Conrad Cbr

Conrad Herwig's second Criss Cross release is a trombonist's dream as Herwig joins forces with another trombonist, former Jazz Messenger Steve Davis, and a first-rate rhythm section of pianist David Kikoski, bassist James Genus, and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts to perform three Herwig originals, two jazz classics, and two standards. Both Herwig and Davis are skilled improvisers with distinctive voices on their chosen instruments, choosing to complement each other rather than compete. Herwig plays mostly in the bone's upper register, Davis prefers the middle and lower registers, while Kikoski, Genus, and Watts supply enough fire to keep the proceedings heated. Favorites include the hard swinging "Syeeda's Song Flute," written by John Coltrane, "Kenny K"…

Tony Conrad is an American multimedia and experimental artist. He is musically known in the 60's for his abrasive violin drones and collaboration in the American "Dream Syndicate". In 1972 he visited the krautrock band Faust at Wumme and recorded a first album with them called "Outside The Dream Syndicate". The album is a vast catalogue of shimmering drones for violin, accompanied by percussive minimalist pulses and moving bass guitar lines. The result is tripped out, engaging the listener in strange rituals (almost buzzing "raga" dreamy sounds). This intriguing album is now a true classic of contemporary music and progressive rock. This one captures the essence of minimalism music and the energy of rock. To be honest, this album looks like more to Tony Conrad's explorations in experimentation sounds and insistent droning performances than Faust's hybrid rocking universe.

The late Conrad Silvert had a rare opportunity to achieve the jazz critic's dream by organizing a concert featuring many of his favorite jazz musicians in unusual combinations. This double LP matches together the pianos of Denny Zeitlin and Herbie Hancock on one fairly free performance, has duets featuring pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi with flutist Lew Tabackin and pianist Herbie Hancock with either vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson or Wayne Shorter on tenor, and four numbers ("Sister Cheryl," "Footprints," "Silence" and "Hesitation") with trumpeter Wynton Marsalis (who was then 20), Shorter, Hancock, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Tony Williams. The results are consistently inspired and often memorable.

Conrad Herwig follows up Unseen Universe with another all-original set, this time paring down to a quartet. It's not common for a trombonist to lead a small-group session as the only horn, but Herwig, with his technical facility, expressiveness, and timbral range, is uniquely capable of doing so. The pianist on the date is Bill Charlap, who's been gaining a reputation as a traditionalist and a champion of standard tunes. What he does here with Herwig's expansive harmonies and forms makes clear that he's not so easily pigeonholed. Bassist James Genus and drummer Gene Jackson complete the formidable lineup, generating heat ("Hieroglyphica," "Island of the Day Before") and light ("The Orange Dove," "Solar Circle") in perfect proportion. On "Quiet Mountain," Herwig and Charlap perform as a duo, with celestial results.

Conrad Cummings & Chinary Ung - Tall Wind, Beast Songs (1983) {Composers Recordings NWCRL487 Digital Download rel 2017}
FLAC (tracks) - 16bit/44kHz - Digital Download (deezer.com) -> 178 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 122 Mb | Cover | 5% repair rar
© 1983, 2017 Composers Recordings, Inc. | NWCRL 487
Classical / Modern Classical / Experimental / Avant-Garde

This disc is part of an ongoing series of re-issues of the Lp catalog of the CRI (Composer's Recordings Inc.) label. These important documents of 20th c. compositions have been out of print since the advent of the CD, but have now been transferred to digital files from the original master tapes in order to make them available once again.

What more could Latin jazz fans ask for, seriously? Not only are all the players just this side of top guns, they have been playing together in the same group for just shy of ten years. An all-star lineup and the genuine synergy that comes with regular collaboration do not happen often. When they do, well, it's clave magic. Pianist Edsel Gomez's playing is sly and intuitive. Bassist John Benítez, whose Descarga in New York could be one of the decade's most defining Latin jazz records, is strong and confident. Richie Flores is the genre's most underappreciated conguero, and his playing is typically incendiary. Robby Ameen is, of course, among the most in-demand drummers on the scene, and his playing is dazzling as always…