From: jgthomas@crchh420.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (John Thomas)
Newsgroups: rec.music.bluenote
Subject: Re: Penguin Guide: Short Review & 5 Star Recordings
Date: 26 Jan 93 18:56:30 GMT
Reply-To: John Thomas <jgthomas@bnr.ca>
Organization: BNR, Inc.

In article <1k1a6dINNmnt@hpfcbig.sde.hp.com>, mjs@fc.hp.com (Marc Sabatella) writes:
|> : Andrew Hill, Point of Departure
|> : Bobby Hutcherson, Dialog
|> 
|> I think these two are the same album.  At least, every time I grab one to put
|> on, I'm always expecting it to be the other :-)  They are also both arguably
|> Dolphy's "Out To Lunch".  So I guess it doesn't surprise me to see all three
|> get 5's, although I would have given them only 3-4.
|> 
|> All on all, I find their choices, well, weird.  You'd kind of expect a short
|> list of 5-star recordings to look more like a set of "essential" and/or
|> "historic" recordings.  I'd almost expect them to do a "top down" analysis -
|> agree on the 20 (or however many there were) best recordings, give them 5
|> stars, then maybe go back and individually rate the others.
|> 

Well, I just got my copy the other night and yes, their choices are
kind of weird for this type of buyer's guide but I would say more
accurately it is heavily biased. 

As you read the text below the star ratings for each entry, you can
readily see the European bias in preference for players, instrumental coloring,
etc. that is also prevalent in the UK magazine The Wire that the authors
were (are) associated with.  Not that this is a bad thing, as it is
revealing (to me anyway) for new outlooks on old favorites as well
as rejuvenating interest in records I had initially dismissed.
After all both authors are from the UK... 

I also agree with the post that The Penguin is a better reference tool
than the RSRG (Rolling Stone Record Guide, which also uses "star"
ratings) for the simple fact that the reviews have been limited to
two people instead of the myriad in the RSRG.  In fact, I think
the RSRG almost is at the opposite pole in terms of star ratings
in that it is too generous -- their highest rating is five stars as well
and indicates to them "an essential recording to any serious, comprehensive
collection" or something like that (kind of like Penguin's four star 
rating) but anyways, one example that comes to mind from the RSRG
is the 5 star rating for Jack DeJohnette's ALBUM ALBUM which I found
rather pedestrian even with David Murray on board.

Yet, how can The Penguin rate the live Village Vanguard recording
on Impulse! for Albert Ayler OVER the Freedom recordings (VIBRATIONS,
WITCHES & DEVILS) and the Coppens HILVERSUM SESSION?  Again, the
Impulse title definitely shows a more European stamp with the
ensemble consisting of mostly strings (violin, cello, bass).
Although I like the VV album a lot, I just don't see how one can
rate this one over the albums with the transcendent trio of
Sunny Murray, Gary Peacock, and Ayler.

Another example would be the preference for Coltrane's Major Works
(largely due to the presence of both takes of ASCENSION) over
Ornette's FREE JAZZ.  Looking at the text for both of those,
the authors claim ASCENSION is more rooted in collective improvisation
(and thus early jazz) than FREE JAZZ which they find rather 
mechanical in its free treatment of the theme and solos approach. 
During this discussion the point is also made that since European
jazz is more oriented towards collective improv, ASCENSION and
the Euro style have an affinity for one another.

Whatever the biases, this really is a great book and invaluable 
in reviewing recordings normally overlooked by this kind of guide.