Improvijazzation Nation, issue # 14

Proudly brought to yew’ by ZZAJ Productions & Dancing Bear Audio Research (DBAR)

Improvijazzation Nation™

Fourteenth Edition, Fall 1994

Dick Metcalf,

$2.25, HQ, 19th TAACOM, Unit 15015, PO BX 2879 APO 96218-0171, USA

*HIGHLIGHTS* in this issue:

E-mail cc’s AVAILABLE!!

Don Campau INTERVIEW

Some Young Earhose

NEW poets, GALORE!

RADIO station CONTACTS!

Scary Tweezers

& much MUCH more!!!!!

“MAJOR CHANGES”

Fer’ th’ observant among yew, the slight mod in the header will have yer’ scratchin’ th’ ol’ noggin a bit, mayhaps!

Any/all changes that ARE made (other’n those that are VISIBLY obvious) will BE announced – WELL in advance!

For right NOW, th’ deal izzat I want to get a little more CONSISTENT in print quality & I just couldn’t DO that without a bit o’ help from someone back HOME! Made an overture to our friend Wes Jensen, of DBAR, who agreed to get th’ xeroxing done back THERE, & do the mailouts (& our collective HAT is OFF ter’ him)! We will be messing around with the print formats a bit, but you won’t see any of that if we’re not BOTH satisfied that it ENHANCES the image of the publication. IF we find somethin’ that REALLY turnz us on, then we WILL do a bit o’ switchin – but th’ basics – NO ads, NO (glossy) hype & RAW unadulterated news/reviews of improv & D.I.Y – will NOT change.

Believe it or NOT, this SHOULD make distribution even MORE timely, too! YOU tell US wotcha’ think, as it occurs, OK?

Already announced on the INTERNET that one BIG change is already HAPPENING… ANY contributor who is reviewed in the ‘zine WILL be able to get a FREE copy of the WHOLE ‘zine (less grafix, o’ course) by simply providing me an INTERNET e-mail address… PRODIGY, COMPUSERVE, AOL, wotever. It doesn’t MATTER! No “discrimination” involved here, simply a matter of economics, ok?

Even if YOU don’t have direct access, you can STILL take advantage of the offer, by asking yer’ local friendly nerd to pull the text down FOR you & spit it out to print (just gimme’ THEIR e-mail address, AFTER you’ve CLEARED it with THEM, ok?)

This new policy applies to CONTRIBUTORS only. I WON’T respond to a rash of requests for FREE copies, becoz it’s accessible via e-mail. This is ONLY a means to get those who actively INPUT to th’ ‘zine something for their time & effort.

Besides, if yer’ don’t get a PAPER copy, you’ll miss all of the new GRAFIK adventures I plan to start puttin’ in here, right?

Borgia Popes: JACK – So Zzaj’s sittin’ ‘ere thinkin’ – how’m I gonna’ start this issue off witha’ KICKA’? Well, leave it ter’ Kenyata Sullivan ter’ take GOOD care o’ “I.N.” readers… THIS rockin’ gemstone (as in diamond inna’ RUFF) rolls in thru’ th’ mailslot at HIS introduction. SCORCHIN’ gitarz’ transportin’ yer’ to new highs… getcher’ BLOOD movin’, people. The presskit reviews make sum comparisons ter’ “Floyd” (not all THAT far off th’ mark – on a coupla’ toonz at least)… but, I’m ALWAYS more interested in ORIGINAL sound/energy than comparisons to whatz gone down before. Yeh’, there’s a chopper sound that just might bring yer’ back to visions o’ th’ “Wall” – but these volkz from Cincy (just ‘cross th’ river, in Kentucky, actually) have their OWN carpet for you to ride. D.I.Y. (that’s “do it yo’se’f”, fer’ those who DUNNO’ yet) is alive & WELL – even in WKRP-land (or whomever’s replaced ’em). Yah, yer’ right – this AIN’T barebones improv sketchery… but it IS raw, it IS aLIVE & it IS absolutely smashing the ‘walls’ o’ th’ ’90’s DOWN – whether they be’s in Cincy or Berlin! Fer’ a bloodpump yer’ not likely to ferget too soon (this AIN’T no 6-minit wonder), CONTACT (as in VERY highly RECOMMENDED), Rachel Darc, POB 243, Highland Heights, KY 41076 Rotcod Zzaj

