Errors-To: admin at elephant-talk dot com Reply-To: newsletter at elephant-talk dot com Sender: newsletter at elephant-talk dot com Precedence: bulk From: newsletter at elephant-talk dot com To: newsletter at elephant-talk dot com Subject: Elephant Talk #560 E L E P H A N T T A L K The Internet newsletter for Robert Fripp and King Crimson enthusiasts Number 560 Friday, 11 December 1998 Today's Topics: NEWS: CGT Southwest Tour Rescheduled NEWS: fripp and KC on magazines GIG BIZ: B.L.U.E. in Chicago U.K. Tours E Tape Update Any problems with the IRC chat? re: Fripp writing lyrics? Who ever heard of such a thing! tongue drumming Possible Formats For KC Tribute. Re: mmmm...salady (Review of sorts) Dificil_equilibrio_(The_Great_Red_Lament_in_Aspic) Bryan Ferry Listens to "Discipline" More Fripp/Metheny Similarities etc. BILL BRUFORD BIOGRAPHY Frippley's Believe it or Not! Trey in P4 and Crimson re: Grant Colburn: Too cool Adrian Sometime God ...&Shirt Pocket Notes Wesley Willis and KC L.T.I.A. part2 early Muir? '69 kc album cover An Idea as Good as Ideas Go Pete Sinfield Fripp ON Trower/Thanks Steph Alice Fripped? CDR's and Minidiscs GIG REVIEW: Upper Extremities Stretch at The Bottom Line GIG REVIEW: Bruford Levin Upper Extremities 12/1 & 4 GIG REVIEW: RF @ the WFC, NYC, NY, 18th of Nov.,7PM Performance GIG REVIEW: BLUE Pontiac ------------------ A D M I N I S T R I V I A --------------------- POSTS: Please send all posts to newsletter at elephant-talk dot com To UNSUBSCRIBE, or to CHANGE ADDRESS: Send a message with a body of HELP to admin at elephant-talk dot com or use the DIY list machine at http://www.elephant-talk.com/list/ To ASK FOR HELP about your ET subscription: Send a message to: help at elephant-talk dot com ET Web: http://www.elephant-talk.com/ Read the ET FAQ before you post a question at http://www.elephant-talk.com/faq.htm Current TOUR DATES info can always be found at http://www.elephant-talk.com/gigs/tourdates.htm You can read the most recent seven editions of ET at http://www.elephant-talk.com/newsletter.htm THE ET TEAM: Toby Howard (Moderator), Dan Kirkdorffer (Webmaster) Mike Dickson (List Admin), and a cast of thousands. The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors. ET is produced using John Relph's Digest system v3.5b (relph at sgi dot com). ------------------ A I V I R T S I N I M D A --------------------- Date: Fri, 04 Dec 1998 01:01:30 -0700 From: Jon Lybrook Subject: NEWS: CGT Southwest Tour Rescheduled Greetings, Well, after some initial turmoil regarding Hideyo's visa, the California Guitar Trio have rescheduled their tour of the United States Southwest. The latest up-to-date tour itinerary can be found on the Yamanashi News page on the CGT website: http://www.cgtrio.com/yamanews.htm#latest The CGT's next project is focused on a live album. Bert and Paul were combing through hours of live material last month, narrowing down the difficult decisions regarding what pieces to use. More news on this as it develops. For those who can't wait for the live album, live CGT material is available on the website. This, as well as an insightful CGT interview with the folks at National Public Radio, can be heard using RealAudio 5.0 (though the new G2 player has also sometimes been known to work) in the CGT RealAudio Sound Booth: http://www.cgtrio.com/realroom.htm Happy holidays and happy listening! Jon CGT Web ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 07 Dec 1998 16:02:33 +0000 From: Alexandre dot P dot Cabral at soc dot soton dot ac dot uk Subject: NEWS: fripp and KC on magazines Hi, fellas: Quickly... The Dec issue of Guitar Techniques (UK) brings Fripp on the CD cover with a interview plus transcription of Fracture (provided bt Mr Fripp himself). The last issue of Bassist (UK) brings and special report about prog bassists, including John Wetton, Mr Squire an others. Worthy to check... Cheers, Alexandre Cabral ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 6 Dec 98 03:49:57 -0600 From: Robert Dassie Subject: GIG BIZ: B.L.U.E. in Chicago Hello, Does anyone know if B.L.U.E. has an opening band? The show in Chicago is slated for 7:30pm and it looks as though I will be late. I just want to know if they have been starting right on time or if there's some opening act that will give me some more space to be late. thanks. -Bob. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 3 Dec 1998 22:04:11 -0000 From: "Ian White" Subject: U.K. Tours I've read several notices regarding comments allegedly made by the venerable Fripp himself implying that there is little likelyhood of any future Crim or ProjeKct tours in the U.K. Where have these rumours come from, are they true, and lastly (and most importantly), if so..........Why the hell not??? ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 03 Dec 1998 22:18:46 PST From: "Jeffrey Weinberger" Subject: E Tape Update >From ET 558: >I was wondering if any other ET musicians are interested in >starting a separate list for the purpose of musical >discussions not directly related to KC or Robert Fripp. It >would provide a forum for musicians with some similar >musical influences (ie KC and Fripp) to discuss >compositional ideas, techniques, gear etc. It could also be >used to exchange tapes, CD's, MPEGs etc. If such a forum >already exists, prehaps someone could point me in the right >direction. I've just added a new forum to the Elephant Tape page. (http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/9984/index.html) The direct URL to the forum is: http://us.parsimony.net/forum/forum185/ This is a Live forum, you can add posts, or comment on existing threads, and your text is instantly added to the page. This is not a moderated forum, the posts are not submitted to a moderator or edited for content or style. This forum may be of use to those who wish to discuss topics that might not be of interest to the general readership of ET. Real Audio has just released the FINAL version of the G2 player for PC. They have indicated that the Mac and Unix versions will be released within 4 weeks. Those of you who are still using the G2 Beta may wish to update to the new version of the Real Player. Most of the new tracks on E Tape are in G2 format (Real Audio 6), and you will get error messages if you try to play them with the old RealAudio 5 player. If any ETers would like to have their music appear on E Tape, please write for submission information. About a year ago, I had suggested in ET that all of the KC Tribute tracks could appear in Real Audio form on the E Tape page. This would allow ETers to hear all of the submissions. If any of the KC Tribute artists would like to have their material appear on E Tape, write to make arangements. I've recently added 2 tracks to E Tape that are made from Welte Mignon player piano rolls. One is a recording of Gustav Mahler made in 1905, the other is a recording of Bela Bartok made in 1920. Piano roll recordings by Claude Debussy and Richard Strauss were issued, but I've never come across these. If any collectors have access to these releases, please contact me. --Jeff Weinberger E Tape http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/9984/index.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 4 Dec 1998 12:08:14 -0500 From: Jim Bailey Subject: Any problems with the IRC chat? Hello folks, I'm inquiring here on behalf of another mail list to which I belong, where interest has been expressed regarding the instigation of a chat room. As I suspect is the case here, not having had the opportunity to participate myself, it would be a group of people with a very narrow focus. Some concerns have been expressed by mail-list subscribers. An obvious one expressed by some female members is the possibility of nefarious lurkers whose intent may be to prey on unsuspecting "chatters," for whatever purpose. Another is in regard to a time which may be agreed upon for "meetings;" specifically, how this would affect participation by those outside of the continental Americas ( it would originate from the web site for a radio programme of "new music" broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). While the majority of those taking part would be from North America, there has already been interest expressed from other areas, such as Finland. The third is whether to allow aliases, or if real names should be required. I would like to know whether anyone who has participated in the KC chats has encountered any problems or difficulties of this sort. Please send a personal reply to me, as I'd like to pass the information on as soon as possible without having to wait for the next one or two digests. My thanks in advance, Jim Bailey ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 4 Dec 1998 15:45:46 -0800 (PST) From: Michael Tanigawa Subject: re: Fripp writing lyrics? Who ever heard of such a thing! >I recall hearing that the only lyrics Fripp ever wrote were >"Cigarettes, ice cream, figurines of the virgin mary" from >the Great Deceiver. I thought something along those lines too. That's why I was surprised to hear that he just might have written the words to "Drop In". In my mind, Fripp is exclusively a guitarist. I can't imagine him being a lyricist, any more than I could imagine Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane) to be a lead singer. Mike ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 04 Dec 1998 23:25:00 -0600 From: Jennifer Meacher Subject: tongue drumming hi, This may be a longshot,anyone know of good recordings of tongue drumming?Thanks. Ken Harper ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 