DJ Spooky -Optometry
Posted by: John C on 13 October 2002
Latest in the great Blue series from Thirsty Ear (www.thirstyear.com) this extraordinary record has bowled me over. It features huge layered turntabalism, hiphop funk and electronica with some of the best musicians in modern jazz (the ubiquitous William Parker, Matthew Shipp, Guillermo Brown and Joe Mc Phee) its the first record that really convinces me that its possible to combine and blur the distinctions between these genres. A great sprawling masterpiece (for this month anyway). Not the future of jazz but the future of something. Certainly has made me reassess my view of the DJ.
Less successful in the same series Matthew Shipp - NuBop but still pretty damn good all the same. Much more rooted in jazz that the DJ Spooky this one has FLAM on synthesisers and programming. It appears to me that Shipp sometimes falls back on familiar licks and motifs especially in these crossover situations. Some great tracks especially with Daniel Carter on flute and sax.
And in the European Corner
Tony Oxley and the BIMP quartet Floating Phantoms (FMP)
Oxley is the European free jazz/improvised music drummer supreme. This quite brillaint record has him with Phil Wachsman on violin and elkectronics, Pat Thomas on keyboards and electronics and Matt Wand on sampling. Great swathes of sound. Absolutely compelling and a nice contrast with the DJ Spooky.
Less successful in the same series Matthew Shipp - NuBop but still pretty damn good all the same. Much more rooted in jazz that the DJ Spooky this one has FLAM on synthesisers and programming. It appears to me that Shipp sometimes falls back on familiar licks and motifs especially in these crossover situations. Some great tracks especially with Daniel Carter on flute and sax.
And in the European Corner
Tony Oxley and the BIMP quartet Floating Phantoms (FMP)
Oxley is the European free jazz/improvised music drummer supreme. This quite brillaint record has him with Phil Wachsman on violin and elkectronics, Pat Thomas on keyboards and electronics and Matt Wand on sampling. Great swathes of sound. Absolutely compelling and a nice contrast with the DJ Spooky.
I pay attention, John.
My wife picked this one up. She actually has less liking for the avant garde than I do, but she really likes this album. It is an interesting synergy of stuff which I have not expected to work with, for example, Shipp's music. I have yet to give it a good thorough listen. I also have NuBop (which my wife also bought, but by mistake
), and I agree, the DJ Spooky works a lot better.
I recently got back from Sicily and managed to catch a performance by the Jan Garbarek group at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo (of all places!). What an incredible group. The acoustics were great and a sad reminder of how far all hi fi falls short of the real thing. My wife kept asking, "Now, why don't your DBLs sound like that?", only half in jest.
BTW, the final climactic scene in Godfather III was shot at the steps of the Teatro.
rgds,
Hock
My wife picked this one up. She actually has less liking for the avant garde than I do, but she really likes this album. It is an interesting synergy of stuff which I have not expected to work with, for example, Shipp's music. I have yet to give it a good thorough listen. I also have NuBop (which my wife also bought, but by mistake
), and I agree, the DJ Spooky works a lot better.I recently got back from Sicily and managed to catch a performance by the Jan Garbarek group at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo (of all places!). What an incredible group. The acoustics were great and a sad reminder of how far all hi fi falls short of the real thing. My wife kept asking, "Now, why don't your DBLs sound like that?", only half in jest.
BTW, the final climactic scene in Godfather III was shot at the steps of the Teatro.
rgds,
Hock