W. Wright/D. Sellers/D. Cook: LLAMA – Here are some VERY ambient sounding pieces from one of MY favorite wander-improv ensembles. The vox that Debi Sellers offers up on side one are spooky & mysterious, in a sort of “live” vocal loop manner. There are no kickbutt jumpz into cometary regions here, more like a L-O-N-G journey AROUND the sun, complete orbit, beyond the furthest planetary orb! You NEED to sit back & relax when you’re listening to such, as you’ll miss the nuances if you don’t! There’s no DOUBT that it fits the ticket as an improv session, as Walter’s excursions often DO. CONTACT at 911 E. Main St., Indianapolis, IN 46220-1714 RECOMMENDED! Rotcod Zzaj

Bon: FULL CIRCLE/COMING HOME – I honestly dunno’ ferzure where alla’ these BEAUTIFUL pieces of work are coming from -but this CD from LoLo Records is a MASTER piece… the presskit included a listing of “to-be” released recordings from LoLo that starts in April of ’94 (THIS one) and runs up through October. If “Steel Blue”, “Project Lo” or “Gong” are anywhere NEAR as satisfying to the musical palate as “Full Circle” is, you won’t WANT to miss it. Bon’s guitar/synth work is the highlight (probably makes REAL sense, as he composed these toonz… the flyer describes the pieces as all-encompassing from “progressive” through “jazz/rock”, & I imagine that’s to avoid reviewers trying to “lump” it in to a pigeonhole! Simply NO way to do that; snatches of Beck in here, but then I’m reminded in other sections of Doug Michael and many other improvisors (even hear some sweet reminders of Carlos – as in Santana) who know right where YOU want to go in YOUR musical adventures… this is all supremely complimented by Hansford Rowe’s fretted/unfretted bass work and Vic Stevens’ snazzy clean drums! The “feel” of most of the pieces is in a sort of “jazzy blues” zone – but, with distinctive character that can NOT be denied! I absolutely LOVED this CD & WILL be in touch with LoLo for ALL of the up&coming releases. This one gets the “polished jazz improv” PICK for issue # 14… I can’t recommend this one HIGHLY enough… contact LoLo at POB 122, Riverton NJ 08077 – or FAX them (right NOW) at (609)829-8421 DO IT! You will NOT regret it! Just LOVELY, people! p.s. also contact via e-mail at bonlo@delphi.com Rotcod Zzaj

Rift: BACKWHEN – This lil’ group is ‘nother SCORCHER that includes our D-BAR co-editor, Wes Jensen (on drums, synth/sampler & percz), Bill Yale (synth, tapes) and Santos Menendez (synth & tapes, too); very random pieces of radioloop thingery mesh in a rather jangling collage. I think that’s why I enjoy listening to just ’bout ennythang Wes associates himself with – he’s not AFRAID… to try out NEW meanderings. DEFINITELY in the improv vein, more hi-tech than, say, Chip Handy (who is an improv entity unto HIMSELF, people – see previous issues of “I.N.”)… the music is NOT held hostage to th’ loopery, & the LIVE aspects of the drum/synth work come thru SO clearly. This IS important, becoz’ there are MANY of these radiothangs that (basically) wind up suckin’ BUTTERMILK – in my mind that’s usually becoz’ they didn’t know HOW to play & tried to use th’ mix to COVER that! NOT “Backwhen”! Full-body frontal assault on yer’ nervz that yer’ won’t wanna’ be withOUT, volkz! Forms appear after a bit, with snatches of th’ “mid-east” – in FACT, these guyz musta’ ‘ad thier TURBANS on when they were doin’ these pieces – MOST interesting! Contact D-BAR at POB 3214, WALLINGTON, NJ, 07057 Rotcod Zzaj

