Interesting Soundcheck today. The first story was about the release today of Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall. I saw an ad for it in last month's Jazz Times but had forgotten about it. The Library of Congress researcher who found the tape and a Coltrane scholar were interviewed. This recording was made shortly after (I think) the group's legendary months-long stand at the Five Spot, which was a key episode in both men's careers, particularly for Coltrane. Until now there were only a handful of studio recordings and a Five Spot bootleg that was officially released a few years ago, the latter "recording sounds like it was recorded at the wrong end of a mine shaft." The Carnegie Hall recording, on the other hand, sounds great. The tape was still in really good shape and Blue Note has done a terrific job with it.
The second part of the show featured Tim Riley, author of the in-depth Beatles examination Tell Me Why: The Beatles: Album by Album, Song by Song, the Sixties and After. I actually liked this interview more than I liked the book, but the book is certainly worth checking out. Riley will be at Housing Works tonight (site of one of the Lost In The Grooves events) discussing his new book.
Excellent news about the Monk & Coltrane album! I just saw that the Complete Bill Evans Live At The Village Vanguard just came out on disc today, too.
I'm reading a biography of Monk right now that's very poorly written. It reminds me of this Coltrane biography I read a dozen years ago that was so condescending - it kept referring to Coltrane's weakness for sweet potato pie and his "fat suits" in this way that seemed straight out of minstrelsy. Bad jazz biographies can suck it.
Which one, Corwood? For a long time there were no bios, at least not in print in English -- I know because I looked and looked. Then this one and this one came out around the same time. I bought & read both but don't remember much about either. The former's forward by Steve Lacy is a pretty strong recommendation. I can't remember if the book is a translation. The latter definitely is, & I remember it being rather eccentric; don't remember if I found it pleasingly or distractingly eccentric, though. Missed this one completely. Orrin Keepnews, co-founder of Riverside Records and Monk's producer there, wrote near-booklength liner notes for the Monk Riverside box set which he adapted for this collection. I saw it once, but didn't buy it (it was back in the unemployed days) and of course it's now OOP, too. I should probably grab one of the used copies. Weird that a major figure like Monk -- he's a big seller by jazz standards in addition to being one of the music's giants -- has so few critical studies extant (much less in print and in English.)
It's the one with the Steve Lacy forward, which is, as you said, awesome. I could see the text as a poor translation.
The first single off Kate Bush's new album
Aerial
is now in KEXP's rotation.
It's very... Kate Bush. Back to basics sound for her.
The newest Dar Williams album has a cover of "Comfortably Numb" from Pink Floyd's *The Wall*. I love it; it's a duet with Ani deFranco.
the release today of Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall.
That sound you just heard? The resounding THUD? Was me hitting the floor as I expired from sheer joy.
The Van Morrison Contractal Obligation Album: [link]
I recommend the track "Ringworm".
Judd Apatow's story of pitching a movie to the Stones with Ben Stiller.
Anyway, before that happened, Ben and I had to fly to Canada to pitch the story to the entire band. Ben was to do the main pitch, and I would fill in the holes. When we sat down with them in a girl's school where they were rehearsing for the tour, I choked and did not say one word. I am not exaggerating. I was silent.
Ben, however, was magnificent. I sat in awe as he told Mick what he would do as director, writer, and actor. At one point Ben said he wanted the movie to have the look of Gimme Shelter, to which Keith Richards replied, "Well, this time let's do it without the murder" and laughed his ass off. They all did. It was like being in the den with the devil.
NYistas should try to see the Shaggs musical this week: [link]
I knew the show had played in Chicago for a while, but I was unaware of this bit:
the band pit included some exciting players: LeRoy Bach of Wilco and David Hilliard from David Byrne's touring band. Musical director was Rick Sims of the Didjits and the Gaza Strippers.
