Music 2009 - My Personal Year In Review, Part 2

Electric Masada

Top Ten Live Shows In 2009

( Listed By Date, Not By Ranking)

2/8/09 - Go Home - 142 Throckmorton Theatre, Mill Valley, CA

3/12/09 - Masada - Yoshi’s, San Francisco, CA

3/13/09 - Bar Kokhba - Yoshi’s, San Francisco, CA

3/14/09 - Dreamers - Yoshi’s, San Francisco, CA

3/15/09 - Electric Masada - Yoshi’s, San Francisco, CA

5/7/09 - Spectrum - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA

6/22/09 - Go Left Festival - Yoshi’s, San Francisco, CA

7/10/09 - Indian Jewelry / Psychic Ills - 21 Grand, Oakland, CA

8/20/09 - Jazz Mafia Symphony (Brass, Bows, and Beats) - Yoshi’s, San Francisco, CA

8/24/09 - Master Musicians Of Bukakke / Six Organs Of Admittance - The Echo, Los Angeles, CA


Master Musicians Of Bukkake

Music 2009 - My Personal Year In Review, Part 1

Yawn. After not posting in sooooooo long, it's hard for me to imagine that it matters, that anybody even cares about my little blog nor the opinions expressed within, but, what the hell...

Here's the list of new releases I purchased in 2009, which will provide the basis for my various top ten lists:


ADDED - 109 (109/164 = 66%)


AHMED, ILYAS: Goner CD (Root Strata)

AMADO, RODRIGO/KESSLER/NILSSEN-LOVE: The Abstract Truth CD (European Echoes)

ASTATKE, MULATU/HELIOCENTRICS: Inspiration Information DLP (Strut)

BAKER, AIDAN: Thoughtspan LP (Blackest Rainbow)

BARONESS: Blue Record DLP (Relapse)

BEMBEYA NATIONAL JAZZ: The Syliphone Years - DCD (Sterns Africa)

BLACK TO COMM: Alphabet 1968 LP (Type)

BORIS: Japanese Heavy Rock Hits v1 7-S (Southern Lord)

BORIS: Japanese Heavy Rock Hits v2 7-S (Southern Lord)

BORIS: Japanese Heavy Rock Hits v3 7-S (Southern Lord)

BRAINBOMBS: Fucking Mess LP (Lystring)

CIRCLE X: Live In Dijon ‘79 10” (Fractal)

CLUTCHY HOPKINS (MEETS LORD KENJAMIN): Music Is My Medicine CD (Ubiquity)

DEATH: ...For The Whole World To See LP (Drag City)

DIMINISHED MEN: Shadow Instrumentals LP (Abduction)

DINOSAUR JR.: Farm DLP (Jagjaguwar)

DRAGAN: Shapes Shades Shadows LP (11:11 Records)

EGYPT: S/T CD (MeteorCity)

EL-G: Tout Ploie LP (S-S Records)

EL-G: Captaine Present 5 One-Sided EP (Nashazphone)

EMBASSADORS: Coptic Dub LP (Nonplace)

ENTRANCE: The Entrance Band DLP (Ecstatic Peace)

ESPERS: III LP (Drag City)

ESPVALL, HELENA & MASAKI BATOH: Overloaded Ark DLP (Drag City)

ETERNAL TAPESTRY: Palace Of The Night Skies LP (Three Lobed Recordings)

ETERNAL TAPESTRY: The Invisible Landscape LP (Not Not Fun)

EXPO 70: Psychosis LP + Bonus Live CD (Peasant Magik)

EXPO 70: ” Sunglasses / Trancending Energy From Light 7-S (Trensmat Records)

FIRE!: You Liked Me Five Minutes Ago LP (Rune Grammophone)

GEORGE-EDWARDS GROUP: 38:38 LP (Drag City/Galactic Zoo Disk)

GROUP BOMBINO: Guitars Agadez, Vol. 2 LP (Sublime Frequencies)

GROUP DOUEH: Treeg Salaam LP (Sublime Frequencies)

GUMO, DORONCO: Old Punks LP (Holy Mountain)

GURVICH, URI: The Storyteller CD (Tzadik)

HABITAT SOUND SYSTEM: Meets Prince Zohar And The Mystics CD (Gematria Records)

HOLY KISS: Under Moon Of Night LP (Hungry Eye)

J. T. IV: Cosmic Lightning LP + DVD (Drag City/Galactic Zoo Disk)

JACK-O AND THE TENNESSEE TEARJEARKERS: The Disco Outlaw LP (Goner)

