Penguin Guide discoveries

March-25th-2003, 06:19 PM

I think this was a thread on the old board.

Many here have a lot of respect for the Penguin Guide. I do.

What highly recommended artists/recordings have you discovered through the guide?

for me: 1)Krytoff Komeda and 2)Jan Allen--the crowned discs by each of them are amazing and have made me seek out other work by each. I also hadn't heard Larry Young's solo stuff until I got the guide, and that was a great discovery for me too.

Squaredancecalling Steve · March-26th-2003, 01:57 AM

Rabih Abou-Khalil

The Ganelin Trio

But if the Penguins have downgraded Sergey Kuryokhin's "Some Combination of Fingers and Passion" to a mere three stars, they have clearly lost their way.

john williams · March-26th-2003, 07:31 AM

The Ganelin Trio

Absolutely, I don't know if I ever would have discovered Ganelin without the Penguin Guide. I bought "Catalogue" & "Ancora..." on the strength of those reviews.

Tomasz Stanko - "Leosia" and "Litania" - both of which have made an important impact on the development of my collection.

Via Tomasz & Penguin I have also discovered Bobo Stenson. "Serenity" is a masterpiece in my opinion,

Evan Parker - and I quote

"If genius is the sustained application of intelligence, then Evan Parker merits the Epithet." Fourth Edition Pg. 1186)

March-26th-2003, 10:20 AM

yes, me too on the Ganelin trio--excellent discovery.

JWB: if you love the Stanko, check him out in his earlier form,
playing on Komeda's masterpiece "Astgmatic" which deservedly
has a crown. A beaut.

Rob C · March-26th-2003, 10:39 AM

Hell, the Penguin was my main source when I first discovered jazz. This board and other internet sources have probably superseded its influence with me, but I still think it's a great resource. I mean, the "crowns" that I've bought solely based on that recommendation have brought me countless hours of pleasure, from Rollins' Saxophone Colossus to Coltrane's Ascension to the Ganelin Trio to Peter Kowald to Charles Gayle to Woody Herman...! I've discovered a lot of great music through Penguin.

March-26th-2003, 12:34 PM

I was using the Penguin back when I was listening to Miles and Monk, well before I ever got into freejazz, so it really gave me a great introduction to the basics. But the crown status of four albums in particular, plus the extremely kind things that were said about them led to my purchase of them, and I haven't regretted any of them. The four albums were:

Gayle/Parker/Ali - Touchin On Trane

Albert Ayler Trio - Spiritual Unity

Oliver Nelson - The Blues and the Abstract Truth

David S. Ware - Godspelized

But lately it has really gotten me into stuff like Other Dimensions In Music, Sabir Mateen, Daniel Carter, etc....

Lots of people love to trash this book, but the only bad thing I can say about it is that due to the money it has caused me to spend over the years, it's THE most expensive book I've ever bought.

[edit p.s.] I should also note that I purchased Ornette's 'Beauty Is A Rare Thing' box set based almost solely on it's crown status. I had never even heard Ornette before that, but based on what they said about the music it sounded like it was a set I simply couldn't live without. Hey, no complaints here, beauty IS a rare thing.

MRS · March-26th-2003, 01:08 PM

I actually have prepared quasi-valid theses on "Finnegan's Wake" and Spenser; but I have no excuse for my idiocy in light of this statement of the Brits in describing the Schweizer/Bennink duo (still on my 'to get' list). On Bennink (and I'm at the office, thus the quote could be a lil' off):

"Our admiration for Bennink is probably in violation of the first and third commandments."

Now stoop even lower on the idiot scale in that I was trained by a wild pack of Jesuits: I THINK that the 1st and third are taking the Lord's name in vain and keeping holy the Sabbath.

Thus I can perhaps see the pertinence of the "don't say 'fuck'" commandment, but what does keeping holy the Sabbath have to do with their admiration of Bennink?

Maybe we should start a "Most Humorous Bits of Cook & Morton" thread. . . .like that crossword puzzle joke in the Parker/Rosenthal review--hilarious! Thanks for your thoughts on this utterly senseless post.

MRS

Squaredancecalling Steve · March-26th-2003, 01:47 PM

A Jesuitally-trained Joycean!! Perfect! Michael, I've got to talk some Ulysses with you if I'm ever out that way!

Dennis Gonzalez · March-26th-2003, 01:51 PM

You must find Balladyna by Stanko...no ifs, ands or buts.

