1. HAMID DRAKE & ASSIF TSAHAR - Soul Bodies, Vol 1 (Ayler Records 024) Since his split with Susie Ibarra, local tenor sax & bass clarinet hero - Assif Tsahar - has continually pushed forward and pushed hard - leading a strong ensembles large and small, touring the US, Europe and in his homeland of Israel. During last year's Vision Festival, he played a remarkable duo with master drummer & percussionist - Hamid Drake in the Knit's Old Office - the sparks were flying high and wide and are captured here on this fabulous live cd!!! $14.

2. NEW COMMUNITIES OF SOUND - Live from the Guelph Festival (Intrepid Ear 1) This is a live compliation featuring William Parker's In Order To Survive Quartet, Francois Houle, Cooper-Moore, Gerry Hemingway, Mark Dresser, Dominic Duval, New Horizons Ensemble, Jean Derome & others. $14.

3. ROY CAMBPELL - MARK WHITECAGE - JOE FONDA - LOU GRASSI [The NUBand] - Live at the Bop Shop (Clean Feed 2) Word is that before some of our local greats make it up to the CIMP studio in Redwood, NY, they occasionally stop at the Bop Shop in Rochester to rehearse, play a set and maybe even record. This all-star quartet date captures the burning spirits of one such inspired unit in all their live glory! $14.

4. EARTH PEOPLE - Waking the Living (Undivided Visions UV) Featuring Daniel Carter & Sabir Mateen (both from Test), Karen Borca, Matt Lavelle, Mark Hennen, Andre Martinez, Doug Principato, Jason Candler, M, Francois Grillot, Gary Miles, Ricardo Solis and Dan Gaydos. This is some crazed, free-flowing, space-jazz weirdness from a large local ensemble with half musicians we know & love and the other half players we will be hearing more from in the future. Cosmic psychedelic cover art and groovy poster included as well. $14.

5. THE NEWBAND- Performs Harry Partch & Dean Drummond (Innova 561). A cd featuring works by former cohorts and microtonal pioneers - Harry Partch and Dean Drummond. This stunning new recording, engineered by Grammy-award winner Judith Sherman, is performed by members of The Newband primarily on the original Partch collection of hand-made instruments, notable for their sculptural and acoustic beauty. The music integrates declaimed poetry (masterfully performed by Bob Osborne) with colorful instrumental accompaniment. The Drummond pieces are first recordings, the Partch are the first since the 1940s. Partch's "Eleven Intrusions" is a suite of eleven rather short pieces of mixed instrumentation composed from 1946 to 1950. A wide variety of techniques is utilized, from the incorporation of two ancient Greek scales and a Zuni (native American) song to Partch's typically microtonal speech-song settings of texts by a variety of poets. $14.

6. HENRI POUSSEUR - Eight Parabolic Studies (Sub Rosa 174). Very interesting four cd set of electronic elements - the source material for further realizations of Pousseur's "Paraboles-Mix" (previously presented in a semi-finalized form repeatedly in performances throughout the 70s, and as the brunt of the 'Acousmatrix' four cd set on BVHaast), produced in real-time at the infamous WDR electronic music studio in Köln in 1972. With this set comes explicit instructions for recreating your preferential version: Combine elements from two to all four of the included discs in real-time via multiple playback engines, thus cementing your future in sound. Alone, the discs blast out most remarkably primitive like a set of four voltage control generators, with at most two working at audible levels (the others working as control signals), ring modulation, filtering, and 4-channel construction techniques. Most etudes come pre-themed ("The Wings of Icarus", "Voyage to the Elements", surprisingly "Aerial View of Haiphong, Massachusetts"), unfolding in rather unpredictable and even grimy ways. Rather than shelling out $1200 to buy a VCS3, you could acquire this set and have virtually every conceivable tone-combination devised, preserved in time-capsule era gloss. Four cd set for $25.

7. FRED NEIL - Tear Down the Walls / Bleecker and MacDougal (Elektra UK 35632). New two-fer presentation of the first two legendary Fred Neil albums for Elektra (previously only available as individual Japanese-only cd's for big bucks). Not scheduled for US release as far as we can tell, but this European mid-line presentation is pretty cheap and well presented (slip-case package with a lovely twelve page booklet with new liner notes by Peter Doggett). 'Tear Down The Walls' was Neil's first album (in collaboration with Vince Martin), originally issued by Elektra in 1964. Backed up by Felix Pappalardi (guitar) and John Sebastian (mouth harp), Neil and Martin sing together, weaving an eloquent East Village haze that's quite mesmerizing in its understated presentation. 'Bleecker and MacDougal' was Neil's 1965 folk classic from the Elektra period, his second album for the label and quite the perfect release! Originally from Florida, Neil was heavily factored in the early days of the East Village folk boom (Bob Dylan played harmonica for him at Cafe Wha? in 1961). His recording career went from 1964 to about 1971, peaking with 'Everybody's Talking' on Capital (featured in the film 'Midnight Cowboy'). 'Bleecker & MacDougal' features numerous classic tracks like "Other Side to This Life" and "Travelin' Shoes" and is fine document of Fred's deep-bass voice, guitar & harmonica accompaniment -- that in some ways could be seen as a crucial link between the early folk style of Dylan and the more exploratory works of say, Tim Buckley. Two complete albums on one cd for $14.