JACKIE-O MOTHERFUCKER: Ballads Of The Revolution LP (Fire Records)

JAZZ MAFIA (SYMPHONY): Brass Bows And Beats - A Hip-Hop Symphony By Adam Theis CD (Yonas Media)

KANE, JONATHAN: Jet Ear Party DLP (Radium)

KAWAGUCHI, MASAMI (NEW ROCK SYNDICATE): S/T CDR (Purifiva)

KINSKI/BARDO POND: Sonic Attack (Lords Of Light) S7-S (Trensmat Records)

LA OTRACINA: Blood Moon Riders LP (Holy Mountain)

LITTLE CLAW: Human Taste LP (Not Not Fun)

LUNCH, LYDIA: Big Sexy Noise 12-EP (Sartorial Records)

MAJUTSU NO NIWA: At The End Of Summer CD (There - Musik Atlach)

MAJUTSU NO NIWA: Frontera CD (There - Musik Atlach)

MANCO, BARIS: Dunden Bugune LP (Guerssen)

MASTER MUSICIANS OF BUKKAKE - Totem One LP (Conspiracy)

MAZUREK, ROB (QUINTET): Sound Is CD (Delmark)

MILLER, LLOYD: A Lifetime In Oriental Jazz LP (Jazzman)

MIRRORS: Something That Would Never Do LP (Violet Times)

MONO: Hymn To The Immortal Wind DLP (Temporary Residence)

MOON DUO: Love On The Sea 12” Single (Sick Thirst)

MORRIS, JOE (QUARTET): Today On Earth CD (Aum Fidelity)

MOUNTAINS: Choral DLP (Thrill Jockey)

MV + EE With The Golden Road: Drone Trailer LP (DiCristina)

MV + EE : Barn Nova CD (Ecstatic Peace)

NEW FRACTURE QUARTET: 1,000 Lights CD (Multikulti Project)

NEW MIMINOKOTO: All About Mimi CD (P.S.F.)

NORTHWOODS IMPROVISERS: Constellations One-Sided EP (Qbico)

OM: God Is Good LP (Drag City)

ONEIDA: Rated O TLP (Jagjaguwar)

ONNA: Cortigiana Dal Velo / Mune O Tsutsunde 7-S (Holy Mountain / Tlon Uqbar)

ORCHESTRE POLY-RYTHMO DE COTONOU: “Echos Hypnotiques” 1969-1979 DLP (Analog Africa)

PURLING HISS: S/T LP (Permanent Records)

PYRAMIDS: Lalibela LP (Ikef)

PYRAMIDS: King Of Kings LP (Ikef)

PYRAMIDS: Birth/Speed/Merging LP (Ikef)

RENDERERS: Monsters And Miasmas CD (Last Visible Dog)

SEX MOB (MEETS MEDESKI): Live in Willisau 2006 CD (Thirsty Ear)

SILVESTER ANFANG II: S/T DLP (Aurora Borealis)

SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE: Luminous Night LP (Drag City)

SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE/AZUL: S/T SLP (P.S.F.)

SNAKE FLOWER 2: Renegade Daydream LP (Tic Tac Totally)

SONIC YOUTH: The Eternal DLP (Matador)

SOULEYMAN, OMAR: Dabke 2020: Folk & Pop Sounds of Syria CD (Sublime Frequencies)

SPECK MOUNTAIN: Some Sweet Relief LP (Carrot Top)

SPECTRUM: War Sucks 12-EP (Mind Expansion)

SUN ARAW: The Phynx LP (Not Not Fun)

TERMINAL LOVERS: As Eyes Burn Clean LP (Public Guilt)

TRAD, GRAS OCH STENAR: Homeless Cats DLP (Subliminal Sounds)

UP-TIGHT: The Beginning Of The End LP (8mm)

VANDERMARK 5: Annular Gift CD (Not Two)

VANDERMARK, KEN (RESONANCE ENSEMBLE): Resonance LP (Not Two)

VEE DEE: Public Mental Health System DLP (Criminal IQ Records)

VILE, KURT (& The Violators): The Hunchback EP 12-EP (Richie Records)

VILE, KURT: God Is Saying This To You... LP (Mexican Summer)

WARE, DAVID S.: Shakti CD (Aum Fidelity)

WARE, DAVID S. (QUARTET): Live In Vilnius DLP (NoBusiness Records)

