Labels: Artist Thoughts

there are no words

Labels: johnny griffin

Columbia University wants to bulldoze 18 acres of West Harlem, displacing families and eliminating businesses and jobs, to develop a hazardous biotech research center, luxury housing and retail, and other facilities, in a cluster of high-rise buildings that it would exclusively control. All of Harlem, Washington Heights, Morningside Heights, and Hamilton Heights are at risk:

RISING RENTS across Upper Manhattan
HARASSMENT of Low-Income Tenants
LOSS OF COMMUNITY JOBS, businesses, and facilities
EROSION OF OUR DIVERSITY and neighborhood culture
PUBLIC HEALTH DANGER: hazardous research nearby

what can you do to help?

visit HERE!

Labels: stop columbia

another BRILLIANT new recording from Bill Dixon

"Darfur" (17 Musicians in Search of a Sound: Darfur)

Labels: bill dixon

thank you george lewis

Labels: aacm

Labels: hines n byard

Labels: andrew hill

i couldn't resist picking up a copy of this month's downbeat magazine...

and then in what was a deep sleep i had last night, i had a dream that i bought a downbeat magazine from the 70s that had on the cover: muhal richard abrams, john hicks and jaki byard...

of course, no such magazine exists...

Labels: downbeat

i spent the afternoon in san francisco checking out john zorn's aleph-bet sound project which is an amazing installation piece at the Contemporary Jewish Museum...BRILLIANT!

also...

thank you to everyone who offered their kind words in regards to the trio's recent recognition...your words and support is appreciated


armen

Labels: aleph-bet

Labels: Anker, Berne, Courvoisier, mori, Rainey

Labels: bjork zeena parkins

Labels: autechre

today is global "record store day" so even though the following records arent out yet per se, they are worth mentioning

two of my favorite bands, the notwist and subtle release new cds in may. ive heard music from both and they both sound amazing! "good lies" from the notwist cd, and "unlikely rock shock" from the subtle record are amazing and have been floating through my brain and heart for weeks.

dave douglas has released a whole week at the jazz standard with his group keystone. downloads were made available almost immediately after the shows concluded for april 10-13. the albums are great, and available now so go a buy them...HERE!

peter brotzmann and han bennink are releasing a limited edition cd from bro records, of a duet gig in amherst from october 2006. all of the bro releases are incredible and im looking forward to hearing this one as well.

in addition to this great music...i have been obssessed with "roll on" by dntel featuring jenny lewis, as well as checking out some stuff from a few years ago, like hymie's basement, object beings, etc etc

now go and buy some records!

love...armen

Labels: records

i have started work on what will be my next recording. more information coming soon

&
come out to celebrate my 3-0

armen

this video is beyond words

Labels: miles

Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock & Jack DeJohnette

Immediately following their appearance at the Umbria Jazz Festival this past summer the backlash at Keith Jarrett's comments to the audience seemed to send a certain level of outrage through jazz circles. I read everything from listeners that discarded of their Keith Jarrett recordings to those that claimed to start boycotting the trio. So what happened at Umbria? The following is reported from JazzTimes:


Without provocation and before playing a single note, Jarrett flew into a bizarre, seething rage, opening with “somebody tell those assholes to put away their fucking cameras. … I see that red light there, and that means you, you, you,” and stabbing his finger toward various spots in the crowd. Among other caustic comments, Jarrett threatened to stop performing if he saw a single camera flash during the show, “and leave this goddamn city.”

I remember reading all the reports of this incident, and recalling similar occurrences from past Jarrett concerts. I had always assumed that this disposition towards the setting that Keith and the trio performed had to meet certain requirements in order for the music to be created to its highest level. I have read countless articles that describe in detail Keith Jarret's specific attention to the piano he uses and conditions in which he prefers to create in. I always assumed that this was the requirement that a GREAT artist needs for his particular art.

Until this past Saturday night, I had never seen Keith and the trio perform.

Today, I read a review of the show.

And now...more so than ever...I understand.

Keith is a brilliant artist. This is obvious when you listen to the recordings and watch the DVDs, but even more evident in person. I have never had a more enjoyable live music experience as an audience member. However, I have also never had a more unpleasant, nerve racking, and generally angered reaction to an audience. Frankly, I wanted to tell the audience to go fuck themselves.

