Street Art

Street Art 01, originally uploaded by Rodger Coleman.

I had the pleasure of meeting my beautiful wife for lunch this afternoon and, although it was a dreary day, I brought my new camera downtown and took a few photos. I'm glad I did. I had never before noticed this piece of urban street art, painted on a boarded up window of an abandoned building on Commerce Street--but, today, the drawing's disarming simplicity and vibrant colors immediately caught my eye. I was stopped in my tracks! Perhaps it was the weather or the post-holiday blues--whatever--I was touched by the enigmatic, childish glee so vividly expressed in this piece. Thank you to the anonymous artists for ennobling this derelict structure and brightening a grey winter day.

Sun Ra Sunday

Happy Holidays from Santa Ra!

Playlist Week of 12-25-10

* J.S. Bach: Mass In B Minor (Collegium Vocale Gent/Herreweghe) (Harmonia Mundi 2CD)
* Vivaldi: Cello Sonatas (ter Linden/Mortensen) (Brilliant Classics 2CD)
* Handel: Organ Concertos, Op.7 (Academy of Ancient Music/Egarr) (Harmonia Mundi 2SACD)
* Handel: Trio Sonatas Op.2&5 (Academy of Ancient Music/Egarr) (Harmonia Mundi 2CD)†
* Boulez: Le Marteau sans Maître/Dérive 1&2 (Ens. Intercontemporain/Summers/Boulez)(DG CD)
* The Boston Pops (Fiedler): Pops Christmas Party (RCA CD)
* John Coltrane: Ascension (Impulse! CD)
* John Coltrane/Archie Shepp: New Thing At Newport (Impulse! CD)
* John Coltrane: Sun Ship (Impulse! CD)
* John Coltrane: First Meditations (Impulse! CD)
* John Coltrane: Live In Seattle (Impulse! 2CD)
* Bill Evans: Complete Village Vanguard Recordings, 1961 (d.1&3) (Riverside 3CD) †
* Sun Ra & His Space Arkestra: What Planet Is This? (Leo 2CD)
* Henry Threadgill’s Zooid: This Brings Us To, Vol. I (Pi CD)
* Henry Threadgill’s Zooid: This Brings Us To, Vol. II (Pi CD)
* Myra Melford’s Be Bread: The Image of Your Body (Cryptogramophone CD)
* Mary Halvorson: Saturn Sings (Firehouse 12 CD)
* The Free Zen Society: The Free Zen Society (Thirsty Ear CD)
* DJ Wally: Nothing Stays the Same (Thirsty Ear CD)
* Nina Simone: Anthology (d.1) (RCA/BMG Heritage 2CD)
* Elvis Presley: If Every Day Was Like Christmas (RCA CD)
* Emmylou Harris: Light of the Stable: The Christmas Album (Warner Bros. CD)
* The Beatles: I Hope We Passed The Audition (Purple Chick/fan/boot CDR)
* The Beatles: Please Please Me (2009 stereo) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: With The Beatles (2009 stereo) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night (2009 stereo) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: Beatles For Sale (2009 stereo) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: Help! (1987/2009 stereo) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: From Then To You (The Christmas Record) (Purple Chick/fan/boot CDR)
* Van Morrison: A Sense of Wonder (Mercury CD)
* Grateful Dead: Univ. of Illinois, Chapaign-Urbana 2-22-73 (d.2) (SBD 2CDR)
* Grateful Dead: Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, Long Island, NY 3-31-93 (SBD 2CDR)‡
* Grateful Dead: Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, Long Island, NY 4-02-93 (SBD 2CDR) ‡
* Bob Dylan: Infidels (Columbia SACD)
* Bob Dylan: Christmas In the Heart (Columbia CD)
* Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Hour No.34: “Christmas & New Year’s” (FM 2CDR)
* V/A: Elton John’s Christmas Party (selections) (Hear Music CD)
* V/A: Viper vs. Gingerman (mix CDR)
* Yes: Relayer (Atlantic/Rhino CD)
* Yes: Going For The One (Atlantic/Rhino CD)
* Sonic Youth w/Tim Barnes: Koncertas Stan Brakhage Prisiminimui (SYR-6 CD)
* Sonic Youth: “J’Accuse Ted Hughes”/“Agnes B. Musique” (SYR-7 LP)
* Guided By Voices: Live in Daytron ?6° (Rockathon 3LP/FLAC)
* Radiohead: Kid A (Capitol CD)
* Radiohead: Amnesiac (Capitol CD)
* Radiohead: “Knives Out” (EMI—UK CDEP)
* Radiohead: “Pyramid Song” (EMI—Japan CDEP)

†=iPod
‡=car

Commentary:

Christmastime presents both opportunities and challenges for the music fan. There is, of course, a rich tradition of both sacred and secular music devoted to the season, but the omnipresence of canned cheer this time of year can become extremely cloying by the time December 25 rolls around. Even so, there are plenty of great records which will always get me in the yuletide spirit.

So I was initially skeptical when Bob Dylan released Christmas In The Heart last year. Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy, but the idea of latter-day Bob croaking and growling his way through “O Little Town of Bethlehem” seemed particularly unappetizing—even to me. But I kept hearing good things about the album from people whose opinions I respect, so I recently added it to my modest collection of Christmas CDs. It’s actually pretty great!

The first thing you notice is Dylan’s guileless sincerity—he sings like a true believer and his road-weary vocals bring a genuine poignancy to hoary old carols like “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” and his gravelly performances of sentimental favorites like “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” possess a magnificent pathos. Well, OK; doubters will likely not be convinced of Dylan’s vocal abilities, but admirers will be duly impressed. His long-standing touring band (augmented by chirpy backup vocalists) demonstrates their chameleonic ability to inhabit the myriad styles of music while maintaining a singular, first-take professionalism. And it sounds like everyone is having fun, especially Bob, whose takes on “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Must Be Santa” are so joyful as to make even a jaded Dylan fan laugh out loud.

Lizzy pointed out that the whole packaging and production harks back to the kinds of cheesy seasonal LPs you might find in your parents’ (or grandparents’) record collections, the kind given away at a full-service gas stations back in the early-‘Sixties. That is no doubt part of Christmas In The Heart’s peculiar charm, a familiar, timeless ambience which perfectly captures the comforting, nostalgic spirit of the season. Plus, all proceeds go to Feeding America. Good stuff!

Check out this video for “Must Be Santa” and see/hear for yourself—it’s hilarious! I hope everyone has had a joyous day! Merry Christmas and Happy Krimble to everybody out there in the blogosphere!

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

Cardinal in the snow, Christmas morning 2010b, originally uploaded by Rodger Coleman.

It snowed enough to make it pretty, but not so much as to cause problems. Perfect!

Merry Christmas!

Santa & His Bears, originally uploaded by Rodger Coleman.

It's Christmas Eve...

Neighborhood Lights 02, originally uploaded by Rodger Coleman.

They're predicting some snow overnight, which would make for the first white Christmas in Nashville in seventeen years--and the first for us since we moved here. We have a fire in the fireplace and some swingin' seaonal tunes on the stereo. All of us here at chez NuVoid wish you all a very merry Christmas!

Happy Solstice!

Happy Solstice!, originally uploaded by Rodger Coleman.

Finally, the days will start to lengthen. Sounds like a reason to celebrate! Wish I could have seen the lunar eclipse, but it was too cloudy. I hope everyone has a safe, happy, and warm winter!

Sun Ra Sunday

THE ROSE WILL BLOOM

The rose will bloom
The broken bowl
Will never know
The perfect self
It once was shaped.
And though the heavens
Are as far from man
As all the past,
They are not lifeless
Or insensitive
As one would think . . . . . . .
Seeing they are so distant;
Even as the past knows all the ways
Knows all the ways of man,
So the vast
And
Timeless firmament knows:
And being what is,
It bides that we should search
For celestial-cosmo-truth of myth;
That we should know at last
Our true worth and insignificance
In proximity to the
Endless-Eternal Myth . . . . . . . . .

