The Unobtainables

Under construction ...

2011-10-09T14:46:00.002+03:00

Hello friends, I'm changing the file-server, and therefore some of the files may not be available at the moment.

Bengt "Frippe" Nordström: Now's the "Frippe" Time

2011-05-31T19:28:00.003+03:00

After a quite a hiatus, here's finally a new post to this blog. The reason why there has been so few posts lately is simply that I haven't bought any suitable records for a while. I have bought records, but they've been either non-free jazz or free jazz that has been reissued or issued originally by FMP. (And FMP I won't be posting, they don't allow that at all).

Frippe was a legendary Swedish free jazz reedsman, responsible for, among other things, releasing some of the first Scandinavian free jazz on his Bird Notes -label, and for the noble task of issuing the first recordings of Albert Ayler. The record posted here is one of his rare own recordings, from the 1980's. I don't think I need to say much more, but I recommend reading the excellent post by Clifford Allen in his blog:

Lest We Forget... Bengt "Frippe" Nordstrom (1936-2000)

And here for the music:

Bengt "Frippe" Nordström & Miljövårdsverket: Now's the Frippe Time (Dragon DRLP 82, 1985)

Bengt "Frippe" Nordström - clarinet, contrabass clarinet, tenor saxophone, vocals
Lars Svantesson - violin
Björn Alke - bass
Jan Adefeldt - bass (2, 5, 6)
Peter Axelsson - bass (2, 5, 6)
Peeter Uuskyla - drums

HERE

Enjoy and please comment. (PS. apologies for the lousy photos, I've moved and my new apartment isn't really suited for proper photographing.)

Taco Bells with Martin Küchen Live

2011-04-29T01:33:00.008+03:00


Photo by Jyrki Kallio, taken at the Club Vastavirta in Tampere, 9.3.2011

A long silence it has been, but now I have something new, something different this time.

With a permission from the band, I'm posting a live gig from the great Finnish free jazz group, Taco Bells, augmented with the fantastic Swedish reedsman, Martin Küchen. It was recorded at the Club Praesens in Jyväskylä, and it was a part of their Finnish tour.

Here's the basic info:

Taco Bells with Martin Küchen

Live at Praesens 8.3.2011 @ Poppari, Jyväskylä
Recorded by J.Tolvi

Tero Kemppainen, bass
Martin Küchen, sax, etc
Sami Pekkola, sax, etc
Jaakko Tolvi, percussion
Thank you Sami Nybacka

Get it HERE.

Enjoy!

A Jimmy Lyons mega-post

2010-07-01T10:10:00.021+03:00

Jimmy Lyons X 6 LP's

I've been looking for Jimmy Lyons' records for a long time, to no avail, and then, boom, I found three within a week, and none from Ebay. Lucky me I suppose.

The one I had before was the glorious Other Afternoons, which in my opinion is definitely one of the best BYG's and one of Jimmy's best as well. Since it is available already at another blog, I wont post it here, but help your self to Inconstant Sol: Other Afternoons

Now for the ones I found, in cronological order, but from the newest to oldest.

Jimmy Lyons Quintet: Give It Up

(Black Saint BSR 0087, 1985)

Enrico Rava - trumpet, flugelhorn

Jimmy Lyons - alto saxophone

Karen Borca - bassoon

Jay Oliver - bass

Paul Murphy - drums

HERE

And here's maybe my favourite of the three, a 1985 box-reissue of the 1981 original:

Jimmy Lyons & Sunny Murray Trio: Jump Up 2LP

(Hat Hut ART 2028, 1981/85)

Jimmy Lyons - alto saxophone

John Lindberg - bass

Sunny Murray - drums

PART 1 HERE
PART 2 HERE

And finally, the much sought after big boy:

Jimmy Lyons: Push Pull 3LP

(Hat Hut Y/Z/Z, 1979)

Jimmy Lyons - alto saxophone
Karen Borca - bassoon
Munner Bernard Fennell - cello
Hayes Burnett - bass
Roger Blank - drums

Part 1 HERE

Part 2 HERE

Part 3 HERE

Enjoy and do leave a comment.

