Sometimes, unearthed documents can leave you cold, even though the intellect appreciates the historical gap being filled. With Withdrawal, history doesn't matter and the "archival document" ends up superseding the legit material by the Spontaneous Music Ensemble. This is gold -- pure artistic beauty. The year is 1966. John Stevens' group records the soundtrack for a movie (now lost) by George Paul Solomos. The continuous performance is edited into two parts for a total of 30 minutes of music. A slow piece dominated by a glockenspiel leitmotif, "Withdrawal Soundtrack" features beautiful trumpet work by a Kenny Wheeler who was just beginning to play free music. Other players are Stevens (drums), Paul Rutherford (trombone), Trevor Watts (saxophone, oboe), Barry Guy (bass, limited to sustained drones), and a very young and discreet Evan Parker (saxophone). A few months later, in early 1967, the same lineup, plus Derek Bailey on amplified guitar, recorded a reworked version of the soundtrack in three sequences, plus a suite called "Seeing Sounds & Hearing Colours," both intended for an LP release that never materialized. Watts plays some beautiful flute on "Withdrawal Sequence 2." Actually, the whole CD contains fantastic free music, almost completely detached from jazz -- very atmospheric, delicate, and highly organic with a strong sense of discovery. These are the earliest available recordings by Barry Guy and Evan Parker (even though the latter doesn't play much), and one of Bailey's earliest sessions playing free music (even though he is buried in the mix). Historical significance notwithstanding, Withdrawal is simply a great album, still very relevant and "new" today. François Couture Tracklist :
Credits :
Double Bass, Piano – Barry Guy
Drums, Cymbal [Cymbals], Percussion, Composed By – John Stevens
Guitar [Amplified] – Derek Bailey (tracks: 5 to 11)
Oboe, Alto Saxophone, Flute, Voice, Percussion – Trevor Watts
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Percussion – Evan Parker
Trombone, Percussion – Paul Rutherford
Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Percussion – Kenny Wheeler
25.9.24
SPONTANEOUS MUSIC ENSEMBLE — Withdrawal 1966-7 (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
28.1.23
ANTHONY BRAXTON - New York, Fall 1974 (1975) lp | FLAC (tracks), lossless
Anthony Braxton, who switches here between alto, flute, clarinet, sopranino and contrabass clarinet, is heard interpreting six of his originals in a wide variety of settings. Most accessible are his three performances with a quartet also including trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Jerome Cooper. Braxton also adds violinist Leroy Jenkins to the group on one piece and has a duet with Richard Teitelbaum's moog synthesizer. However, the most historic performance is by an unaccompanied saxophone quartet consisting of Braxton, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake and Hamiet Bluiett; this band (with David Murray in Braxton's place) would soon emerge as The World Saxophone Quartet. The wide amount of variety on this set makes this album a perfect introduction to Anthony Braxton's potentially forbidding but logical music. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
A1 Cut One 8:50
Alto Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler
A2 Cut Two 3:07
Flute – Anthony Braxton
Trumpet [Muted] – Kenny Wheeler
A3 Cut Three 7:03
Alto Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
Trumpet – Kenny Wheeler
B1 Cut One 6:33
Clarinet – Anthony Braxton
Synthesizer [Moog] – Richard Teitelbaum
B2 Cut Two 8:18
Alto Saxophone – Julius Hemphill
Baritone Saxophone – Hamiet Bluiett
Sopranino Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
Tenor Saxophone – Oliver Lake
B3 Cut Three 5:29
Contrabass Clarinet – Anthony Braxton
Percussion – Jerome Cooper
Trumpet [Muted] – Kenny Wheeler
Violin – Leroy Jenkins
ANTHONY BRAXTON - Five Pieces 1975 (1976) lp | FLAC (tracks), lossless
This out-of-print album features one of Anthony Braxton's great combos, a quartet with trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Barry Alstchul. Braxton (who switches between alto, clarinet, sopranino, flutes and contrabass clarinet) explores four of his diverse originals plus the standard "You Stepped Out Of A Dream." The tightness of his very alert and versatile group and the strength of the compositions make this one of Anthony Braxton's most rewarding records of the mid-1970's. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
