Here’s the playlist for last night’s show with start times if you want to navigate via the KUSP Music Show Player at right [note that link gives you a bigger nav bar]. Notes to come.
Cheers + keep those ears BIG!
Larry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Larry Blood – Host of Out Front, Outback
Presenting jazz and extensions as a living art form, with tradition a byword for music moving into the future. A KUSP-FM featured program serving California’s Central Coast since 1983, airing Tuesdays from 9:30pm to midnight PST.
home: 128 Anderson Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 USA (831)429-6795 larryb@cruzio.com
KUSP-FM: 203 8th Avenue Santa Cruz, CA 95062 USA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OFOB for 5/8/12:
Jesse Stacken & Kirk Knuffke- Duke Ellington’s Sound of Love- Orange Was the Color- SteepleChase
8:33 Gil Evans/Steve Lacy- Reincarnation of a Lovebird- Paris Blues- Owl Records
15:40 Gil Evans- Orange Was the Color of Her Dress- Live at the Public Theater, Vol. 2- Black Hawk
28:50 Gil Evans and the Monday Night Orchestra- Goodbye Pork Pie Hat- Live at Sweet Basil- Gramavision
38:26 Mingus Big Band- Sue’s Changes- Live in Time- Dreyfus Jazz
49:46 Steve Lacy/Eric Watson- Remember Rockefeller at Attica- Spirit of Mingus- Free Lance records
60:33 Steve Lacy/Mal Waldron- Esteem- “Let’sCall This… Esteem”- Slam Records
68:08 Buell Neidlinger Quintet- 2300 Skidoo- Blue Chopsticksd: A Portrait of Herbie Nichols- K2B2 records
75:23 Szilard Mezei Septet- Lost Water coast- 100 tu hossza [Length of 100 Needles]- Slam Records
94:31 Instant Composers Pool- The Gig- New Movements in Jazz- Radio Nederlands
Here’s the playlist from May 1st’s show with start times, so if you want to give it [a/another] listen at kusp.org, it’s easier to navigate. A lot of exciting music, including some brand new pieces by Matt Lavelle [strong trumpet/bass clarinet player on the NYC scene], Co Streiff + Russ Johnson [German saxman collaborates w/US trumpeter], a new Mike Reed date [monster drummer/leader out of Chicago], and a birthday concert from Irene Schweizer [piano master recognized in Germany, lesser known here]. I hope you get a chance to give it a listen!
Keep those ears growing!
Larry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Larry Blood – Host of Out Front, Outback
Presenting jazz and extensions as a living art form, with tradition a byword for music moving into the future. A KUSP-FM featured program serving California’s Central Coast since 1983, airing Tuesdays from 9:30pm to midnight PST.
home: 128 Anderson Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 USA (831)429-6795 larryb@cruzio.com
KUSP-FM: 203 8th Avenue Santa Cruz, CA 95062 USA web address: kusp.org lblood@kusp.org
OFOB playlists available at http://www.kusp.org/playlists/ofob/index.html
Listen to the most recent show via http://www.kusp.org/archive/102.html#
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OFOB for 5/1/12:
Eric Dolphy- Eclipse- Out There- Prestige/New Jazz
5:37 Eric Dolphy- Something Sweet, Something Tender- Out to Lunch- Blue Note
11:41 Matt Lavelle- Choices- Goodbye New York, Hello World- Music Now!
23:43 Michael Marcus- Bird Comes Home- For YES!- Not Two Recordings
38:49 Omar Sosa & Paolo Fresu- Angustia- Alma- Ota Music
43:53 Don Cherry [w/Peter Apfelbaum's Hieroglyphics Ensemble]- Rhumba Multikulti- A&M Records
48:02 Matt Lavelle- Rose (for Lance)- Goodbye New York, Hello World- Music Now!
56:20 Kirk Knuffke/Lisle Ellis/Kenny Wollesen- Chirpy/The Work/Sung the Same/Whatever’s Next- Chew Your Food- NoBusiness Records
79:38 Kirk Knuffke Quartet- Charp- Big Wig- Clean Feed
89:51 Keefe Jackson Quartet- Seeing You See- Seeing You See- Clean Feed
94: 50 Co Streiff/Russ Johnson Quartet- Short Outbreak- In Circles- Intakt Records
105:45 Mike Reed’s People, Places & Things- The Lady Has a Bomb- Clean on the Corner- 482 Music
112:07 [Jacob] Anderskov Accident- Psychotonalities- Full Circle- ILK Music
123:35 Simon Nabatov- Sunrise, Twice- Roundup- Leo Records
131:18 Irene Schweizer- Xaba/Final Ending- To Whom it May Concern- Intakt
145:18 Simon Toldam Trio- Sunshine Sunshine- Sunshine Sunshine or Green as Grass- ILK Music
Below you will find the playlist for what I found to be another satisfying exploration into the world of jazz and extensions. From some older classics to some pretty modern material, some nice connections made + a lot of music w/a lot of heart- if you get a chance, you may enjoy giving it a listen. You’ll hear some actual hitmakers [Billie Holiday + Ella Fitzgerald] plus a lotta oughtta-bes, with the obvious gray areas in between according to perceived sophistication of the general audience at various times and locales. Some of the themes in this week’s show are obvious [multiple versions of a composition, recurring artists], but I hope you will also find an underlying flow to the music. I personally found that this week’s show wove into a particularly fine tapestry of music.
