23 December 2020
22 December 2020
FRANK WRIGHT QUARTET - LAST POLKA IN NANCY? (CENTER OF THE WORLD, 1973)
A2. Guanna Dance Part I
B2. Thinking Of Monk
B3. Doing The Polka
Alan Silva, bass
Muhammad Ali, drums
Bobby Few, piano
Frank Wright, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
Recorded live in Nancy, Jazz Pulsations Festival, 10 October 1973
23 May 2019
UPCOMING & RECENT RELEASES XIX
6 February 2018
ABDELHAÏ BENNANI TRIO "YALLAH" (JaZt TAPES, 2009)
Abdelhaï Bennani, tenor saxophone
Alan Silva, double bass, orchestral synthesizer
Edward Perraud, drums, percussion
1. Going On / Coming Truth 41:04
2. Funds 08:03
Recorde live at "Espace Kiron", Paris, on January 25, 2009.
Artist´s promotion demo 2014.
JaZt Tapes CD-046
1 February 2018
ABDELHAÏ BENNANI TRIO "ENCOUNTERS" (JaZt TAPES, 2000)
Abdelhaï Bennani, tenor saxophone
William Parker, double bass
Alan Silva, piano, orchestral synthesizer
1. Encounters #1, #2, #3 (48:48)
Recorded live at The Sunside, Paris, Oct. 16th, 2000. First set.
Artist promotion release 2013
JaZt Tapes CD-037
24 January 2018
ABDELHAÏ BENNANI TRIO "THE CRAWLING SNAKE" (JaZt TAPES, 2001)
Some background on Abdelhaï Bennani you'll find here.
Abdelhaï Bennani, tenor saxophone
Alan Silva, orchestral synthesizer, piano
Makoto Sato, drums
1. The Crawling Snake 50:54
Recorded live on March 16, 2001,
at American Center, Rennes, France.
Recorded by Catherine Silva. Mastered by Benjamin Duboc.
All music by Abdelhaï Bennani (SACEM) and Alan Silva (SACEM).
Cover Photo, “Snow Worm”, by Jan Ström.
Artist´s promotion demo 2015.
JaZt TAPES CD - 053
13 January 2018
ABDELHAÏ BENNANI QUARTET "DOUBLE DOUBLE" (JaZt TAPES, 1999)
Abdelhaï Bennani, tenor saxophone
Itaru Oki, trumpets, bugle, flutes
Alan Silva, double bass
Makoto Sato, drums
1. In Fanz 19:38
2. The Spell 11:52
3. Once Upon a Time (Please, Baby, Don't Cry) 08:18
4. Hear my Trane Comin' 13:02
5. Trance 07:12
Recorded live on November 24, 1999, at "Les Instants Chavirés", Montreuil, France.
Recorded by Bahaï. Mastered by Benjamin Duboc.
All Music by Abdelhaï Bennani (SACEM).
Cover Photo, “Mirrored Lady”, by Jan Ström.
Artist´s promotion demo 2015.
JaZt TAPES CD-054
20 January 2015
Alan Silva - Luna Surface


Here's another one, reactivated from the early days of the blog, posted back in 2009, again due to a request. This time I did not have to go the archives to find it; instead went to the Rutracker torrent site and lo and behold, there it was! Only difference was that a audiochecker log file was attached, informing me that the files are 99.5 per cent compact disc digital audio, which is kinda funny considering the file was taken from a fine old rusty analogue lp. Stuff travels, eh? Anyway, enjoy the cacophony!
Original post follows:
While in the business of resurrecting old BYG Actuel records, here's another one, also posted on the Church#9 blog, then in the mp3 format, but again upgraded to a lossless audio format for posting here.
How to characterise this one? It is what it is, I guess. To some, an inpenetrable wall of sound, to others a no holds barred piece of collective improvisation. However which way it is viewed, assessed or interpreted, it's a piece which hardly had any precedents and hardly has seen any successors. Or maybe it has, but in terms of intensity and aural onslaught, rare by most standards.
A veritable star-studded cast of free jazz maestros on this 28-minute piece:
Bernard Vitet - trumpet, french horn
Grachan Moncur III - trombone
Archie Shepp - soprano sax
Anthony Braxton - soprano and alto sax
Kenneth Terroade - tenor sax
Dave Burrell - piano
Alan Silva - violin
Leroy Jenkins - violin, viola
Beb Guerin, Malachi Favors - bass
Claude Delcloo - drums
Recorded 17 August 1969 in Paris
Dive in!
24 September 2014
FRANK WRIGHT - ALAN SILVA - MUHAMMAD ALI "HAMBURG, 1976"
A Wonderful Wright trio show from Hamburg in 76... received in a trade, 5 or 6 years ago..
