HurdAudio Rotation: The Physics of Angels

Satanized: In Sickness and Hellth: The Secular Chansons of Satanized. 2007. Badmaster Records: BM010.

Andrew Gaspar: voice, turntable
Alex Nagle: guitar
Evan Lipson: bass
Pete Angevine: drums

Satanized has a sound that could convince the devil to take up residence in Philadelphia. Which would be a local move given its proximity to New Jersey. In Sickness and Hellth is a twenty minute burst of face ripping tracks complete with screaming, distortion and screaming distortion. All of it entirely therapeutic and sonically necessary as a counterbalance for all that is calculated to be "nice." And in the case of "Purple Pickle" it even flirts with clever hookiness. Put this on to cleanse the mind of those unhellthy thoughts.

The Bad Plus: Prog. 2007. Do the Math Records/Heads Up International: HUCD 3125.

Reid Anderson: bass
Ethan Iverson: piano
David King: drums

The Bad Plus bring a lot of polish to their arrangements, their performances and especially to their choice of pieces and sequencing. Each aspect of The Bad Plus is a near flawless gem that manages to maintain an immediacy. A piano trio that pays homage to the deep history of jazz piano trios while at the same time putting moving a long distance from any kind of stuffy, museum-like reverence for the music. Mixing in covers of music by Tears for Fears, David Bowie, Rush and Burt Bacharach, The Bad Plus draw upon a familiarity while lurching toward something deeply original. And it is the original compositions that absolutely soar as their ideas are free from the tethers of song form and familiar hooks. Reid Anderson's "Physical Cities" in particular gives an acoustic twist to the pounding rhythmic propulsion of metal. And Ethan Iverson proves again and again that it is possible to play melodic lines in octaves without inviting the "elevator music" vibe. The Bad Plus strives to be contemporary, vibrant and relevant and they succeed incredibly on every front.

Matthew Shipp Duo with Roscoe Mitchell: 2-Z. 1996. Thirsty Ear Recordings: thi 21312.2.

Matthew Shipp: piano
Roscoe Mitchell: alto saxophone, soprano saxophone

This recording captures these two improvisers at such interesting trajectories in their respective creative voices. Roscoe Mitchell is completely at the top of his game while Matthew Shipp is at an early stage in developing his distinctive voice on the piano. Ultimately, 2-Z is a study in densities from a duo that expertly mines the extremes. It is the transitions and the journey between thick and thin that gives this session longevity.

HurdAudio Rotation: Spiritually Impious

Joe Henderson: Page One. 1963. Blue Note Records: CDP 7 84140 2.

Joe Henderson: tenor saxophone
Kenny Dorham: trumpet
McCoy Tyner: piano
Butch Warren: bass
Pete La Roca: drums

The jazz loving ear is enticed from several different directions from this one. Joe Henderson is a known entity of excellence in tenor saxophone playing from this era of Blue Note Records. But just lurking beneath that band leader draw is a dose of Kenny Dorham's trumpet and arranging chops. Add in the ivory stylings of McCoy Tyner and this one shapes up to be a straight ahead classic that does not disappoint.

Satanized: Sickness and Hellth: The Secular Chansons of ... 2007. Badmaster Records: BM010.

Andrew Gaspar: voice, turntable
Alex Nagle: guitar
Evan Lipson: bass
Pete Angevine: drums

"Purple Pickle" deserves hit status in the world of lewd-core music. Satanized is an indulgence of Philadelphia's collision of noise, rage and creativity. Alex Nagle's guitar dominates my impression of this collection of jams and screaming this time through. And of course, I came back for seconds on "Purple Pickle."

The Bad Plus: Prog. 2007. Do the Math Records/Heads Up International: HUCD 3125.

Reid Anderson: bass
Ethan Iverson: piano
David King: drums

Perhaps too much is made of choice of cover tunes featured by the Bad Plus. Perhaps a generation raised on show tunes as the body of accepted jazz "standards" has not yet comprehended the straight parallel of a piano trio interpreting Tears for Fears or David Bowie. What is apparent in this music - most of it originals composed by the members of The Bad Plus - is a polished, tightly realized music from this world. Ethan Iverson hears around the confines of didactically defined jazz and draws out a sound that grooves, pounds and finds pools of carefully placed lyricism. Making direct references to Rush or Burt Bacharach with the same rhythmic crispness of Thelonius Monk brings a refreshing respect to all music regardless of its position on the spectrum between sacred and profane.

HurdAudio Rotation: Fugitive, Black and Satanized

Reuben Radding: Fugitive Pieces. 2006. Pine Ear Music: PEM 002.

Reuben Radding: bass
Matt Bauder: tenor saxophone, clarinet
Andrew Drury: percussion
Nate Wooley: trumpet

The extremes of durations found on this disc holds deep appeal for me with "The Drowned City" completing it's sonic form in just under a minute immediately before the sprawling "The Gradual Instant" at more than 32 minutes. These timbrally intense, quiet pieces seem to suspend time regardless of how much has elapsed. This is a quartet focused on sound and how to slowly unravel its frayed edges through extended technique and deep listening. I imagine the Radding scores making use of graphic notation to coax this level of focus from these great improvisers.

Jim Black: Alasnoaxis. 2000. Winter & Winter: 910061-2.

Jim Black: drums
Hilmar Jensson: electric guitar
Chris Speed: tenor saxophone, clarinet
Skuli Sverrisson: electric bass

There's a wonderful ranginess to the music on this disc as the ideas and sounds organically sweep through elements of melodic lyricism, noise-filled bursts and coalescing grooves. While the stylistic variety is enormous, the shifts are rarely abrupt. The end result is a sound that is a welcome repeat presence in the rotation.

Satanized: Sickness and Hellth: The Secular Chansons of.... 2007. Badmaster Records: BM010.

Andrew Gasper: voice, turntable
Alex Nagle: guitar
Evan Lipson: bass
Pete Angevine: drums

This is one angry, aggressive sound out of Philadelphia and a side of Alex Nagle and Evan Lipson I wasn't aware of. Rage is a completely necessary sonic expression and this manifestation is difficult to take in and difficult to turn away from at the same time.