Friday, November 2nd, 2007 ... 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ... KZSU, 90.1 FM

(Return to playlists.)

It's the third time Amy X. Neuburg has appeared on my show; this time she'll be calling in for a brief live chat about "The Secret Language of Subways," a song cycle for voice, three cellos, and Neuburg's sundry gadgets and mic tricks. The debut performance last year impressed the hell out of me, as did a short set Neuburg and the band did at the during a benefit for violinist Irene Sazer. In fact, the Freight was impressed enough to invite the group down for a full performance on Nov. 3 (tomorrow night).

KQED-TV's Spark program did a nice profile of Neuburg that includes footage of the "Subways" debut concert.

Epilogue, Nov. 4: The show at the Freight was good fun. The house was packed with Neuburg fans. When the promoter asked for a show of hands, about 40% of the crowd admitted they'd never been to the Freight before. I overheard a couple of people explaining the show to friends -- they'd been impressed enough not only to come back but to drag others along with them. The mood was a lot lighter and looser, since this was less formal than the full theatrical presentation of a year ago, but the songs were just as effective. The guy sitting next to us, who'd never heard of Neuburg before, was blown away from the first song and came out a believer.

Neuburg and the ChiXtet will be back in March or April for a set of shows with Paul Dresher at the Theatre Artaud. The Innova CD should be out by then.

Format:
ARTIST -- "TRACK TITLE" -- ALBUM TITLE (LABEL, YEAR)
Horizontal lines denote microphone breaks.

? Human Feel -- "Cat Heaven" -- Galore (Skirl, 2007)

They've reunited! In my very early days of exploring the downtown NY jazz scene, I came across Human Feel. They were reviewed in a magazine I'd picked up, and two of the members -- Chris Speed and Jim Black -- were in Tim Berne's Bloodcount, the band at the center of my explorations. I got doubly excited about Human Feel upon finding one of their CDs back home (Amoeba Records to the rescue again.)

Human Feel's band members have all got busy careers now, so I'd figured the band was gone forever. But they managed to get back together and record for Chris Speed's new label, Skirl.

The sound is dreamy and floaty -- a lot like what Jim Black's solo stuff has tracked, or the later CDs from Pachora (a Balkan-music quartet also featuring Speed and Black). But there's some nice off-kilter sax from Speed and Andrew D'Angelo for free-jazz color. Kurt Rosenwinkel, who's built up a decent mainstream career, rounds things out on guitar.

* Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Orchestra -- "Hat and Beard" -- Out to Lunch (Doubt, 2007)

Previously noted here.

Irish fiddling, just for the heck fo it. I'd guess this was Ivers' debut album, and she went on to what looks like a decent career, as she's got a few CDs in our library.

Previously noted here. This track gets into some high-flying sax that's suspiciously cheesy, like a TV commercial, but we'll give them a mulligan on that.

A pretty wacky band, although not zany (there's so much ground between "wacky" and "zany," as you know). That is, the tracks don't come across as wild and raucous, but they do have a sly sense of humor, and you've got to love a modern band that uses tuba this much. Peter Apfelbaum, former Bay Area wunderkind, is on board playing tenor sax, and Kenny Wolleson, also formerly from this area, is on the drums. I've heard the name; apparently the KGC was a west coast invention that's since drifted its way to New York. Interesting 2-CD set that I'm hoping to hear more of later.

Previously noted here.

Previously noted here.

Previously noted here.

Not a happy album. A soundtrack-like work based on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Comes complete with strings. This one ... not that I'm a music-theory expert, but it uses that trick of two major chords that aren't in the same key, producing an ominous kind of feel. (I think the interval is a major third, but I'm guessing.) Elsewhere, Blanchard plays his trumpet in strands closer to New Orleans' traditions, putting sad lines in front of a slow orchestra. It's a strong, moving tribute, although the strings get on my nerves in spots.

* David Torn -- "Structural Functions Of Prezens" -- Prezens (ECM, 2007)

Previously noted here.

* Jean-Marc Hebert -- "Salif" -- L'autre (Ambiances Magnetiques, 2007)

Interesting guitar-based quartet in a relaxed, languid mode. But the music, while pleasant and melodic, isn't straight jazz. It's a mix of some "world" sounds (Persian/Moroccan kinds of influences) and some twangy Western-movie motifs. Really engaging, often pretty.

Local folk-noir singer/songwriter who's been active on the scene for a few years now. A folky track with brash, confident vocals that remind me of ... someone (Carly Simon?) From a benefit CD for At the Crossroads, a San Francisco program for homeless youth.

An all-flute quartet including Henry Threadgill and James Newton. Nice stuff that gets into thick, tangly group improvising -- but since it's flutes, it doesn't have the same gnarled, throttling sound that a saxophone quartet can build up. Great idea for a project, though. They do take advantage of the flute sounds with a lot of airy twirling (as on this track) or, elsewhere, baroque-sounding composition.

* Kioku -- "Pinari" -- Both Far and Near (Quiet Design, 2007)

Awesome improv project based on traditional Asian musics, sort of. It's a trio of taiko(!), sax, and electronics, with various percussion strewn about. This track is supposedly taken from a Korean prayer, but it comes out swinging, with some power-punching improv. Great, free-wheeling atmosphere. Cool!

A new discovery for me, although it arrived at KZSU before I did. Great chunky/fast guitar pieces, like klezmer-jazz with a knife. I'll be coming back to this CD quite a bit, I think.

* Jason Kao Hwang and Sang Won Park -- "Grassy Hills" -- Local Lingo (Euonymous, 2007)

Duets of Hwang's violin paired with various Korean stringed instruments played by Park. Improvisational and atmospheric; it's apparently got some amazing sounds from Park's side (I haven't had a chance to listen closely to this one yet).

Amy X. Neuburg -- Interview

Amy X. Neuburg -- "Stone" -- Residue (Other Minds, 2004)

Previously noted here.

Daniel Bernard Roumain -- "The La La Song" -- Etudes 4 Violin & Electronix (Thirsty Ear, 2007)

Quasi-classical project that gets a bit fun in places. This song, true to its name, is a simple rhythmic pace with some guy singing "La La" here and there -- and DBR on violin, of course.

Previously noted here.

Previously noted here.

Previously noted here. Leonard is an artist who makes sound with natural objects -- driftwood, pine cones, sand, salt, water.

Breezy guitar stuff with Mark Feldman on violin, Marc Johnson on bass, and Joey Baron on drums. Played this just because Abercrombie is in town for a gig tomorrow afternoon. Last spun this CD in 2004.

* = 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.