--Sun Ra

Playlist Week of 12-18-10

* Palestrina, et al.: Die Kleinorgel (de Klerk) (Telefunken LP)
* Buxtehude: Six Sonatas (Holloway/Mortensen/ter Linden) (Naxos CD)
* Biber: Mensa Sonora (Musica Antique Köln/Goebel) (Archiv Produktion CD)†
* Biber: Harmonia Artificioso (Musica Antique Köln/Goebel) (Archiv Produktion CD)†
* Handel: Organ Concertos, Op.4 (Academy of Ancient Music/Egarr) (Harmonia Mundi SACD)
* Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words (Rév) (Hyperion 2CD)
* Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue, etc. (Boston Pops/Fiedler/Wild) (RCA SACD)
* Lachenmann: Schwankungen am Rand (Ensemble Modern/Eötvös) (ECM CD)
* John Coltrane: One Down, One Up: Live at the Half Note (Impulse! 2CD)
* John Coltrane: John Coltrane Quartet Plays (Impulse! CD)
* John Coltrane: Living Space (Impulse! CD)
* John Coltrane: Transition (Impulse! CD)
* Tony Williams: Life Time (Blue Note CD)
* Andrew Hill: Andrew!! (Blue Note CD)
* Andrew Hill: Compulsion (Blue Note CD)
* Andrew Hill: Change (Blue Note CD)
* Sun Ra: The Singles (d.2) (selections) (Evidence 2CD)
* Sun Ra: What Planet Is This? (Leo 2CD)
* Anthony Braxton/Walter Thompson Orchestra: Irondale Center, Brooklyn, NY 4-16-09 (AUD 2CDR)
* Aretha Franklin: Lady Soul/Aretha Now (Atlantic/Mobile Fidelity CD)
* Grateful Dead: Assembly Hall, Univ. of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana 2-21-73 (SBD 3CDR)
* Grateful Dead: Assembly Hall, Univ. of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana 1-22-73 (d.1) (SBD 2CDR)
* Grateful Dead: Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY 3-27-93 (SBD 3CDR) ‡
* Grateful Dead: Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY 3-28-93 (SBD 3CDR) ‡
* Grateful Dead: Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY 3-29-93 (selections) (SBD 3CDR) ‡
* Van Morrison: Poetic Champions Compose (Polydor CD)
* Van Morrison: No Guru, No Method, No Teacher (Polydor CD)
* Chicago: VII (Columbia 2LP)
* Frank Zappa: Studio Tan (DiscReet LP)
* Frank Zappa: Orchestral Favorites (DiscReet LP)
* Frank Zappa: Sleep Dirt (DiscReet LP)
* Frank Zappa: Zappa In New York (Rkyo 2CD)
* Captain Beefheart: Trout Mask Replica (Reprise CD)
* Yes: Tormato (Atlantic/Rhino CD)
* Phil Collins: Face Value (Atlantic/Audio Fidelity CD)
* The Fall: This Nation’s Saving Grace (Beggar’s Banquet—UK CD)
* The Fall: Bend Sinister (Beggar’s Banquet—UK CD)
* The Fall: The Frenz Experiment (Beggar’s Banquet/RCA CD)
* Sonic Youth: Goodbye Twentieth Century (SYR-4 2LP)
* Kim Gordon/DJ Olive/Ikue Mori: SYR-5 (SYR-5 2EP)

†=iPod
‡=car

Commentary:

What a week! Even though we’re days away from the Solstice, winter weather moved in on Sunday with six inches of snow, and topped it off with freezing rain on Wednesday. Fortunately, it warmed up overnight and regular wet rain on Thursday melted everything. Sheesh! Is this what it’s going to be like? Today is the first time we’ve seen the sun all week. Well, one nice thing about a “snow day” is getting time to listen to more records!

+++

I’m a huge fan of John Coltrane, but, for me, the music he made in 1965 is by far the most astonishing. He was incredibly prolific during this period, as if he could barely keep up with the flood of ideas—as if he knew he only had another couple of years left—and you can hear his rapid development from the relatively straightforward modalism of John Coltrane Quartet Plays through the experimental chamber jazz found on Living Space and Transition, leading directly to the cathartic spiritualism of Sun Ship, Ascension and Meditations later in the year. In the process, the so-called “classic quartet” disintegrated, as first Elvin Jones, and then McCoy Tyner quit the band, unwilling to go as far as Coltrane needed to go (or maybe they were just unwilling to share the stage with newcomers Pharoah Sanders and Rashied Ali). By November, the tension is audible. Nevertheless, the almost overwhelming intensity of the music is part of what makes these last records of 1965 the summit of Coltrane’s achievement and I’m looking forward to listening them this coming week.

+++

Debate rages amongst Zappaphiles regarding Frank’s true intentions regarding Läther (pronounced “leather”), a proposed four-LP box set of high-gloss rock-jazz and ambitious orchestral music recorded in 1974-1976. As the story goes, test pressings were made but Warner Bros. apparently refused to release it. But I suspect the mythical Läther was just a ploy to break his contract with the label. Zappa was in the midst of myriad disputes with his manager and Warner Bros. during this period, and, in December, 1977, he played an entire eight-sided test pressing over KRQQ radio station in Pasedena, encouraging listeners to tape it off the air, which, of course, many of them did. This tactic evidently worked: by 1978, Zappa had extricated himself from the contract with Warner Bros.—but the Läther material began to appear on the now defunct DiscReet label on four separate albums, Zappa In New York, Studio Tan, Orchestral Favorites and Sleep Dirt (the latter three with lurid artwork by Gary Panter and zero credits). Regardless of their provenance, these are some of my favorite Zappa records.

As usual, the music ranges from brilliantly sophisticated instrumentals to the most puerile songs imaginable. The twenty-minute “Greggery Peccary” (Studio Tan) manages to combine it all into a metaphorical fable about the invention of the calendar—probably one of Zappa’s most successful musical satires ever. Orchestral Favorites is just what it says, Frank’s demanding “classical” scores—sometimes augmented by his rock band. Good stuff. Sleep Dirt is another all-instrumental album but with a more jazz-rock-fusion feel—except for the title track, an acoustic guitar duet with James Youman, which exhibits Frank’s rarely-heard soft and sensitive side. Zappa In New York compiles live recordings from The Palladium in December, 1976 and while the jokey material has worn thin for me (e.g. “Titties and Beer”; "The Illinois Enema Bandit”), the musicianship is uniformly spectacular. The Ryko CD restores the censored “Punky’s Whips” (another bit of homophobic (?) theatricality) along with four other unreleased tracks from these shows, but the digital mastering leaves a lot to be desired. The sound quality of the original LPs is fantastic: warm and detailed, with a vast, welcoming soundstage. Further, the official Läther three-CD set released by Ryko in 1996 includes dubious editing and overdubs that lessen the impact of many of these tracks. Whatever Frank’s true intentions, I prefer the individual albums in their original presentation. Your mileage may vary.

R.I.P. Don Van Vliet (a//k/a Captain Beefheart)

Don Van Vliet, also known as Captain Beefheart, died today at the age of 69 from complications from multiple sclerosis. Popularly known as a musician/poet/auteur whose 1969 album, Trout Mask Replica (produced by Frank Zappa) is a masterpiece of avant-rock, he later abandoned music only to find financial success as a painter, represented by the prestigious Michael Werner Gallery in New York. MS is an insidious disease and 69 is too young for such talent to die. RIP, Mr. Van Vliet.

Ice and Snow

Ice and Snow, originally uploaded by Rodger Coleman.

This weather is starting to feel a lot more like New England than Tennessee. Pretty to look at; not so much fun to drive in.

Oh, No! Snow!!

Tomorrow could be...interesting.

Sun Ra Sunday

Sun Ra: The Singles (Evidence 2CD)

In 1974, at the height of the Impulse! deal, the resurrected Saturn label released two seven-inch 45-RPM singles, in an effort, perhaps, to capitalize on the major label’s support and media exposure. Crudely manufactured in small batches, they were sold from the bandstand or to certain favored record stores for cash on the barrelhead, making them extremely rare and highly-prized collector’s items today. Thankfully, the Evidence label has collected all the known Saturn singles onto two CDs, making these weird and wonderful sides available to all. As usual, the discographical details are sketchy, but we can rely on Prof. Campbell’s research and speculations to fit them into the chronology.

“I’m Gonna Unmask the Batman”/”The Perfect Man” (Saturn ES 537)

Continuing Sun Ra’s odd infatuation with Batman and Robin the A-side is a remake of the Lacy Gibson/Alton Abraham ditty first recorded for Repeto in 1968 (without Sun Ra’s involvement). This version “I’m Gonna Unmask the Batman” was probably taken from a live broadcast at WXPN-FM in Philadelphia on July 4, 1974 under the auspices of Hal Wilner (see, Campbell & Trent pp.209-210). The vocalist is Sam Bankhead (who appeared in the Space is the Place movie) and there’s a small complement of riffing horns while Sonny provides the bass-line on his reedy RMI Rocksichord. Despite the silliness of the tune, Sun Ra would return to it again and again in concert, making this, I suppose, the definitive version.

The flip side is something else altogether: In his liner notes to The Singles collection, Prof. Campbell suggests that “The Perfect Man” may be Sun Ra’s “most perfectly realized synthesizer performance.” A particularly captivating space-rock-boogaloo driven by Sonny’s boing-ing MiniMoogs, the head is tightly arranged for the tangy ensemble of Marshall Allen’s oboe and John Gilmore’s tenor sax. Probably recorded at Variety in May 24, 1973, the “Micro-Ensemble Unit” actually sounds surprisingly well rehearsed and polished on this almost-pop-worthy confection (despite the amateurish drumming of Danny Davis). Very interesting.