The show is available via KUSP’s “music show player” through the week until a next week’s show is loaded up on Wednesday morning. For better navigation on the “music show player” I am including start times for individual pieces.
Keep those ears growing!
Larry
***********************
Larry Blood – Host of Out Front, Outback
Presenting jazz and extensions as a living art form, with tradition a byword for music moving into the future. A KUSP-FM featured program serving California’s Central Coast since 1983, airing Tuesdays from 9:30pm to midnight PST.
contact: larryb@cruzio.com [feedback welcome!]
Listen to the most recent show via the “kusp music show player” at the right!
~~~~~~~~~~~~ OFOB for 4/17/12: asterisk(*) indicates talk break
• 0:00 Duke Ellington- Lotus Blossom- Live at the Whitney- Impulse A late rare solo date by Duke from 1970 [!] and not released until much later. One of his more gorgeous numbers + always a treat to hear the master composer show you the initial impetus of his orchestral voicings as they sound on the piano. Most people don’t talk about it, but I see no reason why Duke couldn’t have had a great career just as a piano player.
• * 3:25 Mal Waldron/Steve Lacy- Azure- Sempre Amore- Soul Note Steve and Mal rework Duke – this is priceless!
• 7:40 Ella Fitzgerald with Duke Ellington and his Orchestra- Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me- Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook- Verve In the old days you had to go to Europe to pick up the full collection on Lp of collaborations between Ella + Duke. With the internet you can find some somewhat pricey versions of the out of print full 3CD set, and some less pricey 2 CD sets. If you don’t have this, I think it represents Ella in her prime… apart from Ivie Anderson, the best vocal interpreter to record w/Duke. This cut has a lush sax solo by Ben Webster.
• 15:20 Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong- Isn’t This a Lovely Day- Ella & Louis- Verve Ella & Louie also did an equally fine offering in “Ella & Louie Again.” This is an Irving Berlin tune from Top Hat, which I probably wouldn’t know except for this recording. You can tell they were having a wonderful time singing with each other… two consummate musicians with marvelous arrangements. You can tell they mean it when they say “Long as I can be with you it’s a lovely day.”
• 21:35 Clifford Jordan- No More- The Adventurer- Muse Keeping the balladry alive with a Clifford Jordan cover of a tune Billie Holiday made famous. Though Clifford had the ability to play au moderne [e.g. on Mingus' Great Paris Concert, + the harder to find Strata East recordings In the World + Glass Bead Games], he could really sling a ballad! If you want more of this side of Clifford, check out his Royal Ballads on Criss Cross.
• 26:27 Billie Holiday- No More- The Billie Holiday Story- Decca A full orchestra session doesn’t get in the way of Billie nailing this one. Perhaps one of her lesser known pieces, but this and Lady Sings the Blues are a few of my many favorites by Billie. She had the ability to sing behind the beat like nobody else!
• * 33:39 Duck Baker- Lady Sings the Blues- Duck Baker Plays the Music of Herbie Nichols- Avant/DIW You’re gonna get 3 versions of this song, composed by the [again] terribly under-recorded + under-appreciated Herbie Nichols. One of few pieces by Herbie which were set to lyrics. This version on solo acoustic guitar.
• 39:49 Billie Holiday- Lady Sings the Blues- All or Nothing at All- Verve A full orchestra session doesn’t get in the way of Billie nailing this one. Like many of you, I’m a fan, not a musician, but the composition seems to have a lot of unusual approaches to scales. Repetitions of lines a half or quarter tone up, etc.
• 43:33 Mal Waldron [w/Jean-Jacques Avenel/Steve Lacy]- You- One More Time- Sketch Time to take a break from the “Lady Sings the Blues” offerings, but maintain the mood w/a more modern Mal Waldron date.
• 51:40 Anthony Davis- Man on a Turquoise Cloud- Lady of the Mirrors- India Navigation A Duke Ellington composition, this + the Mal date connect us to the beginning offerings in this show. Though perceived of as a traditional musician, Duke had some very modern elements in many of his later compositions. Anthony Davis very much a modernist wrote this tune for Edward Kennedy Ellington and fully captures the mood of some of Duke’s tone poems. A solo piano date.
• 57:53 Simon Nabatov- Lady Sings the Blues- Spinning Songs of Herbie Nichols- Leo Records More solo piano, this Simon Nabatov has quickly become a guaranteed OFOB “hit!” “Using Herbie’s tunes as a jump-off point,” Simon ends up taking this one far away from the head, then brings it all back home.
• * 72:52 Jesse Stacken/Kirk Knuffke- Reflections- Mockingbird: The Music of Thelonious Monk & Duke Ellington- Steeplechase A return to this lovely piano/trumpet duet date. Monk and Nichols were contemporaries who were both taking the music to some new places, and their compositions work well next to each other.
