Playlist Week of 2014-09-06

* Ornette Coleman: Skies of America Live, Verona, Italy 1987-06-27 (SBD 2CDR)

* Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto: Getz & Gilberto (Verve CD)

* Cecil Taylor: Jazz Advance (Blue Note CD)

* Alice Coltrane: Journey In Satchidananda (Impulse! CD)

* Alice Coltrane: Ptah The El Daoud (Impulse! CD)

* Dollar Brand: African Space Program (Enja LP)

* Dollar Brand: African Marketplace (Elektra LP)

* Randy Weston: African Cookbook (Atlantic LP)

* Keith Jarrett: Mysteries (ABC/Impulse! LP)

* Bobby Hutcherson: Dialogue (Blue Note CD)

* Eddie Henderson: Sunburst (Blue Note LP)

* Eddie Henderson: Heritage (Blue Note LP)

* Bobbi Humphrey: Blacks And Blues (Blue Note LP)

* Joanne Brackeen: Prism (Choice LP)

* David Sancious: Forest of Feelings (Epic LP)

* Pat Metheny Group: Pat Metheny Group (ECM LP)

* David S. Ware Quartet: Renunciation (AUM Fidelity CD)

* Dawn of Midi: Dysnomia (Thirsty Ear 2LP)

* Michael Hedges: Aerial Boundaries (Windham Hill LP)

* Mandrill: We Are One (Arista LP)

* Vashti Bunyan: Just Another Diamond Day (Dicristina LP)

* David Crosby: If I Could Only Remember My Name (Atlantic/Rhino LP)

* The Free Design: Kites Are Fun (Project 3/Light In The Attic LP)

* Big Star: #1 Record (Ardent/Classic LP)

* Big Star: Radio City (Ardent/Classic LP)

* Dereck Higgins: Murphy (DVH/Bandcamp ALAC) †

* Earth: Primitive And Deadly (Southern Lord 2LP)

* Opeth: Pale Communion (Roadrunner CD/BD/7” box)

* Meshuggah: Catch Thirtythree (Nuclear Blast CD)

* Mastodon: Once More ‘Round The Sun (Reprise 2LP+CD) †

* Sunn O))): 00 Void (Southern Lord CD)

* BORIS & Merzbow: Rock Dream (Southern Lord 2CD)

* YOB: Clearing The Path To Ascend (Relapse 2LP)

* Animal Collective: Centipede Hz (Domino 2LP)

* Locrian: Territories (Bandcamp ALAC) †

* Locrian: Return To Annihilation (Relapse 2LP) †

* Cynic: Kindly Bent To Free Us (Season Of Mist 2LP)

* Liturgy: Renihilation (Thrill Jockey LP)

* Sòlstafir: Óta (Season of Mist 2LP)

* Pallbearer: Foundations of Burden (Profound Lore 2LP)

* Nothing: Guilty of Everything (Relapse LP) †

†=iPod/iTunes

‡=car

Commentary:

Although I have spent a lot and time and effort putting out Cosmologies, I also continue to make music in my home studio—much of it quite different from the free, acoustic jazz found on my recent records with Sam Byrd.

I love electronic music and analog synthesizers, but have never been able to afford the real thing. But I purchased a MIDI keyboard and the Arturia Analog Collection when I set up my studio, which includes digital emulations of classic synths like the MiniMoog and Moog Modular, the ARP 2600,  Yamaha CS-80, Prophet V and Oberheim SEM V. No they don't sound exactly like the originals—but they behave in similar ways, with all the buttons and knobs fully functional. It's easy for me to get lost in a world of sound.

Some of my experiments have been recorded and remain in various stages of completion and I'm contemplating putting together a digital release some time in the future, just for kicks. But whether or not any of this music ever gets heard matters little to me. I feel like a kid in a candy store every time I go into my studio!

I've also been playing a lot of guitar and have some some projects in the works with local drummer, Andrew Dickson. Plus, I'm hoping to get some time in the studio with Sam around Christmas. So while I am extremely proud of Cosmologies, I am also excited about what's coming next.

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Speaking of Cosmologies, VC luminary Dereck Higgins talked about it in one of his recent YouTube videos. Dereck and the rest of the Vinyl Community were a big inspiration for putting this music out on vinyl and I really appreciate the positive response. His remarks about listening and commitment are right on: