MARTY EHRLICH | PETER ERSKINE | MICHAEL FORMANEK — Relativity (1999) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

You might justifiably expect sparks to fly on this collaborative effort, given the careers of Ehrlich and his compatriots, trio members Michael Formanek and Peter Erskine. Unfortunately, it rarely happens, and while all three are exquisite players individually, this disappointing, often tepid recording stands as an opportunity not fully realized. In part it might be the result of different styles: Ehrlich, of course, is the more adventurous of the group, but Erskine, whose heart is usually in more commercial ventures, seems comfortable with the music. The pieces are all originals by the trio members, but there are times when a certain boredom pervades the music. To be fair, there are some aggressive, exciting moments, too, but they are the exception. Ehrlich continues to show remarkable versatility on alto and tenor saxophones, clarinet, and flute (where he is particularly lyrical). Steve Loewy
Tracklist :
1    Incident At Harpham Flat    6:42
 Michael Formanek
2    Eloi Lament    5:44
 Peter Erskine
3    Lucky Life    9:19
 Marty Ehrlich
4    The Pivot    6:52
 Marty Ehrlich
5    Holy Waters    5:52
 Michael Formanek
6    Round The Four Corners    6:41
 Marty Ehrlich
7    Jiggle The Handle    8:35
 Michael Formanek
8    Relativo    3:42
 Peter Erskine
9    Taglioni    6:04
 Don Grolnick
10    In A Child's Eyes    4:15
 Michael Formanek
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute – Marty Ehrlich
Double Bass – Michael Formanek
Drums – Peter Erskine

MARY HALVORSON'S CODE GIRL — Artlessly Falling (2020) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Artlessly Falling is the second album by Mary Halvorson's Code Girl. Its core remains Halvorson on guitar; Tomas Fujiwara on drums; Amirtha Kidambi on vocals, and Michael Formanek on bass. Trumpeter Adam O'Farrill replaces Ambrose Akinmusire, and Maria Grand is added on tenor saxophone and voice. The date also includes three vocal cameos by Robert Wyatt. A primary influence on Halvorson, she composed these songs especially for him. Her lyrics throughout reflect not only detailed attention but a methodology in which each poem strategically conforms to its accompanying musical construct. Artlessly Falling showcases deeply focused, expansively articulated, abstract musical languages that remain warm and welcoming, even amid dissonance.