A1 You Stepped Out Of A Dream 7:09
Words By – Gus Kahn
Written-By – Macio Herb Brown
A2 G - 647 (BNK - [] 4:35
Composed By – Anthony Braxton
A3 4038 -- NBS 373 6 8:05
Composed By – Anthony Braxton
B1 4 8 9 M 70 - 2 -- (TH - B) M 17:17
Composed By – Anthony Braxton
B2 BOR - - - - H N - K 64 3:23
Composed By – Anthony Braxton
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet, Sopranino Saxophone, Flute, Contrabass Clarinet, Alto Flute – Anthony Braxton
Bass – Dave Holland
(pistas: A2 to B2)
Drums – Barry Altschul
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler
27.1.23
ANTHONY BRAXTON - Creative Orchestra Music 1976 (1987) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
This is one of Braxton's most interesting recordings. Six of his compositions are performed by groups ranging from 15-20 pieces and featuring such soloists as trumpeters Cecil Bridgewater, Leo Smith, Kenny Wheeler and Jon Faddis, baritonist Bruce Johnstone, trombonist George Lewis, reed player Roscoe Mitchell, bassist Dave Holland, pianist Muhal Richard Abrams and Braxton himself. There is a lot of variety on this set. One of the pieces finds Braxton combining free elements with a Sousa-type march while another one looks toward Ellington. There are quite a few memorable moments on this program. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Piece One 5:10
Alto Saxophone – Anthony Braxton, Seldon Powell
Baritone Saxophone – Bruce Johnstone
Bass – Dave Holland
Bass Trombone – Earl McIntyre
Conductor – Leo Smith
Drums – Warren Smith
Piano – Muhal Richard Abrams
Tenor Saxophone – Ronald Bridgewater
Trombone – Garrett List, George Lewis
Trumpet – Cecil Bridgewater, Jon Faddis, Kenny Wheeler
Tuba – Jonathan Dorn
2 Piece Two 7:36
Bass – Dave Holland
Bass Clarinet – Bruce Johnstone
Bass Trombone – Jack Jeffers
Clarinet – Ronald Bridgewater, Seldon Powell
Contrabass Clarinet – Anthony Braxton
Gong [Gongs], Percussion – Barry Altschul
Percussion – Philip Wilson
Piano – Frederic Rzewski, Muhal Richard Abrams
Soprano Saxophone – Roscoe Mitchell
Synthesizer – Richard Teitelbaum
Timpani, Bass Drum – Warren Smith
Trombone – Garrett List, George Lewis
Trumpet – Cecil Bridgewater, Jon Faddis, Kenny Wheeler, Leo Smith
Tuba – Jonathan Dorn
3 Piece Three 6:43
Alto Saxophone [Alto Sax], Clarinet – Anthony Braxton
Alto Saxophone [Alto Sax], Flute – Seldon Powell
Baritone Saxophone [Baritone Sax], Bass Clarinet – Bruce Johnstone
Bass – Dave Holland
Bass Drum – Frederic Rzewski
Bass Saxophone [Bass Sax] – Roscoe Mitchell
Bass Trombone – Jack Jeffers
Cymbal [Marching Cymbals] – Philip Wilson
Glockenspiel – Karl Berger
Snare [Snare Drum] – Barry Altschul, Warren Smith
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax] – Ronald Bridgewater
Trombone – Garrett List, George Lewis
Trumpet – Cecil Bridgewater, Kenny Wheeler
Trumpet [Solo Trumpet], Conductor – Leo Smith
Trumpet, Piccolo Trumpet – Jon Faddis
Tuba – Jonathan Dorn
4 Piece Four 6:26
Bass Clarinet – Bruce Johnstone
Bass Trombone – Jack Jeffers
Bells, Percussion, Chimes [Orchestra] – Barry Altschul
Cello – Dave Holland
Clarinet – Ron Bridgewater
Drums, Percussion – Philip Wilson
Flute – Seldon Powell
Flute, Bass Saxophone [Bass Sax] – Roscoe Mitchell
Flute, Contrabass Saxophone [Contrabass Sax] – Anthony Braxton
Marimba [Bass Marimba], Chimes [Orchestra] – Warren Smith
Piano – Frederic Rzewski, Muhal Richard Abrams
Trombone – Garrett List, George Lewis
Trumpet – Cecil Bridgewater, Jon Faddis, Kenny Wheeler, Wadada Leo Smith
Tuba – Jonathan Dorn
Vibraphone, Xylophone, Chimes [Orchestra] – Karl Berger
5 Piece Five 7:19
Alto Saxophone [Alto Sax] – Seldon Powell
Alto Saxophone [Alto Sax], Contrabass Saxophone [Contrabass Sax] – Anthony Braxton
Baritone Saxophone [Baritone Sax] – Bruce Johnstone
Bass – Dave Holland
Bass Trombone – Jack Jeffers
Conductor – Leo Smith
Drums – Warren Smith
Piano – Muhal Richard Abrams
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax] – Ron Bridgewater
Trombone – Garrett List, George Lewis
Trumpet – Cecil Bridgewater, Jon Faddis, Kenny Wheeler
Tuba – Jonathan Dorn
Vibraphone – Karl Berger
6 Piece Six 6:40
Alto Saxophone [Alto Sax], Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax], Bass Saxophone [Bass Sax] – Roscoe Mitchell
