like nothing else
Yesterday I drove 250 miles to a small town in southern Illinois for a hearing in an old murder case that did not take place. The good news? While driving, I listened to this, for the first time.
Julius Hemphill (1938-95, alto saxophone, composition) and Abdul Wadud (1947-2022, cello), “Syntax” (unknown recording location and date)
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago (Columbus Park)
voices I miss
Lester Bowie’s New York Organ Ensemble (LB, 1941-1999, MCOTD Hall of Fame, trumpet; Frank Lacy, trombone; James Carter, tenor saxophone; Spencer Barefield, guitar; Kathy Farmer, organ; Famadou Don Moye, drums), live, Madrid, 1992
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Illinois
like nothing else
Alvin Fielder (1935-2019, drums), Roscoe Mitchell (1940-, soprano, alto and sopranino saxophones), live, Houston, 2013
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lagniappe
random sights
this morning, Oak Park, Illinois
what’s new
Joe Lovano’s Paramount Quartet (JL, tenor saxophone; Julian Lage, guitar; Asante Santi Debriano, bass; Will Calhoun, drums), “Fanfare for Unity” (J. Lovano), live, Spain (San Sebastian), July 23, 2026
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Illinois (Conservatory)
timeless
Miles Davis Quintet (MD, trumpet; Wayne Shorter, tenor saxophone; Herbie Hancock, piano; Ron Carter, bass; Tony Williams, drums), live (“Autumn Leaves,” “My Funny Valentine,” “All Blues,” “All of You,” “Joshua”), Italy (Milan), 1964
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Nebraska
what’s new
Henry Threadgill (alto saxophone [MCOTD Hall of Fame]), Vijay Iyer (piano), Dafnis Prieto (drums), “I Wanted a Map” (V. Iyer), published 6/17/26
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Illinois
passings
James Blood Ulmer, guitarist, singer, February 8, 1940 – June 3, 2026
With Amin Ali (bass), Cornell Rochester (drums), live, Berlin, 1981
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With Don Cherry (1936-1995, pocket trumpet), Rashied Ali (1933-2009, drums), New York, published 2008
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Illinois
passings
Sonny Rollins, tenor saxophonist, September 7, 1930 – May 25, 2026
With Henry Grimes (bass), Joe Harris (drums), “Love Letters” (V. Young, E. Heyman), live, Sweden (Stockholm), 1959
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
sounds of New York
Tomeka Reid Quartet (TR, cello; Mary Halvorson, guitar; Jason Roebke, bass; Tomas Fujiwara, drums), “Hopscotch” (Joe Chambers), live, 2016
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lagniappe
random sights
this morning, Chicago (Columbus Park)
what’s new
Chris Potter (tenor saxophone, composition) with Bill Frisell (guitar), Nate Smith (drums), Burniss Travis (bass), Rane Moore (clarinet), Zekkereya El-Magharbel (trombone), Sara Caswell (violin), “Into Africa,” published 4/23/26
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Illinois
music clip of the day 