I don't consider myself knowledgeable enough to identify the "best" jazz albums of the year, but I listened to + enjoyed this one as much as any of 'em.
This one is a classic example of the perils of the emusic artist categorization process. There are evidently other artists who share this name, and so this delicate collection of microsounds with its genteel Taylor Deupree design sits on the artist page next to a lurid purple thing called "Jukin in the Mirror" (I don't even want to know what that means) with a woman in underwear on the front.
Rudresh Mahanthappa & Bunky Green - Summit
Rudresh Mahanthappa - alto saxophone
Bunky Green - alto saxophone
Tito Carrillo - trumpet
Ryan Shultz - bass trumpet
Ron Perrillo - piano
Fran
Kreng - Grimoire "The less we know about Belgian sound alchemist Pepijn Caudron (aka Kreng), the better. We know his debut release LAutopsie Phenomenale De Dieu appeared seemingly out of nowhere on the Miasmah label in 2009, but other than that very little tangible information has surfaced. This sequel, the blackly monikered Grimoire simply re-enforces Caudrons shadowy legacy with a similarly dank concoction of cracked strings, creaking percussion and half-heard dialogue. Thankfully however Caudron has refined his craft in every way, from the artfully restrained layering of samples to the deliriously magickal atmosphere he manages to conjure up. There is the sense even from the first few seconds of the record that you are transported out of time and reality, and as hoarse, alien breaths croak over oily bass drones the poignant spoken words You dont belong here become an apt anchor for the entire album.
It seems almost too easy to compare Grimoire to a film soundtrack at this point; sure Caudron has listened to his fair share of chilling scores but Grimoire is more than simply homage, and maybe the clue is in the title itself. Grimoires are books of magic, the most important of which had a stranglehold on cultures both ancient and more recently than most people probably care to realize. These books have slipped into folklore and legend, and like those faded pages of incantations there is something deeply mystical and indescribable about Krengs music. Caudrons background in theatre no doubt forms a strong foundation for his compositions, but there is so much about his work that only creeps into the light after countless hours of study. These songs are best suited to moonlight, strong spice-laced liquors and the dark recesses of our painfully dull existence. Pepijn Caudron has formed a grimy, surreal ode to not only the past, but also what the future might hold, and from the sounds of it were not getting off lightly. But then were all so tired of pretty, arent we? Miasmah Recordings 2011
Really sorry to hear your news BT, I do hope everything works out alright with the arrangements. What is happening with my mother is relatively mild in comparision - she has had the major gynaelogical op, but not helped by her dementia, but she appears to be recovering well. I do understand that music takes a back seat at such times
Currently playing Miles Davis Sketches of Spain
@amclark - I hope you like 21. There have been a couple of articles in the British press in the last couple of days about her. One was discussing the way that her label XL, part of Beggars Group, have handled her. The main jist is that she woudn't have had the level of success on a major like Sony or UMC, because of the way that they want immediate returns on their money and are more interested in X Factor (American Idol) type of artists, not that willing to build a career. When I am back home I'll try and find the link. The other article was saying that in 2011 she sold more music than any artist ever in a single year in the UK, beating the Beatles in 1964. She appeals to a wide demographic - over 30's, 20's and under females and so on. She has become a phenomena over here. Her muisc is played everywhere - restaurants, shops, background on TV programmes etc.
BT . . . This is sad news, My thoughts are with you and your family.
I lost my father 3 years ago and my mother 1 year before. I really should have been pleased on both occations because my mother was in severe pain and with no hope ahead, and my father weren't much around anyway because of dementia and really did not wan't to live anymore after my mother died.
- But I wasn't pleased at all, I was feeling so sorry (for my self ?) and was regretting not to take the time to do all the things I wanted to do for them, but were to busy with myself and my doings, and to tell them how much I loved them.
- The lesson I learned and constantly have to remind myself about is, do not take for granted that your loved ones will be there for you tomorrow.
NP:
Marihiko Hara and Tomas Phillips - Prosa - Indeed lovely stuff ! - thanks for the reminder GP
BT, so sorry to hear about your father. All my sympathy to you and your family.
Thanks for posting that Western Swing site. Some of that Hawaiian jazz is hot stuff, really swinging, and Sol Hoopii was an incredible player.