Bass Clarinet – Bruce Johnstone
Bass Trombone – Earl McIntyre
Cello – Dave Holland
Clarinet – Ronald Bridgewater
Conductor – Muhal Richard Abrams
Flute – Seldon Powell
Sopranino Saxophone [Sopranino Sax], Clarinet, Contrabass Clarinet – Anthony Braxton
Trombone – Garrett List, George Lewis
Trumpet – Cecil Bridgewater, Jon Faddis, Kenny Wheeler, Leo Smith
Tuba – Jonathan Dorn
Credits :
Composed By [All Music Composed By], Arranged By [All Music Arranged By] – Anthony Braxton
24.1.23
ANTHONY BRAXTON - The Complete Braxton (1973-1988) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Tracklist :
1 Up Thing [N 508-10 (4G)] 4:35
Piano – Chick Corea
Soprano Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
2 Quartet Ballad [J-572 (431)] 16:35
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
Bass, Cello – Dave Holland
Percussion, Bells – Barry Altschul
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler
3 March [67M F-12] 5:15
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
Bass, Cello – Dave Holland
Percussion, Bells – Barry Altschul
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler
4 Four Sopranos [ZM-F-K] 15:00
Soprano Saxophone [Four Parts Overdubbed] – Anthony Braxton
5 Be Bop [R76-4] 9:47
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
Bass, Cello – Dave Holland
Percussion, Bells – Barry Altschul
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler
6 Five Tubas [3-24 (Tuba Realization)] 8:01
Ensemble – The London Tuba Ensemble
Tuba [C] – Paul Lawrence (2)
Tuba [E Flat] – Geoffrey Adams (2), James Anderson (6), John Fletcher (2), Michael Barnes (4)
7 Soprano Ballad [JNK 4 Degrees] 14:32
Piano – Chick Corea
Soprano Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
8 Contra Basse [4-16 CJF] 6:18
Contrabass Clarinet [Contrebasse] – Anthony Braxton
22.1.23
ANTHONY BRAXTON - Live (1977-1987) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Anthony Braxton's 1975 two-LP set comes close to definitive. Braxton (mostly on alto and clarinet but also playing contrabass clarinet, flute, and sopranino) is heard with two of his best quartets on these live performances. Featured are either trumpeter Kenny Wheeler or trombonist George Lewis along with bassist Dave Holland and drummer Barry Altschul in exciting group improvisations based on six of Braxton's difficult compositions. There is a surprising amount of humor on one of these selections, and the interplay between these masterful musicians (making expert use of space and dynamics) sometimes borders on miraculous. The fourth side of this two-fer contains a lengthy performance of Braxton and Lewis playing with the Berlin New Music Group that is of slightly lesser interest. Scott Yanow
Medley (21:49)
1a Composition 1 (No. 40 N)
1b Composition 2 (No. 23 J)
2 Composition 3 (No. 40 (O)) 7:37
Medley (23:50)
3a Composition 4 (No. 6 F)
3b Composition 5 (No. 40 K)
4 Composition 6 (No. 6 C) 10:01
Credits :
Bass – Dave Holland
Composed By – Anthony Braxton
Contrabass Clarinet – Anthony Braxton (pistas: 1, 2)
Contrabass Saxophone, Flute – Anthony Braxton (pistas: 3, 4)
Drums, Percussion – Barry Altschul
Gong [Gongs] – Barry Altschul (pistas: 1, 2)
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Anthony Braxton
Trombone – George Lewis (pistas: 3, 4)
Trumpet – Kenny Wheeler (pistas: 1, 2)
Notas.
Tracks 1-2 recorded live on 20 July 1975 at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland.
Tracks 3-4 recorded live on 4 November 1976 at the Berlin Jazz Days, Berlin, Germany.
Side 4 from the original 2 LP is omitted
ANTHONY BRAXTON — Creative Orchestra (Köln) 1978 (2CD 2009) + Creative Orchestra (Guelph) 2007 (2008) Serie Line – LINE 30 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
This expansive two-LP set captures an entire, nearly two-hour live set by Anthony Braxton's Creative Orchestra recorded in Koln, Germany, in 1978. Braxton, like most members of the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, a loose Chicago-based collective that also included the Art Ensemble of Chicago and others), normally performed in small groups, from duos to quartets. Braxton's Creative Orchestra -- in which the saxophonist does not play, but merely conducts his own compositions -- is a 20-member exception to this rule. Many of Braxton's compositions explore near-silence in ways similar to John Cage, but this group is nothing if not loud.
