REVOLUTIONARY ENSEMBLE "KÖLN, 1977"

 

Leroy Jenkins, violin
Sirone, double bass, trombone
Jerome Cooper, drums, piano, balaphon


1. unknown title  11:36
2. unknown title  11:08
3. unknown title   9:03
4. unknown title  19:58


Recorded at Kino Lupe, Köln on September 2, 1977

Revolutionary Ensemble - Live in Genoa '05

This is a "special" post for two reasons : it's n°600 from the beginning
of I.S. and, most of all, this is the recording that documents the last live
performance of the legendary Revolutionary Ensemble.
Exactly six months after the Warsaw performance documented by the
Mutable Music's record "Beyond the Boundary of Time", the Three were
invited to Genoa for a single concert : here is the report of that historical
evening. In the folders you'll find also some photos taken at the concert.

Rec. live at "Teatro Gustavo Modena", Genoa, Italy,
on November 25, 2005 (mix recording)

Leroy Jenkins,violin
Norris Jones "Sirone",bass
Jerome Cooper,drums,keyboards,ballaphone,wood flute

1. Value Forfillment [Sirone] (11:20)
2. Configuration [Sirone] (06:54)
3. Pick [J.Cooper] (16:14)
4. Rumi Tales [L.Jenkins] (06:57)
5. Berlin Erfarhung [Sirone] (06:36)
6. Usami [L.Jenkins] (06:51)
7. Improvisation [Revolutionary Ensemble] (05:11)

Total Time 1:00:04

Equal Interest live at Yoshi's, Oakland, California

Equal Interest

Yoshi's

Oakland CA

June 19, 1999 (late show)

1 intro
2
3
4
5
6

total time: 77:35

Joseph Jarman - winds (alto sax, bass flute, flute, shawm), percussion
Leroy Jenkins - violin
Myra Melford - piano, harmonium

acoustic performance (no PA amplifiction used)


Some more Joseph Jarman coming up. This is a trio setting, wholly acoustic, without any backup from bass and regular drums, except the occasional percussion. Leroy Jenkins is a veteran of the AACM, notably for his long engagement with the Revolutionary Ensemble. Myra Melford is a pianist with a diverse background in classical music as well as jazz and blues and as can be heard from this performance, went to India and learnt to play the harmonium.

Together they weave a tapestry of chambre-like intimacy naeatly summarised in this review: The through-composed nature of much of the material along with the spare instrumentation contributes to a delicate chamber-like feel, but it’s balanced by an unusual, folksy strain of tranquillity; equally beautiful, hearty and fragile, all at once. See https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/equal-interest-equal-interest.

We'll have some more from this ensemble later on.

And then there was none ...

With the passing away of Jerome Cooper on 6 May this year, the Revolutionary Ensemble has taken their revolution to the spiritual realm. Leroy Jenkins died in 2007 and Sirone in 2009, both of whom have been featured on this blog before as well as the Ensemble in full. The Revolutionary Ensemble started up in the 1970s, mostly playing the loft and club circuit in New York, disbanded in 1977 and came together in the new millennium to make a couple of albums before it was all over.

With a basic lineup of violin, bass and percussion, the group developed a chamber-like sound, less rowdy perhaps than their free jazz compatriots at the time, yet, still distinctely anchored in free improvisation.

The three sets featured here were recorded at the Tin Palace, located on the Bowery, close to CBGBs, and one of the few places offering performance space for this type of music. It eventually folded in the late 70s, but there are fond memories attached to the place to judge from accounts found on the web.

