Alexander von Schlippenbach Trio - Pakistani Pomade / Evan Parker Concert Review

[Stuckinagroove]

Anybody have this? It's some early evan parker stuff, very engaging. Also the tracks are short and sweet (for free/improv, anyway).



I picked it up when evan parker came to town last month, which by the way was an amazing concert. Most engaging was hearing Alexander playing "straightahead" monk tunes solo. They also played a bit of "monk's dream" as a trio. I even dug evan parker on soprano. You know, if you sort of half-focus your eyes while listening to him do his circular breathing on soprano, it puts you in this weird trance. I liked it.

[Tanager]

This release is also on eMusic. I've listened to it a couple of times, and I'm still not sure where I stand on it. It's not easy music for me to love at first listen, that's for sure, but it's definitely interesting enough to warrant further spins.

[Captain Hate]

On my short list thanks to comments on earlier threads.

[Sergio Zamora]

This might be my favorite Schlippenbach, of what I've heard. And I've only listened to it about three times.

[blawless]

I'm with the yeas on this one, too. I think it's the most coherent approach I've heard to this idiom with this line-up-- I'm thinking of Brotzmann/Van Hove/Bennink and Gush as worthy efforts now pushed to the back of the line at the CD player. It's a real reckoning to consider how old it is, too. There's so much going on, and so effectively, that you have to wonder how musicians are still coming up with new things to say in this vein-- seems like they've addressed the big issues pretty definitively. For improv of this vintage it sounds uncannily fresh.

[Captain Hate]

I picked this up in Drimala sale part 1 and am finally getting around to listening to it. I agree with blawless; the only way you know how old this is is the sound quality. These guys were certainly verrry sympatico 31 years ago!!! Definitely heading the list for my reissues. Thank you Atavistic.

[Dan G]

Originally posted by Stuckinagroove
Anybody have this? It's some early evan parker stuff, very engaging. Also the tracks are short and sweet (for free/improv, anyway).

I picked it up when evan parker came to town last month, which by the way was an amazing concert. Most engaging was hearing Alexander playing "straightahead" monk tunes solo. They also played a bit of "monk's dream" as a trio. I even dug evan parker on soprano. You know, if you sort of half-focus your eyes while listening to him do his circular breathing on soprano, it puts you in this weird trance. I liked it.

Several years ago I saw Parker in a duo with Tuvan throat singer Sainko Namtchylak (the show was released on Victo as Mars Song), at the old Music Gallery in Toronto - I was in the front row, resting my feet on the stage that was only about 6 inches off the ground. Parker was about 6 feet in front of me, maybe 4 feet to my left, Sainko same position on the right. I spent most of the show with my eyes closed, and there were times when it got downright spooky!

Anyway, regarding Pakistani Pomade, Parker has stated that this one of the records he is most proud of in his career, I think probably because of how mature the band sounded for a first effort. I've only had a chance to listen to it a couple of times, and like it a lot though I'm not ready to put it above Elf Bagatellen yet as favorite from that group.

As for Schlippenbach and Monk tunes, he's great at it. If you can still find it, pick up Light Blue, a trio disc on Enja of him doing all Monk material. Even some other projects where you may least expect it, you can here his affinity for Monk, such as on the great duo album with Sunny Murray called Smoke.

[frankiepop]

(for free/improv, anyway).

'anyway'? what in the hell does that mean?

this is a great recording in large part due to schlip's ability to organize music.

[Captain Hate]

Originally posted by Dan G
I've only had a chance to listen to it a couple of times, and like it a lot though I'm not ready to put it above Elf Bagatellen yet as favorite from that group.

This is just my luck: In addition to Pakistani Pomade, I have Complete Combustion, Swinging the Bim & the disc from EP's 50th Birthday concert, only to find out I still don't have the ultimate release by this group. The order went out earlier today.

[MRS]

Das Drehmoment, the sceond bit off Physics is par excellence

[Alex]

Pakistani Pomade. Wonderful album. Essential.

Light Blue: Schlippenbach plays Monk. Terrific disc. A must have.

Our man is playing at the A-Trane in Berlin-Charlottenburg for two shows this week. With the following band:

Walter Gauchel - sax
Paul Rogers - bass
Tony Bianco - drums

I suppose I'll probably go, but I'm still spent from seeing Cecil and Oxley last week (and I didn't even stick around for the second set! It was wonderful, but physically and mentally exhausting!)

