Live Music Pick: Thursday, January 5, 2012

Artist: Harlan / Rumspringa / Noah and the Megafauna
When: Thursday January 5, 2012
Where: The Satellite
Who Should Go: Party boys, fans of Kennedy/Har Mar
Tickets: Free Show

Other Noteworthy Shows:
Vintage Trouble @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
Hanni El Khatib / Jacuzzi Boys @ Alex's Bar(Free w/ RSVP)
Jeff Garlin in Conversation with Henry Rollins @ Largo ($30)

Live Music Pick: Wednesday January 4, 2012

Artist: Big Business / Neil Hamburger
When: Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Who Should Go: People who shop at Vacation Vinyl
Where: Alex's Bar in Long Beach
Tickets: $10 (buy)

Live Music Pick: Tuesday January 3, 2012

Artist: Olin and the Moon / Willoughby / Maxim Ludwig / Jeff Crosby
When: Tuesday January 3, 2012
Who Should Go: Sensitive beer drinkers
Where: The Echo
Tickets: $7 at the door

Live Music Options: January 2, 2012

Artist: Frank Fairfield (NPR feature and Daytrotter Session)
When: Monday January 2, 2012
Who Should Go: Harry Smith acolytes
Where: Redwood Bar
Tickets: Available at the Door

Other Noteworthy Shows:
Princeton @ Bootleg (Free)
Chasing Kings @ The Satellite (Free)
Seasons @ The Echo (Free)
Vinnie Ferra @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)

Best of 2011: #5 - #1

5) Apex Manor: The Year of Magical Drinking


4) Frankel: Sugar Twists Like Hurricane


3) J Mascis: Several Shades of Why


2) Kurt Vile: Smoke Ring For My Halo


1) Charles Bradley: No Time For Dreaming


Honorable Mentions: Atlas Sound, Real Estate, Wye Oak, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Centro-Matic

Best of 2011: #10 - #6

10) Okkervil River: I Am Very Far


9)My Morning Jacket: Circuital


8) Fleet Foxes: Circuital


7) Girls: Father, Son, Holy Ghost


6) Yuck: Yuck

Live Music Pick of the Night: Descendents at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium

Artist: Descendents (my favorite band in junior high)  / The Vandals / The Dickies
Who Should Go: People who like loud, fast music with some heart
Where: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
When: Sunday, December 18, 2011
Tickets: $43 (Here)

Other Noteworthy Shows:
Beach Fossils @ The Echoplex ($13)

Live Music Pick: Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Patrick Carney from the Black Keys produced Tennis' new album (due out in February)

Artist: Tennis / Miniature Tigers / Devon Williams
Who Should Go: Indie rock/indie pop fans
When: Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Where: The Satellite
Tickets: $12 (here or at the door)

Other Noteworthy Shows:
Lana Del Rey @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
Peter Murphy @ Club Nokia ($26 - $35)
The Kooks @ The Music Box ($31)

Live Music Picks: Monday, December 5, 2011

Aquarium Drunkard posted this last May and it's stuck with me ever since...

Artist: Michael Kiwanuka /  Rocco DeLuca and Daniel Lanois / Bleached
Who Should Go: People with taste, people who like to say: "Oh yeah. Well I saw him way back in..."
When: Monday, December 5, 2011
Where: Bardot [1737 Vine Street]
Tickets: Free (RSVP here)

Other Noteworthy Shows:
Frank Fairfield @ Redwood Bar
Light FM / Useless Keys @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)
Manhattan Murder Mystery / Kid Infinity / Stab City @ The Satellite (Free) 
Neverever @ The Echo (Free)

Live Music Pick of the Night: Wednesday November 30, 2011

Artist: Boom Bip (with guests Eric Avery of Jane's Addiction and Josh Klinghoffer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers) / Useless Keys
Who Should Go: People who liked his Neon Neon stuff
When: Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Where: The Satellite
Tickets: $10 (here or at the door)

Other Noteworthy Shows:
Cass McCombs @ The Echo ($14)
Ras G @ Airliner ($10)

Live Music Pick: Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Band: CAVE / Sun Araw
Who Should Go: Music snobs, psych-y krautrockers
When: Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Where: The Satellite
Tickets: $10 (here or at the door)

Other Noteworthy Shows:
Rachel Yamagata @ Troubadour (Sold Out)

Monday Night Music Pick: November 28, 2011

Band: Frank Fairfield
Who Should Go: Old time & Americana music fans
When: Monday, November 28, 2011
Where: Redwood Bar
Tickets: Available at the door