Thanks to Braxton's skill as a composer, the results never devolve into mere cacophony, even in those passages where all 20 members -- including an accordionist and a synthesizer player -- are playing at once, as in the opening "Language Improvisations." This is a powerful document of a little-appreciated side of Anthony Braxton's work. Rovi Staff
Tracklist :
1-1 Language Improvisations 14:34
1-2 Composition 55 12:27
1-3 Composition 45 25:21
2-1 Composition 59 21:45
2-2 Composition 51 17:19
2-3 Composition 58 12:56
Credits :
Accordion – Birgit Taubhorn
Bass – Brian Smith, John Lindberg
Conductor, Composed By – Anthony Braxton
Electric Guitar – James Emery
Percussion, Marimba – Thurman Barker
Piano – Marilyn Crispell
Saxophone [Saxophones], Clarinet [Clarinets], Flute [Flutes], Piccolo Flute [Piccolo], Nadaswaram [Nagaswaram], Ocarina – Dwight Andrews, J.D.Parran, Marty Ehrlich, Ned Rothenberg, Vinny Golia
Synthesizer – Robert Ostertag
Trombone, Tuba – George Lewis, James King Roosa, Ray Anderson
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler, Michael Mossman, Rob Howard, Leo Smith
Vibraphone – Bobby Naughton
Tracklist :
1 Language Improvision 5:02
2 Composition 306 7:04
3 Language Improvision 15:09
4 Composition 307 / Language Improvisation 25:36
5 Composition 91 9:00
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Evan Shaw
Bass – Rob Clutton, Victor Bateman
Cello – Tilman Lewis
Clarinet [Eb Clarinet], Bass Clarinet – Ronda Rindone
Conductor, Soprano Saxophone, Composed By – Anthony Braxton
Drums – Joe Sorbara, Nick Fraser
Flute – Rob Piilonen
Guitar – Ken Aldcroft
Guitar, Harmonica – Justin Haynes
Piano – Tania Gill
Soprano Saxophone – Kyle Brenders
Tenor Saxophone – Colin Fisher
Trombone – Scott Thomson
Trumpet – Nicole Rampersaud
Violin – Parmela Attariwala
Voice – Christine Duncan
Xylophone – Brandon Valdivia
7.1.23
ANTHONY BRAXTON - The Complete Arista Recordings Of Anthony Braxton (2008) 8xCD BOX-SET | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Since he released the completely solo For Alto in 1968, the accepted image of Anthony Braxton has been that he is more a theoretician and art music composer than a jazz musician. Therefore, it might seem strange that Mosaic Records is giving his Complete Arista Recordings one of their fabled box set treatments. But Braxton is both -- and much more. This set -- as well as the original Arista recordings -- were produced by Michael Cuscuna, Mosaic/Blue Note label head. The sheer scope of these recordings is staggering. What we get in this amazingly detailed collection is the weightiest argument yet for Braxton's range and depth of field as a musical thinker and his role as a pillar of modern jazz. The individual albums -- New York, Fall 1974; Five Pieces, 1975; Creative Orchestra Music, 1976; Duets, 1976; For Trio; The Montreux/Berlin Concerts; Alto Saxophone Improvisations, 1979; For Four Orchestras; For Two Pianos -- showcase him in a rainbow of settings, from quintets and duets, to trios, quartets, and solo; as the leader of a big band, and as a playing conductor. The players are a who's who of the vanguard in both America and Europe: Muhal Richard Abrams, Leroy Jenkins, Kenny Wheeler, Dave Holland, Jerome Cooper, Leo Smith, Cecil Bridgewater, Roscoe Mitchell, George Lewis, Karl Berger, Ursula Oppens, Frederic Rzewski, Phillip Wilson, Henry Threadgill, and many more.
Given the wide variations in track times, sequencing this set to make it even remotely affordable must have been somewhat frustrating. Comparing the track list to the discographical notes, the full context of this is realized. The box is impeccably organized album by album to be sure, but not necessarily in the chronological order of release. An example: on discs one and two, the albums New York, Fall 1974, and its successor, Five Pieces, 1975 are successive, but then Duets, 1976 (with Abrams) was released after Creative Orchestra Music 1976. This is followed by the first four tracks from Alto Saxophone Improvisations, 1979, which continues and is completed on disc three, etc. That said, there is wonderful aesthetic and principled logic involved in the sound and dynamic of the organization of these discs. In other words, even if an original album is split by disc, it makes complete sense. For instance, while some records are split over various CDs, the decision to give For Four Orchestras its own disc (the final one) was a wise one. The package itself is typical Mosaic: high class presentation with an amazing track by track essay by Braxton's student and collaborator Mike Heffley, a brief reminiscence by Cuscuna, a boatload of killer session photographs, and exhaustive discographical and personnel information. The sound is literally pristine and full of warmth. One can hear no flaws from the source material even when A-B'ed against the original LPs; this is even true of the live Montreux/Berlin Concerts.