Revolutionary Ensemble
January 14 1977
Tin Palace
NY, NY

master audience cassette > cdr (transferred by orchiddoctor)
cdr > eac(secure mode) > peak pro 5.2(adjust volume, trim wave files) > flac(level 6) (tracked/edited by carville, no noise reduction)

total time 2:24:58

1st set 54:29
1 19:12
2 14:43
3 7:08
4 13:25 (tape flip @ 5:01)

2nd set 59:09
1 14:25
2 30:30 (tape flip @ 27:10)
3 14:13

3rd set 31:19
1 7:32
2 11:09
3 12:35

This is another recording done by "orchiddoctor" and edited and uploaded by "carville", so thanks to them for keeping history alive. To quote orchiddoctor's notes:

"The Revolutionary Ensemble. What can I say? Rare performances (among the last) by an underappreciated group that just couldn't get work. These two nights were the only times I saw them. I did do a photo shoot of Jerome Cooper a year later at his practice space in the meat packing district, and I saw him with Roscoe Mitchell at the Wildflowers set; but I don't recall seeing any of these guys again. Certainly not as a unit. Just for flavor, during the quiet moments--especially Leroy's solos--you can hear the cash register at the Tin Palace going ca-ching. I miss that sound! The Palace is now a vacant, ugly mess, haunted by the ghosts of great musicians. R.I.P. Mr Jenkins and Sirone."

And Mr. Cooper.

Leroy Jenkins With The New Chamber Jazz Quintet (Geodesic 2010)

Beneath Detroit. The Creative Arts Collective Concert At The Detroit Institute Of Arts, 1979-92
Leroy Jenkins With The New Chamber Jazz Quintet

Incredibly already forgotten.
Geodesic has released only three albums, from what I know, all in 2010. Other were scheduled but never released.

Leroy Jenkins - Violin, Vocals
A.Spencer Barenfield - Guitars, African Harp, Vocals
Tani Tabbal - Drums, Percussion, Balafon, Vocals
Faruq Z. Bey - Tenor Sax, Vocals
Anthony Holland - Alto and Soprano Sax, Vocals
Jaribu Shahid - Bass, Vocals, Wash-tub Bass

CD 1
1. Through the ages Jehovah
2. For players only
3. Butter
4. Grab the fab

CD 2
1. No banks river
2. Collegno
3. A girl named rainbow
4. Finale from score for O

Recorded 1981
all compositions by Leroy Jenkons exept 'A girl named rainbow' by Ornette Coleman

Geodesic 02, CD
released 2010

THE REVOLUTIONARY ENSEMBLE ‎– THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC (HORIZON RECORDS & TAPES, 1976)

A1. New York
A2. Trio For Trio
A3. Chinese Rock

B1. The People's Republic
B2. Ponderous Planets


Sirone, bass, large gong, vocals, bells, shaker, wood block, trombone
Leroy Jenkins, violin, viola, small gong, claves, thumb piano, recorder
Jerome Cooper, drums, bugle, piano, vocals, balafon, temple block, wood block, gong, bells, arco saw, cymbals

Recorded 4-6 December 1975 at Kendun Recorders, Burbank, CA.

Horizon Records & Tapes ‎– SP-708

Vinyl Rip

KARL BERGER / WOODSTOCK WORKSHOP ORCHESTRA ‎– LIVE AT THE DONAUESCHINGEN MUSIC FESTIVAL (MPS RECORDS, 1980)

For Paul and Norm: this time, with a Cherry on top.

A1. Open Time
A2. The Smile That You Send Out Returns To You
A3. Collective Talks

B1. New Moon
B2. Zeynebim - A Turkish Folk Dance


Terry Sines, bass
Janet Grice, bassoon
Tom Cora, cello
Peter Apfelbaum, drums, baritone saxophone
Ingrid Berger, vocals, percussion
Karl Berger, vibraphone, piano
Savia Berger, flute
Susan Veglia, French horn
Mark Ralston, oboe, English horn
Lee Konitz, alto saxophone
Don Davis, alto saxophone, flute, clarinet
Oliver Lake, alto and soprano saxophone, flute
Trilok Gurtu, tabla, congas, drums
James Harvey, trombone
Leroy Jenkins, violin
Michael Lytle, clarinet
George Lewis, trombone
Don Cherry, pocket trumpet, bamboo flute
Tom Collins, tenor and soprano saxophone


Recorded live at the Donaueschingen Contemporary Music Festival on October 1979 in collaboration with Sudwestfunk Baden-Baden and MPS Records Villingen/West Germany.

