John Tchicai - Cadentia Nova Danica (1968)

After a number of succesful years during the early 60s in New York, where he recorded with, among others, Coltrane and Shepp, Tchicai returned to his native Denmark and formed the group Cadentia Nova Danica. This band made two recordings, of which this was the first. The band was enlarged considerably for the second, Afrodisiaca.

The line up (see back cover in scans) was mainly comprised of Danish musicians, none of whom, to my knowledge, subsequently became known outside Scandinavia (at least in the jazz field, although I gather the second altoist, Vogel, became well-known in progressive rock). The music on the recording, which was done live in a hall in Aarhus, Denmark, has a strong Scandinavian feel to it (not surprisingly). Tchicai plays some nice solos, but it is the ensemble that makes this a terrific recording.

Ripped from vinyl at VBR quality 0. Links in Comments.

David Murray and Sunny Murray Quintet - Live 1975

This recording comes by way of a bit torrent (thanks to original seeder), originating from an FM recording WXPN FM Philadelphia Pa Aug 21 1975. I think this was one of only two sessions that this particular line-up gigged together, though of course the two Murrays have played together many times. Both are in fine form in this set, with David sounding sometimes like Ayler, sometimes like Sonny Rollins, sometimes like Trane. There is much sensitivity in the tracks as well as some good hard blowing. I particularly like the vibes work of Khan Jamal.

Line-up

david murray-tenor sax
sunny murray-drums
khan jamal-vibraphone
monnette sudler-e.guitar
sonny johnson-bass

track one.9:10
track two.8:45
track three.10:08
track four.12:33
track five.8:26
track six.7:47
track seven.7:20

Recording ripped at VBR quality 0. Links in comments.

Art Ensemble of Chicago - Live at Fabrik, Hamburg, Germany 1987 (FM recording)

I picked this up off the net some time ago. It originates from a German radio broadcast. I'm not an expert on AEOC's work, but I've never heard them play Ayler's Ghosts before. I'd be interested if any afficionados out there can add titles to the unknowns. They're full of the usual gongs, bells, sirens, whistles etc that typifies AEOC's work. There's some fiery blowing on Ghosts, but I'm not sure whether it's from Jarman or Mitchell (or a combination).

Tracklist:
01 Unknown 13:05
02 Ghosts 22:38
03 Unknown 7:32
04 Unknown 14:52
05 No Woman No Cry 4:52

Ripped at 192 kbps. Links in comments.

Andrew Hill - Big Band and Solo Live Recordings

This is a tribute to Andrew Hill broadcast last week on BBC Radio 3. It consists of a live US-UK Big Band concert, and excerpts from a solo session commissioned by the BBC.

Andrew Hill Big Band, recorded May 24, 2003 at the Bath Pavillion as part of the 2003 Bath International Music Festival
Line-up:
Tony Kofi, Jason Yarde - alto saxophones
Denys Baptiste, Greg Tardy - tenor saxophones
Phil Todd - baritone saxophone
Ron Horton, Noel Langley, Chris Storr, Byron Wallen - trumpets
Roland Bates, Pat Hartley, Fayyaz Virji - trombones
Andy Grappy - tuba
Andrew Hill - piano
John Hebert - bass
Nasheet Waits - drums
Set list:
Not Sa No Sa 15:28
Smooth 13:11
Bellezza Apposita 11:17
Divine Revelation 7:54
New Pinocchio 8.54
Flying In The Sky 7:07

Andrew Hill, recorded solo at Gateway Studios, London in April 2000
Fourth Fifth 19:33
Smooth

Oddly, the setlist differs from that given for the same concert on the Hill discography website. If anyone has any clues as to why I'd be interested to know.

FM recording ripped at VBR quality 0. Links in comments.

Chris McGregor Group - Very Urgent (1968)

This recording was posted over at c#9 some months ago, but I see the link is no longer active, so for those who missed it or to newcomers to these shores, here it is again.

This is a new rip from what is a quite rare vinyl.

Line-up

Chris McGregor - piano

Dudu Pukwana - alto

Ronnie Beer - tenor

Mongezi Feza - pocket trumpet

Johnny Dyani - bass

Louis Moholo - drums

Ripped at 256 kbps. Link in Comments.