Jazz | Pint | Bley

Tonight I’m listening to the most recent addition to my Paul Bley stash. Another recent reissue from HatHut on their Ezzthetics imprint – ‘Paul Bley Trios Play Annette Peacock Revisited’ comprised of two sessions from 1966 and 1968 featuring Mark Levinson (b) and Barry Altschul (d) and Gary Peacock (b) and Billy Elgart (d) respectively. It combines tracks from ‘Ramblin’, ‘Blood’, and ‘Mr Joy’ – all albums I don’t have so I thought, “why not?” (maybe eventually I’ll pick them up individually but this incomplete compilation will do for now). The compositions and approach from the trio – spacious, introspective, stark - is a departure from the norm at the time. Occasionally things get ramped up (“Blood”, "Kid Dynamite") but there’s a focused, quiet intensity in this music that appeals to me. Bley is never far off the rotation, so I'll no doubt "Revisited" will be revisited. Bley really set the standard for that type of approach at the piano and I’ve wondered how I could bring some of this to my saxophone playing – it’s in there somewhere, but more of than not, notes have a habit of getting in the way.

I first heard Bley on recordings by the Jimmy Giuffre trio (one of my favourite groups) and shortly after on 'Sonny Meets Hawk' courtesy of Norman Meehan, whose book ‘Time Will Tell’ I’ve been dipping in and out of over the last week or so too. It’s an entertaining read and Bley is not afraid of sharing his thoughts. I’d like to re-read Bley’s autobiography ‘Stopping Time’ (which I first read not long after hearing my introduction to his recordings) but it looks to be out of print and I haven’t managed to find a nicely priced copy.

I managed to hear Bley live once, squeezing in last minute at the Blue Note to hear him in duo with Charlie Haden (the only him I heard him too). Wasn’t the greatest seat in the house.. crammed into the bar, I could barely see either of them and it was kind of noisy (I questioned why these people even bothered going). But, I did get to hear them even if in somewhat non-ideal settings.

Accompanied on this cool spring evening by Three Boys Oyster Stout (I thought the stoneware was appropriate for the season).

Time to Unwind

Okay… this post is way overdue. Like last year, I took a little time off in February to catch Hayden while he was back on tour in support of Saffron, latest release by Unwind.

To kicks things off, I headed up to New Plymouth for the opening gig of the tour. I had pre-gig pint at Shining Peaks (recommended) before walking down to the Fourth Wall Theatre. It's a nice sized venue with pretty decent sound to boot. It’s always nice to hear him in front of the hometown crowd (my third time now) as it adds a different flavour to proceedings. Although it was first gig of the tour, the trio (Julien wasn’t due to join them until Napier) hit their stride pretty quickly.

The night kicked off with “Going Home” and they capped the night off with a medley of “How Great Thou Are/Amazing Grace/Pokarekare Ana”. In between there was "Nearness of You", "Mendoza", "S.T.B", "Morning and Evening Calm", a Serbian song about yellow quinces, and some others from Saffron. 

The quartet tweaked the set list a little to appeal to the (mostly) Whanganui Jazz Club audience at Lucky Bar by including a couple of numbers from Hayden’s big band album, Ace of My Heart - “Rhythm Got Me” and “For Ever More and a Day” (based on Rhythm Changes and Shine on Harvest Moon respectively). Jaco Pastorius’ “Three Views of a Secret” was a surprise addition (they played it in Wellington too).

In Wellington, the quartet appeared at The Third Eye for the Wellington Jazz Cooperative’s fortnightly concert series. There was a solid crowd – but it was not as packed as I was expecting. It seems like it can be hard to draw an audience in Wellington at times (and it seems to have gotten worse while I was living overseas - the creative capital?). I was expecting to see a bunch of saxophonists there - but where were they? (Maybe they had gigs!). I noted the clarity of Paul's bass tone. I have noticed a lot of players end up with heaps of boomy bottom end or a very electric/ampy sound when playing at Third Eye (maybe it's due to the extra volume of the large ensemble gigs... as the couple of examples I can think of where the bass sounded good were trio and quartet gigs). It’s nice to hear the contrast of Unwind with and without drums – Julien brings an energy and adds colours that work really well for me. And he’s an improvisor (and listener), with tunes getting treated quite differently night to night. Sometimes he can be quite busy, yet not get in the way.

Like last year, Hayden played a solo set at St Paul’s Cathedral as part of the TGIF lunchtime concert series. Hayden’s tone in this space is something to behold. It was interesting to hear how the “Well Tempered Shurti Box” is evolving. This time around there was a bit more overtone singing than I recall him doing last year and Pokarekare Ana made an appearance too.

That evening it was off to Raumati South. The house concert is a great setting for this group – Hayden and Norm with vocalist Hannah Griffin. The vibe in the room was fantastic and the trio was on form – the dialogue between Hayden and Norm was on point and Hannah’s singing was as real as I’ve heard. It was great catching up with her after the gig. Hard to put into words really - a beautiful concert, and the highlight from the tour for me.

The following evening Hayden, Norman and Hannah were at Futuna Chapel in Wellington. It’s a great space…. They just need a decent piano! While similar repertoire was used for both evenings, there was definitely a different vibe the previous evening – more formal and more mellow too.

