CD-Charts Position 111
Average Rating:

Another Day on Earth

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Brian Eno

Release Date June 14, 2005
There are no tracks like "Baby's on Fire" or "King's Lead Hat," but much of this album is reminiscent of Eno's mellower songs on his first four albums. Particularly beautiful are "Caught Between," "How Many Worlds," "Bottomliners," and "Just Another Day," all of which are equal in quality to Eno's early vocal material.

Eno's lyrics always seemed to be created for sonic effect rather than for depth of meaning, but on this album his words and thoughts come to the fore. Particularly striking is the final track, "Bone Bomb," which analyzes the psychology of a female suicide bomber.

For those who have never heard Eno sing, he is not a great vocalist. His voice does have a haunting quality about it that grows on you, however. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 112
Average Rating:

Perceptual

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Brian Blade Fellowship

Release Date April 11, 2000
I got this when it first came out and loved it from the very beginning. Strange as it may sound I find it haunting but not dark. These pieces are so unique as to almost constitute the founding of a new genre, in my mind anyway. Needless to say, years later it hasn't lost its luster in the least. Also, Joni Michell's touch on this one is quite nice.

CD-Charts Position 113
Average Rating:

Good Dog, Happy Man

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Bill Frisell

Release Date May 18, 1999
This is a slow groove with great ensemble work. It's not for everyone but it's right on for me. Beautiful!

CD-Charts Position 114
Average Rating:

Different Stars

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Trespassers William

Release Date October 19, 2004
This album will deeply touch you and transport you to another time and place with each melody. I highly recommend this album with all my being, one of the best albums ever. I have been forever changed after listening to Different Stars and hope you have a chance to listen and enjoy thier music as much as I do.

CD-Charts Position 115
Average Rating:

The Complete In a Silent Way Sessions

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Miles Davis

Release Date May 11, 2004
This 3 CD box set covers recordings from September 1968 to February 1969; as such it covers a lot more than the actual In a Silent Way sessions, but nevertheless illustrates how Miles and his cohorts moved from the spontaneous abstraction of the Second Great Quintet to an ethereal sound that merged jazz, rock, and R&B. If you want to hear this transition, pick up the box; if you don't feel the need, all you really need is the eventual remaster of the original album. So it's for hardcore Davis fans only, but those fans will be very pleased.

Disc 1 opens with the first session to include bassist Dave Holland and pianist Chick Corea. The languid, bluesy "Mademoiselle Mabry" and the furious boogaloo "Frelon Brun" are essential tracks from the classic ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 116
Average Rating:

Pithecanthropus Erectus

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Charles Mingus

Release Date October 25, 1990
Probably no other bassist played as big a role as Charles Mingus did in helping shape modern jazz, and probably no other recording of Mingus defines his jazz quite the way this does. The first time I listened to this piece, I got completely lost and couldn't make any sense of it. The second time too. By the third time I heard it, everything began falling into place, and I was toe tappin' and neck snappin' in beat with the tunes. Foggy day is probably one of the most interesting "songs" on the CD, simply to listen for how each musician makes their instrument sound like something off of a busy, crowded street when traffic is not going smoothly. With Mingus to pull the tune along, the effects are executed very brilliantly, and will have you smiling at their intricacy and cleverness. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 117
Average Rating:

Jewels of Thought

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Pharoah Sanders

Release Date March 10, 1998
1969 was a banner year for Pharoah Sanders-- having already recorded two albums (although "Izipho Zam" would wait several years to see release) and having generated quite a buzz with "Karma" and the stunning "The Creator Has a Masterplan", Sanders was finally establishing himself as separate from John Coltrane-- indeed, with a mentor such as that, establishing your own identity must be extraordinarily difficult.

This was the framework into which Sanders entered the studio for the third time this year, together with vocalist Leon Thomas and pianist Lonnie Liston Smith, who were so crucial to the sound of the last two records, Sanders laid down the two performances that would make up "Jewels of Thought".

The first, "Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum Allah", previously ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 118
Average Rating:

Fascinoma

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Jon Hassell, Ry Cooder, Jacky Terrasson

Release Date June 22, 1999
This is a great record. Engineer Kavi Alexander and his tube equipment captures Hassell's harmonic trumpet like nobody else has before, and pianist Jacky Terrasson sounds stunning, full, vigorous. As compared to, say, "Fourth World Volume 1; Possible Music," or "Aka Darbari Java" "Fascinoma" is relatively tame, and perhaps more jazz then ambient, but the lines blur and categories demonstrate their uselessness with an artist like Jon Hassell.

My question is this: Since Water Lily made another album from the same session into an SACD ("Hollow Bamboo by Ronu Majundar,) then why not the increased realism afforded by the SACD for "Fascinoma"?
We need some ambient SACDs

CD-Charts Position 119
Average Rating:

East/West

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Bill Frisell

Release Date August 09, 2005
This is my first exposure to the music of jazz guitarist Bill Frisell and I have to say I was thrilled. EAST WEST is comprised of two live sets, with one recorded in 2004 at Yoshi's in Oakland, California (WEST) and the other recorded in 2003 at The Village Vanguard in New York, New York (EAST). Overall, this album is a fine recording of some highly atmospheric, guitar-led jazz, with just a tiny hint of the avant-garde here and there along with some blues. A mix of significantly altered cover tunes and group originals are included on this 2-CD set.

Bill (electric guitar, acoustic guitar and loops) is joined by Viktor Krauss (electric bass guitar WEST), Tony Scherr (electric/acoustic bass EAST) and Kenny Wollesen (drums EAST and WEST). All of these guys are talented musicians ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 120
Average Rating:

Sangam

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Charles Lloyd

Release Date April 04, 2006
I just got this from my friend Charles Lloyd's office!

"The Nobel Committee has requested Charles Lloyd and SANGAM, with Zakir Hussain and Eric Harland to perform during the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo on December 10th."

What a gig!
Bill Donoghue