Monday, January 9, 2017

Music Week

Music: Current count 27586 [27548] rated (+38), 367 [366] unrated (+1).

Ran through a lot of records last week, including finally dipping into the 2017 release queue, starting with a Randy Weston joint that garnered a couple votes in the 2016 Jazz Critics Poll, then following up with Intakt's January releases and Satoko Fujii's best Orchestra album ever. Along with Run the Jewels (a December 24 digital release but I'm figuring the January 13 CD release to be more official) I already have four A-list albums for 2017. But most of the albums listed below are 2016 releases recommended by various EOY lists, whatever I could find that tickled my fancy. Good hip-hop week. Of the HMs, the one that tempted me most was by the Klezmatics.

I should note that Nat Hentoff died last week, at 91. I met him once back in the 1970s, and at the time thought of him mostly as a political columnist rather obsessed with defending free speech. Since then I've gotten an inkling of his deep commitment to jazz. It says something that the two jazz musicians I most closely link to him are Ruby Braff and Cecil Taylor -- he was a huge critical fan of both. Here's an obit from Evan Haga. Probably much more out there.

I'm more or less caught up with the EOY Aggregate file, but will probably keep adding stragglers and late finds of personal interest. One surprise at this point is that margins for two pair of high slots are currently down to one vote: Beyonce 389-388 in 2nd over Frank Ocean, and A Tribe Called Quest 298-297 in 6th over Nick Cave. Highest tie at present is 89-89 between Avalanches and Iggy Pop for 28th place.

Link to share: Can't Slow Down: Michaelangelo Matos' "notes toward a history of the pop world of 1984."

New records rated this week:

  • 21 Savage/Metro Boomin: Savage Mode (2016, self-released): [r]: A-
  • Amanar: Tumastin (2015 [2016], Sahel Sounds): [r]: B+(*)
  • Jim Black/Óskar Gudjónsson/Elias Stemeseder/Chris Tordini: Mala Mute (2016 [2017], Intakt): [cd]: B+(*)
  • Mykki Blanco: Mykki (2016, !K7): [r]: B+(*)
  • Peter Brötzmann & ICI Ensemble: Beautiful Lies (2014 [2016], Neos Jazz): [r]: B+(*)
  • Judy Carmichael and Harry Allen: Can You Love Once More (2016, GAC): [r]: A-
  • Childish Gambino: Awaken, My Love! (2016, Glassnote): [r]: B+(*)
  • Dr. Mint: Voices in the Void (2016 [2017], Orenda): [cd]: B+(*)
  • Echoes of Swing: Dancing (2015 [2016], ACT): [r]: B+(*)
  • Ellery Eskelin/Christian Weber/Michael Griener: Sensations of Tone (2016 [2017], Intakt): [cd]: A-
  • Satoko Fujii Orchestra Tokyo: Peace (2014 [2017], Libra): [cd]: A-
  • Gallant: Ology (2016, Mind of a Genius/Warner Bros.): [r]: B+(*)
  • Vince Gill: Down to My Last Bad Habit (2016, MCA Nashville): [r]: B+(*)
  • Nancy Harms: Ellington at Night (2016, Gazelle): [r]: B+(**)
  • Steve Hauschildt: Strands (2016, Kranky): [r]: B+(**)
  • Terrie Hessels & Ken Vandermark: Splinters (2014-15 [2016], Audiograph): [bc]: B+(*)
  • Ethan Iverson: The Purity of the Turf (2016, Criss Cross): [r]: B+(**)
  • The Klezmatics: Apikorsim/Heretics (2016, World Village): [r]: B+(***)
  • Rolf Kühn: Spotlights (2016, Edel/MPS): [r]: B+(**)
  • Little Simz: Stillness in Wonderland (2016, Age 101): [r]: B
  • Lasse Marhaug & Ken Vandermark: Close Up (For Abbas Kiarostami) (2016, Audiographic): [bc]: B
  • Hedvig Mollestad Trio: Black Stabat Mater (2016, Rune Grammofon): [r]: B+(*)
  • Hedvig Mollestad Trio: EVIL in Oslo (2015 [2016], Rune Grammofon): [r]: B+(*)
  • Simon Nabatov/Mark Dresser/Dominik Mahnig: Equal Poise (2014 [2016], Leo): [r]: B+(***)
  • Prince Rama: X-Treme Now (2016, Carpark): [r]: B-
  • Isaiah Rashad: The Sun's Tirade (2016, Top Dawg Entertainment): [r]: B+(**)
  • Run the Jewels: Run the Jewels 3 (2016 [2017], Run the Jewels): [r]: B+(***)
  • Matthew Shipp/Michael Bisio: Live in Seattle (2015 [2016], Arena Music Promption): [r]: B+(**)
  • T.I.: Us or Else (2016, Grand Hustle/Roc Nation, EP): [r]: B+(***)
  • T.I.: Us or Else: Letter to the System (2016, Grand Hustle/Roc Nation): [r]: A-
  • David Wise: Till They Lay Me Down (2016 [2017], self-released): [cd]: B+(**)
  • C. Spencer Yeh & Ken Vandermark: Schlager (2015 [2016], Audiographic): [bc]: B+(**)
  • Dhafer Youssef: Diwan of Beauty and Odd (2016, Okeh): [r]: B

Recent reissues, compilations, and vault discoveries rated this week:

  • Brother Ahh/Sounds of Awareness: Move Ever Onward (1975 [2016], Manufactured): [r]: B-
  • Brother Ah and the Sounds of Awareness: Key to Nowhere (1983 [2016], Manufactured): [r]: B+(*)
  • Chris McGregor & the Castle Lager Big Band: Jazz/The African Sound (1963 [2016], Jazzman): [r]: B+(**)
  • Cecil Taylor: Live in the Black Forest (1978 [2016], MPS): [r]: B+(**)

Old music rated this week:

  • Simon Nabatov/Mark Helias/Tom Rainey: Tough Customer (1992 [1993], Enja): [r]: B+(***)

Unpacking: Found in the mail last week:

  • Bill Anschell: Rumbler (Origin): January 20
  • François Carrier/Michel Lambert/Alexey Lapin: Freedom Is Space for the Spirit (FMR)
  • Gustavo Cortińas: Snapshot (OA2): January 20
  • Howard Johnson and Gravity: Testimony (Tuscarora)
  • Adam Pieronczyk: Monte Albán (Regent)
  • Dave Soldier: The Eighth Hour of Amduat (Mulatta): January 6

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