Gerry Hemingway Quartet --> Devils Paradise

[hermann]

Last night I bought this new one from Gerry :
Devils Paradise :
Gerry Hemingway drums
Ellery Erskine tenor
Ray Anderson trombone
Mark dresser bass
1. Devils Paradise 7:21
2. If You Like 7:18
3. Johnny's Corner Song 6:12
4. Full Off 7:13
5. Back Again Some Time 7:45
6. Toombow 9:23
7. Gentle Ben 5:49
8. Tom Swella 5:14
Because of my really poor english I citate the last sentence from the liner notes:
A flower may be a labor of ages; but G.H. somehow developes a perennial every few years. His quartet is one of his hardest, and it is in full bloom on 'Devils Paradise'. (Bill Shoemaker, March 2003 )

And men, it's trombonefood too, whow.
www.tremazul.com clean feed CF010CD
[ sorry this site is under construction I found out ]

[Gary Sisco]

Oh, man, I have to have this and have it *right now.* I had the very fortunate good luck to hear this quartet live, on its first ever performance in the States, and they kicked butt in a serious manner. It was also my introduction to Ellery Eskelin. Plus, my man Ray Anderson. Nuff said.

[Steve Reynolds]

looking forward to it


only 2 new tunes, but better than nothing

methinks this was recorded a few years ago, no?

for Sisco - my thoughts is that they played 3 of these tunes, maybe 4 when you saw them (3,6 & 7)

the others besides the new ones (1 & 8) are from the previous Quintet's book - and Back Again Some Time and If You Like are among the strongest of all Hemingway compositions.

[hermann]

Sorry Guys, I forgot to note that this fine music was recorded on 8. February 1999 at Acustic Recording Studio at Brooklyn N.Y.

[Captain Hate]

I don't care when it was recorded; this lineup's music is pretty timeless anyway.

[frankpop1]

herm's is this the patented modal like hemingway sound or is it something different......

[MRS]

Well I think the setlist evinces Hemingway's (I wouldn't call his music modal) general style, whatever that is. Sorry Ellery, but even before I hear your take on 'If You Like,' it will not trump the take off 'Demon Chaser.' Well. . .I'm biased early, but will let you know!:)

[Clay Fink]

Available from Gerry's website:

http://www.gerryhemingway.com/

Click on "News" in the upper left-hand corner.

[Gary Sisco]

Steve -- I don't remember which tunes they played that night, but they played for an hour and a half and it fucking rocked.

[Steve Reynolds]

I'm SURE you will remember Toombow

when I saw them (with Eubanks) they played the full Johnny's Corner Song plus Full Off


3 of those tunes (of the 4 on JCS ) are on the new CD - albeit much shorter versions

Toombow was given a 20+ minute take - as it is on the previous record

as I have said many times, this tune is Ellingtonian in all respects - and live - lordy lordy

I was into deep hyperventilation by the time they put a wrap on it - I think Cherches was there (with Heisler) to witness it all


and Dresser filled up the room ansd silenced every voice when he plyed alone - stunnign display of brilliance by the great bassit.

[shrugs]

I just wish this group(or similar) would tour the US. It seems like most of his tours are overseas.

[MRS]

"Down to the Wire" I meant. . .not "Demon Chaser."

[bluenoter]

I need to choose between Devil's Paradise and Johnny's Corner Song--which I'm leaning towards, because I was knocked out when I heard a bit of it recently at Vince K's listening party. Does anyone have a compelling reason that I should get Devil's Paradise instead, or have any other thoughts? Please don't tell me to get both, and please don't recommend a different Hemingway CD. :)

I could go for more tunes (Devil's Paradise), or I could go for more fully developed versions of the duplicate tunes (Johnny's Corner Song, apparently)--and I'm leaning toward the latter. Insofar as I have any preference between live and studio, it's only a very slight preference for live. And I'm not familiar with the work of either Ray Anderson (Devil's Paradise) or Robin Eubanks (Johnny's Corner Song).

Thanks in advance.

Edit: Oh, hell. I'm not leaning toward Johnny's Corner Song anymore; I'm completely undecided between the two.

[relyles]

I have yet to pick up Johnny's Corner Song, but Devils Paradise is excellent. It was one my my top ten releases for 2003.

