Playlist Week of 2014-02-22

* Alegrias del Imbabura Vol.3: Conjunto Indigena Folklórico Indoamerica (Colossal LP)

* Messiaen: Des Canyons Aux Etoiles (Orc. Phil. Radio France/Chung) (DG 2CD)

* Sonny Clark Trio: The 45 Sessions (Blue Note CD)

* Grant Green: Idle Moments (Blue Note CD)

* Phoarah Sanders: Deaf Dumb Blind (Impulse! CD)

* Pharoah Sanders: Thembi (Impulse! CD)

* Dave Holland: Prism (Dare2 CD)

* Anthony Braxton & Gerry Hemingway: Old Dogs (2007) (d.1) (Mode/Avant 4CD)

* J. Morris/A. Fernandez/N. Wooley: From The Discrete To The Particular (Relative Pitch CD)

* Mary Halvorson/Michael Formanek/Tomas Fujiwara: Thumbscrew (Cuneiform CD)

* Ingrid Laubrock/Liam Noble/Tom Rainey: Sleepthief (Intakt CD)

* Ingrid Laubrock Sleepthief: The Madness Of Crowds (Intakt CD)

* Ingrid Laubrock & Tom Rainey: And Other Desert Towns (Relative Pitch CD)

* Kris Davis: Massive Threads (Thirsty Ear CD)

* Rodger Coleman & Andrew Dickson: Heeltop Home Studio 2013-02-21 (WAV)

* Possession + African Dub: Off World One (Sub Meta CD)

* Daft Punk: Random Access Memories (Columbia CD)

* Shelby Lynne: Just A Little Lovin’ (Lost Highway CD)

* Grateful Dead: Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA 1981-09-12 (selections) (AUD CDR)

* Van Morrison: Beautiful Vision (Warner Bros. CD)

* Van Morrison: Inarticulate Speech Of The Heart (Warner Bros. CD)

* Van Morrison: Common One (Warner Bros. CD)

* Toto: IV (Columbia LP)

* Queens of the Stone Age: …Like Clockwork (Matador 2-45PM LP)

* Opeth: The Candlelight Years (Candlelight 3CD)

* Opeth: Heritage (Roadrunner CD+DVD)

* Boards of Canada: Trans Canada Highway (Warp EP)

* Zombi: Cosmos (Relapse 2-45RPM LP)

* Zombi: Surface To Air (Relapse LP)

* Zombi: Spirit Animal (Relapse 2LP)

* The Sword: Warp Riders (Kemado LP)

* The Sword: Apocryphon (Razor & Tie LP)

* Verma: Colma (Trouble In Mind LP)

* Destruction Unit: Deep Trip (Sacred Bones LP)

†=iPod/iTunes

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Commentary:

I apologize for the lack of content on the blog these days. I just haven't been able to focus on writing ever since I renovated my home studio. Let me tell you: playing and recording music is WAY more fun than trying to write about it! Nevertheless, I do hope to get back to it in some fashion as the year progresses.

On Friday, I got together with local drummer Andrew Dickson for a session. Now, I hadn't seen Andrew since way back in 2005, when we he last came over to jam in the old studio. In the intervening years, he turned pro, playing with Hillbilly Casino, Dale Watson, Andy Gibson and Jason Michael Carroll, touring the world and making records. Way to be, Andrew!  I'm not surprised, really, since he is an extraordinarily gifted drummer and terrific guy to boot. It was such a blast to see him again and make some music and we're looking forward to working on some projects in the future. Hell, I might even strap on the electric guitar and rock out a bit!

Work on the vinyl LP with Sam Byrd continues. I want it to be really special, so I'm taking my time. My nephew has taught me some me new tricks with Pro Tools and the latest round of mix-downs are sounding really sweet. Nevertheless, I want to make sure it sounds just exactly perfect before we progress to the mastering stage.

