Quite a monster of an album by Nigeria’s finest, Fela Kuti. The track listing for this album is:
01 “Alu Jon Jonki” – 12:41
02 “Jeun Ko Ku (Chop ‘n Quench)” – 7:14
03 “Eko Ile” – 6:41
04 “Je’nwi Temi (Don’t Gag Me)” – 13:15
Free Jazz
The Skopje Connection – Branko, Branko, Branko (Live)
Three of the finest musicians Macedonia has to offer combine with Dutch cellist Ernst Reijsinger for an amazing concert I was privileged enough to attend.
The lineup for the evening:
Dzijan Emin – Melodeon
Luca Aquino – Trumpet
Georgi Sareski – Guitar
Ernst Reijseger – Cello
Enrico Blumer deserves a load of credit for making this collaboration happen. He has been a gift to the Skopje music scene.
[Video] Ornette Coleman – Faithful
In honor of the first Ornette Coleman LP I ever purchased. RIP.
A Truly Bad Day For The Arts
My friend Gummi from Iceland had posted that the legendary James Last, King of Easy Listening, had passed away. Of course many mourn his loss, but things got progressively worse of the past 24 hours.
Next was the loss of Christopher Lee, the best Dracula to ever appear on celluloid, and a man not to be trifled with in real life. Stage actor Ron Moody also died.
And it got worse. Ornette Coleman, who introduced the world to the concept of free jazz, died this morning. His albums, Foxhole and The Shape of Jazz To Come were formative listening for me.
The truly sad one doesn’t have a normal place here, as he was more of a TV performer. Dusty Rhodes, the professional wrestler who ‘won’ world titles during his stint in the National Wrestling Alliance, and who was known as an affable clown to WWE fans, also left this mortal coil. I grew up watching a lot of professional wrestling, as Saturday mornings were free before I played ball, cut the grass or read.
All will be missed.
[Video] Ganelin, Chekasin, Tarasov – Semplice (II)
I really owe all of my passion for Eastern European/Soviet Improvisational and Experimental music to one man: Leo Feigin of Leo Records. It was through his introduction, via his catalog and a few letters back and forth, that I was introduced to such artists as Vyacheslav Ganelin (the Ganelin Trio’s leader, now based in Israel), Sergei Belichenko and Roman Stolyar, a friend to this day.
Here is the Ganelin Trio near the peak of their improvisational powers. Vladimir Tarasov and Vladimir Chekasin join in.
[Video] Alexander Von Schlippenbach Trio – Pakistani Pomade (1972)
Alexander Von Schlippenbach is one of the luminaries in the world of free jazz. He’s a fine pianist who makes full and absolute use out of his weapon of choice.
[Video] Grateful Dead with Ornette Coleman – The Other One 2-23-93
I’m not a big fan of The Grateful Dead’s studio recordings. However, they were rather sublime live. And when they are paired with one of the giants of free jazz in Ornette Coleman, magic happens.
[Video] Zao – Marochsek
Zeuhl at its finest, made by Zao, which included Magma alums Yochk’o Seffer (saxophone, clarinet), François Cahen (piano) and Didier Lockwood (violin).
[Video] Bar Kokhba Sextet – Zechriel
John Zorn’s wonderful Bar Kokhba Sextet, off their album, Lucifer: Book of Angels, Vol. 10. An unpleasant name for such incredible music.
[Video] Sergey Kuryokhin – Mystics
Sergey Kuryokhin was, by far, the most influential and most widely recognized avant-garde musician to come out of Russia in the 1980s. Both alone and with the Ensemble Pop-Mekhanika, he made music which was extreme even to American tastes. Here is an absurdist sample of his work.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 