Other Noteworthy Shows:
Morrissey @ Fox Theatre Pomona (Sold Out)
Vanaprasta @ The Satellite (Free) - Their residency has been packed
Hi Ho Silver Oh / Charlene Yi @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)

Stefano di Battista: Woman's Land (2011)

Stefano di Battista (born February 14, 1969) is an Italian jazz saxophonist who plays soprano and alto. He was born in Rome. He began playing at thirteen with friends and became interested in jazz on hearing Art Pepper. In Italy he received guidance from Massimo Urbani and by his twenties di Battista was performing in Paris. He put out his debut as a leader in 1997 and has toured with the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine.

Tracklist:
1. Molly Bloom (05:52)
2. Valentina Tereskova (03:58)
3. Rita Levi (05:59)
4. Coco Chanel (04:40)
5. Ella (03:25)
6. Madame Lily Devalier (04:19)
7. Josephine Baker (05:32)
8. Maria Lani (06:16)
9. Anna Magnani (05:09)
10. Lucy (06:07)
11. Lara Croft (04:04)
12. Woman's Land (05:13)
Personnel:
STEFANO DI BATTISTA - alto & soprano saxophones
JEFF BALLARD - drums, percussions
JONATHAN KREISBERG - acoustic and electric guitars
FRANCESCO PUGLISI - double bass
JULIAN OLIVER MAZZARIELLO - piano on 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
ROBERT TARENZI - piano on 1, 3, 4, 6
IVAN LINS - vocals on Rita Levi
FABRIZIO BOSSO - trumpet on Josephine Baker & Madame Lily Devalier
Recorded January 26th to 28th, 2011, at Forum Music Village, Roma, Italy
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Fileserve @320K

Herbie Hancock: Magic Windows (1981)

Recorded in 1981 and featuring the following sidemen: Ray Parker Jr. (guitar), Sheila E (percussion), Sylvester (vocals), Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Alphonse Mouzon (drums) and Adrian Belew (guitar). This is a very nice, light funk/fusion date recorded just before he went on a more gritty path with 'Future Shock', which featured the mega-hit 'Rockit'.
Amongst the other synthesisers employed on this album, an Alpha Syntauri (enhanced Apple ][ computer) was used for some of the tracks. Liner-notes on the CD version, from "Jazz Originals Series", say "There are no strings, or other orchestral instruments on this album. All of these orchestrations are performed by Herbie Hancock on various synthesizers."

Tracklist:
1 Magic Number 7:21
2 Tonight's The Night 6:28
3 Everybody's Broke 7:05
4 Help Yourself 6:40
5 Satisfied With Love 6:28
6 The Twilight Clone 8:15
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Hotfile @320K

Wayman Tisdale: The Wayman Tisdale Story (2011)

Original soundtrack to the 2011 documentary including a bonus DVD containing the documentary. The Wayman Tisdale Story is a feature length documentary celebrating the life and legacy of Wayman Tisdale, a three-time All-American, Gold Medal Olympian, former NBA star and world renowned Jazz musician who lost his two-year battle with bone cancer in May 2009. Rendezvous Music complements this telling of Wayman s story with a soundtrack featuring 13 tracks including the previously unreleased track, 'Slam Dunks', produced by Jeff Lorber. ~ Amazon.com

Tracklist:
01. Tell It Like It TIS (feat. George Duke) [04:51]
02. The Introduction [03:21]
03. Rebound (feat. Dave Koz) [04:20]
04. It's Alright [03:27]
05. Ready To Hang [03:59]
06. Let's Ride (feat. George Duke) [04:07]
07. One On One [04:11]
08. Gabrielle [05:14]
09. Way Up [04:05]
10. Slam Dunk [04:51]
11. Everything In You [03:56]
12. Glory Glory [04:58]
13. Cryin' For Me (Wayman's Song) (feat. Toby Keith) [04:43]
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Fileserve / @ 192 K

Tass Petridis: ST (2004)

Tass Petridis was born in Greece and raised in Melbourne Australia. He displayed an early affinity for all genres of music and at an early age was proficient on the guitar and bass. Bass and composition was his love and by the age of 18 was working regularly with various bands in Melbourne. Tass studied formally at the Victorian College of Arts were he received his Bachelor of Music degree and the Atheaneum Award of Performance.