Some of the works feature across the two evenings were: Hinemoana Baker: “Matariki, e”, “I Forget You” (a slow version used for the encore), “Liver”, “Urupā”, “Poi Dances”. One piece Norm announced as being played at “stripper tempo” (it was less raunchy when played in the chapel). Janet Frame: “Before I Get Into Sleep With You” and another I missed the title. David Mitchell: “Aesthetics”. Bill Manhire: “Little Prayers”, “Einstein” and “The Occupation Against Time”. Hone Tuwhare: “Rain” and “Life’s Eternal River”. And probably some others I missed.

I am really keen to hear the quartet plus Hannah (maybe next year) – it sounds like the Auckland gig was a gem. John Fenton wrote a bit about it on his blog.

That weekend I set a personal record for church attendance... three days in a row. On Sunday Hayden was featured with the choir at St Paul’s Cathedral. Sitting through a church service isn’t really my thing…. The things you do for a bit of music!

Following the tour, the quartet went back into the studio so expect another album in the not so distance future… and I hear 2021 tour plans are underway. I’ll have to book some leave.

NZ Jazz: Postcards

A while back I was in the process of clearing out a bunch of excess stuff. I’ve been finding homes for clothes, books and other stuff that has been lying about unused. It started off pretty well but there’s plenty still to go... and I kind of hit the wall (mostly because there's some stuff I want to sell but can't be bothered with listing it/answering questions/postage etc). Perhaps now's the time to kick things back into gear. Part of the effort includes trying not to accumulate stuff but I couldn’t help myself when I crossed paths with these gems – some promo flyers from Yellow Eye Records including a postcard promoting the release of Syzygy’s Tongue Grooves.

Swagman, Norm and The Woods

Swagman at Raumati Social Club (June 2019)

I’ve been totally slack keeping up to date with things here... time to catch up!

I'm trying to make a habit of catching Swagman's monthly gig at Raumati Social Club (the last Friday of the month). I really enjoy hearing a group working with a set of tunes over a period of time. This time around they included one or two news tunes too. It's been a while, so I'll be brief.... but a couple of memories are that the balance was a bit off - louder than usual and lack of clarity. And, Brent quoting Max Roach's "For Big Sid" during one of his solos over an ostinato from Joe and Gabe (I think Brent was surprised that someone picked up on it). 

Norman Meehan's farewell concert (June 2019)

The following night it was off to St Paul's Lutheran Church for Norman Meehan’s farewell concert (Norm is now based in NYC). The two sets featured pieces (old and new) from varying line-ups comprised of Norman (p) Hannah Griffin (vocal) Blair Latham (ts/b.clarinet/g) Lance Philip (d) Martin Riseley (v) Andrew Laking (b). Hannah seems to get better each time I hear her (admittedly only twice since I've been home) - I particularly enjoyed her duo with Martin Riseley. And when was the last time you heard someone double on tenor sax, bass clarinet and guitar? Blair managed it well (even playing all three on one tune). There was almost a house concert feel about the evening (maybe it was the cuppa tea and ginger nuts?).

The Woods at Raumati Social Club (July 2019)

The Woods play that dreaded mixture of jazz, world music and rock. It was the first time hearing this group (aside from a sneak peak on bandcamp a while back.... begs the question, “Why don’t I have their album yet?”) and once again, hearing original compositions being performed without sheet music is refreshing!

Hearing Blair twice in a week playing the unlikely combo of instruments, I couldn’t help giving Blair a little shit that he now has to lug around a guitar, pedals and an amp (he said that wasn’t lost on his bandmates either - after years of him hassling them for all their equipment). I have to give him credit for doubling on guitar in the same band as Joe! And his raspy tenor tone is the perfect fit sonically for this group.

I'm really glad to have caught Joe as much as I have since I’ve been home. I've probably mentioned it before, but I dig his relaxed intensity, and it makes it look easy. And and much as I enjoyed Tom’s playing on upright earlier in the evening, the electric pulled out a different quality in the group sound that really worked. By the second set the volume started getting a little out of balance with the room (I was sitting somewhere different too), with the bass getting a bit too buzzy but it seemed to settle down eventually. I haven't heard Rick Cranson all that much since I've been home. He knows when to turn up the power but didn’t overdo it. He did unleash over the vamp on final tune and the dynamic shift at the end was nailed by the entire band. The two sets flew by, and that's always a good sign.

Unwind on tour

It was time to take an overdue break from work and catch a few of Unwind's gigs as they toured New Zealand.

First stop was the 4^th Wall Theatre in New Plymouth. It meant missing out on Matt Penman in Wellington, but I hadn't heard Hayden since 2012, so I wanted to make the most of him being home (sorry Matt! What are the chances?). It's a nice sized venue and was pretty much at capacity (100 or so). The trio have added a couple of gospel tunes to their repertoire - “Nearer to Thee” and “Precious Lord” - both of which proved to be popular choices. A Serbian folk tune about a son who leaves and never returns seemed like a fitting choice to play (and sing.... as promised to his Serbian friends) to his hometown crowd.

While I was in town I made sure to get to the Govett-Brewsster Gallery/Len Lye Centre. The Group Therapy exhibition featured three of Lye's sculptures, “Rotating Harmonic,” “Zebra” and “Watusi” (I'm pretty sure they said it was the first time since the 60s it had been exhibited). They were also playing “Free Radicals” and “Tusulava.” It's a great space in which to calm your mind. Do check it out. 

