Paal Nilssen-Love – Underhill Lounge

More Fun Please

More Fun Please by Extra Large Unit.
Bandcamp Link: More Fun Please

Large Unit is Paal Nilssen-Love’s improvising ensemble, usually 8 or 9 people. Extra Large Unit swells the Large Unit’s membership to 27, most importantly including bowed string instruments and accordion. More Fun Please was composed and commissioned for Oslo Norway’s Only Connect festival in 2017.

More Fun Please opens with something that sounds like it could be from a 20th Century 12 tone piece, quickly segues into adventures in folk and drone, climaxes mid-way through with a large group improvisation, and slowly dwindles down to an accordion solo.

Sounds like it was a pretty magic night in Oslo.

#PaalNilssenLove #ExtraLargeUnit #MoreFunPlease #todayscommutesoundtrack

Again

Again by The Thing.
Bandcamp Link: Again

If there is anyone who has enthusiastically carried forward the technical aspects of Albert Ayler’s playing into the 21st Century, it is Mr Mats Gustafsson. “Again” is something like the 20th album from Gustafsson’s trio, with Paal Nilssen-Love and Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, The Thing.

And, while Gustafsson’s playing sounds a bit like Ayler, The Thing doesn’t really feel like Ayler. There’s a sort of macho, athletic, gymnaticism, to The Thing’s playing, where Ayler was more spiritual, even when he was trying to be commercial.

So, if you need another The Thing album to add to your collection, or maybe you aren’t that familiar with them, “Again”, is a fine place to start for some invigorating free-ish jazz for your morning commute.

#TheThing #Again #TodaysCommuteSoundtrack #TrostRecords

2017-11-15 Worse for the Wear

Worse for the Wear by Ballister.

Bandcamp Link: Worse for the Wear

Most recent release from Dave Rempis, Fred Lonberg-Holm, and Paal Nilssen-Love’s Ballister ensemble.

Energetic and eclectic free jazz from three great players recorded live at Constellation in Chicago. Sax, Cello, Percussion, and a little bit of electronics.

They say, “On this recording…Ballister’s trademark raw energy is tempered by a mix of introspective soundscapes and moments of quiet beauty…” I won’t disagree.

#TodaysCommuteSoundtrack #Ballister #DaveRempis #FredLonbergHolm #PaalNilssenLove #WorseForTheWear #CatalyticSound

2017-10-11 Slag

Slag by Ballister.

Bandcamp Link: Slag

While I was aware of the individual members of this group, (Dave Remis, Fred Lonberg-Holm, and Paal Nilssen-Love,) I didn’t know, until I read about a recent East Coast Tour, that they had a group together. Saxophones, cello, percussion, and electronics.

This is improvised music of the squonk-ey, squeal-ey, and occasionally tender sort. Quite pleasant and invigorating. I was more than a little sad that my commute ended before the album did, but am looking forward to the listening to the remainder on my trip home.

#TodaysCommuteSoundtrack #DaveRempis #FredLonbergHolm #PaalNilssenLove #Slag #Ballister