8. HAWKWIND - In Search of Space CD (EMI 30030). New mid-line EMI reissue from 2001 of the second Hawkwind album (originally issued by UA in 1972), with deluxe 24-page booklet of photos & credits, plus a complete reproduction of the original album booklet: The Hawkwind Log ("a collage of texts and photos -- supposedly a found log-book of a spaceship, containing the cryptic last notes and contemplations of it's travellers through space - another seed of Calvert's concept of the soon to come Space Opera - Space Ritual"). With three bonus tracks: original single versions of "Seven By Seven", "Silver Machine" & "Born To Go". "ISOS established Hawkwind's style of hypnotic free-flowing improvisations, accompanied by tribal rhythms - in contrast with some acoustic guitar based pieces, remnants of Brock's busking days, often with a melancholic touch." Line up of: Nik Turner (saxophone, flute, audio generator, vocals); Dave Brock (vocals, electric & acoustic guitar, audio generator); Dave Anderson (bass, electric & acoustic guitar); Del Dettmar (synthesizer); Terry Ollis (drums, percussion); Dik Mik (audio generator); Robert Calvert (vocals). $14.

9. HAWKWIND - Hall of the Mountain Grill (EMI 30035) Essential reissue of the classic fifth Hawkwind album from 1974 following 'Doremi Fasol Latido' and 'Space Ritual'. This new mid-line priced reissue contains four bonus tracks including the single versions of "You'd Better Believe It", "Psychedelic Warlords" and "Paradox". Lemmy Kilmiester, then on bass, contributes "Lost Johnny" (co-written by Mick Farren) - a track recorded several times in the future when he was/is in Motorhead! $14.

10. HOLY RIVER FAMILY BAND - Earthquake Country (Wild Places 010). A stunning new cd from this amazing Swedish band with Spacious Mind and Cauldron members. Running time is over 76 minutes. Incorporating psych, deep folk psych and beyond. A true gem. From Tom Rapp's liner notes: "To me, music is psychedelic if it has the unmistakable presence of magic and it helps you to open up your heart and your mind. The Holy River Family Band, in this new CD, is wonderfully psychedelic, and this CD is a cosmic psychedelicatessen. Come on in and help yourself." $15.

11. NAZCA - En Vivo (Discos Naja 1003) Nazca were a legendary Mexican progressive band who released two outstanding albums in the mid-eighties (one was also released by Recommended Records) and were influenced greatly by Henry Cow. Both are long out-of-print and highly sought after albums were finally reissued on cd last year by the band themselves and now we finally have a live recording from May of 1988 and it is great thing which will be welcomed by fans of RIO (Rock In Opposition) and Henry Cow-like adventurous music making world-wide! $15.

**Since there was no pre-newsletter in December of 2001 and since many of you have complained of not having received all of our weekly new release newsletters, we have decided to compile a list of most of the new releases and reissues that you might have missed that came out in December.

SIGNAL TO NOISE - Issue 24/Winter 2002 [95 page new music journal] Featuring a challenging 7 page Anthony Braxton interview/overview, Master Musicians of Jajouka cover article, plus articles on Sex Mob, sharp-witted rant from Bob Moses, Henry Flynt, Oluyemi Thomas, the Remote Viewers, James Kochalka, Mike Doughty and 30 pages of reviews! Non-slick cover and unslick artwork make this easier to read & glance at. $3.95

DOWNTOWN & DOWNTOWN RELATED RELEASES FOR DECEMBER:

12. TIM BERNE & THE COPENHAGEN ART ENSEMBLE - Open, Coma (Screwgun 12) Featuring Marc Ducret on electric guitar, Herb Robertson on trumpets, Tim Berne on alto sax, compositions and directions, plus the extraordinary playing of the large Copenhagen Art Ensemble. It has been over two years since the last cd on Tim's Screwgun label due to distribution problems and with this colossal endeavor, it was certainly well worth the wait. Outstanding! Two cd set with eight panels of fine art by Steve Byram for $25.

13. SPIRITUAL BEAUTY - imaginal orient / music for peace (Meta 012) Finally! This delectable world music treasure was conceived and compiled by our dear friend Janet Rienstra - Meta label head and close Laswell associate. It features three tracks produced by BILL LASWELL with participants - Sussan Deyhim, Zakir Hussain, Aiyb Dieng, Bill Buchen, Hamid Drake and Simon Shaheen, plus tracks from dj Cheb i Sabbah, Jah Wobble & Temple of Sound, Raz Mesinai, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, U-CEF and Micheline Abdel Karim with Amer Ghandour. Completely enchanting throughout! The next Laswell production to be released is Simon Shaheen's re-issued 'Turath' due out at the end of January. $13.

14. MARK DRESSER - GERRY HEMINGWAY - DAVID MOTT - Reunion Live at the Guelph Jazz Festival (Intrepid Ear 002) The amazing Guelph Jazz Festival in Ontario began in 1994 and has continually presented diverse and challenging modern jazz and new music each year. They have just started their own label and this is their first cd - it is certainly an outstanding one at that! Recorded at the '99 Guelph Jazz Fest in a church and captured with great sound - the excellent set features Mark Dresser - contrabassist supreme, Gerry Hemingway - drums & percussion expert and the immensely talented Canadian baritone sax wonder - David Mott! I have had the good fortune to check out Mr. Mott on a few occasions, usually in duo situations and he is an extraordinary player who you should being hearing more from. $14.

