes, piano), Alan Licht (guitare electrique, electroniques), Aki Onda (cassettes, electroniques). "The Snow/Licht/Onda concert was proof that the most unconventional of instruments can be used to create imaginative soundscapes. Canadian pianist/electronic manipulator Michael Snow has led a life of diversity as a celebrated avant-garde filmmaker and improvising artist. New York-based guitarist Alan Licht has operated in a variety of musical spheres, influenced by everything from the minimalism of Steve Reich to no wave bands like Sonic Youth. Japanese-born, New York-based Aki Onda is an equally intrepid artist who, aside from composition, production and photography, uses a most unlikely instrument -- a cassette Walkman -- to create a personal view of music as texture and experience. The trio's hour-long performance, while not its first, found them still very much in exploratory territory, looking for ways to shape sounds ranging from spare and atmospheric to dense and industrial. While there was little relationship to the familiar, the set had its own form, even if suggestive of a relentless barrage of sound. Snow, at various points, put a portable radio up to a microphone, broadcasting whatever he happened to find, including a radio announcer discussing a festival taking place in Victoriaville. Like many other moments during this often intense spatial-temporal audioscape, serendipity reigned --the postmodern self-referentiality of the radio announcement being a prime example. But perhaps what made the set so interesting was, above all, the audience' awareness that many of the sounds being produced by Snow, Licht and Onda were as new to the artists as to the audience. Improvisation as texture, not as rhythm, melody or fixed form." --John Kelman, All About Jazz, Victoriaville May 18, 2007.
CD $15


LUNAR ENSEMBLE [aka LUNAR BEAR ENSEMBLE: LUNAR [JOHN RICHEY]/DAVE 'SLUGGER' VIZTHUM/TOM DiELLO/ROBERT MUSSO/DAVE DREIWITZ et al] - Acts Of Love (self released; USA)
CD $10


JAY ROZEN/VERN NELSON DUO - Killer Tuba Songs (TTT; USA)
CD $15


JAKI BYARD & DAVID EYGES - Night Leaves (Brownstone 9708; USA)
CD $14


DRUMS LOVE YOU [V.A. With EDDIE PREVOST/ANDREW BARKER/CHES SMITH/WEASEL WALTER et al] - Drums Love You (Makrame 01; EEC)
CD $10


IANNIS XENAKIS - Vol. 9: Electronic Works 2 - Polytope de Cluny (1972-1974)//Hibiki-hana-ma (1969-70)//Neg-ale (1960) [DVD] (mode 203; USA) (surround-sound DVD [audio] edition) Polytope de Cluny (1972-74) for 7-channel tape; and Hibiki-hana-ma (1969-70) for 7-channel tape
Mode continues it's Xenakis Edition with the second volume dedicated to his electronic works, again restored from the best quality source materials. Both works commercially released in surround for the first time. Polytope de Cluny is accompanied by images of the actual production from the Festival d'Automne.New high-resolution transfers were made of Polytope de Cluny from the original analog master tapes. Hibiki hana ma has been restored from the existing digital masters.Hibiki hana ma was created for Expo 1970 World's Fair in Osaka, Japan, where it was experienced by thousands. It was designed to be played on a tape loop in a hall which boasted state-of-the-art acoustic equipment, with some 700 speakers scattered under the floor divided plus 128 surface and suspended speakers symmetrically distributed throughout the pavilion's amphitheatre. NOTE: there is no video for this work on the DVD.
Both works have been remixed for surround DVD by Gerard Pape, who worked closely with the composer as the former director of Xenakis' CCMIX studio in Paris. Essays by Sharon Kanach and Makis Solomos. SPECIAL DVD EDITION-ONLY FEATURE: In 1960, Xenakis composed the music NEG-ALE for P. Kassovitz's 'Vasarely', an abstract film on the artwork of Op-Art master Victor Vasarely. The film has been restored from a 16mm print, the audio remastered. This score for piccolo, horn, cello and percussion by Xenakis is unique to the film and has never been published elsewhere.
"Xenakis, known for his perpetual maximilism and mathematical compositions, preferred pleasuring the ear over the mind, so what better way to immerse yourself in his music than with a hi-definition dvd that is offered in both stereo and 5.1 surround sound? "Hibiki Hana Ma", the only track on this disc not accompanied by images, is an implosive mindfuck where all the noises sound as though they are going in reverse, sucking you into this proto-backmasking effect. According to the liner notes, "Hibiki Hana Ma" was a composition commissioned by the great Toru Takemitsu to debut in Tokyo. "Polytope de Cluny" is just as dense as "Hibiki Hana Ma", mixing computer sounds with "acoustic" sounds of analog tape with an interesting result; image a potpourri of sounds picked up on a microphone left outside during a hurricane. The visuals supplied for Polytope are scans of the fliers, compositional notes, pictures from the event, and some abstract visuals, which leaves me wishing for more; let me elaborate, I wish I was there (apparently Xenakis was an early pioneer of using laser lights during musical performances, but unfortunately no live footage documenting this, just still photographs). "Neg-ale" a score for piccolo, horn, cello, and percussion for a film by op-artist Victor Vasarely is the most visually appealing for me but musically the most oddball here, since there is no electronics on the piece at all. Black and white optical illusions with Xenakis's music seems fitting. I often wonder why so little music, besides electronic music, hasn't bothered with surround sound. If i had surround sound speakers, I would want all my records to be in 5.1 format. Recommended! - Chuck Bettis/DMG
DVD $22
also on reg. CD without Neg-Ale for $15



