JEROME COOPER – The Unpredictability Of Predictability /solo album (LP-1979)

Label: About Time Records – AT-1002

Format: Vinyl, LP / Country: US / Released: 1979

Style: Avant-garde, Free Jazz, Free Improvisation

Recorded live at Soundscape in New York City, July 6, 1979.

Album Design by – Therese Bolton

Cover and Liner Photographs by – Doug Fidoten

Engineer by – Larry Shengold

Produced by – Jerome Cooper in association with Verna Gillis

All music composed by Jerome Cooper

Matrix / Runout (A-side): AT-1002-A [DC] FW/NY (EDP in ellipse)

Matrix / Runout (B-side): AT-1002-B-1 (EDP in ellipse) [DC] FW/NY

Original US pressing. Solo album of a drummer of the LOFT team.

Tracklist:
A  -   The Unpredictability Of Predictability:

    1 - Movement A, B  (flute, whistle, chiramia, bass drum, sock cymbal) .................... 9:59

    2 - Movement C      (drum set / mallet) ..................................................................... 4:29

    3 - Movement C1    (floor tom-tom, bass drum, sock cymbal, voice) ........................ 6:40

B  -   Bert The Cat      (balaphone, chiramia, bass drum, sock cymbal) ...................... 20:37

"This is not just an album for drummers... anyone into music can dig it this music. Classical music people can dig it because it's structured, people into rock because of the beat, people into jazz because of the improvisation aspect, and those into ethnic music because of the instruments involved." -- Jerome Cooper

A great solo performance from Jerome Cooper – not just drums and percussion, but work on flute, balaphone, and other instruments too! Cooper really brings all of his most thoughtful elements into play here – working slowly, and covering space with ideas that really take some time to stretch out and find themselves – then confidently move forward to open up new chapters in the performance – a bit like some of the best early moments of the Art Ensemble Of Chicago, but presented here as a solo act! Side one features "The Unpredictability Of Predictability", in four movements – and side two features "Bert The Cat".

Not many jazz drummers present entire albums of themselves in solo format, but when they do, chances are they're going to haul out everything including the kitchen sink to dazzle the listener with their range and dexterity. Not Jerome Cooper. This superb musician, known primarily for his masterful and invaluable contributions to the fine trio Revolutionary Ensemble, treats his solo performances as free-standing compositions scored for only certain instruments from which he extracts huge volumes of sounds and rhythms. For example, "Bert the Cat" is written for balaphone (an African ancestor of the marimba), chiramia (a double-reed instrument that sounds liked a more softly-timbred shenai), bass drum, and sock cymbal. Using only these four elements, Cooper constructs a rich, propulsive theme so inherently fascinating that one soon forgets one is listening to only a solo percussionist. Cooper has no interest in wowing the listener by playing fast or loud, but simply desires to develop lovely rhythms and melodic patterns and allow them to flower. A fine recording and wonderful antidote for those who claim to be bored by drum solos.

(_Review by Brian Olewnick)

If you find it, buy this album!

LEROY JENKINS – Space Minds, New Worlds, Survival Of America (LP-1979)

Label: Tomato – TOM-8001

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album / Country: US / Released: 1979

Style: Free Jazz, Experimental

Recorded and mixed August / September 1978.

Design – Milton Glaser

Cover Photography By – Steve Salmieri

Engineer – James Mason

Liner Notes – Robert Palmer

Producer – Marty Cann

All compositions by Leroy Jenkins

Matrix / Runout (Runout Area Side A): TOM-8001-1 #4 34601

Matrix / Runout (Runout Area Side B): TOM-8001-2 #4 34601

Tracklist:

A  -  Space Minds, New Worlds, Survival Of America .......................................... 21:09

        I.  Blast Off Day (Love - Tolerance - Understanding)

        II.  Discovery (Knowledge - Doubt - Sensitivity)       

        III.  Euphoria (Beauty) 

        IV.  1984           

        V.  Self-Realization      

        VI.  Return Trip

B1 - Dancing On A Melody ..................................................................................... 4:37

B2 - The Clowns ..................................................................................................... 3:18

B3 - Kick Back Stomp ............................................................................................. 6:23

B4 - Through The Ages Jehovah ............................................................................ 3:05

Personnel:

Leroy Jenkins – violin

Richard Teitelbaum – synthesizer [modular Moog, micro Moog] (side A)

Anthony Davis – piano, electric piano

George Lewis – trombone, electronics

Andrew Cyrille – drums, percussion

Great Tomato label... What other imprint could boast a roster that included Doc Watson, John Cage, Townes Van Zandt, Harry Partch, Philip Glass and Sam Rivers? And of course Leroy Jenkins with his release from 1978, Space Minds, New Worlds, Survival of America. That this almost 40 years old artifact sounds as fresh as it does testifies to the vision of its creators.