15. BORAH BERGMAN - CONNIE BAUER - MAT MANERI - The River of Sounds (Boxholder 024) I have lucky enough to see/hear FMP trombone hero Connie Bauer on a few occasions and each one was special. His amazing trio with Peter Kowald and Gunter Sommer played at an early Victo fest, as well as at the Vision fest in recent years and were spectacular. His incredible double trombone double guitar quartet - Doppelmoppel - were the highlight of Victo a few years back as well. He seems to record infrequently, so this is a special treat - here improvising with two of downtown's most challenging players - Borah Bergman on piano and Mat Maneri on violin. Difficult music for difficult times. $14.

16. STEVE SWELL - BRUCE EISENBEIL - GREGG BENDIAN - Presents Particle Data Group (Cadence 1139) An incredible local trio and all great musicians, composers and leaders in their own right! Steve plays trombone, Bruce plays electric guitar (for Cecil Taylor & Milford Graves) and Gregg plays drums, vibes and percussion (Mahavishnu Project, Interzone & for Zoot Horn Rollo). Excellent! $14.

17. SABIR MATEEN QUINTET - Secrets of When (Bleu Regard 1961) Featuring Raphe Malik on trumpet, Ravish Momin on drums, Jane Wang on bass, Naoko Ono on piano and Sabir Mateen on saxes, flute and clarinet. Sabir seems to be busier all the time - between TEST, the Raphe Malik unit, duos with Sunny Murray & Ben Karetnick and an amazing recent self-produced solo cd. His solo set here at DMG a few weeks ago was extraordinary and one of the year's best! This new quintet date is also burning and filled with intense energy, so watch out! $15.

18. EUGENE CHADBOURNE - JOE WILLIAMSON - ULI JENNEBEN - Ayler Undead (Grob 321) This is our good buddy Dr. Chad's first new release in a while and it is by far one of his best!!! Eugene has put together a fabulous and powerful free-jazz trio with two amazing musicians from Berlin - Joe Williamson from Klekta Red on contrabass and Uli Jenneben on drums. What makes this offering so special is that the entire affair is dedicated to free-jazz tenor sax legend Albert Ayler and the trio push Ayler's tunes to their limits of free-flowing psychedelic insanity!?! Extensive and enlightening liner notes from the great Dr. Chadbourne and surreal graphics as well. $15.

19. JAMES EMERY - JOE LOVANO - JUDI SILVANO - DREW GRESS - Fourth World (Between the Lines 020) James Emery (guitar), Joe Lovano (clarinet, soprano, alto, tenor, soprano saxes, clarinet, percussion), Judi Silvano (voice, flute, gong), Drew Gress (bass) Recorded: May 15-16, 2000. The appeal of James Emery's new CD stems from the multifarious levels of the musical action. "In Hannah", an intelligent bossa nova atmosphere is created during the improvised exchanges between Lovano's tenor saxophone and Silvano's flute, underpinned by somber Latin rhythms. "The Next Level" establishes a contrasting mood: the heated exchange between the guitar and the alto saxophone ventures into new dimensions of sound. In "Golden Horn", with its brawny bass introduction, Lovano not only features in an exciting improvisation on the tenor saxophone but also provides the appropriate beats. It is always great to hear new a release from the under-recorded guitar giant - James Emery. $15.

20. UM - Stray Dog (Ropeadope/Outrageous) Featuring JOHN MEDESKI on organ, Hal Crook on trombone, Rick Peckham on guitar, Dave Zinno on bass and Bob Gullotti on drums. Smokin' live date from Providence, R.I. in May of '99 from this (former?) Boston all-star quintet! $13.

TEN OUTSTANDING RELEASES FROM OUR EUROPEAN HEROES:

21. BARRY GUY - MARILYN CRISPELL - PAUL LYTTON - Odyssey (Intakt 070) This incredible contrabass-piano-drums trio has emerged from the ashes of the astounding London Jazz Composers Orchestra to perform Barry's challenging new music works. Barry Guy's phenomenal double prowess is featured here in fine form! $15.

22. ICP ORCHESTRA - Oh My Dog (ICP 40) We are very fortunate to have caught this often brilliant and occasionally wacky large ensemble from Amsterdam at Tonic twice in the past year. They are led by the wonderful and quirky pianist - Misha Mengelberg and feature such spectacular players as the jolly giant of drums - Han Bennink, former American alto sax & clarinet hero - Michael Moore, plus other fine players - saxist Ab Baars, that crazed cellist Tristan Honsinger, trombonist Wolter Weirbos, Ernst Glerum and others. Belgian import for $18.

23. ERIC BOEREN QUARTET - Soft Nose (BVHaast 1501) ICP cornet master Eric Boeren presents his superb new quartet date with a stellar cast of Michael Moore, Han Bennink and Wilbur DeJoode. $17.

24. TOBIAS DELIUS QUARTET - Pelkanismus (ICP 39) Tobias is yet another great saxist and associate of the ICP Orchestra and he is joined by cellist Tristan Honsinger, bassist Joe Williamson and drummer Han Bennink. $18.