• 79:07 Anthony Davis- Of Blues and Dreams-Of Blues and Dreams- Sackville I think this is one of Anthony’s strongest compositions, and he recorded it a number of times. I think first in New Dalta Akri [later in the show] with a collective, but more often solo. Check out how Anthony changes his pace within the piece. Elasticity. Anthony is a master at composing pieces which go many places with profound cohesiveness. Note: Anthony has been spending much of his more recent years writing operas [1992's "X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X" - 2001's "Tania" w/storyline about Patty Heart's abduction by the SLA - 2008's "Amistad" based on the true story of an uprising in 1839 by newly captured African slaves that took place aboard the ship La Amistad off the coast of Cuba]. Some very heady stuff, but also taking up so much of his time that there have been few recordings featuring Anthony’s exemplary piano work in the past few decades. I am making it a point of hunting down a copy of his recent duet recording w/saxist Jason Robinson: “Cerulean Landscape” to share with you.
• * 85:25 Anthony Davis- Under the Double Moon (Wayang No. IV)- Lady of the Mirrors- India Navigation My other favorite by Anthony. I was listening to the Kyle Bruckman piece [next up] in the afternoon before the show and heard a repeating phrase within Tarpit which is one of the phrases which particularly resonates for me in Under the Double Moon…. or is it from Of Blues and Dreams? See what resonates for you!
• 97:41 Kyle Bruckman- Tarpit- On Procedural Grounds- New World Kyle “made” me go to Anthony, and though a much different kind of piece, I hope you’ll appreciate how this fits in the middle of two renditions of some of Anthony’s music. Like with Anthony, Kyle’s music is like updated 3rd stream music, with composition which retains a full reign of creativity allowing for some killer improv. This is a longer piece which goes through a lot of changes. It starts very subtly, with low, long tones, and builds to a bit of a frenzy before it resolves. Hang with it! Like great sushi, at times challenging but extremely satisfying.
• 113:05 Anthony Davis- Under the Double Moon (Wayang No. IV)- Episteme- Gramavision Our second listen to this composition by Anthony features a very different setting… closer to the gamelan sourcing Anthony references in his Wayang series. Some great players including Jay Hoggard and Warren smith on a variety of mallet instruments from vibes and marimba to gongs and tympani, George Lewis- trombone, Abdul Wadud- cello, Pheeroan Aklaff- drums and others [Mark Helias conducts]. Also, don’t miss the great version of this piece on the same titled duet recording Anthony did with vibraphonist Jay Hoggard!
• 125:52 Kyle Bruckman’s Wrack- Fair to Middling- Cracked Refraction- Porter Records Kyle’s instruments include oboe, french horn, and [compositional] pen. What I would call a power chamber group, Wrack features Kyle, Jason Stein- bass clarinet, Jen Clare Paulsen- violin, Anton Hatwich-bass, Tim Daisy- drums. The 3rd Wrack release, and it just keeps getting better!
• 1:34:17 New Dalta Akri [Leo Smith/Anthony Davis/Oliver Lake...]- Of Blues and Dream- Songs of Humanity- Kabell Records [Tzadik] The solo piano versions of “Of Blues and Dreams” are great and allude to a plethora of voicings. Like the solo/group comparison of “Under the Double Moon,” in our second offering of “OBaD” you get to hear some of the possibilities of the composition inferred in the solo versio…. it would be interesting to hear more group versions, but this one is so satisfying, I would have to peg myself as a bit of a whiner for asking for more. Originally out as an Lp on Leo Smith’s Kabell label, this was a hard to find item until John Zorn’s Tzadik did the great service of reissuing the complete Kabell recordings in a box set. A bonafide OFOB hit, I’ve been getting great joy out of this piece since the early ’70s. If you haven’t heard it before, it’s time to get on board! • * 1:48:40 Szilard Mezei Trio- Aside, down- Tisza- Slam Records Plenty of depth and emotion is not unusual for master Hungarian violist Szilard. It was great to find something appropriately serious to play which would still fit in the tiny space left in the show. Note: soon to come, a new Slam septet date by Szilard!
Once again I thoroughly enjoyed myself putting together a new edition of OFOB for you and others of the big eared ilk. Because of another report I had to make up, this week you get tune lengths posted after each tune listing + continuing to put the start times for each piece to help you navigate through the show via the KUSP Music Show Player at the right.
Simon Nabatov’s new Leo release covering Herbie Nichols songs [he says he uses them as a jump off point rather than do literal covers] was the primary inspiration this week, and the show had both more worthy music by Simon + we got led into some other great music including a hot new release by the Vijay Iyer trio.
Great compositions allow performers to make new great music out of the framework provided by the composer. Monk’s music is like this. Herbie Nichols’ music is, as well. Check out how the pieces change when different musicians approach them… yet much of the original spirit is maintained.
Some more notes below. Once again, this show is available through next Tuesday when a new show will be loaded via the KUSP website. I hope you have/had a chance to give it a listen!
Keep those ears growing!
