Tag: James Newton

KFJC is on a review kick and just won’t stop!

Zilverhill – “ eotvos ” – [Adept Sound]

Zilverhill is Schuster (Perth, Australia) & pRESENT dAY bUNA (Sheffield UK), two projects that have been collaborating for awhile. Tracks are experimental, electronic and unique. From long droned out meditating waves, to crunchy looped vocal fuzziness. Dark and gloomy, sometimes it feels like you’re in the deep ocean waters. Some bleeps and bloops. Lots of repetitiveness with samples and loops, they seem to like the “phone call”-esque sounding vocals. Shorter tracks have more samples and quirk to them, longer tracks are more mellow and empty outer space sounding.

Lindberg, John / Ragin, Hugh – “Team Work ” – [Cecma]

Unusual pairing of bass and trumpet. Virtuosos Lindberg and Ragin show their spectacular technique in this 1982 recording. Great fun hearing this instrumental combination, made me grin and say “yeah”!

Sun Ra – “Secrets of The Sun ” – [Atavistic (Unheard Music)]

Atavistic’s 2008 re-issue of this little known Sun Ra Saturn recording from the early 1960’s. Ra on piano, sun harp and gong is his usual goofy brilliant self. Other fine “usual suspect” sidemen such as John Gilmore, Marshall Allen, and Ronnie Boykins. I was especially impressed by Calvin Newborn (brother of pianist Phineas Newborn) on guitar on track 1 and 7.

Dolphy, Eric – “Out There ” – [Prestige Records Inc.]

Dolphy’s second album as a leader (1960). Like much of his work, it’s not instantly accessible but gives great rewards to those who stick with it. Some contemplative and slow tracks that are good for quiet moods: 2,4,6,7.

Bradford, Bobby Extet – “Midnight Pacific Airwaves ” – [Entropy Stereo (Mi)]

The first four tracks were recorded KPFK in Los Angeles in April of 1977 with Bradford on cornet, the fine flute of James Newton, and strong contributions from Richard Rehwald on bass and John Goldsmith on drums. Bradford said that since he just played with whoever showed up, he had an extet – X being the unknown in the algebraic sense. Fine improv on all, swinging rendition of the standard Blue Monk.