where do we go from here?

THE GREEN BEAUTiFUL / LA BELLE VERTE / NÁDHERNÁ ZELENÁ

www.pleiadianlight.net

~tonite~~

Multiinstrumentalist, singer, composer, improviser and one of the much-loved artists of our region, MAoK from Polianka, Slovakia, plays koncert at Jedna báseň tearoom from 8PM. Check free downloads on his website, including music for Juraj Jakubisko movie Bathory or get his album Komoarivaasiabacho for free at Last.fm. And i found nice blog of the same name just now at http://komoarivasiabacho.blogspot.com :~}

Trio of American tenor saxophone player AVRAM FEFER (Adam Rudolph's Moving Pictures a.o.) with double bassist ERiC REViS (Branford Marsalis, Kurt Rosenwinkel a.o.) and drummer CHAD TAYLOR (Chicago Underground Duo, Trio, Quartet and Orchestra, Iron and Wine, Isotope 217) plays as part of Jazz Meets World series at Jazz Time from 9PM. Trio released album Ritual on exciting Portuguese label Clean Feed in 2oo9. Shepp in Wolve's Clothing is title of one of their tunes and it will give you a clue to what you can expect from this free edge music unit.

~what iS PROG? ~ARE they iMPROViSiNG? ~DOES their band SWiNG?

Ian Anderson plays best of JETHRO TULL - May 27, Congress Centre, Vyšehrad

Radomil Uhlíř / Kvartet Dr. Konopného in new proramme Nádoby / Vessels, with guests Gajda~Hlávka~Charitonov trio - May 30, Rybanaruby, Mánesova 87, Vinohrady

~~~

URiAH HEEP - May 24, KC Vltavska, Praha

1, Hard rock dinosaurs in eyes and ears of many people for long years. But... listen to their tuned vocal polyharmonics, weird guitars, propelling bass and weaving organs! Listen to their Salisbury suite from  album of the same name, released 1971!! And Ken Hensley's song lyrics !!!

Circle of Hands (Demons and Wizards, 1972)

2, As every good hard rock band, they are improvising at least in instrumental solos. But, in this case, not very often.

Oh! And they have a lot of album covers drawn by Roger Dean ;DDD ... Listen to my special compilation of 1970~78 Ken Hensley songs here.

JUDAS PRiEST - May 28, O2 Arena, Praha

1, They were surely pioneers in heavy metal genre, alongside oldest colleagues in service and fellow countrymen Black Sabbath. They did cover of Joan Baez's song Diamonds and Rust in 1977, through song Running Wild they gave name to 2nd generation heavy metal unit from Hamburg (a.o.), and their album British Steel defined New Wave of British Heavy Metal in 1980.

2, I think yes, mostly in guitar solo's codas.

3, Difficult question. In early years (mid & late 7o's) for sure.

United (British Steel, 1980)


WHiTESNAKE - May 28, O2 Arena, Praha

1, In this case, David Coverdale's Whitesnake were always closer to tradition of blues, hard rock or heavy metal. In words and music too. Some of their early 8o's songs became major wordlwide hits, when David re-recorded them with new line-ups several years later.

2, David's singing is different from one performance to other. And guitar, organ, bass & drums solos!

3, Yes. But i must say, i strongly prefer { Coverdale~ (Dowd~) Paice~ (Powell~) Lord~ Murray~ Marsden~ Moody~ } combinations over later versions.

Come An' Get It (Come An' Get It, 1981)


iRON MAiDEN - June 11, Výstaviště, Praha-Holešovice, Sonisphere festival

1, Their roots are in punk, as well as in early heavy metal. Their name was synonym for Margaret Thatcher, rather tan for medieval torture instrument. Their double (or recently triple) voiced guitar solos are almost unprecented. They were the first heavy metal band, whose album was palyed in its entirety on Czech radio 3 - Vltava, in Rytmus programme, and make strong impact, even if spoken introductions to The Number Of The Beast and The Prisoner songs were censored there and former song started in middle of the second verse.

2, Hm, tell me where. Maybe in song's codas - mela or mills, as Freeway Jam guys used to say.

3, Like hell.

Aces High (Powerslave, 1984)


MARiAN VARGA - May 29, Vagon club, Národní třída
Marian, Slovak music composer, improviser and keyboard player is undisputted master of middle-earth progressive circles.

RED BARON BAND - May 29, Vagon club, Národní třída
Read my earlier article about them.

UŽ jSME DOMA - May 31, Lucerna Music Bar, Praha, band's 2.000th concert

1, 2, 3, Yes

They released their latest album Jeskyně / Caves on adventurous music label Cuneiform from Silver Spring, Maryland.

Mám rád ty co začínaj Mám rád ty co začínaj Mám rád ty co začínaj
Rozlišovat Jó nebo nebo

Mu je ha (Unloved World, 1992)


~~~
::<<:: take a look at my photo and video reports from previous weeks ::>>::

Jack, Miles a ti druzí (v pondělí)