Most importantly, however, is that this music from Braxton sounds and feels so on time in the 21st century. This is not only true in its scope and vision, but also in what is realized in its execution. Where John Coltrane, and Ornette Coleman expanded the possibilities for new colors and sounds in jazz, less (or no) credit is given to West Coast players like Jimmy Giuffre and Warne Marsh, except in Braxton's sound worlds. His investigations in using the jazz tradition in order to unmake it in terms of tonality, sound, and texture, while preserving its sense of inventive rhythm, melody, harmonic structures, and even swing (check Creative Orchestra Music, 1976), do not feel remotely academic all these decades later. One can hear humor and warmth in the deep paradoxes of a brilliant mind wrestling with the issues of jazz and new music, challenging his own and accepted notions of their accepted places in the world of sonic architecture. Also, in his most direct exercises, there lies the deep expressiveness of his incessant effort to assimilate his discoveries into an ever-expanding organizational system of sound. This is heard, whether it's in his playing of jazz standards or his original compositions. It's there in the process of conception as well as technical articulation. Nothing here feels quaint or nostalgic. Instead, it's revelatory and engaging, inviting and still provocative. The historic reissue of this material adds yet another level if we wish to deepen our understanding of the myriad ways Braxton has enhanced and expanded each of the traditions he's involved himself with.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
New York, Fall 1974
1-1 Opus 23B 8:51
1-2 Opus 23C 3:11
1-3 Opus 23D 7:04
1-4 Opus 38A 6:27
1-5 Opus 37 8:17
1-6 Opus 23A 5:29
Five Pieces 1975
1-7 Opus 23H 4:40
1-8 Opus 23G 8:13
1-9 Opus 23E 17:17
1-10 Opus 40M 3:23
2-1 You Stepped Out Of A Dream 7:11
Written-By – G. Khan, M. H. Brown
Duets 1976
2-2 Miss Ann 4:09
Written-By – Eric Dolphy
2-3 Opus 60 9:19
2-4 Opus 40P 7:02
2-5 Maple Leaf Rag 3:37
Written-By – Scott Joplin
2-6 Opus 62 13:04
2-7 Nickie 3:15
Written-By – A. Braxton, M. R. Abrams
Alto Saxophone Improvisations 1979
2-8 Opus 77A 7:35
2-9 Opus 77C 6:30
2-10 Red Top 6:15
Written-By – B. Kynard, L. Hampton
2-11 Opus 77D 7:25
3-1 Opus 77E 4:26
3-2 Opus 26F 6:22
3-3 Opus 77F 6:20
3-4 Opus 26B 6:58
3-5 Along Came Betty 8:00
Written-By – Benny Golson
3-6 Opus 77G 5:17
3-7 Opus 26E 6:17
3-8 Giant Steps 6:22
Written-By – John Coltrane
3-9 Opus 77H 7:05
For Trio
3-10 Opus 76 (Version One) 20:10
Engineer – Jim Dolan
4-1 Opus 76 (Version Two) 21:28
Engineer – Jim Dolan
For Two Pianos
4-2 Opus 95 For Two Pianos 49:28
Engineer – Carlo Martenet
Creative Orchestra Music 1976
5-1 Opus 51 5:11
5-2 Opus 56 7:33
5-3 Opus 58 6:44
5-4 Opus 57 6:25
5-5 Opus 55 7:19
5-6 Opus 59 6:41
The Montreux / Berlin Concerts
5-7 Opus 63 23:32
6-1 Opus 40N 7:48
6-2 Opus 23J 13:59
6-3 Opus 40 7:35
6-4 Opus 6F 8:17
6-5 Opus 40K 15:32
6-6 Opus 6C 10:00
For Four Orchestras
7-1 Opus 82, Part One 54:04
8-1 Opus 82, Part Two 58:26
All Credits
10.5.22
RABIH ABOU-KHALIL - Blue Camel (1992) APE (image+.cue), lossless
Blue Camel is the pinnacle to date of Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou-Khalil's achievement as a jazzman. In both mood and scope, it can almost be characterized as a new Kind of Blue. Both tense and reflective, it is perfect for listening after midnight. Abou-Khalil brings back Charlie Mariano on alto sax and Kenny Wheeler on flügelhorn and trumpet, and they generally alternate solos with Abou-Khalil himself. Rounding out the roster is Steve Swallow on bass, Milton Cardona on congos, Nabil Khaiat on frame drums, and Ramesh Shotham on South Indian drums and percussion. They form a tight ensemble and play comfortably with each other. The album opens with "Sahara," which contains both one of Abou-Khalil's tunes, a mesmerizing melody that could be either Arabic or jazz, and one of Abou-Khalil's best solos, a well-defined interlude that delightfully features the unique timbre of the oud. "Tsarka" begins with a fast break on the oud that turns out to be one of the two motifs on which everything is built. After it is elaborated for a few bars, the oud comes back with another building block. Then we get some stunning improvisations, especially from Abou-Khalil. "Ziriab" opens with a trumpet solo in which Kenny Wheeler tests the compass of his instrument, backed up with some atmospheric sounds from the udu drum; then Abou-Khalil enters with another great tune for everyone to build on. The title track is nothing but fun. Seductive percussion ushers in Wheeler and Mariano playing in unison for a tune that is somewhere between Duke Ellington and the court of Baghdad. As the percussion bubbles along, Milton Cardona's congos adding a Latin flavor to the proceedings, Abou-Khalil steps up with a very fast and rhythmic, if not very tuneful, solo. Midway through the track, Mariano blisters the paint with a screeching sax workout that bridges the Arabic and the Latin, while remaining all the while pure jazz. Even Steve Swallow gets a chance to feature his bass after which the ensemble brings it together and takes it home. Some of the other tracks are not as good as the ones mentioned above, but they are all listenable and very atmospheric. The aptly named "A Night in the Mountains" is a slow, thoughtful walk, perfect for silent contemplation. The album ends with "Beirut," named for the Lebanese city torn by civil war from which Abou-Khalil had to flee many years ago. The track begins with a quiet oud solo and then builds to something more chaotic and striving. Blue Camel may not be a perfect album, but it demonstrates better than any other that a fusion between jazz and a musical form from another culture is possible and can work to the advantage of both. Plus, it's just great listening. by Kurt Keefner