The all star band includes Andrew Cyrille on drums, a young Anthony Davis on piano, George Lewis on trombone, and Richard Teitelbaum on Modular Moog/Micro Moog Systems. Teitelbaum, who would go on to further distinguish himself as a composer and performer, had played with George Lewis and Anthony Braxton. His unique programming on the Moog protects the session from quaint-sounding 38-year old electronics. The album features a long track with a wide spectrum of mood and well-integrated electronics from Lewis and Teitelbaum; the latter sits out on the last four cuts, which are all acoustic. Jenkins and company work wonders on the collective improvs, gracefully weaving and circling each other. But do not expect to get a jazz album here.

Space Minds, New Worlds, Survival of America represented Leroy Jenkins' first venture into a field where contemporary classical and jazz were beginning to merge, a more modern Third Stream. His quintet on the title suite includes Musica Elettronica Viva veteran Richard Teitelbaum on synthesizer, and also gives us one of trombonist George Lewis' first recorded forays into electronics. The piece uses extensive improvised passages, but both the written material and the rhythms employed are relatively distant from a jazz feel, though with Jenkins a strong blues affinity is never far beneath the surface. Much of it actually prefigures pianist Anthony Davis' work with his Episteme ensemble of a few years later, and one wonders if his experience with Jenkins was critical to his future development. The four subsequent tracks are acoustic, without Teitelbaum and with Lewis confined to trombone. They range through a similarly semi-classical landscape with a bit of jazzy emphasis on pieces like "Kick Back Stomp." But the true highlight of the session is the final song, "Through the Ages Jehovah," an utterly gorgeous melody that's reiterated by the violin and trombone over sumptuous accompaniment by Davis and Cyrille. It's one of those melodies that could go on forever; its brevity is its only fault. Space Minds... is a fine album, one of Jenkins' best outside of the Revolutionary Ensemble, and an excellent introduction to his world.

(_Review by Brian Olewnick)

If you find it, buy this album!

GEORGE ADAMS / ARCHIE SHEPP / HEINZ SAUER – Frankfurt Workshop '78: Tenor Saxes (Circle Records / LP-1978)

Label: Circle Records – RK 24978/31

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album / Country: Germany / Released: 1978

Style: Avant-garde Jazz

Recorded 24/9/1978 at the 16th German Jazz Festival in Frankfurt by Hessischer Rundfunk.

Photography – Heinz Sauer / Juliane Werner

Design and Other Photography – Rudolf  Kreis

Producer – Fritz Rau / Horst Lippmann

Executive Producer – Rudolf  Kreis

Executive Manager – Peter Zünkler

Artist Releations – Gabi Kleinschmidt

Matrix / Runout (A): F 669 294 A - I

Matrix / Runout (B): F 669 294 B - I

Tracklist:

A  -  Free For Three ................................................................................. 22:30

B1 - For Art´s Art Now ............................................................................. 14:50

B2 - In A Sentimental Mood ...................................................................... 5:20

B3 - Free Interlude .................................................................................... 1:30

Line-up/Musicians:

Archie Shepp – tenor & soprano sax

George Adams – tenor sax

Heinz Sauer – tenor sax

Rainer Brüninghaus – piano

Palle Danielsson – bass

Alex Riel – drums, percussion

Recorded 24/9/1978 at the 16th German Jazz Festival in Frankfurt by Hessischer Rundfunk.

Original German pressing. Artists: George Adams / Archie Shepp / Heinz Sauer featuring Rainer Brüninghaus, Palle Danielsson and Alex Riel. Recorded In 1978 At The 16th German Jazz Festival In Frankfurt. Rare.

If you find it, buy this album!

SAM RIVERS – Waves (Tomato Records – TOM-8002 / LP-1979)

Label: Tomato – TOM-8002

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album / Country: US / Released: 1979

Style: Free Jazz, Free Improvisation

Recorded at Big Apple Studio in New York City on August 8, 1978.

Design – Milton Glaser

Photography By – Steve Salmieri

Engineer – Elvin Campbell, James Jordan

Produced by Rivbea Music Company
Liner Notes – Robert Palmer

All compositions by Sam Rivers

Matrix / Runout (Side A Label): TOM 8002-A

Matrix / Runout (Side B Label): TOM 8002-B

A1 - Shockwave .............................................................................. 14:58

A2 - Torch ......................................................................................... 7:05

B1 - Pulse ....................................................................................... 10:33

B2 - Flux ........................................................................................... 6:10

B3 - Surge ........................................................................................ 5:18

Personnel:

Sam Rivers – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, piano

Dave Holland –  bass, cello

Joe Daley – tuba, baritone horn

Thurman Barker – drums, percussion

Waves is an album by American jazz saxophonist Sam Rivers featuring performances recorded in 1978 and released on the Tomato label.

An explosive late '70s set with underrated composer, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger Sam Rivers leading a strong quartet. While bassist and cellist Dave Holland and percussionist Thurman Barker merged to form a strong, challenging rhythm section, Rivers and Joe Daley, playing tuba and baritone horn, worked together to create instrumental dialogues in sequence. Their array of contrasting voicings, with Rivers on tenor and soprano sax and flute, makes for compelling listening.

