Friday, November 9th, 2007 ... 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ... KZSU, 90.1 FM

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Long story short: I tried desperately to get a sub this week, knowing I couldn't make it to the studio on time. No one bit, but Mark D., kind soul, agreed to take the first hour. I was late anyway, but Mark D. managed to stall for me.

How'd he do it? His show, "The Slipeddy Doo Da," is a talk show, just him and his friends goofing off, really. Think of it as an extended comedy skit. I learned so much listening to them on my panicked drive to the station. For instance, those Madden Football video games? They're always dated a year ahead of the actual year. That's because the game people travel forwards in time to get information about future players! Just like the car companies do! Amazing! (Mark D. then went on to say how he always plays the 1994 49ers, which means the forwards time travel becomes a total waste.)

"The Slipeddy Doo Da" is highly recommended -- but it's slated for Saturdays at 5:30 p.m, meaning it's gotten pre-empted by football just about every week. Hopefully it'll be back next quarter; whether they could maintain the show week after week is a question mark, but they ought to try. Check for the station's schedule here.

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

* John Jorgenson Quintet -- "El Camino Del Che" -- Ultraspontane (J2, 2007)

Gypsy jazz, straight stuff led by Jorgenson on guitar, and featuring plenty of upbeat violin/viola.

Musillami (guitar) plays a highly creative brand of "straight" jazz that's impressed me over the years -- accessible, bopping stuff that tickles plenty of synapses along the way. Mark Feldman, who's involved in a whole spectrum of interesting projects, guests on violin. It's a 2-CD set, one disc studio, one live.

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

Previously noted here. This is the most fun track on the album, an all-out punkish rock attack!

Previously noted here, although only very briefly. This is a full album of solo prepared bass, with lots of extended technique; this track, for instance, has some delicious wood clickings from bouncing the bow on the strings.

* Cordame -- "Habanera 11" -- Cordame (Malasartes, 2007)

Previously noted here.

* Timeless Pulse Quintet -- "Healing Piece" -- Timeless Pulse Quintet (Mutable, 2007)

"Timeless Pulse" refers, I think, to the floating, un-timed flow of these improvised(?) pieces. That is, there's no overt rhythm, but the musicians want you to know there's a pulse, a heartbeat, a formlessly new kind of rhythm ... if I tell you Pauline Oliveros is involved, does that explain it?

* Mrafi -- "La Terra Di Giubba" -- La Terra di Giubba (Rai Trade, 2006)

Previously noted here.

Previously noted here.

Previously noted here. I don't normally like to play the same pop song on consecutive weeks, but Parasol is performing tonight, it turns out -- so what the heck.

* Han Bennik Amplfied Trio -- "AT 4" -- Amplified Trio (Treader, 2007)

Previously noted here.

Previously noted here.

Local band that I'd gotten to see the night before, playing at 21 Grand. They've got a folky prog vibe going, with touches of that Renaissance kind of sound and some nice male/female vocal parts. The band has two lead guitarists, who often play in harmony, weaving these complex lines a major third apart. It's a great effect -- maybe the overuse it a little bit, but that's where I'm getting that "folky prog" image from. Their CD is brand, brand new; I picked it up at the show, but I've seen it at the station, so I know we'll have it in rotation soon enough.

Noted here.

* = 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.