From: smehta@kwela.nynexst.com (Sandeep Mehta)
Subject: Re: rara avis/random thoughts: evan parker & john stevens
Reply-To: smehta@nynexst.com
Organization: Speech Technology, AI Lab, NYNEX S&T Inc, White Plains, NY
Date: 6 Nov 92 17:42:59


> anton@HQ.Ileaf.COM (steve norton) writes:

> _The Longest Night, vol 1_

> John Stevens (drums) and Evan Parker (sop sax) (1976, Ogun Records)
> 
> now i'm finding it featureless and enjoyable.  it was recorded on the
> longest night of 1976, (must have been june 21 or thereabouts), and

Actually, it has to be December in the Northern hemisphere but
anyway... ;-)

> Stevens doesn't do much for me here: he has an interesting style and
> sound concept, kinda skittery and quiet but dense, but he sort of does
> the same thing all the time.  on one cut he switches to cornet which
> makes for nice contrast.  Parker's playing is sparse, moreso than
> typical, and comes in small bursts of notes and sounds; it makes for a
> lot of detail, although not alot in the way of larger shape.  so the
> album as a whole not very memorable in the way that large shapes make
> something memorable, but texturally i really enjoy it.  not a great
> Parker record, i think, but nice to have on in the office...  (keeps
> the suits and other rationalists away!)

I think that sums it up accurately though I might be a bit kinder
because I saw John Stevens the day before I picked up LONGEST NIGHT
Vol. 2. :-) He was playing w/ a very Blue Notes' style group (most of
them young kids). They played a long set largely a tribute to Dudu
Pukwana (whose name sounds kinda funny pronounced in a Cockney drawl
:-)) Stevens' "skittery" and "dense" style is, to me, not entirely
unusual but what I found remarkable in that live set was his
consistency and sheer stamina (esp. at his age and with his chain
smoking). He often set up a dense but steady barrage which his
pianist and trumpet player worked against. The pianist was playing
almost groovy melodic lines in the Chris McGregor vein which were a
lot of fun. They did get a bit boring after over an hour.

Vol. 2 is much like your description of Vol. 1 though I recall Parker
stretching out a bit more in an overall sense. Not my favorite Parker
album either. The prize from that vinyl binge goes to the
Schlippenbach/Parker/Lovens trio live in Pisa on the PO Torch label.

A more interesting Stevens album, albeit in a very different vein, is
INTEGRATION. It has a rock edge to it which is somewhat interesting
on side 1 where the 2 guitars dominate and the longer piece is
basically a loose open-ended jam. Side 2 retains the edge but has the
sax player stepping in and trying to lead the overall sound into more
adventurous terrain. Worth the $5 I paid for it.

Stevens, John                                                      Red 009 (LP)
Title: Integration                                                             
Recorded: 2/25/1978 at The Plough, Stockwell, London                           
Released: 1980
With: John Stevens (leader), drums                                             
      Nick Stephens, bass                                                      
      Robert Calvert, saxophones                                               
      Nigel Moyse, guitar                                                      
      Martin Holder, guitar                                                    
Contents: 1) Relative Space                                            ( 00:00)
          2) Anni                                                      ( 00:00)
          3) Integration                                               ( 00:00)
          4) Ah!                                                       ( 00:00)
          5) Home                                                      ( 00:00)
          6) What's That - inspired by Mongezi Feza                    ( 00:00)
Purchased: 10/1992
Comments: Prod John Stevens                                                    

/sandeep
--
smehta@nynexst.com
--
        "This space of time is organized. We need not fear these
	 silences, -- we may love them." -- John Cage, Silences, 1961.