calvino

Can your wife get copies? I didn't get a copy while there because my friend John neeeded a ride home to Wilmette and there was a crowd trying to get a copy. I do want one and figure I will run by the Seminary Bookstore some day if all else fails.

 

LouieB

My wife just has to fill out the paper work to get a discounted copy of the book...For some reason filling out the paper work is not as high of a priority for her, but what are you gonna do. Now if it was book about Wilco, the paper work would have been filed, already.

Has anyone read the following:

Miles, Ornette, Cecil: Jazz Beyond Jazz by Howard Mandel

In looking into Lewis' new book I came across Mandel's. I have not read it, but the excerpt on Mandel's blog page looks interesting. Especially regarding the term "avant-garde", a topic that was briefly discussed in a previous thread.

I have not got a copy of Lewis' book either, my wife who works for the UofC Press, still needs get a copy from the Press.

And Louie, if you still haven't made it to the new Velvet Lounge yet, This Friday The Engines (Rempis, Bishop, McBride, Daisy) are playing.

I may had my hopes a bit high too...It was the first time seeing him play. I thought they played well and the rhythm section was very solid. But as a whole they seemed a bit disjointed, especially compared to the studio stuff, where it is, at times, disjointed, but still tight as hell.

It could have been that because it was the beginning of the tour or it may have been because it was the first show I seen since the Residency shows. But I felt a little underwhelmed, but I did still enjoy myself, regardless.

Fred is a great guy; I have spoken to him many times. The Velvet Lounge is a one of a kind place although I am ashamed to say I have not been to the new club which will sadly never have the ambiance of the old really dumpy one. I have not heard Fred play straight up in years. He is pretty much avant all the time any more. In fact I have seen him off and on for the past few decades and unless you call Coltrane inspired improvisation straight up, he does do some of that, but doesn't really do straight ahead at all; he is always on the sideroads.....

 

LouieB

I was putting Fred with Coltrane ,when I was calling it "straight up", especially when you compare Fred playing to Brotzman, E. Parker, and even Vandermark to a lesser extent.

The new Velvet Lounge is a nice room and of course it is completely different from the old place--- that old place, warts and all, was a great room to listen to jazz. The biggest difference with the new place is the guys bathroom. I walked in there and it was huge and very, very bright, a far cry from the old Velvet's bathroom. I do miss that tiny ass sink in the old Lounge's bathroom, though. Plus the new place was always non smoking, which was good, for me at least.

I did not make to the Thrill Jockey Show, it great that they gave him great ovation.

Some players/groups playing today:

Ken Vandermark - plays with the Vandermark 5 as well as many other groups. Plays regularly in Chicago as well rest of the States and Europe. A bit on the avant guard (a term I truly detest that word) side. But also plays reggae, rock, etc....

Dave Douglas - Plays trumpet from NYC. (straight up jazz guy with at times some electronics thrown in)

Tim Berne (sax from NYC)

Chicago's own Fred Anderson - sax (owner of Velvet Lounge)- straight up jazz / avant guard)

From Europe: Peter Brotzman(sax - avant guard - blows very loudly)

Evan Parker (see Brotzman - but a bit different)

The above may not be everybody's cup of tea - but should sought out for a listen. Even someone who just beginning to listen to jazz.

What song or songs did Nels play with his new guitar?

Not sure if this came up before, though I did a quick search, Tweedy is supposed to be on XRT on 2/12/08 at 10pm on the

The Eclectic Company show.