Mission Statement: to do very little, for very few, for not very long. Disappointing the easily pleased since 1819. Not as good as it used to be from Day One. History is Bunk - PT Barnum. Artificially Intelligent before it was fashionable. Fat camp for the mind! Nothing lasts, but nothing is lost. The Shock of the Old! Often bettered, never imitated.
This is one iconic classic album classic album icon. I ain't heard it yet, because I'm upping the 320 for youse wine-sippin' snobs who reckon they can tell the diff before I stomp it down to a sustainable 192.
Spin your propellor beanies in Scotch's direction for this one!
Here ya go
ReplyDelete, pals!
Duke Ellington is not the polite dinner guest a lot of reviewers make him out to be here; Mingus and Roach don't miss the opportunity to challenge him, as if saying "this is what we did to your jazz, can you keep up?" but like an old kung-fu master Duke humbles them without breaking a sweat. His moves are so subtle you might've missed them. The only time he seems at a loss is when Mingus goes kamikaze and tries to sabotage whatever song they're on by just bashing away at one chord for minutes at a time all trance-like, but that just adds to the cutthroat attitude that makes the session so special. It's one of those records that's punk rock decades before punk rock.
ReplyDeleteIt's not all territorial pissings, though; Warm Valley and Solitude are the only tunes that approach schmaltz, but Mingus' perfectly timed stride saves them from drowning in their own sentimentality. Their rapport is especially clear in Backward Country Boy Blues ("oh, that was sweet!") and Fleurette Africaine, the latter of which has a delicate religious reverence to it that damn near makes me misty eyed. Something else that makes this one so accessible is that unlike practically everyone else in the 60s, Duke doesn't play anything for five seconds that just seems like some deconstructive intellectual exercise. His ringing lyricism is inseparable from his swing roots, as is the sense of endlessly flowing melody over his multitasked rhythmic tug-o-war with Mingus and Roach.
JKC giving righteous screed, right here.
DeleteJKC riffin' to beat da boyz...
DeleteYep, what JKC said. Ranks up there with the Elllington - Coltrane recording. As great as his orchestras were, I prefer Ellington's smaller group records. There's a nuance to his work that better shines through with fewer instruments.
ReplyDeleteYou said "nuance". I'm afraid we're going to have to pants you.
DeleteAgain?????
DeleteWhat about JKC saying "deconstructive intellectual exercise"?
DeleteI'm afraid only "nuance" earns a pants. I don't make the rules.
DeleteMy favorite part was "goes kamikaze."
DeleteAt least he didn't say "goes commando"...
..."multitasked rhythmic tug-o-war" wuz purty hep, too...
The Kat is BACK!
I love your comments, UncleB, but please take a couple of deep, slow breaths before hitting the "publish" key, and save us both some work!
DeleteFrancoise Hardy? Some French bird's claiming ownership of le Duc's album. Ooh la la!
ReplyDeleteI thought Douglas was mostly hated because he sacrilegiously tinkered with Hendrix's unfinished studio recordings. Thanks, I'm looking forward to hear these greats together.
ReplyDeleteFor the truest account you're going to get of Douglas' Hendrix involvement, go to deadhendrix.blogspot.com I interviewed him as part of the research.
DeleteThanks' I'll check it out. He also started a pretty interesting label in the 90's called Yikes. Had some good stuff, but didn't last long.
ReplyDeleteIf you have any Yikes recordings - please upload! Anybody?
DeleteFT3, Awe shit, now I feel bad. Sorry, I think I goofed on the founder of Yikes! I'm reading on the www that Peter Wetherbee (another close associate of Laswell ) is the guy, and the label only released about 7 recordings. The good news is I have four of 'em. Douglas Records was operating at the same time though, also releasing some other Laswell projects many of which I also have. I can upload if you still like any. Sorry for the confusion.
DeleteEverything's copacetic! Nothing to feel bad about. Upoload (or not) what you want (or not)!
DeletePraxis - Mold (Yikes!) 1998
Deletehttps://workupload.com/archive/vyfjU6nm
Steve Rossiter - Inner Booty (Yikes!) 1998
https://workupload.com/archive/uBr4vaf5
The Bell - Bootleg (Yikes!) 1998 (2 CDs)
Deletehttps://workupload.com/archive/GGddEtY3
Cypher 7 (Jeff Bova and Alex Haas) - Nothing Lasts (Yikes!) 1998 (2 CDs)
https://workupload.com/archive/afQLhTHk
I know what this is. It's forced participation damn it, and I won't stand for it!
Delete*clenched fist salute*
DeleteA great read...Thanks again, and another example of propaganda and group-think. I have all the posthumous releases and always loved Loose Ends.
ReplyDeleteI had a copy of this at a measly 192 which made it sound like it was going on down the hall somewhere. As a result of your generous 320 upgrade I can now fully get it. Thanks, as always.
ReplyDeleteYou'll be telling us you know red from white wine without peeking, next.
DeleteExcellante!
ReplyDeleteMogen!
ReplyDeleteDavid!