Jarní část AghaRTA Prague Jazz Festivalu uzavře 23. května v Lucerna Music Baru nový kvintet Jacka DeJohnetta, jednoho z nejvytíženějších jazzových bubeníků uplynulých čtyřiceti let. Poprvé se v Praze představil na Mezinárodním jazzovém festivalu v Lucerně roku 1967 jako člen kvarteta saxofonisty Charlese Lloyda, kde tehdy zářil i pianista Keith Jarrett. Oba poté prošli elektrickými sestavami Milese Davise, které proměnily tvář jazzu, a od roku 1983 s malými přestávkami dodnes společně hrají s kontrabasistou Gary Peacockem v pravděpodobně nejslavnějším improvizujícím triu všech dob, které je jednou z “vlajkových lodí” značky ECM (poprvé se však sešli už v roce 1977 na Peacockově albu Tales Of Another). Zároveň DeJohnette už od sedmdesátých let vede vlastní rozmanité sestavy, pojmenované třeba Directions, Special Edition nebo New Directions. V novém bandu, který odehrál svůj první koncert v lednu 2o1o v newyorském Birdlandu, působí vysoce ceněný altsaxofonista indického původu Rudresh Mahanthappa, zdejšímu publiku dobře známý kytarista David ‘Fuze’ Fiuczynski, klávesista George Colligan a DeJohnettův kolega z dřívějších sestav Jerome Harris s elektrickou i akustickou baskytarou. V programu současné Jack DeJohnette Group se objevují skladby z kapelníkových klasických alb i několik čerstvých kompozic. 

Vedle mnoha dalších hráčských aktivit, z nichž připomeňme namátkou trio Gateway s Johnem Abercrombiem a Dave Hollandem nebo relativně nedávné Trio Beyond s Johnem Scofieldem a Larry Goldingsem, založil Jack DeJohnette v roce 1995 také vlastní label Golden Beams. Na něm vyšla mimo jiné alba elektronicko-etno-jazzového projektu The Ripple Effect, se nímž se dnes devětašedesátiletý bubeník zúčastnil předloňského festivalu Jazz Goes To Town v Hradci Králové, úžasná elektro-akustická triovka Music We Are s  Johnem Patituccim a Danilo Perezem, která se dostala mezi desítku nejlepších jazzových alb za rok 2oo9 podle obchodního serveru Amazon (tam mimochodem figuruje i album Apti Rudreshe Mahanthappy), nebo DeJohnettova sólová relaxační nahrávka Music In The Key of Om. Na té ovšem mistr nehraje na bicí (nikoli poprvé – už na svém prvním vlastním albu DeJohnette Complex z roku 1968 užívá výhradně melodiku), nýbrž na syntezátor a rezonanční zvonky. Deska byla nominována na Grammy v kategorii nejlepší album žánru New Age. ~ eJazz.cz



~~~
Tribute to Miles Davis ( USA / IL / CZ )

Španělský sál, Pražský hrad, 23.5.2011 20:00

Lenny White – bicí

Jon Faddis – trubka

Tom Barney – kontrabas, baskytara

Jaroslav Jakubovič – barytonsaxofon

Emil Viklický - klavír

www.jazznahrade.cz

NTS - Permanente Frustration vinyl release party 

Malostranská beseda, May 23, 8:3o PM
Michal Nejtek - keyboards, samples, electronics; Petr Tichý - double bass, electronics; Štěpán Smetáček - drums, electronics. Free mp3 download of whole album is on their bandzone.cz profile.

Vojtěch Procházka / Adrian Fiskum Myhr / Tore T. Sandbakken

Café Potrvá, Dejvice, May 23, 8PM
~~~ 
::<<:: take a look at my photo and video reports from previous weeks ::>>::

ambiente palaces, riverside docks, duos, trios, electro-acoustic ensembles & devices

This week starts with Monday. As usually, thanks god. In some other cultures, week starts with Sunday. Well enough. Lets look for something else. On Tuesday, at Palác Akropolis, we have Mountains in Prague. American duo of Brendon Anderegg and Koen Holtkamp, believes in power of moment and creates sound goblins with acoustic guitars and various effect machines via free on stage improvisations, resulting in original compositions between folk, post-rock, drone-ambient and avantgarde. Concert is part of Music Infinity series, in which promoteur and radio DJ Josef Sedloň fulfills his and many other's ambient and alternative music lovers' dreams.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Norweigian trio of Czech pianist Vojtěch Procházka gives two early evening concerts at Jazz Dock. Vojtěch's bandmates from Oslo are Adrian Fiskum Myhr (double bass) and Tore T. Sandbakken (drums), and they are doing much more improvising on stage than on their first album Amoeba's Dance (Animal Music 2o1o). Vojtěch is member of fantastic Vertigo sextet, who released groundbreaking album Metamorphosis around month ago, and also is creating music with Per Oddvar Johansen or Yvar Grydeland, among others, not to mention his studying with Christian Wallumrod. Concerts are starting from 7, entry 12o, or 9o for jun / sen. Check also french cider at jazzdock bar, suggests miloo2.

And for sure, adventurous duo DoMa Ensemble, comprised of Dorota Barová & Marcel Bárta, again from 7PM at Dock on Friday. With saxophones & bass clarinet, voices, cello and a few smart machines, life partners (Doma means Home) and members of Vertigo are creating spacious soundscapes, which will be available as originally packaged cd on undeground label Polí5 from that day. CD launch concert guests will include Vojtěch Procházka on prepared piano. Welcome to Parade!

On Saturday, Slovak trumpeter Laco Deci and his New York Celula plays their premiere gig at Jazz Dock, from 22PM. Laco's fusion-funk unit is in good form now and include his son, Vaico Deczi on drums, long-time bass guitar madman Nob Kinukawa, and synth magician Walter Fishbacher. Good chance to hear their infectious dance of joy in new space.  

