Paal Nilssen-Love - TownOrchestraHouse

Captain Hate · April-15th-2006, 10:08 PM

First of all, I should've bought this sucker when the Thing & Joe McPhee played here in November; God knows what I was thinking because I bought plenty of other discs and was aware of this before the concert. So then I try to combine this with an order to those idiots at cdconnection because I'm using them to order Tanager the disc that he won in the Final Four pool; only I get an email from them today saying that it's not in stock. So I send them an email saying to cancel that (they were charging out the wazz anyway) and just downloaded the sucker from Itunes at like half the cost.

Given the difficulty in picking this up I didn't know what to expect and it was rolling along nicely through the first cut as EP seems to be feeling his way on tenor in forming communications links with longtime associates PN-L, Sten Sandell and Ingerbrigt Haker Flaten. So that's like a half hour plus of feeling things out, which is a bit promising because of Nilssen-Love's rock influenced drumming and Sandell's energy-laden-but-not-CT-and-not-Crispell-but-something-different percussive piano playing. But then cut two starts with a twining soprano/piano piece that ups the ante. Nilssen-Love joins in with Haker Flaten (who unfortunately is the only person that didn't seem to bring his A game; too damn bad because he's an excellent bass player in other settings) and things are moving along at a higher level for 20 minutes and then it happens: EP starts on a circular breathing extravaganza that should serve as a tonic for everyone that says "Oh yeah I've seen EP with his tour-de-force performances and they just don't seem to move me any more". Well fuck that because everybody drops out and I was compelled to put down the book I was reading (We by Yevgeny Zamyatin; an inspired choice by my brother Terp Adam that I happened to buy way back whenever and stashed in my bookshelf) because the playing was absolutely riveting. The rest of the band joins in and things continue at the high level from then on out. EP switched back to tenor and the interaction continued unabated. An 8 minute encore still had the crowd clapping for more. I'd have loved to have been there.

This disc got somewhat of a lukewarm reception at Bags but I think it absolutely smokes. I think it should be a Reynolds favorite, assuming that's still a meaningful category.

Steve Reynolds · April-16th-2006, 07:12 AM

thanks for the review, cappy

looking for a new job - when I land one, I'll get this one

I know, Evan is just so passe these days,,,,,

Rob C · April-16th-2006, 07:58 AM

Great disc. One of my favorite EP performances.

Gerardo A · April-20th-2006, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Reynolds

thanks for the review, cappy

looking for a new job - when I land one, I'll get this one

I know, Evan is just so passe these days,,,,,

Hi Steve. Hey, are you going to the Vision or to Ornette in June?

Steve Reynolds · April-20th-2006, 03:32 PM

depends on the $$$ - don't have a job at this point - working hard to find a new one

should be able to swing at least a couple of nights of the Vsion Fest - but I am not thrilled by any particular night

I'll have to re-check the schedule

gnhrtg · April-20th-2006, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob C

Great disc. One of my favorite EP performances.

I didn't like this disc much, but I agree with you that Evan Parker is clearly (and deservedly) the star of the show. What bothered me about the performance was (i) Haker-Flaten's contributions and (ii) Sandell, in particular, and Nilssen-Love, for all their talent and relative originality, trying too hard to play Parker-music (perhaps even better to say acquiescing) to the detriment of the resulting music.

Rob C · April-20th-2006, 04:53 PM

Hmm. I felt that Parker's playing was warmer here than usual, maybe in response to the piano and Paal's drive. The music seems to me to have a forward momentum that I don't always hear in freely improvised music. I quite like it.

Speaking of Nilssen-Love, I'm seeing Atomic tonight and tomorrow, and maybe Saturday--they are actually playing five straight nights in Chicago, in various permutations. Tonight is the quintet--Friday and Saturday, it's Atomic meets School Days. I can't wait!

gnhrtg · April-20th-2006, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob C

The music seems to me to have a forward momentum that I don't always hear in freely improvised music.

I agree with you here as well.

I hope you'll enjoy the concerts. The freakest I've ever seen Paal was the two Sten Sandell trio gigs I caught in Sweden last year. Blistering.

Gerardo A · April-20th-2006, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Reynolds

depends on the $$$ - don't have a job at this point - working hard to find a new one

should be able to swing at least a couple of nights of the Vsion Fest - but I am not thrilled by any particular night

I'll have to re-check the schedule

Yeah, maybe you can stop by the Dennis Gonzalez jam session on Friday 16th at midnight, too. A friend of mine from Mexico city, Remi Alvarez, a very good free player is coming with me, I think you'll dig him. The Rutherford trio on Thursday sounds like a good Vision concert.

Oh and good luck in the job-hunt, man. Hope it gives you fruitful results soon!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob C

I'm seeing Atomic tonight and tomorrow, and maybe Saturday--they are actually playing five straight nights in Chicago, in various permutations. Tonight is the quintet--Friday and Saturday, it's Atomic meets School Days. I can't wait!

Nice. Good envy to you.

Clay Fink · April-21st-2006, 08:09 AM

Bought this at "The Thing"performace last year. Very nice.

BTW, emusic has most of the Clean Feed stuff available.

Nim Chimpsky · May-2nd-2006, 08:02 AM

I saw this group on Sunday night in what was apparently their first concert since the album was recorded. Great stuff.