ESP-Disk' Press & Airplay

Giuseppi Logan Quintet Review

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:24:20 +0000

In mid-60s New York, saxophonist Giuseppi Logan found himself on the ground floor of Bernard Stollman’s ESP-Disk. The label represented a now-legendary contingency of jazz players who’d at that time been relegated to the fringes of jazz to such an extent that their art risked going unnoticed, undocumented. Thanks to the support of patrons from [...]

Paul Bley Airplay on the Cutting Edge

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:53:50 +0000

Here is the latest playlist. I hope you had a chance to hear some of these shows. We’re now in the middle of our semi-annual membership drive and we pulled in more (many more) pledges last Sunday than ever before. A BIG THANKS to all who pledged. There’s one more opportunity this coming [...]

Why Not? Marion Brown Review

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:27:21 +0000

By Lyn Horton Originally released in 1968, Why Not? is one of three ESP-Disk’ recordings on which alto-sax player Marion Brown appears. His first for ESP was recorded in 1965, the same year he worked with John Coltrane on Ascension. With the late bassist Norris “Sirone” Jones, pianist Stanley Cowell, and [...]

From Free Jazz Survivor to Male Model

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:38:44 +0000

The photo at left by Margo Ducharme is part of the media campaign for Assembly New York, a “boutique focusing on international and otherwise hard-to-find luxury labels alongside curated vintage and art d’objet,” according to its website. It’s blogworthy because the model is the free jazz reedman Giuseppi Logan, who for [...]

Spiritual Unity Reissue Reviewed on Gapplegate

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:55:21 +0000

Ayler’s “Spiritual Unity” and Influence There are recordings that have become vastly influential with musicians and have also caught on with the general listening public. Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue comes to mind. Then there are recordings that at least initially did not sell briskly but strongly influenced several generations of new jazz artists. Certainly Albert Ayler’s [...]

Frank Lowe Reviewed in Gapplegate Guitar and Bass Blog

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:11:02 +0000

The late tenor saxophonist Frank Lowe recorded and released an album in the early ’70s [Black Beings (ESP)] that at the time I thought was the most extreme music I had ever heard. It’s Lowe and AACM/Art Ensemble tenor man Joseph Jarman with electric violin, bass (William Parker), and drums. It was the tenor [...]

Marion Brown – Why Not – Reviewed in Jazz Review

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:58:36 +0000

Year: Reissued in 2009 – Originally Released in 1968 Record Label: ESP-Disk’ Style: Free Jazz / Avante Garde Musicians: Marion Brown (alto sax), Stanley Cowell (piano), Norris “Sirone” Jones (bass), Rashied Ali (drums) This reissue of saxophonist and ethnomusicologist Marion Brown’s 1968 quartet date, and second outing for ESP, highlights his unique fusion of cutting-edge avant-improv [...]

TSIGOTI Performing in St. Louis May 13th

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:36:32 +0000

Pianist Thollem McDonas is returning to St. Louis with his latest project, the bandTSIGOTI (pictured), for a free concert at 8:00 p.m., Thursday, May 13 at theSchlafly Tap Room, 2100 Locust downtown. The St. Louis band Magic Citywill open the show. McDonas, who has performed in St. Louisseveral times in recent years as part of his seemingly non-stop touring, [...]

ESP Reviewed in March Edition of IAJRC

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:15:00 +0000

This quarter in the International Association of Jazz Record Collector Journal, Stuart Kremsky published a number of glowing reviews for a number of ESP-Disk releases. Click the link below for the pdf. IAJRC Journal – Vol. 43 – No. 1 – March 2010

Naked Future in Jazz & Tazz (Greece)

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:51:59 +0000

Greek to English translation Give first the line-up of the band. Arrington de Dionyso contralto & bass clarinet, Thollem McDonas piano, John Niekrasz drums, Gregg Skloff enhanced bass. Just say things, but completely incomprehensible … those who listen. Of course, in a modern band and album of the ESP-Disk ‘talking about, so perhaps the ’surprise’ to be taken [...]