25. IRENE SCHWEIZER & CO STREIFF - Twin Lines (Intakt 073) Irene Schweizer consistently surprises and engages us as one of the finest avant jazz pianists in Europe for over thirty years. Here she combines forces with another fine saxist from Zurich named Co Streiff. $15.

26. AMM - Fine (Matchless 46) What do avant-jazz, new music percussionist - Eddie Prevost, guitar-on-table pioneer & founder of M.I.M.E.O. - Keith Rowe and minimalist modern classical & Morton Feldman specialist - John Tilbury still have in common? After almost 35 years, they still have the ability to transform, refine and define the unique magic of AMM-music into a sublime, yet exciting and almost impossible to describe world of sonic exploration. This particular concert was a collaboration with dancer Fine Kwiatkowski at the Musique Action in France on May 24th of 2001 and this just might be the finest of all AMM releases - it certainly sounds this way. Phenomenal! $16.

27. GUNTER HAMPEL - Survivor (Birth 059) This powerful version of the Gunter Hampel Trio features Gunter on vibes, bass clarinet & flute, Nils Wogram on trombone and Christian Weidner on alto sax and was recorded at The Apex in Gottingen, Germany earlier this year. Gunter is indeed a "survivor" and was a close witness to the World Trade Center disaster, which he describes with sharp words and revealing photos in the liner notes of this cd. This music is also filled with passion, creativity and resourceful spirits. It is part of Birth Records new low budget series - recorded direct to DAT with expensive mics and no editing involved. This is a two cd set of cdr's which sound just fine! $16.

28. BARRE PHILLIPS - Journal Violone 9 (Emouvance 1015) Outstanding solo contrabass performance from one of our favorite bassists of all time who has played with giants like Thee John Surman Trio, London Jazz Composers Orchestra, a has a number of great efforts on ECM . $16.

MISCELLANEOUS NEW RELEASE OFFERINGS FOR DECEMBER 2001:

29. PETER WHITEHEAD - Now This! (Out of Round 003) December was the month when we received more interesting promos than any other time this year. Thanks to our pal Tim Sternberg, we received a half dozen wonderful cds from a new bay area label - Out of Round Records. As I work on my best of pop/vocal list for 2001, I realize that this is sadly another mediocre year for pop/rock cds. I must rejoice because this wonderful cd from British born, bay area based singer/songwriter/instrument maker - Peter Whitehead - just might be my favorite vocal gem of the year. I just can't stop playing it! That sad & enchanting voice, honesty/provocative lyrics, shimmering folk/psych acoustic home-made instrumentation and 60's mesmerizing production make this an unknown treasure waiting to grabbed by you (old freaks at heart). Fans of the Incredible String Band, Pearls before Swine and Tim Buckley would probably love this! $13.

30. SUSSAN DEYHIM - Madman of God/Divine Love Songs of the Persian Sufi Masters (Crammed 22) Considering Sussan is one of the most enchanting vocalists in the world, it is almost impossible to find copies of her two previous efforts (and collaborations with Richard Horowitz) - 'Desert Equations' from the mid-eighties and 'Majoun' from only a few years back. We have finally received copies of her two latest recordings after a great deal of work and both are superb and intoxicating gems. 'Madman of God' features her old partner Richard Horowitz, with Glen Velez, Raz Mesinai, Karsh Kale, Will Calhoun and Reggie Workman. Completely fabulous and no other US distribution at present. $17.

31. SUSSAN DEYHIM - Turbulent (Isle X) This one was recorded in Marrakesh, Turkey and New York and is film music for the controversial film director - Shirin Nashat. More instrumental, even more exotic and equally transcendent! $17.

32. ETHIOPIQUES - Volume 10: Ethiopian Blues & Ballads (Buda Musique 82222) This is the tenth volume in this highly acclaimed series of Ethiopian music from the archives of this country's lone independent label - Ahma Records (1969-78). This volume focuses on "tezeta" style: "Emptiness, melancholy, nostalgia; doom and gloom, morbid musings; heartache or homesickness" such is the stock in trade of the misery and mournful memories expressed by the song "Tezeta" - Ethiopia's majestic hymn to the blues. Etymologically, the word itself means memory, nostalgia, and several Ethiopian authors have used Tezeta as the title for their memoirs. Featuring tracks from Mahmoud Ahmed, Alèmayèhu Eshèté, Fréw Haylou, Tèsfa-Maryam Kidané, etc. From the years 1970-74. Some background about this series in general: "For many years the little we knew of Ethiopian music was pretty much limited to Mahmoud Ahmed's cult album 'Erè mèla mèla'. It was the first Western breakthrough for the country's brassy, electric, urban pop: swinging and hypnotic, poignant yet funky. So unique, so different from anything else coming out of the African continent. This amazing, headspinning groove was celebrated the world over, and hailed as one of the finest releases of 1986. Precisely because Ethiopian music remains virtually unknown on our western shores, Buda Musique acquired exclusive rights to the Amha Records (1969-1975) and Kaifa Records (1973-1977) catalogs, two major repositories of the music of the golden age: around 150 singles and over a dozen albums, the highlights of which are being reissued in the 'Ethiopiques' collection. 'Éthiopiques' aims to present a panorama of this missing link in Africa's music, to become a reference point, both lively and informative, a sort of audio emissary for Ethiopia's musical heritage. The collection will focus on the golden age of modern Ethiopian music but will also present other archival material as well as recent recordings, both modern and traditional, urban and 'ethnic'. - Francis Falceto $15.