Following work on Wednesday, I jumped out to Lucky Bar + Kitchen in Whanganui for round two. There was bit of a different vibe, compared to the more hometown-casual feel of New Plymouth, it was more “gig-like.” The night was bit more high energy, the spiritual pieces got bluesy-er and there was even a little wailing altissimo. I enjoyed the venue - friendly staff and surprisingly decent acoustics (they just need a piano!). A crowd of about 40, not bad for mid-week I guess, tended to stay away from the stage. Paul's “The Last Desperate Hoot”, was a stand out for me. I loved the joyous swing and interaction between P.D and Hayden's weaving lines (Norm laid out, only comping during the head – a recurring pattern for each performance).

I didn't catch the titles of all the new tunes, but I hope “Tumble” (?) makes the new recording. Having heard them debut a number of tunes on this tour I'm keen to hear any that make the next album. One tune I dubbed “Norm's Groove” eventually I discovered was titled “Gabriel.” Norm's “Morning and Evening Calm” to open each concert.

Considering Unwind were touring in support of the release of Orange, they didn't play much from the album - “Miracle” made a regular appearance in the set list. And “Fly” was the only piece from the trio's debut album. But that really didn't bother me, as I enjoyed the chance to hear them working through tunes that will feature on their upcoming album (to be recorded while they were in Christchurch). After four gigs I was starting the new tunes were starting to sink in.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church was the scene on Thursday night in Wellington. I know some people had gigs that night (credit to Jake for making the first set!), but I was expecting a much larger crowd – at least one that was heavy on sax players. We need to work on this! 

For some of the tour Unwind expanded to a quartet with the addition of Julien Dyne on drums. I was really keen to hear how Julien slotted into the group. Particularly on the older material that may not have been written with drums in mind. He had already played a few dates with them earlier in the tour but this was my first chance to hear the new line up. It seemed like the first set he was still coming to terms with the acoustics (there's a reason why Bach didn't have drums in his church band!) but I enjoyed his approach. Unsurprisingly, it did change the fundamental sound of the trio. There was less room for the music to breathe (one of the strengths of the albums). At times he plays the energy that is implied on the trio recordings. Did that space need filling? Sure, Unwind could keep operating as a trio, but the addition of drums definitely brings a new feel to the group. But why change? I guess it may freshen things a little to avoid the third recording being samey. I don't really have a problem with samey... as in stable line-ups working creatively in samey settings (Root 70, Connie Crothers Quartet, Steve Lacy Quintet/Sextet come to mind). But regardless of the reason, the addition of drums has plenty to offer and build on.

One change that did stand out was P.D's approach with the addition of drums. I felt he was more interactive and broke up the time more in the trio setting. This was one of the elements I really enjoyed on the recordings, Unwind and Orange. It came to the fore in Whanganui and on a couple of trio tunes in Raumati. But it was nice hearing him settle into a groove with his son.

One of Norm's strengths is knowing when not to play (a seriously underrated quality!). He can be happy digging the sounds around him without the need to be constantly stabbing at the piano. And when he does play – he means it. It's definitely not a chops-heavy approach, and it suits this group to a tee. 

Friday lunchtime and St. Paul's Cathedral was the setting for a condensed version of “The Well-Tempered Shruti Box.” It's a recording of Hayden's I have listened to a lot, so it was fantastic to hear it live in a acoustic space that really showcased his alto tone to the max. Understated virtuosity – he makes it seem so easy and sound so good, without having to wow people with pyrotechnics. The 35 minutes floated by in no time.

It was great to hear the trio for a couple of nights and then the quartet for a couple of nights. Again, it was very interesting hearing Julien with the group the following evening at the house concert in Raumati South. He's an improviser, as his approach to the same tunes two nights running varied quite a lot - and this time round the acoustics were in his favour. Everything seemed to dovetail together on Friday night – the coziness of New Plymouth, the energy of Whanganui, not having to battle acoustics as they did in Wellington. The crowd (full house) really got into it, and I chatted with a bloke attending his first ever jazz concert and he was blown away.

If they played a better concert than this house concert, and if you managed to catch it, consider yourself extremely fortunate. The walk back to my sister's place was too short to contemplate the mystery and magic I'd heard that night. A great evening.

The week came with mixed emotions – great getting to hear and hang with one of my favourite musicians who I haven't seen in a number of years, but it also was a reminder of times passed, when getting out to four gigs in a week was standard fare, when music was more prominent in my life, and when everyday life was far more fulfilling. Coming down from such such a high isn't easy. In some ways, it served as a stark reminder of just how ordinary parts of my life have become – but I'll try to focus on the positives. During my lessons, Connie Crothers would often talk about momentum. I want to talk this week's energy, move with it and build on it. 

NZ Jazz: Unwind - Orange

Unwind: Orange (Rattle)

Hayden Chisholm (as/shruti box) Norman Meehan (p) Paul Dyne (b)

This month I've been listening to another new release from Rattle. Orange is the follow up to the trio's 2017 debut, Unwind. The added bonus here is the inclusion of a DVD featuring the trio in concert at Orange Studios in Christchurch. 

As was the case when I wrote about Unwind, Orange is quite different from the previous month's featured recording (Antipodes' Good Winter). While both groups have a definite ensemble sound the means in which they attain it are very different. The velvety quality of Hayden's phrasing, Norm's hints of churchiness (without overdoing it) and P.D's counterpoint come together as one to form a distinct trio sound.