What about Sunday? Well, we can meet in Jazz Time, where British / Canadian blues duo of Paul Millns (piano and voice) & Butch Coulter (guitar, harmonica) will perform various songs during their Jazz Meets World series appearance. Or, let's go for Sunday Dixie with cornetist Bob Zajíček & his Classic Jazz Colleguim at Jazz Dock from 7. On Monday, May 23, Jazz of 4 Continents festival is continuing at the same place. Michaela Rabitsch (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals) and Robert Pawlik (guitar) from Austria, with M.M. German (drums) from Argentine and Tomáš Liška of Points or Tomáš Hobzek 4tet, will blend jazz with Agentinian tango and music of Rio de la Plato.

On May 23, NTS progjazz trio (Michal Nejtek - keyboards, samples, electronics, Petr Tichý - double bass, electronics ) and Štěpán Smetáček - drums, electronics) has vinyl release party for their second album Permanente Frustration at Malostranská beseda from 8:3o PM. Free mp3 download of whole album is on their bandzone.cz profile.

But, wait x!x I forgot Komunikační prostor www.školská28.cz, Saturday, May 21. I treni inerti, duo of Ruth Baberán (trumpet, sounds) & Alfredo Costa Monteiro (accordion, electric guitar, turntables, electro-acoustic devices and resonating objects) from Barcelona are another free improvisers in ongoing series, organised there by such a kind people. Start 19:3o, entrance 1oo/8o CZK.

wakushoppu.blogspot.com  - Martin Klapper & Martin Čížek, Café v lese, May 18, 9PM

Jazz Černošice, May 18-22, www.jazzcernosice.cz
Highlight evening is on Saturday from 7PM at Club Kino: Betty Lee & The Bead Beat, Emil Viklický Trio, Ondřej Štveráček Quartet, Takin' Off featuring Tereza Černochová...

Jack DeJohnette Group, APJF, Lucerna Music Bar, May 23, 9PM

Ondřej Pivec Organic Quartet has the privilege to play at Mercedes Forum Prague on May 24th, as part of classical music festival Prague Spring.

Back to the Roots - 20 years of RADiO 1: Načeva - Nebe je rudý (The Sky is Red) retro, best of Priessnitz; Lucerna Music Bar, May 25, 8:30 PM

Count Portmon debut album (check link for free download) release party during KLaNGundKRaCH evening at Final Club, May 25, from 7:30 PM

Jesus Christ Superstar, a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Weber & Tim Rice, Czech words by Michael Prostějovský, featuring Kamil Střihavka, Bára Basiková, Jiří Korn, Václav Noid Bárta, Dasha and many others. From May 18 at Hudební divadlo Karlín

Iva Bittová & Čikori reunion concert, Hybernia theatre, May 31 , 7:3o PM

Olympic Retro 3: Jedeme jedeme, Malostranská beseda May 31, 8:3o PM

TBC, see you soon...  

AND NOW: Actually, we are celebrating over 1,ooo vists on this blog. But no followers yet :o( Be the first {right panell under the links} and win Animal Music CD Vertigo - Metamorphosis (2o1o).

from the soft machine to its legacy

A BiT OF CHRONO LOGiCS

:: 1961 ::  Australian beatnik, guitarist and singer Daevid Allen (born January 13^th, 1938 in Melbourne) arrives to England and hires a room in Robert Wyatt’s parents’ Wellington house in Lydden, near Canterbury, Kent. Meets Kevin Ayers,  Mike Ratledge and  Hugh Hopper, Robert’s school friends. 

:: 1963 ::  Daevid  plays several gigs in London, where he is currently living, with Hugh (bass guitar) and Robert (drums) under the Daevid Allen Trio name, with Ratledge occasionally sitting in on piano and Mike Horowitz contributing poetry (documented on  Live 1963 cd, released by Voiceprint in 1993). Later that year, Daevid moves to Paris, where he meets William Burroughs and Terry Riley, who turned him on to the making and usage of tape loops. 

:: 1964::  Allen meets Welsh poetess Gilli Smyth.  They beginning a relationship and in following year are movingto Deya, Majorca, to spend 18 months of "an idyllic life, writing poetry and songs". In the meantime, Hugh and Kevin are visting them and  experiments with tape loops. Back in Canterbury, Hugh (bass), Kevin (singing) and Robert (drums & singing), along with Hugh’s older brother Brian Hopper (saxes) and much younger Richard Sinclair (guitar & singing) forms The Wilde Flowers in late summer. Their demos from 1965 to 1966 were released, alongside later line-ups recordings, on The Wilde Flowers  cd by Voiceprint label in 1994.

:: 1966 ::  Around Easter, Daevid experiences what he later called his 'seed vision', in which he mentally saw his future life mapped out in detail - Soft Machine, Gong and everything else. Around the same time, Kevin manages to coax an eccentric American millionaire, Wes Brunson, into funding a band project of his. In August, Allen and Ayers with Robert Wyatt and Mike Ratledge forms THE SOFT MACHiNE band, named after William Borroughs novel. David secured author’s permission for this.

