Bind the Hand(s) that Feed Michael Foster: tenor & soprano saxophones, microphones Katherine Young: bassoon, electronics Michael Zerang: drums, percussion Recorded live @ Elastic in Chicago on 3/28/18 This is real deal abstract hard core improvised music On Relative Pitch Records
What these radical saxophonists & trumpeters do is a bit mysterious (with microphones) but they do it in some cases to get a sound very dissimilar from an initial sax or trumpet sound. This is VERY abstract music - far removed from even the most “out” free jazz. It’s closer related to small form “eai” or electro-acoustic improvisation as heard on many erstwhile or potlatch releases.
Barry Guy Blue Shroud Band Intensegrity Small Formations 5 CD box - I’ve been through discs 1 thru 4 Even better than the previous 4 CD set. Most of these musicians are obscure to the musical world but at least 7 or 8 of the 12 are among the greatest I’ve ever heard including Barry Guy on double bass, the two drummers, the pianist (Agusti Fernandez!!) and these incredible younger saxophonists and Michel Goddard on tuba & serpent Plus disc 5 is the full band!!! On Not Two Records
To be well-known in the world of rock and pop usually equates to looking cool in a music video. Oh, and these days to be “trending”.
These musicians outside of Guy, Fernandez & maybe Goddard are WAY off the map. Guy apparently now lives in Switzerland and over the past 5 years has apparently formed his latest large ensemble with a core of these younger musicians including a classical guitarists and concert violinists and he’s worked with those 2 on improvising and those 2 are incredible. Ben Dwyer on guitar and Fanny Paucoud on violin.
Many of the best jazz musicians in NYC have day jobs. Many of these younger guys are just starting out or are simply very interested in playing very abstract improvised music AND playing Barry Guy’s compositions and learning from the grand master. Guy has been involved in this music for 50 years and goes back all the way to The Little Theatre Club in London with John Stevens, Evan Parker, Dave Holland, Derek Bailey and the rest of the legendary first generation British free improvising innovators. You might be fascinated with some of his small groups and maybe his numerous large ensembles he’s led over the past 45 years. Too bad he hasn’t been Stateside since before 9/11. I’ve seen him play live once and it’s still the best life performance on bass I’ve ever seen.
NRBQ - High Noon: A 50-Year Retrospective Disc 5: Puddin’ Truck 1989 - 2004 What a band! An American treasure.
Technical Ecstasy and Never say die here. The latter one is very rock n rollish for Black Sabbath. Love it!