FM
Frank Wright, tenor sax
Alan Silva, double bass
Muhammed Ali, drums
01. radio intro 0:18
02. Jerry {1} 12:51
03. Jerry {2} 7:00
04. Church Number 9 {1} 9:23
05. Church Number 9 {2} 6:20
06. Church Number 9 {3} 5:47
07. radio intro > Guanna Dance {1} 6:15
08. Guanna Dance {2} 9:53
09. Guanna Dance {3} {fade out} 5:45
Recorded at the 'Fabrik', Hamburg, June 1976.
Joyous!!!!
23 May 2014
ALAN SILVA CELESTRIAL COMMUNICATION ORCHESTRA "DESERT MIRAGE" (IACP, 1982)
On this and the previous Alan Silva post, he is not playing himself but it's "his" music nonetheless.
These sprawling vistas - like flying and/or floating over vast sky- and landscapes. Immersed but somehow not attached.
On this LP the music has sometimes a dreamlike quality (see/hear "Desert Mirage") and au contraire to his LPs on BYG the music here has a more "structured" sound. Not that I would dislike "unstructured" sounds from Alan Silva or per se...
The Silva - as ever.
ALAN SILVA CELESTRIAL COMMUNICATION ORCHESTRA "DESERT MIRAGE"
Pierre Faure, flute
Carl Schlosser, flute, piccolo
Aldridge Hansberry, flute, alto flute
Karo, alto clarinet
Denis Colin, bass clarinet
Jean Querlier, oboe, cor anglais
Bruno Girard, violin
Pascal Morrow, violin
Didier Petit, cello
Itaru Oki, trumpet, bugle
Jeff Beer, trumpet
Serge Adam, trumpet
Bernard Vitet, trumpet
Michael Zwerin, trombone
Doménico Criseo, trombone
Francois Cotinaud, tenor saxophone
Georges Gaumont, tenor saxophone
Arthur Doyle, tenor saxophone
Philippe Sellam, alto saxophone
Sébastien Franck, alto saxophone
Henri Grinberg, soprano saxophone
Antoine Mizrah, electric bass
Rosine Feferman, bass
Francis Gorge, guitar
Francois Leymarie, electric bass
Jacques Marugg, vibes, marimba, timbales
Adrien Bitan, vibes, marimba
Ron Pittner,drums
Bernard Drouillet, drums
Gilles Premel, percussion
Alan Silva, conductor
LP 1
1. Desert Mirage 20:06
2. A D N 08:20
3. After Coda 09:40
LP 2
1. February The Third (1st Part) 14:41
2. February The Third (2nd Part) 09:29
3. Procession 10:57
Recorded on June 25,26 & 27, 1982 at Aquarium Studio, Paris.
IACP 7004-5
Soloists on:
LP1
Tr.1 Jean Querlier - Aldridge Hansberry - Itaru Oki - Michael Zwerin
Tr.2 Philippe Sellam - Denis Colin - Jacques Marugg - Bruno Girard - Arthur Doyle - Bruno Girard - Georges Gaumont - Jeff Beer - Jean Querlier
Tr.3 Francois Cotinaud - Pierre Faure
LP2
Tr.1 Bruno Girard - Bernard Vitet - Georges Gaumont - Denis Colin - Sébastien Franck - Francois Cotinaud
Tr.2 Jean Querlier
Tr.3 Sébastien Franck - Arthur Doyle - Francis Gorge - Carl Schlosser - Bernard Vitet - Georges Gaumont - Denis Colin
ALAN SILVA CELESTRIAL COMMUNICATIONS ORCHESTRA "THE SHOUT" (SUN RECORDS, 1978)
ALAN SILVA CELESTRIAL COMMUNICATIONS ORCHESTRA "THE SHOUT"
(Portrait For A Small Woman)
Georges Menousek, alto saxophone
Georges Gaumont, soprano saxophone
Jo Maka, alto & soprano saxophone
Francois Cotinaud, tenor saxophone, oboe
Luc Le Masne, bass saxophone
Jouk Minor, baritone saxophone, contrabass clarinet
Denis Colin, bass clarinet, octocontra alto-clarinet
Robert Garrison, trumpet
Pierre Sauvageot, trumpet
Bernard Vitet, trumpet
Itaru Oki, trumpet
Adolf Winkler, trombone
Michael Zwerin, trombone
Pierre Faure, flute
Jacques Dolias, violin
Catherine Lienhardt, violin
Bruno Girard, violin
Helene Bass,cello
Pierre Jacquet, bass
Armand Assouline, percussion
Michel Coffi, drums
Muhammad Ali, drums
1. Golden Flower 10:14
2. The Shout 05:51
3. Le Voile Pastel 03:06
4. Ijo 06:33
5. Broadway 09:12
6. Communications 03:15
7. Stepping 02:05
Recorded at Studio Davout, Paris in November, 1978.