Larry
P.S. here’s a web address for a video of Simon playing some more Herbie Nichols: http://www.plushmusic.tv/channels/AP6/simon-nabatov-plays-herbie-nichols.html
***********************
Larry Blood – Host of Out Front, Outback
Presenting jazz and extensions as a living art form, with tradition a byword for music moving into the future. A KUSP-FM featured program serving California’s Central Coast since 1983, airing Tuesdays from 9:30pm to midnight PST.
Contact info:
home: 128 Anderson Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
KUSP-fm, 203 8th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 USA
[h](831)429-6795 lblood@kusp.org larryb@cruzio.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~
OFOB for 3/13/12:
[top 0:00] The Herbie Nichols Project- Wildflower 2- Love is Proximity- Soul Note [3:26] Though in the context of a group date, this piece is Frank Kimbrough on solo piano.
[break 5:16] The Herbie Nichols Project- IDH- Dr. Cyclops’ Dream- Soul Note [2:07] Here you get more of the group… They did 3 recordings, all great, reinterpreting Herbie Nichols’ music. The one not played in this show is titled Strange City on Palmetto. More info at Frank’s website here: http://home.earthlink.net/~fkimbrough/HNPpage.html
[7:17] Herbie Nichols- Spinning Song- The Complete Blue Note Recordings- Blue Note [4:56] Here are a couple samples of Herbie, himself, from the blue not box set.
[12:10] Herbie Nichols- Blue Chopsticks- The Complete Blue Note Recordings- Blue Note [4:24]
[break 18:35] Simon Nabatov- Blue Chopsticks- Spinning Songs of Herbie Nichols- Leo Recordings [6:06]
[24:35] Misha Mengelberg/Steve Lacy/George Lewis/Harjen Gorter/Han Bennink- Spinning Song- Change of Season: Music of Herbie Nichols- Soul Note [7:11] Two other worthy Soul Note release are Dutch Masters [Ernst Reijseger cello replaces Harjen Gorter bass for a set of tunes by Misha, Steve + 1 Monk number] and Regeneration [Roswell Rudd on trombone, Kent Carter bass for all 3 Monk + 3 Herbie Nichols comps]. Note there are other great covers of Herbie Nichols by Misha Mengelberg’s ICP orchestra, Steve Lacy, etc. As always, there are plenty of paths to follow in creative music!
[break 35:00] Simon Nabatov- Spinning Song- Spinning Songs of Herbie Nichols- Leo Recordings [13:08]
[48:10] Simon Nabatov- No Doubt- Round Up- Leo Recordings [5:15] This is a wonderful date, and I’m gonna let the music speak for itself.
[53:19] Simon Nabatov- Sunrise, Twice- Round Up- Leo Recordings [7:46]
[break 63:46] Simon Nabatov- Now What- Round Up- Leo Recordings [4:45]
[68:31] Szilard Mezei Octet- Sitting Bull- Tonk (stump)- SLAM Productions [8:37] Diverging out from Simon Nabatov’s music, I dug how this segue worked.
[tiny break 76:53] Szilard Mezei Wind Quartet- The Impossible Variatins of Solutions- Innen (from here)- Ayler Records [9:22] What, you don’t know Szilard? You gotta check him out… the man on viola from Hungary! Trio, quartet on up to larger groups, all some pretty special stuff!
[break 91:40] Darius Jones Trio- Roosevelt- Mannish Boy- Aum Fidelity [1:14] a quick nod to one of my more recent fave alto players lead us into one of the creative masters.
[92:52] Julius Hemphill- Dogon A.D.- Dogon A.D.- Mbari [14:43] a classic! this has been reissued on CD, though not the easiest thing to find. Julius on alto sax w/the classic tonal pairing of Abdul Wadud on cello + Baikida Carrol on trumpet + Phillip Wilson on drums.
[107:41] Henry Threadgill- Too Much Sugar- Too Much Sugar for a Dime- Axiom [2:58] My original intention had been to play LPSD, but Too Much Sugar dropped in so nicely after Dogon A.D…..
[110:38 miscue 110:54] Vijay Iyer Trio- Little Pocket Size Demons- Accelerando- ACT Music [7:14] Of course the original of this piece is on Henry Threadgill’s Too Much Sugar for a Dime. At some point I’m sure we’ll hear the two pieces next to each other, but for now, just dig how Vijay & co. wail on this Threadgill hit! This is Vijay Iyer’s newest trio release after the acclaimed Historicity… this one should also get rave reviews.
[121:26] Paul Plimley Trio- M Tracks (part 1)- Density of the Lovestruck Demons- Music & Arts [5:23] Paul is one of those great players who everybody should know about, but only the cognicenti seem to be hip to him. Recorded during his residency in the SF bay area w/fellow vancouverite Lisle Ellis on bass + Donald Robinson on drums.
[126:47] Simon Nabatov Octet- The Start of a Very Nice Summer’s Day- A Few Incidences- Leo Records [7:49] A strange but wonderous date with vocals + the great Frank Gratkowski on sax.
[134:30] Zu (and Spaceways Inc.)- Pharmakon- Radiale- Atavistic [4:26] I put “and Spaceways Inc.” in parentheses because this number on the release features Zu features this great Italian thrash jazz trio plus Ken Vandermark added in on reeds. Half of the release adds more “Spaceways Inc.” players Hamid Drake + others.
[138:54] Vijay Iyer- Galang- Historicity- ACT Music [2:40] Continuing the punchy feel w/Vijay’s great cover of M.I.A.’s Galang! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCL1RpgYxRM
[141:39 w/break under] Zu- Monte Zu- Igneo- Frenetic Records [4:54] Another cool date by Zu which features some guest work by Ken Vandermark on reeds + Jeb Bishop on trombone.
[tiny break 146:21] Vijay Iyer- Accelerando- Accelerando- ACT Music [2:52]
Look below for some pertinent cool videos
from Wikipedia: Nichols was born in San Juan Hill, Manhattan to parents from St. Kitts and Trinidad and grew up in Harlem.[1]
During much of Nichols’s life he was forced to take work as a Dixieland musician instead of playing the more adventurous kind of jazz he preferred,[2] but he is best known today for his own highly original compositions, program music which combines bop, Dixieland, and West Indian music with harmonies derived from Erik Satie and Béla Bartók.
His first known work was with the Royal Barons in 1937, but he did not find performing at Minton’s Playhouse a few years later a very happy experience. The competitive atmosphere did not suit his personality. However, he did become friends with fellow pianist Thelonious Monk, even if his own critical neglect would be more enduring.
Nichols was drafted into the Infantry in 1941. After the war he worked in various setting, beginning to achieve some recognition when Mary Lou Williams recorded some of his songs in 1952.[3] From about 1947 he persisted in trying to persuade Alfred Lion at Blue Note Records to sign him up.[4] He finally recorded some of his compositions for Blue Note in 1955 and 1956, a number of which were not issued until the 1980s. His tune “Serenade” had lyrics added, and as “Lady Sings the Blues” became firmly identified with Billie Holiday. In 1957 he recorded his last album for Bethlehem Records. All of his recordings as leader have been released on CD.
Nichols died from leukemia in New York City at the age of 44.
Here’s the playlist for this week’s show. Notes are yet to come, but I wanted to put this out quickly as a tool for you. Once again I have put the start times for each piece to help you navigate through the show via the KUSP Music Show Player at the right.
Cheers + keep those ears growing!
Larry
***********************
Larry Blood – Host of Out Front, Outback
Presenting jazz and extensions as a living art form, with tradition a byword for music moving into the future. A KUSP-FM featured program serving California’s Central Coast since 1983, airing Tuesdays from 9:30pm to midnight PST.
please address comments and questions to larryb@cruzio.com
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OFOB for 3/6/12:
[at top] Meredith D’Ambrosio- Haunted Heart- By Myself- Sunnyside
Here’s the playlist from this week’s show with a different kind of notes.
A few listeners recently told me that my last several shows were good, but not particularly “avant-garde.” Does this mean I’m losing my edge… that ears are becoming bigger… or that the program just was covering a less “edgy” area of the compendium? Most likely the latter.
Out Front, Outback will always be different from week to week, utilizing music which has been turning me on lately, music which I have “refound,” and music which I am led to by other music. Though I come to each radio show with ideas of artists and releases I want to play, and musical connections I want to make, Out Front, Outback is an on site process…. the show unfolds live on Tuesday nights. This makes the show as exciting and new for me each week as I hope it is for you.
I consider “jazz and extensions” to include music made by creative players at the time of the earliest recordings and to include even earlier source musics which laid the groundwork for subsequent developments… one BIG, organic growing body of works which in someway transcends the concept of time. The Art Ensemble of Chicago coined the phrase “Great Black Music, Ancient to Future,” and I like the way that resonates, though it does not apply directly to OFOB. I do not generally ascribe to the broadcasting school of “hit ‘em over the head with something compleeeetly different,” and hope that the show will lead you to appreciate, be excited by, and find value and beauty in music you may have once found alienating. My personal experience is that I learn to derive new meaning from music I once found challenging as my listening appreciation process continues.
I continue to be amazed how much great and stimulating music is out there and how much great new music is being created by living musicians. Most of these names are not household names, and it is a continuing struggle for them to make ends meet, so I like to represent more living musicians… they need our ears, our support, and are the ones who can actually benefit from our excitement. You may be a listener of rarified taste and knowledge, but check with a random friend who you consider to have reasonable intelligence and knowledge of the world and try peeling back the layers of their knowledge of jazz. Many will not bat an eye and perhaps express enthusiasm for Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Try scratching the surface a little further with Sonny Rollins, Charles Mingus, Ornette Coleman, Eric Dolphy, Bobby Hutcherson, Andrew Hill, Mal Waldron, Steve Lacy [...you get the idea] and you will probably start to find holes in the fabric of your friends’ understanding of the music and who made/makes it…. and this only scratches the surface of well recognized genii and innovators who are almost all no longer with us, much less get to those who are well established in their music and the artistic community and are really making important and unusual statements today [e.g. Rob Brown, Craig Taborn, David Ware, Henry Threadgill, + any/all of the musicians who make it to the cut in this show]… and this only scratches the surface of U.S. artists!
