Carla Bley is Composer of the Week - 15-19 November

[Serial_Apologist]

Sat 13 Nov
5pm - J to Z
A showcase of the finest new jazz and classics of the genre. Today presenter Julian Joseph invites his former mentor, Memphis-raised pianist and composer Donald Brown, to share some of the music that has inspired him, including a recording by US R&B funk-disco act Earth, Wind and Fire which is full of ingenious orchestration. And Julian compiles a London Jazz Festival sampler, featuring highlights and tips from this year's line-up.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011krk

12midnight - Freeness
Corey Mwamba hears from American trumpeter Jamie Branch ahead of her gig at the London Jazz Festival. She discusses the inspirations behind her last album Fly or Die Live and her approach to improvisation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011krr

Sun 14 Nov
4pm - Jazz Record Requests

http://www.alynshipton.co.uk/blog

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011kv6

All next week we are treated to Carla Bley as Radio 3 Composer of the Week; Episode 1:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/m0011lm9

And finally:

Thurs 18 Nov
5pm - In Tune
Sean Rafferty with arts-related news and chat, music and studio guests, today with British saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi ahead of her appearance at the London Jazz Festival.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011lkg

[Tenor Freak]

Excited to see Carla gets a Composer of the Week slot.

I nearly wrote "Composter of the Week".

[Serial_Apologist]

Excited to see Carla gets a Composer of the Week slot.

I nearly wrote "Composter of the Week".

Maybe we should start up a Decomposer of the Week thread!

[Jazzrook]

Maybe we should start up a Decomposer of the Week thread!

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=PvN7bNVca_4

JR

[Serial_Apologist]

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=PvN7bNVca_4

JR

Come to think of it, there was once a band with the name of Compost.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Come to think of it, there was once a band with the name of Compost.

I can think of a lot of bands to which that description could apply!

Just looked at the track listing for Carla's week, and although I'm not a fan of the later stuff, the first two programs around composition look excellent. And those early Don Elllis Qrt records deserve a program of their own.

[Serial_Apologist]

Much the same thoughts as Bluesnik. Interesting to hear Le Gendre's take on Escalator, an undertaking of genius in my view that came straight out of the fertility of a nodal point of history when tangential contacts released possibilities were ready to be grabbed by the foresighted likes of George Russell, Mike Westbrook, Zappa, Keith Tippett among others including from the avant-garde classical side. I think of its dystopias as in part bad LSD trip-enhanced realities rather than a fantasy to indulge or be indulged. I must dig out a broadcast tape in which Evan Parker talked about Paul Haines, the librettist.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

I can think of a lot of bands to which that description could apply!

Just looked at the track listing for Carla's week, and although I'm not a fan of the later stuff, the first two programs around composition look excellent. And those early Don Elllis Qrt records deserve a program of their own.

"Escalator over the hill" - "vivid and uplifting - and unbelievable tosh". Cook & Morton 2002. Certainly the latter.

[Serial_Apologist]

"Escalator over the hill" - "vivid and uplifting - and unbelievable tosh". Cook & Morton 2002. Certainly the latter.

Certainly still divides opinions.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

I think the problem was the libretto etc? Cook/Morton praise "Tong Funeral" and the later "Tropic Appetites" (72/74) far more, the latter "the work escalator might have been"...."Julie Tippetts voice is completely compelling". I haven't heard this.

[Jazzrook]

I can think of a lot of bands to which that description could apply!

Just looked at the track listing for Carla's week, and although I'm not a fan of the later stuff, the first two programs around composition look excellent. And those early Don Elllis Qrt records deserve a program of their own.

Fascinating first 'Composer of the Week' on Carla Bley with intelligent and perceptive comments from Kevin Le Gendre. Wish I'd recorded it.
Just wonder, why can't 'J to Z' be like this?

JR

[cloughie]

Maybe we should start up a Decomposer of the Week thread!

Not this week - but most weeks it features a decomposing composer!

Carla’s music appears to be an interesting mix - ranging from really great to really grating!

[Serial_Apologist]

Thurs 18 Nov
5pm - In Tune
Sean Rafferty with arts-related news and chat, music and studio guests, today with British saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi ahead of her appearance at the London Jazz Festival.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011lkg

I thought this worth bumping up as a reminder it's on tonight.

[cloughie]

Today’s Carla Bley instalment ver6 good indeed - apart from some dreadful vocals on on one track earlier in the week this has been a very good COTW!

[Serial_Apologist]

Today’s Carla Bley instalment ver6 good indeed - apart from some dreadful vocals on on one track earlier in the week this has been a very good COTW!

Agreed - I must have slept through that vocal! The trend back, if I may so boldly use that word, to Ellingtonian tropes in her arrangements and soloists, right down to a Cat Anderson-style ultrasonic trumpet, is interesting inasmuch as it draws attention to unexpected parallels between her big band work and that of Mike Westbrook. (Westy has his Blake suite "Glad Day" performed tomorrow night at Cadogan Hall, by the way). I wonder if either are aware of this common thread, or would be happy having it drawn to attention!

Tomorrow's concentration on the Bley/Swallow/Sheppard trio demands a re-assessment on my part, I guess.