:: 1967 :: In January, The Soft Machine recorded their first single, consisted of Ayers' songs Love Makes Sweet Music and Feelin' Reelin' Squeelin' (sung by Wyatt and Ayers) and released in February on Polydor.  Demo recordings for proposed album, produced by Giorgio Gomelsky are made in April at De Lane Lea studios in London, later frequently bootlegged and released officially first in second half of 7o’s as Jet Propelled Photograph or At The Beginning on Charly label. When returning from playing in France, Allen is not permitted to go back to England due time out visa. He returns to Paris, where he forms Gong with Gilli Smyth in 1968. Mike, Kevin and Robert are continuing as trio.

 :: 1968 :: The Soft Machine plays two American tours as support act for Jimi Hendrix Experience. The Soft Machine album is recorded during second tour and  is released by ABC /Probe in USA. After returning from America, Kevin decides to leave music for living in Majorca and fishing. Next year he will start his succesful solo career. Mike and Robert teams up again with Hugh, who was in America as The SM tour manager, or precisely said, roadie.

:: 1969 :: Volume Two album is recorded in London and released again on Probe. Brian Hopper is complementing trio with saxes in studio, as well as on subsequent concerts. The SM records their trio performance at Paradiso, Amsterdam for possible live album, but are not satisfied with results. Recording is being heavily bootlegged again and oficially relaeased as Live At The Paradiso 1969 by Blueprint in 1995. Later that year, whole brass front line of pianist Keith Tippett’s sextet, namely Elton Dean, Mark Charig and Nick Evans are hired by The Soft Machine, and even second saxophone player Lyn Dobson is added to expand trio to septet. Due to amplification and financial problems on the road, first Charig and Evans leaves after brief French tour of fall 1969, then also Dobson in early 1970. Soft Machine became a quartet for next few years.

:: 1970 ::  Double album Third is released on CBS, comprised of 4 compositions – Facelift (HH), Slightly All The Time (MR), Moon In June (RW) and Out-Bloody-Rageous (MR). Robert sings and plays all instruments on first half of Moon In June. Also Robert's first solo album, The End Of An Ear, marked with “*Out of work Pop Singer” note and  including Elton Dean and Marc Charig, is released by CBS around same time. Of course, during 1969-70, SM were inspired by recent Frank Zappa’s larger bands, and albums & concerts by electric Miles Davis bands, where fellow Englishmen John McLaughlin and Dave Holland was sharpening their teeth. But what they did on Third is much more complex and unheard before.

:: 1971 ::  Album Fourth, mostly composed by HH and recorded in Autumn 1970, is released by CBS and include guests Roy Babbington (double bass), Mark Charig, Nick Evans, Jimmy Hastings (alto flute & bass clarinet) and Alan Skidmore (tenor sax). Their best album ever due to my ears, and their jazziest with greatest Robert’s drumming.  Aside of four-part Hugh’s composition / collage Virtually, which occupies side two, highlight is Ratledge’s opening piece, swirling Teeth, and also future standard, Hugh’s brilliant psychedelic ballad Kings and Queens is there.. On March 11^th, SM records BBC Radio 1 In Concert programme at Paris Theatre, London, probably their best ever live recording, released later as Soft Machine & Heavy Friends.  Elton Dean’s unnamed debut album is released on CBS (reissued on Cuneiform with bonus tracks as Just Us in 1998) and includes Mark Charig, Neville Whitehead (electric bass), Phil Howard (drums), Mike Ratledge and Roy Babbington.  In autumn, Robert leaves SM and is replaced first by Phil Howard, and then, after recording of first half of Fifth album, by John Marshall (of Nucleus, Jack Bruce and John Surman). Wyatt forms Matching Mole, which name is word play with Fench translation of Soft Machine – Machine Mole.

:: 1972 ::   Fifth album is finished and released, with only guest Roy Babbington (double bass) on whole side 2. Mike Ratledge is main composer on album, with a piece by Hopper, Dean and Marshall. Elton Dean leaves and is replaced by Karl Jenkins of Nucleus, who plays mainly oboe, baritone & soprano saxes and electric piano. Aside of Nucleus, Marshall and Jenkins were playing together for the first time in the band of bassist Graham Collier in late 60’s. During october ~ december, album Six is recorded, a double LP with one live and one studio record, where Ratledge, Hopper and Jenkins conquered compositional duties. Spacious tunes The Soft Weed Factor and Chloe and the Pirates became concert classics.

:: 1973 ::  Hugh Hopper’s first solo album 1984 (CBS 1973 / Cuneiform 1998) includes John Marshall, Nick Evans & Pye Hastings (of Caravan).  Six is released on CBS, Hugh Hopper leaves and is replaced by Roy Babbington on 6-string bass guitar.  SM plays NDR Jazz Workshop in Hamburg, with guests Gary Boyle (guitar), Art Themen (tenor sax) and Hugh Hopper (bass and loops in his 1983  composition). In July, album Seven is recorded and released later same year on CBS. Composed mainly by Jenkins and Ratledge, Seven is logical continuation of previous album in a form of shorter, mostly interlinked pieces. Hugh Hopper joins percussionist Stomu Yamash'ta's East Wind for two albums: Freedom Is Frightening (Island 1973) and One By One (Island 1974).

