Music I Liked And Didn't - 1/30/09 - 1/31/09

Adds -

WARE, DAVID S.: Shakti CD (Aum Fidelity) - Since the 70's, David S. Ware has been one of the true giants of the saxophone. "Shakti" marks his return to action, with a new group of musicians (though long-time collaborator, William Parker, is still holding down the bass duties!) and line-up of instruments (replacing pianist Matthew Shipp with Joe Morris on guitar - yes, already another Jazz release in 2009 featuring guitar!) and the result is one of his strongest releases in recent years.


Did Not Add -

None


Running Count For The Year -

Adds 8/9 = 89%

Did Not Add 1/9 = 11%

Music I Liked And Didn't - 1/1/09 - 1/29/09

No proper reviews yet, though I may start writing and publishing them again soon. For the moment, here's a list (with some notations) of the new releases I've added (or not!), so far, in 2009!


Adds -

GROUP BOMBINO: Guitars Agadez, Vol. 2 LP (Sublime Frequencies) - Another great blast from the sonic-ethnographers at Sublime Frequencies. Both the acoustic A-Side and electric B-Side are equally fantastic. Honestly, one of the better releases from among the consistently high quality catalog of releases from Sublime Frequencies.

LA OTRACINA: Blood Moon Riders LP (Holy Mountain)

MV + EE With The Golden Road: Drone Trailer LP (DiCristina) - Another cool release from MV and EE, on one of the shittiest pressings of all time! Buy the CD version.

NEW FRACTURE QUARTET: 1,000 Lights CD (Multikulti Project) - Interesting new project led by Vandermark 5 (among many other projects) drummer, Tim Daisy. The group brings together long-time collaborator and veteran bassist Nate Mc Bride (in Bridge 61, with Daisy, among many other projects), along with two of Chicago's strongest young musicians, Jaimie Branch, on trumpet and Dave Miller, on guitar (2009 is shaping up to be, perhaps, a big year for the re-emergence of the guitar in Jazz, with, already, three releases that I have purchased that feature guitar in the line-up) and electronics. Excellent contemporary avant Jazz sounds in a vein somewhat similar to a scaled down Powerhouse Sound (which is led by Vandermark, includes Mc Bride, and features guitar and electronics in the mix!).

VANDERMARK, KEN (RESONANCE ENSEMBLE): Resonance LP (Not Two) - Excellent large ensemble, long form recordings of this new Vandermark-led project captured live in performance in Lvov, Ukraine on November 17, 2007. The B-Side's "The Number 44 (for Anna Czarna Adamska)" reflects, at least in my humble opinion, a notable affinity for the legendary large ensemble recordings of Charles Mingus.

V/A: B-Music - Drive In, Turn On, Freak Out DLP (B-Music)

V/A: Spiritual Jazz DLP (Jazzman) - Respectable, though not amazing, collection of "Soul Jazz" from the late 60's and early 70's. Highlights include:"Psych City" by the Ohio Penitentiary 511 Jazz Ensemble and "The Will Come, Is Now" by Ronnie Boykins.


Did Not Add -

DAKARI, ORI: Entrances CD (Tzadik) - Another release featuring the guitar within the Jazz (in a very broad sense) idiom. A well-crafted group of compositions, made by skilled musicians, to be certain, but, overall, this was just a little too smooth, too reserved, for me to add. Still, I'll be checking up on Dakari in the future, as I feel he does have the potential to deliver something truly special.


Running Count For The Year -

Adds 7/8 = 88%

Did Not Add 1/8 = 12%

Christmas In March For S. F. Bay Area Jazzbos!!!!!

YOSHI'S SAN FRANCISCO ANNOUNCES JOHN ZORN RESIDENCY, MARCH 10-15

Yoshi’s is pleased to announce prolific saxophonist, composer and MacArthur fellow, John Zorn will take up residence at Yoshi's San Francisco March 10th through 15th. Each of the 6 nights will feature a different ensemble performing Zorn’s works. The musicians featured nightly include some of the finest players in New York's Downtown scene including: Dave Douglas, Marc Ribot, Greg Cohen, Joey Baron, Erik Friedlander and Cyro Baptista. 

This marks the first occasion Zorn has performed a residency of this nature on the West Coast. Zorn will be highlighting music from both his original Book of Masada songs (Book I) as well as his newly penned Book of Angels (Book II). 

The run will open Tuesday, March 10th with Secret Chiefs 3. Trey Spruance leads this brilliant band through his unique and powerful arrangements of Zorn second Book.  This will be the first time Secret Chiefs 3 will have performed Zorn’s works on the West Coast.

Wednesday’s group, the Masada String Trio, a jazz chamber ensemble, is made up of three of New York’s most skilled string improvisers; Erik Friedlander, Mark Feldman and Greg Cohen. 

Thursday’s performance will be a rare appearance by the classic Masada quartet. Formed in 1993, this groundbreaking, impassioned quartet has played an instrumental role in shaping the radical Jewish culture movement. Led by Zorn on alto saxophone, the Masada quartet features Greg Cohen on bass, Dave Douglas on trumpet and Joey Baron on drums. 

Dave Douglas and John Zorn - Masada

Friday’s engagement is by Bar Kokhba, one of Zorn’s most beloved and popular projects. The band features players from both the Masada String Trio and the Masada Quartet augmented by the surf-tinged guitar of Marc Ribot and the fiery percussion work of Cryo Baptista. The music of this magical sextet can only be described as "sephardic exotica for young moderns." 

