Avant Music News

Today is the official street date for Quartet of Happiness‘ latest release, The Monster Returns, on Creative Nation Music.

The Boston-based theatrical jazz group will celebrate the record tonight with its first-ever performance at Scullers Jazz Club, where it will also launch its new strategic fundraising initiative, Jazz Smiles, which hopes to gather enough money over the next three years to fund concerts and workshops in 50 cash-strapped public schools.

“Quartet of Happiness combines comedy and jazz improvisation to uniquely hilarious and satisfying effect,” writes the Boston Globe’s Kevin Lowenthal.

Sun Ra – College Tour Volume One: The Complete Nothing Is…

In 1966 Bernard Stollman sent Sun Ra and his Arkestra, along with audio engineer David B. Jones on a tour of five New York Colleges. When they returned, just 39 mintues of music was chosen to be released as the original ESP 1045 “Nothing Is…”. 44 years later, after extensive research, producer and Sun Ra archivist Michael D. Anderson has pieced together the missing parts of the infamous New York College Tour. Recorded on May 18th 1966 at St. Lawrence University in Potsdam, NY, this illuminating document represents the full 70 minute first set, of which ESP 1045 “Nothing Is…” was taken, including an introduction by ESP alum Burton Greene. In addition, producer Michael D. Anderson has uncovered a partial second set from the same evening and some rare rehearsal footage recorded during a sound check before the concert. With over 90 minutes of additional material, this two disc set allows a close up look at the band’s repertoire and sound over an entire evening, including the rarely performed State Street and alternate versions of Theme Of The Stargazers and The Second Stop Is Jupiter. Remasted from the original tapes and presented in superb quality, College Tour Volume One is a vivid snapshot of the mid-sixties Ra and his intergalactic band.

Personnel: Sun Ra: piano, John Gilmore: tenor sax, Marshall Allen: alto sax, Pat Patrick: baritone sax, Robert Cummings: baritone clarinet, Teddy Nance: trombone, Ali Hassan: trombone, Clifford Jarvis: drums, Ronnie Boykins: bass, tuba, James Jackson: log drum, flute, Carl Nimrod: sun horn, gong

Konitz, Cheek, & Furic Leibovici – Jugendstil II

Following up the critically acclaimed 2008 release, Stéphane Furic Leibovici and Chris Cheek return for this second volume, produced by Jim Black and featuring the alto saxophone giant Lee Konitz. An achievement in balance and taste, the resulting music is so thoughtful, intent and vibrant that it need not be forced upon you. The music unfolds for the listener in the subtlest of ways, as if the composer is challenging our very notion of what will come next. Like a mediation on color and space, you begin to let go of your assumptions and allow the harmonies and structures wash over you. The interaction of Konitz with his bandmates is a delicate dance of lyrical brilliance. Criss-crossing saxophones glide through Furics intense and wide open bass work. Furics compositions fuel extended interplay as the musicians seem to bounce from one musical theme to the next. This music is the epitome of finesse. Effortless and deep at the same time.

Personnel: Lee Konitz: alto saxophone. Chris Cheek: tenro saxophone, Stephane Furic Leibovici: double-bass, Jim Black: glockenspiel, vibraphone, chimes, Dan Dorrance: alto flute, bass flute, piccolo, Joy Plaisted: harp, Maria Garcia: celesta, Chris Speed: clarinet

Michael Gregory Jackson – Clarity

Before his career defining records on Arista/Novus in the 80s and 90s, jazz and fusion guitarist Michael Gregory Jackson recorded his debut for ESP-Disk’. The sessions, recorded in New York, Connecticut and Los Angeles in the summer of 1976 are wildly meditative and personify the seventies laid-back vibe. A trio of soft, lilting melodies set the mood; David Murray on tenor sax, Oliver Lake on flute, and the album’s leader, Michael Gregory Jackson on acoustic guitar. The unfolding stream of ideas make these improvisations vital today; arhythmic strumming, an enchanted R&B vocal from Mr. Jackson, avant percussive clatter, processed electric guitar, and fiery horn lines over timpani and flute. Composer and trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, cited as a major influence by Mr. Jackson himself, is featured on the album.

Personnel: Michael Gregory Jackson (acoustic guitar, vocal, electric guitar, electric mandolin, bamboo flute, timpani, marimba, percussion) David Murray (tenor sax) Oliver Lake (flute, soprano sax, alto sax, talking drum, cowbell) Wadada Leo Smith (trumpet, soprano trumpet, fluegel horn, Indian flute)