Speaking of which, Universal Audio just released a firmware update to my Apollo interface which includes a FREE plugin: their new emulation of the famed 610-B tube preamp. Wow! Man, you gotta love UA. Not only is their hardware/software first rate, they continually give back to their customers with discounts, cash coupons and totally free plugins. The coolest part of the new 610-B plugin is UA's "Unison" technology, which allows it to interact directly with the Apollo's microphone preamps, turning it into a virtual vintage tube console from the 1960s. Totally rad! Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to try that out during my session with Andrew but inserting the effect into the line-level tracks immediately imparted a deliciously warm, analog vibe. Yum! I might have to sprinkle some of this fairy dust on the forthcoming LP.

I'll keep you posted.

+++

SHAMELESS PLUG DEPT.

Interested in this music? Please visit my website, nuvoidjazz.com. You can download Rodger Coleman & Sam Byrd: "Indeterminate (Improvisations for Piano and Drums)" on iTunes or purchase the deluxe CD by clicking the link below. Thank you for your interest and support!

Playlist Week of 2014-02-15

* J.S. Bach: 7 Harpsichord Concertos (AAM/Manze/Egarr) (Harmonia Mundi 2CD)

* Ornette Coleman Trio: At “The Golden Circle” Stockholm Vol.1 (Blue Note CD)

* Ornette Coleman Trio: At “The Golden Circle” Stockholm Vol.2 (Blue Note CD)

* Ornette Coleman: Free Jazz (Atlantic CD)

* Ornette Coleman: Dancing In Your Head (A&M CD)

* Anthony Braxton: The Complete Arista Recordings (selections) (Mosaic 8CD)

* Circle: Paris-Concert (ECM 2CD)

* Return To Forever: Romantic Warrior (Columbia LP)

* Return To Forever: Musicmagic (Columbia LP)

* Jan Garbarek: Places (ECM LP)

* Jan Garbarek Group: Photo With Blue Sky, White Cloud…(ECM LP)

* The Eleventh House Featuring Larry Coryell: Aspects (Arista LP)

* Bennie Maupin: Moonscapes (Mercury LP)

* DJ Spooky: Celestial Mechanics: The Blue Series MasterMix (Thirsty Ear 2CD)

* Rodger Coleman & Sam Byrd: [Untitled] (WAV)

* Iasos: Celestial Soul Portrait (Numero 2LP)

* William Onyeabor: Who Is William Onyeabor? (Luaka Bop 2LP)†

* Tim Maia: Nobody Can Live Forever: The Existential Soul of Tim Maia (Luaka Bop 2LP)

* George Duke: Master Of The Game (Epic LP)

* Mandrill: Mandrill (Polydor LP)

* Grateful Dead: Rainbow Theatre, London, England 1981-10-03 (selections) (SBD 3CDR)

* Bob Weir & Rob Wasserman/Jerry Garcia Band: The Long Island Sound ‘89 (sel.) (ATO 6HDCD)

* Edgar Froese: Macula Transfer (Brain LP)

* Automatic Man: Automatic Man (Island LP)

* Swell Maps: In “Jane From Occupied Europe” (Expanded Edition) (Munster 2LP)

* Chrome: Half Machine From The Sun: The Lost Tapes From ’79-’80 (King of Spades 2LP)

* David Sylvian: Brilliant Trees (Virgin LP)

* The Woodentops: Move Me (Rough Trade EP)

* Guided By Voices: Motivational Jumpsuit (GBV, Inc. LP)

* Lambchop: Nixon (Merge LP+CD)

* Earth: Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light (Southern Lord CD)†

* Earth: Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light II (Southern Lord CD)†

* Sunn O))) & Ulver: Terrestrials (Southern Lord LP/CD)(‡)

* Grails: Burden Of Hope (Neurot/PSM LP)

†=iPod/iTunes

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Commentary:

I got nothing.