Long-needed restocks on these amazing import-only titles!

ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO [LESTER BOWIE/ROSCOE MITCHELL/JOSEPH JARMAN/MALACHI FAVORS/DON MOYE] - Live In Berlin [2 CD set] (West Wind 2051; Germany) Phenomenal live show, March 19th 1979, from Berlin [a radio broadcast?] with the classic lineup of Lester Bowie, Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors, and Famadou Don Moye. Another hard to get treasure!
CD $22

GINGER BAKER/PETER BROTZMANN/SONNY SHARROCK/NICKY SKOPELITIS/JAN KAZDA - No Material (ITM 1435; Germany) Featuring the monster lineup Sonny Sharrock & Nicky Skopelitis on guitars, Peter Brotzmann on saxes, Jan Kazda on electric bass and Ginger Baker on drums. This all-star quintet existed for only one week in 1987, just three gigs only, with this set recorded on March 28th in Switzerland. Their name came from the fact that they had no material, just pure improv. This is not totally free though, as Ginger, aided perfectly by another strong spirit, el. bassist Jan Kazda from the German band Das Pferd, provides a focused anchor via his trademark whirlwind drumming. Nicky Skopelitis does a wonderful job on el. 12 string rhythm guitar by also providing some essential glue to hold it together as Sharrock and Brotzmann take spectacular spectacular solos here and there throughout. As the illuminating liner notes by Steve Lake point out, this music does sound like the Laswell-produced Ginger Baker record 'Horses and Trees' from the same period.
CD $16

CHRIS McGREGOR'S BROTHERHOOD OF BREATH - The Memorial Concert (ITM 970086; Germany) Everyone from the last edition of the Brotherhood of Breath before McGregor died is here on this wonderfully played and well-recorded concert, which includes horn players - Harry Beckett, Annie Whitehead, Dave Defries & Peter Volpe; on reeds - Julian Arguelles & Steve Williamson, Gilbert Matthews on drums and Thomas Dyani on percussion plus Roland Perrin in Chris' piano chair. All of the fine tunes here were composed by Blue Notes & Brotherhood of Breath's two main writers - Chris McGregor and Dudu Pukwana. This fantastic 16-piece big band captures the inventive spirit, inner fire and massive powerful of the legendary Brotherhood of Breath, without going too far overboard into the free sections that the BoB sometimes ended up in. Lots of inspired solos, enchanting songs and great arrangements abound here.
CD $16

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART & THE MAGIC BAND - Live at My Father's Place (Masterplan 42017; Italy) great live set/radio broadcast 1978 w/ 16 trax & 75 minutes!! 'Shiney Beast' tour!!
CD $15

SONNY CLARK With GEORGE DUVIVIER/MAX ROACH - Blues Mambo (West Wind 2080; Germany) Recorded in 1961 and featuring Sonny Clark on piano, George Duvivier on bass and Max Roach on drums.
CD $16

CREAM [JACK BRUCE/ERIC CLAPTON/GINGER BAKER] - The Alternative Album: Fresh Cream Outtakes (Masterplan 42009; Italy)
CD $15

JOE HENDERSON QUINTET With TERASUMA HINO - Sunrise in Tokyo: Live 1971 (Jazz Door 12120; Germany)
CD $16

JOE HENDERSON QUARTET - Warm Valley (West Wind 2093; Germany) Louis Scherr, Tommy Cecil, Tony Martucci
CD $16

JOE HENDERSON With BHEKI MSELEKU/GEORGE MRAZ/AL FOSTER - Live: USA 1994 (Jazz Door 1278/12136; Germany)
CD $16

