Monday, November 16, 2015

Music Week

Music: Current count 25787 [25726] rated (+61), 420 [439] unrated (-19).

Several reasons for the huge rated bump this week: one is that I procrastinated in cataloguing the incoming so the week ended Monday afternoon instead of my usual Sunday evening (which also means I've included Monday's mail in the unpacking); I knocked off almost all of the records listed below in a single play (which actually includes the week's two A- picks); about 20 of the records were streamed -- less than half, but they tend to go quick; finally, I noticed a record ungraded in the database that I was pretty sure I had heard, so I made a quick check of all the ungraded post-2000 jazz and that bumped the rated count up from 47 to 61.

I'd guess that probably close to ten records got a second play: Bathysphere, John Dikeman, Giovanni Di Domenico, Ingrid Laubrock, at least one of the Martin Küchens, Jack Mouse, Statik Selektah, both old and posthumous Sun Ra, John Carter (even though it's 2CD), Thank Your Lucky Stars. Still, the only one that came close to an A- was the Beach House, but I didn't feel like spending the extra time, especially after Depression Cherry (and Bloom and Teen Dream) had left so little mark.

The Arab rap anthology (Khat Thaleth) was recommended by Bob Christgau just in time for the massive outpouring of anti-Arab vitriol that followed the terror attacks in Paris (and Beirut, but who's counting?). Even without downloading the trots, it's pretty obvious that these Arabs are not those Arabs. It comes as a unique item, although it probably isn't.

The Errol Garner reissue raises the question of redundancy, as you get two takes of the concert: one complete spread out on 2CD, the other as originally edited (plus one of those interviews that are interesting the first time around but unnecessary after that). Still, I had the old 1987 CD reissue at A-, and most of the cuts that the complete edition adds are every bit as good. Also, I'm relieved to point out that the whole 3CD package only costs $12.89 (at Amazon, although if you want vinyl the price jumps to $39.36). By the way, the original CD is still in print, down at $4.99. One downside is that the CD package is irregularly sized, so most likely it won't fit on your shelf.

I should also note that I was a little surprised to look back in my database and not find any other A- albums by Garner. In fact there are only three other entries: two B (Long Ago and Far Away and The Original Misty), one B+ (Easy to Love [The Erroll Garner Collection Vol. 1]). But Penguin Guide also only credits Garner with one 4-star album, no surprise given their predilection for solo piano: Solo Time! [The Erroll Garner Collection Vols. 4/5] (although they tabbed Concert by the Sea, with 3.5 stars, as a "core collection" album). Seems like there should be more because was such a distinctive stylist.

I had a few more things I wanted to write about this week. Let me just briefly mention one: Tim Niland's book, Music and More: Selected Blog Posts 2003-2015. My copy arrived and it looks terrific (although the perfect binding has developed a small bubble). Tons of reviews, an ongoing chronicle of twelve of the most productive years in jazz history. I do have a couple of quibbles: there is no table of contents or index, so it's going to be hard to find any particular review; for that matter, it doesn't even have page numbers, which should have been pretty easy to set up. I imagine the search function will help out here with the Kindle edition, if you're into that platform. Still, I'm very pleased to own a print copy. I'm adding the book cover to my book roll.

I also wanted to note that I've been working on my soon-to-be-obsolete Music Tracking File. I finally implemented the genre switches, and I've been scraping more sources for data: at this point I've added virtually every 2015 jazz record reviewed by Free Jazz Collective, and I've worked my way back to August in All About Jazz, resulting in a list of 1044 jazz releases this year (I've reviewed or at least own 540 of them). My coverage of other genres is much spottier, but currently adds up to 2748 records. The list will eventually give way to an EOY aggregate list, but meanwhile helps me sort out what I need (or would like to) listen to.

New records rated this week:

