Friday, February 26, 2010

Michael Fremer Album Review

Thanks to Michael over at http://www.musicangle.com  for the exclusive rights to reprint this material.



ALBUM REVIEW:
Kenny Dorham (reissue)
'Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia


Blue Note/Music Matters MMBLP 1524 2 180g 45 rpm mono LPs


Produced by: Alfred Lion
Engineered by: Rudy Van Gelder
Mixed by: Rudy Van Gelder
Mastered by: Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman at AcousTech












Review by: Michael Fremer
2010-01-01


How rare and collectible is this record? A mint original sold for $678.00 back in 2004. I doubt it sounds as good as this double 45rpm reissue but I can’t be sure since I don’t have one.

This 1956 monophonic release recorded live on May 31st 1956 at the Café Bohemia opens with a musical gesture familiar to all who love Cannonball Adderley’s Blue Note classic Somethin’ Else (BLP 1595) issued two years later: the opening intro to “Autumn Leaves” cops the intro to “Monaco.”

Of course that has nothing to do with why the original is so valuable or why this reissue is one of the Music Matters “must haves.”

The sadly underrated trumpeter who died when just 48 years old leads a then young group consisting of J.R. Monterose (then 29), Kenny Burrell (25), Bobby Timmons (19), Sam Jones and drummer Arthur Edgehill through a set of tunes recorded live at the New York club by Rudy Van Gelder who manages an astonishingly well-balanced recording under what must have been difficult conditions back then.

The gorgeous, thick, dark tone the group produces on the cover of “Round About Midnight” is alone worth the price of admission. It drips with melancholy.

The quick-paced “Mexico City” showcases Burrell’s clean lines and Timmons’ already accomplished abilities as a soloist and proficient background comping talent.

The chestnut “A Night in Tunisia” gets a swaggering, cowbell heavy reading that’s cool compared to the one Art Blakey gives it on the Blue Note album named after the tune. Here Dorham tears into the melody, scaling majestically above and below the basic line, as does Monterose.

It’s hard to believe this set is from 1956. It sounds fresh and contemporary today both musically and sonically and it confirms Dorham’s status as among the most underrated players of his generation. Miles Davis aficionados unfamiliar with Dorham would be well served buying this gem of a time capsule.

Of course Music Matters' packaging is first class as is the mastering and pressing.

Copyright © 2008 MusicAngle.com & Michael Fremer - All rights reserved   Reprinted by permission

Music News & Notes

More News About Stones' Release

The Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street is scheduled to be reissued on May 18 with 10 never-before-heard tracks, including “Plundered My Soul,” “Dancing in the Light,” “Following the River” and “Pass the Wine." The disc also features alternate versions of “Soul Survivor” and “Loving Cup.”

"I went back in the archives and dug out a load of things," Mick Jagger told Rolling Stone about the new edition. "I added some percussion and some vocals. Keith put guitar on one or two."

The Exile on Main Street reissue will be sold as a CD featuring the original 18 tracks or as a deluxe CD edition with the 10 bonus tracks. The super deluxe package includes vinyl, a 30-minute documentary DVD and a 50-page collector’s book with photos from the Exile era.

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Aerosmith Plans A Killer Restart

After announcing several festival appearances, Aerosmith has rolled out more tour plans with their "Cocked, Locked, Ready To Rock" tour of Europe. The Sweden Rock Festival is the band's first European date on June 10, followed by shows in the U.K., Romania, Greece, Holland, Belgium, Spain, France, Czech Republic and Italy.

"Back by popular demand with more spit and fire than ever before, we're coming across the pond and parting the waters as we go," says Steven Tyler.

"Aerosmith is going to be rocking in the U.K. and Europe this summer," adds Joe Perry. "Enough B.S. - we're coming and everything is going to be set at eleven."

Wonder if they are bringing professional wrestlers along to help with the hype?

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This from http://themetalden.com/

METALLICA – Rare 1982 Demo Of “Hit The Lights”

TMD has received the earliest METALLICA demo ever unearthed. It is a recording of a rough ‘work in progress’ version of the classic song “Hit The Lights” off the groundbreaking heavy metal album Kill ‘Em All from 1983.

