Word, Phil. I was actually at the concert documented on ALL THE NOTES and haven’t found the disc living up to my memory of the event (that old ‘live’ versus ‘archived’ conundrum hashed out on the fire music confab). The show’s also been diced up pretty good. James Lindbloom of Roaratorio Records did an a/b with his audience tape and came to the following conclusions:

”Track one is the beginning of the first set. they mixed in audience noise to
coincide with the opening, when in fact the applause had died down after the
trio walked on stage and it was silent for, like, a minute before they
started. there was a natural seeming pause in the action after the first 37-odd
minutes, which got the audience cheering. the group continued on without much
of a break to finish the first set, but that's not track 2 on the cd, although
it's mixed to flow that way. track 2 is the second set - it opened with about 5
minutes of cecil doing his crushed-larynx vocalizing, which they chopped out
(probably because he was off-mike). there were 2 encores - the first was a
short solo cecil piece, not included on the cd, and then the final group improv,
track 3 on the cd. so, basically, what's omitted is the remainder of the first set,
the vocal opening of the second set, & the first encore.”

So in his words: “I guess the title of the cd is somewhat inaccurate, heh heh.”

With you too on SALTY SWIFT, it’s great to have that back in circulation and sounding even better than the earlier Hat Art set. For me Ameen is the weakest link, but in the case of a chain constructed from adamantium alloy it’s all relative. I’m not so down with Sirone’s amplification either, especially during the string duet, but it’s a minor minus. With this and BREWING LUMINOUS back on the racks I’m really hoping THE GARDEN is next on Werner’s factory repressing list.

I haven't heard "One Too Many" in a while (my tape self-destructed), but, FWIW, I don't remember being disappointed with Malik's work on trumpet. I've always thought he was a pretty interesting player. Very bright sound, no vibrato, kind of ascerbic. I don't make him the weakest link of that group (I agree with Derek). But, again, this is based on some fading memories.

um, did Phil call it 'punishing?'
did he say Cecil "pummels" the keyboard?
hmmm, it "clobbers" and "intimidates"....
i haven't heard the disc, but this sort of description
is interesting to me.

Yeah, but unless I'm reading him wrong, Phil meant those words as compliments not as pejoratives.

Derek wrote:
Yeah, but unless I'm reading him wrong, Phil meant those words as compliments not as pejoratives.

really? really? you and i know a different language, me thinks. or you're just puttin' me on.

Far as languages, I know some Spanish & am reasonably proficient in English. And I’m not puttin’ you on. Why is it so difficult for you to fathom that words like those Phil used can have positive connotations in the context of ‘energy’ music? Phil comes from a rock critic background. He regularly reviews death metal. When he rolls out the signifier “punishing” I’d lay my usual ducats down that he means it as an encomium.

To put it in plainer language, it’s kinda like when James Brown boasts that he’s Super Bad; he’s not asserting that he sucks.

well, it's a pretty lukewarm review, so to take what are typically negative words and to make them work as positive signifiers, i'd think you'd have to be very enthusiastic about the record. i mean, punishing? maybe in death metal that's a selling point, but in jazz?

Adam, chill out! I thought you lived in California for Chrissakes. You've had yer 15 minutes on the Fire Music thread. Time to go bodysurfing or whatever folk do for kicks where you live (crucify cigarette smokers, or something..). We're talking about CT here. Phil was, as those you read my review of his book a couple of years ago may remember, not exactly my favourite writer, but I think he's bang on the one in this review, except for the Malik putdown (funny, I think OTM is one of Raphé's hottest dates).
I saw the Duval / Krall / CT trio at the Vanguard in the summer of 97 and they blew my head off. I've been waiting for an opportunity to hear that line-up again, and this is it. Thanks v much to Derek (and James) for the invaluable info about editing - very informative. But the MUSIC.. Jesus.. something happens during these performances that is very special, and I'll be buggered if I can explain it. The only adjective that comes to mind is "energising" - I actually feel a rush of physical energy listening to it. When I saw the CT 5tet with Harri, Teppi, Honsinger and Lovens two years ago I literally couldn't SLEEP afterwards. Adam, THIS is your Christmas present.. as Phil says, every home should have "One Too Many".

Thanks for posting Jason Lindbloom's comments - I'd guessed that #1 was from an earlier set than #2, the sound's a lot poorer and the music seemed a bit perfunctory. Actually I was feeling a little disappointed in the CD until #2 got underway (this track, I think, is remarkably good).

Dan,
I am chilled. I wasn't arguing with the review whatsoever only the interesting use of language that gets some people attacked here, and others praised.

Sorry I only get 15 minutes in your world, Dan (that's what I meant by smugly dismissive, btw), so I'll shove off now in order to please your fine Parisian sensibilties.

Adam, I wasn’t “praising” Phil, just surmising that his usage wasn’t intended to connote the negative slant you seem to want to ascribe it. You used “punishing” to advance a negative opinion of Masada. Again, I might be being presumptuous, but I read Phil’s use as reflecting a positive opinion of Cecil. I happen to agree with Phil’s take and disagree with yours. That’s all. Do you seriously view my blog post/comments as an “attack”?

To clarify: my opinion of All The Notes is mixed. I enjoyed listening to it, but it'll probably be low-rotation relative to other Taylor discs I own like The Willisau Concert, Live In The Black Forest, Conquistador!, Unit Structures, One Too Many..., or the various discs from the 2 Ts For A Lovely T box. So, in this case, some of the adjectives I used ("punishing") were meant negatively. But others, like my description of Taylor "pummeling" the keyboard, were intended as neutral-to-positive description. This is, as Derek stated, because I come from a metal background (see my current frontpage piece on Dimebag Darrell), and use the language of metal to describe jazz.

Hope that helps make things clear.

Damn, thanks a lot Phil. There goes another pile of ducats lost to gambler’s folly.

no, Derek, you didn't attack, no, that wasn't directed at you. all these communiques crossing and me still wet from bodysurfing (with a cigarette in my teeth).

and I wasn't faulting Phil's review (though thanks for the clarification, Phil).

where do i get my ducats?

Dan’s just jealous ‘cause it’s currently 36° and foggy on the banks of the Seine.

Ducats have been wired to your Swiss account via Milo in the Bags Comptroller Office.

For European readers I'd like to point out that they use Fahrenheit over there :))
Right now it's 3°C (Celsius). Yep, I'd love to be Coolin in Cali :))

metal and free improv, mmh ... phil, i have a review request : Bulbul - Bulbul (2003)

-4°C (over) here

jajaja, all im adding here is that cecil's music becomes real furious music when hes ridding his piano over kralls destructive way of playing and by that i mean krall really destroy drum sets, ive seen him playing twice, one with brotzmann where he was using a borrowed kit... later i met the owner of this set who was not exactly happy about the matter... anyhow, im not precisely conform with what i just said, blame it on my lack of a better english...

jajaja, all im adding here is that cecil's music becomes real furious music when hes ridding his piano over kralls destructive way of playing and by that i mean krall really destroy drum sets, ive seen him playing twice, one with brotzmann where he was using a borrowed kit... later i met the owner of this set who was not exactly happy about the matter... anyhow, im not precisely conform with what i just said, blame it on my lack of a better english...