“Journey to Saturn”/”Enlightenment” (Saturn ES 538)

Saturn ES 538 focuses on two of the common space-chants from the repertoire. “Journey to Saturn“ is taken from an unknown live performance circa. 1972-74, as indicated by the unbalanced and overamplified sound. Clifford Jarvis swings hard on drums and Gilmore and June Tyson duet while Sonny churns out some gritty organ accompaniment. After a bluesy solo from Ra that veers off into distant keys, Tyson returns briefly a cappella. The B-side is yet another remake of “Enlightenment,” a song that obviously meant a lot to Ra. Recorded at the House of Ra in Philadelphia sometime between 1970 and 1974, this stripped down version is really quite affecting. The tempo is slow and deliberate, held together by Gilmore’s remarkably supple drumming and Sonny’s orchestral clavinet playing. Gilmore and Tyson sing with full-throated sincerity and, even though Gilmore drops his sticks at one point, he never loses a beat. The lo-fi, homemade quality of the recording only adds to the charm—this one has that inimitable “Saturn Sound.” A nice rendition of this sometimes overplayed song.

Fire in the Fireplace

Playlist Week of 12-11-10

* J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations/Canons (Egarr) (Harmonia Mundi 2CD)†
* J.S. Bach: Suites for Violoncello (ter Linden) (Harmonia Mundi 2CD)†
* J.S. Bach: Violin Sonatas (Manze/Egarr/ter Linden) (Harmonia Mundi 2CD)
* Thelonious Monk: The Complete Blue Note Recordings (d.4) (Blue Note 4CD)
* Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane: At Carnegie Hall (Blue Note CD)
* Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane: The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings (Riverside 2CD)
* Eric Dolphy Quintet: Outward Bound (New Jazz/OJC CD)
* Eric Dolphy: Out There (Prestige/OJC CD)
* Eric Dolphy: At the Five Spot Vol.1 (Prestige/OJC—Japan CD)
* Eric Dolphy: At the Five Spot Vol.2 (Prestige/OJC—Japan CD)
* Herbie Hancock: Takin’ Off (Blue Note CD)
* Grant Green: Idle Moments (Blue Note CD)†/‡
* Sun Ra: What Planet Is This? (Leo 2CD)
* Sun Ra: The Singles (d.2) (selections) (Evidence 2CD)
* Anthony Braxton Large Ensemble: Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 12-03-08 (AUD CDR)
* V/A: The Oxford American Southern Music CD No.12 (Alabama) (Oxford American Magazine CD)
* Aretha Franklin: I Never Loved a Man The Way I Love You (Atlantic/Mobile Fidelity CD)
* Grateful Dead: The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 8-30-80 (d.2-3) (SBD 3CDR) †/‡
* Grateful Dead: Kaiser Convention Center, Oakland, CA 11-21-85 (SBD 3CDR)
* Big Star: Keep An Eye On the Sky (d.3) (Ardent/Rhino 4CD) †/‡
* The Clash: London Calling (CBS—UK 2LP)
* The Clash: Sandinista! (Epic 3LP)
* The Fall: Hex Enduction Hour (Kamera/Line CD)
* The Fall: Perverted By Language (Rough Trade/Line CD)
* The Fall: The Wonderful and Frightening World of…The Fall (Beggar’s Banquet—UK CD)
* U2: The Unforgettable Fire (Deluxe Edition) (d.1) (Island/Universal 2CD) †/‡
* Sonic Youth: “Anagrama” (SYR-1 EP)
* Sonic Youth: “Slaapkamers Met Slagroom” (SYR-2 EP)
* Sonic Youth/Jim O’Rourke: “Invito Al Ĉielo” (SYR-3 LP)
* Sonic Youth: A Thousand Leaves (Geffen 2LP)
* Robert Pollard: Off to Business (GBV, Inc. LP)
* Robert Pollard: “Weatherman and Skin Goddess” (side B) (GBV, Inc. EP)
* Robert Pollard: Moses On A Snail (GBV, Inc. LP)
* Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino CD) †/‡
* Animal Collective: Fall Be Kind (Domino CDEP) †/‡

†=iPod
‡=car

Commentary:

The Oxford American Southern Music Issue arrived in the mailbox this week and, as usual, it’s a feast for the eyes and ears. We’re long-time subscribers and The Oxford American has always lived up to its subtitle, “The Southern Magazine of Good Writing”; it’s always worth reading. But, most of all, we look forward to the annual Southern Music Issue, where the magazine serves as a set of elaborate liner notes for the accompanying compact disc, an always generous selection of fascinating tracks, famous and obscure, old and new. Of course, you don’t have to be a Southerner to appreciate this stuff—all you need is a beating heart—the perceptive writing and sharp graphics will fill you in on everything else you might need to know. This year, the focus is on the music of Alabama (as last year’s was devoted to Arkansas). I’ve barely delved into it, but it’s the usual friendly collision of styles and genres, from hillbilly country blues to New Wave; jump-jazz to R&B soul to hip-hop and beyond—and the respective essays are illuminating and, sometimes, quite touching. The whole thing is obviously a labor of love and well worth the eleven-dollar cover price—if you can find one on the newsstand. Subscriptions are only twenty bucks and ensure that you won’t miss out on all the fun. Would make a great gift! Most highly recommended!

My New Toy!

Canon S-95 (2), originally uploaded by Rodger Coleman.

I’ve wanted a “point-and-shoot” camera for a while now. Back when I got my digital SLR (which I love—don’t get me wrong!), I gave the old Coolpix L3 to Lizzy—and darned if she doesn’t get some fantastic shots out of that thing. Frankly, was starting to feel jealous, since the Nikon D40 and its associated lenses are just too big and heavy to cart around all day; I really wanted a camera I could keep in my pocket at all times. So, I did some research and found that the Canon S95 is considered by many to be “the world’s best compact camera”: about the size of a deck of cards, the S95 features a fast (f/2) lens and vibration control for excellent low-light performance as well as full manual/programmable functionality via an ingenious array of dials and knobs. It also shoots HD video—in stereo! Naturally, I became consumed with desire and made my wishes loudly known to the powers that be. Well, Santa Claus came to our house a little early this year, bringing me this fabulous new toy. How exciting! I’m still figuring out how it all works, but, so far, it seems intuitively easy to use and the resulting images are pretty spectacular for such a small camera. I can’t wait to take it with me on my journeys out in the world! Thank you, Santa!

Sun Ra Sunday

SOUND/SILENCE

What can I say other than the music itself?

Music?

Yes, to the ears that dare to hear

That dare to hear

Both the silence and the sound!

Music?

Yes, the silence/sound duality necessity belongness . . . Balanced

projection pointless

Cosmo-Nature/natural feeling sensitivity

Dial pointer vibration-intensity indicator

Express image expression need necessity being code alter-

otherness continuance

Continuance On . . On . . On

The music is in the word of words ON . . . . . . .

--Sun Ra (1972)

Playlist Week of 12-04-10

* Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine (Concentus Musicus Wien/Harnoncourt) (Telefunken 2LP)
* Buxtehude: Sonatas, Op.1 (Holloway/Mortensen/ter Linden) (Naxos CD)
* J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concertos (Academy of Ancient Music/Egarr) (Harmonia Mundi 2SACD)
* Count Basie: Basie Big Band (Pablo LP)
* John Coltrane: Live at Birdland (Impulse! CD)
* John Coltrane: Newport ’63 (Impulse!/GRP CD)
* John Coltrane: Crescent (Impulse! CD)
* John Coltrane: A Love Supreme (Impulse! SACD)
* John Coltrane: A Love Supreme (Deluxe Edition) (d.2) (Impulse! 2CD)
* Sun Ra: College Tour Vol.1: The Complete Nothing Is… (ESP-Disk’ 2CD)
* Anthony Braxton Falling River Quartet: Marta-Museum, Herford, Germany 11-22-08 (AUD CDR)
* David S. Ware Quartets: Live in the World (Thirsty Ear 3CD)
* Mat Maneri featuring Joe McPhee: Sustain (Thirsty Ear CD)
* Grateful Dead: Five Seasons Center, Cedar Rapids, IA 7-04-84 (d.1-2) (SBD 3CDR)
* Frank Zappa: Apostrophe (’) (DiscReet LP)
* Frank Zappa/Mothers: Roxy & Elsewhere (DiscReet 2LP)
* Frank Zappa/The Mothers: One Size Fits All (DiscReet LP)
* Frank Zappa/Captain Beefheart/The Mothers: Bongo Fury (DiscReet LP)
* U2: The Unforgettable Fire (Deluxe Edition) (Island 2CD)†/‡
* U2: The Joshua Tree (Deluxe Edition) (Island 2CD)†/‡
* New Order: Power, Corruption and Lies (Deluxe Edition) (d.1)(Factory/Rhino 2CD)†/‡
* The Smiths: The Sound of The Smiths (Sire 2CD)
* Beck: Sea Change (DGC/Mobile Fidelity 2LP)
* Robert Pollard: The Crawling Distance (GBV, Inc. CD)
* Robert Pollard: Moses On a Snail (GBV, Inc. CD)†/‡

†=iPod
‡=car

Commentary:

This past spring, I embarked on a project to listen to all of my Frank Zappa LPs in chronological order and I wrote about my long, complicated relationship with Zappa’s music back in April. But by July, I had to stop and take a break, having reached Over-Nite Sensation (1973), an album I found uproariously funny as a teenager, but now find to be pretty much totally embarrassing. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood. Well, this past week, I decided to pick up where I left off. I guess I was in a more receptive frame of mind, as I quite enjoyed listening to these albums again after many years. Maybe it’s just the new amplifier that made ‘em sound so good (indeed, these are great sounding records regardless of the musical content).

