peter cosey

gonzo · June-23rd-2004, 09:06 PM

really good article/interview with guitar god peter cosey in new summer issue of "signal to noise."

Sergio Zamora · June-24th-2004, 12:48 AM

Yeah, I read that on the plane yesterday. Really nice article. It went a long way in dispelling the myth that (which I must admit I kinda shared) that Cosey showed up out of nowhere to play with Miles and disappeared from the scene afterwards.

I sure wish some of that stuff he played with the early AACM folks was recorded.

I see AMG gives really low ratings to the psychedelicized blues albums he played in for Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters, but I'm nevertheless curious. After all, how long ago was it that critics dismissed 'Dark Magus'?

AntManBee · June-24th-2004, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sergio Zamora

I see AMG gives really low ratings to the psychedelicized blues albums he played in for Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters, but I'm nevertheless curious.

"The Howlin' Wolf Album" is brilliant!!! "Electric Mud" isn't as good or as consistent, but it's OK (same with "After the Rain").

SEJ · June-24th-2004, 08:21 AM

The best part of Electric Mud is the cover...precious! Muddy looks bemused. I had no idea there was a similar Howlin' Wolf album. In his day, Hubert Sumlin was his own Pete Cosey.

Root Doctor · June-24th-2004, 08:23 AM

I think both "Electric Mud" and "The Howlin' Wolf Album" are unlistenable.

Peterdubya · June-25th-2004, 02:48 PM

The best Pete Cosey gig was when he was on Peoples Court. (I believe he won)

Dr Dave · June-25th-2004, 07:35 PM

Agharta was Cosey's finest hour, in my opinion. He brought a sensibility that included Hendrix and Japanese Monster Movies into the Miles Davis canon. His first solo on that album, immediately following a beautiful exercise in musical logic by Sonny Fortune, blows the whole performance apart. Damn, he was one crazy mofo on that date. Didn't Frank Zappa record something called "My Guitar Wants To Eat Your Mama" or somesuch? Cosey didn't need the clever title: His guitar really DID want to eat your mama or your brain or whatever you got.

Dave B · December-2nd-2004, 07:31 AM

I looked hard for a copy of this issue, but ‘Signal to Noise’ doesn’t seem to be available in the UK.

Did Cosey say what happened to him after 1975? Apart from his solo on Herbie Hancock’s ‘Future Shock’, there was nothing until 2000. I would love to know what he was up to (having heard various horror stories – substance abuse; that he lost his home at some point etc.)

Did he indicate his future plans at all?

Dick Bowman · December-2nd-2004, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave B

I looked hard for a copy of this issue, but ‘Signal to Noise’ doesn’t seem to be available in the UK.

...

Sound323 sells it.

Dr Dave · December-2nd-2004, 09:28 AM

I don't know how up-to-date the following link is, but it has some information on Cosey's varied activities over the years: Center Stage

Click here for a 1997 article/interview.

Dave B · December-2nd-2004, 09:55 AM

Thanks for the prompt responses.

Dick, thanks for telling me about Sound323 - I had never heard of them, but have just spoken to them and ordered a copy of that issue.

Dr Dave,
Thanks for the links. I had already read them (there is also a more recent Chicago Reader interview from last year available online).

For any other Cosey fans, there is an interesting-sounding album out next year:

Pete Cosey/Bill Laswell/Toshinoro Kondo v Submerged - out 2005 on the Tzadik label.