And look for the very first LP by Ganelin/Tarasov/Chekasin live on Leo Records. The tapes were smuggled out of Russia during the last days of the repressive Russian government. Eye-opening.

stonemonkts · March-26th-2003, 02:04 PM

The Pengiun Guides have been indispensable in the removal of a small fortune from my bank account over the years.

I agree with perhaps 2/3 - 3/4 of their reviews. Often I find I like their 3 1/2 star recs more than the 4's, why this is I couldn't say but it happens more often than not.

Artists and/or CDs I've discovered through them include these highly mentionables:

George Lewis - Homage to Charlie Parker

George Graewe, Jane Ira Bloom, Arthur Blythe, Evan Parker, Ellery Eskelin, Jimmy Giuffre, Thomas Chapin, Frank Gratkowski, Mark Helias, Michael Moore, Ken Peplowski, Enrico Rava, Bobby Previte, Schlippenbach,
String Trio of NY, Tomasz Stanko, Henry Threadgill, Massimo Urbani, and last but not least John Zorn.

Before Penguin I was mainly into straight ahead/mainstream but knew I needed some guidance after discovering Anthony Braxton (and, coincidentally, WKCR).

moneyp · March-26th-2003, 03:10 PM

Quite a few:

Abash - Abash, Jazz
Bruce Ackley - The Hearing
Reid Anderson - Abolish Bad Architecture
most of my Derek Bailey collection
Chet Baker - Blues for a Reason, Chet's Choice
Iain Ballamy - Food
Gregg Bendian - Interzone, Interstellar Space
Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra
John Wolf Brennan - ...through the Ear of a Raindrop
Tony Coe - quite a few of his albums

...and that's just through C!

Rob C · March-26th-2003, 03:33 PM

Hot Fives and Sevens!!!

Rob C · March-26th-2003, 05:09 PM

Evan Parker-50th Birthday Concert
June Christy-Something Cool
Sarah Vaughan-with Clifford Brown
David S. Ware-Godspelized
Bobby Hutcherson-Dialogue (in the 1st ed.)

Just another handful. Boy, how can you not like a guide that gives its highest rating to discs as diverse as those???

walto · March-26th-2003, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JBW

Evan Parker - and I quote

"If genius is the sustained application of intelligence, then Evan Parker merits the Epithet." Fourth Edition Pg. 1186)

FWIW, I know for a fact that C&W (though absolutely correct IMHO) were hardly the first to use that term for EP in a published account.

:>}

Squaredancecalling Steve · March-26th-2003, 05:51 PM

>>FWIW, I know for a fact that C&W (though absolutely correct IMHO) were hardly the first to use that term for EP in a published account.

:>}<<

Well who DID use the term before them? And where did they (you?) swipe it from?

john williams · March-26th-2003, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by achilles
yes, me too on the Ganelin trio--excellent discovery.

JWB: if you love the Stanko, check him out in his earlier form,
playing on Komeda's masterpiece "Astgmatic" which deservedly
has a crown. A beaut.

Thanks achilles, I have recently acquired that one and love it. I also bought this one on the strength of the Penguin.

walto · March-27th-2003, 10:17 AM

"Swipe it?!?" Hah!

Squaredancecalling Steve · March-27th-2003, 12:21 PM

All right then, Walter: In what review did you COIN this felicitous phrase, which has been since swiped without credit by others. (Jheez! This is like cross-examination!)

March-27th-2003, 12:40 PM

I found this in a very old issue of TigerBeat, and the reviewer's name is (suspiciously) Wally Horny:

"If genius is the sustained application of intelligence, then
Bobby Sherman merits the claim."

Squaredancecalling Steve · March-27th-2003, 01:01 PM

Bobby Sherman, huh?? I always suspected Walter was heavily into bubble-gum rock!!

walto · March-28th-2003, 05:08 PM

Hey now, everybody should know from "Leave it to Beaver" that "Wally" is short for "Wallace" not "Walter" (or "walto"!

Sherman was too cool for me anyhow--and too into deconstructivism. I'm more of a Paul Revere guy.

SqD, I'm thinking of the last line of my review of "Most Materiall."

March-28th-2003, 06:25 PM

okay, Walt, you got me there, but you did review
for TigerBeat, no?

walto · March-28th-2003, 06:56 PM

Yeah, at the same time Virgil Thompson, Olin Downes and Elliott Carter were staff writers there. We actually all got together for an interview with The Raiders!!! It was sooooo cool!!!!!!!!!!