The song features Dave Mustaine on guitar, Ron McGovney on bass, Lars Ulrich on drums and James Hetfield on vocals. Hetfield still had not fully learned to play guitar yet and was only handling singing chores. As the story goes, McGovney soon left the band – only to be replaced by the greatest metal bass player of them all CLIFF BURTON – because he was being bullied by Mustaine… such as getting beer spilled on his bass guitar.

Not long after that incident, Mustaine himself was booted from the band by Ulrich and Hetfield for drinking too much and just being a general nuisance. Dave of course went on to form Megadeth with bass player David Ellefson in Los Angeles, California.

The rest as they say… is Rock N Roll history.

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SLAYER, ALICE COOPER, MOTÖRHEAD, Others Confirmed For France's HELLFEST

The following bands have been added to this year's installment of the Hellfest, set to take place June 18-20, 2010 in Clisson, France:

AIRBOURNE
ALICE COOPER
ANNIHILATOR
AS I LAY DYING
BLASPHEME
CARCASS
DEFTONES
DOOM
ELECTRIC MARY VULCAIN
EXODUS
FEAR FACTORY
FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM
HYPOCRISY
INFECTIOUS GROOVES
KALISIA
MASS HYSTERIA
MOTÖRHEAD
SAXON
SLAYER
STONE SOUR
TAMTRUM
THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT
THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN
UNEARTH

For a complete list of artists performing at this year's event, visit http://www.hellfest.fr/

Sounds like fun, book the airline for a trip to France!
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Is Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” About Geffen?

Is the 'secret' no longer a 'secret'? Judge for yourselves. According to reports, Carly Simon's mysterious cut "You're So Vain" was about Warren Beatty, Mick Jagger and the singer’s ex-husband James Taylor, depending on who you ask.

Now (with a new record on the horizon) Simon has reportedly offered up a major clue thanks to a newly recorded version of “You’re So Vain." She has reportedly told Uncut that the vain man’s name would be heard when listeners played her new version of the track backwards. The U.K.’s Sun got their hands on the clip, and the backwards track simply reveals the name “David.” (Listen to the reversed clips here.)

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2869512/Carly-Simon-ends-Youre-So-Vain-riddle.html

The Sun speculates that the David in question is David Geffen who was the head of the label that released “You’re So Vain” (Elektra Records). The Dreamworks man’s full name is “David Lawrence Geffen.” He seems like the most logical candidate. However, I think maybe Carly is playing us all and the song was really about no one in particular :)

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EXODUS – Reveal New Album Artwork

Bay Area (USA) forefathers of thrash EXODUS will be releasing their ninth studio album, Exhibit B: The Human Condition, this spring. Guitarist / songwriter Gary Holt checks in about what the band was looking to capture art-wise and why the final version chosen nailed it:

“We wanted to portray the violence of man at its finest, so we started with our own version of the Leonardo da Vinci sketch [of Vitruvian Man], but done the ‘EXODUS’ way! I was pointed in the direction of Colin Larks of Rainsong Design for the cover and he killed it! To me, the artwork represents man and his affinity for bloodshed, ignorance, and all-around ability to be led like sheep to the slaughter. The image fits the songs on this record perfectly. The whole layout is going to as sick as the record itself!”

This Date In Music History-February 26

Birthdays:

Fats Domino (1928)



Paul Cotton - Poco (1943)

Mitch Ryder (1945)

Sandie Shaw - First UK act to win the Eurovision Song Contest with 1967, "Puppet On A String" (1947)

Jonathan Cain - Journey (1950)

Michael Bolton (1953)

Jaz Coleman - Killing Joke (1960)

John Jon - Bronski Beat (1961)

Tim Commerford - Rage Against The Machine (1968)

Timothy Brown - Boo Radleys (1969)

Erykah Badu (1971)


They Are Missed:

Sherman Garnes, from Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers, died during open-heart surgery in 1977.