Plus, Georg Graewe and Fred Lonberg-Holm are playing in duo at the B-flat in Mitte next week, and I'm wondering if three sucessive concerts in so many weeks is overkill.

[Martin]

Originally posted by Alex
I suppose I'll probably go, but I'm still spent from seeing Cecil and Oxley last week (and I didn't even stick around for the second set! It was wonderful, but physically and mentally exhausting!)

Plus, Georg Graewe and Fred Lonberg-Holm are playing in duo at the B-flat in Mitte next week, and I'm wondering if three sucessive concerts in so many weeks is overkill.

Alex, you did not miss that much: The second set lasted considerably shorter than the "short intermission" (Oxley's words) in between: two pieces - the first about 15 minutes, the second 3 or 4.

Hmm, are 18 concerts on 4 consecutive 4 days (10 at JazzFest, 8 at TMM) sort of overkill?

[sonic1]

I too saw Schlippy with Evan Parker here in Tucson (believe it or not). I think Evan Parker has only toured the US twice, ever. Is that the case with Schlippenbach too? At any rate for us to get them in Tucson was a total miracle.

He is an insane performer. He looks like a mad man at the board, and rolls those monk tunes off like it was improvised. And the facial expressions...man he convinced me.

I have a lot by schlippy; hunting the snake, most of the globe unity recordings, smoke, and many albums with him as sideman (manfred schoof, Kowald, Brotzmann, parker, et al)...but I don't have pakistani pomade. And the monk album I must have. Anyone got $50 I can borrow?

Jared

[Alex]

Originally posted by Martin
Alex, you did not miss that much: The second set lasted considerably shorter than the "short intermission" (Oxley's words) in between: two pieces - the first about 15 minutes, the second 3 or 4.

Hmm, are 18 concerts on 4 consecutive 4 days (10 at JazzFest, 8 at TMM) sort of overkill?

Jeez, Martin, you and Hermann are fanatics!

I skipped JazzFest entirely, and limited myself only to the Friday show of TMM.

I think if I started attending more than 1 concert a month, I'd totally lose track of what I've seen. I tend to savor the experience more that way.

(I make exceptions for any show by Broetzmann. It's like cleaning the wax out of my ears with jagged barbed-wire. I love it.)

[Martin]

Alex,


> Jeez, Martin, you and Hermann are fanatics! <

I am, and probably Hermann (whom I did not meet in Berlin, did you?) also is.


> I skipped JazzFest entirely, and limited myself only to the Friday show of TMM. <

...which was the only TMM show I did not watch in its entirety (in favor of Jon Balke and Louis Sclavis at the JazzFest). I arrived at Podewil in the very last moment to see the Taylor/Oxley gig (Helma Schleif just entering the stage as I hurried in). Globokar/Drouet and Turetzky solo must have been remarkable performances, I was told...


> I think if I started attending more than 1 concert a month, I'd totally lose track of what I've seen. I tend to savor the experience more that way. <

You know, here in Upper Franconia (Oberfranken) I only have the chance to see a handful of concerts spread across the year, so quite naturally I tried to catch anything/everything of interest while being in Berlin for four days. Kulmbach prefers to concentrate on producing beer rather than promoting cultural events.

[baksheesh]

The 'sheesh has in his possession;
Pakistani Pomade
Elf Bagatellen
Detta Fra di noi
Physics
50th Birthday Concert
Complete Combustion
Swinging the Bim
2 x 3 = 5
Compression
Winterreise
Gold is Where You find it
America 2003 (with Lytton instead of Lovens)

All are varying degrees of brilliant.
Also the following near ringers -i.e. the trio become a quartet with the addition of a bassist;
Three Nails left
Hunting the snake
The hidden peak
(all with Peter Kowald)

Das hohe lied
Anticlockwise
(both with Alan Silva)

I consider these albums to be some of my most treasured in my collection and I am always completely transported to a better place when I listen to any of the above selections. Although, obviously some stand out above the others - people tend to note Pakistani Pomade, Elf Bagatellen, Swinging the Bim, Das Hohe Lied and Hunting the Snake, no collection should properly be without at least 95% of the others.

Cheers,


the 'sheesh