MUHAL RICHARD ABRAMS — Levels And Degrees Of Light (1968-1991) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Levels and Degrees of Light was the first recording under Muhal Richard Abrams' name and was a landmark album that launched the first in a long line of beautiful, musical salvos from the AACM toward the mainstream jazz world. The title track finds Abrams broadly tracing out some of the territory he would continue to explore in succeeding decades, an ethereal, mystic quality (evinced by Penelope Taylor's otherworldly vocalizing and Gordon Emmanuel's shimmering vibes) balanced by a harsh and earthy bluesiness set forth by the leader's piercing clarinet. "The Bird Song" begins with a fine, dark poetry recitation by David Moore (oh! for the days when one didn't approach a poem on a jazz album with great trepidation) before evanescing into a whirlwind of percussion, bird whistles, and violin (the latter by Leroy Jenkins in one of his first recorded appearances). When the band enters at full strength with Anthony Braxton (in his first recording session), the effect is explosive and liberating, as though Abrams' band had stood on the shoulders of Coltrane, Coleman, and Taylor and taken a massive, daring leap into the future. It's a historic performance. The final track offers several unaccompanied solo opportunities, spotlighting Abrams' sumptuous piano and the under-recognized bass abilities of Charles Clark. This is a milestone recording and belongs in the collection of any modern jazz fan. Brian Olewnick
Tracklist :
1    Levels And Degrees Of Light    10:33
2    The Bird Song    23:00
3    My Thoughts Are My Future—Now And Forever    9:43
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Anthony Braxton (tracks: 2, 3)
Bass – Charles Clark (tracks: 2, 3), Leonard Jones (tracks: 2)
Composed By, Artwork [Cover Art] – Muhal Richard Abrams
Drums – Thurman Barker (tracks: 2, 3), Percussion – (tracks: 1)
Piano – Muhal Richard Abrams (tracks: 3), Piano, Clarinet – (tracks: 2), Clarinet – (tracks: 1)
Tenor Saxophone – Maurice McIntyre (tracks: 3)
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Gordon Emmanuel (tracks: 1, 3)
Violin – Leroy Jenkins (tracks: 2)
Vocals – Penelope Taylor (tracks: 1, 3)
Voice [Poet] – David Moore (tracks: 2)

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

GIANLUIGI TROVESI OTTETTO — Fugace (2003) FLAC (image+.cue) lossless

Italian composer and clarinet master Gianluigi Trovesi has realized his own dream. For over a decade his recordings have included bits and pieces of the American jazz and blues he heard as a child and led him down the path from Bergamo to the world's jazz stages. But Fugace is different. Here, Trovesi and his octet create a veritable soundtrack to a film from the composer's imagination. They pay a great tribute to early American jazz, the kind found rolling down the streets of New Orleans in the teens and early '20s by Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton, and W.C. Handy. But this is no New Orleans tribute album in the usual sense. Trovesi has incorporated, like his countryman Nino Rota, the traditional folk song and dance forms of Italian music and allowed them to engage early American jazz on their own terms. Tarantellas and blues make great companions (or at least they do here), from the funeral marches evoked in "African Triptych" to the places where "Ramble" and "Blues and West" evoke Armstrong's "West End Blues" in a myriad of contrapuntal exchanges between horns and the rhythm section -- particularly the Trovesi clarinet and the double bass of Roberto Bonati, where long, restrained folk forms grace the 12 bars and free them. There's also the elegant, minimal, slippery swing of "Clumsy Dancing of the Fat Cat Bird," where electronics, cello, guitar, and trumpet vie for the center of a mix that gives way to a hard bop read of certain passages in "St. James Infirmary." In fact, based on this track, the title, and "Canto Di Lavorno," one can feel the influence of movie directors Michelangelo Antonioni and Pier Paolo Pasolini on Trovesi, utilizing music to create the space something will take place in rather than describe the action. From restrained to rollicking to nearly classical and reverent, Fugace is a special recording. It is the most forward-thinking and easily fully realized of Trovesi's distinguished body of work.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist :
1    As Strange As A Ballad    3:41
Sogno D'Orfeo    (7:58)
2.1    Andante Maest(r)oso    
2.2    Allegretto Giocoso
African Triptych    
3    Wide Lake    5:11
4    Scarlet Dunes    2:46
5    Western Dream    3:46
6    Canto Di Lavoro    4:31
7    Clumsy Dancing Of The Fat Bird    1:38
8    Siparietto I    2:29
9    Blues And West    5:24
10    Siparietto II    0:59
Il Domatore    (6:16)
11.1    Senza Tigre    
11.2    Con Il Leone    
Ramble    (5:05)
12.1    Oh, Didn't He Ramble    
12.2    She's Straight    
13    Siparietto III    1:24
14    Fugace    1:09
15    Siparietto IV    1:44
Totò Nei Caraibi    (5:51)
16.1    Alla Fiera    
16.2    Andan-Tina    
16.3    Totolypso
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet [Piccolo Clarinet], Alto Clarinet – Gianluigi Trovesi
Arranged By – Zucchi (tracks: 16), Gianluigi Trovesi, Remondini (tracks: 9, 16)
Cello, Electronics – Marco Remondini
Composed By – Gianluigi Trovesi (tracks: 1 to 11, 12.2, 13 to 15, 16.2, 16.3), Traditional (tracks: 16.1), William C. Handy (tracks: 12.1)
Double Bass – Roberto Bonati
Double Bass, Electric Bass – Marco Micheli
Drums – Vittorio Marinoni
Percussion, Electronics – Fulvio Maras
Producer – Manfred Eicher
Trombone – Beppe Caruso
Trumpet, Electronics – Massimo Greco