Swedish Iskra and the first Acta release

2010-05-24T12:04:00.016+03:00

I've had this record for years, but only now realized that there really is no CD-issue of this. Insane, as this happens to be one of the very few really good free folk improv records ever. Without any more unnecessary hype, here we go:

ISKRA - JAZZ I SVERIGE '75 (Caprice CAP 2006, 1975 / 2LP)

get it here.

--------------------------------

Second record is a trio by John Butcher, Phil Durrant and John Russell. Their first actually, on Butchers Acta label. A good bit of British improv.

This really ought to be re-released on Emanem, kinda weird it hasn't been.

John Russell, Phil Durrant, John Butcher - Conceits (Acta 1, 1987)

get it here.

enjoy these treats and please do comment.

A top fiver and another obscure one

2010-02-13T16:54:00.008+02:00

Here it is, I finally got this one, one of the very best improv records ever and number one record on my want list.

No need for further words, just grab this.

Derek Bailey & Han Bennink: Lijm / ICP 004 (Instant Composers Pool, 1969/71)

HERE

--------------------------------------

And here's the other disc:

Turner and Russell are some of my favorite improv-dudes, so I've been looking for this for some time, being one of their earliest recordings.

Toshinori Kondo / John Russell / Roger Turner: Artless Sky (CAW Records 001, 1980)

Kondo: trumpet
Russell: guitar
Turner: percussion

(Sorry for the absence of a cover shot. There has just been no goddamn daylight around these parts lately.)

HERE

enjoy there, and please comment.

Another obscure Incus LP

2010-01-18T01:21:00.008+02:00

Garry Todd & Roger Turner: Sunday Best (Incus 32, 1979)

I like Turners drumming a lot, so I've been looking for this (his first recording) for some time, and finally got it last week. This turned out to be a curious little record, not highly original, reminding me a lot of other British improv acts, not entirely essential either, but still a very nice and intimate feeling set, and it does warrant repeated hearings. So get it here, and enjoy.

Roger Turner -percussion, trombone
Garry Todd - tenor saxophone

Nicolette Amette - cover design
David Maclagan - cover drawing
Anthony David - engineer
James Lauritz - photography
Evan Parker - producer

London Musicians Collective - MAY DAY (LMC2)

2010-01-08T18:05:00.008+02:00

A rare case, rather unknown players, but some nice music. Released on their own short lived label, London Musicians Collective Records (LMC2). The first release on this label was Roger Smith's first solo album, Spanish Guitar, now reissued on Emanem. This is the second (or actually the first?), and last, release on the label.

Here are the players and tunes:

A1 - Sinan Savaskan, Graham Bradshaw & Graham Tattersall - untitled
A2 - PIPE Percussion Duo (Tim Dennis & Dick Beard) - untitled
B1 - London Musicians Collective - heuristic music
B2 - London Musicians Collective - heuristic music
B3 - Stuart Boardman, Dave Draper & Michael Williams - untitled
B4 - Stuart Boardman, Dave Draper & Michael Williams - untitled

Get it here and enjoy, and do please comment as well.

a Pori Jazz compilation

2009-11-28T19:30:00.009+02:00

Here's again a piece of Finnish jazz history. It's not entirely free jazz nor entirely interesting, but still a nice peek into the era.

Jarmo Sermilä, Edward Vesala, Ilkka Willman, Mike Koskinen: The Winners of Pori Jazz Festival Composition Contest (EMI Odeon 5 E 062-34854)

recorded at Finnvox Studios, January 11 & 12 1973

Mike Koskinen, trumpet; Pekka Pöyry, alto and soprano saxophones; Juhani Aaltonen, tenor saxophone (except B1); Seppo Paakkunainen, baritone saxophone (except B1); Mircea Stan, trombone (except A1); Heikki Sarmanto, electric piano, piano (except A2); Ilpo Saastamoinen, guitar (A2, B1); Teppo Hauta-aho, bass; Pekka Sarmanto, bass (B1); Edward Vesala, drums.