SUN RECORDS SEB 003
Soloists on:
Tr.1 Itaru Oki - Jo Maka - Francois Cotinaud - Bernard Vitet
Tr.2 Muhammad Ali
Tr.3 Jo Maka
Tr.4 Denis Colin - Luc Le Masne - Michael Zwerin
Tr.5 Jo Maka - Adolf Winkler
Tr.6 Jouk Minor
Tr.7 Itaru Oki
Note: Luc Le Masne is not listed in the line-up.
He most probably plays some kind of clarinet.
Update (25.08.2013) - Now I know that Le Masne did play bass saxophone and not clarinet.
See his comment below!
27 April 2014
CECIL TAYLOR "STUDENT STUDIES" (BYG, 1966)
This album was first released as an untitled 2LP set on the Japanese BYG label in 1973.
The first CD edition on Affinity was titled "Student Studies". Later Black Lion issued another CD edition entitled "The Great Paris Concert".
The original cover is included in the files...
...and I have added two pieces from (most probably) the same session - 40 minutes more from this excellent group.
Cecil Taylor, piano
Jimmy Lyons, alto saxophone
Alan Silva, bass
Andrew Cyrille, drums
1. Student Studies (Part 1) 16:00
2. Student Studies (Part 2) 11:00
3. Amplitude 19:44
4. Niggle Feuigle 12:06
5. A Bright Light (Lover And Love) 21:13
6. Over There 19:20
Recorded in Paris at Maison De L'ORTF, Salle 105 on November 30, 1966 (Broadcast 'ORTF').
Tracks 1-4 originally released on BYG YX4003/4004.
Source for the rip BLACK LION BLCD760201.
Tracks 5 + 6 not released in any form.
Note: tracks 5+6 possibly recorded on December 1, 1966 at the Grand Amphitheatre de la Faculte de Droit, Paris, France.
Note 2: track 5 also titled "Bread, Wine, Lover & Love".
Note 3: alternate album title "THE GREAT PARIS CONCERT".
17 April 2014
JEANNE LEE + GUNTHER HAMPEL + TTTT – IM STADTGARTEN KÖLN (MARA RECORDS)
1. Im Stadtgarten Köln
Frank Wollny, bass
Gunter Hampel, bass clarinet, vibraphone, flute
Butch Morris, cornet, amplified cornet, flute
A.R. Penck, drums
Alan Silva, keyboards
Jeanne Lee, vocals
Recorded at Stadtgarten Konzertsaal, Köln, Germany
Mara Records – 6012
CD Rip
6 January 2014
FRANÇOIS TUSQUES "INTERCOMMUNAL MUSIC" (Shandar lp sp 10 01) 1971, flac
Best
François Tusques, piano, guitar, maracas
Alan Shorter, trumpet
Steve Potts, alto saxophone
Alan Silva, cello
Beb Guerin, bass
Bob Reid, bass
Sunny Murray, drums
Louis Armfield, percussion
Intercommunal Music (24:40)
A1. Intercommunal Music 08:00
A2. Les Forces Progressistes 10:10
B1. Les Forces Réactionnaires 03:00
B2. La Bourgeoisie Périra Noyée Dans Les Eaux Glacées Du Calcul Égoïste 03:30
Intercommunal Music! (6:00)
B3. L'Impérialisme Est Un Tigre En Papier 06:00
Portrait D'Erika Huggins (8:04)
B4. Untitled 00:44
B5. Untitled 07:20
Recorded May 11, 1971 in Paris.
SHANDAR SR 10010
Note:
Track 1 (18:20) is A1 + A2;
Track 2 (12:36) is B1, B2 + B3;
Track 3 (8:31) is B4 + B5.
27 November 2013
RADIO JAZZ GROUP STUTTGART feat. SCHLIPPENBACH QUARTET "STUTTGART 1981"
Evan Parker, tenor & soprano saxophone
Alexander von Schlippenbach, piano
Wolfgang Dauner, piano
Alan Silva, bass
Paul Lovens, drums
1. Geflügel 1 (piano duo) 08:22
2. unknown title (Parker-Silva-Lovens) 08:52
3. unknown title 25:03
4. unknown title (fade-out) / announcement 04:43
Recorded at SWF Studio, Stuttgart, Germany on March, 3, 1981.