33. ANTHONY BRAXTON - Composition No. 169 [+186+206+214] (Leo 320/321) Recorded live at a new music festival in Slovenia from June of last year and featuring the four saxes of James Fei, Chris Jonas, Jackson Moore and Mr. Braxton - with each sax player leading a section of the Slovenia Radio Orchestra. The 'Ghost Trance' structures are continually expanding and evolving. Two cd set for $28.

34. THOMAS LEHN & GERRY HEMINGWAY - Fire Works (Umbrella 028) Appropriately titled live duo excursions and second release from this challenging and often intense unit of Thomas Lehn on analogue synth and Gerry Hemingway on drums and percussion. Recorded on tour in March of 2000 at four locations in NYC (Experimental Intermedia), Chattanooga, TN (Lamar Lounge), Annadale, NY (Bard College) and Chicago, IL (Empty Bottle). Exhilarating! $12.

35. BADAWI - soldier of midian (ROIR 8274) Before Raz Mesinai recorded his mesmerizing solo effort for the Tzadik label earlier this year, he has been recording under the name of Badawi. Badawi are/is an equally hypnotic blend of exotic sounds, ethnic instruments and some fine mesmerizing production techniques. The instrumentation includes zarb, bendir, daf, darbuka, dulcimer, flute, electric bass and hand percussion. Superb sounds for the mind and body. $14.

36. JULIAN KYTASTY - Black Sea Winds: The Kobzari of Ukraine (November Music 2012). The bandura is a unique instrument from the Ukraine, it combines elements of Asian lutes with medieval lap harps and was used by the Kobzari who are blind performers of epic song. Kytasty is a contemporary virtuoso based in New York and here he performs his own improvisations and meditations. Julian also has an engaging group called the Experimental Bandura Trio whose cd we will soon carry and who just might do an in-store here at DMG sometime soon. $16.

37. AKI ONDA - Don't Sat Anything (EWE 040) Mr. Onda is a self-taught composer, producer, electronic musician, and also a photographer. As a composer, Onda has paid his dues in electronic music, ambient, and jazz. A mature hand guides the sounds culled from collaborators such as Eye Yamatsuka, Nobukazu Takemura, SFT, Noel Akchote, Blixa Bargeld, Steven Bernstein, and Linda Sharrock. Onda released albums under the project name Audio Sports from 1991 to 96. After that he started to release solo albums which reflected his visual and poetic sensibility. Onda is currently studying at the Electro-Acoustic music studio at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire as a composer in residence until the summer of 2002. "Successful fusion of charismatic personalities and studio synthesis, Onda's music is an Intimate drama that reflects his existential hunger." -- The Wire. On this cd he collaborates with the legendary Japanese saxist - Dr. Umezu! $15.

38. TOWNES VAN ZANDT - Live at McCabe's (Return to Sender 032) This recording is live from McCabe's Los Angeles, Feb 10, 1995. Van Zandt on guitar and vocals, with Kelly Joe Phelps on dobro. The songs of Townes Van Zandt are destined to be for folk artists what the works of Gershwin are to saloon singers...the quintessence of troubadour music, thanks to the somber grace of the late Lone Star legend's language and the engaging simplicity of his melodies. The recently released 'Poet: Tribute To Townes Van Zandt' album, featuring performances of his most historic tracks by the likes of Nanci Griffith, Emmylou Harris, Cowboy Junkies, Steve Earle, Guy Clark, & Willie Nelson raises the interest in Van Zandt to an all-time high. 'Live at McCabe's' is a fine performance from the later years with a nice, semi-rare versions of 'Pueblo Waltz', 'Shrimp Song', and 'Snowin on Raton'. Other highlights are 'Katie Belle Blue' and 'A Song For', and 'The Hole'. This album best captures an intimate latter day concert by Townes -- sounding old, sage, funny and dear. Limited to 2000 copies. $14.

JUST A FEW CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL & ELECTRONIC RELEASES:

39. JOHN CALE - Dream Interpretation: Inside the Dream Syndicate - Vol. II (Table of the Elements 79). Second Volume in this trio of releases. Featuring: "Dream Interpretation" (from 1969, w/ Cale on viola & Tony Conrad on violin); "Ex-Cathedra" (from 1968, w/ Cale on Vox continental organ); "[untitled] for piano" (early/mid 1960s); "Carousel" (from 1967/8, w/ Cale on electronics sounds); "A Midnight Rain of Green Wrens at the World's Tallest Building" (from 1968 w/ Cale on viola & Conrad on violin), "Hot Scoria" (from 1964/5 w/ Cale on guitar & Angus MacLise on cimbalom). $15.

40. JOHN: CALE - Stainless Gamelan: Inside the Dream Syndicate Vol. III (Table of the Elements 80) Third volume featuring: "Stainless Steel Gamelan" (from 1965, w/ Cale & Sterling Morrison on cembalet/fretless guitar); "At About This Time Mozart Was Dead And Joseph Conrad Was Sailing the Seven Seas Learning English" (from 1967, w/ Cale on wollensak; Cale & Morrison on viola, guitar); "Terry's Cha-Cha" (from 1967, Cale on wollensak & Angus MacLise on hand drums, tambourine; Terry Jennings on soprano saxophone); "After The Locust" (from 1968, w/ Cale on electric piano; Tony Conrad on thunder machine), "Big Apple Express" (from 1965 w/ Cale on viola & tape; New York Fire Dept.: vocal) $15.

