Henry Grimes Trio, Kongsberg July 8., 2005

So, how does one cope with the terrible events in London on Thursday? I suppose some would not have scrapped plans for a concert the day after, understandably, but I didn't.

On one of the hottest days so far this summer, I went to witness The Henry Grimes Trio play at Kongsberg's annual Jazz festival in a shack-like venue. I was sweatin', and could not figure out where to buy refreshments, so I just sat there waiting for about an hour amid an audience of mostly 50 + year-olds and a some of my own age. Just past 11pm, an announcer calls Henry Grimes, Hamid Drake and David Murray on stage.

Mr. Grimes' story doesn't need repetition. He looks a grandpa-like figure as he steps up to his (borrowed for the occasion) bass, wearing a green sweat band on his head and two large buttons on his t-shirt depicting his two compatriots, Darke and Murray.

Immediately, they break into the first of four songs. The sounds bounce between the close walls, and I'm pretty sure some of my fellow listeners got a bit of a shock. I'm amazed by the velocity of the piece. Murray blows his horn like only he can, shifting between melodic parts and bops'n'pops. He twists and turns on stage, and on one occasion, stands with his legs spread with his horn straight in front of him as if preparing to fire a gun into the audience. Drake floats all over his drum set without being excessive, providing a funky beat. He is terrific to watch as well as listen to, and he is probably one of the best drummers in the game. Mr. Grimes is at first the least impressive of the three, but gradually, as his left hand decides to keep up with his right, he starts to find his feet. After a ferocious starts they slow down a bit, and Murray takes out his bass clarinet. He lays down a deep melodic line, and eventually starts to play long notes backing Grimes up for a solo which he plays interchangeably with a bow and finger picking. The song ends.

The next tune starts with Murray, playing a simple melodic blues on his tenor. The piece is more traditional than the first, but they still toss in elements of "free" and improvised structures. Drake continues to bang and stroke. Fantastic. Grimes takes a walk on his bass. They seem equally comfortable with the two slower pieces that close the nearly 100 minute long set.

Although I looked forward to the gig, and especially witnessing David Murray for the first time, I was a bit skeptical of how the main attraction, Henry Grimes, would hold up. Given the time he has been away from jazz, coupled with his age, his playing was more than apt to keep up with Drake and Murray, two of the best jazz musicians in recent years. There was no weak link between them, and I will try to pick up their release on Ayler Records from last year.

At the start of the gig, I noticed Ken Vandermark and several of Norway's finest (Nielsen-Love, Haaker Flaaten) in the audience. A bit later, I turned around again, and they all had grins on their faces. Just like myself. Very enjoyable.

I'm so movin' on!

I can't get miss Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" out of my head! Damn. I've added it to my beloved 'pod, and it'll play on repeat untill i get sick of it. Hope it's not too soon.

Never too much...

So, the Live 8 hoolabaloo went well, according to sources. My friend at http://eirikblegeberg.blogspot.com/ did a piece on it before the weekend, and I have little to add to this. For non-norwegian users, I refer you to his links in the piece for other essays on the subject.
One big news item this weekend was the passing away of the great Luther Vandross. In the early eighties he was one of the best voices in contemporary soul, and his first albums are pretty good. Although his career went downhill from there as far as I'm concerned, he retained a strong fanbase and will be remebered as a big soul star. Nelson George has written a few lines on his website http://www.nelsongeorge.com/blog/.
On another subject: since I started my Jazz section (see sidebar) a while ago, I've been trying to listen to as many of my jazz albums as possible in order to reasses how I would rate them. I'll post more records and grades during the next few weeks.
Later

Banned...

The other day, I was searching for a downloadable version of Diplo's mixtape/mash-up Piracy Funds Terrorism Vol. 1, and i came across this site: http://www.bannedmusic.org/. Have a look/listen.

Later

Nike cops out!

Follow the link: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-06/28.shtml

Oh, well.