Currently listening to King Tubby - The Story of Dub. Decided to download my discovery based on how much Craig liked it - some wack stuff there, but I'm liking it.
Thanks, doofy, kez, amclark2, greg, BN and BigD. I'm glad that your mother's problems aren't serious, greg.
BN, I completely sympathize. My father's physical and mental health declined after having a stroke about a decade ago. Living on opposite sides of the country, we hadn't talked a lot: only a few times when I took him out to dinner when visiting with the family. It didn't seem like there was much that could be said--or at least understood. I would have flown out on Monday, but it was already too late. My son and I made all sorts of videos, and my mom played them for him. My son is particularly adept at bringing joy to people, and I wish that my dad could have seen him one more time. Right now, I'm glad that the coroner signed off on the death certificate yesterday, and mourning can go forward.
BigD, those are some hot records. Some of the slide playing is very multi-dimensional.
Thanks for the above link there, BT. Suppose Joel Savoy is any relation to Marc Savoy (Ann's husband)? Oh, wait, I forgot we was talking about Cajuns....(Rimshot on imaginary soundtrack).
Am currently listening to the Hawaiian download - those are some funky old records. Since the Hawaiian steel guitar was the ancestor of all lap steel guitars they have that link in the blood. Supposedly the guy who invented the Dobro, John Dopyera, was the first to electrify a Hawaiian steel, and he and his backer went to Sol Hoopii to get him to try it.
Et toi, got the Live At Glen Echo playing now. Yeah, you're right!
@BT, I can identify with the distance thing. My father died a few years ago, in England (I am in MIchigan). We got a few weeks' notice that he was pretty ill, and I was able to fly over for a week and see him in hospital several times, including at least one conversation we (I at least, but I think we) needed to have. I flew back to the US knowing the prognosis was not good, and within a couple of weeks was flying back to the UK again for the funeral. Distance does make it more difficult to know what to do with time and resources (the whole should I go now? Or next week? Or stay longer?...). I am glad you can start inching forward now.
Greg- I've been enjoying 21 a lot - I've read and gathered a lot of the same stuff - 13 million plus records sold on not much more than actual good music; wide cross section of listeners, etc. There was a great article/ interview in Rolling Stone. I love seeing someone do this well without seeming to be a personal mess.
Thanks for The White Album link BT, downloading it as I type. @amclark - yes, Adele does seem to be level headed. Her singing voice is amazing, but when she talks, her voice is quite thin, very much north-east London with Essex girl tones (GP will know what I mean!) so different from her singing. I admire her for what she and her management have achieved. Amy Winehouse had at least the same amount of talent and a much wider musical repetoire, but sadly went off the rails early on in her career. So well done Adele and XL.
Comments
I don't consider myself knowledgeable enough to identify the "best" jazz albums of the year, but I listened to + enjoyed this one as much as any of 'em.
Sorry for your loss Bad Thoughts.
Every Action by Motion. A 12k oldie.
This one is a classic example of the perils of the emusic artist categorization process. There are evidently other artists who share this name, and so this delicate collection of microsounds with its genteel Taylor Deupree design sits on the artist page next to a lurid purple thing called "Jukin in the Mirror" (I don't even want to know what that means) with a woman in underwear on the front.
Rudresh Mahanthappa & Bunky Green - Summit
Rudresh Mahanthappa - alto saxophone
Bunky Green - alto saxophone
Tito Carrillo - trumpet
Ryan Shultz - bass trumpet
Ron Perrillo - piano
Fran
Craig
Another excellent drifting release from Infraction.
Kreng - Grimoire
"The less we know about Belgian sound alchemist Pepijn Caudron (aka Kreng), the better. We know his debut release LAutopsie Phenomenale De Dieu appeared seemingly out of nowhere on the Miasmah label in 2009, but other than that very little tangible information has surfaced. This sequel, the blackly monikered Grimoire simply re-enforces Caudrons shadowy legacy with a similarly dank concoction of cracked strings, creaking percussion and half-heard dialogue. Thankfully however Caudron has refined his craft in every way, from the artfully restrained layering of samples to the deliriously magickal atmosphere he manages to conjure up. There is the sense even from the first few seconds of the record that you are transported out of time and reality, and as hoarse, alien breaths croak over oily bass drones the poignant spoken words You dont belong here become an apt anchor for the entire album.