Squaredancecalling Steve · March-28th-2003, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by walto
Yeah, at the same time Virgil Thompson, Olin Downes and Elliott Carter were staff writers there. We actually all got together for an interview with The Raiders!!! It was sooooo cool!!!!!!!!!!

I prefer the earlier period, when you had Stockhausen & Nadia Boulanger interviewing The Monkees.

But seriously, very nice turn of phrase, Walter!

strich · March-29th-2003, 06:23 PM

Stuff I absolutely love, but possibly never would have purchased but for the Penguin:

John McLaughlin - Extrapolation
Harold Mabern - Grooveyard
John Lindberg - Dodging Bullets
Clusone 3 - I Am An Indian (and others)
Ellery Eskelin - Figure of Speech
Joe Lovano - From the Soul
Berne/Frisell - Theoretically
Ran Blake - Short Life of Barbara Monk
Ray Brown - Black Orpheus
Georgio Gaslini - Ayler's Wings
Mark Helias - Loopin' the Cool
Guus Janssen - Zwik
Jan Johansson - 8 Bitar/Innertrio
Michel Portal - Dockings
ROVA - Bingo
Gianluigi Trovesi - From G to G
Tom Varner - The Mystery of Compassion
John Zorn - News for Lulu
Gerry Hemingway - Demon Chaser
Dennis Gonzalez - The Earth and the Heart

Ditto for me on the recs for Ayler, Abou-Khalil, Stanko, Reid Anderson & Komeda. Most important of all, I bought Hill's Point of Departure based on the 1st Edition crown, and it's probably my all-time favorite. I don't always agree with the 4-star picks, but the goods have far outnumbered the bads, it's consistent in taste, and it always entices me to try stuff I'd never find at the local store. Other than this board (on which I've been lurking for about 3 years, but couldn't post because my only internet access was through work), I think it's the best reference out there.

I have to give Walt Davis his due also - for his ancient posts on the old rec.music.bluenote board (e.g., "So you wanna be ....") that were (and continue to be) helpful and thoughtful.

ADR · March-31st-2003, 04:52 PM

Albums I bought based on Penguin reviews that I might not have purchased otherwise:

Don Pullen/George Adams - "Live at the Village Vanguard"
Gary Bartz - "West 42nd Street" and "There Goes the Neighborhood"
Marty Ehrlich - "New York Child"
Michael Formanek - "Low Profile"
Mark Helias - "Fictionary"
Steve Lacy - "Morning Joy"
Myra Melford - "Even the Sounds Shine"
J.R. Monterose - "The Message"
Simon Nabatov - "Tough Customer"
Bill Stewart - "Telepathy"
Horace Tapscott - "The Dark Trees Vol.s I & II"
Cecil Taylor - "Nefertiti: The Beautiful One Has Come"
Charles Tolliver - "The Ringer"

ADR

rene · April-1st-2003, 07:34 AM

I knew they were great but the Penguin reviews sorted out the best these musicians had to offer:

Horace Tapscott - Aiee! The Phantom
Andrew Hill - Judgment and Dusk
Marilyn Crispell - Live In San Francisco

Nate Dorward · April-1st-2003, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rene
I knew they were great but the Penguin reviews sorted out the best these musicians had to offer: ....
Andrew Hill - Judgment and Dusk

A little puzzled here. Which edition? I have got all but one (the 5th) & Judgment doesn't I think receive a review in any of them (I guess because it was only available as a "Connoisseur" limited edition) & the 6th edition has little good to say about Dusk (*** & a mostly skeptical review).

I think I'd mostly agree with their take on Dusk (in particular concerning the solo tracks on it); Judgment is certainly one of Hill's best Blue Notes--a great album.

walto · April-1st-2003, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rene
I knew they were great but the Penguin reviews sorted out the best these musicians had to offer:

Marilyn Crispell - Live In San Francisco

FWIW, I heartily dissent from this ranking of Crispell disks!

bostontricky · April-1st-2003, 10:37 PM

The Penguin guide took me to school, in a way. Among the crowned artists, Jan Allan, who led me into a bunch of Swedish jazz. I developed my Jimmy Giuffre addiction through the good book as well.

Also, Tomasz Stanko, Dusko Goykovich. I also had the Penguin guide before I discovered Jazz Corner, so the PJG also gets credit for Dennis Gonzalez.

Has anyone really dug deep into Max Harrison's "The Essential Jazz Records"? This has tipped me off to Bernt Rosengren, Andre Hodeir, Gyorgy Szabados, Cy Touff and others further out on the periphery, as well as setting me straight on Mel Torme.