Playlist Week of 2014-02-08

* Geminiani: Cello Sonatas, Op.5 (ter Linden/Mortensen) (Brilliant Classics CD)

* Anouar Brahem: Barzakh (ECM CD)

* Sun Ra Arkestra: Live At The Red Garter (Transparency 3CD)

* Sun Ra Arkestra: Public Theatre, New York, NY 1978-05-05 (FM 2CDR)

* Herbie Hancock: Dis Is Da Drum (Mercury CD)

* Herbie Hancock: Future 2 Future (Transparent CD)

* Bob James: One (Columbia LP)

* George Duke: Don’t Let Go (Epic LP)

* Pat Metheny Group: The Falcon And The Snowman OST (EMI LP)

* Steve Tibbetts: A Man About A Horse (ECM CD)

* Ralph Tower: ANA: Solo Guitar (ECM CD)

* David S. Ware Quartets: Live In The World (d.1) (Thirsty Ear 3CD)

* Tim Berne’s Snakeoil: Shadow Man (ECM CD)†

* Tom Rainey Trio: Cornelia St. Café, New York, NY 2013-10-19 (AUD WAV)

* Ingrid Laubrock & Tom Rainey: And Other Desert Towns (Relative Pitch CD)

* Rodger Coleman & Sam Byrd: [Untitled] (WAV)

* Bob Marley & The Wailers: Catch A Fire (Island LP)

* Grateful Dead: Dave’s Picks Vol.9: Missoula, MT 10/19/74 (GDP/Rhino 3HDCD)

* Tangerine Dream: Rubycon (Virgin LP)

* Edgar Froese: Aqua (Virgin LP)

* Genesis: Trespass (Impulse! LP)

* Brand X: Moroccan Roll (Passport LP)

* Perigeo: The Valley Of The Temples (RCA LP)

* Goblin: Suspiria (Cinevox/AMS LP)

* Ghetto Brothers: Power Fuerza (Truth & Soul LP)

* Chrome: Read Only Memory (Siren/Caroline LP)

* Wilco: A.M. (Nonesuch LP)

* Steven Wilson: Grace For Drowning (KScope BD)

* Boards Of Canada: The Campfire Headphase (Warp 2LP)

* Akron/Family: Love Is Simple (Young God 2-45RPM LP)

* Akron/Family: Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free (Dead Oceans 2-45RPM LP)

* Akron/Family: S/T II: The Cosmic Birth And Journey Of Shinju TNT (Dead Oceans 2LP)

* Akron/Family: (Dead Oceans 2-LP)

* Akron/Family: Sub Verses (Dead Oceans 2-45RPM LP)

* Hot Chip: Made In The Dark (EMI LP)

* Hot Chip: Dark And Stormy (EMI EP)

* Broken Bells: After The Disco (Columbia LP)(†/‡)

* Montibus Communitas: Montibus Communitas (Cosmic Eye LP)

* Montibus Communitas: Hacia Aquellos Bosques de Immensidad (Trouble In Mind LP)

†=iPod/iTunes

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Commentary:

Re-remixing.

Sun Ra Sunday

Sun Ra Arkestra: Live At The Red Garter (Transparency 0319) (3CD)

The latest release from the Transparency label presents an expanded version of the Red Garter tape recorded in July 1970 across two CDs along with a third disc containing 82 photographs of the band by Lee Santa—a really nice bonus. The cool thing is that the liner notes are written by the one-and-only Sam Byrd!

The Transparency edition is taken from a slightly better source than the circulating CDR as it is a bit longer and appears to present the music in its proper sequence. Certainly, the sound quality is marginally improved. But make no mistake: this is rough going. Derived from a monophonic amateur recording made from the audience, all the attendant noise, distortion and balance problems remain intact. While the music is great (featuring the great Alan Silva on cello), the sound quality is still pretty dreadful.

Even so, Transparency should be commended for making some of the rarest Sun Ra material available to the masses. And kudos to Sam for his astute liner notes. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: he is the one who should be writing Sun RaSunday! As for me, I am just now trying to get back into it. Stay tuned…