41. IANCU DUMITRESCU/ANA-MARIA AVRAM - Les' Objets (Edition Modern 1017) Featuring three new works by the ever-challenging Greek composer - Dumitrescu: "Objets Sonores Mysterieux I" for instruments and computer assisted sounds; "Diachronies III" for piano performed by Monica Timofticiuc and "Objets Sonores Mysterieux II" for computer assisted music. Plus two new works from Iancu's partner - Ana-Maria Avram: "Telesma II" for trombone & computer assisted sounds and "Apokatastasis" for bass clarinet, percussion and computer assisted tape - performed by Tim Hodgkinson and Luminita Fara. $15.

42. MORTON FELDMAN - String Quartet II (Hat Now 144) At over five hour long, this is certainly one of the most demanding of all of Feldman's works and as one of the grand masters of minimalism, requires the utmost in patience. Four cd set now reduced to $35.

43. CORNELIUS CARDEW - Chamber Music 1955 - 1964: Apartment House (Matchless 45) These are the first commercially available recordings of future AMM member and controversial British composer Cornelius Cardew's early compositions$ 16.

44. E.A.R. [EXPERIMENTAL AUDIO RESEARCH] - Continuum (Space Age Orbit 026) Now settled on the Space Age Recording label he helped to form, EAR are all set to release their most audacious and ambitious record yet. The results are simply unlike anything else you will have heard. Creating an incredible album of atonal wonder and spell binding intoxication. EAR have, without a doubt, pushed the boundaries of sound to a new level with 'Continuum'. Limited initial pressing of 1000 copies in translucent jewel box. $14.

CLASSIC REISSUES ON BOTH CD AND VINYL ARE FOUND BELOW:

45. ANTHONY BRAXTON QUARTET - Dortmund 1976 (Hatology 557) An incredible and much anticipated reissue that Braxton fan-addicts have been buzzing about for a number of years since its disappearance. This amazing quartet featured George Lewis on trombone, Dave Holland on contrabass, Barry Altschul on drums and Mr. Braxton on various reeds and this quartet only lasted six months. This was the first Dortmund Jazz Festival in Germany and this is where this unit hits its magical peak! All four players are in top form, especially George Lewis who romps through these tunes with a snorting, rambunctious glee that pushes the other members higher and higher into the skies! Cd only reissue for $16.

46. MYRA MELFORD TRIO - Alive in the House of Saints (Hatology 570) A double cd reissue with four long wonderful unreleased tracks to savor. This was the third superb trio release with Myra Melford on piano, Lindsey Horner on bass and Reggie Nicholson on drums. "Listening, eight years after it was created, to this primary chapter in the recorded legacy of Myra Melford's first trio evokes a rush of feelings. There are warm memories of in-person encounters with Melford, Lindsey Horner and Reggie Nicholson; and satisfaction regarding how the ideas Melford articulated here as both pianist and composer have metamorphosed into the triumphs of her subsequent music. What is absent is the uncertainty one often feels when contemplating the recent past, that feeling of needing more time to take the full measure of a musical statement. Melford has made it easy for us, through the clarity of both these now-historic performances and her subsequent efforts, to hear present works as both glorious ends in themselves and the foundations of her ongoing creations." -- Bob Blumenthal. Two cd set (only) with mystical, ancient ruins on the cover for $24.

47. JULIUS HEMPHILL - Roi Boye & The Gotham Minstrels (Sackville 3014/15) This is a long awaited legendary solo effort by the late, great sax giant - Julius Hemphill! Recorded in Toronto in May of 1977, Julius considered this an audiodrama - archiving show business in America with New York City as the setting. Julius plays all of the instruments and conceived all of the sounds involved. A brilliant achievement! Two cd set for $25.

48. KARL BERGER & DAVE HOLLAND - All Kinds of Time (Sackville 3010) Karl Berger plays piano and vibes, also recorded for ESP in the sixties and was one of the first European modern jazz players to move to the US and eventually founded the Creative Music Studio school in Woodstock - an immensely influential program where of many future downtown players began studies and made connections. Former British contrabass hero Dave Holland also was involved in CMS and moved here to play with Miles Davis, Circle, Sam Rivers, Anthony Braxton and has had a long association with the ECM label. An excellent duo effort. $17.

49. GEORGE LEWIS - Solo Trombone Record (Sackville 3012) I recently caught George Lewis playing in a trio for Muhal Richard Abrams with Thurman Barker and George was extraordinary on his trusty trombone - incredible and endlessly inventive! This was his first solo effort and it is still an outstanding classic of restless spirit! $17.

50. ANTHONY DAVIS - Of Blues & Dreams (Sackville 3020) Featuring Leroy Jenkins on violin, Abdul Wadud on cello, Anthony Davis on piano and Pheeroan akLaff on drums! Anthony Davis has long been one of the finest pianists and composers of modern jazz and new music, but has unfortunately recorded rarely in recent years. This is a super quartet date with a stellar cast which has been out-of-print for too long! $17.