WHITE HILLS: Dead 12” EP (Thrill Jockey)

WOODEN SHJIPS: Dos LP (Holy Mountain)

WOODEN SHJIPS: Contact 12” Single (Mexican Summer)

YO LA TENGO: Popular Songs DLP (Matador)

YOUNG, NEIL: Fork In The Road LP (Warner Brothers)

ZELIENOPLE: Give It Up LP + Bonus CD (Type Recordings)

ZORN, JOHN: O’o CD (Tzadik)

V/A: 2131 South Michigan Avenue: 60’s Garage & Psychedelia From USA And Destination Records TLP (Sundazed)

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

V/A: Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968-81 2CD (Soundway)

V/A: Legends Of Benin DLP (Analog Africa)

V/A: Open Strings: Early Virtuoso Recordings From The Middle East And New Responses FLP (Honest Jon’s Records)

V/A: Ouaga Affair: Hard Won Sound Of The Upper Volta 1974-1978 DLP (Disques Savannahphone)

V/A: Shiftless Decay: New Sound Of Detroit LP (X! Records)

V/A: Siamese Soul: Thai Pop Spectacular Vol. 2 1960s-1980s CD (Sublime Frequencies)

V/A: Singapore A-Go-Go CD (Sublime Frequencies)

V/A: Spiritual Jazz DLP (Jazzman)

V/A: Up From The Grave: North Valley Garage 1965-1968 CD (Frantic)




NOT ADDED - 55 (55/164 = 34%)


AKRON/FAMILY: Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free DLP (Dead Oceans)

ARBOURETUM: Song Of The Pearl LP (Thrill Jockey)

BAARS, AB (TRIO & KEN VANDERMARK): Goofy June Bug CD (Wig)

BIRCHALL, NAT: Akhenaten CD (Gondwana)

BLUES CONTROL: Local Flavor LP (Siltbreeze)

BODUF SONGS: The Strait Gait 12” Single (Latitudes)

BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE: Smoking Acid DLP (A Records)

CHEATER SLICKS: Bats In The Dead Trees LP (Lost Treasures Of The Underground)

DAKARI, ORI: Entrances CD (Tzadik)

DAUGHTERS OF THE SUN: Rings LP (Modern Radio)

DAVIS, GARETH AND STEVEN R. SMITH.: Westering LP (Important Records)

DIAZ de LEON, MARIO: Enter Houses Of CD (Tzadik)

EXPO 70: Night Flights LP (Fedora Corpse)

EXTRA GOLDEN: Thank You Very Quickly LP (Thrill Jockey)

GARY WAR: Horribles Parade LP (Sacred Bones Records)

GAYLE, CHARLES (TRIO): Forgiveness CD (Not Two)

GARY HIGGINS: Seconds CD (Drag City)

GUSTAFSSON MATS: Mats G. Plays Albert A. One-Sided EP (Qbico)

HUSH ARBORS: Yankee Reality CD (Ecstatic Peace)

HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE: S/T DLP (Honest Jon's Records)

INTRUSION: The Seduction Of Silence CD (Echospace)

JAY, ABNER: True Story of Abner Jay LP (Mississippi)

JESU: Pale Sketches LP (Avalanche Recordings)

JESU: Opiate Sun 12-EP (Aural Exploits)

KLEISTWAHR: The Return LP (Noiseville)

LA OTRACINA: The Risk Of Gravitation LP (Colour Sounds)

LEE, SHAWN & CLUTCHY HOPKINS: Fascinating Fingers CD (Ubiquity)

LENCHANTIN, PAZ: Songs For Luci LP (Black Tent)

LIGHTS: Rites LP (Drag City)

LONDON, FRANK & LORIN SKLAMBERG: Tsuker-Zis CD (Tzadik)

LYNCH, JULIAN: Orange You Glad LP (Olde English Spelling Bee)

MASADA QUINTET (FEATURING JOE LOVANO): Stolas: The Book Of Angels Volume 12 CD (Tzadik)

MITCHELL, NICOLE (Black Earth Strings): Renegades CD (Delmark)

MORRIS, JOE: Wildlife CD (Aum Fidelity)

NADLER, MARISSA: Little Hells LP (Kemado)

NASH, BEN / NAUTILUS: S/T SLP (Blackest Rainbow)

ONNA: S/T CD (Holy Mountain / Tlon Uqbar)

PONTIAK: Maker LP (Thrill Jockey)

RACE: Exiles LP (St. Ives)