Get it here

a Po Torch release

2009-11-28T12:04:00.005+02:00

A rare duo recording by Paul Lovens and the late Urs Voerkel.

Urs Voerkel & Paul Lovens: Goldberg (Po Torch PTR/JWD 15, 1990)

Urs Voerkel: piano
Paul Lovens: percussion

Get it here

Focus on Ganelin Trio

2009-11-15T23:33:00.009+02:00

Here are three albums from the Lithuanian free jazz / improv - combo, Ganelin Trio. These are all Soviet releases on Melodiya, from the late 70's to the early 80's.

These are all very interesting records, but not entirely successful. They tend to overreach a bit, and could've benefited from less formal compositions and more open ended and spontaneous improvisations. Nevertheless, they are very enjoyable and worthwhile. Do check them out.

Ganelin Trio: Con Anima (Melodiya 1977)

Vyacheslav Ganelin - piano, basset
Vladimir Chekasin - alto saxophone, clarinet, chalumeau
Vladimir Tarasov - percussion

get it here

Ganelin Trio: Poi Segue ... (Melodiya 1982)

Vyacheslav Ganelin - piano, basset, guitar, bugle, flute
Vladimir Chekasin - saxophones, trombone, flute, percussion, violin
Vladimir Tarasov - percussion, flute

get it here

Ganelin Trio: Semplice (Melodiya 1984)

Vyacheslav Ganelin - keyboard, acoustic piano, basset, Casiotone, hunting horn, percussion
Vladimir Chekasin - alto saxophone, trombone, end blown flute, percussion
Vladimir Tarasov - drums, percussion

get it here

If you like them, plz comment.

Edward Vesala appreciation

2009-10-24T16:05:00.015+03:00

1945-1999

Three albums from Edward Vesala

For number one, his first and only solo album from 1973, the beautiful I'm Here.

A great big thanks to a friend who ripped this one!

info:

Edward Vesala: I'm Here (Blue Master SPEL 311)

all compositions and arragements by Edward Vesala

recorded in 1973.

Edward Vesala, drums, percussion, gong, cymbal, cylophone, marimba, vibes, chimes, sitar, clockwork, etc.

The second one is Vesala's American all star band outing, Heavy Life.

info:

Edward Vesala: Heavy Life (Leo Records 009)

Recorded may 1980 at Right Track Studios, New York.

Bob Stewart, tuba; Reggie Workman, bass; Howard Johnson, baritone saxophone; Edward Vesala, drums; Tomasz Stanko, trumpet; J. D. Parran, tenor and soprano saxophone; Chico Freeman, tenor saxophone; James Spaulding, alro saxophone; Joe Daley, tuba.

All compositions by Edward Vesala, except b3 by Tomasz Stanko.

... and for the third and final record, we have a big band disc, Good Luck, Bad Luck, which Vesala made with UMO.

info:

Edward Vesala & UMO: Good Luck, Bad Luck (Leo Records 015)

recorded at finnvox studios december 1983

Tomasz Stanko: trumpet; Juhani Aaltonen: alto and tenor saxophones; Edward Vesala, percussion; UMO: Heikki Haimila, Esko Heikkinen, Olli Högström, Markku Johansson, trumpet; Pentti Lahti, alto saxophone, bass clarinet, flutes; Pepa Päivinen, soprano, alto and tenor saxophones, flute; Teemu Salminen, soprano and tenor saxophones, clarinet, flute; Unto Haapa-aho, baritone saxophone, bass clarinet; Juhani Aalto, Petri Juutilainen, Mircea Stan, trombone; Tom Bildo, tuba; Raoul Björkenheim, guitar; Iro Haarla, piano, harp; Pekka Sarmanto, bass; Esko Rosnell, drums; Esko Linnavalli, conductor.

all compositions by Edward Vesala.