Tracklist :
1 Sahara 8:18
Rabih Abou-Khalil
2 Tsarka 6:45
Rabih Abou-Khalil
3 Ziriab 6:49
Rabih Abou-Khalil
4 Blue Camel 8:20
Rabih Abou-Khalil
5 On Time 6:19
Rabih Abou-Khalil
6 A Night In The Mountains 8:37
Rabih Abou-Khalil
7 Rabou-Abou-Kabou 4:47
Rabih Abou-Khalil
8 Beirut 10:52
Rabih Abou-Khalil
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Charlie "Sir Charles" Mariano
Artwork [Cover Art], Calligraphy – Georges Ghantous
Bass – Steve "Dr. Zvalov" Swallow*
Congas – Milton Cardona
Drums [South Indian], Percussion – Ramesh Shotham
Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Kenny Wheeler
Frame Drum – Nabil Khaiat
Oud, Producer, Design [Cover Design] – Rabih Abou-Khalil
9.5.22
RABIH ABOU-KHALIL - Sultan's Picnic (1994) APE (image+.cue), lossless
Composer and oudist Rabih Abou-Khalil generates variety and interest by bringing aboard different guest musicians for each album. The personnel on Sultan's Picnic is so similar to that of Blue Camel that one might expect them to sound similar. But there's a key difference in the presence of Howard Levy on Sultan's Picnic. Levy is a talented harmonica player who has done a lot of offbeat work, including a stint with Béla Fleck & the Flecktones. Despite the power of Charlie Mariano on alto sax and Kenny Wheeler on trumpet, this album is dominated by the idioms of the harmonica, specifically the jazzy, quirky, lackadaisical idiom popularized by Levy's work with the Flecktones. This domination is noticeable from the beginning, on "Sunrise in Montreal." Occasionally, the harmonica recedes to the background and allows other instruments to shine through. On "Solitude," Levy provides only the occasional raspy sound effect, while Abou-Khalil steps forward with an instrument he had custom-built: the bass oud. Other novel instruments put in an appearance here as well. Michel Godard huffs and toots away on the tuba and its archaic predecessor, the serpent. (This is in addition to Steve Swallow on bass.) Whether because of the multitude of instruments -- all the aforementioned, plus three percussionists and an uncredited electric guitar -- or just too much influence from Levy, the album lacks focus, except when it sounds like the Flecktones. There are exceptions, like "The Happy Sheik" and "Snake Soup," where Abou-Khalil sounds like his dramatic self again. But on these tracks, Levy is used mostly as punctuation. by Kurt Keefner
Tracklist:
1 Sunrise In Montreal 8:14
Rabih Abou-Khalil
2 Solitude 6:32
Rabih Abou-Khalil
3 Dog River 4:25
Rabih Abou-Khalil
4 Moments 6:17
Rabih Abou-Khalil
5 Lamentation 8:59
Rabih Abou-Khalil
6 Nocturne Au Villaret 6:33
Rabih Abou-Khalil
7 The Happy Sheik 6:02
Rabih Abou-Khalil
8 Snake Soup 4:28
Rabih Abou-Khalil
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – Charlie Mariano
Artwork [Cover Art], Calligraphy – Georges Ghantous
Bass – Steve Swallow
Congas – Milton Cardona
Drums – Mark Nauseef
Frame Drum – Nabil Khaiat
Harmonica – Howard Levy
Oud – Rabih Abou-Khalil
Oud [Bass] – Rabih Abou-Khalil (pistas: 2)
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler
Tuba, Serpent – Michel Godard
8.11.21
DAVE HOLLAND QUINTET — Jumpin' In (1983) APE (image+.cue), lossless
Bassist Dave Holland leads one of his most stimulating groups on this superlative quintet date. With the young Steve Coleman on alto and flute, trumpet great Kenny Wheeler, trombonist Julian Priester, and drummer Steve Ellington in the band, Holland had a particularly creative group of musicians in which to interpret and stretch out his six originals; Coleman also contributed one composition. This set, which has plenty of variety in moods, tone, colors, and styles, is one of Holland's better recordings. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Jumpin' In 7:41
Dave Holland
2 First Snow 6:28
Dave Holland
3 The Dragon And The Samurai 8:25
Steve Coleman
4 New-One 7:37
Dave Holland
5 Sunrise 5:26
Dave Holland
6 Shadow Dance 5:22
Dave Holland
7 You I Love 7:56
Dave Holland
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Flute – Steve Coleman
Bass, Cello – Dave Holland
Design – Barbara Wojirsch
Drums – Steve Ellington
Producer [Produced By] – Manfred Eicher
Trombone – Julian Priester
Trumpet, Trumpet [Pocket Trumpet], Cornet, Flugelhorn [Fluegelhorn] – Kenny Wheeler
DAVE HOLLAND QUINTET - Seeds of Time (1985) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless
In the mid-1980s, bassist Dave Holland led his finest group, a quintet with up-and-coming altoist Steve Coleman, trombonist Julian Priester, trumpeter Kenny Wheeler and (on this date) drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith. The all-star musicians pack plenty of music and concise solos into each performance (nine originals), and the unique group carved out its own niche, not quite free but certainly unpredictable. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Uhren 4:53
Composed By – Steve Coleman
2 Homecoming 6:01
Composed By – Dave Holland
3 Perspicuity 3:42
Composed By – Doug Hammond
4 Celebration 5:11
Composed By – Julian Priester
5 World Protection Blues 7:00
Composed By – Doug Hammond
6 Gridlock (Opus 8) 8:23
Composed By – Steve Coleman
7 Walk-a-way 3:55
Composed By – Holland, Smith
8 The Good Doctor 5:54
Composed By – Kenny Wheeler
9 Double Vision 7:09
Composed By – Dave Holland
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Steve Coleman
