Setlist for 10 December 2008

This week's show was devoted to the best releases that arrived at WMEB during the month of November.  This included some holiday music.  The setlist is below:

• Mario Pavone Double Tenor Quintet, "Ancestors", Ancestors (Playscape Recordings)
• Yo-Yo Ma & Friends, "Joy to the World", Songs of Joy & Peace (Sony Classical)
• Joani Taylor, "Thank You for Loving Me", In My Own Voice (Wet Coast Records)
• Louis Armstrong, " 'Zat You, Santa Claus? - The Heavy Remix", Verve Remixed Christmas (Verve)
• Skip Wilkins Quintet, "Standing in the Wind", The Paint-Peeler (Dreambox Media)
• Arild Andersen, "Prelude to a Kiss", Live at Belleville (ECM Records)
• Tony Malaby Cello Trio, "Warblepeck", Warblepeck (Songlines Recordings)
• Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet, "Straight Life/Mr. Clean", Infinity (Patois Records)
• Béla Fleck & the Flecktones, "The Twelve Days of Christmas", Jingle All the Way (Rounder Records)

WMEB Jazz Charts 28 November 2008

It has been a few weeks since I have reported any activity of my radio show.  It is a busy time of year and college radio DJs are not immune to this.  However, I am still here and playing some great jazz.

This week I will not be hosting my show, 3 December, as my wife is out of town and my children need their daddy to tend to their needs.  However, I plan on returning the following week.

The WMEB jazz charts are posted below as they were reported to CMJ Issue #1085.

Peace,

Les

1. Mario Pavone Double Tenor Quintet, Ancestors (Playscape Recordings)
2. Mary Halvorson Trio, Dragon's Head (Firehouse 12 Records)
3. William Parker Quartet, Petit Oiseau (AUM Fidelity)
4. Skip Wilkins Quintet, The Paint-Peeler (Dreambox Media)
5. Birdsongs of the Mesozoic, Dawn of the Cycads (Cuneiform Records)
6. Oliver Lake Organ Trio, Makin' It (Passin' Thru Records)
7. Rudresh Mahanthappa, Kinsmen (Pi Recordings)
8. Peter Delano, For Dewey (Sunnyside Communications)
9. Mark Masters Ensemble, Farewell Walter Dewey Redman (Capri Records)
10. Renolds Jazz Orchestra, Cube (Shanti Records) 

Setlist for 12 November 2008

Today's show highlighted the best releases to arrive in WMEBs jazz rotation for the month of October.  If you listened, I hope that you enjoyed the show.  If you didn't here is what you missed.

• Mary Halvorson Trio, "Old Nine Two Six Four Two Dies (No. 10)", Dragon's Head (Firehouse 12 Records)
• William Parker Quartet, "Dust from a Mountain", Petit Oiseau (AUM Fidelity)
• Dave Holland Sextet, "Fast Track", Pass It On (Dare2 Records)
• Bebo Valdés & Javier Colina, "Siboney", Live at the Village Vanguard (Calle 54 Records)
• Gilfema, "Question of Perspective", Gilfema + 2 (ObliqSound)
• Renolds Jazz Orchestra, "Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani", Cube (Shanti Records)
• Jay Clayton, "Free Me", The Peace of Wild Things (Sunnyside Communications)
• e.s.t., "Jazz", Leucocyte (EmArcy)
• Mary Halvorson Trio, "Scant Frame (No. 2)", Dragon's Head (Firehouse 12 Records)
  

Review - William Parker's Petit Oiseau

William Parker

Petit Oiseau

(AUM Fidelity)

Grade: A+

Let me start by saying that I am not an objective listener of William Parker's music.  Parker's songs resonate with me like no other composer's in modern jazz.  Thus, it is only fair to let you know that I was predisposed to think favorably of Petit Oiseau.

Petit Oiseau or Little Bird is the third recording from the William Parker Quartet.  These four musicians are extremely familiar with each other as they all work in together in some of Parker's other projects.  This familiarity results in a very easy and natural musical conversation that occurs amongst the four of them.  As listeners, we get to enjoy the fruits of these conversations.