The album opens with Norman's “The Chickenfoot Tango” with an alto solo introducing what becomes a duo between Hayden and Paul. One thing I noticed immediately is that the bass sounds a little more “ampy” than on Unwind. Not that it stopped from enjoying Paul's playing. In fact, I really enjoyed the dialogue between P.D and Norm across the album. There's a really thoughtful quality and delicate placement of notes to Paul's work on “Mendoza”. And the collective soloing of piano and bass. 

This conversation playing also stood out on “Grolnick” - particularly Paul's playing during Norm's solo. The trio attain a very rich sound. Warm, and at times, there is a bittersweet element to sneaks in (not only on this tune). I know Norm is a big fan of Don Grolnick's compositions. He's someone I've never really checked out but perhaps it's time I got around to it.

The tracks are fairly short mostly in the 3-4 minute range with three tracks over 6 minutes. It keeps things rolling along which isn't a bad thing with a program heavy on ballads and slower pieces. “Placeholder” and “Ms Mulgan” are well placed to and provide a little lift. The former is upbeat, and while it is quite busy and even dense at times, somehow it remains light. I dig Hayden's phrasing as he opens up the latter unaccompanied. Norm hides his left hand for the entirety of the piece and it makes for a welcome change in color.

The title track is a brief collective improvisation that had me imagining how a set of free improvised music could sound coming from this trio.

The bulk of the tunes come from Norm. Two are by Hayden and the lone tune from Paul is “Miracle.” It fits well into the mix and next time around I'd like to hear them tackle some more of P.D's tunes. At 3.55 Norm hints that things are going to rev up a little and Paul joins him for 10 seconds of walking before the unwind a little more.

The colors Hayden can draw out of his never fails to please my ears. Often it's subtle, but that just draws me in closer and closer. There's an intensity to his attention to detail with tone that really appeals to me. Listening to “Star Shepherd” always had me focusing on his tone. Does this tune showcase something different (tonally) than the other tracks? I don't think so, but I definitely caught myself zoning in on tone here. 

It wasn't immediately apparent what was pulling me in “Star.” But with repeated listens, I realized it was the way the phrases swell and pulsate that caught my ear – music that breathes.

Orange was very much a case of knowing what you're going to get and not being disappointed. I was expecting and unhurried, warm, intimate album featuring lyrical playing, and it checked all those boxes. But Orange is much more than that. Often in jazz, we fall into the trap of being wowed by chops, the fanciness of hip chords, fancy licks, and weird time signatures. But there's something seriously underrated about presenting a melody, taking your time and not having to shout. And that's the wow factor for me that Hayden, Paul and Norm express so well on Orange. Not a bad way to round out what has been a hell of a year.

Unwind are on tour in February (with Julien Dyne added) with details over at Norm's website. See you there!

PS. I love that the watch beep made the final cut. 

2018 NZ Jazz Award Finalists Announced

The finalists for the Recorded Music NZ Best Jazz Artist and APRA Best Jazz Composition have been announced. 

Does anyone know why change Jazz Album of the Year is now Best Jazz Artist? To me they are different things and the award is still based on the album. Anyway....

It's great to see a number of friends in the running. Of the albums, Fearless Music, is the only one I haven't heard, but Unwind has had plenty of airtime since I picked it up last year (and I woke up at 3am this morning with "View of the Moon" floating through my minds ear) and I'm listening to West of the Sun as I write this post. I've been listening to it sporadically since picking it up at the start of the year - Really enjoyable and recommended (I'll get around to blogging about it eventually). I'm a little surprised that Jim Langabeer's Secret Islands didn't make the final three. The composition award is a different matter – I'm not familiar with any of them! However, the works by Callum and Jake were recorded by Radio New Zealand and you can listen to the The Jac & Black String there (part of my plan today). Anita's tune is on her soon to be released album, Eat You Greens – her first as a leader (I think) and I'm looking forward to hearing it. 

Best Jazz Artist 

Lucien Johnson: West of the Sun
Hayden Chisholm/Norman Meehan/Paul Dyne: Unwind
Umar Zakaria: Fearless Music

APRA Best Jazz Composition 
Callum Allardice: "A Gathering"
Anita Schwabe: "Springtide"
Jake Baxendale: "Beyond the Palace"

More details can be found on the APRA/AMCOS website.

NZ Jazz: Chisholm / Meehan / Dyne - Unwind

I first met Hayden when he toured NZ with Root 70 in 2007 and have been listening to his music since about 2003 (more on that later). Of all my friends I've written about his music the most - and I still feel a bit guarded in doing so. Going back to 1999, Norm and Paul were teachers of mine at jazz school and earlier this year while back in NZ, I got to hear them both - P.D with Jasmine Lovell-Smith, and Norm just happened to be playing a gig at the airport(!) when I was there to head back to the U.S. This series of posts is going to challenge me to write about my friends, teachers and associates more than I have in the past. 

Unwind is quite the contrast to the Space Case discs from last month. Following the initial spin I played word association and scribbled down some words that came to mind: space; warmth; quiet; understated; open; cozy; subtle; intimate; sparingness; dark; unhurried; joy; communicative; and intense.

