Tag Archives: Avant-Garde

Listening Room – “Last Date”

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Last Date

Eric Dolphy – Epistrophy

Eric Dolphy – You Don’t Know What Love Is

From “Last Date” : 1964 : Limelight LM 82013

Recorded in Holland a little less than a month before Dolphy’s tragic death, “Last Date” is recorded with a trio of sidemen from the Netherlands who complement his musical virtuosity perfectly.  Great sound quality and song choices make this an important album in his short discography (although it is unlikely that this was either his last performance or final recording).  Monk’s Epistrophy takes on a new life led by Dolphy’s bass clarinet, while the standard You Don’t Know What Love Is showcases his mastery of the flute in a jazz setting.

Players:
Eric Dolphy – Alto Sax, Bass Clarinet, Flute
Misja Mengelberg – Piano
Jacques Schols – Bass
Han Bennink – Drums

Listening Room – “Five Pieces 1975″

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Anthony Braxton assembled one of his best groups for this 1975 release on Arista Records.  With Dave Holland, Kenny Wheeler and Barry Altschul joining him in the studio, Braxton laid down what is considered by his many admirers as one of his finest recordings of the 1970′s.  All but the opening track (You Stepped Out of a Dream) were composed by Braxton and the tight and very capable players in the group handle the complex music beautifully.

braxtonfive

Released 1975  :  Arista Records  :  Catalog # A 4064

Players:
Anthony Braxton – Alto Sax, Clarinet, Sopranino, Flute, Contrabass Clarinet
Kenny Wheeler – Trumpet
Dave Holland – Bass
Barry Altschul – Drums

Anthony Braxton – Opus 23G from “Five Pieces 1975″

Anthony Braxton – Opus 40M from “Five Pieces 1975“

Listening Room – “Out To Lunch!”

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Out To Lunch!

Eric Dolphy – Hat and Beard

Eric Dolphy – Out To Lunch

From “Out to Lunch” : 1964 : Blue Note BLP 4163

Everything about Eric Dolphy’s 1964 avant-garde post-bop classic “Out To Lunch!” – from the music to the cover to the lineup – announces a masterpiece of an album, and rightly so.  Dolphy’s five originals (two highlights are the Thelonious Monk tribute Hat and Beard and the title track) are rhythmically complex and create a freedom within the music that allows all the players room to improvise at a high level.  These songs are almost more soundscapes than traditional compositions, and while some may disagree I would argue that Dolphy has never sounded more creative and inspired.

Players:
Eric Dolphy – Alto Sax, Bass Clarinet, Flute
Freddie Hubbard – Trumpet
Bobby Hutcherson – Vibes
Richard Davis – Bass
Tony Williams – Drums

Listening Room – “Looking Ahead!”

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cecilahead

Cecil Taylor – Luyah! The Glorious Step

Cecil Taylor – Wallering

From “Looking Ahead!” : 1958 : Contemporary M 3562

An early recording by pianist Cecil Taylor, this quartet recording features Earl Griffith on the vibes and was released in 1958 on Contemporary Records.  The tracks Luyah! The Glorious Step and Wallering (both Taylor originals) show an unrelentless talent at work and the whole album hints at the amazing body of work Cecil Taylor would produce over the next five decades (and still making today!).

Players:
Cecil Taylor – Piano
Earl Griffith – Vibes
Buell Nedlinger – Bass
Dennis Charles – Drums

Listening Room – “Happy Birthday Ornette Coleman”

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Ornette Coleman

Groundbreaking jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman was born today in 1930.  Happy 79th and here’s to many more!

Ornette Coleman Playlist #1

Lonely Woman from “The Shape of Jazz To Come” – 1959
Check Up from “Twins” – Recorded 1961, released 1971
Endless from “Tomorrow Is The Question!” – 1959
Cross Breeding from “Ornette on Tenor” – 1961
Matador from “Sound Grammar” – 2006
Airborne from “Love Call” – 1968

Ornette Coleman – Lonely Woman

Ornette Coleman – Check Up

Ornette Coleman – Endless

Ornette Coleman – Cross Breeding

Ornette Coleman – Matador

Ornette Coleman – Airborne

Listening Room – “Conference Of The Birds”

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Dave Holland – “Four Winds”

Dave Holland – “Q & A”

From “Conference of the Birds” : 1972 : ECM

This album from 1972 was Dave Holland’s first as a leader of his own group. He had previously played with Miles on the classics In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew. All Music Guide calls Conference of the Birds “one of the all time avant-garde jazz classics” and it is one of the rare times, if not the only time, that Sam Rivers and Anthony Braxton played together on record.

Players:
Dave Holland -Bass
Anthony Braxton – Alto & Soprano Sax, Clarinet, Flute
Sam Rivers – Tenor & Soprano Sax, Flute
Barry Altschul – Drums & Percussion