Jimi Hendrix - Stora Scenen, Grona Lund, Stockholm 8/31/70

It’s illuminating to compare Hendrix’s concert activity compared to the work he did in the studio in his last year, not to mention the differences between live Hendrix circa 67-68 and 1970. By far, his jamming with people like Larry Young was his most far out, while in concert he was still playing the songs that made him famous. However, compared to his early shows, the new Hendrix band stretched out quite a bit more and this show from Stockholm, almost three weeks before his tragic death evinces intriguing directions, the sort of music that makes you rant about the unfairness of the universe. Ever since reading Lew Shiner’s Glimpses, it’s difficult to visit Hendrix this late in the day, the unmanifested future only a hint in these recordings.

Art Ensemble of Chicago - Public Theater, New York, NY 5/15/81

The first of (at least) a two night stint, about a year after Urban Bushmen. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I don’t think the band ever captured their power on album and every single live show I’ve heard (a couple since I write this) seems testament to this. The band makes glorious noise that often shifts like tectonic plates among 2 and 3 instrumentalists at a time as the open ears create one of the most intense chemistries in music. I do wonder if maybe some of the live albums (including UB) might improve by cranking up the bass, because one of the things I never noticed as much until the live material was just how powerful the drumming is.

Albert Ayler - Cellar Cafe, New York City 6/14/64

Ayler’s live material is actually not all that far in style from AEC, although Ayler’s band lacks the consistent extrasensory perception and cedes most of the musical territory to him to the point that it’s easy to forget he actually has a band. This show is actually very close to the Nuits de la Fondation Maeght 1970, with a lot of the same quotes. Ayler’s playing is pretty difficult to get used to, perhaps even if you do like the free genre, and I often feel a bit jarred the way he mixed popular quoting with the Coltrane-ish vamping. But overall, this is still pretty impressive and the show quality rather good for the era.