:: 1974 ::  Hugh Hopper’s Monster Band including Elton Dean tours France, recording surfaced in 1979 as side 2 on Hugh’s album Monster Band (Atmosphere, reissued by Culture Press, 1996). Hopper also joins Isotope, fusion band of his East Wind bandmates Gary Boyle and Nigel Morris, for Illusion (Gull 1974) album.  Guitarist’s guitarist, highly original virtuoso Allan Holdsworth (previously in Jon Hiseman’s Tempest) joins SM after Marshall’s suggestion. Allan was playing also on Belladona  album by Nucleus’ leader, trumpeter Ian Carr, together with Babbington. 8^th SM album Bundles is recorded in July. Music is fresh and inventive, but much closer to American jazz / rock fusion movement of mid 70’s, than to previous SM output. Robert Wyatt releases Rock Bottom (Virgin 1974, featuring Hugh Hopper, Richard Sinclair a.o.), first of his many albums to come after his serious injury earlier in the year.

:: 1975 ::  Bundles is released in May on EMI’s progressive label Harvest. Shortly after that, Holdsworth is no more in Soft Machine, as he accepted offer to join Tony Williams’ Lifetime. He suggest John Etheridge (of Daryl Way’s Wolf) as his replacement. New line-up with added saxophonist Alan Wakeman (Rick’s cousin) records Softs, another solid spacey fusion collection, where Mike Ratledge, last original member of the band, plays his trademark organ in only one track.

:: 1976-77 ::  Hugh HOPPER ~ Elton DEAN~ Keith TiPPETT ~ Joe GALLiVAN quartet tours Europe and records Cruel But Fair  in Oslo (Compendium 1977 / One Way Records 1995) plus Mercy Dash in London, which was not released until 1985 (Culture Press, cd reissue in 1996). During these two years, Dean and Hopper are also members of great Carla Bley Band, documented on European Tour 1977 album (Watt 1978).  EMI releases 3 LP compilation Triple Echo, including first single, some of Gomelsky 1967 demos and previously unreleased early SM recordings. Also Hugh Hopper's second solo outing, a masterpiece named Hopper Tunity Box (Compendium 1977 / Cuneiform 2oo7), recorded after Hugh leaves Isotope and featuring Elton Dean is released.

:: 1978 ::  Hugh Hopper,  Elton Dean,  keyboardist Alan Gowen (of Gilgamesh / National Health) and drummer Pip Pyle (of Gong and Hatfield And The North) forms SOFT HEAP.  Live album was recorded during May French tour, where Dave Sheen substituted for Pyle, who was touring with National Health at that time. It was released under HOPPER / DEAN / GOWEN / SHEEN (or later SOFT HEAD) moniker as Rogue Element (Ogun, reissued on cd with bonus tracks in 1996). Untitled Soft Heap  studio album, recorded during October in London and released on Charly label (remastered cd on Esoteric Recordings, 2oo9 ), is still one of the brightest moments among Hopper-Dean post SM collaborations. SM releases live album Alive &Well; Recorded in Paris (Harvest / Esoteric expanded remaster 2cd) with another line-up of Marshal, Jenkins, Etheridge, Steve Cook (bass) and Ric Sanders (violin). A good record. Second Gilgamesh album Another Fine Tune You've Got Me Into (Charly 1978 / Esoteric remaster cd) includes Hugh Hopper. 

:: 1979 ::  Alan Gowen & Hugh Hopper duo recording Two Rainbows Daily (Europa 1979 / Cuneiform Rune 77 cd with trio bonus tracks) is released.

:: early 8o's :: Hugh replaces Richard Sinclair in Phil Miller's IN CAHOOTS, SM releases final studio album Land Of Cockayne, Karl Jenkins' studio project with various musicians including John Marshall, Allan Holdsworth, Jack Bruce, John Taylor a.o. (EMI 1981).

:: 1985 ::  Dutch musicians, fans of SM and HH, convinces Hugh, inactive in music for about 5 years, to play his tunes with them. HOPPER GOES DUTCH band tours Holland in September, and then twice again during next two years. Recordings appeared on cds Alive (Voiceprint 1993) and Meccano Pelorus (Wayside 1991).

:: 1988 ::  SM concert from Royal Albert Hall in London issued as Live At  The Proms 1970  (Reckless, later reissued as Live 1970  on Voiceprint with 2 additional,  poorly sounding excerpts from 1970 French quintet gig, and finally as bonus disc to Third  2oo7 Sony BMG remaster).

:: 1991 ::  SM Peel Sessions double cd is released on Strange Fruit label and contains great version of Moon In June, with Robert singing different lyrics, improvised in studio.

:: 1993 ::  SHORT WAVE with HH, Phil Miller, Pip Pyle and Didier Malherbe releases album Live on French Gimini label, SM BBC Radio 1 In Concert from March 1971 (Windsong, later reissued as SM & Heavy Friends – BBC In Concert 1971 on Hux, RW~MR~HH~ED w/ Marc Charig, Neville Whitehead, Phil Howard, Ronnie Scott, Paul Nieman and Roy Babbington).

:: 1994 ::  Hugh Hopper & Kramer collaboration album A Remark Hugh Made (Shimmy Disc 1994) include Robert Wyatt’s voice and words on Free Will & Testament song. Another BBC Radio 1 In Concert disc, this time from July 1972, is released by Windsong (reissued as Soft Stage – BBC In Concert 1972 on Hux, MR~HH ~JM~KJ). 