ROBINSON & BURTON GREENE, PERRY: Two Voices In The Desert CD (Tzadik)

SADEH & THE VOYAGERS, DAPHNA: Reconciliation CD (Tzadik)

SLEEPY SUN: Embrace 10-S (ATP Recordings)

SMITH, STEVEN R.: Cities LP (Immune Recordings)

SMITH, WADADA LEO: Spiritual Dimensions DCD (Cuneiform Records)

THE LOVE IS SO FAST: S/T LP (Siltbreeze)

3 SHADES: Thank God For Beatniks LP (Alien Transistor)

TREMBLING BELLS: Carbeth LP (Honest Jon's Records)

WET HAIR: Dream LP (Not Not Fun)

YONKERS, MICHAEL AND PLASTIC CRIMEWAVE SOUND: Bleed Out LP (Spirial Staircase)

ZUKIE, TAPPA: Horns Up! - Dubbing With Horns LP (Jamaican Recordings)

V/A: Dub Echoes DCD (Soul Jazz)

V/A: Raks Raks Raks - 17 Golden Garage Psych Nuggets From The Iranian 60s Scene LP (Raks)

V/A: Tokyo Flashback 7 - P. S. F. Psychedelic Sampler CD (P. S. F. Records)

V/A: The World Is Shaking: Cubanismo From The Congo, 1954-55 DLP (Honest Jon's Records)

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!

Music 2008 - My Personal Year In Review, Part 3

Top Ten Jazz Releases 2008


( Listed Alphabetically, Not By Ranking)


BAR KOKHBA: Lucifer: Book of Angels Volume 10 CD (Tzadik)

BERNSTEIN, STEVEN: Diaspora Suite CD (Tzadik)

BROWN, ROB (ENSEMBLE): Crown Trunk Root Funk CD (AUM Fidelity)

BY ANY MEANS: Live At Crescendo DCD (Ayler)

GONZALEZ, DENNIS (& FARUK Z. BEY W/NORTHWOODS IMPROVISERS SEPTET): Hymn For Tomasz Stanko LP (Qbico)

MAHANTHAPPA, RUDRESH (Pictured Above): Kinsmen CD (Pi Recordings)

MAHANTHAPPA, RUDRESH (Indo-Pak Coalition): Apti CD (Innova)

PARKER, WILLIAM (QUARTET): Petit Oiseau DLP (Shortwave)

RUDOLPH, ADAM (MOVING PICTURES): Dream Garden CD (Justin Time)

VANDERMARK 5 (Pictured Below) : Beat Reader DCD (Atavistic)

Music 2008 - My Personal Year In Review, Part 2

Top Five Live Shows 2008


( Listed Alphabetically, Not By Ranking)


Steven Bernstein (Pictured Above) - 1/27/08 - At the Bottom Of The Hill in San Francisco, CA

Alan & Richard Bishop, “The Brothers Unconnected” Tour, with Neung Phak - 5/21/08 - At Slim’s in San Francisco, CA

Entrance (Pictured Below), with Rodriguez, Sleepy Sun, and Matt Baldwin - 11/23/08 - At the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, CA


Jandek - 1/12/08 - At the Swedish-American Hall in San Francisco, CA

William Parker Quartet (Pictured Below) - 5/20/08 - At Yoshi’s in San Francisco, CA

Music 2008 - My Personal Year In Review, Part 1

Yawn. After not posting in sooooooo long, it's hard for me to imagine that it matters, that anybody even cares about my little blog nor the opinions expressed within, but, what the hell...

Here's the list of new releases I purchased in 2008, which will provide the basis for my various top ten lists. Of note is the sad total of items up for consideration - only 87. In the days of a better economy and greater personal bandwidth, that number was routinely 200+! I know, I know, others should have it so rough. And I agree, but still...

Anyway, here's the list:

AHMED, ILYAS: The Vertigo Of Dawn LP (Time-Lag)

BAR KOKHBA: Lucifer: Book of Angels Volume 10 CD (Tzadik)

BERNSTEIN, STEVEN: Diaspora Suite CD (Tzadik)

BIRD SHOW: S/T CD (Kranky)

BIRDS OF MAYA: Vol. 1 LP (Holy Mountain)

BISHOP, ALAN AND RICHARD: The Brothers Unconnected - A Tribute To Charles Goucher & Sun City Girls CD (Abduction) - Tour Only CD

BLACK ANGELS: Directions To See A Ghost TLP (Light In The Attic)