1 October 2013
BOBBY FEW – MORE OR LESS FEW (CENTER OF THE WORLD, 1973)
A1. More Or Less Few
A2. Few's Blues
A3. Simone
A4. I'll Never Be The Same Again
B. Chasing The Piano
Bobby Few, piano, melodica, voice
Alan Silva, bass
Muhammad Ali, drums
Center Of The World – CW 003
Vinyl Rip
25 April 2013
SCHLIPPENBACH QUARTETT "DAS HOHE LIED" (PO TORCH, 1981)
Some more bodyslammin'............. [;-)
SCHLIPPENBACH QUARTETT "DAS HOHE LIED"
Alexander von Schlippenbach, piano
Evan Parker, soprano and tenor saxophone
Alan Silva, double bass
Paul Lovens, selected drums and cymbals, singing saw, zither
LP 1 (Side A & B)
1. Let this mouth shower kisses on you 44:25
LP 2
1. Blow on my garden and press out the spice 21:17
2. Who can this be advancing from the desert? 25:01
Recorded at the Quartier Latin, Berlin on 6th and 8th November, 1981.
PO TORCH PTR/JWD 16/17
(lp rip)
.
20 March 2013
Jacques Bisceglia, 1940-2013
![]() |
Black & White Fantasy |
![]() |
alan silva & françois tusques - paris, 1969 |
![]() |
don cherry - paris, 1968 |
![]() |
anthony braxton & barbara bisceglia - paris, 1971 |
![]() |
beb guérin - paris, 1970 |
![]() |
june tyson, richard wilkinson, marshall royal, eloe omoe, sun ra - between paris and donaueschingen, 1970 |
![]() |
sonny simmons, barbara donald & son - san francisco, 1971 |
![]() |
peter gannushkin - peter brötzmann & jacques bisceglia - new york, 2009 |
6 February 2013
Burton Greene-Alan Silva-Sunny Murray-Firmanence 1979
Here's another superb piano trio, the beautiful Firmanence , on the Elusive, Fore (Rare tone,Music library) label , an independent Italian label , that briefly flourished between 1980 and 1982, with a handful of releases ranging from Bill Dixon's Considerations , posted here a few years ago , to Scelsi string quartets, and a couple of albums by Alvin Curran.
A reunion of old friends , all Had previously played and performed together in the mid to late 60's,
its a subtle, restrained largely spacious , session consisting of one free improvisation, 3 tunes by Greene ,and one by Silva..
All in all , a spirited generous record by three venerable free jazz,21st Century Masters!
still out of print , and sadly unlikely to be reissued , who knows ?one can only hope for a deluxe complete edition!
Firmanence-
Fore (2), (Rare Tone Music library) published 1980, recorded 1979
A1 Introduction-Encounter
Composed By – Silva*, Greene*, Murray*
A2 Firmanence
Composed By – Greene*
A3 Sunny Monk
Composed By – Greene*
B1 Any Resemblance Between A Double Aquarian Mother And Planet Earth Is Purely Coincidental
Composed By – Silva*
B2 Mints Are Fo(u)r Moon People
Composed By – Greene*
Burton Greene -Piano, Piano ,Prepared, Percussion, Voice
Alan Silva -Bass, Vibraphone, Percussion, Voice
Sunny Murray -Drums, Percussion
BTW , all three are still vigorously productive , and have numerous Cds and Lp's currently In print
some recommendations , here , here, and here
please support them!
ENJOY!
13 November 2012
TTT (TRIPLE TRIP TOUCH) "LIVE IN WEIMAR 1998" (TTT, 1998)
.... *++* #''''' ,.,.$"§$§"!))! - dig?! However - Sotise has certainly hit the spot - IMHO.
....a somewhat shaky session - at least soundwise. Not that the sound of the recording is bad - but the spatial arrangement seems (deliberately?) a bit `*+&!%/&!/
Wether this is already a fetish I can't say - but I like the music...although it is NOT my favourite one - at all!
As always - decide for yourself....leave a trace.
TTT (TRIPLE TRIP TOUCH) "LIVE IN WEIMAR 1998"
Manfred Schoof, trumpet
Kidd Jordan, tenor saxophone
Gerd Dudek, tenor & soprano saxophone
Jesus Caneloni, tenor saxophone
Markus Lüpertz, piano
Peter Kühnel, guitar
Frank Wollny, bass, drums
Alan Silva, bass, keyboards
Louis Moholo, drums
Side A:
1. Free Jazz - Part 1 (13:13)
2. Free jazz - Part 2 (13:59)
Side B:
3. Free Jazz - Part 3 (05:48)
Recorded in Weimar, Germany in 1998.
TTT 37
.