A few observations:

.Before the concert even started it was announced multiple times to turn off cell phones, not take pictures etc. and that same announcement prior to the second set. Keith even addressed the audience very politely saying that he wouldn't address the audience as children until the flashes started.
.During the third song which was a beautiful version of Somewhere from West Side Story, the distractions began...camera flashes, cell phones.
.During the final song of the first set, Tennessee Waltz, a good portion of the audience felt (for some reason completely unknown to me) that the song was funny and actually began laughing during Keith's intro and then again when melody was first stated.
.Second set, second song “Yesterdays,” during Keith's introduction a cell phone goes off...and the motherfucker with the phone just let it ring...and ring...and ring...and ring...twice!
.After the second set, the flashes began again.
.The trio came out for an encore, and the flashes continued. They played I'm a Fool to Want You.
.Before the second encore: Jack DeJohnette addressed the audience, “You have been a great audience, please, please, refrain from taking pictures.
.more camera flashes
.during the 2nd encore, When I Fall in Love, a lady who has apparently misplaced something under her seat and had left without wanting to stay through the whole show, with flashlight in hand begins crawling (I'm serious) on the ground trying to find whatever the fuck she was looking for. It couldn't wait? Really? The flashlight repeatedly flashed in the audiences eyes, then to the stage, with plenty of noise being made. The trio kept playing.
.the trio actually then returned to the stage for a third encore, and Keith began addressing the audience like children, which they deserved, in fact I was surprised at how nice he was, I don't think I would have been.
.they closed the show with God Bless the Child.

The music was BRILLIANT at the highest level I have ever heard on record or otherwise.

Do you know what really pisses me off?

Reading this!

Keith Jarrett is once again made to seem unreasonable, unfairly demanding of his audience and as the writer claims “more than just out of line.”


It is without doubt in my mind that Keith Jarrett has been given a bad rap. It is a blessing that we get to hear this genius create music, and we should all be so lucky to experience his music at some point in our lives. I'm afraid however, that there are many who have been to his concerts that didn't deserve to.

Labels: keith

well, its been a while, my apologies.
i will have some more soon, such as a few comments regarding seeing Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, & Jack DeJohnette at the SFJazz Festival a few weeks ago, a few new records to look out for etc.

but until then...

thank you to every one that came out last saturday at Veni Vidi Vici to check out the trio...we appreciate your enthusiasm, and look forward to playing for you all again soon

Below are a few videos from my duets concert with Han Bennink this past January...enjoy!

love...armen

Labels: video updates

so this is the kind of thing i remember from my childhood. perhaps it explains a few things. yes, its from sesame street and the music is philip glass...

Labels: philip glass

music is finally beginning to materialize for the basquiat concert...only about 2 weeks left until the show!

chris corsano is releasing a vinyl version of his The Young Cricketer...its a great recording! check it out on family vineyard.

adam benjamin has a new solo cd coming out in a few weeks...

one of my best friends, bassist richard giddens appears on the newest mp3 entry on taylor ho bynum's page. check it out!

sound & vision productions brought the trio to the cellar door on visalia last weekend...what a great venue! no wonder the likes of thurston moore, the bad plus, & subtle play there. check them out here. thanks aaron!

Labels: just stuff

instead of composing like i should be, ive been compliling silly youtube mixtapes

heres a favorite:

Labels: wasting time

Labels: frith, mori, parkins

Labels: mchenry, motian

Labels: trane quartet 1961

Labels: billy, charlie, cherry, ornette

Labels: herbie

Labels: charlie, keith, paul

yeah all this week jason morans music has been floating though my head and heart.

i checked some music from his newest project, In My Mind, which is inspired by Monk's 1959 Town Hall Concert.

have you heard jason on don byron's ivey divey? that one was a revelation when i heard it. buy that, and all of jason's recordings and then also pick up some Monk at Town Hall.

love...armen

Labels: gangsterism, jamo, monk

“To me, jazz is a place where anything is possible.” -Bill Frisell

Labels: 2 days to go

a new bill dixon recording!



Bill Dixon with Exploding Star Orchestra

...i can't wait until february 5th

Labels: bill dixon

This is a great article from the NY Times: What Kind of Music Is This Anyway? By Michael Gordon.

John Zorn joined Han Bennink and Dave Douglas at Club Midway in NYC a few days ago. Wish I was there, but at least Bennink will be here!

more soon!

armen

Labels: a great article and bennink stuff

havent seen the movie yet...but greenwood's score is wonderful.

Labels: this is what i think today