That's all folks, for now.

Pierre Favre Quartet

2009-09-20T12:40:00.008+03:00

Here's another rarity.

Although I can't myself get really into Favre's playing, it's still a nice disc with some fierce playing. And finally, I managed to take a couple of photos.

Here's the info:

Pierre Favre Quartett: s/t (WERGO WER 80004)

Lineup:

Evan Parker - saxophone
Irene Schweizer - piano
Peter Kowald - bass
Pierre Favre - drums

dload here

Musica Sacra Nova with Wolfgang Dauner & Reinhold Finkbeiner

2009-09-07T20:20:00.004+03:00

Well now, back again with another rarity, this time a bit different than the other posts. The record is Musica Sacra Nova II on Schwann, and it could be classified as modern music, new music or whatever; so not the usual bun I serve here, but it does have some free improv parts.

And what's most interesting here is that this is one of the more obscure recordings of Wolfgang Dauner.

Here's more info:

Wolfgang Dauner/Reinhold Finkbeiner: Musica Sacra Nova II (Schwann 602)

A. Dauner: Beobachtungen für Stimmen und Instrumente
B. Finkbeiner: Epiphanie für Sopran-, Alt- und Baritonsolo, drei Schlagzeuggruppen und Orgel

recorded circa 1969

personnel on side A:

Albert Mangelsdorff, trombone
Wolfgang Dauner, prepared piano, electronic instruments
Eberhard Weber, cello, bass
Fred Braceful, percussion
Vocal Ensemble Kassel, conducted by Klaus Martin Siegler

personnel on side B:

Dorothea Förster-Dürchlich, Margret Reuter-Edzard, Eric Stumm, voice
Reinhold Finkbeiner, organ
Percussion Ensemble Kassel, conducted by Klaus Martin Siegler

Get it HERE

Lauri Nykopp: Y

2009-09-06T15:11:00.005+03:00

Here's some more Finnish goodies from the 1980's:

The only LP from Lauri Nykopp. A track from this came out on the More Arctic Hysteria collection, so if you liked that, get the whole album here.

Here's the info:

Lauri Nykopp: Y (Nosferatu FNL-1001, 1983)

Lauri Nykopp: alto, soprano, tenor, sopranino saxophones, didgeridoo, contrabass clarinet, saw, breath

Tracks:

Side A: I-III
Side B: IV-VII

Download HERE

oh BTW, my copy is pristine, but it still plays with considerable distortion and crackle. It's probably due to the pressing, but in case you have a copy that plays better, do drop a line.

Finn Free

2009-09-05T17:48:00.009+03:00

Sorry for the silence, I've been occupied by other interests.

To make up for the long absence, I'm this time posting two LP's at the same time. They're both Finnish Free Jazz from the early 1980's and both essential.

The first one is Prana by Juhani Aaltonen, Reggie Workman and Edward Vesala, which is by all accounts one of the (if not THE) shiniest gems of pre-2k Finnish free jazz. Finland has always had a dry, hard soil for this kind of improvised greatness to flourish, so only a handful of records have ever come to existence. This is one of the few.

Here's the info:

Juhani Aaltonen: Prana - Live at Groovy (Leo Records LEO 013)

Juhani Aaltonen: tenor saxophone & flute
Reggie Workman: bass
Edward Vesala: drums

Recorded live at the club Groovy, Helsinki, 2th of August, 1981. Engineered by Jouko Ahera.

Download HERE

The other one I'm posting is the debut leader date of Krakatau and Sound & Fury saxophonist Jone Takamäki. It's free jazz with some "shamanistic" aspects, of which I myself am not so fond of, but nevertheless when things pick up, it's some totally worthwhile stuff. Excellent even. Do check it out.