51. BARRY ALTSCHUL TRIO - Brahma (Sackville 3023) Featuring Ray Anderson on trombone, Mark Helias on contrabass and Barry Altschul on drums & percussion. Excellent and challenging studio date from January of 1980 from one of the most creative drummers of new music/avant-jazz and percussionist of choice for Paul Bley, Anthony Braxton and Sam Rivers. Sackville reissues released in limited editions of 1,000 and the price of each single is $17.

52. CLIFFORD THORTON - Freedom & Unity (Atavistic 225) Beautifully melodic soul jazz sessions from '67, featuring the Coltrane Quartet's Jimmy Garrison on bass. This is Joe McPhee's first appearance on LP, prior to his own quartet's release in 1969. Includes two previously unheard/unissued bonus tracks from Joe McPhee's personal archive. Original liner notes by Ornette Coleman & Archie Shepp! Clifford Thornton should be one of the best-known figures of the free jazz era. That he has lapsed into relative obscurity stands as a testament to the way that the availability of recordings shapes our sense of history. A brass player in a world of saxophonists, he recorded a handful of fantastic records under his own name for BYG, America and JCOA. He was an outspokenly political person in a politically charged atmosphere (in 1970, he was barred entry into France on suspicion of being a Black Panther), and he was an independent record company owner. Third World Records, on which he issued 'Freedom & Unity' and later 'Communications' (1972), was his own label. Available on cd only for $14.

53. BYRON MORRIS & UNITY - Blowing Thru Your Mind (Universal 17) Byron Morris released 'Blow Thru Your Mind' originally in the US in 1974. The LP was recorded a year earlier at Minot Sound Studios in White Plains, New York. This studio was a favorite of many independent jazz groups at this time -- for instance, many recordings for the independent Strata East Records, co-owned by Stanley Cowell and Charles Tolliver, were made here. Unity was formed with similar values, aims and objectives of many similar groups at the time, as the name suggests. Uniquely, it managed to match the musical and spiritual searching of John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders and Ornette Coleman alongside an equally experimental New York art-music dimension that was brought into the group by vocalist Jay Clayton, who has performed with, amongst many others, Steve Reich & Jerry Granelli. Bassist Milton Suggs played in Sun Ra's Arkestra, and Byron Morris studied with Ornette Coleman and Rahsaan Roland Kirk It is possible to see the path that makes up "Kitty Bey" - twelve minutes of musical intensity, that sounds like nothing else ever recorded. "Kitty Bey" was originally featured on 'Universal Sounds of America' on Soul Jazz. Originally released on Unity's own EPI label and distributed by hand, this record has remained an underground classic recording for over 25 years. Available on cd & lp for $17.

54. GILES, GILES & FRIPP - The Brondesbury Tapes (Voiceprint) A pretty amazing archival oddity, released in surprisingly fine sound. This includes home demo tapes that the trio recorded, as well as a over a dozen tracks by the legendary 4/5 piece version of the band (King Crimson), which added Ian McDonald & Judy Dyble (original vocalist from Fairport Convention), and is the obvious precursor to King Crimson. Many never before heard songs, as well as "Under The Sky" and two great takes of "I Talk To The Wind"! This was released last year as a limited edition lp only with much fewer tracks. Essential for King Crimson fan-adicts worldwide!!! $17.

55. AMON DÜÜL II - Phallus Dei (Repertoire 4872). The Amon Düül II saga continues with new remastered versions of their classic and cosmic first three albums. After carrying these on Repertoire (2 different prior versions), Mantra, Captain Trip & Gammarock, we are always ready for more. These versions are packaged in digipaks, feature digitally remastered sound and bonus tracks. 'Phallus Dei' is the first ADII album. As with all three CDs in this series, it has been restored and re-mastered by infamous krautrock producer EROC at The Ranch. Amon Duul II were one of the leading German underground commune-psych bands from the early 70s. Split apart from the more politicized fraction that would go on to record as Amon Duul I (Psychedelic Underground, etc.), Amon Duul II emerged in 1969 when they released this fantastic debut album. It's a masterwork of drug-dazed guitar psych, long tracks, middle eastern influence, churning trance rock, etc. With the same four bonus tracks as found the prior Gammarock version: "Freak Out Requiem I", Freak Out Requiem II", "Freak Out Requiem III", & "Cymbals In The End". Fucking incredible! $14.

56. AMON DÜÜL II: Yeti CD (Repertoire 4914). Mid-line pricing, with a 12 page booklet of liner notes & photos detailing the history of AMON DÜÜL II. This is the sixth version of 'Yeti', an all-time classic Krautrock album from 1970, that we have carried to date and by all appearances, this is the best sounding & visually appealing version yet. And as can be expected, the quality of the performance remains as staggering as ever - 'Yeti' is still one of the deepest rock records of all time. A follow up to their debut 'Phallus Dei', the structures here are even more extended, the vibe even more mind-blowing! This version features two bonus 7" tracks from 1970: "Rattlesnakeplumcake" and "Between The Eyes". $14.

