Playlist Week of 2016-01-23

* Boulez: Répons, etc. (Enemble InterContemporain/Boulez) (DG CD)

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

* John Abercrombie: Timeless (ECM LP)

* John Abercrombie/Dave Holland/Jack DeJohnette: Gateway (ECM LP)

* Terje Rypdal/Miroslav Vitous/Jack DeJohnette (ECM LP)

* Mary Halvorson Octet: I-Beam, Brooklyn, NY 2015-12-14 (AUD WAV)

* Kris Davis: Massive Threads (Thirsty Ear CD)

* Rodger Coleman & Sam Byrd: Perihelion (master) (WAV)

* Rodger Coleman: Portland Brew 12 South, Nashville, TN 2016-01-20 (AUD WAV)

* Tangerine Dream: Alpha Centauri/Atem (Brain 2LP)

* Tangerine Dream: Tangents 1973-1983 (d.4-5) (Virgin 5CD)

* Klaus Schulze: Live (Brain 2LP)

* Soft Machine: Triple Echo (Harvest 3LP)

* Steve Roach: Structures from Silence (Fortuna CD)

* Steve Roach & Robert Rich: Soma (Hearts of Space CD)

* Robert Rich: Seven Veils (Hearts of Space CD)

* David Sylvian: Gone To Earth (Virgin 2LP)

* Porcupine Tree: Stars Die: The Delirium Years 1991-1997 (KScope 2CD)

* Earth: The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Head (Southern Lord 2LP)

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

* Ryley Walker: All Kinds of You (Tompkins Square LP)

†=iPod/iTunes

‡=car

Commentary:

Although the day started out snowy and awful, the weather cleared up enough to make it downtown for the gig on Wednesday night. I was more than a little anxious about whether or not I could pull off a solo guitar set -- but it went even better than I could have possibly expected.

Aside from a minor technical glitch which forced me to re-start the second piece, things went smoothly and  I found myself "in the zone" (or "that other, better world") and was amazed at the end to discover that I had easily filled up my allotted time. And, by the time my set was over, the place was pretty well packed with attentive and appreciative listeners, with some folks even coming up to me to compliment my performance. One dude told me, "Man, that's the most creative music I've ever heard played on a Paul Reed Smith guitar!" Haha. I will take that as a compliment here in Guitar Town!

It was delightful to see Susan Alcorn again and her set was, of course, utterly sublime, including an impromptu tribute to the late Paul Bley.  I was truly honored to be sharing the stage with such an amazing musician and her kind, effusive words regarding my music were sincere and deeply inspiring. I do not pretend to be at her level -- but I am encouraged to just keep doing my thing.

Then, to top it all off, Carissa Stolting posted photographs and wrote a fantastically poetical review at the Left Bank blog which, honestly, took my breath away. It is so unbelievably gratifying to know that my music had an effect on someone. Go read the whole thing; it's wonderful! But this line made me laugh out loud: "Coleman for sonic president: let no sound go unemployed!" Right on.

Thanks again to FMRL and Portland Brew 12 South for making this (and so many other wonderful events) happen.

You can hear an audience recording of my set on SoundCloud. Please let me know what you think!