For all eras there are some musicians who make it to the surface of the listening public’s general consciousness, sometimes deserving, sometimes not. [I've heard the phrase "I like jazz" followed up by "I like Steely Dan" and "I like Kenny G." Shocking, no?] At the same time there are always important sidemen supporting these leaders, and there are often musicians of equal or greater creative talent who may effect the artistic community and the body of music which will be created subsequently even more than the “known” masters. The only real fault in the listening habits of the Kenny G fans may just be the lack of real exposure to real music.
Not actually playing an instrument myself, I hope to help take some along with me in my continuing exploration and growth in appreciation of the music and the artists who create(d) it. Everybody should know Henry Threadgill, and he’s well into his period of creative genius!
I know there’s a limited period of time before this show disappears from KUSP’s music show player and is replaced by next Tuesday’s show, so I better get this out. I’ve listed the navigator bar time designating the start of each piece of music in case you want to re-listen to a portion or segue…. there weren’t as many talking breaks in this show, so this should help you know exactly where you are within the show + exactly who you are listening to. One regular OFOB listener recently gave me a blank look when I mentioned Waclaw Zimpel, then said he listened to the music without following the playlist or paying attention to who made the music. Though I may not do it every time, this should help.
This show began with Waclaw’s collective group “Undivided.” All strong players, and a lovely, rich musical weaving which set a nice tone for the overall show… a particularly meaty one.
Enjoy + keep those ears BIG and growing!
Larry
P.S. Here’s a nice little video of Waclaw Zimpel w/Robert Kusiolek-accordian, Mark Tokar-bass + Klaus Kugel-drums.
***********************
Larry Blood – Host of Out Front, Outback
Presenting jazz and extensions as a living art form, with tradition a byword for music moving into the future. A KUSP-FM featured program serving California’s Central Coast since 1983, airing Tuesdays from 9:30pm to midnight PST.
home: 128 Anderson Street KUSP-FM: 203 8th Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Santa Cruz, CA 95062
USA USA
(831)429-6795 lblood@kusp.org larryb@cruzio.com web address: kusp.org
Click on the appropriate box at the right to listen to this show or check out earlier playlists.
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OFOB for 2/29/12:
[show starts – 00:00] Undivided [Waclaw Zimpel/Perry Robinson/Bobby Few/Mark Tokar/Klaus Kugel]- Hoping the Morning Say- Moves Between Clouds: live in Warsaw- Multikulti Project
[break - 11:59] Greg Ward’s Sonic Juggernaut- This Ain’t in Book 3- Greg Ward’s Sonic Juggernaut- Thirsty Ear
[118:58] Dollison and Marsh- Hang Gliding- Vertical Voices: The Music of Maria Schneider- artistShare
[break - 134:04] Adam Rudolph’s Go: Organic Orchestra- Murmer and Dust- The Sound of a Dream- Meta Records
[136:10] [Bill Cole's] Untempered Ensemble- Poverty is the Father of Fear- Untempered Ensemble- Shadrack [the beginning of this reminds me of Randy Weston's "Congolese Children"… note to self, must try that segue in the future!]
Below is the playlist for this week’s radio show. You’ll probably notice a lot of piano players in the playlist, and in fact if you look a little closer, you’ll notice it’s only piano, solo except for the Jaki Byard/Earl Hines “Duet!” date. You can listen to this show through Tuesday, February 21 via the “listen to the most recent show” link at the right. After that, it’s history.
Cheers + keep those ears BIG!
Larry
***********************
Larry Blood – Host of Out Front, Outback
Presenting jazz and extensions as a living art form, with tradition a byword for music moving into the future. A KUSP-FM featured program serving California’s Central Coast since 1983, airing live on Tuesdays from 9:30pm to midnight PST.
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OFOB for 2/14/12:
• Marion Brown- Sweet Earth Flying, part 5 [w/Muhal Richard Abrams- solo piano]- Sweet Earth Flying- Impulse
• Bill Carrothers- Wild Rose Lane- Excelsior- Out Note
• Jaki Byard- Excerpts from Songs of Proverbs- Sunshine of My Soul: Live at the Keystone Corner- High Note
• Art Tatum- Willow Weep for Me- Piano Starts Here- Columbia
• Bud Powell- Parisian Thoroughfare- The Genius of Bud Powell- Verve (double)
• Dave Burrell- The Pearls- The Jelly Roll Joys- Gazell
• Dave Burrell- Margy Pargy- Margy Pargy- Splasc(H) Records
• Thelonious Monk- I Should Care- Solo Monk- Columbia
• Thelonious Monk- Smoke Gets in Your Eyes- Thelonious Monk- GNP Crescendo
• Thelonious Monk- Blue Sphere- Something in Blue- Black Lion
• Ran Blake- The Unmarked Van- Unmarked Van (A Tribute to Sarah Vaughan)- Soul Note
• Jaki Byard- Family Suite- Jaki Byard at Maybeck- Concord
• Earl Hines/Jaki Byard- This Is Always- Duet!- MPS
• Andrew Hill- Metz- Les Trinitaires- Just Friends Productions
• Randy Weston- Three Pyramids and the Sphinx- Randy Weston- Pausa
• Peter Madsen- The Third World (Herbie Nichols)- Prevue of Tomorrow- Playscape Recordings
• Bobo Stenson- Peace (ornette)- The Sounds Around the House- Caprice
• Misha Mengelberg- Reef/Kneebus- Solo- Buzz Records
• Vijay Iyer- Games- Solo- ACT Music
• Don Preston- Sad Young Man on a Train- Hear Me Out- Echograph
• Muhal Richard Abrams- Roots- Afrisong- India Navigation
• Michael Jefry Stevens- For Galo- The Suvivor’s Suite- Jazz’halo
• Satoko Fujii- Vague- Indication- Libra
• Stan Kenton- Eager Beaver- Solo: Stan Kenton Without His Orchestra- Creative World
• Mal Waldron- All Alone- One More Time- Sketch
• Satoko Fujii- Autumn- Indication- Libra
Below is the playlist for this week’s radio show. FYI – the show is available to listen to through next Tuesday.