Apostrophe(‘) (1974) yielded an unlikely hit single with “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow,” which is really just the introduction to a side-long suite of songs that loosely tell a story about Nanook The Eskimo, parish priest, Father O’Blivion, pancake breakfasts, and the rejection of easy metaphysics. Or something like that. For the most part, Frank keeps the potty humor in check (or at least cloaks it in clever, euphemistic wordplay) and the musicianship is, of course, superb. Side one is quintessential Zappa. The second side is a bit more problematic: it opens strong with a quick ditty (“Excentrifugal Forz”) which seems to pick up where the other side left off, but the following track is a rather pointless jam with Cream bassist, Jack Bruce (“Apostrophe(')”). Then there’s the discomfiting “Uncle Remus.” The music and the sentiments are about as straightforward and sincere as Frank ever got, expressing a lament for the victims of a racist society. And yet the lyrics, with their exaggerated dialect, wrapped up in Zappa’s outrageously salacious voice—well, it will make even (especially?) right-thinking liberals squirm. Which is the point, I guess. “Stink Foot” is as stupid as it sounds and thereby nullifies any big ideas raised in the previous song. Oh well, this is an almost-great record.

On the other hand, Roxy & Elsewhere (1974) has always been one of my favorites, ever since I was a teenage kid with my first hi-fi. Recorded (mostly) live for a never-released film/TV project, this is about as charming and friendly as Frank Zappa ever got. The band is stocked with early-fusion hotshots like George Duke on keyboards, Tom Fowler on bass, Chester Thompson on drums, and the virtuoso percussionist, Ruth Underwood. But it is Tom’s brother, Bruce, who really shines here, both as a soloist and ensemble player, on the otherwise unwieldy trombone. While there is a fair share of comedic nonsense, the music is so compelling, it hardly matters how dumb the subject matter. Zappa is at the height of his powers here. Side two is perfect: opening with a remarkably warm and un-ironic paean to Zappa’s hometown in rural California (“Village of the Sun”). The band then executes a sequence of instrumental pieces which demonstrate Zappa’s command of his quirky, immediately identifiable compositional language, combining a highly chromatic harmonic sensibility with insane rhythmic complexity which culminates in ecstatic releases of rock energy and jazzy soloing (“Echidna’s Arf (Of You)” and “Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing?”). Side three follows up with an endearing send-up of cheesy monster movies (“Cheepnis”) and some pointed political commentary (“Son of Orange County,” about the disgraced Richard Nixon; and “More Trouble Every Day,” a song from Freak Out (1966) about the Watts Riots). Side four concludes with “Be-Bop Tango (Of the Old Jazzmen’s Church)” another ridiculously complicated modern-classical-style composition followed by an equally absurd audience participation segment that goes on for far too long but at least provides us with the classic Zappa quip: “Jazz is not dead; it just smells funny.”

One Size Fits All (1975) is another almost-great album, starting out as it does with “Inca Roads,” probably Zappa’s finest moment. Ostensibly about the crash landing of an alien spaceship, the song begins with an ingratiating yet odd-metered groove and soulful yet quasi-atonal singing by George Duke. Imminently catchy yet severely off-kilter, it draws you in and makes you want to listen, even though it sounds like no other music ever made. Layers of intricately layered instrumental and vocal textures are built up before finally unleashing a towering guitar solo from Frank. Interestingly, the guitar solo is taken from a live recording which is seamlessly spliced into the track. Zappa taped everything and insisted on exact tuning and tempos in live performances, enabling him to utilize a collage approach to musical construction in the studio. The song climaxes with an elaborately asymmetrical coda that doesn’t so much end as segue immediately into the satirical blues, “Can’t Afford No Shoes.” And so it goes with this record: brilliant music, banal lyrics. Thankfully, Frank isn’t going out of his way to be offensive and the songs are wryly humorous, if inconsequential. Ultimately, the rest of the album doesn’t live up to the promise of “Inca Roads,” although that might not be humanly possible, even for Frank Zappa.

Bongo Fury (1975) is a mixed bag, but will be of particular interest to fans of Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet), who is featured prominently on this (mostly) live recording. Beefheart’s stories and harangues are amusing, but the band sounds a little unsure of themselves, which is disconcerting given their pedigree. Nevertheless, this album represents an uncharacteristic act of generosity towards Zappa’s childhood friend, whose overt freakiness challenged even his own. (Van Vliet went on to a successful career as a painter.) There are moments that make the experiment worthwhile, but side two is the most satisfying with Frank playing guitar hero on the eleven-minute “Advance Romance” and on the concluding “Muffin Man.” This album gets overlooked by most Zappa-philes, including myself, and while it is somewhat claustrophobic and schizophrenic, there is enough interesting stuff here to warrant multiple listens.

Zappa’s DiscReet label would collapse under the weight of acrimonious lawsuit against his manager, Herb Cohen, and a later dispute with the corporate parent, Warner Bros., over the release of a proposed four-LP box set, to be entitled, Läther. (That material was instead released piecemeal without Zappa’s authorization before the DiscReet label was finally dissolved.) The resulting bitterness is audible in Zappa’s subsequent music, manifesting itself in a palpable contempt for just about everybody, including his listeners. The searing cynicism of his later albums make his mid-‘Seventies works seem lighthearted and sweet by comparison. The Mothers were unceremoniously disbanded and Zappa continued his own way with various musicians who would bend to his iron will—or be sacked. Although there was still interesting music to come, things would never be quite the same.

Alex Ross: “Why Do We Hate Modern Classical Music?”

New Yorker music critic, Alex Ross, recently pondered the question, "Why Do We Hate Modern Music?" in The Guardian and I think his conclusions are very convincing. Mr. Ross is one of my favorite writers on music this brief essay demonstrates why. With graceful reasonableness and friendly readability, he eloquently demolishes all the old canards that seek to prove “modern” music is unlistenable (i.e. dubious research showing that infants “prefer” tonality to dissonance, audiences can't sit still, etc.) and suggests that it is the regressive institutions of so-called “classical music” that have instilled this hatred modern music:

The core problem is, I suspect, neither physiological nor sociological. Rather, modern composers have fallen victim to a long-smouldering indifference that is intimately linked to classical music's idolatrous relationship with the past. Even before 1900, people were attending concerts in the expectation that they would be massaged by the lovely sounds of bygone days. ("New works do not succeed in Leipzig," a critic said of the premiere of Brahms's First Piano Concerto in 1859.)

The music profession became focused on the manic polishing of a display of masterpieces.

Ross then goes on to show that a handful of orchestras and cultural organizations have found some success—and, perhaps more importantly, younger audiences—with programs featuring such “difficult” modern composers such as, Varése, Xenakis, Stockhausen and Ligeti. Mr. Ross loves the 18th and 19th century "standard repertoire" as much as anyone, but also sees music as a living art, not just polished museum pieces. His tastes range from Mozart to Schoenberg to Sonic Youth and beyond and would like to see "classical" music be treated like all the other arts, like painting, literature, film, and dance. In his view (and mine) music should be a world where anything can happen instead of the same old thing night after night.

What must fall away is the notion of classical music as a reliable conduit for consoling beauty – a kind of spa treatment for tired souls. Such an attitude undercuts not only 20th-century composers but also the classics it purports to cherish. Imagine Beethoven's rage if he had been told that one day his music would be piped into railway stations to calm commuters and drive away delinquents. Listeners who become accustomed to Berg and Ligeti will find new dimensions in Mozart and Beethoven. So, too, will performers. For too long, we have placed the classical masters in a gilded cage. It is time to let them out.

I couldn’t agree more. Go ahead, read the whole thing. It’s brilliant. His new book, Listen to This (FSG), a collection of essays and journalism, is also highly recommended as is his magisterial history of modernism in music, The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century (FSG, 2007). Reading Alex Ross will make you want to listen to the music he writes about, even if you think you hate it. Give it a try!

Sun Ra Sunday

Lucky me! I received a couple of gifts for my birthday which had been on my want list for a while and will help further my Sun Ra research project. Today, I want to take the time to briefly discuss them and thank my kind benefactors: Thank you so much!

+++

Sun Ra: Collected Works, Vol.1: Immeasurable Equation was published by Phaelos Books & Mediawerks in 2005 and collects 260 of Sun Ra’s poems and a 1968 prose piece entitled, “Music Is My Words” in a handsome 226 page volume along with a handful of black and white photographs. Edited by Alton Abraham’s son, Adam, the book provides a comprehensive selection of Ra’s literary works, including numerous, side-by-side alternates and revisions along with introductory essays by James L. Wolfe and Hartmut Geerken which seek to contextualize these idiosyncratic writings within the otherworldly, messianic persona Sun Ra constructed. As Wolfe points out:

[Ra’s] poems are so bravely and unabashedly un-poetic. I know of no other poet who uses fewer concrete nouns than does Sun Ra…Wisdom, dimensions, endlessness, potentials, blackness, source, word, world, etc…abstractions all. Two barely concrete words reappearing every now and then are bridge and crossroads, signals of what Sun Ra is presenting to us in his volumes, crossings from one place to another, points of intersection where changes of direction become possible. Beyond these two, there are almost no moments in his entire written corpus that could be called “images” which suggest visual, sonic, or tactile scenes or experiences.