The three originals from Haden have been explored before in the alto/piano/bass setting. “Fly,” “Inebriate Waltz” and “Tinkerbell's Whim” all appeared on Breve with the latter named “Tinkerbell Swing”) and “Inebriate Waltz” is also on Star Shepherd. One thing I haven't done this month is give some comparative listening to the match-ups of Dyne/Meehan, Penman/Taylor and Kaufmann/Eldn alongside Hayden. Norm contributes seven pieces and “Nick Van Dijk” (Hi Nick!) seemed very familiar to me. I think it's from watching the video of the trio that John Fenton posted on his blog late last year as I don't recall hearing another recording of it. There are some strong melodies here and later in the month I started working on “Free Motian” and “S.T.B.”

It's always interesting what pops out as you listen passively - “Edward” and “Free Motian” were the two melodies that initially drew my ear. And there's phrase from Hayden's improvisation on “Nick Van Dijk” (at 1.54) always seemed on leap out at me and now I catch myself waiting for it. Parts of the melody (the bridge) of “View of the Moon” remind me a little of “Ballad of the Hurting Girl” from Norm's Small Holes In The Silence (also on Rattle).

One of the keys to the album is the nuanced playing and subtleties – Paul's upper register playing during the melody of “Beekeeper,” or the way Norm uses a pedal tone to generate some gentle propulsion during the out head of “Free Motian.” Hayden's Basie-esque riff behind Paul's bass solo on “S.T.B” (a live track to end the album) and Norm's intro to his solo on the same piece. Some of these examples last only a matter of seconds but are vital nonetheless. On a mostly ballad outing such as this, textural variety can make a big difference. The piano/alto duo of “Free Motian,” the brief solo sax opening up “Tinkerbell's Whim” the bass/alto duo on “View of the Moon,” and Hayden's comping behind Paul on “S.T.B” provide enough variety to keep the ears fresh. Oh, and the counter point on the out head of “S.T.B” is a nice touch too (the melody of this tune brought to mind Bernie McGann).

The trio brings some laid-back churchy blues to Hayden's arrangement of Robert Schumann's “Sei Gegrusst Viel Tausendmal.” I'm enjoying the way Paul's interactive lines breath with the soloists.

Following the melody, “Unwind” momentarily features the tangled lines of dueting alto and piano before the bass reenters. This tune has bit of a different vibe to the other pieces – maybe a bit darker or starker (again, a nice bit of variety). But that feeling is more apparent during the melody statements than in the improvisations. It's nice hearing the melody used as a tool for accompaniment. I could hear this tune reimagined as a wilder out-of-tempo free-jazz thing too.

A positive vibe prevails on “Edward” which features communicative collective playing and swell to the accompaniment thats builds throughout the song. 3.28 and 4.20 were another couple of phrases/sound bites that caught my ear.

On the mid-tempo pieces like “Tinkerbell's Whim” and “S.T.B” Norm's lines have a nice singing quality to them. His playing on the latter has some nice twists and turns and use of space/phrasing that I'm digging. Paul's sound really pops on “View of the Moon” and “S.T.B” as he digs in for some walking and he plays some lovely counter melodies on “Beekeeper” and the title track.

Hints of Hayden's Johnny Hodges roots come through in “Inebriate Waltz.” The breath is very much part of Hayden's sound and while some players try to hide air sounds (or it is taught out of them), Hayden embraces it. At the six-minute mark he links two phrases with air – not something I hear people doing.

Unwind, lets you do just that – highly recommended. 

NZ Music Month: Lucien Johnson - Stinging Nettles

Johnson/Silva/Sato: Stinging Nettles (Improvising Beings)

Lucien Johnson (ts) Alan Silva (b) Makoto Sato (d) November 2006, Paris. 

Lucien was a year a head of me at music school (and light years a head of me as a musician!). Although back then he had the reputation of being a bit surly (probably because he wasn’t shy of sharing his opinion), I got a long with him quite well and enjoyed his playing too. He was a great source for album recommendations and made sure I checked out Steve Lacy.

A couple of years ago I remember seeing that this trio had an album slated for release on HatArt. The release never happened and I forgot about it until I bumped into Stinging Nettles earlier this year. While I’ve heard a bit from Silva (initially via Cecil Taylor and Albert Ayler recordings), I was unfamiliar with Sato until now.

Considering that Lucien met Silva at the recording session (he and Sato had been playing together for a bit before the session), the trio works really well together. They may burst out of the blocks on the title track but the album is not all just crash and bang (neither is the title track for that matter). Throughout the album there are moments of fire and reflection, melodicism and abstraction, as each improvisation takes its own shape. There’s a lot of listening going on.

The short phrases of  “Abora” give the piece lots of breathing room before a quiet drone emerges to round out the track. The rhythm section maintains a broken time feel throughout “Copper Sky” which has quite a pointed or jumpy start. As the piece develops Lucien mixes up longer phrases with distorted held tones and short bursts. 

“Family of Silva” gradually unfolds. Solo bass opens the piece, Lucien adds a delicate, economic, melodic approach, the drums eventually join in and the trio create an swing feel with a nice push and pull between bass and drums without sacrificing forward momentum. “Pieces of Eight” features high register wails from the sax and arco bass throughout as the drums rumble beneath, while the quiet, minimal “Ice Shelf” finds another side of abstraction via high register arco bass, spacious use of cymbals, and a whispering, breathy saxophone. The fire returns on “Burnt Fingers.” Flurries of notes from the sax, unexpected changes in pulse from the bass, and clattering drums (not a bad thing….it was the only word I could think of!) give the listen plenty to tune in to.