This week’s show starts with some great classic material, and though there is definitely some modernism in there, it never gets too far out. I hope you get a chance to enjoy it!
Cheers + keep those ears BIG,
Larry
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Larry Blood – Host of Out Front, Outback
Presenting jazz and extensions as a living art form, with tradition a byword for music moving into the future. A KUSP-FM featured program serving California’s Central Coast since 1983, airing Tuesdays from 9:30pm to midnight PST.
You can listen to this show via the KUSP Music Show Player at the right. Also available at the right are recent and not so recent playlists going back to 1997. I’d love to hear from you with any questions and comments… you may contact me at larryb@cruzio.com
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OFOB for 2/7/12:
Duke Ellington- Lotus Blossom- …And His Mother Called Him Bill- RCA Bluebird [Duke is solo on the original take - a rare treat - and for this alternate take included on the CD reissue Harry Carney on baritone sax and Aaron bell on bass are added. A lovely, dusky version of one of Billy Strayhorn's great compositions... others you probably know include smokers Lush Life, Chelsea Bridge, Daydream and the more upbeat Ellington theme Take the "A" Train]
Billy Strayhorn- Cue’s Blue Now- Cue for Saxophone- London [Billy's own 1959 septet date with Ellingtonians mostly present, including the thinly veiled Johnny Hodges listed as Cue Porter due to Johnny's being contracted to Verve for work outside the Ellington band. A ten minute slow blues done in one take.]
Duck Baker Trio- Jackie-ing- Amnesia in Trastevere- Les Cousins [Duck's a great finger picker on guitar, and his playing translates well to jazz, though he also plays some pretty fine traditional music... this is a lovely trio version with clarinet and bass of a classic Monk tune - not written for alto player Jackie McClean, but for Monk's niece]
Christian McBride/Nicholas Payton/Mark Whitfield- Oliloqui Valley- Fingerpainting: The Music of Herbie Hancock- Verve [segueing nicely into a trio with trumpet, bass and guitar... this a one off outing which worked quite nicely, translating Herbie's music into a chamber setting]
Matt Wilson’s Arts & Crafts- No Outerwear- An Attitude for Gratitude- Palmetto [Matt Wilson twisted Out of Nowhere enough so that retitling it is not unreasonable, but he doesn't hide the source inspiration... fun!]
Frank Lowe- Out of Nowhere- Out of Nowhere- Ecstatic Peace! [followed by a duet version w/saxist Frank + AACM drummer Phillip Wilson]
Don Pullen [w/Sam Rivers]- Joycie Girl- Capricorn Rising- Black Saint [A Don Pullen calypso tune featuring Sam Rivers on soprano sax... sometimes a segue that works is one which you have a hard time explaining, I loved the way this picks up the energy in the set.]
