Sirone (1940-2009)

This year we lost another great musician, bassist and composer Norris Jones, better known as Sirone. He co-founded the Revolutionary Ensemble with Leroy Jenkins and Frank Clayton in 1971 (Jerome Cooper later replaced Clayton in the ensemble), one of the most innovative groups of its time. Here's Sirone's bass solo from "La Sorrella."

Aoki - A Documentary Film

This documentary features extensive footage of Richard Aoki (1938-2009), a third-generation Japanese American who became one of the founding members of the Black Panther Party, and exclusive interviews with his comrades, friends, and former students. Viewers will learn about Richard’s childhood in a WWII Japanese American concentration camp, growing up in West Oakland, and serving eight years in the U.S. military. The film explores previously unknown facts about the formation of the Black Panther Party such as how Richard became intimately involved in its founding and contributed the first two firearms to the Party. AOKI highlights how Richard’s leadership also made a significant impact on individuals and groups in the contemporary Asian American Movement. Richard’s contributions to the groundbreaking organization Asian American Political Alliance (AAPA) and its involvement in the Third World Liberation Front (TWLF) student strike led to the formation of ethnic studies at U.C. Berkeley. Above all else, AOKI is a film that demonstrates the incredible dedication to justice that one man’s life has had and how the lessons of solidarity, commitment, and discipline can carry on from one generation to the next.

For more info:
www.aokifilm.com
www.twitter.com/AokiFilm

One Step Beyond

Jackie McLean had such a signature sound, you can recognize him in two notes. Sharp and bittersweet yet with so much intensity. This album says it all.

Visions of Cosiner and James Andrews available on iTunes 10/22/09

Visions of Cosiner and James Andrews available on iTunes 10/22/09.
Purchase download

Visions of Cosiner and James Andrews available on eMusic

"Visions of Cosiner and James Andrews" now available on eMusic. iTunes and other fine digital retailers on 10/22/09.

Beautiful Angry Music Online Store

Beautiful Angry Music Online Store now open 24/7.

Other merchandise also available at The Giant Peach.

Bill Dixon Interview

There's a nice article on the trumpeter/composer Bill Dixon up on Allaboutjazz.com. I've always been inspired by his approach to sculpting sounds with painting and writing at the same time. Very complex stuff.

Visions of Cosiner and James Andrews

Here's the full track listing of the upcoming album (September 2009):

<<
1. Visions Intro: Cosiner meets James Andrews
2. Pathways To Hidden Dreams
3. Flight of the Guilded Crane
4. While This City Sleeps
5. Further Flight
6. Spirit for Free
7. The Outward Bound
8. The Time Is Now
9. Every Sense of the World
10. Visions Outro: James Andrews meets Cosiner
>>

RIP MICHAEL JACKSON

People are still taking crazy about Michael. We all knew about the problems, excess of wealth and what took his childhood away. I just hope that time will restore the greatness of his artistry how every one of us once adored his voice and dance, and most importantly he is relieved from his pain and pressure.

-Cosiner

Sunny Murray

Saw Sunny Murray play last night (3 different sets) for Marshall Allen, Roswell Rudd and Oluyemi Thomas. He has always been my favorite jazz drummer of all time. He's got so many rhythms and stories in his playing (in his real life too).

The Music of Elmo Hope

Elmo Hope was one of the most gifted and unique artists of the hard bop period. He was also a close boyhood friend of Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk. I always liked the story they spent time together listening to Bach and playing for each other.

Happy 85th Birthday Marshall

Maestro Marshall Allen's 85th birthday today. I think there's a show in Philly.... Also this month in celebration of Sun Ra's arrival on earth.

New Project

OK, here's a bit about my new project with James Andrews (Horace Tapscott's Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra/UGMA), which I have been working on for the last 2 two years. We have just finished the first installment of the project, entitled "Visions of Cosiner and James Andrews." The album will be released this summer and we are already working on the next installment. I will be able to deliver a formal announcement abut that soon.

Stay tuned,

Cosiner

4/26/09 in Los Angeles

It was great to see them play together. The Ark is still going. Can't wait for their 50th year anniversary show in 2011.

-Cosiner

Pan-Afrikan People's Arkestra Horace Tapscott Tribute

It has been 10 years already since Horace passed away. If you are in the LA area next week...

Pan-Afrikan People's Arkestra: A Tribute to Horace Tapscott
Sunday, April 26th @ The Jazz Bakery in Culver City, CA
For more info: The Jazz Bakery

Twelve Bars

I've always been inspired by the music of Herbie Nichols. He's got beautiful classical harmonies like Satie or Bartok, but his compositions are very complex and unorthodox. Here's a footage of Roswell Rudd and Lafayette Harris performing Nichols's "Twelve Bars."



Happy easter,

Cosiner

Speak, Brother, Speak

"At these streets rallies, or meetings, the people of all walks of life have an opportunity to express themselves vocally, on their impressions of the state of the nation as related to themselves, culturally, socially, economically and politically." -Max Roach

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Thru-You

If you haven't heard of Kutiman from Israel yet...
http://thru-you.com/
These tracks are produced entirely from samples of YouTube videos. Can't front, they are well-produced and enjoyable to watch/listen. Reminds me of the time when I had my first sampler and 4-track (with very limited sampling time). It was definitely all about finding pieces of breaks and trying to fit them together. Too many wack producers out there now with computer programs, maybe these videos will help them understand better...

-Cosiner

John Zorn's residency at Yoshi's San Francisco

John Zorn's residency this week at Yoshi's San Francisco. I am thinking about catching the Electric Masada set on Sunday. For more info; Yoshi's Tzadik

I am off to LA today for...


"SUITE FOR MA DUKES"
Miguel Atwood-Ferguson & Carlos Nino with 40-piece orchestra, performing “Suite for Ma Dukes” for the first time.

Venue: Harriet and Charles Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Los Angeles, CA
Time: February 22, 2009, 7-11pm, All Ages, Tickets via Ticketmaster.
For more info; Mochilla

Anthony Braxton + Milford Graves + William Parker

My boy Mas recently sent me a copy of "Beyond Quantum" by Anthony Braxton, Milford Graves and William Parker (2008 Tzadik). All-star free jazz sessions tend to fail often depending on who puts them together (mostly by non-musician owned record labels or some random jazz enthusiasts, call'em "slectors"). This trio right here however, sounds well balanced and timeless. Big up to John Zorn for making this meeting happen.

Until next time,

Cosiner

Today is Martin Luther King JR's 90th Birthday

"Whatever your life's work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better."

...that's damn right.

-Cosiner

John Zone Presents the Aleph-Bet Sound Project

Happy new year. I haven't really followed what John Zone has been up to the last few years but this one sounds pretty interesting. If you are in San Francisco this month;
John Zorn Presents the Aleph-Bet Sound Project