The Cry of Jazz

Lennie Tristano, "Descent into the Maelstrom"

Recorded in 1953.

Hardcore Sax

Drumslinger

Elvin Jones is one of the greatest jazz drummers of all time, noted in particular for his work with John Coltrane, but I am also in love with his late work with Sonny Sharrock on Ask the Ages. He also apparently did this thing:

Girls Cant Play Guitar

Episode #17: Autumnal Spring

Playlist

1. Ramblin'- Jack Wilson Quartet
2. The Seasons Reverse- Gastr Del Sol
3. I'll Remember April- Bud Powell
4. Jacking the Ball- The Sea and Cake
5. Fleurette Africaine- Duke Ellington
6. Smoke Signals- Eddie Harris
7. The Credits: Outtakes from Terry's Movie- Leo Kottke
8. The Train and the River- Jimmy Giuffre Trio
9. Hermosa Summer- Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars
10. Black Horse- Gastr Del Sol
11. Sweet Rain- Gary Burton Quartet
12. TNT- Tortoise
13. Honeysuckle Rose- Dick McDonough
14. Blue Crystal Fire- Robbie Basho
15. Better Get Hit In Yo' Soul- Davey Graham
16. I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You- Lennie Tristano
17. Heart of Glass- The Bad Plus
18. The Workplace- Jim O'Rourke
19. Manha de Carnaval- Sandy Bull
20. Samba de Orfeo- John Fahey
21. This is My Story, This is My Song- Thelonious Monk

Download Episode #17!

Eddie Harris, "Silver Cycles"

Uploaded by Christomacin, with imagery from abstract filmmaker James Whitney. 

The Ticks Turn Into Tocks and the Tocks Turn Into Ticks: Derek Bailey

Derek Bailey is a controversial guitarist. (Just look at the comments under these videos at YouTube.) For my part, while I would never want to completely give up traditional melody, dynamics, or even good old power chords, when I hear this I feel like I should put down the guitar forever if I can't find something new to say, or at least develop my own voice with it.

Interplanetary Interlude #6: Solar Eclipse

There is a serious dearth of Sun Ra covers out there. These are all great, though. (Also check out the MC5 doing "Starship" on Episode 1.)

Playlist

1. Interplanetary Music- General Strike
2. China Gate- Cul De Sac
3. Nuclear War (Version 2)- Yo La Tengo
4. Rocket #9- NRBQ
5. Nuclear War (Version 4)- Yo La Tengo [Mike Ladd Remix]
6. Rocket #9- The Poetics
7. Nuclear War (Version 3)- Yo La Tengo
8. China Gate (Reprise)- Cul De Sac

Download Interlude #6! 

Trippy Pedagogy

Herbie Hancock demonstrates his groovy new synth to the kids. Hat tip to Space Cadet Jason.

Sonny Sharrock Live at the Knitting Factory, 1988

Interplanetary Interlude #1: An Interplanetary Music Christmas Carol

Playlist

1. It's Christmas Time- Sun Ra
2. My Favorite Things- John Coltrane
3. Greensleeves- John Coltrane
4. Oh Holy Night- John Fahey
5. Carol of the Bells- John Fahey
6. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Fantasy- John Fahey
7. The Skater's Waltz- John Fahey
8. Silent Night- John Fahey
9. Silent Night- Dies Irae
10. Silent Night- The Poetics

Jazz on a Summer's Day, on a Winter's Day

This film is transcendentally beautiful, and the music sublime. You want to watch, yes?

Performers include Jimmy Giuffre (very underrated!), Sonny Stitt, Anita O'Day, George Shearing, Gerry Mulligan, and Louis Armstrong.


 

Sun Ra, Brother from Another Planet

Like so many music documentaries, there's too many talking heads here. Still, it's cool to have a Ra doc out there, and there's a lot of clips of Ra being freaky & awesome.


 

Episode #4: Interplanetary Music Digs Its Own Groove

Playlist

1. House of Mirrors- David McCallum
2. Black Sand- Brainticket
3. He's Gonna Step On You Again- John Kongos
4. Instant Whip- Tremeloes
5. Vagando En Las Tinieblas- El Fin
6. Bad Tune- Earth, Wind and Fire
7. Ruckzuck- Kraftwerk
8. Stepping Stones- Johnny Harris
9. The Beat Goes On- Gabor Szabo
10. Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter- Nina Simone
11. The Taking of Pelham 123- David Shire
12. Cosmic Sea- Mystic Moods
13. Andy Nogger- Kraan
14. Goin' to See My Baby- The Fatback Band
15. Cavern- Liquid Liquid
16. Din Daa Daa- George Kranz
17. Fire- Flames
18. The Number Song- DJ Shadow
19. Say Leroy (The Creature from the Black Lagoon is Your Father)- Jimmy Castor Bunch
20. The Gumbo Variations- Frank Zappa


 

Download Episode 4!

Episode #3: A Reasonable Guide to Horrible Noise

Warning: Please do not listen to this episode if you have an aversion to dissonance and atonality. If you do choose to listen to this episode, please play it fucking loud.

Playlist

1. Portrait of Linda in Three Colors, All Black- Sonny and Linda Sharrock
2. Spirits Rejoice- Albert Ayler
3. I Heard Her Call My Name- The Velvet Underground
4. Metal Machine Music excerpt #1- Lou Reed
5. Moonlight on Vermont- Captain Beefheart
6. Lore- Tom Verlaine
7. L.A. Blues- The Stooges
8. Metaphors in a Mixmaster- Sun City Girls
9. Neon Meat Dream of a Octafish- Captain Beefheart
10. Metal Machine Music excerpt #2- Lou Reed
11. Soup- Can
12. Mars- Nels Cline/Gregg Bendian
13. First Take- Ornette Coleman
14. Metal Machine Music excerpt #3- Lou Reed
15. Bassomat- Spacebox



Download Episode 3!

Episode #1: Interplanetary Music Blasts Off!

Download Episode 1!

Playlist

1. Blast Off!- The Monks
2. Rocket USA- Suicide
3. Rocket #9 Takes Off for the Planet Venus- Sun Ra
4. Starship- MC5
5. Astronomy Domine- The Pink Floyd
6. Interstellar Overdrive- The Pink Floyd
7. Kometenmelodie 1- Kraftwerk
8. Yes! I am a Long Way from Home- Mogwai
9. We Travel the Spaceways- Sun Ra
10. Nepture, the Mystic- Gustav Holst
11. Requiem for Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, Two Mixed Choirs, & Orchestra- Gyorgy Ligeti