My first list. Current 2005 faves. YEAH! (not that one):

1. The Hold Steady: Separation Sunday
2. M.I.A.: Arular
3. William Parker Quartet: Sound Unity
4. Edan: Beauty and the Beat
5. Sleater Kinney: The Woods
6. The Mountain Goats: The Sunset Tree
7. Clem Snide: The End of Love
8. The Ponys: Celebration Castle
9. Blueprint: 1988
10. The Go-Betweens: Oceans Apart
11. Art Brut: Bang Bang Rock & Roll
12. The Thunderbirds are Now: Justamoustache
13. Count Base-D: Begborrowsteal
14. Spoon: Gimme Fiction
15. The Perceptionists: Black Dialogue

More later.

i, Pod

So I'm slower than most people, but I recently acquired this amazing new thing called iPod. My scepticism about such mediums had to do with how I am (we are?) used to listen to music, that is with a sleeve in my hand and what not. Thing is, this won't stop me from buying records, which is what the biz fears, it just gets me around to listen to more music, hence I might end up buying even more records than before. The other pro is that I have been downloading deleted titles (latest: Gil Scott-Heron, 1980); where I before had to trust the recommendations before spendin 20$++ on gemm.com for a vinyl issue, I can now get a listen before I go on a spending spree. No biggie, but It's good to get a taster anyway. My mate at pazzandjunk (see sidebar link) has been posting his faves so far this year, as does Mr. Matos and Tom Hull. I have promised many lists on the few posts I've written, so for now all I can say is that I have time off. Don't hold your breath, though.

Current faves (songs):

Hold Steady "Stevie Nix"
Clem Snide "Fill Me With Your Light"
Cobra Verde "I Feel Love"
Edan "Fumbeling Over Words That Rhyme"
Thunderbirds Are Now "Eat This City"
Love As Laughter "Coast To Coast"

Further Adventures of...

Yo,
Buzy exam period, but some news. A trip to Bergen last weekend to witnes what may be the worlds greatest existing rock band, Sleater Kinney. I am yet to hear their album in another setting than at the record store, so I'll save a review 'til it get a copy home, but the gig was excellent, albeit not of the historic proportions as the famed "twofer" at Irving Plaza, NY in May of 2000. Their uniqe two-guitar attack is like no other sound out there, and they have the greatest drummer to boot. Also, two more gigs with the Drive-By Truckers, adding to the Oslo-gig on Thursday. All good, the Oslo one great. New records: Quasimoto The Further Adventures of Lord Quas. Highly anticipated by me and others. I have managed just four listens, and it has not let me down yet. It sound more bass-heavy than The Unseen, and still witty with more camoes. Others of note: The Thunderbirds are Now's Justamustache sounds terrific and may just be the post-punk album of the year, and it is different because it doesn't sound retro. It is bouncy and diverse, and the echoes of late '70s early '80s are only seasoning to a primaliry modern (in the most positive sense of the phrase) rock sound. The new Hold Steady is also out this week. Have not heard much yet, but I truly enjoyed thier previos effort. Watch this space for more. Later

All quiet on the...

Little action on my part of late, partly due to my forgetting the password plus increasing pressure on school work. Just a few things to say. I'm planning a list of compilations of popular musical history, to introduce my other year-by-year lists. Other things to note is the newly aquired Beauty and the Beat by the lovely Edan. Neat nerd core if I ever heard it, cultured retro-beats and fancy word-play, with cameos by Mr. Lif among others. Also bought Duke Ellingtons Bubber Miley Era: 1924-1929, which has many of the same tracks collected on the fine double Okeh Ellington, among them "Black and Tan Fantasy" and "East St. Louis Toodle-O", albeit in different tapings and nearly every selection is superior on the Bubber-disc. Also of note, the fine Landslide by The Curtis Counce Group from 1956. Premium hard bop at cut-down price. Next weekend sees both Drive-By Truckers and Sleater Kinney gigs. Later.

Late night jam

I got bored, so I figured I'd report from the latest news on the net. The guys'n'gals at Pitchforkmedia reckons the new Out Hud record is good for an 8.0 rating. I haven't heard it yet, so I won't argue, but their previous offering, S.T.R.E.E.T.D.A.D., was a bit flat, though the title "The L Train Is a Swell Train and I Don't Want to Hear You Indies Complain" is still good for a laugh. Our own Jaga Jazzist gets some props too. I don't give a toss, though. Metacritic.com has M.I.A's Arular as the current highest scorer. (If you are not familiar with their rating system, you can find out about it here: http://www.metacritic.com/about/scoring.shtml). I just bought it while in New York, and have given it quite a few spins. She is articulate, hard-hitting and soft at once. The beats are mostly heavy and hardly let go, which can prove to be a problem. For now though, it's a rumpshaker of a record, and I hope it holds up. A more elaborate review on my part may come later. Also, trying to get a hold of Count Base-D's new album Begborrowsteel. I heard soundbits on the 'net, and it sounded pretty good. Alt-rap with MF Doom-leeanings. Also, the guy is based in Nashville!!! Tired now, more later.

Chris