Design [Cover Design] – Barbara Wojirsch
Double Bass – Dave Holland
Drums, Percussion – Marvin "Smitty" Smith
Producer [Produced By] – Manfred Eicher
Trombone – Julian Priester
Trumpet, Cornet, Trumpet [Pocket Trumpet], Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler
DAVE HOLLAND QUINTET - The Razor's Edge (1987) APE (image+.cue), lossless
Dave Holland's mid-1980s band played inventive music that was between post-bop and the avant-garde. The group acted as a launching pad for altoist Steve Coleman, gave publicity to the always-underrated trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, and in 1987 also featured trombonist Robin Eubanks and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith. The group's three ECM releases are well worth exploring, and this set gives listeners a strong example of their work. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Brother Ty 4:34
Written-By – Doug Hammond
2 Vedana 4:53
Written-By – Dave Holland
3 The Razor's Edge 7:52
Written-By – Dave Holland
4 Blues For C.M. 9:15
Written-By – Dave Holland
5 Vortex 8:11
Written-By – Steve Coleman
6 5 Four Six 4:26
Written-By – Kenny Wheeler
7 Wights Waits For Weights 5:25
Written-By – Steve Coleman
8 Figit Time 6:17
Written-By – Doug Hammond
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Steve Coleman
Bass – Dave Holland
Design [Cover Design] – Barbara Wojirsch
Drums – Marvin "Smitty" Smith
Flugelhorn, Trumpet, Cornet – Kenny Wheeler
Producer – Manfred Eicher
Trombone – Robin Eubanks
22.4.21
RALPH TOWNER - Old Friends, New Friends (1979) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless
Due to the very interesting grouping of players -- guitarist Ralph Towner, who also performs on piano and French horn; trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, cellist David Darling, bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Michael Di Pasqua -- and six of Towner's better originals, this is one of the guitarist's best in a long string of ECM recordings. Wheeler adds fire to the music that is tempered a bit by Darling's mellow cello. An intriguing set well worth several listens. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 New Moon 7:27
Ralph Towner
2 Yesterday and Long Ago 7:51
Ralph Towner
3 Celeste 4:53
Ralph Towner
4 Special Delivery 7:03
Ralph Towner
5 Kupala 8:04
Ralph Towner
6 Beneath an Evening Sky 7:00
Ralph Towner
Credits:
Bass – Eddie Gomez
Cello – David Darling
Design – Barbara Wojirsch
Drums, Percussion – Michael Di Pasqua
Producer – Manfred Eicher
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler
Twelve-String Guitar, Classical Guitar, Piano, French Horn, Composed By [All Compositions By] – Ralph Towner
27.7.20
AZIMUTH - Azimuth / The Touchstone / Départ (1994) 3xCD Set / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Tracklist:
Azimuth - Azimuth
1 Sirens' Song 4:11
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
2 O 6:48
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
3 Azimuth 12:14
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
4 The Tunnel 9:14
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
5 Greek Triangle 2:04
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
6 Jacob 8:47
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
Azimuth - The Touchstone
1 Eulogy 10:22
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
2 Silver 6:26
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
3 Mayday 5:27
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
4 Jero 6:18
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
5 Prelude 5:33
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
6 See 10:46
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
Azimuth With Ralph Towner - Départ
1 The Longest Day 6:27
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
2 Autumn 11:06
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
3 Arrivée 7:48
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
Touching Points
4 From The Window 1:09
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
5 Windfall 4:32
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
6 The Rabbit 2:34
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
7 Charcoal Traces 4:32
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
8 Départ 10:25
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
9 The Longest Day (Reprise) 3:44
John Taylor / Norma Winstone
Credits:
Composed By – John Taylor
Lyrics By – Norma Winstone
Organ – John Taylor (tracks: 2-1 to 3-9)
Piano – John Taylor
Producer – Manfred Eicher
Synthesizer – John Taylor (tracks: 1-1 to 1-6)
Trumpet, Flugelhorn [Fluegelhorn] – Kenny Wheeler
Twelve-String Guitar [12 String Guitar], Classical Guitar – Ralph Towner (tracks: 3-1 to 3-9)
Voice – Norma Winstone
Azimuth (1977-1980) ECM 1546-1548 [3CD-Set]
27.5.20
BILL BRUFORD - Feels Good To Me (1978) lp [24bits-96hz] FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
The opener, "Beelzebub," is a furious staccato workout. Holdsworth trades eights with Bruford and Berlin executes loping basslines as Stewart waxes painterly with both organ and synthesizer. It's knotty and stops on a dime before charging into a beautiful solo by Holdsworth and resolving itself with the ensemble restating the theme. "Back to the Beginning" has one of four vocal performances by Peacock. It's a jazz tune -- funky, syncopated, and heavily and wildly lyrical both in groove and meter. It's a song about addictions and, given Peacock's sultry treatment, it's hard to tell if they are chemical, material, or sexual. The band works hard staying behind the singer but can't help but overshadow her.