The songs often start with a groove, ably laid down by Parker and Parker's drummer of choice, Hamid Drake.  There is not a more formidable rhythm section playing in jazz today.  This is not hyperbole - listen to the 17+ minute opener "Groove Sweet" as this sweet of three grooves is propelled by the rock solid foundation supplied by Parker and Drake.  The front line of Rob Brown on alto sax and B-flat clarinet and Lewis 'Flip' Barnes on trumpet color the songs.  Both Brown and Barnes are versatile musicians, each summoning a variety of tones that are used to evoke the mood required for the song.  These four musicians do all this while navigating their way through Parker's harmonically complex songs and make it seem easy.

Parker's ethos is about harmony, musically and spiritually.  His music is often meditative relying on ostinato patterns that change and shift slowly, almost imperceptably.  This peace, this state of awareness, is arrived at by design.  Parker is a deep thinker, who like a holy man, seeks wisdom through enlightenment.  The compositions are his vehicle for the journey.

Allow me to close with the words of Mr. Parker from the liner notes to Petit Oiseau.  "We must eventually fly from the inside out.  It is not about good music or bad music.  It is ultimately about love, compassion and forgiveness."

Set List for 29 October 2008

Halloween Show

Today's show was extended to two hours since Global Madness was not aired.  All of the songs were from The Vampire's Revenge by Dom Minasi.

• Dom Minasi, "Blood Lust", The Vampire's Revenge (CDM Records)
• Dom Minasi, "Just One More Bite", The Vampire's Revenge (CDM Records)
  
• Dom Minasi, "The Dark Side", The Vampire's Revenge (CDM Records)
  
• Dom Minasi, "Who's Your Dentist", The Vampire's Revenge (CDM Records)
  
• Dom Minasi, "The Vampire's Revenge", The Vampire's Revenge (CDM Records)
  
• Dom Minasi, "The Seduction", The Vampire's Revenge (CDM Records)
  
• Dom Minasi, "The Transformation", The Vampire's Revenge (CDM Records)
  
• Dom Minasi, "The Hunt", The Vampire's Revenge (CDM Records)
  
• Dom Minasi, "Where You Gonna' Go? Where You Gonna' Hide?", The Vampire's Revenge (CDM Records)
  

Dom Minasi's The Vampire's Revenge

On the show for 29 October 2008, I will be playing songs from Dom Minasi's brilliant concept album, The Vampire's Revenge, in anticipation of Halloween.  The Vampire's Revenge is inspired by Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles.  Minasi's compositions perfectly capture the gothic romance of Rice's novels and manage to balance the brooding subject matter with some tongue in cheek humor.  The musicians include many of the brightest on the free jazz scene today; Matthew Shipp, Joe McPhee, Jason Kao Hwang, and many others.  Tune in tomorrow for The Vampire's Revenge.

Set List for 22 October 2008

Today's show featured some compositions from the Greek-Armenian philosopher Georges Ivanovitch Gurdjieff as interpreted by Vassilis Tsabropoulos, Anja Lechner,U.T. Gandhi and Trygve Seim and Frode Haltli.  I stuck with the Eastern theme throughout the show, except for the final song, which was actually beyond the first hour.  If you listened, I hope you enjoyed the music.  If you didn't tune in next week.

