New and Notable CD/DVD Acquisitions
Dec. 15, 2005-Jan. 1, 2006

Jazz/world music

Albert Ayler. New Grass (CD 14001). Listening to the opening minutes of this album, it’s hard to imagine that at the time of its release, it was widely considered to be a “sell out” and bid for commercial (!) success from sax great Ayler. A more brilliant but less commercially viable outing than the extended duet between Ayler and bassist Bill Folwell could barely be imagined. When Ayler begins a vaguely religious rap over impressionistic horn harmonies, the audience really knows they’ve been transported even beyond Sun Ra’s vivid imaginings. The “commercial” aspect of the album begins with “New Generation,” a straight-ahead soul number with tight rhythmic interplay between Folwell, organist Call Cobbs, and Bernard Purdie (all of whom play tremendously well throughout). Even in a “commercial” mood, Ayler’s solos reward repeated listening, since his remarkably unusual harmonic sense, beautifully throaty blues tone, and hallucinatory-sounding explorations of the altissimo register remain his trademarks.

John Coltrane. One down, one up: Coltrane live at the Half Note (CD 14002). Beautifully remastered, this album includes the legendary half-hour version of “One Up, One Down,” considered by some to be Coltrane’s greatest improvisatory achievement. McCoy Tyner’s accomplishment in churning out block chords that supplement Coltrane’s ever-evolving melodic ideas and keeping Coltrane (it seems) from sliding into sheer harmonic “outness” and retaining some harmonic framework, however evanescent, should not be overlooked either.

Studio One Classics: the original (CD 13985). A reggae/ska anthology and tribute to the great producer Coxsone Dodd, featuring The Skatalaites, Michigan and Smiley, Alton Ellis, Burning Spear, and many more.

Other jazz/world music

Either/Orchestra Ethiopiques: Live in Addis (CD 13983)

Free Fall. Amsterdam Funk (CD 13982)

Peter Apfelbaum and the New York Hieroglyphics. It is written (CD 13981)

Radio Pyongyang: Commie Funk and Agit Pop from the Hermit Kingdom (CD 13984)

Folk/Americana

Bob Dylan. No Direction Home: The Soundtrack (CD14004). While soundtracks are often a questionable venture, this one redeems itself by making available in one place numerous home recordings, live recordings, outtakes and alternate takes that have not been commercially (or at least legally) available before, let alone in one place. The numerous early recordings on disc 1 are especially revelatory; Dylan’s 1959 “When I got troubles” is an extremely rudimentary blues, while the second track, the traditional “Rambler, gambler” demonstrates a much more assured vocal delivery and clear country influences in both melody and a slight Southern accent. However, other highlights include live versions of such familiar Dylan standards as “Masters of War,” “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall,” and the notorious live “Judas” version of “Ballad of a Thin Man.”

The Band. The Band: A Musical History (CD 14006 box). This six-CD set is also a complete, illustrated 111 p. book on The Band, the Canadian/American folk/rock group whose influence on popular music cannot be overstated. One of the problems of The Band’s recorded output is that much of their better material was never commercially released. This project, in part, is to make up for that situation with a massive collection of outtakes and home recordings, which The Band and its component members created prolifically as part of their group creative process. The six CDs cover material from The Band’s origin as The Hawks, backing group of Canadian rockabilly singer Ronny Hawkins, to the Last Waltz, with its numerous, and endlessly problematic, recorded manifestations. The album ends with the initial breakup of The Band and Robbie Robertson’s departure. When you’re finished with Music from Big Pink and The Brown Album, this set provides an excellent vehicle for further Band research.

Charlie Poole. You Ain’t Talking To Me (CD 14005 box). Poole was an astounding showman, a fine singer, innovative banjo player and generally wild character. His recorded legacy reveals a true pioneer in early commercial country music. Poole was one of the first banjo players to adapt the three-finger picking style to the typical guitar-fiddle-banjo string band instrumentation. This technique inspired Poole to create fast countermelodies to the fiddle, rather than playing a simplified version of the melody, as most “clawhammer” banjo players did. Thus, Poole’s style became a major source of inspiration for bluegrass banjo players. A profusely illustrated 35-page booklet by banjo expert Hank Sapoznik supplements this triple album, which includes the vast bulk of Poole’s recorded output and some material by others that inspired Poole.

Good for what ails you: Music of the medicine shows, 1926-1937 (CD 14003). This double album includes recordings of a vast number of artists who were known to be active in the medicine show circuit. The music, mostly early country with some blues and ragtime, is generally rough and ragged, reflecting the difficult commercial milieu from which it sprang. It also provides a fascinating reflection of rural, lower-middle class cultural mores in the period of the Great Depression. The set includes a richly illustrated 72-page booklet.

Western art music

Jordi Savall and Hespèrion XXI. Altre Follie (CD 13989). Savall and Hespèrion XXI provide a varied program of pieces based on the Folia theme. Chronologically organized, the works range from simple bass frameworks used as the basis for improvisation to the sonatas by Corelli, Albicastro, and Vivaldi. Along the way, Rolf Lislevand’s tremendous technique and luminous tone are showcased in a Piccinini partita and Manfredo Kraemer is featured in the violin works.

Michael Haydn. Requiem pro defuncto Archiepiscopo Sigismundo; Missa in honorem Santae Ursulae (CD 14000). The King’s Consort; Robert King, director.

Steve Reich. You are (variations); Cello counterpoint (CD 13987). Los Angeles Master Chorale, Grant Gershon, conductor. Maya Beiser, cello (the 2 nd work).

Mozart, W.A. Quintet for clarinet, 2 violins, viola and violoncello in A major KV 581; Quintet for horn, violin, 2 violas and violoncello in E-flat major RV 407; Quartet fro oboe, violin, viola and violoncello in F major KV 370 (CD 13993). The Kuijken String Quartet; various wind players.

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Updated: 13 Dec. 2005