It seems almost too easy to compare Grimoire to a film soundtrack at this point; sure Caudron has listened to his fair share of chilling scores but Grimoire is more than simply homage, and maybe the clue is in the title itself. Grimoires are books of magic, the most important of which had a stranglehold on cultures both ancient and more recently than most people probably care to realize. These books have slipped into folklore and legend, and like those faded pages of incantations there is something deeply mystical and indescribable about Krengs music. Caudrons background in theatre no doubt forms a strong foundation for his compositions, but there is so much about his work that only creeps into the light after countless hours of study. These songs are best suited to moonlight, strong spice-laced liquors and the dark recesses of our painfully dull existence. Pepijn Caudron has formed a grimy, surreal ode to not only the past, but also what the future might hold, and from the sounds of it were not getting off lightly. But then were all so tired of pretty, arent we?
Miasmah Recordings 2011
Very nice - thanks, Brighternow.
Currently playing Miles Davis Sketches of Spain
@amclark - I hope you like 21. There have been a couple of articles in the British press in the last couple of days about her. One was discussing the way that her label XL, part of Beggars Group, have handled her. The main jist is that she woudn't have had the level of success on a major like Sony or UMC, because of the way that they want immediate returns on their money and are more interested in X Factor (American Idol) type of artists, not that willing to build a career. When I am back home I'll try and find the link. The other article was saying that in 2011 she sold more music than any artist ever in a single year in the UK, beating the Beatles in 1964. She appeals to a wide demographic - over 30's, 20's and under females and so on. She has become a phenomena over here. Her muisc is played everywhere - restaurants, shops, background on TV programmes etc.
The Album by The White Album (NYOP at Bandcamp)
A lot of melancholy folk strumming--how I think Mumford and Sons ought to sound.
I lost my father 3 years ago and my mother 1 year before. I really should have been pleased on both occations because my mother was in severe pain and with no hope ahead, and my father weren't much around anyway because of dementia and really did not wan't to live anymore after my mother died.
- But I wasn't pleased at all, I was feeling so sorry (for my self ?) and was regretting not to take the time to do all the things I wanted to do for them, but were to busy with myself and my doings, and to tell them how much I loved them.
- The lesson I learned and constantly have to remind myself about is, do not take for granted that your loved ones will be there for you tomorrow.
NP:
Marihiko Hara and Tomas Phillips - Prosa - Indeed lovely stuff ! - thanks for the reminder GP
Thanks for posting that Western Swing site. Some of that Hawaiian jazz is hot stuff, really swinging, and Sol Hoopii was an incredible player.
Currently listening to King Tubby - The Story of Dub. Decided to download my discovery based on how much Craig liked it - some wack stuff there, but I'm liking it.
BN, I completely sympathize. My father's physical and mental health declined after having a stroke about a decade ago. Living on opposite sides of the country, we hadn't talked a lot: only a few times when I took him out to dinner when visiting with the family. It didn't seem like there was much that could be said--or at least understood. I would have flown out on Monday, but it was already too late. My son and I made all sorts of videos, and my mom played them for him. My son is particularly adept at bringing joy to people, and I wish that my dad could have seen him one more time. Right now, I'm glad that the coroner signed off on the death certificate yesterday, and mourning can go forward.
BigD, those are some hot records. Some of the slide playing is very multi-dimensional.
The Right Combination by L
Am currently listening to the Hawaiian download - those are some funky old records. Since the Hawaiian steel guitar was the ancestor of all lap steel guitars they have that link in the blood. Supposedly the guy who invented the Dobro, John Dopyera, was the first to electrify a Hawaiian steel, and he and his backer went to Sol Hoopii to get him to try it.
Et toi, got the Live At Glen Echo playing now. Yeah, you're right!
Greg- I've been enjoying 21 a lot - I've read and gathered a lot of the same stuff - 13 million plus records sold on not much more than actual good music; wide cross section of listeners, etc. There was a great article/ interview in Rolling Stone. I love seeing someone do this well without seeming to be a personal mess.
Last Friday's AAJ DOTD