04 Dec 1998 22:49:52 -0500 From: leslabb at ptd dot net Subject: Possible Formats For KC Tribute. Concerning The KC Tribute The Following Was Discussed: >>2. Maybe it doesn't need to be a CD that is produced. Misha >>suggested RealAudio links - unfortunately the sound quality >>is pretty poor. What about MPEG3? I am not an expert in this >>stuff, but maybe someone reading this is. >I am not an audio expert either but Real Audio is the most >prevalent audio format on the net and its ability to >'stream' is a BIG bonus. I think we are having difficulty >defining the aim here. I would say the aim is for the bands who recorded >the tracks to have their music heard (primarily by each other), thus >paying tribute to one of their favorite bands. I for one vote for MPEG3. The sound quality is near CD at 44khz. MPEG3 files can be stored on your hard drive, downloaded to CD-R, etc. In order to save Real Audio files, one would have to purchase the complete G2 software, not just use the free player. Besides once the legal hurdles are cleared, we will be able to purchase portable MPEG players that can be loaded up with 75 minutes of music. Les B. Labbauf http://home.ptd.net/~leslabb ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 4 Dec 1998 23:53:31 -0600 From: "Rob Murphree" Subject: Re: mmmm...salady (Review of sorts) Hi Eb and Eters, After reading Eb's review (of sorts) of Adrian's forthcoming release, Salad Days, I felt a need to follow up - not in defense but to help clarify Salad Day's purpose. Please read between the lines... literally. >Heard Salad Days, the new solo Belew disc, earlier this >week. It's nice and certainly worth getting, but not one of >Belew's important statements. Salad Days is designed to put Adrian's talents in the hands and ears of those less fortunate people who were unable to order Acoustic Adrian Belew/BelewPrints from his management or at various solo/P2 shows. Thirsty Ear Records recognizes Adrian's importance in the music industry and is really putting forth an effort to get the best of Adrian's Acoustic recordings into every retail music store. They're embarking on a full-scale promotion in hopes of turning true music lovers onto Adrian Belew... and eventually, as with me, King Crimson. The fact that you've already heard Salad Days is a sign of their aggressive campaign and for this... I am truly grateful. >I think the record would've been more substantial if he had >written new songs actually DESIGNED for the acoustic medium, >rather than just re-adapting some old favorites. Seems like >taking the easy way out. His creamy wail of a voice also grows >a bit monotonous, when supported by so little instrumental color. All songs on Salad Days WERE re-recorded strictly for an acoustic format so his classics could be presented in their most naked form. >I don't know which tracks are taken from Belewprints (don't own >it, never seen it)... Again, Thirsty Ear is targeting those who have never heard of Adrian Belew or had no way of purchasing his mail order/import only releases. I applaud their enthusiasm and thank them for helping the masses hear what they've been missing. To me and the thousands of Adrian fans around the world, this IS the most important statement he could ever make. Salad Days Street Date: February 9, 1999 Thirsty Ear Records. For more information on Salad Days, please visit: www.murple.com/adrianbelew/saladays.htm Would anyone like my soapbox now? :) -Rob Your Complete Guide to the Twang Bar Rhino King!!! Rob Murphree's Adrian Belew WWW Site http://www.murple.com/adrianbelew ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1998 03:37:21 +0100 From: "Israel Coello De La Rosa" Subject: Dificil_equilibrio_(The_Great_Red_Lament_in_Aspic) Hola Latino-ET's !!! Ya esta disponible el segundo trabajo de Dificil Equilibrio, " The Great Red Lament in Aspic ", Claro homenaje a la musica de King Crimson. Este Mini-CD esta compuesto por 4 Temas de King Crimson, Larks's Togues in Aspic Part II, The Great Deceiver, Lament, Red. En mi opinion es un excelente trabajo, de dos musicos que tienen un punto de vista muy peculiar de la musica de alto riesgo. Los contactos con Dificil Equilibrio se centran en el siguiente E-Mail. " berto at redestb dot es " Una magnifica manera de finalizar el ano discografico de nuestro pais. Israel Coello de la Rosa radix at redestb dot es ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 5 Dec 1998 06:54:26 EST From: ASchulberg at aol dot com Subject: Bryan Ferry Listens to "Discipline" This was posted on AVALON, the Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music mailing list: ><< In the early 80's when Robert Fripp was rehearsing his >new band "Discipline" he told of playing a rehearsal tape >for Bryan Ferry. If I'm not mistaken, Fripp said they were >in the