The Bar Kokhba Sextet

Saturday, the week's lone non-Masada related entity - The Dreamers, take stage. The group features Jamie Saft, Cyro Baptista, Marc Ribot and Zorn himself playing gorgeous surf-rock like pieces that are lush and hypnotic at their core. 

The Dreamers

The run closes with a bang - on Sunday, March 15th with Electric Masada. A full-on assault of one the most adventurous electric jazz ensembles playing today. 

Marc Ribot - Electric Masada

March 10: Secret Chiefs 3 Play Masada Book II 
March 11: Masada String Trio 
March 12: Masada 
March 13: Bar Kokhba 
March 14: The Dreamers 
March 15: Electric Masada 

Yoshi’s San Francisco
1330 Fillmore Street (at Eddy)
San Francisco, California  94607

Tickets for all shows on sale Monday, January 19th at Noon (PST) at www.yoshis.com, the Yoshi’s San Francisco box office or via phone at 415-655-5600.  
--
Limited Ticket Packages Available:

Early Show Package: $200 for reserved ticket for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday’s 8pm shows as well as Sunday’s 7pm show

Late Show Package: $200 for reserved ticket for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday’s 10pm shows as well as Sunday’s 9pm show
-

Tuesday, March 10
8pm $20 & 10pm $20 
SECRET CHIEFS 3 PLAY MASADA BOOK II
Personnel: TBA 

Wednesday, March 11 
8pm (Book I) $45 & 10pm (Book II) $45
MASADA STRING TRIO 
John Zorn: Composer, Conductor 
Greg Cohen: Bass 
Mark Feldman: Violin 
Erik Friedlander: Cello 

Thursday, March 12 
8pm (Book I) $50 & 10pm (Book II) $50 
MASADA 
John Zorn: Saxophone, Composer 
Joey Baron: Drums 
Greg Cohen: Bass 
Dave Douglas: Trumpet 

Friday, March 13
8pm (Book I) $50 & 10pm (Book II) $50
BAR KOKHBA 
Cyro Baptista: Percussion 
Joey Baron: Drums 
Greg Cohen: Bass 
Mark Feldman: Violin 
Erik Friedlander: Cello 
Marc Ribot: Guitar 

Saturday, March 14
8pm (Volume I) $50 & 10pm (Volume II) $50
THE DREAMERS 
Joey Baron: Drums 
Trevor Dunn: Bass 
Marc Ribot: Guitars 
Jamie Saft: Keyboards 
Kenny Wollesen: Vibes 
John Zorn: Alto Sax 
Cyro Baptista: Percussion 

Sunday, March 15
7pm (Book I) $50 & 9pm (Book II) $50 
ELECTRIC MASADA 
Cyro Baptista: Percussion 
Joey Baron: Drums 
Trevor Dunn: Bass 
Ikue Mori: Electronics 
Marc Ribot: Guitar 
Jamie Saft: Keyboards 
Kenny Wollesen: Drums 
John Zorn: Alto Sax 


Also, of related interest, and in the very same block as Yoshi's:


HARLEM OF THE WEST...Revisited
 
Harlem of The West...Revisited, an art and photographic exhibit celebrating the bustling San Francisco Fillmore jazz era of the 1940s and 1950s, recently returned to the Jazz Heritage Center's Lush Life Gallery in San Francisco. In the 40s and 50s, the Fillmore was a vibrant neighborhood of more than two dozen nightclubs and music joints within one square mile-all of which virtually vanished due to redevelopment in the 1960s. The exhibit celebrates a rediscovered chapter in jazz history and the African American experience on the West Coast. The exhibit is based on a book of the same name, written by Elizabeth Pepin and Lewis Watts-the exhibit curators. The exhibit includes photographs by David Johnson, Gerald Ratto and Mars Breslow. The Jazz Heritage Center is located at 1320 Fillmore St. in San Francisco. Phone number is (415) 255-7745. The exhibit runs through Mar. 7, 2009. Admission is free.


Finally...

As the vinyl format rises back into to the consciousness of true music aficionados and, as a result, continues to increase its presence in the marketplace, a number of labels are now issuing Jazz LPs again. Recently, the great free jazz label, Eremite, has released reissues of two rare free jazz titles on LP - "Red, Black & Green "by the Solidarity Unit, Inc. and "Big Chief" by Sunny Murray.



And the Polish Jazz label, Not Two, has recently released an LP by Ken Vandermark's newest large ensemble project, the Resonance Ensemble, simply titled "Resonance". It contains two side-long pieces captured live in performance in Lvov, Ukraine on November 17, 2007. The Resonance Ensemble includes such notable performers as: Ken Vandermark (USA) on tenor and baritone saxes and clarinet, Tim Daisy (USA) on drums, Dave Rempis (USA) on tenor and alto saxes (all three from the Vandermark 5!), and Magnus Broo (Sweden) on trumpet - outstanding! You can check out: http://www.chazzforjazz.com/servlet/the-901/Ken-Vandermark,-Resonance,-Magnus/Detail for more info!


And, as if that wasn't already enough, there's a new Jazz imprint out of Lithuania called NoBusiness Records. They've recently issued two new LPs - a recording of Joe McPhee's Trio X captured live in performance at the Vilniaus Congress Hall on March 27, 2006.


And an LP of solo improvisations by legendary Swedish horn mangler, Mats Gustafsson as recorded on February 9, 2008 at Mažasis Teatras in Vilniaus, Lithuania.


You can check out: http://www.nobusinessrecords.com/ for more info!

And, thankfully, stalwarts such as Qbico and relative newcomer Shortwave also continue to release challenging, new, improvised music in high quality packages!

Long live vinyl!