57. AMON DÜÜL II: Tanz Der Lemminges (Repertoire 4915). Also known as 'Dance of the Lemmings', the 3rd Amon Duul II album, from 1971. ADII's 2nd sprawling double LP set in a row, this is the record that (secretly?) destroyed Julian Cope's brain. Slightly less intense than 'Yeti', this moves into the progressive space-folk territories, still with plenty of psych guitar flashes and violin streakings, that sort of defined the style of advanced-structure psych/prog that would dominate their sound for a good few years. As with prior reissues, there are no bonus tracks added to 'Tanz Der Lemminge'. "This is one of my favorite space-rock epics of all time and it continues to massage and astound brains worldwide!!" -BLG. A cd only release at $14.

58. CLEARLIGHT SYMPHONY - s/t (Spalax 14592) Splendid reissue of the first Clearlight album, originally released in Virgin in 1975. Excellent French progressive outfit led by Cyrille Verdeaux, with Gilbert Artman from Lard Free, Christian Boule, plus three members of GONG - Steve Hillage, Didier Mahlherbe & Tim Blake. Their music was electronic and symphonic with rich arrangements and deep atmospheres. I saw Clearlight open for Gong in London late in 1975 and they were mind-blowing! $14.

THE FINYL SECTION LISTS MAINLY LP ONLY REISSUES FOR LP JUNKIES LIKE US

59. SONNY SHARROCK - Monkey-Pockie-Boo (Get Back 337) This incredibly intense album was recorded in Paris on June 22nd, 1969 with his wife Linda on screaming vocals plus Ben Guerin (bass) and Jacques Thollot (drums). Sonny Sharrock was one of the top avant-garde guitarists and his playing was intense and ferocious. He mixed together the sonic fury of Jimi Hendrix (before he even heard Jimi) and Pharoah Sanders. Sharrock was the first guitarist to really embrace fire music. He wanted his playing to mirror the emotional scream of the tenor saxophone! This is one of the furthest out and scariest records I have ever heard!!! Original artwork, gatefold sleeve & 180 gram high quality vinyl. Available on lp only at $15.

60. DEWEY REDMAN - Tarik (Get Back 334). This is Dewey Redman's second recording as a leader and it took place at Studio E.T.A. in Paris on October 1st, 1969 (at the time he was working regularly with Ornette Coleman). Tenor saxophonist Redman is joined here on five of his own compositions by Art Ensemble's Malachi Favors (bass) and Ed Blackwell (drums). His playing exhibited a wild style always involving the practice of mouthing and vocalizing. Original artwork, gatefold sleeve & 180 gram high quality vinyl. LP only release for $15, [this one has just been released on cd as well from an American label for about $13.]

61. JACQUES COURSIL UNIT - Way Ahead LP (Get Back 319). This album was recorded at Studio Saravah in Paris on July 7th and 8th, 1969. Trumpeter Jacques Coursil recorded these 3 tracks with the help of the amazing Arthur Jones (alto sax), Claude Delcloo (drums) and Beb Guerin (bass). Coursil is an incredible free-jazz trumpeter whose work with America's finest out-jazz cats certainly deserves more recognition. Original artwork, gatefold sleeve & 180 gram HQ vinyl. Album only release at $15.

62. TERRY RILEY / PIERRE MARIETAN - Keyboard Study 2/Initiative (Get Back 327). A split release between Terry Riley and French avant-garde composer Pierre Marietan that was recorded in Paris on September 30th and October 1st, 1969. Riley's piece is a 24-minute work for 2 pianos (Gérard Frémy and Martine Joste of the GERM ensemble - Groupe d'Etude et Réalisation Musicale). Marieten's piece is performed by the full GERM ensemble including Philippe Blachette (violin), Philippe Drogoz (double bass), Louis Roquin (trumpet), Chantal Lemaire (cello), Gérard Frémy (piano), Martine Joste (piano), Jean-Yves Bosseur (rebab and little flute), Bernadette Val (soprano voice) plus the composer himself on french horn. Original artwork, gatefold sleeve, 180 gram HQ vinyl - vinyl only release priced at $15.

63. MARZETTE WATTS - s/t (ESP 1044/Get Back) Marzette Watts recorded this album for ESP-Disk during December of 1966 with SONNY SHARROCK (guitar), Henry Grimes (bass), Byard Lancaster (alto sax, flute and clarinet), Clifford Thornton (trombone and cornet), Karl Berger (vibes), Juney Booth (bass) and J.C. Moses (drums). The adventurous combo is jamming through three of Watts' originals and the performances really live up to their potential (especially the opening 18-minute "Backdrop for Urban Revolution"). Original artwork and digitally remastered from the original tapes. Available on CD and LP for $15.

64. SONNY SIMMONS - Staying On The Watch CD (ESP 1030/Get Back) During the '60s alto saxist Sonny Simmons was one of the most promising avant-garde players and his debut as a leader, recorded for ESP-Disk in the summer of 1966, still sounds advanced and powerful over 30 years later. Performing in a quintet with Barbara Donald (trumpet), John Hicks (piano), Teddy Smith (bass) and Marvin Pattillo (drums), Sonny Simmons stretches out on four intense and mostly free-form original compositions. Original artwork. Digitally remastered from the original tapes. Available on both CD and LP for $15.

Hours: Sunday though Thursday noon `till 9pm, Fri. & Sat. noon to 10pm. Sundays we have in-store concerts from 7 to 8:30, please don't call then. We're now located on Bowery, between Bond St. and Great Jones St., three blocks south of our old location on E. 5th St.

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