• Vassilis Tsabropoulos/Anja Lechner/U.T. Gandhi, "Tibetan Dance", Melos (ECM Records)
• Renolds Jazz Orchestra, "Caiaphas", Cube (Shanti Records)
• Royal Hartigan, "Syrinx", Ancestors (innova Recordings)
• Trygve Seim/Frode Haltli, "Praeludium/Bayaty/Duduki", Yeraz (ECM Records)
• Savina Yannatou, Primavera en Salonico, "Sareri Hovin Mernem", Songs of an Other (ECM Records)
• Vassilis Tsabropoulos/Anja Lechner/U.T. Gandhi, "Sayyid Dance", Melos (ECM Records)
  
• Savina Yannatou, Primavera en Salonico, "Dunie-au", Songs of an Other (ECM Records)
  
• Vassilis Tsabropoulos/Anja Lechner/U.T. Gandhi, "Reading from a Sacred Book", Melos (ECM Records)
  
• Kahil El'Zabar's Ritual Trio, "In the Land of Ooh!", Ooh Live! (Bright Moments Records)

Peace,

Les

Set List for 15 October 2008

Here is the set list for today's show.  The songs are brief and I went out with a loud bang, playing "Leucocyte: I. Ab Initio" from e.s.t.'s last album of new material.  Peace to Esbjörn Svensson, wherever your soul may be.

• Wadada Leo Smith's Golden Quartet, "Caravan of Winter", Tabligh (Cuneiform Records)
• Marilyn Crispell, "Once", Vignettes (ECM Records)
• Dave Holland Sextet, "Lazy Snake", Pass It On (Dare2 Records)
• Bobo Stenson Trio, "Wooden Church", Cantando (ECM Records)
• Anat Cohen, "A Change Is Gonna Come", Notes from the Village (Anzic Records)
• Belinda Underwood, "Secret Life of Plants", Greenspace (Cosmik Muse Rekords)
• e.s.t., "Leucocyte: I. Ab Initio", Leucocyte (EmArcy)

WMEB's Jazz Charts for the Week Ending 10 October 2008

Here are this week's jazz charts for WMEB.  Petit Oiseau, the new release from William Parker Quartet, jumps to #1 this week.  Look for an extended review for this album in coming days on this blog.

Peace,

Les

1. William Parker Quartet, Petit Oiseau (AUM Fidelity)
2. William Parker, Double Sunrise over Neptune (AUM Fidelity)
3. Oliver Lake Organ Trio, Makin' It (Passin' Thru Records)
4. Rudresh Mahanthappa, Kinsmen (Pi Recordings)
5. Royal Hartigan, Ancestors (innova Recordings)
6. Belinda Underwood, Greenspace (Cosmik Muse Rekords)
7. Richard Bona, Bona Makes You Sweat - Live (Decca Records)
8. Kenny Garrett, Sketches of MD: Live at the Iridium (Mack Avenue Records)
9. Garaj Mahal, w00t (Owl Studios)
10. organissimo, Groovadelphia (Big O Rceords)

Set List for 08 October 2008

Today's show was a feature on William Parker, all William Parker.  I was going to play "Raining on the Moon" because I thought the vocals by Leena Conquest are ideal for the music.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find WMEB's copy in the library and I left my copy at home.  Ah well, the music from Scrapbook is outstanding as well.

Leave a comment and let me know what your favorite William Parker recording is...I am interested in finding out how you choose an album when each is unique and still of such high quality.

Here is what I played on Streams of Consciousness:

• William Parker Quartet, "Malachi's Mode", Petit Oiseau (AUM Fidelity)
• William Parker Quartet, "Harlem", Sound Unity (AUM Fidelity)
• William Parker Violin Trio, "Dust on a White Shirt", Scrapbook (Thirsty Ear Recordings)
• William Parker Quartet, "Petit Oiseau", Petit Oiseau (AUM Fidelity)
• William Parker, "Morning Mantra", Double Sunrise over Neptune (AUM Fidelity)

William Parker - Tomorrow

On tomorrow's show I will be exclusively playing the music of bassist & composer William Parker.  Parker has two fabulous new recordings out on AUM Fidelity, Double Sunrise over Neptune and Petit Oiseau.  Double Sunrise over Neptune features a large ensemble and was composed for the Vision Festival XII in 2007.  The music is very much influenced by folk musics from around the world and the highlight, for me, is the vocals of Sangeeta Bandyopadhyay.  Petit Oiseau is a recording of Parker's Quartet with Lewis Barnes, Rob Brown, and Hamid Drake.  The music is characteristic of Parker's Quartet, with lovely extended pieces that are harmonically challenging and always interesting.  Time permitting, I will also highlight music from earlier in William Parker's career.