:: 1995 ::  Hugh with Fred Chalenor and Elaine Di Falco of Oregon based band Cavemen Shoestrore started virtual collaboration on (CAVEMAN) HUGHSCORE project, their 3^rd album Delta Flora (Cuneiform 1999) include Elton Dean and Hugh’s old composition Facelift, as well as new Hopper / Wyatt song Was a Friend and is one of the finest post-SM releases. Hugh Hopper’s Franglodutch Band recording Carousel is released on Cuneiform. SM Paris concert from May 1972 is released as Live In France (One Way Records double cd, reissued in 2oo4 on Cuneiform as Live In Paris, May 2^nd, 1972, MR~HH~ED~JM). Virgin UK releases Song of Sanctuary, first album of Karl Jenkins’ successful then new age / symphonic project Adiemus with singer Miriam Stocley, Mike Ratledge is credited for percussion programming. More Adiemus albums follows in next years, all without Ratledge contribution.

:: 1996 ::  Unreleased SM recording including studio manipulations, made in 1969 for accompanying Petr Dockley’s multimedia show, is made available through Silver Springs, Maryland based US label Cuneiform as Spaced  (RW~MR~HH w/BH). 

:: 1998 ::  SM live recording, made for Radio Bremen in March 1971, was released as Virtually (Cuneiform, RW~MR~HH~ED).

:: 1997 ::  DEAN~HOPPER~CLARKE~KNiGHT records freely improvised session, released as The mind in the trees  (Blueprint 1998). 

:: 1999 ::  DEAN~HOPPER~TiPPETT~MARSHALL as SOFT WARE plays concert at Augustusburg Castle church, Germany, during opening evening of visual arts exhibition on September 4^th. I was there ;)

:: 2ooo ::  SM live recording from Fairfield Hall, Croydon, 1970 is released as Noisette (Cuneiform, RW~MR~HH~ED~LD).

:: 2oo2 ::  Newly formed quartet of former SM members named SOFT WORKS ( Hugh Hopper, Elton Dean, John Marshall, Allan Holdsorth ) records album Abracadabra (Universal Music Japan / Tone Center 2oo3) in London and plays first concert in Seattle during Progman Cometh Festival ( David Allen’s University of Errors and Kevin Ayers also there ). Fench Polysons collective plays SM material as POLYSOFT with Dean and Hopper at Le Triton, Les Lilas, France. Concert is released as Tribute to Soft Machine (Le Triton 2oo2). SM live & rare recordings from 1969-70 are released on Backwards (Cuneiform 2oo2,  MR~RW~HH~ED~LD~MC~NE). 

:: 2oo3 ::  SOFT WORKS plays 4 concerts in Japan between August 8th and 11th. On 10th, Dean & Hopper records freely improvised studio set with Hoppy Kamiyama (keys) and Tatsuya Yoshida (drums) in Tokyo. Highlights are released as two-part suite on SOFT MOUNTAiN album (Hux 2oo7). SM BBC Radio 1967-1971  & BBC Radio 1971-1973  double cds (Hux) are covering and expanding earlier Peel Sessions double disc.

:: 2oo4 ::  SOFT WORKS plays in Italy, their last concert took place at Baja Prog Festival in Mexico on March 5. After Holdworth left and was replaced by John Etheridge again, first live appearance of the so-called SOFT MACHiNE LEGACY Project happened at Eskisehir Jazz Festival in Turkey (October 8), second concert was during International Jazz & Blues Festival Ústí nad Labem on October 15, with Hugh Hopper, Elton Dean, John Etheridge and Liam Genockey (of Trevor Watts’ Amalgam, Gillan, Elton Dean, Steeleye Span or Alex Magiure’s Psychic Warrior a.o.) deputing for unavailable John Marshall. Thanks to festival director … and Stěpán Suchochleb of Capricorn Promotions. I was there ;)  SOFT BOUNDS (Hugh Hopper, Elton Dean, Sophia Domancich and Simon Goubert) records Live at Le Triton (Le Triton 2oo5) on June 17th. Rest of this concert, not available on cd, you can find here.

:: 2oo5-2oo6 ::  SML tours regularly and releases Live In Zaandam (Musea / Moonjune 2oo5), New Morning--The Paris Concert (inakustik 2oo6 dvd & 2cd), and Soft Machine Legacy (Moonjune 2oo6), also SM concert recordings Middle Earth Masters  (Cuneiform 2oo6, RW~MR~KA from 1967), Grides (Cuneiform 2oo6 cd / dvd, MR~RW~HH~ED in Amsterdam 1970 and Bremen 1971), Floating World Live  (Moonjune 2oo6, MR~JM~KJ~RB~AH in Bremen, January 1975) and British Tour 75 (MLP 2oo5, MR~JM~KJ~RB~JE in Nottingham, October 1975) are released.  

:: 2oo6 ::  Passing of Elton Dean on February 28th. Elton Dean Tribute concert at 1oo Club, Oxford Street, London on May 9th ( DREAMTiME - Jim Dvorak / Nick Evans / Gary Curson / Keith Tippett / Roberto Bellatalla / Jim Le Baigue, MARK HEWiNS / MARK SANDERS,   DARTiNGTON iMPROViSERS TRiO - Keith & Julie Tippetts with Paul Dunmall,   SML with Theo Travis,   MAGGiE NiCOLS / JiM DVORAK /  PAUL ROGERS / TONY LEViN,   MARK CHARiG / PAUL RUTHERFORD / EVAN PARKER / LARRY STABBiNS / JOHN EDWARDS / LOUiS MOHOLO-MOHOLO,   HARRY BECKETT / LOL COXHiLL / ALEX MAGUiRE / MARCiO MATTOS / TONY MARSH ). I was there. Dreamtime set is being recently released on Reel Recordings dvd / cd Double Trouble, together with two other special concerts. Another Elton Dean Tribute concert was assembled at Le Triton club, Les Lilas, France, in June 2oo6.