In 1994 Tass conducted clinics for Roland Corporation and later for Belman Guitars. Tass has appeared on over 18 albums and has performed with diverse original artists such as Funk R&B bands Ilanda, Disco Montego, Joane / Latin Band Ocaso / Rock with Bob Spencer Band, Angry Anderson, Ross Wilson and has performed with Jazz vocalists Nina Ferro and Julie O'Hara.

Performances for television shows such as Good Morning Australia and Hey Hey its Saturday. His services have graced a variety of television commercials, also session recordings for the musical "The Jackal" featuring Russell Morris. Tass has also been a regular performer for the Australian Music Association Awards.

Since 1994, Tass has worked as an educator on behalf of many private colleges including Melbourne University and the Bass Centre Melbourne.
Tass has currently released his personal self titled album were he showcases an arsenal of some of the finest musicians / vocalists in Australia and displays his abilities both as a bass player and composer / arranger.

Tracklist:

01 - Funk You Punk (3:36)
02 - Somebody Stop Me (4:25)
03 - Lifescapes (4:44)
04 - Peace of Mind (4:37)
05 - Interlude (0:49)
06 - Tedds (7:13)
07 - Back 2 Me (4:44)
08 - Fan Tass Tic (5:46)
09 - Mi 7 (4:31)
10 - Bass Song (4:20)
11 - Launch The Monkey (3:28)
12 - You Were Saying? (6:18)
13 - Hello Goodbye (5:11)

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Fileserve / @ 192 K

Frank Russell: Circle Without End (2011)

Bass guitarist, Frank Russell’s follow up to his critically acclaimed debut CD, “Covering All Basses,” is titled “Circle Without End” and he does come full circle as he writes and records with some of the musicians who worked with his biggest influence as a musician, the legendary Miles Davis. They include, Robert Irving III, Darryl Jones, Richard Patterson, Dede Sampaio and Miles emissary, the great Wallace Roney on trumpet. Brilliant guitarist, Henry Johnson is also on board, co-producing and playing. Frank also pays homage to the world renowned South African singing group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, whom he worked with for six years. Described by noted bass guitar author, Jon Liebman, Frank demonstrates a wide variety of bass playing, from funky slapping, R & B grooving, lyrical fretless and tasteful five-string, stating also this dutiful sideman is solidifying his standing as an established solo artist in his own right.

Tracklist:
01. Code MD-2 (feat. Robert Irving III & Wallace Roney)
02. Her Name Is Roz
03. Quick Pix (feat. Darryl Jones & Richard Patterson)
04. Desi In Sedona
05. Ladysmith (Black Mambazo) (feat. Wallace Roney)
06. Would If I Could (feat. Wallace Roney & Darryl Jones)
07. Noble Street Five (feat. Robert Irving III & Corey Wilkes)
08. Orchard's Groove
09. Put Up Your Dukes (Interlude)
10. Shirley's Prayer (feat. Henry Johnson)
11. Soul Carnival (feat. Henry Johnson)
12. Circle Without End
13. Tuesday Heartbreak (feat. Henry Johnson)
14. I Made A Promise
15. Love Will Find a Way (Bonus Track) (feat. Henry Johnson)
16. Put Up Your Dukes, Part 2 (Bonus Track) (feat. Henry Johnson)
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Fileserve / @ 192 K

Vince Mendoza: Nights on Earth (2011)

It's been 13 years since Vince Mendoza last released an album of all-original music with Epiphany (Zebra, 1999); but it's not as if he hasn't been busy. He's a first-call arranger for high profile jazzers, working on guitarist John Scofield's 54 (EmArcy, 2010), now-deceased keyboard giant Joe Zawinul's Brown Street (Heads Up, 2007), and über-trumpeter Randy Brecker's Some Skunk Funk (Telarc, 2006). He's lived in the pop world with Björk, Elvis Costello and Joni Mitchell, and participated in concept projects like Blauklang (ACT , 2008) and the flamenco-driven El Viento (ACT, 2009). Clearly, for Mendoza, there're only so many hours in a day. Which makes Nights on Earth all the more cause for celebration. Early albums like Start Here (World Pacific, 1990) utilized a relatively large cast of characters and were broad in scope, but here Mendoza achieves a new plateau with a panoramic world view bringing together musical friends, old and new. Mendoza has recruited five different guitarists alone, each for their individual strengths, whether it's a blues-tinged Scofield on the elegiac "Gracias," Nguyên Lê's electrified Orient-icities on the percussion-driven "Shekere," or John Abercrombie's narrative weaving through "Poem of the Moon," which also features rising star trumpeter, Ambrose Akinmusire, and whose dark beginnings gradually pick up steam, all the while retaining the harmonic ambiguity that makes it feel constantly on the edge of a precipice.