WMEB's Jazz Charts for the Week Ending 03 October 2008

Last week was an extremely busy one for me, with more focus on my studies than on music.  There has been some great new music coming out recently and I have been trying to highlight all I can on Streams of Consciousness.

On the plus side, WMEB's stream has been running great.  The website will be adding content and should be pretty damn nice.

Without further ado, here is the latest jazz chart.

1. Oliver Lake Organ Trio, Makin' It (Passin' Thru Records)
2. Rudresh Mahanthappa, Kinsmen (Pi Recordings)
3. Royal Hartigan, Ancestors (innova Recordings)
4. Belinda Underwood, Greenspace (Cosmik Muse Rekords)
5. Richard Bona, Bona Makes You Sweat - Live (Decca Records)
6. Kenny Garrett, Sketches of MD: Live at the Iridium (Mack Avenue Records)
7. William Parker, Double Sunrise over Neptune (AUM Fidelity)
8. Garaj Mahal, w00t (Owl Studios)
9. organissimo, Groovadelphia (Big O Records)
10. S.M.V., Thunder (Heads Up International)

These are some great albums.  Check them out!

Set List for 24 September 2008

Today's show was 2 hours in length as I filled in for Rachel the host of Global Madness.  The show was definitely heavy on the funk with a lot of fusion and organ music, especially the new release from the Oliver Lake Organ Trio, Makin' It.  I highly recommend that you check this release out.  It is funky as all get out, yet Lake still takes it left of center.

Well without further ado, the songs played this afternoon are:

• The Roy Hargrove Quintet, "Mr. Clean", Earfood (EmArcy)
• S.M.V., "Thunder", Thunder (Heads Up International)
• George Duke, "Everyday Hero", Dukey Treats (Heads Up International)
• Guillermo Klein y los Guachos, "Volante", Filtros (Sunnyside Communications)
• John McNeil/Bill McHenry Quartet, "Marvos Manny", Rediscovery (Sunnyside Communications)
• Adam Niewood & His Rabble Rousers, "Demented Lullabye", Epic Journey (innova Recordings)
• Sean Noonan's Being Brewed by Noon, "Noonbrews", Live from New York and Beyond... (innova Recordings)
• Matt Ulery's Loom, "Pink Sea and Wondering Without", Music Box Ballerina (Woolgathering Records)
• William Parker, "O'Neal's Bridge", Double Sunrise over Neptune (AUM Fidelity)
• William Parker, "Neptune's Mirror", Double Sunrise over Neptune (AUM Fidelity)
  
• Oliver Lake Organ Trio, "Olla's Blues", Makin' It (Passin' Thru Records)
• organissimo, "Groovadelphia", Groovadelphia (Big O Records)
• Garaj Mahal, "Semos", w00t (Owl Studios)
• Esperanza Spalding, "I Know You Now", Esperanza (Heads Up International)
• Oliver Lake Organ Trio, "In Walked John", Makin' It (Passin' Thru Records)
  
• Oliver Lake Organ Trio, "Gano", Makin' It (Passin' Thru Records)
  

WMEB Jazz Charts - Week Ending 19 September 2008

This week's jazz charts as reported for CMJ NMR Issue #1076

1. Paul Shapiro, Essen (Tzadik)
2. Savina Yannatou, Primavera en Salonico, Songs of an Other (ECM Records)
3. Eri Yamamoto Trio, Redwoods (AUM Fidelity)
4. Anat Cohen, Notes from the Village (Anzic Records)
5. Anna Maria Flechero, Within the Fourteenth Hour (Anna Maria Flechero)
6. Roswell Rudd Quartet, Keep Your Heart Right (Soundscape Series)
7. Dr. Michael White, Blue Crescent (Basin Street Records)
8. Misha Alperin, Her First Dance (ECM Records)
9. Cassandra Wilson, Loverly (Blue Note Records)
10. Kenny Garrett, Sketches of MD: Live at the Iridium (Mack Avenue Records)

Setlist for 17 September 2008

Today's show went much smoother than last week's.  I hope that if you listened, you enjoyed the music.  If you didn't, here is what you missed...