(_ Review by Ron Wynn)

Here's a LP that I love very much. Tomato Records (TOM-8002) as one of the great documents of 70s creative jazz. Sam Rivers is one of the all-time greats on tenor sax, and a mean soprano, flute, and piano player, as well. Anyone who's caught his trio live in recent years can attest to the fact that his talents are undiminished, even at the age of 80. This particular album was recorded in 1978, and prominently features bassist Dave Holland, one of Rivers' most sympathetic collaborators of the decade. Holland is the anchor here, with Thurman Barker's spare, understated, and masterfully economical drumming going from rapid hi-hat timekeeping to volcanic surges of Varese-like pile-ups. The bass player has an almost unreal sense of time, and his rapid, wandering lines are consistently articulated with impeccable clarity. Also holding the bottom end down is Joe Daley's tuba. He handles What one would assume to be an unweildly instrument for fast-paced improvisation with a deftness that allows him to flow easily amongst the quicksilver play of the other musicians. Daley also plays baritone horn on the opening cut "Shockwave", his lines and Holland's interlocking in a fluid tussle. The piece opens with Rivers on the piano, playing with a robust, but beautiful force that prefigures the style Matthew Shipp would take to the next level some years later. After the aforementioned duet between Holland and Daley, Barker gradually asserts his presence, while Rivers enters on tenor. His angular, clean lines evolve into impassioned shrieks, while the rapid free-bop pace never lets up. "Torch" is a similarly speedy number, with Rivers on flute. After the rhythmic, acoustic quasi-fusion of "Pulse", where Holland's playing most recalls his work with Miles Davis, "Flux" features the bassist's cello playing in a duet with Rivers' piano. The piece recalls twelve-tone classical in its more restrained moments, before building up into a dramatic cloud of sound accented by Barker's bells. Rivers' rich tenor returns on the closing "surge", as does Daley's tuba. Holland stretches out on arco bass while Barker lays low for much of the track, adding manic snare shapes at unpredictable peaks. Overall, this album met with my high expectations.

If you find it, buy this album!

NEIGHBOURS (with Fred Anderson and Bill Brimfield) – Accents (MRC / LP-1978)

Label: Musicians Record Co. – 1C 066-32 854

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album / Country: Germany / Released: 1978

Style: Free Jazz, Free Improvisation

Recorded February 1977 at Rüssl Tonstudio Hamburg, Germany.

Cover Design – Bruno Lefeldt

Rec. Engineer – Gero von Gerlach

Mix – Gero von Gerlach / Wolfgang Kunert

Printed – by 4P Nicolaus, Köln, Germany

(MRC / EMI Electrola, 1978)

Production – Musicians Record Co.

Label Code: LC 5527

Matrix / Runout (Side A, etched): 1C•066-32 854-A-0 PF

Matrix / Runout (Side B, etched): 1C•066-32 854-B-0 PF

A -  a) The Little Fox Run ........................................................................................ 8:00

           Composed By – Fred Anderson

       b) Adam´s Rib .................................................................................................. 9:25

           Composed By – Bill Brimfield

       c) Our Theme ................................................................................................... 0:35

           Composed By – Fred Anderson

B1 - Knautschlack / A Skelett .................................................................................. 4:15

        Composed By – John Preininger

B2 - Snales Pace .................................................................................................... 3:40

        Composed By – Dieter Glawischnig, Karl Berger

B3 - The Worm In Eve´s Apple / Twillight .............................................................. 12:55

        Composed By – Ewald Oberleitner, Fred Anderson

Dieter Glawischnig – piano

Ewald Oberleitner – bass

Joe Preininger – drums, percussion

+

Fred Anderson – tenor saxophone

Bill Brimfield – trumpet

Rare 1977 Original. Grey and white label with "MRC" in bold black and white letters. Rrecorded in Hamburg, Germany in 1977. Very inspirational, free jazz set by the superb Austrian trio Neighbours plus Fred Anderson on tenor sax and Bill Brimfield on trumpet.

In the sixties and seventies Fred Anderson played with musicians such as Bill Brimfield, Archie Shepp, Jack DeJohnette, Joseph Jarman and Muhal Richard Abrams, and other members of the AACM's. Europe was first visited in 1977 in the company of his longtime colleague, trumpeter Bill Brimfield. Chicago boys were the guests of the Austrian trio Neighbours (Ewald Oberleitner - bass, Joe Preininger - drums), led by pianist Dieter Glawischnig. In Hamburg they recorded the LP entitled Accents. In November 1978, Neighbours and Fred Anderson also performed in Ex Yugoslavia in the Amphitheater II, "Maribor Grammar School" (Slovenia) and RTV Zagreb (Croatia) live LP recorded Neighbours + Fred Anderson. Fred is at this time in Europe also played with his quartet (B. Brimfield - trumpet, Steven Palmore - bass, Hamid Drake - drums) and recorded the album Another Place and Live in Verona.   (by V. S.)

If you find it, buy this album!