A consolidation of sorts, Mendoza culls from his flamenco experience on "Otoño," though its breezy, Mediterranean opening gradually evolves into something more complex, with Lê's scored melody the perfect transition to organist Larry Goldings' solo, which impressively and effortlessly winds its way through Mendoza's constantly shifting harmonic backdrop.

Mendoza's tremendous attention to detail is amongst the many reasons that musicians are drawn to his music. This is challenging music to play; even more challenging music through which to solo. Only four of Night on Earth's dozen tracks crack the six-minute mark, but there's an under-the-sheets complexity that still manages to feel natural—inevitable, even. Whether it's Mendoza's string-driven feature for bandoneonist Hector del Curto ("Addio), the composer's similarly symphonic but more expansive piece for pianist Kenny Werner and saxophonist Joe Lovano ("Beauty and Sadness"), or his polyrhythmic but backbeat-driven work that brings together a largely west coast group, including pianist Alan Pasqua, bassist Jimmy Johnson, and drummer Peter Erskine, with steel drummer Andy Narell and soprano saxophonist Stéphane Guillaume, who soars over the second half of the tune ("Conchita"), it's impossible to pick a highlight on Nights on Earth because every track is filled with them.

With a release schedule so busy that it's easy to miss projects like Fast City: A Tribute to Joe Zawinul (BHM, 2010), it's no surprise Mendoza took so long to get to Nights on Earth. His significance may not be reflected with a household name, but there's little doubt that, amongst musicians, he's a key figure. With 39 performers (excluding Metropole's 30 participants), Nights on Earth is another watershed, representing Mendoza's current position along an evolving path, where profound compositional depth and simple beauty find a rare meeting point.

Tracklist:

01. Otono
02. Poem of the Moon
03. Ao Mar
04. Conchita
05. The Stars You Saw
06. Addio
07. Shekere
08. Beauty and Sadness
09. The Night We Met
10. Gracias
11. Everything is You
12. Lullaby

Personnel:

Vince Mendoza: composer, conductor, arranger, keyboards (7, 9);
Lorraine Perry: vocals (10);
Luciana Souza: vocals (3);
Tom Diakite: kora and vocals (7);
Jim Walker: flute (2, 11);
Joe Lovano: tenor saxophone (5, 8);
Bob Mintzer: tenor saxophone and bass clarinet (3, 11);
Stephane Guillaume: tenor and soprano saxophone (4, 7);
Ambrose Akinmusire: trumpet (3);
Rick Todd: french horn (1, 4, 11);
Jim Self: tuba (1, 4);
John Abercrombie: electric guitar (2, 5, 8);
John Scofield: electric guitar (3, 10);
Nguyen Le: electric guitar (1, 4, 7);
Romero Lubambo: acoustic guitar (3);
Louis Winsberg: acoustic guitar (1);
Alan Pasqua: piano (1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11);
Kenny Werner: piano (2, 5, 8);
Larry Goldings: organ (1, 4, 10);
Michel Alibo: electric bass (7);
Jimmy Johnson: electric bass (1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11);
Christian McBride: acoustic bass (2, 5, 8);
Peter Erskine: drums (1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11);
Greg Hutchinson: drums (2, 5, 8);
Karim Ziad: drums (7);
Alex Acuna: percussion (1, 3, 11);
Luis Conte: percussion (4, 9, 10);
Christo Cortez: palmas (1);
Rhani Krija: percussion ( 7);
Miguel Sanchez: palmas and cajon (1);
Hector del Curto: bandoneon (6, 9, 12);
Marcia Dickstein: harp (2, 11);
Andy Narrell: steel drums (4);
Jesse Mills: violin (6, 9);
Arnaud Sussman: violin (6, 9);
Dov Sheindlin: viola (6, 9);
Fred Sherry: cello (6, 9, 12);
Gregg August: contrabass (6, 9);
Judd Miller: synthesizer programming (7, 9);
Sarah Koch: concert master (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Erica Korthals Altes: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
David Peijnenborgh: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Pauline Terlouw: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Giles Francis: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Petra Griffioen: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Doesjka de Leu: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Seija Teeuwen: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Merijn Rombout: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Herman van Haaren: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Lucja Domski: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Wim Kok: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Elizabeth Liefkes-Cats: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Marianne van den Heuvel: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Laurie Vreeken-Bos: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Mieke Honingh: viola (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Norman Jansen: viola (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Julia Jowet: viola (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Isabella Petersen: viola (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Alex Welch: viola (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Bastiaan van der Werf: cello (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Maarten Jansen: cello (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Wim Grin: cello (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Annie Tangberg: cello (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Erik Winkelmann: contrabass (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Arend Liefkes: contrabass (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Tjerk de Vos: contrabass (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Eddy Koopman: percussion (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Joke Schonewille: harp (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Hans Vroomans: piano (2, 3, 5, 7, 8)

