Avant Music News

Secret Chiefs 3 claim to have three CDs coming out either later this year or next. In the mean time, check out Book M.

According to old-ish news at Bungle Fever, apparently Mr. Bungle members have no plans of getting together and recording again. Sad, as Bungle was one of the most consistently off the wall bands ever. Note that the individual band members are very active in their own pursuits, and they have not actually “broken […]

If you haven’t heard Satoko Fujii yet, you’re in for a treat. Fujii is an avant-jazz pianist who, along with her husband, trumpeter Natsuki Tamura, has recorded 2 or more more albums every year since 1996 or so. Follow the link for news, a biography, her event calendar, mail order, reviews, and more.
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Cuneiform artist Larval is reviewed in the latest edition of NewMusicBox.

Needless to say the show, put on by Outre Music, was excellent. It was also a piece of history - the band’s first US show in their 32 years. We attended the event and have some photos available. Don’t miss the phone call between Lars Hollmer and Tatsuya Yoshida.

Harkening back to the early days of the web, Beanbender’s has a long list of links to interesting music sites. Information includes tours, mailing lists, radio stations, magazines, labels, and much more. A good place to get lost for a while.

The latest news includes updates on Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic, Amy Denio, Krakatoa, Jim Meneses and The Muffins. Also news to our ears is the confirmation of three releases in the January 2004 batch: Brotherhood of Breath - Bremen to Bridgewater, The Claudia Quintet - I, Claudia, and Guapo - 5 Suns.

The annual San Francisco Jazz Festival take place this year from Oct. 23 - Nov. 9. Featured performances include Dave Holland, Herbie Hancock, The Kronos Quartet, Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot, and a rare solo piano performance by Cecil Taylor.

The masters of scronk, The Rova Saxophone Quartet has a number of upcoming activities in group, solo and spinoff form.

Always a good source of interesting stuff, Victo has a number of new and recent releases including albums by or featuring Merzbow, William Parker, Jean Derome, Rova, Rene Lussier, Tatsuya Yoshida, Mark Dresser, and many others.

Pi Recordings has released a new album by the Art Ensemble, the first in 5 years. Also out now is a duo between Anthony Braxton and Wadada Leo Smith.

The latest Bomb Magazine has an interview with Sharp, a veteran of New York’s “downtown” scene.

Although editor Paul Mummery passed away several years ago, Ork Alarm! has been brought back on a new site recently. Included are all backissues of the fanzine as well as historical Magma tour dates, and various links. Your source for all things Vander.

Dean Suzuki has written an article in New Music Box on the music Pultizers. In a nutshell, Suzuki argues that the Pulitzer is not completely irrelevant with respect to new creative music.

We previously posted a preliminary lineup, and by now that should have solidified into this one. Make plans now.