The question arose, and will again for others, is this really poetry? Is this philosophy disguised as poetry, just as Sun Ra’s music is “Images and forecasts of tomorrow/Disguised as Jazz?” (p.xiv)

Geerken focuses on the mutable materiality of Ra’s poetic language and, drawing upon ancient mythology and western metaphysics, suggests that he achieves “a kind of cosmic formula about life and the world which can be employed to harmonize the individual, society, science, politics and art”(p.xxv):

Sun Ra’s poems untie language following the recipes of the Dadaists, the structuralists, the lettrists, the futurists and the cosmologists. Above all, his poetic texts consist of energies. Sun Ra did not write because he wanted to communicate thoughts but because he cultivated particular vibrations and frequencies from which the texts emerged more or less automatically and spontaneously. The reader of Sun Ra’s poems “enters a while and free world, a world without a pope, without kings, without religion, and without refuge. He becomes a tree, a bird, a dancer, a barque, a wave—parts of a cosmos which creates all possibilities and destroys all certainties” (p.xxvi). [Quotation from Gerhard Penzkofer, Introduction to Poésie Spatiale/Raumpoesie, Bamberg 2001.]

Sun Ra may have been a shaman or he may have been a charlatan—or likely he was a little of both. He was a man born Herman Poole “Sonny” Blount, who reinvented himself as Sun Ra from the planet Saturn. The transformation was total: he legally changed his name to Le Sony’r Ra and disavowed his earthly mortality. This was decades before Prince! Sun Ra created his own reality—at least while he was alive—and his written works are keys to his mind. These Collected Works make for fascinating reading and will be a great resource for future Sun Ra Sundays. Thank you, Steve & Katie!

+++

ESP-Disk’ recently unearthed over ninety minutes of unreleased material from the May 18, 1966 concert at St. Lawrence University in Potsdam, New York and has released the whole shebang on a two-CD set entitled, College Tour Vol.1: The Complete Nothing Is…The discovery of previously unreleased Sun Ra music from the ‘Sixties is reason enough to celebrate, but this release exceeds all expectations. Of course, Nothing Is… is a perfect album in itself, but it was skillfully edited to showcase the more out-there extremes of the Arkestra’s live act. This expanded edition restores the concert’s proper sequence, including some of the old-timey swing numbers and groovy space chants which were omitted from the original album; to hear this edition of Arkestra rip through some of the ‘Fifties-era material such as, “Advice for Medics” and “Space Aura,” is a rare delight indeed! And the second disc is truly revelatory, opening with an unusually expansive, contemplative version of “The Satellites Are Spinning” and going on from there.

This was one of the best bands Sonny ever assembled: Ronnie Boykins and Clifford Jarvis in the rhythm section (along with James Jacson and Carl Nimrod on percussion); John Gilmore, Marshall Allen, Pat Patrick, and Robert Cummings filling out the reeds; and, instead of the more usual trumpets on top, there are the trombonists, Teddy Nance and Ali Hasan, who give the ensemble sections are darker, mellower tone while also being strong soloists in their own right. My only complaint is the interminable drum solos—why, oh why, did Sun Ra indulge Jarvis so? It’s not that I have anything against drum solos per se (although I generally think they’re a bad idea); it’s just that Jarvis always just plays a bunch of flashy bullshit. Excuse my language, but it’s the most appropriate term. Every time he goes off like that, he abandons the truth of the music for the lie of empty technical displays. Usually, Sonny has to finally cut him mid-paradiddle so as to get things back on track. Left to his own devices, I swear he would go on forever.

But I quibble. Disc two includes almost thirty-five minutes of the evening’s soundcheck/rehearsal featuring two previously unknown compositions: “Nothing Is,” a floating, rhapsodic kind of blues, propelled by Ra’s wandering piano, is sometimes countered by long-toned horns while “Is Is Eternal” sets angular piano chords amidst cascading, rubato rhythms over which the horns heave and sigh in densely orchestrated harmony. Brief solo statements break the surface here and there, but this is very much a through-composed ensemble piece that was, apparently, never performed. Interesting. A leisurely romp through the riff-happy “State Street” follows, featuring dueling bari-saxes in the lead and “The Exotic Forest” concludes the disc in what sounds like a rehearsal but, curiously, applause can be heard at the end. Is it merely tacked on? Who knows? Regardless, College Tour Vol.1 is a most welcome addition to the Sun Ra discography, an essential document from this most fertile period. The Arkestra played five concerts on this tour, all of which were supposedly recorded by ESP-Disk’. Could this mean more volumes will be forthcoming? One can only hope. In the meantime, this will certainly do! Thank you, Kath & Justin!

Playlist Week of 11-27-10

* Biber: The Rosary Sonatas (Manze/Egarr) (Harmonia Mundi 2CD)†
* Vivaldi: Concertos for the Emperor (English Concert/Manze) (Harmonia Mundi SACD)
* Beethoven: Symphony No.1 (Academy of Ancient Music/Hogwood) (L’Oiseau-Lyre CD)
* Takemitsu: I Hear the Water Dreaming (BBC Symphony/Davis) (Deutsche Grammophon CD)
* Takemitsu: Quotation of a Dream (London Sinfonietta/Knussen) (Deutsche Grammophon CD)
* Duke Ellington and John Coltrane (Impulse! CD)
* Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins (Impulse! CD)
* Thelonious Monk: The Complete Blue Note Recordings (d.1-3) (Blue Note 4CD)
* Thelonious Monk: Brilliant Corners (Riverside/OJC CD)
* Thelonious Monk: Alone in San Francisco (Riverside/OJC CD)
* John Coltrane: Ballads (Impulse! CD)
* John Coltrane: Coltrane (Impulse! CD)
* John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman (Impulse! CD)
* Grant Green: Idle Moments (Blue Note CD)†/‡
* Sun Ra: College Tour, Vol.1: The Complete Nothing Is… (ESP-Disk’ 2CD)
* Sun Ra: The Singles (d.2) (selections) (Evidence 2CD)
* Anthony Braxton Diamond Curtain Wall Trio: Chiostro di Villa d’Este, Tivoli, Italy 7-02-08 (AUD CDR)
* Anthony Braxton Falling River Quartet: Settlement Music School, Philadelphia, PA 10-10-08 (AUD CDR)
* Ches Smith & These Arches: Finally Out of My Hands (Skirl CD)
* Ches Smith & These Arches: Firehouse 12, New Haven, CT 11-19-10 (AUD 2CDR)
* Pharoah Sanders: Message From Home (Verve CD)
* Ethiopiques 4: Ethio Jazz & Musique Instrumentale, 1969-1974 (BudaMusique—France CD)
* Bill Laswell: Hear No Evil (d.1) (Meta 2CD)
* David Torn: Clouds About Mercury (ECM CD)
* Tortoise: It’s All Around You (Thrill Jockey LP)
* Tortoise: Beacons of Ancestorship (Thrill Jockey LP)
* Johnny Cash: The Original Sun Singles ‘55-‘58 (Sun/Sundazed 2LP)
* Johnny Cash: The Fabulous Johnny Cash (Columbia LP)
* Johnny Cash: The Sound of Johnny Cash (Columbia LP)
* Johnny Cash: Orange Blossom Special (Columbia LP)
* Willie Nelson: Phases and Stages (Atlantic LP)
* The Velvet Underground & Nico: The Velvet Underground & Nico (Verve CD)
* Van Morrison: The Healing Game (Polydor CD)
* Van Morrison: Back On Top (Pointblank CD)
* Grateful Dead: Civic Center, Hartford, CT 3-14-81 (AUD 3CDR)
* Grateful Dead: Berkeley Community Theatre, CA 11-03-84 (SBD 3CDR)
* Yes: The Yes Album (Atlantic/Mobile Fidelity CD)
* Yes: Fragile (Atlantic/Mobile Fidelity CD)
* Yes: Close To The Edge (Atlantic/Rhino CD)
* Yes: Tales of Topographic Oceans (Atlantic/Rhino 2CD)
* Yes: Relayer (Atlantic/Rhino CD)
* Yes: Going For the One (Atlantic/Rhino 2CD)
* Genesis: Three Sides Live (Atlantic 2LP)
* Genesis: Invisible Touch (Atlantic LP)
* Peter Gabriel: So (Geffen LP)
* Big Star: Keep An Eye On the Sky (d.1-2) (Ardent/Rhino 4CD) †/‡
* Robert Pollard: Moon: Robert Pollard Live (Merge promo-CD)

†=iPod
‡=car

Commentary:

So what about Yes?