On the two-part "Seems Like a Lifetime Ago," musical schizophrenia sets in. After a colorful pastoral intro, Peacock glides beautifully through Bruford's lyric of forlorn reverie accompanied by a gorgeous Wheeler solo. Then "Part Two" begins with her growling out the refrain and the band taking off for parts unknown. Hard funky rhythms call Holdsworth's lead guitar to move flat up against Bruford's frenetic drumming. They challenge each other dynamically as the rest of the rhythm section nervously dances around them. Holdsworth finally grabs the lead and plays a solo that is nothing short of breathtaking, giving way to a restatement of the theme and Bruford opening up the harmonic structure before bringing it to a transcendent close two minutes later. The album's six instrumentals are tight: they hold improvisational breaks to the limits of compositional dictation rather than vice versa. The most beautiful, "Either End of August," features Stewart and Wheeler playing unusual yet melodic solos that entwine with each other as the rest of the band struggles to keep the drama out of the music. They don't succeed entirely and the track is all the better for it.
The set closes with "Adios a la Pasada (Goodbye to the Past)," a collaboration between Peacock and Bruford. It's on Peacock's favorite theme: to emerge from love scraped and beaten, yet resolved to keep an open heart. The opening is spare and strange, coated with whispering keyboards and bass haunting the artist's every word. Then Bruford majestically leads the band, soaring into the heart of her lyric, "What it is/Is this/Is what it is/Forgive yourselves/Release yourselves from the past." The music opens up an entirely new sonic dimension, as if history, both musical and emotional, was being rewritten. And it was. Bruford has yet to issue a solo recording as powerful as Feels Good to Me. by Thom Jurek
Tracklist:
A1 - Beelzebub 3:16
Written-By - Bill Bruford
A2 - Back To The Beginning 7:09
Words By, Music By - Bill Bruford
A3 - Seems Like A Lifetime Ago (Part One) 2:30
Words By, Music By - Bill Bruford
A4 - Seems Like A Lifetime Ago (Part Two) 4:25
Written-By - Bill Bruford
A5 - Sample And Hold 5:12
Written-By - Bill Bruford, Dave Stewart
B1- Feels Good To Me 3:49
Guitar [Additional] - John Goodsall / Written-By - Bill Bruford
B2 - Either End Of August 5:27
Written-By - Bill Bruford
B3 - If You Can't The Heat 3:20
Written-By - Bill Bruford, Dave Stewart
B4 - Springtime In Siberia 2:43
Written-By - Bill Bruford, Dave Stewart
B5 - Adios A La Pasada (Goodbye To The Past) 7:56
Music By - Bill Bruford / Words By - Annette Peacock
Credits
Bass – Jeff Berlin
Featuring [With], Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler
Guitar – Allan Holdsworth
Keyboards – Dave Stewart
Percussion [Tuned And Untuned Percussion], Drums [Kit Drums] – Bill Bruford
Vocals – Annette Peacock
30.12.18
KENNY WHEELER QUINTET - The Widow in the Window (1990) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless
Tracklist:
1 Aspire 12:24
2 Ma Belle Hélène 8:42
3 The Widow In The Window 10:21
4 Ana 14:43
5 Hotel Le Hot 8:28
6 Now, And Now Again 6:12
Credits
Bass – Dave Holland
Composed By – Kenny Wheeler
Drums – Peter Erskine
Flugelhorn [Fluegelhorn], Trumpet – Kenny Wheeler
Guitar – John Abercrombie
Piano – John Taylor
Producer – Manfred Eicher
27.10.18
JOHN ABERCROMBIE - Open Land (1999) APE (image+.cue), lossless
Tracklist:
1 Just in Tune 6:36
John Abercrombie
2 Open Land 10:08
John Abercrombie
3 Spring Song 8:59
John Abercrombie / Felix Mendelssohn
4 Gimme Five 7:23
John Abercrombie
5 Speak Easy 6:43
John Abercrombie
6 Little Booker 6:10
John Abercrombie
7 Free Piece Suit(e) 6:56
John Abercrombie / Mark Feldman / Joe Lovano / Adam Nussbaum / Dan Wall / Kenny Wheeler
8 Remember When 7:58
John Abercrombie
9 That's for Sure 4:08
John Abercrombie
Credits
Drums – Adam Nussbaum
Guitar – John Abercrombie
Organ – Dan Wall
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Lovano
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler
Violin – Mark Feldman
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BLIND BOY FULLER — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 1 • 1935-1936 | DOCD-5091 (1992) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
The finest collection ever of blues and ragtime. Fuller is here both solo and with Gary Davis, Sonny Terry, and Bull City Red. This is Piedm...