FELA RANSOME KUTI & AFRICA 70 With GINGER BAKER - Fela With Ginger Baker Live! (Masterplan 42003; Italy)
CD $15

JAMAALADEEN TACUMA & WOLFGANG PUSCHNIG - Gemini-Gemini [2 CD set] (ITM 970063; Germany)
CD $22

JACO PASTORIUS With HIRAM BULLOCK/ALEX FOSTER/BUTCH THOMAS/MICHAEL GERBER/KENWOOD DENNARD/JERRY GONZALEZ - In New York: November 1985 [2 CD set] (Jazz Door 1232/33; Germany)
CD $22

JACO PASTORIUS/PAT METHENY/BRUCE DITMAS/PAUL BLEY - Jaco (Jazz Door 1286; Germany) J Pastorius.(b);P Metheny.(gt) B Ditmas.(dr);P Bley.(p). same as the offical release on Paul Bley's IAI label, which is now out of print!
CD $16


JACO PASTORIUS & WORD OF MOUTH BIG BAND - Aurex Jazz Festival, Tokyo 1982 [DVD] (Jazz Door 11033; Germany)
DVD $22

JACO PASTORIUS With RANDY BRECKER/BOB MINTZER/OTHELLO MOLINEAUX/PETER ERSKINE/DON ALIAS - Live At Montreal Jazz Festival 1982 [DVD] (Jazz Door 11033; Germany)
DVD $22

HERBIE HANCOCK HEADHUNTERS With WAH WAH WATSON/ROY HARGROVE/MARCUS MILLER/TERI LYNE HARRINGTON et al - Watermelon Man: Tokyo 2005 [DVD] (Jazz Door 11042; Germany)
DVD $22

WEATHER REPORT [WAYNE SHORTER/JOE ZAWINUL/VICTOR BAILEY/OMAR HAKIM/MINO CINELU] - Live in Tokyo 1984 [DVD] (Jazz Door 11038; Germany)
DVD $22



GONG [DAEVID ALLEN/GILLI SMYTH et al] - Camembert Electrique (Actuel 53/Charly/Snapper; UK) 3rd of the original Gilli Smyth/Daevid Allen Gong albums (counting the soundtrack Continental Circus) and the prequel lyric-storywise to the Radio Gnome trilogy to follow. Recorded in 1971, this is Gong's first proper studio album and it is a classic. A testament to a unique prog rock that branched out in all directions at once. A mixture of psychedelic rock, spacy sounds and lyrics with doses of jazz with a pop but intense sensibility. Camembert Electrique remains undated after 30 years.
CD $13

GONG [DAEVID ALLEN/GILLI SMYTH et al] - Flying Teapot [Radio Gnome Invisible Trilogy Pt 1] (BYG/Charly/Snapper; UK) "Originally released in 1973 on Virgin. First part of what become known as their Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy. 'An avant garde collection of sound effects, sax, jazzy improvisation and comic vocals.' -- Tapestry of Delights. Everyone's been waiting for Virgin UK to re-release this with current remastering and extra cuts, as they recently have done for parts two and three of the Radio Gnome Invisible, but unfortunately the 30 year legal debacle continues as to who actually owns this recording - Virgin or Charly/BYG - as both issued the LP originally.
CD $13

GONG [DAEVID ALLEN/GILLI SMYTH et al] - Angel's Egg [Radio Gnome Invisible Trilogy Pt 2] (Charly/Snapper; UK) There is little point in buying any other CD version of this great album. Angel's Egg is the rock equivalent of a mad tea party, with lyrics involving Pothead Pixies, Octave Doctors and Radio Gnomes; all set to Pierre Moerlen's tight and sophisticated drumming, Didier Malherbe's multicoloured sax and flute leads, Steve Hillage's cosmic guitar soloing, and Daveid Allen's amusing vocals and glissando guitar layers."
CD $13

GONG [DAEVID ALLEN/GILLI SMYTH et al] - You [Radio Gnome Invisible Trilogy Pt 3] (Charly/Snapper; UK) "Originally released in 1974 as part three in the Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy The group recorded the album on a week-long acid trip in a cottage in England. Daevid Allen (who left the band shortly after the album's release) later recalled the recording session 'it was just a wonderful, wonderful trip and we all played and played and played. And we connected so strongly together out of the improvisations, we just improvised and recorded it and then at the end of the day, we would listen to the recordings and take the pieces out that we wanted to learn.' However, the band soon became split over David's lyrics and how he had decided to end the tale of Zero the Hero's experience on Planet Gong.
CD $13


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