I was never all that big a fan. When I was a kid, I liked “Roundabout” enough to buy the Fragile album—but even then, there were things that bugged me. For instance, “Cans and Brahms,” is a twee synthesizer arrangement of the third movement of Brahms’s Fourth Symphony that sounded cheesy even then. Furthermore, Jon Anderson’s singing is an irritating, high-pitched whine (albeit leavened by meticulous multi-tracking). Even so, the soaring melodies are uplifting and the musicianship first rate. The fantastical, gatefold cover art by Roger Dean combined with all the mythical mystical mumbo jumbo of the lyrics definitely appealed to my pimply, adolescent self; I would doodle alien landscapes in my notebooks at school, scribble over-wrought lyrics to unwritten songs and lamely try to rock-out on the piano. As I got older, King Crimson prevailed as my favorite of all those British Art-Rock bands (Genesis probably comes in second—heck, I even still like to listen to their 80s pop stuff once in a while). Being a jazz snob (and budding Deadhead), I blithely dismissed Yes as purveyors of fey, populist pabulum while still only a teenager. “Owner of a Lonely Heart” didn’t help matters any.

As it turns out, my good friend (and drummer extraordinaire), Sam Byrd, was way into Yes in his younger days and saw the band many times during their ‘Seventies prime. I consider Sam of consummate good taste and erudition—he has an encyclopedic knowledge of jazz and popular music and a most discriminating palate. We don’t always agree, but I’m always interested in his perspective—and I am always open to having my mind changed. The last time I saw him, he revealed to me that Yes had meant as much to him as the Grateful Dead had meant to me in my youth. Now, that’s saying something! Later, while talking about all this with another friend whose aesthetic I admire, he informed me that Going for the One was one of his favorite albums and that he, too, had seen Yes in concert a bunch of times during that era. These admissions made me reconsider my long-held bias against these prog-rock titans whom I had blithely dismissed. So, over this past summer and fall I’ve gone back and listened with new ears.

They were nothing if not over-ambitious, at least in their heyday, attempting to fuse classical music’s technical processes and instrumental prowess with rock music’s brawn and beat. They were not always successful. While there are many moments of fleeting brilliance on the sprawling, Tales From Topographic Oceans (1973), it is, in the end, an overwrought, bloated mess, its handful of leitmotifs and quasi-cosmic libretto spread impossibly thin across the album’s ninety-plus minutes. No other rock band—not even the mighty Crimson—has attempted anything so outlandish: a work of truly symphonic breadth and scope. It was even too much for über-pretentious keyboardist, Rick Wakeman, who quit the band after the lengthy tour that followed. Nevertheless, the three preceding albums, The Yes Album (1971), Fragile (1971), and Close To The Edge (1972), are imminently satisfying, despite an occasional misstep here and there (e.g. the aforementioned “Cans and Brahms” or Steve Howe’s incongruous ragtime-acoustic-guitar escapade, “The Clap,” which mars the otherwise impeccable Yes Album). The young Bill Bruford’s propulsive, polyrhythmic drumming buoys the sometimes ponderous material while Chris Squire’s monster-toned bass anchors the most wayward chord changes with a surprising melodic wit. They were quite a rhythm section, allowing Howe and Wakeman to take flight while giving weight and heft to Anderson’s most ludicrious lyrical conceits. Close To the Edge is their most fully-realized album consisting of two of their most musically coherent epics capped by the majestic tour de force, “Siberian Khatru.” But I still think “Roundabout” is the best thing they ever did: an FM-radio hit that combined the procedures and techniques of classical training with the muscular power of hard rock in a way that still sounds uniquely inventive and fresh. It hardly matters that Anderson’s lyrics make no sense; the overall effect is exhilarating, even all these years later. Nothing else they did ever achieved such heights of perfection.

Alan White replaced Bruford on Tales From Topographic Oceans, and he seemed an odd fit, coming from a more straight-ahead rock background (notably, John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band); but he gamely jumps into the thicket of odd meters and criss-crossing themes, forcefully stepping out on side three’s “The Ancient/Giants Under the Sun,” probably my favorite of the four, side-long long suites. But I doubt even Bruford’s natural exuberance could have rescued this plodding beast of a record. Relayer (1974) was something else altogether: Wakeman is replaced by the flamboyant Patrick Moraz, who gives it a refreshing jazz-rock-fusion feel. “The Gates of Delirium” is another twenty-minute opus yet it benefits greatly from a looser, more improvisational approach and White sounds more at home on the less self-consciously convoluted material. Howe’s kaleidoscopic guitar tones are particularly impressive throughout the album, especially on the fusion-y workout, “Sound Chaser,” which sounds like Led Zeppelin covering the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Wakeman rejoined the band for Going for the One (1977) and it is viewed by some as a return to form, with a focus on shorter songs, tighter constructions, and big, catchy hooks. Certainly, “Wonderous Stories” is one of the prettiest things they ever recorded and the ethereal, fourteen-minute “Awaken” comes close to recapturing their old glory. Although Going For The One topped the album charts in 1977, over the intervening years the musical landscape had radically shifted. With punk rock and “New Wave” newly ascendant, Yes would, unfairly or not, come to epitomize the overblown pomposity of progressive rock. Things would never be the same. Various bandmembers came and went, and, in 1983, Trevor Rabin produced “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” which, while an international hit, was Yes in name only.

Yes sold zillions of LPs back in the day, and they are fixtures of used bins everywhere. However, like Led Zeppelin records, finding one is good condition is almost impossible. People not only bought them, they listened to them, over and over and over, while fondling the jackets and scrutinizing the inner sleeves. By now they are almost always completely trashed—even clean-looking vinyl can sound noisy and distorted. I finally gave up looking and have settled on compact discs. Thankfully, Mobile Fidelity has worked their magic on The Yes Album and Fragile, proving once again that redbook CD can sound stupendous if done right. The 2003 Rhino editions feature related bonus tracks and nice packaging, but the sound quality is overly-compressed and flat by comparison. Friday Music’s recent reissue of Relayer is extremely disappointing: while the beautiful gatefold cover is lovingly reproduced and the 180-gram vinyl is flat and quiet, it sounds identical to the 2003 CD—that is to say, not so great. What a wasted opportunity! I wish Mobile Fidelity would continue with the series; Close to the Edge definitely deserves such deluxe treatment. And, who knows? Perhaps a MoFi edition of Tales From Topographic Oceans would change my mind on that one.

First Fire in the Fireplace

Fire!, originally uploaded by Rodger Coleman.

The arrival of cold weather has prompted the first fire of the season. Building a fire in the fireplace is my favorite thing about winter, so warm and cozy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin Pie!, originally uploaded by Rodger Coleman.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday; it's all about food--and being thankful for life's blessings. I am most thankful for my beautiful wife, Liz, and our wonderful life together. I hope you all have great holiday!

Sun Ra Sunday

TO OUTER UNSEEN WORLDS

Come my brother, you are dear to me
I will take you to new worlds
Greater in splendor than anything earth possesses.
If you are fearful, you are of the futile persuasion
If you are strong, you will be as I
I am nothing
My symbol is the name of nothing
And yet I speak as the living pattern
For the spirit.
The spirit is as I
Nothing can withstand my will
I cover the earth
And hold it like a ball in my hand
I can dash it to bits if I will
Or with the power of many forces
I can take it in seconds
To another galaxy
And set it gently in another place.

--Sun Ra

Playlist Week of 11-20-10

* Vivaldi: “Manchester” Sonatas (Romanesca) (Harmonia Mundi 2CD)
* Venice Baroque Orchestra (Marcon/Carmignola): Concerto Italiano (Archiv Produktion CD)
* Boulez: The Three Piano Sonatas (Jumppanen) (Deutsche Grammophon 20/21 CD)
* Louis Armstrong: Hot Fives and Sevens, Vol.1 (JSP CD)
* John Coltrane: The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings (Impulse! 4CD)
* Sun Ra: Pathways to Unknown Worlds + Friendly Love (Evidence CD)
* Sun Ra: The Singles (d.2) (selections) (Evidence 2CD)
* Henry Threadgill’s Zooid: This Brings Us To, Vol.1 (Pi CD)
* Henry Threadgill’s Zooid: This Brings Us To, Vol.2 (Pi CD)
* Myra Melford’s Trio M: Old Custom House, Tampere, Finland 10-31-09 (FM CDR)
* Myra Melford’s The Same River Twice: Willisau, Switzerland 9-03-95 (FM CDR)
* Scanner with The Post Modern Jazz Quartet: Blink of an Eye (Thirsty Ear CD)
* The Beatles: The Beatles (a/k/a The White Album) (2009 mono) (Apple/EMI 2CD)
* The Beatles: Let It Be (2009) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: Abbey Road (2009) (Apple/EMI CD)
* Grateful Dead: Road Trips Vol.4, No.1: Big Rock Pow-Wow ’69 (GDP/Rhino 3CD)
* Grateful Dead: Formerly The Warlocks (Hampton, VA Oct. 1989) (selections) (GDP/Rhino 6CD) †/‡
* Van Morrison: Days Like This (Polydor CD)
* Emmylou Harris: Wrecking Ball (Warner Bros. CD) †/‡
* Tom Waits: Glitter and Doom (Live) (Anti 2LP)
* Yes: Tales From Topographic Oceans (Atlantic/Rhino 2CD)
* Yes: Relayer (Atlantic/Rhino CD)
* Yes: Going for the One (Atlantic/Rhino CD)
* Genesis: Abacab (Atlantic LP)
* Genesis: Genesis (Atlantic LP)
* Robyn Hitchcock: Eye (Expanded Edition) (Yep Roc CD)
* Robyn Hitchcock: While Thatcher Mauled Britain (Yep Roc 2CD)
* Buckethead: Colma (CyberOctave CD)†/‡