BORIS: Smile CD (Diwphalanx)

BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE: My Bloody Underground DLP (A Records)

BROWN, ROB (ENSEMBLE): Crown Trunk Root Funk CD (AUM Fidelity)

BURKETT, JOSHUA: Where’s My Hat? LP (Time-Lag)

BY ANY MEANS: Live At Crescendo DCD (Ayler)

CLOUDLAND CANYON: Lie In Light CD (Kranky)

CLOUDLAND CANYON/LICHENS: Exterminating Angel LP (Holy Mountain)

CLUTCHY HOPKINS: Walking Backwards LP (Ubiquity)

DAY, GRAHAM AND THE GAOLERS: Triple Distilled LP (Damaged Goods)

DEAD MEADOW: Old Growth DLP (Matador)

DER BLUTHARSCH: The Philosopher’s Stone LP + One-Sided 7-S (WKN)

ENDLESS BOOGIE: Focus Level DLP (No Quarter)

ERSEN: S/T CD (Finders Keepers)

ETERNAL TAPESTRIES: Mystic Induction LP (Not Not Fun)

EX REVERIE: The Door Into Summer CD (Language Of Stone)

FENNESZ: Black Sea LP (Touch)

FERN KNIGHT: S/T CD (VHF)

FRUCHTER, YOSHIE: Pitom CD (Tzadik)

GONZALEZ, DENNIS (& FARUK Z. BEY W/NORTHWOODS IMPROVISERS SEPTET): Hymn For Tomasz Stanko LP (Qbico)

GRAILS: Doomsdayer’s Holiday LP (Temporary Residence)

HEAVY HANDS: Smoke Signals LP (Language Of Stone)

HOSPITALS: Hairdryer Peace LP (Self-Released)

INDIAN JEWELRY: Free Gold! CD (We Are Free)

KAWAGUCHI, MASAMI (NEW ROCK SYNDICATE): Cat vs. Frog LP (Palindrone Recordings)

KRYSMOPOMPAS: Heute Schlafen - Morgen Aufwachen DLP (S-S Records)

LEE, SHAWN (& CLUTCHY HOPKINS): Clutch Of The Tiger 2 x 12-EP (Ubiquity)

LIGHTS: S/T CD (Language Of Stone)

LOS LLAMARADA: Take The Sky LP (S-S Records)

LUMERIANS: S/T 12” EP (Subterranean Elephants Recording Company)

MAGIC LANTERN: S/T LP (Woodsist)

MAGIC LANTERN: High Beams LP (Not Not Fun)

MAHANTHAPPA, RUDRESH: Kinsmen CD (Pi Recordings)

MAHANTHAPPA, RUDRESH (Indo-Pak Coalition): Apti CD (Innova)

MY EDUCATION: Bad Vibrations CD (Strange Attractors Audio House)

NASH, BEN: The Seventh Goodbye LP (Blackest Rainbow)

NOTHING PEOPLE: Anonymous LP (S-S Records)

NUDITY: The Nightfeeders 12” Single (Discourage Records)

ONRA: Chinoiseries CD (Bo Bun Records)

ORCHESTRE POLY-RYTHMO DE COTONOU: The Vodoun Effect 1972-1975 - Funk And Sato From Benin’s Obscure Labels CD (Analog Africa)

ORCHESTRE REGIONAL DE KAYES: S/T LP (Mississippi)

PARKER, WILLIAM (QUARTET): Petit Oiseau DLP (Shortwave)

PLASTIC CRIMEWAVE SOUND: S/T LP (Eclipse)

PIERCED ARROWS: Straight To The Heart LP (Tombstone)

PONTIAK: Sun On Sun LP (Thrill Jockey)

PRISONSHAKE: Dirty Moons DLP (Scat)

RACOO-OO-OON: S/T DLP (Not Not Fun)

RUDOLPH, ADAM (MOVING PICTURES): Dream Garden CD (Justin Time)

RUSALNAIA: S/T CD (Camera Obscura)

S. T. MIKAEL: In Harmony LP (Subliminal Sounds)

SECRET CHIEFS 3: Xaphan: Book of Angels Volume 9 CD (Tzadik)

SHALABI, SAM: Eid CD (Alien8 Recordings)

SILVER SUMMIT: S/T LP (Language Of Stone)

SLEEPY SUN: Embrace CD (Sol Diamond)

SONICKETTLE: En CD (Sonic Records)

SPECTRUM MEETS CAPTAIN MEMPHIS: Indian Giver CD (Birdman)