studio together working on a Ferry recording. He >quoted Bryan saying "it sounds like King Crimson to me." >>> I'd never heard this before. Can anyone in ET land substantiate this story? Thanks. Arnie Schulberg ASchulberg at aol dot com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 06 Dec 1998 15:52:51 -0800 From: Tore Jamne Subject: More Fripp/Metheny Similarities etc. To Sanjay Krishnaswamy, I saw your posting about Metheny and came to think of other similarities between Fripp and Metheny: Both of them has talked in interviews about how important it is to tour with their music before they record it. There are not too many performers I know of who share that point of view. Another similarity between the two is Metheny's performance of Steve Reich's "Electric Counterpoint" which reminds me of some of the things Fripp (and Belew) did during the KC 81-84 period. Some years ago I read an article in Down Beat by Keith Jarrett called "Jazz & Television". I don't remember the wording but he said something about live performance versus recording that reminded me very much of Fripp talking about hot dates versus love letters. I urge you to check out Jarrett's article. It's very good. Cheers Tore Jamne jato6257 at rogaland-f dot kommune dot no ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 06 Dec 1998 13:54:37 -0500 From: Donal Wool Subject: BILL BRUFORD BIOGRAPHY Hey ET'ers - Just thought I'd pass along this link to a Bill Bruford Biography at the D'addario strings/Evans drum heads web site. http://www.daddario.com/Evans_endorsees/BRUFORD.HTM Take care, -Don- _____________________________________________ dwool at yesic dot com -OR- tubescreamer at hotmail dot com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 06 Dec 1998 20:52:39 -0500 From: John Barnas Subject: Frippley's Believe it or Not! Did anyone else notice this? On Sunday, December 6 at about 1:15 EST I was watching the pre-game between the Bills and the Bengals. Suddenly they went to a segment about the poor officiating that cost the Bills the game last week at New England. (Bastards.) Suddenly I heard some familiar music...what the? Hey Mary it's Fripp! It's Fripp! I can't believe they're playing Fripp on the NFL pre-game show... So, I got a little excited. The Fripp music played was about a 15 second slice out of "Bringing Down the Light", from Sylvian/Fripp's The First Day. It was weird hearing it while football players smashed each other in the background. Peace, JB ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 07 Dec 1998 09:50:35 -0800 From: Scott Steele Subject: Trey in P4 and Crimson How wonderful to read Sid Smith's diary of the P4 tour. Too bad he wasn't feeling well. >I know a lot of people have often overlooked TG's >contribution to KC (I would count myself in this category >around the release of Thrak). However, listening to this >and seeing his work in the various ProjeKcts one cannot >help but be impressed by the growth and depth of this >particular player. After seeing ProjeKCt 4 I had better ears for Trey's album _The Third Star_. Now I need to hear _1000 Years_ again. - S. scottst at ohsu dot edu ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 17:20:53 -0500 From: "RAYMOND J RAUPERS JR." Subject: re: Grant Colburn: Too cool Adrian My recent post posed the question "Is Adrian Belew too cool for KC?" It contained no comparison of KC's rigidity as compared to normal pop bands. The body of your reply did not contain the words "Adrian Belew" in it anywhere. I did however enjoy the thoughts you shared with me. But "Is Adrian Belew too cool for KC?" My reading skills are adequate yet foremost the music instills within me a suspicious perception that Adrian needs a more creative outlet. Yet doesn't every artist? Your response is respectfully received and considered, yet conformity is no backdrop for serious discussion. Rigidity measurement of normal pop bands are irrelevant. Because KC is a progressive band doesn't necessarily mean KC is cool enough for the talent of Adrian Belew. And life is short. Frank Zappa's was much too short. Peace, Raymond ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 16:20:09 -0800 (PST) From: Joseph Basile Subject: Sometime God ...&Shirt Pocket Notes Seasons Greeting, After listening to the sampler,did DMG ever consider a Christmas Album? Or the Crafties doing an album of Christmas music? The Guitar Trio? Ah! The sampler is exceptional! Love the flow! SOMETIME GOD WAITS, This will be the title for the next Crimson CD. My buddy recorded me a song with some chick singing, "The Circus is in town", "downtown". It sounds like Fripp ripping it up in the background. Any one have a clue who this could be? Also loved the Sid Smith tour notes! As most Eters' will attest, the DMG site is simply awesome! However, the guest book consistently makes me appreciate Toby, and the other ETers behind the scene. Moderation is needed, Imho. Sometime God Moderates, even better than Toby.... Thanks to all at ET! Basile By The Three Rivers! Told you I heard Crimson at the P2 Concert! (EX Steeler Fan!) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1998 11:38:39 -0400 From: Selinsky Subject: Wesley Willis and KC I don't know how many fans there are of the real living Schizoid Man (Wesley Willis, a diagnosed schizophrenic who makes the world's strangest and funniest music), but I was just listening to his composition "He's Doing Time in Jail", and the resemblance to "Indiscipline" is amazing. Now, you want a real funny, original Projekt, get Wesley Willis to join Fripp n' co. That would really be experimental, out of this world, and it would probably sound amazingly Crimson (even though Robert Fripp would probably wind up charging out of a ten story window after their first recording session :) I can only imagine what the album "Discipline" would sound like if Wesley Willis was on it! - G. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 08 Dec 1998 14:48:18 PST From: "steve williams" Subject: L.T.I.A. part2 Anyone know the time signatures used in this song: L.T.I.A. part2?? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1998 19:24:13 -0800 (PST) From: Jason M Vasche Subject: early Muir? Does anyone know anything about Jamie Muir's pre-KC project the Music Improvisation Company? I love the sound colors he provided on Lark's Tongues, and am interested in hearing what other kinds of things he was involved in. If anyone has leads relating to this or other Muir-isms, please email me, I'd be much obliged... -- Jason M Vasche uvascj00 at umail dot ucsb dot edu ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Feb 1999 15:59:44 -0500 From: Stefan Boettrich Subject: '69 kc album cover i have the 1969 kc album release that is probubly the most popular. i see the drawing of the moon in the inside flap doing some type of hand signal with his ring finger and thumb. i was just wondering what that symbol stands for. stefan -- Stefan Boettrich Boettrsj at clarkson dot edu Boettrich at hotmail dot com CU PO BOX 7147 Ph: 315-268-4243 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 11:48:19 -0000 From: "Jonathan Casey" Subject: An Idea as Good as Ideas Go Hello Elephant Talkers, A few arguable truths; 1. Many ET subscribers are musicians. Many of us consider integrity and experimentation to be key facets of our musical creativity. 2. In this respect, many of us find it difficult to find other artists of the same inclination as ourselves. 3. If we do succeed in finding these artists to collaborate with, we are presented with the difficulty of finding exposure for music which resides outside the commercial mainstream. 4. ETers have access to e-mail. And now a suggestion. Why don't some of us get in contact, as a means to a practical end ? We could discuss strategies, share ideas, encourage and generally help each other out within a wholly understanding environment. With sufficient numbers, it could turn in to quite a productive correspondence. Right now, the exchange consists of an Irishman and two Scotsmen, so we are one Englishman short of a good joke. If you are interested or have a few ideas, do write to us. Cheers for now, Arch Stanton ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 15:55:44 -0800 (PST) From: Edgar Kausel Subject: Pete Sinfield I've read some discussion in ET about Pete Sinfield being a member of the '69 band. He was, no question about it. I actually think he was one of the band's leaders. If Fripp was the music leader and Lake was the front man on stage, then Mr. Sinflield was the off-stage leader man. His contribution was huge. Besides being the lyricist (with his imaginative and terse style) and the "pet hippie" (because he told the band where to go to buy the funny clothes that they saw everyone wearing), he also built the lights, humped the equipment, operated synthesisers, mixed the sound, designed and stuck up the posters, got the album cover together, made the tea and thought up the name of the band. He did influence the music, too, through his superb light shows. As Fripp said in Rolling Stone Magazine back in 1969 (see Epitaph booklet, pages 46-47): "with the lights he has the opportunity to affect the music. He's developped the flashing sequences to such an extent now that he knows exactly what we're going to play before we play it and is ready to hit exactly the right colour at the right time". To confirm his influence, one only needs to compare the Giles, Giles and Fripp album with ITCOTCK. "Within a year of its (GG&F) release and demission, someone had stirred a cauldron, pointed a bone, painted a throne