Sometimes it's tough to keep life in proper balance. This week, I did some good, solid work, both at the writing table and away from it. But the toll was high: Burning far too many after-midnight candles, I ran myself down -- physically, mentally and spiritually -- to an untenable extent. I want to do it all, naturally, but I've got to learn to pace myself.
The cost was unacceptable in the end, so I hope to spend this weekend getting things back under control. That's not to suggest that there will be no fun involved, no music to be digested and discussed. But right now, I'm in a frame of mind to amend some of this week's posts, working backward from the most recent:
First and foremost, I apologize to the excellent cellist Darrett Adkins for misspelling his last name, here and elsewhere.
Second, I was pretty sure that I'd heard Sonny Rollins give the title of the calypso number that opened his Damrosch Park set (discussed here) as "Nice Lady," but I didn't say so, because there was a song on his 1998 album Global Warming called "Island Lady," which made me doubt my recollection when I was writing. Nate Chinen's characteristically detailed and insightful review in The New York Times confirmed that title, and revealed the others I'd omitted. The ballad dedicated to J.J. Johnson was called "J.J.," the naggingly familiar calypso I ought to have recognized was "Don't Stop the Carnival," of course, and the ballad that followed was a standard with which I remain unfamiliar, "I See Your Face Before Me." (Oh, and the drizzle-damp streets down which I trod after the show were clear and quiet, not "clear and quite" -- ouch.)
And third, I learned today from Curran Reynolds -- P.R. pro, curator of the Precious Metal series at New York City's Lit Lounge, and drummer for the fierce local metal band Wetnurse -- that Greg Drudy left Versoma prior to the Mercury Lounge show that I described here. What's more, according to a press release that I didn't receive, he wasn't the only departed member: Bassist Brad Wallace was also already gone. Their places were taken by bassist Tom Clavin (formerly of Anodyne and Disnihil) and drummer Robin Fowler (of Sino Basila). The performance was every bit as strong as I reported, but now you know who was actually responsible. Versoma, whoever they may be by then, will next appear on September 9 at Sin-é, opening for Made Out of Babies and Kayo Dot; I will be elsewhere. But apparently there's another promising Neurot/Robotic Empire CMJ showcase on the horizon. (Scroll down this page a bit for Johnny Chiba's slightly compromised report of last year's confluence of these labels.)
Not a correction but an addendum: Julie Christmas, singer for the aforementioned Made Out of Babies, and Josh Graham, of Neurosis and Red Sparowes, are prominently featured on a new CD I received and spun today, A Day of Nights by Battle of Mice. (The other players on the disc are bassist Tony Maimone and drummers Joel Hamilton and Joe Taormino...and yes, I checked.) Easily the most terrifying thing I've stuck in my ears recently -- in the complimentary sense, anyway -- the record chronicles the ugly breakup of Christmas and Graham's bicoastal relationship, more emotionally than literally for the most part. I'll probably have more to say at some point, but for now I'll just suggest that this might be the post-metal equivalent of Rumours or Shoot Out the Lights.
And another postscript: Turns out that the utterly essential utility player manning the outfield (on trumpet and keyboards) in the Cursive show I mentioned at the end of this post was Joseph Drew, a.k.a. Jodru of the Analog Arts Ensemble, producers of the vital Anablog. Drew's insightful track-by-track breakdown of Happy Hollow, the new Cursive record about which I wrote recently, can be found here, and is highly recommended.
Enough with making amends; time for some sleep. But first...
Playlist:
Josquin des Prés - Missa Pange Lingua; Missa La sol fa re mi; Praeter rerum seriem; Ave Maria; Missa L'homme armé Super voces musicales; Missa L'homme armé Sexti toni; Anonymous plainchant: "Pange lingua"; Anonymous chanson: "L'homme armé" - Tallis Scholars (Gimell)
Paul Motian Quintet - The Story of Maryam (Soul Note)
Joint Venture - Mirrors (Enja)
Zentralquartett - Zentralquartett (Zong)
Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers (Virgin)
Ornette Coleman - Sound Grammar (Sound Grammar; due Sept. 12)
David Binney - Out of Airplanes (Mythology)
The Lounge Lizards - Voice of Chunk (Lagarto)
Philip Glass - Etoile Polaire; Dressed Like an Egg; Mad Rush - Philip Glass Ensemble (Orange Mountain Music; due Oct. 10)
Bob Dylan - Modern Times (Columbia)
Battle of Mice - A Day of Nights (Neurot)
Celtic Frost - Monotheist (Century Media)
Archie Shepp and Horace Parlan - Trouble in Mind (Steeplechase)
Sorry to hear of the eroded wick & its debilitating effects, Steve. Rest up & rest assured that this blog is still the best of its kind. I'm envious of your appetites, but regularly in awe of your powers of succinct description. Thank you for the continued conduit into the NY concert scene.
Posted by: Derek Taylor | September 01, 2006 at 06:02 PM