The album wraps up with “Rhyme nor Reason” which has a wandering quality that appeals to me - unhurried but going somewhere. Lucien paces himself well really well and hints at a melodic fragment throughout, bringing continuity to his improvisation. One thing I spent some time focusing on this week is Lucien’s varied tone color - subtone, distorted growls, altissimo, brightness/darkness, throaty resonance, clean, dynamics and shifting vibrato - something I want to work on a bit more in my own playing.

Lucien is featured in Norman Meehan’s book, New Zealand Jazz Life, which I have been re-reading in bits and pieces this month (the chapters on Jim Langabeer, Anthony Donaldson, and Lucien). Lucien speaks about the impact Alan Silva had on him and, as always, has plenty of other interesting things to say too. I particularly like his idea that arts funding should be to directed to areas with more long term benefits like building the community and audience (such as funding venues that can host many artists over a period of time rather than one-off projects that quickly fizzle out). It’s a good read - check it out!

The chapter on Lucien is subtitled, “Jazz is not music for ambience.” This could not be more accurate in the case of the expressive, yet thoughtful, music on Stinging Nettles. 

You can read previous NZ Music Month posts here: C.L. Bob and Bleakley/Crayford/Donaldson

Lambic Jazz Vol.7

No class last week, but there was tonight so I'm back for the Wednesday night post-class hang.

A couple of days ago two discs arrived via CD Baby. On Monday and Tuesday I listened to Virgo Dzurinko (p) & Ryan Messina (trpt) Undertow (New Artists) and tonight Carol Liebowitz (p) & Nick Lyons (as) First Set (Line Art Records) is getting it's first spin. Nick was the first person Connie Crothers introduced me to when I came to NYC to study with her and a couple of days later I met Carol at a session with Nick (at which they played duo). Over the years it's been great to hear them play together and now a moment of that relationship (in concert during 2012) has now been captured.

I've heard Carol and Nick improvise - freely and on standard forms -  many, many times and there are always surprises. The bonus here is that they play two lines written by Connie ("Carol's Dream" and "Roy's Joy"). Of interest to me is the final track - "Another Time." Even though it was recorded five years earlier (2007) and the energy is a bit different (studio vs live perhaps?) it doesn't distract from the flow of the album. This was recorded before I had met Carol and Nick (although I did have a couple of Carol's albums) and I'm curious to see if I pick up on anything I hadn't noticed before. Duos are a favorite format of mine so I expect these two albums will be getting plenty more airtime. Tonight's music was accompanied by De Troch Oude Gueuze.

I'm looking forward to hearing them play (Virg & Ryan too) as part of the Connie Crothers celebration concert on November 13th. If you're in the NYC area get on down to Roulette and check it out. The full line-up is here.

Yesterday Norman Meehan's Serious Fun: The life and music of Mike Nock came off the shelf and I started re-reading it this afternoon. This will be the third (I think) time reading it in full, although I do read a few pages or a chapter on a semi-regular basis. Norman has another book due out in December - New Zealand Jazz Life (Victoria University Press). I'm looking forward to it.

Now I'm going to keep an eye on the first few hours of the first test between Australia and South Africa (looks like I've already missed a bunch of the action!) as game 7 in the World Series goes right down to the wire.

NZ Music Month: Norman Meehan - Small Holes in the Silence

I was hoping to get the first of the NZ Music Month posts up a bit sooner but school deadlines had the blog momentarily on hold. Better late than never I guess.......

Small Holes In The Silence (Rattle Records)
Norman Meehan (p) Hannah Griffin (v) Hayden Chisholm (as)

Norman Meehan has been setting text to music for several years now, starting with the 2009 release Sun Moon Stars Rain (Attar Media) featuring the work of e.e. cummings and following up with two albums setting the work of Bill Manhire - Buddhist Rain and Making Baby Float (both on Rattle).

This time around, Norm sets works from James K. Baxter, Hone Tuwhare, Bill Manhire, Alistair Campbell, Eileen Duggan and David Mitchell. And while the overall mood is sombre with ballads the order of the day, I feel there is enough variety in both the text and music to keep things moving and engaging. It is unhurried and uncluttered, providing clarity for the words and music to speak and breath.

A couple of favourties include the succinct "High Country Weather" (James K. Baxter) [in fact, I was singing this to myself yesterday and was so absorbed that I missed my train] and the wonderfully paced "Frost" (Eileen Duggan) featuring a great blend from Hannah and Hayden during the melody and improvised dialogue between piano and saxophone.

The pairing of Hannah (I can't recall hearing her sound better) and Norman displays a richness developed over many years and adding to that runs the risk of a "third wheel" situation. Although I can hear a couple of other NZ saxophonists who may have made fine contributions to the album (with very different end results), Hayden's touch was the correct match for this album.

For me, Small Holes In The Silence is Norman's strongest work to date. If he continues this collaboration with Hannah and setting texts (and I hope he does), I would love hear a rhythm section added into the mix.

This Radio NZ interview with Norman provides some insight into the album and his process of setting texts.