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Fileserve / @ 192 K

Levity Trio & Toshinori Kondo: Chopin Shuffle (2010) [2 CD]

Levity (Jacek Kita, Piotr Domagalski and Jerzy Rogiewicz) achieved an incredible feat of musical agility and imagination - they recorded a double album of pieces based on 24 preludes by Fryderyk Chopin. And while doing it, they retained a sense of humour, spark and kept the listeners glued to the speakers, guessing: is this jazz, rock, or some kind of outer space experience? Toshinori Kondo plays the electric trumpet with them, and other guests appear:
Gaba Kulka wrote the lyrics (in English and French) and sang on "Sans Voix", the piece inspired by Chopin's prelude no. 8 (you can hear a sample of the song in the player on the left).

Tracklist:
CD 1:
1. The Funniest Joke
2. Canis Major
3. Fashion Victims
4. Ticking Love
5. Kolberger
6. Grave
7. Riff?49 (Chant Of The Plants)
8. Sans Voix
9. Cieplo
10. Tempus Fungus
11. Elephant Vs Lion
12. 16 Tons?
CD 2:
1. Humans
2. Keya
3. Take Me To The Woods
4. Hommage A Emil Zatopek
5. A Miracle
6. Mchy
7. We Also Have Snow In Poland
8. In C
9. Hennessey
10. Passacaglia - Animals
11. Interludium
12. Finale - Spirits
Personnel:
Jacek Kita - fortepian, pianet, syntezatory, samplery
Piotr Domagalski - kontrabas, gitara basowa, szklanka, papier, odglosy paszcza
Jerzy Rogiewicz - perkusja
+
Toshinori Kondo - trabka elektryczna
Gaba Kulka - spiew (8)
Grzegorz Uzdanski - recytacja (9)
Raphael Roginski - gitara elektryczna (6)
Tomasz Duda - saksofon barytonowy (12-A, 10-B)
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+Fileserve / @ 320K+
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Houston Person with Ron Carter: Dialogues (2000)

In the 1980s, tenor saxophonist Houston Person and bassist Ron Carter recorded a pair of unlikely but successful duo albums. Person, who has mostly been heard through the years with organ groups, piano trios, and accompanying the late singer Etta Jones, has a large tone worthy of Gene Ammons, while Ron Carter (who has played with everyone) clearly had a good time interacting with Person in the sparse format. In 1990, Person and Carter recorded their third duet album, and the results are at least as rewarding as their first two collaborations. On such songs as "Doxy," "Dear Old Stockholm," "On the Sunny Side of the Street," and "Mack the Knife," Person and Carter swing hard and sound at their most playful and creative in each other's company. They both sound inspired by this setting (where every sound counts) and play with full confidence; there is not a single hesitant moment. This is a particularly memorable and enjoyable effort that features the two musicians at their best. ~ Scott Yanow

Houston Person (born November 10, 1934) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. Person is also known for his distinctive sassy sound and his expressive style of playing. He received the Eubie Blake Jazz Award in 1982.

Ron Carter (born May 4, 1937) is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that instrument.

He also has recorded a large body of classical work, and he contributed to the film score for Desperate Characters (1971).

Tracklist:
1. DOXY (S.Rollins) 9:21
2. I REMEMBER CLIFFORD (B.Golson) 7:20
3. DEAR OLD STOCKHOLM (Trad.) 5:07
4. MR. BOW-TIE (R.Carter) 6:29
5. ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET (McHugh-Fields) 6:58
6. I FALL IN LOVE TOO EASILY (Cahn-Styne) 5:49
7. MACK THE KNIFE (K.Weill) 5:02
8. I GOT IT BAD (AND THAT AIN’T GOOD) (Ellington-Webster) 6:08
Personnel:
HOUSTON PERSON - tenor sax
RON CARTER - bass
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Hotfile / @320K