and crowned a king" Sinfield said about this. He brought all that atmosphere, mood and tone in "Lizard" and "Islands", too. In fact, I think Pete was the main man in those great albums. King Crimson is still a great band but has lost a lot of its magic. Can you imagine Mr. Sinfield writing lyrics and imposing his approach in the next KC album ? Edgar ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1998 10:51:17 +0800 (SGT) From: Joseph Basile Subject: Fripp ON Trower/Thanks Steph Merry Christmas, A fellow ET bought a CD of Robin Trower for me while visiting England. Twice Removed From Yesterday/Bridge Of Sighs ,BGO Records. I requested ,in ET, the liner notes because of Fripps remarks about Trower. Stephanie P.comes through again, buying me the CD! Thrak you!..Again! Oh, I learned about the new CD from a post on ET, so thank you ET and poster....again! " Robin Trower is one of the very few English guitarists that have mastered bends and wobbles. Not only has he got inside them, with an instinctive knowing of their affective power, but they went to live inside his hands. It is the rare English guitarist who has been able to stand alongside American guitarists and play with an equal authority to someone grounded in a fundamentally American Tradition. Trower has been widely criticized for his influences. This has never bothered me. I toured America in 1974 with Ten Years After top of the bill, King Crimson second, and Robin Trower bottom. The chart position were the opposite: TYA in the Billboard 160s, Crimson in the 60s, and Trower climbing remorselessly through the top twenty. Nearly every night I went out to listen to him. This was a man who hung himself on the details: the quality of sound, nuances of each inflection and tearing bend, and abandonment to feel the moment. He saved my life. Later, in England, he gave me guitar lessons." -Robert Fripp, Wiltshire, England, November 19th, 1996 Blessed Holidays, Joe ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 23:02:36 -0500 From: "RAYMOND J RAUPERS JR." Subject: Alice Fripped? Inviting private e-mails regarding the idea of an album from Alice Cooper (aka Vincent) with Mr. Fripp. Obligatory Mr. Levin in his most creative capacity of choice. The sky's the limit! Isn't it interesting how you can ask the most simple request in earnest and yet know you are walking into a suspiciously caustic environment? (ET God bless you all! Don't change for a moment, you're so predictable!!) After 39 years of music appreciation I am sure there is some snot nose liberal mamma's paid tuition idiot that would seek to squelch this inquiry. ( Kill that thread, it might mean something!!!) Why are we so quick to criticize what we don't understand? As if our 50+ years old artist(s) suppliers are unadaptable and easily controlled. Who's 50? You missed my point, Isn't life about growing? Don't call me audient, call me customer and bring me product, price, place and promotion: Raymond. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Dec 98 06:33:20 GMT From: "Robert Darr" Subject: CDR's and Minidiscs Hi...I have a minidisc unit (Sony MDS JB920) and a recordable cdr unit in my computer. Would anyone be interested in trading in either format for KC/KCrelated? Please email me offlist only. thanks, robert ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 09:44:47 -0800 (PST) From: Ethan Peterson Subject: GIG REVIEW: Upper Extremities Stretch at The Bottom Line Upper Extremities The Bottom Line, NYC December 3-4, 1998 Tony Levin, Bill Bruford, David Torn and Chris Botti played the same old songs over and over for two nights. And could I have traveled with them to their next stop on the tour, I gladly would have. Before I go any further, I have a word to say about the new song which is based on the infamous Knitting Factory improv, "Untitled 1," as Mr. Bruford imaginatively calls it, or "Ba Boom Boom," as Mr. Levin has aptly dubbed it. It rocks. It really rocks. As for the old stuff. It's new too. The highlights for me: There's a brilliant new quiet break in "Fin de Siecle." Having had the good fortune to see three of the four shows (both on Thursday, late show on Friday), I had the opportunity to hear my favorite new innovation pulled off three different ways. The break starts with Mr. Torn and Mr. Botti in a beautifully mournful repose. But it's how they transitioned to this break that they were still working out, and which I found fascinating. In the first show, Mr. Botti played a quiet sustained note as the rhythm section came to an abrupt halt. In the second show, he played that note with an exclamation mark which punctuated the first section before moving on to the quiet melody of the break. In the last show, he played through the transition, coming down slowly to the new mood. I preferred the