More Bedside Listening

John Carter & Bobby Bradford Quartet: Flight for Four (Flying Dutchman) This album has been sitting on my "to listen to" pile and I finally got around to it. Mark Weber put me onto this quartet and I'm glad he did (Mark recently posted on John Carter here).

Sal Mosca: The Talk of the Town - Live at the Bimhaus (Sunnyside) This 2CD set of live solo piano from 1992 released earlier this year is an absolute gem. Wonderfully recorded, the album has a very intimate feel - it's almost as if you are a fly-on-the-wall in Sal's studio. Be on the lookout for more Mosca - I understand a box set is due out towards the end of the year. Hopefully these releases will bring more attention to a very underrated pianist.

Dizzy Gillespie: Perceptions (Verve) Earlier in the year I was checking out recordings associated with the Third Stream and I came across Perceptions. The music was written by J.J Johnson and Gunther Schuller conducts a brass ensemble, harps and rhythm section as they back Gillespie. The suite showcases the lyrical side of Dizzy's playing that many don't associate with him (myself included). I finally found a copy in August (at the Jazz Record Mart) and over the past month it has been getting some airtime.

Sonny Rollins: Rollins Meets Hawk! (RCA) I hadn't listened to this album for years and I have to say I've really enjoyed getting back into it. I first heard this album back in '99 when Norman Meehan played it to our jazz history class, not really for Sonny & Hawk, but for Paul Bley (check out Norm's book with Bley - Time Will Tell). Bley is outstanding and although I know people who don't really dig Rollins' here, I'm enjoying it. A bunch of live Rollins quartet recordings with Don Cherry are now available and I'm looking forward to checking them out (eventually!).

Thelonious Monk: Brillant Corners (Riverside) I have been learning a few of Monk's melodies and this was one of the recordings I listened to while working on "Pannonica." This may well be my favourite Monk album. Another album I hadn't listened to for ages and I had forgotten how much I enjoyed Ernie Henry's contribution on alto.

There's no there there

A few years back, Mike Nock performed a solo concert at the Illot Theatre in Wellington. The day of the concert he presented a masterclass. The turnout wasn't huge - mostly a bunch of music students alongside my friend Char Ford and I (front-row-center… jazz nerds!). Mike played a standard and a free improvisation - for the most part he talked about playing, his conception and philosophy. There aren't many details I can remember but one gem remains. When speaking about the journey of music and seeking a destination, a level to attain etc. Mike pointed out that….

"When you get there, you realize there's no there, there."

At the end of the masterclass Norman Meehan asked me if I was coming to the concert that night. I replied that I would love to but I couldn't afford it (the concert wasn't that expensive I was broke at the time). Norman proposed that if I wanted to sell CDs during the set break and after the gig then there would be a ticket for me. I jumped at the chance (Thanks Norm!). The CDs sold well. Of the half a dozen or so discs for sale only one didn't sell out…. the one without Nock playing on it (Michael Houston playing Nock compositions). It was great chatting with Mike after the gig, talking about watching him on TV when I was getting into jazz and what an inspiration he was. 

As a young musician Mike Nock was the only New Zealand jazz musician that I was really aware of. I had seen him on TV (possibly on the news) but never heard his music until later in my teens - towards the end of high school. In fact, I believe the first time I heard his music (outside of that brief TV appearance) was in person thanks to the generosity of a former saxophone teacher (thanks Brian!).

Brian had an extra ticket for a Mike Nock concert in Wellington - if I wanted to go it was mine. The concert launched the 1998 Wellington Jazz Festival. The Wellington Jazz Collective had commissioned Nock to compose a piece for large ensemble. My memories are somewhat hazy when it comes to specifics but the concert most definitely made an impact. Until then the live jazz that I had exposed to was pretty much Big Bands, Dixieland/Swing groups, and the odd group or two playing standards - this was some thing else. Nock presented his composition "Shifting Goalposts" with an ensemble of many of Wellington's (and NZ's) top musicians. I think the lineup was Nock (p) Scott Towers & Jeff Henderson (sax) Nick van Dijk (trb) Chris O'Connor & Roger Sellers (d) John Bell (vibes) Paul Dyne (and someone else… Patrick Bleaky or Tom Callwood) (b).... it was a nine or ten piece group. Please let me know if my memory has failed me. Over the following three years many of them would be my teachers at music school.

If there is a recording of this concert floating around I would love to hear it.

Wellington Public Library has treated me well over the years. As a teenager I would browse the racks finding things to listen to - artists I had read about or just random albums. Around the time of "Shifting Goalposts" one such visit lead me to Ondas (ECM 1982 - with Eddie Gomez (d) Jon Christensen (d)). At the time I was listening to lots of Bird and getting into classics like Sonny Rollins (Saxophone Colossus) Paul Desmond (Time Out) Ornette Coleman (Shape of Jazz) Dexter Gordon (Our Man in Paris) - Ondas was quite a change for me. 
The mood is quite reflective throughout the album (things pick up tempo-wise on "Doors"). The drums sneak in and out while the bass accompaniment is sparse. Nock's piano is light with crystal clear purpose. I'm surprised this is the only work Nock did for ECM.

Check out Nock's album In Out and Around for an earlier quartet version of "Forgotten Love."

During the 1990's Nock worked as a producer for Naxos and the label priced its releases much lower than was common in New Zealand - that, and they had distribution in NZ, meant these are the albums I have heard the most.