SPEER, D. CHARLES (& THE HELIX): After Hours LP (Sound@One)

SUARASAMA: Fajar Di Atas Awan DLP (Drag City)

SUN CITY GIRLS: Live At The Sit & Spin, Seattle, May 17, 2002 LP (Abduction)

THUNDERBOLT PAGODA: S/T LP (Mutant Music)

TUCKER, ALEXANDER: Portal LP (All Tomorrow's Parties)

ULAAN KHOL: I CD (Soft Abuse)

ULAAN KHOL: II CD (Soft Abuse)

UWAIFO, SIR VICTOR: Guitar-Boy Superstar 1970-76 DLP (Soundway)

VANDERMARK 5: Beat Reader DCD (Atavistic)

WHITE MAGIC: New Egypt CD Single (Latitudes)

ZEDEK, THALIA (BAND): Liars and Prayers LP (Thrill Jockey)

ZORN, JOHN: Filmworks XIX: The Rain Horse CD (Tzadik)

ZORN, JOHN: The Dreamers CD (Tzadik)  

V/A: A Kind Of Awe And Reverence And Wonder CD (Twisted Nerve)

V/A: African Scream Contest: Raw & Psychedelic Afro Sounds
From Benin & Togo 70s DLP (Analog Africa)

V/A: Asian Flashback: Underground Music From Asia CD (PSF)

V/A: Brazilika CD (Far Out Recordings)

V/A: Love, Peace & Poetry - Chilean Psychedelic Music LP (QDK Media)

V/A: Nigeria Rock Special: Psychedelic, Afro-Rock & Fuzz Funk In 1970s Nigeria DLP (Soundway)

V/A: Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-6 Part 1 DLP (Soundway)

V/A: Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Nigerian Blues
1970-6 Part 2 DLP (Soundway)

V/A: 1970’s Algerian Proto-Rai Underground LP (Sublime Frequencies)

V/A: Radio Myanmar (Burma) CD (Sublime Frequencies)

V/A: Shadow Music Of Thailand LP (Sublime Frequencies)

V/A: We Are All Circling The Stars DCD (Cosmos Recordings)


Labels Of Note:

Tzadik = 6

Language of Stone = 4

Soundway = 4

Not Not Fun = 3

S-S Records = 3

Sublime Frequencies = 3

Abduction = 2

Analog Africa = 2

Holy Mountain = 2

Kranky = 2

Soft Abuse = 2

Thrill Jockey = 2

Time-Lag = 2

Ubiquity = 2

I purchased only 1 title from 46 labels

Music I Liked And Didn't - 6/7/08 - 6/16/08

Adds -

ENDLESS BOOGIE: Focus Level 2LP (No Quarter) - Endless Boogie is a band with an appropriate and self-descriptive name, if ever there was one. But this ain't your father's boogie, that of the ballrooms and dance halls of the late 60's and early 70's, this is a modern interpretation, with the simple, repetitive progressions of boogie, sure, but in a much more hi-gain, loose, punk rock vein.


SILVER SUMMIT: S/T CD (Language Of Stone) - To the list of amazing acid folk/psych projects emanating from the orbit of Greg Weeks and his Hexham Head Studios (Espers, Ex Reverie, Fern Knight, Mountain Home, etc.), you can add the name - Silver Summit. On their self-titled debut, the duo of Sondra Sun-Odeon and David Shawn Bosler, supported by a stellar cast (Greg Weeks, Gillian Chadwick, Margie Wienk, and so on), delivers 10 tracks of stunning crystalline acid folk and excellent psych stylings.


Hopefully, there will be a variety of opportunities for people in Northern California to see them in early September, during their upcoming West Coast tour!


Did Not Add -

None


Running Count For The Year

Adds 46/94%

Did Not Add 3/6%

Music I Liked And Didn't - 6/6/08

Adds -

SUN CITY GIRLS: Live At The Sit & Spin, Seattle, May 17, 2002 LP (Abduction) - This LP (issued in a limited edition of 1000 copies) was sold only during the recent “Brothers Unconnected” tour, which featured Alan and Richard Bishop paying tribute to their long-running project, the Sun City Girls, and their fallen partner in sound, Charles Goucher. As the title states, this LP documents the Sun City Girls live experience as captured at The Sit & Spin club, in Seattle, WA, on May 17, 2002.


Did Not Add -

None


Running Count For The Year

Adds 44/94%

Did Not Add 3/6%