first method. But I was transfixed by the opportunity to see them experiment in this manner. It was fascinating to see the growth just from the first show on Thursday to the closing set on Friday. They were full of energy and a sense of experimentalism at the outset, but were still a little rough around the edges. By Friday night they tightened things up and became a groove-based juggernaut. The song that wins "most improved" from the last tour is "Cerulean Sea." It starts out, as usual, with Mr. Levin's lead-vocal performance and hypnotic funk-finger bass (which he inadvertently played with fuzz tone on the first night). But when it comes time for Mr. Torn's familiar guitar loop, he instead jumps into the fray live and burns the place down. Incredible! Other innovations: A longer, emotional upright bass intro to "Cracking the Midnight Glass." Mr. Bruford takes a new look at the percussion for "A Palace of Pearls," playing along to the tuned percussion on a backing tape. No song was untouched by the maturing process. I can't help but wonder what the same album would sound like if they were to go into the studio today. Having had the opportunity to see these fine musicians up close and personal five times now (twice in April), I have become quite attached to this band. I truly hope that they will continue to play together. They have taken me places that I never imagined going. And they seem to have so much fun doing it. auburn_ethan http://toro.ny.synetics.com/ethan/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 15:02:18 -0500 From: bruce higgins Subject: GIG REVIEW: Bruford Levin Upper Extremities 12/1 & 4 If anyone cares to view my long-winded, hopelessly inadequate take on two spectacular B.L.U.E. shows, the review is at: http://tigermtn.dev.cornell.edu/WLBH/Reviews/BlueDecember98 If you lack web access and want to see the text, just drop a line. B___ NOW PLAYING ON WLBH: String Cheese Incident, Stubbs BBQ, Austin TX 5/16/98 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 08 Dec 1998 10:40:56 -0500 From: Rick Mascarini Subject: GIG REVIEW: RF @ the WFC, NYC, NY, 18th of Nov.,7PM Performance Sorry for the delay in getting this out, but business travel and a few days of Holiday here in the states took top priority. A very interesting 18th of November that culminated with rich musical sounds in a most unusual setting - the World Financial Center, NYC, NY. To sum up the event, music and encounters experienced that evening, three words come to mind: Good Clean Fun Also of note: the tasty chocolate chip cookies the guitarist was graciously handling out following the hour of musicking, the occasional helicopter shuttling corporate biggies in and out of this Mecca of commerce and the awesome concrete and steel landscape which could only be described as NYC. All in all a good time .... And thanks Robert for the cookie, a nice touch! Regards, Rick Mascarini - Saratoga NY ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 09 Dec 1998 13:13:13 PST From: "Michael Irish" Subject: GIG REVIEW: BLUE Pontiac B.L.U.E were in town Tuesday, in what Bill Bruford called the band's midwest tour: Pontiac tonight, Chicago the day after. The concert was held at the 7th House, an intimate club held from being altogether cozy by the chill in the air; but things warmed soon and hot. It was altogether extraordinary: Bill Bruford sans electronic drums; Tony Levin, have bass will travel; Chris Botti's pure blue trumpet; David Torn's guitar and shaker loops. The band played full out on Upper Extremeties and music from a previous David Torn album ("Cloud About Mercury"?); also performed were pieces titled "yet-to-be-named" compositions: "Unnamed Three," "Unnamed Two," "Unnamed One." David Torn's ability to draw out waves of phrases from his guitar, loop them back, the music reemerging, the original sequences then dislocated, was amazing. Bill introducing David Torn: "A man who never stops innovating-I've asked him, I've pleaded with him to stop, because he'll never get anywhere in the rock business." Two highlight amid many: Bill following Tony in the introduction to "Fin de Siecle," Chris Botti waiting for his entrance; and waiting and waiting as Bill and Tony are having too much fun to let Chris horn in; later, Tony brings out the funk fingers, a woman from the bacony calling out "love your nails!" Above all, to hear the greatest rhythm section in this or any other universe we'd care to imagine was pure heaven. Its nights like these that you know beyond all uncertainty that its great to be alive. The emergence of Tony's "Behind The Bass Clef" on the NY Times Best Seller List gives proof that America has not yet forgotten how to read. Michael Irish ------------------------------ End of Elephant-Talk Digest #560 ********************************