Born on this day in 1932, Johnny Cash, country singer/songwriter who had a 1969 US #2 single with "A Boy Named Sue" plus 11 other US Top 40 singles. He had a TV Johnny Cash show in the late 60s–early 70s. Cash died of respiratory failure on September 12th 2003 (age 71). In 2010, “American VI: Ain’t No Grave, the sixth and final installment of Johnny Cash’s American Recordings series is issued on what would have been the legend’s 78th birthday. Produced by Rick Rubin, the set list includes covers of Sheryl Crow’s “Redemption Day” and Kris Kristofferson’s “For The Good Times.” There’s also the Cash original “I Corinthians: 15:55.”



Born today in 1945, Bob The Bear Hite, vocalist and harmonica player with Canned Heat. He died on April 5, 1981.

Cornell Gunter of the Coasters was murdered in Las Vegas in 1990 at the age of 53.

In 1997, songwriter Ben Raleigh died in a fire in his kitchen after setting fire to his bath robe while cooking. He co-wrote "Scooby Doo Where Are You" and "Tell Laura I Love Her."

Ex-Jimi Hendrix drummer Buddy Miles died at age 60 at his home in Austin, TX in 2008. Miles played on the legendary "Electric Ladyland" album and co-founded, with Hendrix, the short-lived Band Of Gypsys in ’69. He also performed with Carlos Santana, David Bowie and Stevie Wonder.


History:

In 1954, a US Congresswoman introduced a bill to prohibit the distribution of "obscene, lewd, lascivious or filthy" recordings. Guess that never caught on......

In 1955, LaVern Baker wrote to Congress and asked them to change the copyright laws to ban cover records of R&B tunes by white artists (her efforts are no more successful than the previous year's bill).

Also in 1955 Billboard reported that for the first time since their introduction in 1949, 45rpm singles were outselling the old standard 78's.

In 1964, the Beatles worked on the final mixes for "Can't Buy Me Love" and "You Can't Do That" tracks. The single, which was released the following month, topped the charts all over the world.

Guitarist Jimmy Page released a solo single in 1965 called "She Just Satisfies." It didn't chart.

Nancy Sinatra went to #1 on the singles chart in 1966 with "These Boots Are Made For Walking" (also a UK #1).

The Beatles 'Rubber Soul' was at #1 on the US album chart in 1966, the group's seventh US album chart topper.

The Rolling Stones' "19th Nervous Breakdown" was released in 1966.



The Beatles album "Beatles Again" was released in the US in 1970. It contained the song "Hey Jude."

Alice Cooper and kindred spirit, artist Salvador Dali, posed for a photo session in 1973. The finished result hangs in the Knoedler Gallery in NY.

The epic Eagles' LP "Hotel California" was released in 1977.

The Eagles went to #1 on the US singles chart with "New Kid On Town," the group's third US #1 hit.

After seeing U2 play at Dublin's National Boxing Stadium in front of 2,400 people in 1980; Rob Partridge and Bill Stewart from Island Records in the UK offered the band a recording contract.

Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' went to #1 on the US album chart in 1983. It went on to become the most successful album of all time with sales over 50 million copies.

Chuck Berry received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1985. Additionally, "Dancing In The Dark" earns Bruce Springsteen a Grammy for Best Rock Male Performance. Tina Turner’s "What’s Love Got To Do With It" gets Best Pop Vocal Performance and Record of the Year.

Capitol Records released the first 4 Beatles albums on CD in 1987.

Toni Braxton went to #1 on the US album chart in 1994 with 'Toni Braxton.'

Lonestar started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 2000 with "Amazed."

Alanis Morissette's third album "Under Rug Swept" was released in 2002.

Four Concerts for Artists’ Rights took place in the L.A. area in 2002. The concerts raise funds to repeal or change sections of the California Labor Code that hurt recording artists. The Eagles (drummer Don Henley is a prime mover behind the effort), Stevie Nicks, John Fogerty, No Doubt, Eddie Vedder and Beck perform.

Lou Reed, Kinks frontman Ray Davies and Patti Smith perform at the17th annual Tibet House benefit concert in New York in 2007. The event supports the organization's efforts to promote and preserve Tibet 's cultural heritage.