Don Campau/Kevyn Dymond: IN EUROPE Indie’s FAVORITE DJ (at least frum th’ ZZAJ perspective) goes trekkin’ across th’ tundra…. whoops!!! Wrong region… …but that’s of lil’ consequence. The MUSIC is wot’ countz’, ain’t it? A virtual “who’s who (in the European indie scene)” tour by Don & Kevyn, it looked like they hit nearly EVERY city/D.I.Y.’er (Lord Litter, Andreas Bick, Dieter Zobel & Jan Bruun are only a FEW of ’em) on th’ Kentucky Fried Radio circuit – & played sum KICKAZZ toonz, people. Seems to have been mostly live studio work, which is not a detractor at all, as th’ production values are WAY UP! Lotza’ gitarz/drumz & more gitarz – pretty basic setup, perhaps, but in sections it (absolutely) SCORCHES! Those of you who were “with/in” to th’ ‘zine scene all thru th’ late ’80’s will probably remember “Das Frieier Orchester” (a Lord Litter creation, I believe)… they do a version of a Dymond piece, “Kevyn’s Tune” – some NICE jammin’ on that one. ‘s a matter of fact, it’s all the way THROUGH this tape! From a historical perspective alone, ol’ Jesse & th’ NEA otta’ SNATCH this ‘un up & make SURE it gets archived fer’ posterity! Clean, neat & great musical fun! Contact Don at Lonely Whistle Music, POB 23952, San Jose, CA 95152 RECOMMENDED! Rotcod Zzaj

Jeff Song/Matt Turner: LOVE & FEAR – This CD was mentioned last issue, in a review of their “IN VIVO”, which was the ‘jazz’ PICK of the last issue. In fact, this one was an earlier effort, put out under the O.O. label. Actually, ‘LOVE & FEAR’ comes a lot closer to what I “expected” when I received the ‘VIVO’ CD. There is a lot stronger orientation towards Jeff’s kay-a-gum as the focus for the improvisations.. a lot more VOCAL improv, too, (sort of) in the Korean tradition… if you’ve never experienced Korean traditional vox (or, perhaps, I should say if you HAVE), don’t let that make you shy away! This is IT, volkz! VERY intricate improv, but FULL body, Matt’s cello weaves almost mystically in & about the language that issues forth from Jeff’s roaming & adventureful mastery. &, that IS what it IS, people – a new LANGUAGE. This is the PICK for # 14 in the IMPROV arena! You owe it to YOURSELF (if you’re even SLIGHTLY in to improvisation) to GET this CD! Contact at 302 1/2 Drew St., Appleton, WI 54911 Rotcod Zzaj

…..now carryin’ on th’ “tradition” I’m trying to establish as a regular part of this ‘zine, a few questions/inputs from a LONG time “I.N.” friend, DON CAMPAU, who (as you shoud be aware, if you’re at ALL in to D.I.Y./underground) does the show “NO PIGEONHOLES” on KKUP, in Cupertino, California – featuring the musics of a WIDE variety of hometapers & ‘underground’ artists from ALL over the world! He’s also known (to many of us) as the U.S. contact/distributor for the Kentucky Fried Radio effort (if you haven’t checked THAT one out, be SURE to get hold of him – GOOD prices, GOOD improv – all with some comeback to the ARTISTS themselves). As with most interviews currently in “I.N.”, this was done by mail during June/July – we zurely APPRECIATE Don takin’ time out from his BUSY schedule to provide these insights into HIS efforts & commentary on the “scene” in general – THANKS, Don! Here goes…

Z: I remember reading aeons ago that Zappa was a prime influence for you; how has his death affected your music or thought chains – or HAS it?

DC: I s’pose in a way I haven’t completely accepted Zappa’s death yet. It’s hard to imagine living in a world without the snide remarks, committed fatalism, political perspective and musical genius that Frank provided. However, for me, Zappa’s influence was stronger much earlier. Although technically his recent music was remarkable… because I had an early exposure to good jazz I could tell how lame most guitarists were and I knew Zappa was cooking. I think it is pretty obvious that Frank Zappa was the most important American composer of our time, perhaps of the entire 20th century.

Z: In recent discourses/interviews with other improv artists/D.I.Y.’ers, I’ve noticed a feeling among some that today’s “underground” is a “sign o’ th’ end times”; too “chaotic”… you’re surely in aa position to make some kind of judgement on that… is that just paranoia, or “real fear”?

DC: …not exactly clear what you mean. Politically or commercially? I would offer that you can still do whatever the hell you want in your bedroom studio (as long as you don’t step on somebody’s big toes somewhere). As far as I’m concerned, music is a fun thing only and although I do sell my tapes, the main reason I do it is for enjoyment and the overwhelming feeling to try to be creative. Yes, many hometapers labor under the illusion that someday they will “make” it. Hey, if you want to live that nightmare, it’s OK by me. If you really want to be involved eventually in the “music industry”, don’t tell me I didn’t warn you. Don’t do it. Get a goddam job at a grocery store (l