* Kneebody -- "Break Me" -- Kneebody (Greenleaf, 2005)
Now this is what the Hip Jazz Thing ought to be. A quintet
that blends jazz, funk, prog guitar, and even some squiggly electronics
into a fine brew.
* Chicago Luzern Exchange -- "Five Handfuls" -- Several Lights (Delmark, 2005)
Another young band, this one out of Chicago. Lots of squiggly
improv work on this disk, done in a restrained fashion by a band
with three horns (tuba being one!) and drums. Improv with a particular
character; it's not a me-too disk.
* Odean Pope & Khan Jamal Quartet -- "The Rhythm Thang" -- Nothing Is Wrong (CIMP, 2004)
* Roger Smith and Louis Moholo-Moholo -- "The Butterfly and the Bee" [excerpt] -- The Butterfly and the Bee (Emanem, 2005)
Acoustic guitar teamed up with various drums of South African legend
Moholo. Really nice -- my impression is that their styles don't naturally
blend (Smith is abstract, like Derek Bailey, but in a more "polite" and
pastoral way, like calm avant-garde), and they work hard to create
cohesive duets anyway. It really works, and Moholo tears it up on drums
without overpowering the guitar.
-- 4:00 p.m. --
* Ensemble En Pieces -- "Arriere-Pays" -- Jardin d'Exil (Ambiances Magnetiques, 2005)
* Steve Swell -- "For Frank Lowe" -- Slammin' the Infinite (Cadence Jazz, 2005)
Frank Lowe -- "Sun Voyage" -- The Flam (Black Saint, 1976)
On a whim, a mini-tribute to free-jazz saxophonist Frank Lowe. Steve
Swell's CD happens to be finishing its nine weeks in rotation, and
I thought it nice to go out with this pairing. "For Frank Lowe" is the
closing track on the album, and a bit uncharacteristic -- most of the
tracks use jazz/bop composing as jumping-off points, but this one is
pure swirling jazz improvising, in a slow, respectful atmosphere.
"Chaotic invocation" is what fellow DJ Ben calls it. Then, one of
the happier tracks from The Flam, an album that's a real find, by the
way. Joseph Bowie and (Wadada) Leo Smith really dig in on the long
improvisatory passages, and Alex Blake on bass throws in lots of
aggressive double-stops for some guitar-like solos.
* Drew Gress -- "Bright Idea" -- 7 Black Butterflies (Premonition, 2005)
Mainstream modern bop with lots of energy and fresh ideas, churned
out by a band of avant-jazzers including saxophonist Tim Berne. Have I mentioned before that
this is one of the best CDs of the year?
*! Octomutt -- "Hot Stove" -- Hot Stove (Drizzoletto, 2005)
Got the skinny on these guys: They're a Bay Area duet, of
Ted Savarese (guitar/vocals) and Ashley Adams (bass). Adams has been
featured on my show before, as she's played with the local improv/experimental
crowd quite a bit; her "Flowers for Mrs. Dalloway" is a wonderful trio
excursion with saxophonist Philip Greenlief and drummer Michel Dumenceau.
Anyway, Octomutt are pretty cool. At least one of their two
previous CDs was all instrumental; this one brings in the vocals for a
country/blues swagger on most tracks, althought it's still got a clever
artsy feel IMHO.
* Rouge Ciel -- "Nostradamus Avait Predit" -- Veuillez Proceder (Monsieur Fateux, 2005)
From Quebec, a prog/jazz outfit along the lines of Univers Zero, but
with a heavier tilt toward the jazz side. Fun, goofy, complex, with a
Euro-chamber-jazz lilt.
* Positive Knowledge -- "Direct Focus" -- Live in New York (Edgetone, 2003)
A track that mostly features Oluyemi Thomas on bass clarinet.
Used this to showcase a duo appearance he has with Damon Smith (double
bass) at the Luggage Store Gallery on 23 June 2005.
-- 5:00 p.m. --
* The Fringe -- "From Here to There" -- Live at Zeitgeist (Resolution Recordings, 2005)
* Veryan Weston, John Edwards, Mark Sanders -- "Gateway Four" -- Gateway to Vienna (Emanem, 2005)
* The Fonda/Stevens Group -- "The Call" -- Forever Real (482 Music, 2005)
Myra Melford's Crush -- "Yellow Are Crowds of Flowers II" -- Dance Beyond the Color (Arabesque, 2000)
Myra Melford/Marty Ehrlich -- "Yellow Are Crowds of Flowers I" -- Yet Can Spring (Arabesque, 2001)
Myra Melford is a pianist who's done great work during the past decade
and a half. Her music has evolved from the jumpy, crisp piano trios of the
early '90s to an effusive, exploratory sound. She'll be performing next
Friday as part of the 3 Drops of Blood quarterly series put on by
Nanos Operetta, a
local new-music troupe, at San Francisco's Theatre Artaud (Shows are
Fri/Sat June 24/25, 8:00 p.m.). I'm planning to feature a taped interview
with Myra next week, and used these tracks -- the first more jazz trio-like,
the second a chamber exploration with saxophone -- as preview material.
* Marc Ribot -- "Spirits" -- Spiritual Unity (Pi Recordings, 2005)
Going out with this Albert Ayler tribute featuring the long lost
Henry Grimes on bass.
* = Item in KZSU rotation
! = Pop anomaly
? = Item not in KZSU library
-- Go back to Memory Select playlists.
-- Bay Area free/improv music calendar: http://www.bayimproviser.com.