WNUR Jazz Report, 1/20/97

Reports compiled by:

Seth Tisue, Jazz Music Director
jazz-md@wnur.org
(847) 491-7102
Evanston, IL

NEWS

Isotope is a new group that represents a meeting of the creative jazz and rock scenes in Chicago. It includes Rob Mazurek and Jeff Parker of the Chicago Underground Orchestra, Dan Bitney and John Herndon of Tortoise, and others. They perform live on WNUR on Saturday, January 25th between 2 and 5 pm (also performing during that time: Dianogah). Tune in!
The interview with tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin that we broadcast in April has been transcribed and is now available on the JazzWeb through http://www.wnur.org/jazz/artists/eskelin.ellery/. In the interview, he discusses the genesis of his trio with Andrea Parkins and Jim Black, growing up in a musical family in Baltimore, and more. The page also contains a link to Eskelin's own web site.
Our March interview with Gerry Hemingway is now also available, through http://www.wnur.org/jazz/artists/hemingway.gerry/. The interview was conducted before a solo percussion concert in Chicago and concentrates on the genesis of his solo works.

These are the top 25 releases based on collective airplay by our 20-odd jazz DJ's for the week ending January 18, 1997.

* denotes reissue, @ denotes not real new.

Hamid Drake & Michael Zerang: Ask the Sun (OkkaDisk)
Mario Schiano: Social Security (Victo)
Gerry Hemingway Quintet: Perfect World (Random Acoustics)
Sam Rivers: Concept (Rivbea)
Dexter Gordon*: Plays the Blues (Prestige)
John Carter & Bobby Bradford: Tandem 2 (Emanem)
Agasul Orchester: No Turning Back (Unit)
Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls: Rebel Roots (Naim)
Matthew Shipp Duo: With Roscoe Mitchell (2.13.61)
Myra Melford: The Same River, Twice (Gramavision)
Masada: Zayin (Seven) (DIW)
Kirk Lightsey Trio: Goodbye Mr. Evans (Evidence)
Coleman Hawkins*: Plays the Blues (Prestige)
Northwoods Improvisers: Spinning (Arc)
Erik Friedlander@: The Watchman (Tzadik)
Vincent Chancey: Next Mode (DIW)
Ornette Coleman*: Body Meta (Harmolodic)
Paul Bley Trio: Modern Chant (MusicMasters)
Ivo Perelman: Cama de Terra (Homestead)
Evan Parker & Sainkho Namtchylak: Mars Song (Victo)
Roger Smith: Unexpected Turns (Emanem)
Don Byron: Bug Music (Nonesuch)
Fredrick Lonberg-Holm: Personal Scratch (Eighth Day)
Betsuni Nanmo Klezmer: Waltz (Nani)
James P. Johnson*: The Original James P. Johnson, 1942-1945 (Smithsonian Folkways)