Music Reviews

Harley, Rufus – “Pied Piper of Jazz, the ” – [Label M]

David Richoux   1/16/2005   CD, Jazz

I actually say this guy play 15 years ago at the Scottish Games in Santa Rosa – among all of the traditional pipe bands (most of the audience did not “get it” but I thought it was a great idea.) Rufus Harley has to work extra hard to play jazz on the pipe chanter (the fingered part sometimes used without bag or drones) and the full “war pipes” because of the limited number of notes that can be played on the beast. This is a collection from various mid 1960’s Atlantic recordings and also features him on sax and flute. Some tracks are closer to novelty than jazz but they are all quite interesting. He has kept on playing (read the booklet) and there still is not another major jazz bagpiper after all these years! Wonder why….’ *review by David Richoux

Hill, Andrew – “Dusk ” – [Palmetto Records]

David Richoux   1/16/2005   CD, Jazz

Andrew Hill has been around the mainstream since the early Sixties, composing and playing piano with Dinah Washington, Roland Kirk and many others. Here he has assembled a team of “Knitting Factory Types” to check out this next century of jazz. Moving from slow and mellow piano with horn ensemble to moderate new-bop to rhythmic pomp (almost Latin but still outside that) to trumpet ballad to playful joys. There are new and old things together here, tasteful and sweet, but with an edge you will like.
*review by David Richoux

Drums and Tuba – “Flying Ballerina, the ” – [My Pal God Records]

David Richoux   1/16/2005   A Library, CD

According to “official web info” there was a bit of a flood at the D&T warehouse so a lot of CDs had to be reprinted. Good thing, cuz this is some really fine stuff from the Austin-moved-to-New York trio. There are all sorts of things on this CD from danceable modern rock-jazz-rhythms to ethereal bloots and humms from Brian Wolff’s electro-tuba. Crazy guitars, reeds, percussion, trumpet, whistles and duct tape all add to the strangeness from this trio. Eclectic would be the word for it, yes, that’s it! *review by David Richoux

Best of Broadside [coll] – [Smithsonian/Folkways]

David Richoux   1/16/2005   CD, Country

Ah! The Early 60’s when everybody wanted to be a folksinger… magazines like Broadside were everywhere around colleges, camps and coffeehouses. They printed the music and words with chords so anybody could learn the latest songs. It was not a bad thing to be a folkie then – it was even hip! These tracks are somewhat lesser known pieces by singer-songwriters that had some fame (Reynolds, Ochs, Ian, Seeger and “Blind Boy Grunt”) and some not so famous. Some tracks are a bit tedious by modern standards, but that was the style. A few cuts are closer to delta blues and the last track is much more dramatic with a full band and the story of rape revenge murder and women’s liberation. *review by David Richoux

O’donnell, Kevin Quality Six – “Control Freak ” – [Delmark]

David Richoux   1/16/2005   CD, Jazz

Before you do anything with this, read the liner notes inside – hilarious! Then appreciate the extra fine quality this group puts into this music. Taking elements of various sorts of historical jazz, R & B, western swing and near rock & roll – these guys know their shit – there are some very fine vocals that wander around Tom Waits territory, a neat-o spoken word thing (eight and 13) and a killer Caravan (11.) Highest praises for the fiddle (also the vocalist), sax, bass and drums.. the others ain’t bad either! For once a modern/retro small jazz group that can do original stuff that feels new and old at the same time – not an easy task! Extra Swank Quality – now we gotta get their first record… *review by David Richoux

El’zabar, Kahil Ritual Trio – “Africa N’da Blues ” – [Delmark]

David Richoux   1/16/2005   CD, Jazz

Yet another in the series of recent recordings from various members of the AACM on Delmark, this time with percussionist Kahil El’Zabar’s Ritual Trio teaming up with Art Ensemble’s Malichi Favors on bass and guest Pharoh Sanders on reeds and piano. The result is very tasty free jazz with a mystical flavor – not a crazy as some of the Art Ensemble stuff from the past, not as long winded as some of Sanders recent recordings – if you can fit longer tracks into your show, give this a try! *review by David Richoux

Lang, Peter – “Thing at the Nursury School… ” – [Takoma Records]

David Richoux   1/16/2005   A Library, CD

Nothing but solo 6 and 12 string guitar here – no vocals, no drums, no nothin’ but that does not mean this is a lightweight recording. The tunes seem to be improvised to a point but there is a lot of thought behind the improv. This was actually recorded back in 1972. Lang is a friend of John Fahey and the recording was produced by Kerry Fahey (could not find out the relationship, if any) coming out of the late 60’s folk/blues/jazz thang. Some of the longer tracks seem to drift off into another world, but I think you will like the trip… *review by David Richoux

Icp Orchestra – “Aan & Uit ” – [Icp]

David Richoux   1/16/2005   CD, Jazz

Channeling Bertold Brecht and Hoagy Carmichael via Loony Tunes, the ICP (Instant Composers Pool) Orchestra once again takes a odd look at modern composition, improv, jazz, swing and other fun things for this project. Strings and horns poot forth a wonderful stew with a sometimes feverish rhythm section (Han Bennink is dictator with Ernst Glerum on plucked & bowed bass) punctuated with co-leader Misha’s piano and unaccredited minimal gurgling vocals from time to time. As their website says: they are preferring to be, well… Dutch.
Lots of short & tasty tracks. I don’t know if this is a conducted group in performance – we will have to see when they come to Kuumbwa 10/26/04. If you like this, also check the jazz library for another Dutch wacko ‘orchestra:? Willem Breuker Kollektief.
*review by David Richoux

Reed, Michael & Peter Pan Orch – “Tubby the Tuba ” – [Synthetic Plastics Co.]

David Richoux   1/16/2005   7-inch, B Library

This is not actually ‘Tubby The Tuba? but more of a copyright skirting song ABOUT the song ‘Tubby the Tuba.’ A 1960 release by kiddie music rip-off artists Michael Reed and the internationally infamous Peter Pan Orchestra. A bit scuffed and scratchy, but fun/stupid. Flip side is not much better… The REAL ‘Tubby? was written by George Kleinsinger in 1946 with lyrics by Paul Tripp – first of 4 different Tubby episodes (Circus Band, Jazz Band and Further Adventures of Tubby – with a marching band!) and has been performed by such greats as Danny Kaye, Annette, Julia Child – and all four were done recently by The Manhattan Transfer.
Tuba players do this at gunpoint (or for big piles of money) but it has stereotyped the instrument worse than any other song I can think of! *review by David Richoux

Brave Combo – “Let’s Kiss ” – [Dentone (Brave Combo)]

David Richoux   1/16/2005   A Library, CD

25 years for Brave Combo! Wow. This is all new stuff from the co inventors of Punk Polka, a fine fun mix of edgy polkas, twisted Tex-Mex waltzes and two versions of ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game.’ For you beer & sausage fans, an Oktoberfest polka – not “Fill The Stein” from ‘The Simpsons? episode Brave Combo did (but their version of the Simpsons Theme that closed the episode is here and it is great!) Lots of original songs and lyrics in a variety of danceable genre. Not as outrageous as Polkacide (the other co inventors of Punk Polka) but they won’t ever be confused with Frankie Yankovich… *review by David Richoux