Here's the info:

Jone Takamäki: s/t (Johanna JHN 2030)

Jone Takamäki: tenor and soprano saxophone, flutes, percussion, voice
Antti Hytti: bass, African thumb piano, Indian harmonium, voice
Samppa Salmi: drums, accordion, voice

Recorded by Tom Vuori , 15. - 20. 12. 1980.

Download HERE

Enjoy and do comment. I'll try to post more soon.

Lokomotiv Konkret - Stockholm Augusti, 1978 (Urspår URS 1)

2009-04-22T00:29:00.001+03:00

Here's an interesting piece of Swedish free jazz. It's weird that this hasn't been reissued, since Dror Feiler is a bit of a Name these days. I picked a copy of this on my trip to Stockholm, never seen it before.

Some info:

Cello, Piano - Sören Runolf
Drums - Tommy Björk
Alto and soprano saxophone, clarinet, contra bassoon, synthesizer - Dror Feiler
Bass trombone - Lars Liljeholm
Bass trombone - Pär Nordfält

HERE

Quintet Moderne: Ikkunan takana (BEAD 26)

2009-04-10T22:54:00.004+03:00

Some Finnish (well, mostly) free improv, rare shit that.

Quintet Moderne: Ikkunan takana from 1987.

A nice disc, if not entirely essential. Somebody asked for some BEAD's, and here's one.

The players are

Harri Sjöström, soprano saxophone & mouth organ
Teppo Hauta-aho, bass & cello
Jari Hongisto, trombone & recorders
Philipp Wachsmann, violin & electronics
Paul Lovens, percussion & saw

dload from HERE

and again, do comment.

John Russell / Richard Coldman: Home Cooking / Guitar Solos (INCUS 31)

2009-02-09T23:30:00.006+02:00

This one's John Russell's first solo and second (published) recording ever. Richard Coldman is pretty unknown to me, so if anyone knows about his later steps, let me know.

The record has two separate sides, no A nor B, instead JR and RC. There's even two front covers, no back's. So an early SPLIT disc is what this is. Could it even be that this is the FIRST SPLIT LP EVER? shiiet, I don't know.

Anyway, enough with the bullshit. Take it now:

INCUS 31

Side JR:

John Russell - guitar,
Bob Woolford - recording.
Recorded 17th December 1978,
Ruckinge, Kent.

Side RC:

Richard Coldman - 6 string and 12 string amplified
acoustic guitars, metal items, Barry Leigh's motorised bow,
vocal utterance, foam, no overdubs, nothing else.
Evan Parker - producer
Engineer - Anthony David
Recorded 11th April 1979 at Riverside Recording Studios.

enjoy, and please comment. drop a line.

A Tyyfus Records compilation, a sidestep from the usual

2009-02-04T19:38:00.002+02:00

I decided to post a sampler of a newish Finnish Free Jazz / Improv record label, Tyyfus.

So shameless promotion here, but for a good cause. If you dig any of this shit, do grab a copy while you can. So far 5 LP's and 3 CD's are out and in small quantaties.

Copies can be obtained from http://www.tyyfus.com/

Or by emailing viima ---- aaaattt ---- yahoo ---- dooot ---- com.

Get it here: TYYFUS SAMPLER

Tracklist:

01 - Paul Flaherty / Chris Corsano: Rhino Grey
02 - Topias Tiheäsalo - Untitled 2
03 - Frode Gjerstad & Paal Nilssen-Love - Black Fire
04 - Mats Gustafsson - The Fire!
05 - Flaherty & Corsano & Shoup - Emereald City Boogie
06 - Anders Dahl & Christian Munthe - Ground 3
07 - Christian Munthe - No 05
08 - Mohel - Down Here

John Butcher & Chris Burn: Fonetiks (Bead Records BEAD 24)

2009-02-03T23:20:00.000+02:00

Just got this one today. To my knowledge this is the first John Butcher record. As can be imagined, it's a bit rougher case than the later ones, but maybe because just of that, quite interesting and delightful. Burn plays a lot of percussion and your typical piano playing is pretty absent.

