Josh Berman Quartet (JB, cornet; Ben Goldberg, clarinet; Devin Hoff, bass; Jordan Glenn, drums), live, San Francisco (Red Poppy Art House), 2009
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lagniappe
reading table
This is on a day when I want to say all kinds of things three times, and: silence, silence, silence, as if it were music, someone else’s who doesn’t know it.
—Nachoem M. Wijnberg (1961-), from “I Love Life” (translated from the Dutch by David Colmer)
Hamid Drake (drums and percussion [MCOTD Hall of Fame]) & Michael Zerang (drums and percussion) with Mark Feldman (violin), Josh Berman (cornet), Mabel Kwan (piano), Kent Kessler (bass), Zahra Glenda Baker (voice), et al., live (performance begins at 32:30), last night, Chicago (Constellation)
An (Albert) Ayler Christmas: Mars Williams (tenor saxophone, suona, toy instruments), Josh Berman (cornet), Jim Baker (piano, viola, ARP synthesizer), Brian Sandstrom (bass, guitar, trumpet), Steve Hunt (drums), Krzysztof Pabian (bass), Peter Maunu (guitar, violin), live (performance begins at 8:30), Chicago, Saturday night
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lagniappe
reading table
All night long walking around the pond full moon
—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from the Japanese by David Young
Saturday I posted the first of these two (wonderful) performances; here’s the second.
Mars Williams presents: An Ayler Xmas Vol. 4 (Night 2) (Mars Williams, tenor saxophone, toy instruments; Josh Berman, cornet; Jim Baker, piano, viola, ARP synthesizer; Krzysztof Pabian, bass; Brian Sandstrom, bass, guitar, trumpet; Steve Hunt, drums; Peter Maunu, violin), live (performance begins at 5:15), Chicago (Constellation), 12/19/20
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
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reading table
An empty day without events.
And that is why
it grew immense
as space. And suddenly
happiness of being
entered me.
I heard
in my heartbeat
the birth of time
and each instant of life
one after the other
came rushing in
like priceless gifts.
—Anna Swir (1909-1984), “Priceless Gifts” (translated from Polish by Czesław Miłosz and Leonard Nathan)
Mars Williams presents: An Ayler Xmas Vol. 4 (Night 1) (Mars Williams, tenor saxophone, toy instruments; Josh Berman, cornet; Jim Baker, piano, viola, ARP synthesizer; Krzysztof Pabian, bass; Brian Sandstrom, bass, guitar, trumpet; Steve Hunt, drums; Peter Maunu, violin), live (performance begins at 3:45), Chicago (Constellation), last night
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
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reading table
Such a moon—
the thief
pauses to sing.
—Yosa Buson (1716-1784), translated from Japanese by Lucien Stryk and Takashi Ikemoto
Michael Zerang and the Blue Lights (MZ, drums; Mars Williams, alto saxophone; Dave Rempis, baritone saxophone; Josh Berman, cornet; Kent Kessler, bass), live, Chicago (Hideout), 2013
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lagniappe
reading table
Now, in general, Stick to the boat, is your true motto in whaling; but cases will sometimes happen when Leap from the boat, is still better.