Jimmy Owens- Bright Mississippi- The Monk Project- ipo recordings [Jimmy Owens is a fine trumpet who is under-recorded considering how long he's been in the biz... this a great new septet date featuring journeymen players Wycliff Gordon(tb), Marcus Strickland (tenor), Howard Johnson (tuba + bari sax), & a rhythm section of Kenny Barron, Kenny Davis and Winard Harper. Aside from the fact that it's always a treat to hear able players rework Monk's compositions, it is the rhythm of the tune which makes this fit so nicely here]
Mary Halvorson Quintet- Crescent White Singe- Saturn Sings- Firehouse 12 Records [and the rhythms set up in the previous two tunes go fractal, creating a new kind of beauty]
Ronnie Boykins- The Will Come is Now- Ronnie Boykins- ESP Disk [a lesser known date out of the early ESP catalogue, you may know Ronnie from his bass work with Sun Ra. This tune has a middle-eastern feel and includes some great soprano work by Jimmy Vass]
Amir ElSaffar Two Rivers Ensemble- Venus, the Evening Star- Inana- Pi Recordings [traditional music of Iraq meets jazz. Amir's 3rd release on Pi records is another lovely cultural mixup]
Amir ElSaffar Two Rivers Ensemble- Innana’s Dance (I, II, III)- Inana- Pi Recordings
The Gordon Grdina Trio- Morning Moon- …If Accident Will- Plunge Records [Gord plays oud on this number, so the connection pretty obvious here]
Rena Rama [Lennart Aberg/Bobo Stenson/Palle Danielsson/Leroy Lowe]- Rumanian Folk Song- Landscapes- JAPO records [I'm a big fan of Bobo ever since I heard his '70s Witchi-tai-to date w/Jan Garbarek. This group from 1985 w/Lennart on soprano and Palle Danielsson on bass... the folk element + the soprano sax make this work. Palle Danielsson is responsible for taking the folk to jazz]
Steve Lacy – The Bath – Momentum – RCA Novus [from 1987, the first recording for Steve of a number which I consider to be one of his big hits... a sextet date w/Steve on soprano, Steve Potts on soprano and alto sax, Irene Aebi - cello, Bobby Few - piano, Jean-Jacques Avenel - bas, and Oliver Johnson on drums]
Tim Berne- Yield- Snake Oil- ECM [Tim takes the slow groove laid down by Steve and works it some more... this group will be at Kuumbwa on February 27th]
The Peggy Lee Band- Walk Me Through- New Code- Drip Audio [cellist Peggy Lee is from the fertile Vancouver scene. This tune features some great trumpet work by Brad Turner]
Here’s a link to a nice video of Steve Lacy from 1995: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocNsHpG5T10
So there’s no confusion, I don’t always get a chance to post notes about a program via this blog, but there is always a playlist loaded on Wednesday mornings for the show… you can find the most recent, plus playlists that go all the way back to 1997 by connecting through the link under Recent Playlists at the right.
Below is the playlist for this weeks show. As per usual, this show is available to listen until early next Wednesday morning when a newer show is loaded.
I’m going short on notes this time to make sure I get this out to you in time. Some connections pretty obvious [sax quartets, Steve Lacy music, etc.]. For a little fun I’m adding a link to a cool video of the Rova Saxophone Quartet playing \”Swang.\”
Keep those ears big.
Larry
P.S. be sure to let me know if you would like direct emailings to you of playlists.
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Larry Blood – Host of Out Front, Outback
Presenting jazz and extensions as a living art form, with tradition a byword for music moving into the future. A KUSP-FM featured program serving California’s Central Coast since 1983, airing Tuesdays from 9:30pm to midnight PST.
home: 128 Anderson Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
KUSP-FM: 203 8th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 USA
(831)429-6795 lblood@kusp.org
larryb@cruzio.com web address: kusp.org
More OFOB playlists available via button at right.
Listen to the most recent show via the “KUSP Music Show Player” at right.
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OFOB for 1/17/12:
• Steve Lacy/Ned Rothenberg/Roy Nathanson/Eric Sleichim- The Precipitation Suite- Antonyms- Sub Rosa
• Rova Saxophone Quartet- Moons- Rova Plays Lacy: Favorite Street- Black Saint
• World Saxophone Quartet- Open Air- Live at the Brooklyn Academy of Music- Black Saint
• Ivo Perelman/Joe Morris/Gerald Cleaver- The Buffalo- Family Ties- Leo Records
• Ideal Bread- The Dumps- Transmit: The Music of Steve Lacy, vol. 2- Cuneiform Records
• Rova Saxophone Quartet- The Dumps- Rova Plays Lacy: Favorite Street- Black Saint
• Steve Lacy- The Throes- Raps- Adelphi Records
• Rova Saxophone Quartet- The Throes- Rova Plays Lacy: Favorite Street- Black Saint
• Vinny Golia Octet- Swing Plane- Music for Baritone Saxophone- Nine Winds
• Sonic Liberation Front- First Rain- Change Over Time- High Two
• Henry Threadgill- Come Carry the Day- Carry the Day- Columbia
• Henry Threadgill- Growing a Big Banana- Carry the Day- Columbia
• Ornette Coleman- What Reason Could I Give- The Complete Science Fiction Sessions- Columbia
• Rob Reddy’s Honor System- The Pipe Smoker- Post War Euphoria- Songlines
• Max Roach- The Dream/It’s Time- Chattahoochee Red- Columbia
• Darius Jones Trio- Ol’ Metal-faced Bastard- Big Gurl (Smell My Dream)- Aum Fidelity
• Larry Ochs/Orkestrova- [Realization 1: Hand] Full House- The Mirror World (for Stan Brakhage)- Metalangue
• Vinny Golia Quintet- Waiting, Waiting, Waiting…- One, Three, Two- Jazz’halo
• G9 Gipfel [Alex Dorner/Tobias Delius/Rudi Mahall/Alexander Von Schlippenbach/Johannes Fink......]- Das Thema- Berlin- jazzwerkstatt
If you have any promotional items you want to send for airplay, giveaway, or review (CD's, vinyl, DATs or cassettes); they can be sent to: Larry Blood c/o [shipping or mailing address] KUSP, 203 8th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062.
Presenting jazz and extensions as a living art form
with tradition a byword for music into the future.
A KUSP featured program since 1983.