MPS Records ‎– 0068.250

Vinyl Rip

KARL BERGER / WOODSTOCK WORKSHOP ORCHESTRA ‎– NEW MOON (PALCOSCENICO, 1980)

A1. New Moon
A2. Zeinebim
A3. Collective Talks

B1. Smile
B2. Open Time



Terry Sines, bass
Janet Grice, bassoon
Tom Cora, cello
Peter Apfelbaum, drums, bass saxophone
Eva Berger, vocals
Ingrid Berger, vocals, percussion
Karl Berger, vibraphone, piano, percussion
Savia Berger, flute
Susan Veglia, French horn
Mark Ralston, oboe
Lee Konitz, alto saxophone
Don Davis, alto saxophone, flute, clarinet
Oliver Lake, tenor saxophone, flute
Trilok Gurtu, tabla, percussion, drums
James Harvey, trombone
Leroy Jenkins, violin


Recorded live at CIAK, Milano, Italy 11/7/79.

Palcoscenico ‎– PAL 15007

Vinyl Rip

ABDUL WADUD, LEROY JENKINS ‎– STRAIGHT AHEAD / FREE AT LAST (RED RECORD, 1979)

For Seqenenre Tao and Andy


A. Straight Ahead
B. Free At Last



Abdul Wadud, cello
Leroy Jenkins, violin


Recorded live in September, 1979, Cremona, Italy

Red Record ‎– VPA 147

Vinyl Rip

MTUME UMOJA ENSEMBLE "LAND OF THE BLACKS" (STRATA-EAST, 1971)

I know it was posted in blog-land already twice but for my money this recording deserves a "flac".
The cover has an already worn out look though the LPs were in fine condition.
Enjoy.



"Live At The East":


Mtume, congas, tonette horn
Carlos Garnett, tenor saxophone & flute
Gary Bartz, alto & soprano saxophone
Leroy Jenkins, violin
Stanley Cowell, piano
Buster Williams, bass
Ndugu, drums
Bily Hart, drums
Andy Bey, vocals
Joe Lee Wilson, vocals
Eddie Micheaux, vocals
Yusef Iman, poetry
Weusi Kuumba, poetry

LP1
1. Invocation [by Mtume] 04:17
2. Baba Hengates 17:54
3. Utamu 10:09
4. Saud 10:47

LP2
1. Alkebu-Lan 16:36
2. No Words 08:46
3. Seperate Not Equal 07:22
4. Sifa (The Prayer) 14:56
5. (no reference) 01:26

Recorded: August 21st, 1971 at The East, Brooklyn, NY

STRATA-EAST SES-1972-4


(Note: On track 5 (LP2) James Mtume is introducing the band members to the audience)

Leroy Jenkins Trio - Live in Florence '79

A wonderful concert : strongly recommended!

Rec. live in Florence, Italy, on July 3, 1979
(mix recording)

Leroy Jenkins,violin
Anthony Davis,piano
Andrew Cyrille,drums

1. Track #1 (12:52)
2. Track #2 (25:08)
3. Track #3 (12:35)
4. Track #4 (09:53)
5. Track #5 (08:56)
6. Track #6 (05:41)
7. Track #7 (11:50)

Total Time 1:26:58

Leroy Jenkins - Live in Florence '79

Another short recording by a late Master.