:: 2oo7 ::  New SML studio album Steam (Moonjune), second SOFT MACHiNE LEGACY koncert in Czech Republic at Palác Akropolis (October 4th) with Hugh Hopper, John Marshall, John Etheridge and Theo Travis of Gong, Porcupine Tree, and Cipher (a.o.). Thanks to Rachot agency and Akropolis staff.  DELTA SAXOPHONE QUARTET‘s Dedicated To You, But You Weren't Listening (The Music of Soft Machine), featuring Hugh’s bass and loops on Facelift, is also released by Moonjune.

:: 2oo8 ::  Hugh Hopper Benefit koncert at 100 Club, Oxford Street, London on December 14th (  ALEX MAGUiRE & FRiENDS - Patrice Meyer, Fred Baker, Mark Fletcher, Frank van der Kooij and Robert Jarvis,   SOPHiA DOMANCiCH & SiMON GOUBERT,   DELTA SAXOPHONE QUARTET,   YUMi HARA CAWKWELL,   SOFT TRiO - Eltheridge / Babbington / Marshall,   MiKE HOROWiTZ,   STEVE MiLLER’s IN CAHOOTS ).

:: 2oo9 ::  Passing of Hugh Hopper on June 7th.  Release of Drop (Moonjune), a fall 1971 German tour SM recording with Ratledge, Hopper, Dean and Phil Howard, and Live at Henie Onstad Art Centre 1971  from Norway (Reel Recordings, RW~MR~HH~ED).  Roy Babbington, who was Hopper’s successor in original Soft Machine, now joins Soft Machine Legacy on bass guitar. A kind of tribute, What's Rattlin' On The Moon? A Personal Vision of the Music of Mike Ratledge  by Italian prog keyboardist / composer Beppe Crovella, is released on Moonjune Records.

Here is my Hugh Hopper obituary in Czech

:: 2o1o ::  SML album Live Adventures, recorded during the European tour in October 2oo9,  is out on Moonjune. Also excellent SM concert recording titled NDR Jazz Worshop, Hamburg, Germany from May 17, 1973 is released as cd / dvd (Cuneiform, MR~JM~KJ~RB w/ Art Themen, Gary Boyle & Hugh Hopper).

:: 2o11 ::  Third SOFT MACHiNE (LEGACY) Czech concert at Lucerna Music Bar with John Marshall, Roy Babbington, John Etheridge and Theo Travis is part of established AghaRTA Prague Jazz Festival on May 12th.  May there be more.

:: 2o12 :: Pianist Keith Tippett is guesting on several SML concerts, as he does in years to come . 




:: 2o13 :: SOFT MACHiNE LEGACY releases Burden Of Proof  (Moonjune Records), second one with Travis - Etheridge - Babbington - Marshall line-up. Probably their best album to date, a bit of reminiscent SM Seventh.

:
: 2o14 :: Cuneiform releases Soft Machine's Switzerland 1974, a cd + dvd live set with Bundless line-up. 
:
:
:: 2o18 :: SOFT MACHiNE will play another concert in PRAGUE ::: Palác Akropolis, September 18. Powered by RACHOT Ag. http://www.rachot.cz

Soft Machine’s impact on jazz & progmusic scene is simply huge and maybe widely unrecognised yet.

∑ ~Thanks to Microsoft Office Word 2007, its grammar corrector, blogger.com and SeaSong :7{)

http://www.calyx-canterbury.fr/softmachine/index.html 
http://www.calyx-canterbury.fr/index.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_Machine

Music Stimuli & Top 7 albums of Czech jazz 2o1o

Stimul Festival 2o11 - May 9th, May 13th (Stian Westerhus @ Archa theatre)...

Den Evropy - free festival at Old Town Square on May 9th, also in Ostrava

Among others, there will be special line-up of singers Lenka Dusilová & Dorota Barová with members of Vertigo from 7PM at Staromák ;D

Free improvisation electro-acoustic duo Christof Kurzmann & Crys Cole plays as part of Jazz Meets World series on May 12th at www.skolska28.cz. Concert starts early enough to catch beginning of Soft Machine Legacy at Lucerna Music Bar... :7)  Before it you can listen to my radio programme on Soft Machine, made before their Prague concert back in 2oo8.

On May 11 & 12, trio of American pianist Aaron Goldberg with Reginal Veal (bass) and Gregory Hutchinson (drums) is playing at Jazz Dock. I heard recently his album Worlds (Sunnyside 2oo6) with top class colleagues, bassist Reuben Rogers and master drummer Eric Harland, which contains very inventive composing and playing within so-called modern jazz tradition. His current bandmates are no less of high profile and Gregory has good link to Czech jazz, as he is playing on NY date It's About Time (Animal Music 2o1o) with NajPonk (Fender Rhodes) and Ondřej Pivec (Hammond organ). Album was awarded with annual Angel prize in jazz & blues category for last year by Czech Academy of Popular Music.