†=iPod
‡=car

Commentary:

Great googly-moogly, it’s another Grateful Dead Road Trips—just in time for the holidays! This time we go back to May 1969, to the “Big Rock Pow Wow” held on the Seminole Indian Reservation in Hollywood, Florida. In March, Jim Morrison had been arrested on obscenity charges in Miami after the infamous Doors concert wherein he allegedly “exposed himself” to the audience. Accordingly, rock concerts were cancelled en masse, particularly in Florida, where the Dead were scheduled to play at the “Expanded Spiritual Music Concert” over Easter weekend. A typically hippie solution was found via connections with the Indian chiefs at the nearby reservation, where neither local police nor federal agents had any jurisdiction. A three-day festival was scheduled, headlined by the Grateful Dead on the first two nights. Being “The Sunshine State,” there were multi-gallon jugs of free orange juice available backstage and, given the presence of not only Timothy Leary but also Owsley “Bear” Stanley (who ran the Dead’s soundboard and made this recording)—not mention the total absence of cops—you can imagine what happened next.

It was a different era, that’s for sure. To be honest, this kind of super-intense, teeth-grindingly psychedelic stuff is not really my favorite. I know that makes me a bad (or at least suspect) Deadhead, but I just can’t get beyond the atrocious intonation of the guitars and weirdly affected singing style—but, moreover, the severely constricted repertoire gets old for me fast. And here we have two takes of “Turn On Your Lovelight” totaling more than an hour and it is just a bit too much of a (sort of) good thing. One Internet wag accused Pigpen’s blues stylings as being near to “blackface minstrelsy” and, while that is perhaps going (way) too far, I have to admit that the schtick can wear a little thin. Nevertheless, the “Dark Star>St. Stephen>The Eleven” sequence features some sublime playing and there is a taste of what was to come with a touching rendition of the traditional folk song, “He Was a Friend of Mine” that has an authentic country & western flavor. Even so, I doubt I’ll be pulling this off the shelf very often. Of course, your mileage may vary. Only available from dead.net.

Movement

Movement 01 , originally uploaded by Rodger Coleman.

Happy Birthday to Us!

Birthday Cake, originally uploaded by Rodger Coleman.

You say it’s your birthday
It’s my birthday too—yeah
They say it’s your birthday
We’re gonna have a good time
I’m glad it’s your birthday
Happy birthday to you!

-- “Birthday” (Lennon/McCartney)

One of the many wonderful, amazing things about my wife, Elizabeth, is that we have the same birthday. Today, we cumulatively celebrate our eighty-ninth birthday. Pretty fun, right? Happy birthday, sweetie!!

Sun Ra Sunday

Sun Ra & His Astro Infinity Arkestra: Pathways to Unknown Worlds + Friendly Love (Evidence CD)

Pathways to Unknown Worlds was released by Impulse! in 1975 but was soon deleted along with the rest of the catalog licensed from El Saturn Records. That meant literally cutting off the corners of the jackets and dumping the remaining stock below wholesale, thereby cutting off Sun Ra from any royalties that would have otherwise been due (see Szwed p.333). For a brief period in the mid-1970s, Sun Ra records could be found in the sale bins of mom-and-pop record stores across America, but they quickly disappeared for good and, by the end of the end of the decade, had become rare, expensive collectables. It wasn’t until the Evidence label began reissuing Sun Ra’s music on compact disc in the early-1990s that Ra’s most obscure discography was again readily available. In 2000, Evidence concluded their reissue campaign with the resurrection of two Great Lost Sun Ra Albums recorded for Impulse! which were originally conceived as part of a proposed trilogy that would have progressed from earthy blues of Cymbals (AS-9296) through the hyper-modern jazz of Crystal Spears (AS-9297) and on to the improvised outer-space music of Pathways to Unknown Worlds (AS-9298) (see Campbell & Trent pp.194-196).

Shorn from its intended context, Pathways to Unknown Worlds must have appeared a puzzling artifact for the very few people who heard it back in 1975. Mixed to primitive Quadrophonic Sound, almost no one owned the expensive Sansui QS decoder and extra pair of speakers required—and those who did probably wondered why it was being deployed for a mere twenty-seven minutes of skronky free-jazz-noise (even so, I would be very interested in hearing these original “surround sound” mixes!). In 2000, Evidence remixed the album to stereo from the multitrack tapes and, in the process, discovered an additional (untitled) track that was omitted from the original LP, expanding it to a (slightly) more reasonable thirty-four minutes of music.

The pieces on Pathways to Unknown Worlds are all “guided improvisations,” with Sun Ra directing the flow of music from his bank of electric keyboards. Ronnie Boykins is back, anchoring the proceedings with his rock-solid bass, accompanied by the indomitable Clifford Jarvis on drums, who plays with admirable restraint here. This was by far the most fluent and supple rhythm section Ra would ever enjoy (sadly, it was intermittent at best and ultimately short lived). Joined by a full complement of horn players, this was an Arkestra particularly sensitized to Ra’s vision and well suited to realize his most exploratory music.

A blow-by-blow description seems rather pointless; I can only say that the music is a model of tightly controlled chaos and this album stands with the best of that lineage of long form improvisations, like Magic City and Other Planes of There. Sun Ra disdained the excesses of the “free jazz” scene and his group improvisations are as thoughtfully constructed as any of his written compositions, full of startling dynamic contrasts and unusual instrumental textures, fueled by his own endlessly inventive approach to electronic keyboards. Kwami Hadi is present on trumpet joined by Akh Tal Ebah on mellophone (a cross between a trumpet and a French horn), making it possible to really compare them side-by-side. Sometimes, Ebah shoves a contrabassoon reed into the mouthpiece to create the “Space dimension mellophone,” rendering an earth-shattering blast of sound akin to the Neputunian libflecto (a bassoon with either a French horn or alto saxophone mouthpiece attached).

Eloe Omoe is given especially prominent solo space throughout the album, allowing an opportunity to fully appreciate his richly expressionist bass clarinet in a variety of settings. Omoe’s story is interesting: born Leroy Taylor (1949-1989), he was a member of a Chicago street gang until 1970, when Sun Ra took him in and changed his name (see Szwed p.280). While his frantic overblowing shtick was a constant feature of the Arkestra’s live gigs during this period, he was, in fact, a gifted auto-didact, and his playing here shows a remarkable versatility.

John Gilmore comes through with one of his typically mind-melting tenor saxophone solos on “Cosmo Media,” but this album isn’t about individual soloists or group freakouts. The Arkestra is literally Sun Ra’s living instrument, their highly individualistic voices subordinated to his stringent yet benevolent command. Accordingly, this music cannot be said to be freely improvised; it is rather composed by Sun Ra in the moment of its realization. If anything, Boykins is the star of the show, the glue that holds it all together; there is hardly a moment where he is not furiously thrumming or bowing away with astounding facility and invention. Yet Pathways to Unknown Worlds is also not merely a concerto for bass; it is a thoroughly ensemble conception, with the whole being much more than the sum of its parts—hence the pointlessness of a detailed description. Together with The Great Lost Albums, these are some of the crowning achievements of Sun Ra’s long recording career and need to be heard to be believed.

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Four more LPs were recorded by Saturn and offered to Impulse! as part of the proposed licensing deal, but were rejected. Across the Border of Time (Saturn 576), Flight to Mars (Saturn 547) and Tone Poem (Saturn 672) were never released, although Prof. Campbell has speculated that tracks from some of these records were cannibalized for later Saturn releases, such as the ultra-rare Song of the Stargazers (Saturn 487) (see Campbell & Trent pp.196, 270-271). However, while preparing these Evidence CDs, the two-track reel-to-reel tapes containing the long-lost Friendly Love (Saturn 565) were found in a box and issued for the first time, appended to Pathways to Unknown Worlds.

Unfortunately, Boykins is once again absent but the laconic Harry Richards returns on drums along with Atakatune (Stanley Morgan) on congas and they provide a relaxed, contemplative rhythmic feel throughout. Lacking formal titles, the album is presented as a suite in four parts, and while Prof. Campbell suggests in his liner notes that these are all guided improvisations, I’m not so sure: Sonny’s organ often seems to be outlining pre-ordained chord sequences and parts one and four settle into the kind of dreamy, modal grooves that were a hallmark of Sun Ra’s compositions during this period—in fact, the horns play a repeating, five-note figure towards the end of the suite that was obviously written out and harmonized. It may be possible the Arkestra was merely “jamming out” on this date, but I kind of doubt it. In any event, the soloists are exceptional: Hadi and Ebah each deliver delightfully contrasting brass excursions and Danny Davis is featured throughout on alto saxophone. Danny Ray Thompson even coaxes some surprisingly tender melodies from the unwieldy Neptunian libfliecto. But Gilmour’s tenor sax solo on part four is the real standout, an especially soulful, bluesy meditation seasoned with astonishing extended techniques and punctuated with pregnant silences. Yes, it’s another incredible John Gilmour solo. Get used to it!