Rec. Live in Florence, Italy, on July 2nd, 1979
(mics recording)

Leroy Jenkins,violin & viola

1. Unknown (05:28)
2. Hipnosis (05:02)
3. Unknown (06:21)
4. Festival Finale (05:45)
5. Unknown (04:28)
6. Folk Song (04:02)

Total Time 31:06

Leroy Jenkins - Solo Concert (India Navigation, 1977)

Here's the great Leroy Jenkins solo concert from 1977, again courtesy of Iain.
who says 'this is a very beautiful concert..I'm happy to be able to share it'

Jenkins here weaves a dense tissue of free improvisation interpolated with rustic folk forms,quotes from hymns and the blues.. cascading ripples of plangent scrapping creaky euphoria.
it features a very simple, lyrical rendition of Billy Strayhorn's lush life..one of the best
an awe inspiring concert from the late under recorded and appreciated master, long overdue for a carefully remastered reissue.
enjoy!!

recorded at Washington square church N.Y.C, on January 11 1977
tracks
side a)
1. Improvisation
2. Why am i here
3. Opus
side b)
4. Lush life
5. Keep on trucking brother
6. Nobody knows the trouble i've seen

Leroy Jenkins -violin

Creative Construction Company -vol 1(muse lp, mr 5071)

Here's vol 1 ..of this classic concert ...flac only, mp3's are available at the 'nine sisters' blog(see links)

side A-
Muhal part 1
side B
Muhal part 2

personnel as per vol 2..see below
enjoy!!

Creative Construction Company-vol 2(muse lp 5097)

This is for the people requesting it at the 'nine sisters' blog... many thanks to them for the gems they've shared.
The 2nd part of a magnificent concert recorded at the 'peace church' Washington square N.Y.C. on may 19 1970.
the recording was supervised by Ornette Coleman, not released though until some 6 years later.

for me this(and vol 1) is a significant milestone in being the most fully realised document of what Braxton ,Jenkins and Smith were on about at this early stage of their careers.
much better recorded than the earlier lp's recorded in Paris for Byg, this concert is one of the gems of the AACM collective discography.
so its a real surprise that this hasn't been reissued more widely, and that it remains so little heard.

beautiful ...
hope you enjoy it...
see the comments for both lame and flac links, I'll be posting the flacs only ,for volume 1 later tonight.
mp3's for volume 1 are at 'nine sisters' linked on the front page.

CCC vol 2
side A- Muhal part 1
side b- Muhal part 2

Leroy Jenkins-violin, viola little instruments
Anthony Braxton-reeds, percussion
Leo Smith-tpt ,fl hrn, french hrn, perc
Muhal Richard Abrahms-pno, cello , clarinet
Richard Davis-db
Steve Macall-dr

The Revolutionary Ensemble "The People's Republic" (1975, Horizon SP-708)

To complement Sotise's post of "Manhattan Cycles", here's another one of the five Revolutionary Ensemble records. Note that the other Revolutionary Ensemble 1975 record originally issued on the group's own RE: label as "The Psyche" has been recently transfered to CD format by Mutable Music.

If interested, don't forget to take a look at the documentation post for a link to an audio interview with Leroy Jenkins & Marilyn Crispell also containing music. The post has also been updated with scans of William Parker, Trevor Watts & Peter Kowald interviews.

Short on time again so please excuse the lenght of my post !

Enjoy,
Pierre

the Revolutionary Ensemble- manhattan cycles 1972 (india navigation lp 1023) lame and flac

heres an old favourite , and a tasty follow up to recent Braxton postings.
I don’t think this has been reissued on cd , it was reissued on innercity in 1978,.
Sadly very few of their albums are available at present.

This is one long continuous piece recorded live in concert on December 31st 1972 (the record cover does not specify where.

This even features an early example of the turntable as instrument, billie holiday’s low moan being clearly audible , though seeming to emerge out of a fog..and becoming less and less audible as the piece progresses.
This was the first release on India navigation.. and it’s a beauty.


Hope you enjoy it.
Flacs will be added , later tonight or tomorrow if they are required.


Manhattan cycles – India nav lp 1023

1 piece manhattan cycles- composed by leo smith
side a) 23’
side b) 18’

leroy jenkins, sirone, jerome cooper

truncated lp cover scans included

enjoy!!