Lidral Duo Live -- 16 February 2009

The Lidral Duo (Karel, soprano saxophone; Terry,

piano -- the original Chamber Jazz Ensemble, by the way!) will be presenting the sixth in their series of concerts entitled the "Chamber Jazz Afternoon Concert Series" this Monday (February 16th, 2009) from 4:15-5 pm in the "Jazz Corner" in Union Central in the Memorial Union at the University of Maine (beneath the jazz poster by the fireplace).

       Now in their 21st season, this is their 9th continuous semester-long concert series:  the Lidral Duo will be playing every Monday that classes are in session.

The Lidral Duo - Live! 22 January 2009

If you are near the University of Maine this Thursday, be sure to check this out.

The Lidral Duo (Karel, soprano saxophone; Terry, piano -- the original Chamber Jazz Ensemble, by the way!) will be presenting the second in their series of concerts, the "Chamber Jazz Afternoon Concert Series" this Thursday (22 January 2009) from 4:15-5 pm in the "Jazz Corner" in Union Central in the Memorial Union (beneath the jazz poster by the fireplace).  Next week, we'll be returning to our regular Monday performance schedule (same time, place).

Now in their 21st season, this is their 9th continuous semester-long concert series:  they will be playing every Monday that classes are in session (with the exception of this week, of course!).

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Due to priority changes in my personal life, I no longer host Streams of Consciousness on WMEB.  However, I still will be posting reviews for new and classic albums.  Stay tuned in for a review on the new ESP-Disk' release from Flow Trio, Rejuvenation.

Stay tuned in!!!!!

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."