  • The 14 Jazz Orchestra: Nothing Hard Is Ever Easy (2015 [2016], self-released): [cd]: B
  • Bathysphere: Bathysphere (2015, Driff): [cd]: B+(**)
  • Beach House: Depression Cherry (2015, Sub Pop): [r]: B+(*)
  • Beach House: Thank Your Lucky Stars (2015, Sub Pop): [r]: B+(***)
  • Beach Slang: The Things We Do to Find People Who Feel Like Us (2015, Polyvinyl): [r]: B
  • Tony Bennett & Bill Charlap: The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern (Columbia): [r]: B+(*)
  • Randy Bernsen: Grace Notes (2015, Jericho Jams): [cd]: B
  • Bizingas: Eggs Up High (2015, NCM East): [cd]: B+(**)
  • Björk: Vulnicura (2015, One Little Indian): [r]: B-
  • Bobby Bradford-Frode Gjerstad Quartet: The Delaware River (2014 [2015], NoBusiness): [cdr]: B+(**)
  • Leon Bridges: Coming Home (2015, Columbia): [r]: B+(*)
  • Dani Comas: Epokhé (2014 [2015], UnderPool): [cd]: B+(**)
  • Guy Davis: Kokomo Kidd (2015, M.C.): [r]: B+(*)
  • Giovanni Di Domenico/Peter Jacquemyn/Chris Corsano: A Little Off the Top (2013 [2015], NoBusiness): [cdr]: B+(***)
  • John Dikeman/William Parker/Hamid Drake: Live at La Resistenza (2014 [2015], El Negocito): [cd]: B+(***)
  • Carlos Falanga: Gran Coral (2014 [2015], UnderPool): [cd]: B+(**)
  • Amina Figarova: Blue Whisper (2015, In + Out): [cd]: B
  • Clare Fischer: Out of the Blue (2015, Clavo): [cd]: B+(*)
  • Tigran Hamasyan: Luys I Luso (2014 [2015], ECM): [dl]: B-
  • Aaron Irwin Quartet: A Room Forever (2015, self-released): [cd]: B+(*)
  • Khat Thaleth [Third Line]: Initiative for the Elevation of Public Awareness (2013, Stronghold Sound): [r]: A-
  • Martin Küchen/Johan Berthling/Steve Noble: Night in Europe (2014 [2015], NoBusiness): [cd]: B+(***)
  • Martin Küchen/Jon Rune Strøm/Tollef Østvang: Melted Snow (2014 [2015], NoBusiness): [cdr]: B+(***)
  • Nancy Lane: Let Me Love You (2015, self-released): [cd]: B+(***)
  • Adam Larson: Selective Amnesia (2015, Inner Circle Music): [cd]: B+(*)
  • Ingrid Laubrock: Ubatuba (2014 [2015], Firehouse 12): [cd]: B+(**)
  • Daniel Levin/Rob Brown: Divergent Paths (2012 [2015], Cipsela): [cd]: B+(*)
  • John Lindberg/Anil Eraslan: Juggling Kukla (2011 [2015], NoBusiness): [cdr]: B+(**)
  • Luis Lopes/Jean-Luc Guionnet: Live at Culturgest (2011 [2015], Clean Feed): [r]: B-
  • Roy McGrath Quartet: Martha (2014 [2015], JL Music): [cd]: B+(**)
  • Kristine Mills: Bossa Too (2015, InkWell Publishing): [cd]: B
  • Jack Mouse & Scott Robinson with Janice Borla: Three Story Sandbox (2015 [2016], Tall Grass): [cd]: B+(*)
  • Roots Manuva: Bleeds (2015, Big Dada): [r]: B
  • Herb Silverstein: Younger Next Year (2015, self-released): [cd]: B
  • Spanglish Fly: New York Boogaloo (2015, Caco World Music): [r]: B+(*)
  • Chris Stapleton: Traveller (2015, Mercury Nashville): [r]: B+(*)
  • Statik Selektah: Lucky 7 (2015, Showoff/Duck Down Music): [r]: B+(**)
  • Ike Sturm + Evergreen: Shelter of Trees (2014 [2015], Kilde): [cd]: B-
  • Sun Ra Arkestra Under the Direction of Marshall Allen: Babylon Live (2014 [2015], In+Out): [r]: B+(**)
  • Survival Unit III: Game Theory (2010 [2013], Not Two): [r]: B+(**)
  • Survival Unit III: Straylight (2014 [2015], Pink Palace): [bc]: B+(***)
  • U.S. Girls: Half Free (2015, 4AD): [r]: B
  • Manuel Valera & Groove Square: Urban Landscape (2015, Destiny): B+(**)
  • Doug Webb: Triple Play (2014 [2015], Posi-Tone): [r]: B-

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

  • John Carter: Echoes From Rudolph's (1976-77 [2015], NoBusiness, 2CD): [cd]: B+(**)
  • Hamid Drake/Michael Zerang: For Ed Blackwell (1995 [2015], Pink Palace): [bc]: B+(***)
  • Free Jazz Group Wiesbaden: Frictions/Frictions Now (1969-71 [2015], NoBusiness): [cd]: B+(***)
  • Erroll Garner: The Complete Concert by the Sea (1955 [2015], Columbia/Legacy, 3CD): [cd]: A-
  • Sun Ra: The Magic City (1965 [2015], Enterplanetary Koncepts): [r]: B+(**)

Old music rated this week:

  • Guy Davis: Juba Dance (2013, M.C.): [r]: B+(**)

Unpacking: Found in the mail last week:

  • Juhani Aaltonen & Iro Haarla: Kirkastus (TUM)
  • Tom Collier: Across the Bridge (Origin): November 20
  • Bram De Looze: Septych (Clean Feed)
  • Kaja Draksler/Susana Santos Silva: This Love (Clean Feed)
  • Erik Friedlander: Oscalypso: Tribute to Oscar Pettiford (Skipstone)
  • David Friesen & Glen Moore: Bactrian (Origin): November 20
  • Jacob Garchik: Ye Olde (Yestereve)
  • Miho Hazama: Time River (Sunnyside)
  • Heroes Are Gang Leaders: The Avant Age Garde I AMs of the Gal Luxury (Flat Langton's Arkeyes)
  • Florian Hoefner: Luminosity (Origin): advance, January 15
  • Will Holshouser/Matt Munisteri/Marcus Rojas: Introducing Musette Explosion (Aviary)
  • Per Texas Johansson: De Långa Rulltrapporna I Flemingsberg (Moserobie)
  • George Lewis: The George Lewis Solo Trombone Album (1976, Delmark/Sackville)
  • Luis Lopes/Jean-Luc Guionnet: Live at Culturgest (Clean Feed)
  • Mundell Lowe/Lloyd Wells/Jim Ferguson: Poor Butterfly (Two Helpins' of Collards)
  • Tobias Meinhart: Natural Perception (Enja/Yellowbird)
  • Charles Rumback: In the New Year (Ears & Eyes): December 4
  • Richard Sears Trio: Skyline (Fresh Sound New Talent)
  • Wadada Leo Smith & John Lindberg: Celestial Weather (TUM)
  • Mike Sopko/Bill Laswell/Thomas Pridgen: Sopko Laswell Pridgen (self-released)
  • Svenska Kaputt: Suomi (Moserobie)
  • Curt Sydnor: Materials and Their Destiny (Ears & Eyes)
  • The People Having a Meeting (Black & Grey/Fast Speaking Music)
  • Torbjörn Zetterberg & Den Stora Frågan: Om Liv Död (Moserobie)

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