• Eri Yamamoto Trio, "Bumpy Trail", Redwoods (AUM Fidelity)
• Anat Cohen, "Washington Square Park", Notes from the Village (Anzic Records)
• Cassandra Wilson, "Arere", Loverly (Blue Note Records)
• Anna Maria Flechero, "Misty", Within the Fourteenth Hour (Anna Maria Flechero)
• Roswell Rudd Quartet, "I'm Going Sane (One Day at a Time)", Keep Your Heart Right (Soundscape Series)
• Dr. Michael White, "Alegria", Blue Crescent (Basin Street Records)
• Misha Alperin, "Jump", Her First Dance (ECM Records)
• Paul Shapiro, "Dunkin' Bagel", Essen (Tzadik)
• Savina Yannatou, Primavera en Salonico, "Sassuni Oror", Songs of an Other (ECM Records)

Peace,

Les

WMEB Jazz Charts - Week Ending 12 September 2008

Greetings!  This week's jazz chart for WMEB, as reported to CMJ is:

1. Kenny Garrett, Sketches of MD: Live at the Iridum (Mack Avenue Records)
2. James Carter, Present Tense (EmArcy)
3. Evan Parker Transatlantic Art Ensemble, Boustrophedon (ECM Records)
4. Yuganaut, This Musicship (ESP-Disk')
5. Elisabeth Kontomanou, Back to My Groove (Plus Loin Music)
6. Chris Speed, Chris Cheek, Stephane Furic Leibovici, Jugendstil (ESP-Disk')
7. Pete Zimmer Quartet, Chillin' Live @ Jazz Factory (Tippin' Records)
8. Kenny Barron, The Traveler (Sunnyside Communications)
9. William Parker, Double Sunrise over Neptune (AUM Fidelity)
10. Ted Nash, The Mancini Project (Palmetto Records)

All of the above albums are fabulous, each for different reasons.  My favorites, in no particular order, right now are Double Sunrise over Neptune, Jugendstil, and The Mancini Project.

Peace!

WMEB on the Web

Yeah! WMEB is now streaming. Yes, you can listen to me in all my glory anywhere in the world. You can also listen to all the other fantastic shows on WMEB, Redefining the Alternative. Check us out! Click on the links on the sidebar.

Paix,
Les

Setlist for 10 September 2008

Today's show was a bit crazy...I left a meeting late, my car wasn't ready from the garage, and I received a call right as I was about to leave for my show.  Needless to say, it started two minutes late and seemed I never caught up.  "One World Family" was played in dedication to the victims of the 11 September 2001 tragedies and their families.  Anyway, without further ado, here is the setlist that was.  Peace, Les

• Kenny Garrett, "The Ring", Sketches of MD: Live at the Iridium (Mack Avenue Records)
• Evan Parker Transatlantic Art Ensemble, "Furrow 2", Boustrophedon (ECM Records)
• Yuganaut, "Stimulus", This Musicship (ESP-Disk')
• Kahil El'Zabar Trio, "One World Family" Love Outside of Dreams (Delmark Records)
• James Carter, "Dodo's Bounce", Present Tense (EmArcy)
• Elisabeth Kontomanou, "Back to My Groove", Back to My Groove (Plus Loin Music)

Greetings!

Greetings! I'm Les, host of Streams of Consciousness on WMEB, 91.9 FM in Orono, ME.  Streams of Consciousness (Wednesdays from 4 to 5 PM) is a show dedicated to the best in jazz and improvised music, with a focus on recent releases.  Soon, I will post the url for the live stream so you can listen from anywhere you have a computer and a high-speed connection.

I will post the show setlists, links to other sites and album reviews for some of my favorite releases.

Peace