EVELYN GLENNIE — Her Greatest Hits (1997) 2CD | APE (image+.cue) lossless

Her Greatest Hits is a double-disc collection that contains highlights from Evelyn Glennie's recordings for BMG Classics. Not only are her original compositions and interpretations of contemporary classical numbers featured, but so are her versions of pop songs, as well as "Osygen" and "My Spine," her two collaborations with Björk. The result is an excellent summation of Glennie's career and startling technique. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist 1 :
1    Entrances    0:11
2    Halasana 6:50
Piano – Philip Smith
Written-By – Louis Cauberghs
3    Sorbet No.1 0:54
Written-By – Evelyn Glennie
4    Rhythm Song 8:57
Written-By – Paul Smadbeck
5    My Spine 2:38
Featuring [With] – Björk
Written-By – Björk, Evelyn Glennie
6    Slaughter On 10th Avenue 5:51
Conductor – Barry Wordsworth
Featuring [With] – The National Philharmonic Orchestra
Orchestrated By – Gordon Langford
Written-By – Richard Rogers
7    Sorbet No.5 2:12
Written-By – Evelyn Glennie
8    A Little Prayer 4:52
Written-By – Evelyn Glennie
9    Eldorado 4:04
Written-By – Ney Rosauro
10    Sorbet No.7 2:02
Written-By – Evelyn Glennie
11    Black Key Study 1:41
Arranged By [Solo Part Arr.] – Evelyn Glennie
Conductor – Barry Wordsworth
Featuring [With] – The National Philharmonic Orchestra
Orchestrated By, Arranged By – Christopher Palmer
Written-By – Frédéric Chopin
12    Divertimento 12:30
Alto Saxophone – John Harle
Written-By – Akira Yuyama
13    Taps In Tempo 2:10
Written-By – Jan Berenska
14    Born To Be Wild 2:20
Arranged By – David Lang
Written-By – Mars Bonfire
15    Michi 15:03
Written-By – Keiko Abe
Written-By [Improvisation] – Evelyn Glennie
Tracklist 2 :
1    Sorbet No.4 0:35
Written-By – Evelyn Glennie
2    Light In Darkness 4:54
Written-By – Evelyn Glennie
3    The Anvil Chorus 8:02
Written-By – David Lang
4    Rhapsody 9:44
Clarinet – Roy Jowitt
Double Bass – Chris Lawrence
Drums – Ralph Salmins
Flute – Edward Beckett
Written-By – Takayoshi Yoshioka
5    The Swan 2:58
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Gordon Langford
Written-By – Camille Saint-Saëns
6    Sorbet No.3 1:58
Written-By – Evelyn Glennie
7    Concerto For Solo Percussion And Chamber Orchestra 1st Movement 7:44
Conductor – Paul Daniel
Featuring [With] – Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Written-By – Richard Rodney Bennett
8    The Flight Of The Bumble Bee 1:21
Arranged By – Christopher Palmer
Conductor – Barry Wordsworth
Featuring [With] – The National Philharmonic Orchestra
Written-By – Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
9    Sorbet No.6 2:12
Written-By – Evelyn Glennie
10    Marimba Spiritual (Excerpt) 9:01
Percussion – Gary Kettel, Greg Knowles, Stephen Henderson
Written-By – Minoru Miki
11    Hejre Kati 6:11
Arranged By – Evelyn Glennie
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Gordon Langford
Conductor – Barry Wordsworth
Featuring [With] – The National Philharmonic Orchestra
Written-By – Jenö Hubay
12    Maple Leaf Rag 2:17
Arranged By, Conductor – Ray Russell
Featuring [With] – The National Philharmonic Orchestra
Written-By – Scott Joplin
13    Matre's Dance 9:25
Piano – Philip Smith
Written-By – John Psathas
14    Czardas 5:16
Arranged By [Solo Part Arr.] – Evelyn Glennie
Conductor – Barry Wordsworth
Featuring [With] – The National Philharmonic Orchestra
Orchestrated By, Arranged By – Christopher Palmer
Written-By – Vittorio Monti
15    Oxygen 3:52
Featuring [With] – Björk
Written-By – Björk, Evelyn Glennie

ERIC DOLPHY — Muses (2013) MONO | Historical Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This Marshmallow release in its Historical Series features Eric Dolphy's previously unreleased studio recordings from the so-called "Douglas Sessions," supposedly produced by Alan Douglas who was an A&R man for United Artists. Some materials from these sessions have been released over the years from several different labels, including the album Conversations from the FM label and Iron Man from the Douglas label.
Tracks 1 and 3-5 are previously unreleased alternate takes from these sessions, and Track 2 is a newly discovered tune that was supposedly "rejected" and therefore thought to have been erased. The album opens with two stunning duo performances by Dolphy and bassist Richard Davis. Their interplay is intimate and at times telepathetic. "Iron Man" and "Mandrake" are played by a quintet featuring Woody Shaw on trumpet and Bobby Hutcherson on vibraphone. "Love Me" is a searing alto sax solo performance by Dolphy.
Tracklist :
1    Alone Together 12:07
Written-By – A. Schwartz
2    Muses 8:48
Written-By – E. Dolphy
3    Iron Man 8:27
Written-By – E. Dolphy
4    Love Me 3:39
Written-By – V. Young
5    Mandrake 4:18
Written-By – E. Dolphy
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Eric Dolphy (tracks: 3 to 5)
Bass – Eddie Khan (tracks: 3), Richard Davis (tracks: 1, 2, 5)
Bass Clarinet – Eric Dolphy (tracks: 1, 2)
Drums – J.C. Moses (tracks: 3, 5)
Trumpet – Woody Shaw (tracks: 3, 5)
Vibraphone – Bobby Hutcherson (tracks: 3, 5)
Recorded in New York, July 1st (1,2), July 3rd or 4th, 1963.