Cellist Tom Cora was a fixture in the NYC downtown scene, and a member of Curlew and Skeleton Crew, among many other projects. Probably best known is his collaboration with The Ex on their two excellent albums Scrabbling at the Lock and And The Weathermen Shrug Their Shoulders. His cello sound spanned a wide range from relatively traditional melodic folk-influenced playing to cat-in-a-blender sounds and spaced-out weirdness. Sadly, he died way too early in 1998.
Saxophonist Kazutoki Umezu first gained international recognition in the 80s, touring and recording with the Doctor Umezu Band, which led to collaborations with John Zorn and friends. Apart from many jazz and avant-garde projects, he is the founder of the first (and to my knowledge only) Japanese Klezmer big band Betsuni Nanmo Klezmer (featuring Makigami Koichi's Yiddish throat singing). He has also collaborated with Fanfare Ciocarlia, B.B. King, and Ian Dury, among others. Am I allowed to say "eclectic"?
In 1988 the Japanese Umisushi (or Umiushi) Records label released "Abandon" (or "Abandon All Improvisation", the details are a bit sketchy), a duo concert of these two outstanding improvisers, recorded live at Roulette in New York in October 1987. This is a true rarity, impossible to find and not listed in most discographies. Enjoy the music, all you friends of free improvisation and prepared cello.
MP3s:
First Act: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Second Act: Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
Highly recommend the european 2003 Ex documentary Beautiful Frenzy, there's some ample footage of the Cora shows, just incredible to watch him play. Thanks for posting these Lukas, we have a few Umezu recordings here but the ones with Tom are really the best I've heard.
Posted by: Brian Turner | August 26, 2007 at 10:44 PM
Tx tx tx
I had a part of that; I only knew his work with the Ex. All this is on an old tape somewhere..
Back in my Kniting Factory listening days
As it's blogday U're linked
Posted by: SdC | August 30, 2007 at 07:49 PM
Big fan of Tom Cora's ever since hearing 'State of Shock' with The Ex on CIUT... After that, it was a mad search (pre-internet, even) to find anything with his name on it. The man was the best there ever will be.
RIP.
Posted by: Matt | September 17, 2007 at 02:55 PM