On Wednesday, May 11th, there is also interesting concert at Kaštan club. French sax / bass / drums jazz punk trio Les Yeux de la Tête (in fact they are doing whole Czech tour recently, check their MySpace profile via hyperlink in case of interest) will be preceeded on stage of very friendly place at Prague Břevnov district by Skrytý půvab byrokracie (or Hidden Charm of Beaurocracy), alternative rock unit including now Jan Faix of Tembryo on synths & beats.

On Friday, May 13th, at Jazz Dock will be launched first solo project by Jaryn Janek, prolific bass guitar player of Czech jazz, rock and pop scene. Now Jaryn introduces himself as composer of very nice and listener-friendly overgenre songs via album Ty lidi (These People, released by Indies Scope), on which he gathered impressive cast of players and mostly female singers. All Martina Fišerová, Lenka Dusilová, Marek Dusil, Markéta Foukalová of Lanugo, Dorota Barová, Jana Šteflíčková and Eva Turnová of Plastic People of the Universe and E-turnity promised to be there. Such a lovely company, which can turn Friday the 13th into pleasant evening!

What i missed here was impro-ambient evening at Charles University student club K4 on May 9th, but funnily enough i was there by complete coincidence. Great performances, especially by Vertigo pianist Vojtěch Procházka (2 early evening concerts of  his own jazz trio with former Norweigian schoolmates at Jazz Dock on May 18 & 19) and visual artist / sound manipulator Martin Blažíček. So many things happening now in Prague, if it will continue this way, we will have our own Freedom Of The City festival here soon ;7D  Now, watch also for Bards of Bohemia dance, music & poetry evening in Celetná 20 with Zdenka Trvalcová & Michal Stulík, Damonica and Samuel Hain of Cain da Breth, Steve Hubback, Gela Poshikova and Morianne.

***

My Top 7 albums of CZ jazz & impro 2o1o:

TOMÁŠ HOBZEK - Stick It Out (Animal Music)
Cyrille Oswald – tenor sax, Dan Tepfer - piano, Tomáš Liška - double bass, Tomáš Hobzek - drums.


When i listened to this album first i forgot completely that was made near Prague. And adventure keeps continuing with Tomáš, Tomáš and Cyrille ~ i dont know Dan much yet. Overall feeling is much like smart modern acoustic jazz, not without intuition. Watch them.

ONDŘEJ ŠTVERÁČEK QUARTET - What's Outside (Cube-Metier)
Ondřej Štveráček - tenor sax, Ondrej Krajňák - piano, Tomáš Baroš - double bass, Marián Ševčík - drums, Radek Němejc - percussion on Three For Kate, Africa and Get Out Of Town.
Keep meeting Ondřej since years ago, when he played middle period Coltrane almost exclusively. Since then, he found ideal bandmates in Slovakia. His first project as a leader is, no wonder, traneing in straight ahead ;b  Central piece of the album is famous Africa, not to mention beautiful ballads. Once, at Jazz Černošice, Ondřej's quartet used Luboš Šrámek on electric keyboard instead of Ondrej K on acoustic, and it was a different kind of blue. 
Otherwise, these guys  are funniest partners at the bar after the show and did also Jazz at Prague Castle live album (Multisonic 2o11), which has one major minus ~ it is too short.


TEMBRYO (Fluidum Records)
Jan Faix - piano, synths; Filip Černý - guitar, live electronics; Jan Kyncl - tenor sax.
Released as free mp3 download and limited edition on USB key in 1o pcs of originally designed big safety matches boxes. 
First class european free improvisation in more acoustic setting than are their actual performances. Try it ;;;

VOJTĚCH PROCHÁZKA TRiO - Amoeba's Dance (Animal Music) 
Vojtěch Procházka - piano; Adrian Fiskum Myhr - double bass; Tore T. Sandbakken - drums.

Trio launched during Vojta's studies in Oslo with former schoolmates. Original compositions plus pieces by Herbie Nichols, Kurt Weill, Paul Motian and Ornette Coleman. On their concerts, they are actually mostly improvising, as you can hear on Procházka's MySpace. And this albums has one of most enjoyable cover arts in Animal Music catalogue.

POiNTS (Animal Music) 
Luboš Soukup - tenor and soprano saxes, clarinet, vocal; Miroslav Hloucal - trumpet and flugelhorn, kalimba; Tomáš Liška - double bass; Tomáš Hobzek – drums and percussion. Guests: Petr Kalfus - alto and soprano saxes; Marcel Bárta – bass clarinet; Jan Jirucha Jr. – trombone; Dorota Barová - vocal; Milan Cimfe - percussion.

I also like their live album from Jazz Getxo (Errabal 2oo9)

... tbc ...

And a DOT to round and shape this furure :7)

JiŘí STiVíN & COLLEGiUM QUODLIBET Journeys Deep Into Musical Past (Arta Records)

This album is not from 2o1o, but i was listening to it a lot during last year and it has timeless qualities. Stivín’s newest major studio project incorporates perfectly (jazz) improvisation with ancient music, using medieval and renaissance songs, trained singers, old instruments and percussionist Alan Vitouš. 

[ bought it from artist’s shops or, at least, do not pay stealers ]