"Lemon Trees" is a nearly exotic mutant waltz introduced by Halvorson's circular guitar pattern as Kidambi and Grand wordlessly vocalize behind Wyatt, who delivers the lyrics in a lithe, world-weary tenor. O'Farrill fills in behind him until the stanza ends and he solos as Fujiwara and Halvorson support. The feel is buoyant and airy. Kidambi's wordless groan meets Formanek's dark bassline in "Last-Minute Smears" before Fujiwara's snare and beer-can percussion frame an elliptical melody articulated by Halvorson's striated chords. O'Farrill's serpentine trumpet and Grand's tenor emotively entwine themselves around one another before Kidambi includes a particularly venomous and vengeful quote from Justice Brett Kavanaugh, providing a bewildered sense of dislocation and primeval conviction. While "Walls and Roses" is introduced by Fujiwara's cymbals and Halvorson's fingerpicking under Wyatt's vocal; it erupts in under a minute as the guitarist unleashes distorted shredding. Kidambi calms her on the second stanza, but Halvorson shakes loose here, and between each succeeding exchanged stanza, as Fujiwara and Formanek brace her screaming lead lines. The amorphous structure of "Muzzling Unwashed" is a set highlight as trumpet, guitar, bass, and drums create an exotic backdrop for Kidambi's languid delivery. "Bigger Flames" commences with Halvorson's playing simulating an electric ukulele amid a shimmering snare cascade from Fujiwara, bittersweet horn lines, and slippery time signatures. Backing vocals enter and leave at odd junctures, while Halvorson interjects loudly over Wyatt as the tune turns in on itself. "Mexican War Streets (Pittsburgh)" and "A Nearing" each clock in at over ten minutes. The former balances form and abstraction with lyrical playing from the soloists until Halvorson whomps on a Black Sabbath-like power riff that sends the band toward free improv. The latter, introduced by a long solo from Formanek, offers detailed ensemble playing a complex melody that is expanded by Kidambi and the guitarist with help from O'Farrill. When it cuts loose, powerful soloing from the horns and guitarist stridently engage dissonant post-bop. The title track begins like an indie folk tune, highlighted by Kidambi's tender singing. A minute in, Halvorson's slide guitar ushers in shapeshifting changes and kinetic exchanges between players. The tune sends Artlessly Falling out with dramatic, emotional resonance. This remarkable album cannot be quantified, only experienced. Mary Halvorson's Code Girl are so mercurial in method and content -- and mystifying in execution -- they actually deserve their own genre.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist :
1    The Lemon Trees 7:15
Written-By – Mary Halvorson
Voice – Robert Wyatt
2    Last-Minute Smears 8:58
Written-By – Mary Halvorson
Percussion [Beer Cans] – Tomas Fujiwara
3    Walls And Roses 3:33
Written-By – Mary Halvorson
Voice – Robert Wyatt
4    Muzzling Unwashed    10:51
Written-By – Mary Halvorson
5    Bigger Flames 5:15
Written-By – Mary Halvorson
Voice – Robert Wyatt
6    Mexican War Streets (Pittsburgh)    10:40
Written-By – Mary Halvorson
7    A Nearing    10:32
Written-By – Mary Halvorson
8    Artlessly Falling    7:15
Written-By – Mary Halvorson
Credits :
Bass – Michael Formanek
Drums – Tomas Fujiwara
Guitar – Mary Halvorson
Tenor Saxophone, Voice – Maria Grand
Trumpet – Adam O'Farrill
Voice – Amirtha Kidambi
Written-By – Mary Halvorson

LEE KONITZ - Strings for Holiday (A Tribute To Billie Holiday) (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Always eager to record in new situations, on this CD Lee Konitz is showcased with a string sextet (two violins, violas and cellos), bassist Michael Formanek and drummer Matt Wilson. The cool-toned altoist pays tribute during a dozen songs to both Billie Holiday and (in a more subtle fashion) tenor great Lester Young, two of his early idols. Daniel Schnyder contributed all of the arrangements for the set. Rather than weighing down the proceedings, Schnyder has the strings adding rich harmonies and phrases that seem to anticipate the leader's phrases, and they even swing. Lee Konitz, who added a vibrato to his sound for the project so he could recreate some of Billie Holiday's feeling, handles the ballads and medium-tempo material beautifully. Highlights include "The Man I Love," "I Cried For You," "All Of Me" and "Easy Living." A memorable and heartfelt effort by all concerned. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     The Man I Love 4:26
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
2     You've Changed 5:04
Bill Carey / Carl Fischer
3     God Bless the Child 4:27
Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog, Jr.
4     But Beautiful 6:06
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
5     I Cried for You 5:18
Gus Arnheim / Arthur Freed / Abe Lyman
6     Loverman 5:30
Jimmy Davis / Roger "Ram" Ramirez / Jimmy Sherman
7     All of Me 4:19
Gerald Marks / Seymour Simons
8     Good Morning Heartache 5:26
Ervin Drake / Dan Fisher / Irene Higginbotham
9     For Heaven's Sake 5:23
Elise Bretton / Sherman Edwards / Don Meyer / Donald Meyer / Sherman Edwards & Donald Meyer
10     Easy Living 4:48
Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin
11     These Foolish Things 4:46
Harry Link / Holt Marvell / Jack Strachey
12     For All We Know 3:41
J. Fred Coots / Sam M. Lewis
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lee Konitz
Arranged By [String Arrangements], Producer – Daniel Schnyder
Double Bass – Michael Formanek
Drums – Matt Wilson
Viola – Jill Jaffe, Ronald Lawrence
Violin – Cenovia Cummins, Mark Feldman
Violoncello – Daniel Pezzotti, Erik Friedlander