sounds of New York
Jason Kao Hwang’s Spontaneous River Orchestra (JKH, conductor, violin; Sarah Bernstein, Skye Steele, Rosie Hertlein, Helen Yee, Leonor Falcon, Ben Sutin, Fredrika Krier, Aimee Nieman, Gwen Laster, violin; Melanie Dyer, Joanna Mattrey, viola; Daniel Levin, cello; Hill Greene, Ken Filiano, bass; Andrew Drury, drums), “New York” (L. Jenkins), “Bien Ho Blues / Nothing But Love” (B. Bang), live, New York, 2016
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
timeless
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (AB, drums; John Gilmore, tenor saxophone; Lee Morgan, trumpet; John Hicks, piano; Victor Sproles, bass), live (music starts at 4:25), Paris, 1965
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago
*****
reading table
If I had known
how sorrowful this world is,
I would have become
grass or a tree
in a deep mountain!—Ryokan (1758-1831), translated from Japanese by Kazuaki Tanahashi
what’s new
How often does a drummer get equal billing?
Tom Misch (vocals, guitar) and Yussef Dayes (drums), “Night Rider,” “Tidal Wave,” published 7/13/20
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lagniappe
random sights
this morning, Chicago
*****
reading table
Rescue workers said there was little hope of finding any more survivors from a landslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar that killed at least 170 people. Many of the dead were scouring the mine’s rubble for remnants of the gemstone.
—The Economist, 7/11/20
voices I miss
Betty Carter (vocals, 1929-1998) with Geri Allen (piano, 1957-2017), Dave Holland (bass, 1946-), Jack DeJohnette (drums, 1942-), live, Germany (Hamburg), 1993
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago (Columbus Park)
MCOTD Hall of Fame
His music I first encountered over 40 years ago, and it’s been a perpetual source of joy and inspiration ever since.
Henry Threadgill’s Zooid (HT, 1944-, alto saxophone, composition [MCOTD Hall of Fame]; Jose Dávila, tuba; Liberty Ellman, guitar; Stomu Takeishi, bass; Elliot Kavee, drums), live, Italy ( Cormòns), 2008
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
*****
reading table
In this world
we walk on the roof of hell,
gazing at flowers.—Kobayashi Issa, 1763-1827 (translated from Japanese by Robert Hass)
only rock ‘n’ roll
PJ Harvey, “Dress” (PJ Harvey, R. Ellis), live, England (V Festival), 2003
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lagniappe
random sights
this morning, Oak Park, Ill.
like nothing else
Evan Parker ElectroAcoustic Nonet (Evan Parker, saxophone; Barry Guy, bass; Paul Lytton, drums; Peter Evans, trumpet; Okkyung Lee, cello; Sten Sandell, piano; Richard Barrett, electronics; Paul Obermayer, electronics; Sam Pluta, electronics), live, France (Mulhouse), 2015
#1
#2
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
*****
A melancholic introspection retrospective
Was taking place in a white-walled room called Summer Was.—Mary Jo Bang (1946-), from “Don’t” (Elegy, 2007)
what’s new
Harriet Tubman (Brandon Ross, guitar, vocals; Melvin Gibbs, bass; JT Lewis, drums), “The Green Book Blues,” “Blacktal Fractal,” “Redemption Song,” “Can’t Tarry,” live (studio), Seattle, published 6/1/20
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
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like nobody else
Blossom Dearie (1924-2009, vocals, piano), “Manhattan” (R. Rodgers, L. Hart), 1959
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago (Columbus Park)
*****
reading table
Gray hairs being plucked,
and from below my pillow
a cricket singing—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from Japanese by Sam Hamill
alone
Torbjön Zetterberg (1976-, bass), live (Quarantine Concert presented by Experimental Sound Studio, Chicago), Zengården Monastery, Sweden, 4/18/20
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
reading table
As long as I don’t aim,
I won’t miss.
With the catalpa bow,
I shoot an arrow
toward the open sky.—Ryokan (1758-1831), translated from Japanese by Kazuaki Tanahashi
music clip of the day 