---

FONETIKS

Released in 84 on Bead Records. John Butcher - soprano & tenor saxophones, Chris Burn - piano, percussion, trumpet.

Not very common, even as MP3's, so get it while you can.

The Ferals

2009-01-12T23:58:00.000+02:00

I found this one on my latest trip to Stockholm. A kinda hard to come by, even in mp3-form, so grab it while you can. I'ts pretty much what you would expect from this combination of players and a good set at that. Seven improvisations clocking around 46 minutes.

The Ferals: Ruff (Leo Records LR 138, 1987)

Phil Minton, voice
Roger Turner, percussion
Hugh Davies, electronics
Alan Tomlinson, alto and tenor trombones

update:

I just noticed that there's some glitch on this one. I was too busy to let my computer record it unbothered, so it isn't perfect. IMO it's still very much listenable. Msg me if you find it unbearable, I'll try to rip it again, I just don't have the time to do it right away.

Mats Gustafsson: Trees & Truths 3x7" BOX

2009-01-11T21:09:00.000+02:00

This one's a limited and numbered edition of 300 copies which came in a sturdy cardboard box. Obviously OOP, and somebody requested this, so here goes:

Trees & Truths

More info

Han Bennink & Misha Mengelberg: ICP 010

2009-01-10T23:55:00.000+02:00

One of the more obscure (is that actually possible?) Instant Composers Pools, but rather good. Han is my god.

Enjoy

ICP 010

a cover shot:

Karelia: Nunnu (Blue Master 1971)

2008-02-18T22:30:00.002+02:00

Ok, here we have the best Karelia record.

Gone is (thankfully) the Fairport Conventionish folk-rock-beat of Suomi Pop's and in it's place is a fusion of free jazz, folk, big band groove and all that.

A nice one as such, if a bit hurried and over stretching.

DOWNLOAD HERE

more info:

@discogs

but bare in mind that the info there is somewhat flawed. The disc is no split between Karelia Big Band and Nunnu Group. The same personnel play on both sides. It has just been printed rather confusingly on the cover and labels.

Tomasz Stanko - Edward Vesala Quartet: Live at Remont

2008-02-13T23:51:00.000+02:00

here's goes another rare mofo:

Tomasz Stanko - Edward Vesala Quartet: Live at Remont (Helicon 1978)

with Tomasz Szukalski on tenor and Antti Hytti on bass.
one of their best and rarest.

more info:

@discogs

enjoy.

Peter Brötzmann, Juhani Aaltonen, Peter Kowald & Edward Vesala - Hot Lotta

2008-02-11T23:49:00.001+02:00

Hot Lotta (Blue Master 1973)

EDIT: This will be reissued 2.3.2011 by Rocket Records, so I'm removing the link. Get your copy here:

http://www.recordshopx.com/rocket/artist/aaltonen_juhani/hot_lotta/#cd-2

Not necessarily as good stuff as the line-up suggests, but still quite the furious racket.

more info:

@discogs.com

Alexander von Schlippenbach: Globe Unity (SABA/MPS 1967)

2008-02-09T20:01:00.001+02:00

here:

not available anymore, sorry.

a great free big band blowout.

more info on the fuckker:

@discogs.com

2008-02-09T12:24:00.000+02:00

I use this blog to promote music that is out of print. Music being free improv and jazz in this case. If you find any of the albums posted here to be in print, please inform me and I'll remove the links immediately. Also if you're the copyright owner and you feel you're been wronged by my actions, inform me and I'll remove the links ASAP.

The main point here is just for music that is virtually unobtainable to be available for download and by so to promote the awareness of this music. I believe this creates demand for these albums and by doing so hopefully results in the albums being released again.