JAMES NEWTON – Water Mystery (LP-1985, Gramavision)

Label: Gramavision – 18-8407-1

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album / Country: US / Released: 1986

Style: Free Jazz, Free Improvisation, Avant-garde Jazz

Recorded at Mad Hatter Studios, Hollywood, California, January 1985.

Design – Neal Pozner

Engineer – Bernie Kirsch

Produced By – James Newton

Cover Art: St. Prosper – by Catharine Warren courtesy of the LIGHT Gallery

A1 - Star Crossed Lovers . . . 3:33

A2 - Lone Hill . . . 10:41

A3 - The Crips . . . 7:58

B1 - Water Mystery . . . 8:56

B2 - One For Strayhorn . . . 5:18

B3 - Dance Steps . . . 5:24

James Newton - flute

Charles Owens - English horn, soprano sax

John Carter – clarinet

April Aoki – harp

Allan Iwohara - koto

Red Callender - tuba

Greg Martin - oboe

John Nunez - bassoon

Roberto Miranda - bass

Anthony Brown – percussion

The five musicians of James Newton's wind ensemble featured on The Mystery School in 1982 (flutist Newton, bassoonist John Nunez, Charles Owens on English horn and soprano, clarinetist John Carter and Red Callender on tuba) are joined by oboist Greg Martin, bassist Roberto Miranda, percussionist Anthony Brown, April Aoki on harp and Allan Iwohara on koto for a rather colorful set. There are two tributes to Billy Strayhorn (including a version of "Star Crossed Lovers"), one for George Russell, a remake of "The Crips" and a pair of features for the koto. A very interesting program of adventurous yet quite logical explorations.

_ Review by Scott Yanow

If you find it, buy this album!

VINNY GOLIA – Openhearted (LP-1979)

Label: Nine Winds Records – NW-0102
Format: Vinyl, LP; Country: US - Released: 1979
Style: Free Jazz, Avant-garde Jazz
Recorded Feb. 7, 1979 at U.C.L.A., Melnitz Hall, Los Angeles, CA.
Composed By, Arranged By  – Vinny Golia
Producer – Vinny Golia
Cover Design By – Vinny Golia and Alex Cline
Published By Nine Winds Music

A1 - Alone - A) ...At Nite B) Try Toane  -  11:18 
A2 - #14 - A "Conversation" Piece  -  6:15
A3 - The Happy... - For My Friends In L.A.  -  6:10

B1 - Pulse - ..Striving To Ascend...  -  6:13
B2 - The Presence - "..A Dedication To The All-seeing Eye..."  -  8:04
B3 - Dance For O.C. - ..Thanks For A Conversation In '69 And A "Special" Meeting A Remingtons..."  -  7:58

Vinny Golia – alto / bass clarinet, soprano / tenor / baritone saxophone, flute [C- / alto]

Baikida Carroll – trumpet, flugelhorn

Nels Cline – guitar

Roberto Miranda – bass

Alex Cline – drums, percussion

Vinny Golia / Alex Cline

The second LP from Nine Winds features the versatile avant-gardist Vinny Golia playing six originals that feature him on alto flute, soprano, clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor and baritone.
Golia is joined by trumpeter Baikida Carroll, bassist Roberto Miranda, drummer Alex Cline and (on three of the six numbers) guitarist Nels Cline. From sound explorations to free bop, the advanced music always holds one's interest and has plenty of unexpected tone colors.



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