Don Cherry

Don Cherry’s “Eternal Rhythm” released on BSAF/MPS in 1972. This particular recording is from 1968 and was recorded at the Berlin Jazz Festival. You know occasionally a live lp comes along that you’re so blown away with that you just so wish you could have been there. Well this is one of those records. I find myself furthering the evidence to my neighbors I’m nuts by blasting this LP at all hours. Ironically, i really slept on this LP at first. Then one day I threw’r back on the platter and have been absolutely in love since.

Incredible line-up on this doozer:

Don Cherry – cornet, flute, gamelan, percussion jinglies
Albert Mangelsdorff – trombone
Eje Thelin – trombone
Bernt Rosengren – tenor saxophone, oboe, clarinet ,flute
Sonny Sharrock – guitar
Karl Berger – vibraphone, piano, gamelan
Joachim Kuhn – piano
Arild Andersen – bass
Jacques Thollot – drums, gamelan, percussion

Enjoy!

If you’re diggin on the Cherry vibes be sure to check out Brewing Luminous who has more shinny gems.

New Electronic Works from the Univerisity of Illinois

V/A – New Electronic Works from the Univerisity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, subtitled ‘Student compositions realized in the Experimental Music Studios of the School of Music’. Released in 1989…no lable listed nor manufacturer. Eight songs, four on each side. Side A features (in order): Robert Maher, Robin Bargar, Drew Krause, and Michael Mizma…Side B: Elizabeth Hinkle-Turner, David Cottle, Tucker Robison, and Christopher Preissing.

This record is really amazing. I got this last summer and its made its way into the regular rotation. Must have for electronic/experimental/avant fans. squaawk..bing..swoosh..donk donk

Enjoy!

Jay Hoggard

Jay Hoggard’s “Solo Vibraphone” LP released on India Navigation (i promised more…and came through!) in 1979. This release like many of the India Navigation releases falls under the “Spiritual Jazz” umbrella. Recorded at the Public Theatre in New York City in 1978. This LP has a very open, intimate, and good ol’ meandering improv feel I so dearly love. I first fell in love with the vibraphone/mariba back in the early 90’s. I had simultaneously discovered Bobby Hutcherson and a then little band from Louisville called Tortoise. Far more melodic than Tortoise and less bop the Hutcherson. Hoggard’s themes are dense and its easy to forget where your at and then bam he weaves it all back together. I thoroughly enjoy his playful yet delicate interplay…

Here’s a little generic info on Jay from allmusic.com:

Jay Hoggard has had a wide-ranging career. One of the top vibraphonists to emerge during the 1970s, Hoggard originally started on piano and saxophone before switching to vibes. By the early ’70s, he was working in New England with such top avant-garde players as Anthony Davis and Leo Smith. Hoggard moved to New York in 1977, where he played with Chico Freeman and Anthony Davis. In 1978, he recorded a solo avant-garde vibes performance, but he followed it up with a more commercial date. Hoggard worked with such greats as Sam Rivers, Cecil Taylor, James Newton, and Kenny Burrell, in addition to leading his own group; he recorded hard bop-oriented dates as a leader for Contemporary, India Navigation, and several for Muse.

You can find much more info out there on Jay. Jay has large ties with AEC, Thorton, Garrison, David Murray, and on and on…Enjoy this rather solo LP!

Enjoy!