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Exact dates and locations for all these recordings are unknown, but Prof. Campbell’s research indicates they were likely made in early-to-mid-1973 at Variety Recording Studios in New York City (and I have no reason to doubt him):

As on so many recordings done for Saturn, the mythical “El Saturn Studio” in Chicago is given as the location on the Impulse jacket. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, it’s wisest to assume that [Sun Ra’s] studio recordings during the 1970s were made at Variety (and if [James] Jacson, who was living in New York City and often not touring with the band, is really present, that would make Variety even more likely [since he had connections there]). (Campbell & Trent, p.196)

Clearly, Sonny had high hopes for the Impulse! deal and spent much of 1973 in the studio, going so far as to prepare a handful of seven-inch singles for the El Saturn label. Indeed, with the release and widespread distribution of the brilliant Astro Black and the reissue of a number of classic Saturn LPs, Sun Ra’s fortunes were looking up: the Arkestra would make its triumphant return to Carnegie Hall in July, in a concert recorded and broadcast by Voice of America, and the fall tour of Europe was, by any measure, an unqualified success. It wasn’t until 1975 that things fell apart with Impulse! and Sun Ra returned to the “sub-underground.” Nevertheless, his reputation was firmly established amongst the hip-jazz cognoscenti and new records would continue to pour forth from Saturn and various independent labels, like breadcrumbs on an intergalactic space trail. His music was treated with near-reverential respect abroad and foreign sojourns would become constants of the Arkestra’s life, grueling itineraries that barely managed to provide a modicum of financial security for the band.

Meanwhile, back home, “The New Thing” fad gave way to slick, commercial fusion by the late-1970s and the band worked where and when it could, crisscrossing the country playing dingy nightclubs, outdoor jazz festivals, and any colleges or universities that would have them. For the most part, Sun Ra’s music was met with indifference or, at best, a bemused skepticism—and in some quarters, he provoked outright hostility, summarily dismissed as charlatan, a fake. By the 1980s, with much of the discography long out of print and/or impossible to find, Sun Ra’s music was shrouded in mystery, his live show an anachronistic circus act, wildly out of step with the neo-conservative times exemplified by Wynton Marsalis and his ilk.

Thankfully, the invention of the compact disc has since allowed Sonny’s vast output of incredibly obscure recordings to be heard once again. Moreover, the rediscovery of these “lost” albums offer profound insight into Sun Ra’s unique musical genius in its full flowering, at its most ambitious. Hopeful of a better world realizable in sound, Sun Ra sincerely thought he could change the world, and in some not-so-small ways, he did. These albums are essential documents of one of the Twentieth Century’s most widely misunderstood and underappreciated masters.

Playlist Week of 11-13-10

* Veracini: Sonatas (Holloway/Mortensen/ter Linden) (ECM CD)
* Geminiani: Cello Sonatas, Op.5 (ter Linden/Mortensen) (Brilliant Classics CD)
* Handel: Trio Sonatas, Op.2 & 5 (Academy of Ancient Music/Egarr) (Harmonia Mundi 2CD)†
* Venice Baroque Orchestra (Marcon/Carmignola): Concerto Veneziano (Archiv Produktion CD)
* Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe (Boston Symphony/NEC Chorus/Munch) (RCA-Victor CD)
* Charles Mingus: The Great Concert of Charles Mingus (Paris 4-19-64) (Verve 2CD)
* Sun Ra: Pathways to Unknown Worlds/Friendly Love (Evidence CD)
* John Coltrane: The Complete Africa Brass Sessions (Impulse! 2CD)
* John Coltrane: Impressions (Impulse! CD)
* Anthony Braxton Large Ensemble: Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 5-08-08 (AUD CDR)
* Anthony Braxton Septet: Hursaal Chamber Hall, San Sebastián, Spain 7-25-08 (FM CDR)
* Anthony Braxton Quartet: Opéra Théâtre de Besançon, France 6-27-08 (AUD CDR)
* Anthony Braxton: Quartet (Moscow) 2008 (Leo CD)
* Mary Halvorson Quintet: Saturn Sings (Firehouse 12 CD)
* Tom Rainey Trio: Pool School (Clean Feed CD)
* The Beatles: Please Please Me (2009 mono) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: With The Beatles (2009 mono) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night (2009 mono) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: Beatles For Sale (2009 mono) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: Beatles For Sale (2009 stereo) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: Help! (2009 mono) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: Rubber Soul (2009 mono) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: Rubber Soul (1965 (2009) stereo) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: Rubber Soul (1987 (2009) stereo) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: Rubber Soul (U.S. stereo) (Capitol CD)
* The Beatles: Revolver (2009 mono) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: Revolver (2009 stereo) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (2009 mono) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour (2009 mono) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: Mono Masters (Apple/EMI 2CD)
* Grateful Dead: Oklahoma City Music Hall, Oklahoma City, OK 11-15-72 (SBD 3CDR)
* Grateful Dead: Go To Nassau (GDP/Arista 2CD) †/‡
* Van Morrison: A Night in San Fracisco (Polydor 2CD)
* Lucinda Williams: Live @ The Fillmore (Lost Highway 2CD)†/‡
* Yes: The Yes Album (Atlantic/Mobile Fidelity CD)
* Yes: Fragile (Atlantic/ Mobile Fidelity CD)
* Yes: Close To The Edge (Atlantic/Rhino CD)
* Genesis: Duke (Atlantic LP)
* Robert Pollard: We All Got Out of the Army (GBV, Inc. CD) †/‡
* Robert Pollard: Moses on a Snail (GBV, Inc. CD) †/‡
* Boston Spaceships: Our Cubehouse Still Rocks (GBV, Inc. CD) †/‡

†=iPod
‡=car

Commentary:

A year later, The Beatles remasters continue to astound me. The mono box is just awesome, from its jewel-like packaging to the audiophile sound quality. Yes, standard Redbook CDs can sound good—if you try! I tend to prefer the mono mixes in general, but some of the stereo remasters are truly revelatory, particularly Beatles For Sale. The vocals are amazingly lifelike and the stereo effect actually manages to achieve an exquisite three-dimensional ambience surrounding the chiming acoustic and electric guitars. This was an album I had mostly overlooked, but it has since become one of my favorites—especially in stereo.

Rubber Soul is perhaps the most problematic album of them all, with no fewer than four different versions to choose from. The mono mix is, of course, the most cohesive whereas the original 1965 stereo mix is a murky mess. In 1987, George Martin remixed the album for compact disc and that is the version that is used on the new remaster. Sadly, Sir George utilized primitive digital tape for his mixdown and while the remaster certainly improves on the original CD, the high frequencies still suffer from a grainy hardness that is grating on the ear. Oh, and then there is the “butchered” version of Rubber Soul released by Capitol in the United States, with some songs were added while others deleted and the whole thing slathered with an extra bath of reverb. As a Yank, I grew up with this version and, for me, the U.S. sequence nicely emphasizes the new folk-rock aspect of their songwriting during this period, making it in some ways my favorite version—even in yucky hard-panned stereo. Heresy, I know!

Revolver is more of a toss-up: the mono is, as usual, just exactly perfect, yet the stereo remaster sounds great too, with a vivid, Technicolor presentation. But when it comes to Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour, the mono mixes are where it’s at; they are very, very different from the stereo versions, meticulously constructed for maximum psychedelic impact. As John Lennon insisted, “you haven’t heard Pepper until you’ve heard it in mono.”

Not to quibble, but I do wish they had included all the relevant singles on each canonical album instead of relegating them to a separate set of discs. Yeah, sure, I understand why they wanted to preserve the integrity of the original albums, blah blah blah—but it still seems kind of chintzy when most of them are barely thirty-five minutes long and the singles are so integral to their epoch. Oh well, it seems ridiculous to complain; the folks at Abbey Road did a spectacular job in delivering the definitive edition of The Beatles catalog. Rumor has it a vinyl edition is forthcoming. We’ll see if they lavish the same kind of care and attention to detail on these as they did with the CDs, which are impeccable. If the LPs are mastered from the high-resolution digital files (and the plating and pressing is of good quality), they could sound quite stunning.

What is it about The Beatles that makes their music so timelessly enjoyable? I don’t know. But I do know one thing from listening to a whole bunch of bootlegs over the years: they worked exceedingly hard to achieve this kind of perfection. They spent hours and hours making zillions of re-takes and they always just chose the right one, the one where the spark caught fire and magic happened. It is, I think, this sense of craftsmanship that enables these songs—these specific recordings—to appeal to a broad swath of humanity and stand up to near-infinite hearings.

Now, how about a definitive edition of the uproariously funny (and incredibly strange) fan-club Christmas messages? ‘Tis the season and all…Heh heh…I’m not going to hold my breath on that one.