Henry Threadgill - reeds, flute, percussion Cassandra Wilson - vocals Fred Hopkins - bass Pheroan Aklaff - drums
Recorded June 2 & 3, 1986
192 KPBS mp3s
A really solid outing. Cassandra Wilson really adds something special to this already powerful band. The music is typical Threadgill, and Wilson blends perfectly into the feel on the three tracks she is on. This was the final Air recording, one of only two that Aklaff is on. If you're familiar with the band, you know what to expect, and you will not be disappointed. If you're not familiar, this is not a bad introduction. Link in comments.
Dorothy Ashby - harp Frank Wess - flute Herman Wright - bass Roy Haynes, Art Taylor - drums
Recorded 1958 192 KPBS mp3s
Jazz harp anyone? Seriously, if you're not familiar with this, you've gotta check this out. I knew nothing of Dorothy Ashby when I discovered this. I figured she was a vocalist from the cover, and when I spun it I was totally blown away. Of course, she's surrounded by some heavy hitters, too. It's pretty mellow, but swings like hell anyway. Definitely worth the DL. Link in comments.
J.J. Johnson - trombone Nat Adderley - cornet Billy Childs - rhodes Tony Dumas - bass Kevin Johnson - drums
192 KPBS mp3s
No huge ground broken here, but it sure is fun to hear Nat and J.J. work with a Rhodes. Solid 70s stuff, much more listenable than most of the electric stuff from the 70s.
1. I.J. 2. Flame Games 3. Well, I Guess We'll Never Know 4. Forever Lovers 5. Song Everlasting
George Adams - tenor sax Don Pullen - piano John Scofield - guitar Cameron Brown - bass Dannie Richmond - drums
Recorded live at Montmartre, 1985
192 KBPS mp3s
I'm not a huge Scofield fan, nor electric guitar fan really, but this is a solid outing. It seems to mold together the energetic music that was the trademark of the quartet with the more commercially accessible music of John Scofield. There's plenty of energy in this loose, dirty set. Dannie Richmond fires throughout, and it's a good listen. Link in comments.
Live at the Village Vanguard, Vol. 1 1. The Necessary Blues 2. Solitude 3. Intentions 4. Diane
George Adams - tenor sax Don Pullen - piano Cameron Brown - bass Dannie Richmond - drums
Recorded 1983, NYC
192 KBPS mp3s
This is not the quartet's best record, but at the same time, it' representative of a good show for them. I was somewhat disappointed when I saw them live. The studio albums all seemed to have two killer tracks, and three that were either middle-of-the-road or dogs. They did the same thing live. However, when they were on, they were on. Still, I find when I go back and listen to this group now, there was more happening than I was aware of at the time (cut me some slack, I was a teenager). Link in comments.
I love avant garde Jazz. I used to host a radio show and loved to play obscure cuts. Like all outlets for creative music in modern society, my show was canceled... but hey, we really needed "public affairs programming" in the midnight-1AM time slot. Especially the type you pay for, versus my voluntarily produced program.