Ozboppin' (Naxos 1998) got many spins when Char and I were working at Piano City. Fine playing from what I believe was Nock's working group of the time - Tim Hopkins (ts) Phil Slater (trpt/flugel) Cameron Undy (b) David Goodman (d) It had been a while since I last listened to the entire album - Nock's solo on the title track always stood out to me.

Not We But One (Naxos 1997) Tony Reedus (d) Anthony Cox (b). Nice interplay from the trio on seven compositions from Nock, three free improvisations and one standard ('Cry Me A River' in 3/4). An album with nice amounts of variety yet plenty of continuity. I would like to hear some of his more recent trios - I haven't got to 'Changing Seasons" & "Accumulation of Subtleties" just yet.

The Waiting Game (Naxos 1999) A set of duos with Marty Ehrlich. Once again there's plenty of variety with the material - Five Nock originals, free improvisations, folk tunes, and one piece each from Brubeck & James P. Johnson. This disc was introduction to Ehrlich's playing who divides time been clarinet (soprano & bass) and saxophone (alto & soprano). It's a nice pairing, with two distinctive sounds with plenty of common ground. For more of Ehrlich & Nock together check out the two New York Jazz Collective albums (also on Naxos). 

Duologue (Birdland 2007) duo with David Liebman (soprano sax). I picked this album up a couple of years before getting into soprano. The recording captures the warmth of this duo in concert at the 2004 Wangaratta Jazz Festival. Two old friends sharing the bandstand after many years apart seems to bring out the best of both artists. The set list includes originals by Nock & Liebman plus a couple of standards. Liebman has some long standing relationships with pianists - Richie Beirach, Phil Markowitz & Marc Copland. Duologue makes me want to hear some follow up work between these two. Back in the 80's they did record as part of a quartet (The Opal Heart) but I am yet to hear that disc (I see it's on Spotify). This disc backs up my feeling that the soprano saxophone is Liebman's voice. Mike's accompaniment & solo work throughout is top notch. 

While I'm on the subject of duos I don't want to leave out Open Door (Ode 1987) with drummer Frank Gibson Jr. The groove of "Harriet St" & "Phaedra's Lullaby", the harmonies of "Danny Boy", the up-tempo "Choices" and the journey of "Great Wall." This one has had plenty of plays over the years too.
Nock's most recent release - Kindred - another piano/drum duet, this time with Laurenz Pike. I look forward to hearing it.

For those of you after more info on "the white boy from Ngaruawahia" be sure to check out Serious Fun: The Life & Music of Mike Nock by Norman Meehan(Victoria University Press 2010) 

It's full of wonderful tales from his early years in New Zealand and relocating to the USA (via Australia) - touring with Yusef Lateef and Stanley Turrentine, the NYC lower east side scene during the 60's, The Fourth Way etc - through to his mentoring of younger players in Australia. 
Here's a couple excerpts from the book: First up - Nock on fellow pianist Paul Bley. 

"It didn't matter what the changes were - sometimes he might refer to them, but a lot of the time he wouldn't at all - and it didn't matter. It's the strength of the line that carries it. Playing with total certainty about you are doing is what makes the difference." 

And, from the final couple of pages:
"Jazz is serious - it's serious fun, but for me it is serious music - otherwise what's the point in doing it? Mediocrity doesn't rule my life."

An added bonus included with the book is the DVD - Mike Nock: A Film. I have blurry memories of watching Nock on T.V before I started playing sax so I'm guessing it was documentary (it seemed very familiar when I watched after reading the book).

I am yet to delve into his music from a playing side. Perhaps that awaits me in the future.

Spring Time Listening

Lacy: N.Y Capers & Quirks

Here are a few discs that have been on over the last few weeks.

Steve Lacy: NY Capers & Quirks (HatOlogy 1979)
If you asked, I would likely answer that Lacy's trios are my favourites from his vast discography with this live album near the top. The trio - Lacy (soprano sax) Ronnie Boykins (b) Dennis Charles (d) - sound great playing all Lacy tunes. Plenty of energy  and creative playing from all.

Bley: Notes on Ornette

Paul Bley: Notes on Ornette (Steeplechase 1998)
Bley (p) Jay Anderson (b) Jeff Hirshfield (d) One Bley original and a handful of Ornette tunes. This disc was new to me and has had multiple listens. Worthwhile checking out if you have and interest in Coleman or Bley.

This led me to revisit a couple of Bley's earlier discs  - "Footloose!" (Savoy 1963) with Steve Swallow (b) Pete LaRoca (d) and "Closer" (ESP Disk 1965) with Swallow (b) Barry Altschul (d). Both are excellent and recommended. I was introduced to Bley's work by one of my lectures - Norman Meehan - who went on to write "Time Will Tell: Conversations with Paul Bley." I rate Bley highly - a distinctive pianist and one of my favorites.

Warne Marsh & Sal Mosca: Quartet (1 & 2) (Zinnia)
Have been listening to a couple of very nice ballads from the these to volumes of live recordings at the Village Vanguard in 1981 "Shak' In-Out" (Improvising on Body & Soul) and "Way In There" (You Go To My Head).  The latter is one of my favourite Warne Marsh performances. Sal Mosca is in fine form too. These recordings are fairly lo-fi but well worth listening to for those interested in Mosca & Marsh.