[jazzfiend]

Rita, I believe Johnny's Corner Song is only avail. from Gerry himself. I snagged it, along with Devils Paradise, at his recent performance at Yoshi's.
If I could only pick one, I'd go with Devils Paradise, one of my fave releases over the last year. It's been awhile since i've heard Corner Song, but I know I was a happy camper. Both Eubanks & Anderson work real well with Gerry, and Ellery has never done me wrong. But overall, I'd opt for Devils Paradise. I believe the sound (engineering) may be superior on this one also. But you can't go wrong either way as they're both very fine sessions.

[bluenoter]

Thanks, guys. Johnny's Corner Song is supposed to be available from Hemingway through his website, though I don't know how long it would take him (or somebody representing him) to answer an e-mail.

[relyles]

Thanks, guys. Johnny's Corner Song is supposed to be available from Hemingway through his website, though I don't know how long it would take him (or somebody representing him) to answer an e-mail.

I have emailed Hemingway in the past about separate issues and got a response the same day.

[Gary Sisco]

This is easily one of the finest releases of the past several years. It gets a lot of play around here.

[stonemonkts]

I ordered Devil's Paradise from Jazz Loft last night. I would've ordered it direct from GH but when I checked Jazz Loft I found they are carrying Schlippenbach/Murray - Smoke, a recording I've been hunting for a little while now. The band looks fantastic.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

I ordered Devil's Paradise from Jazz Loft last night.


Just a note that Devil's Paradise is on the excellent Portuguese label Clean Feed Records, and the whole package - music, graphics, layout - is great. Clean Feed's website ( http://www.cleanfeed-records.com) is no longer under construction, and their current catalog selections, as well as their upcoming releases, are excellent. Besides, my new one is on Clean Feed (:)), as well as (at least) two more upcoming releases.

Jazz Loft carries some of the catalog, as does NorthCountry, but you can also get their stuff at DMG.

Rita, e-mail me (dennisgonzalezx@aol.com)!

[bluenoter]

Rita, e-mail me (dennisgonzalezx@aol.com)! Dennis--

I thought I'd read your post, but I missed that part. Thanks! I got your PM this morning, and I just e-mailed you.

[Capt.W./TX.]

Just got it this week...

Great band (a real group-not just a studio effort), very good audio, terrific packaging-what's not to like??

Admittedly, comparisons are odious. But, just the same, methinks Ray Anderson just might be Roswell Rudd's heir apparent-just on the basis of his playing here. Not a stylistic derivative, mind you, but his approach and attitude kept reminding me of Roz. Then, too, there's those fabled altissimo chops.

I've been intrigued with Ellery's work ever since I heard him on Joey Baron's Barondown CDs of a decade or so ago. His is one of the most distinctive tenor voices around.

Not as 'out' (or-as intense) as "The Marmalade King" (compared to "the MK", this one's a 'straight-ahead' set) but what the hell? I've played "Devil's Paradise" twice already and will probably play it many more times in years to come.

[stonemonkts]

The band is just fantastic. I wish I could have heard them live when they toured. Whew, Ellery Eskelin and Ray Anderson together, with Mark Dresser and Gerry Hemingway! It's as great as the lineup would promise to be.

[Steve Reynolds]

saw the band with Robin Eubanks in place of Ray Anderson about 4 years ago at Vision Fest

how good was the band?

fantastic

and I will never foregt how great Dresser was that night

the set was preced by a nice trio which feature Tom Abbs on bass and Chad Taylor on drums and a pianist I can't recall

Abbs and Taylor are fine players

but when the grown men took the stage, the one thing that immediatly stood out was the *sound* that Dresser & Hemingway produced from their instruments - in Hemingway's case, the same drum kit - *sound* that made the previous musicians sound like beginners

and when Dresser soloed that night, you could have heard a pin drop, the room was so transfixed


and Ellery - played like a modern day Sonny Rollins

Cherches chuckled when I deemed after the set closer "Toombow" that it was Ellingtonian in scope and execution

played all 4 tunes from Johnny's Corner Song and a later tune from the disbanded quintet

[Uli]

the set was preced by a nice trio which feature Tom Abbs on bass and Chad Taylor on drums and a pianist I can't recall

Abbs and Taylor are fine players

but when the grown men took the stage, the one thing that immediatly stood out was the *sound* that Dresser & Hemingway produced from their instruments - in Hemingway's case, the same drum kit - *sound* that made the previous musicians sound like beginners




my guess is that combined, Dresser & Hemingway are may be 20 - 35 years closer to the dead guys than Abbs & Taylor.