Sometimes ECM reveals hidden treasures from the vault. Keith Jarrett's new album was recorded way back in 1986 and can be considered a follow-up to 1985's  "Spirits". Both "Spirits" and "No End" showcase the artist as a multi-instrumentalist recording in his home studio and not as the fierce (solo)piano Don Quichotte. Guitars, fender bass, tabla and recorder, even drums and percussion, are his main instruments of choice this time.

According to Jarrett "There was really, to my knowledge, no forethought or composition – in the typical sense – going on; just a feeling or a rhythmic idea or a bass line concept or melody. None of this was written down". And more surprising: "I have always been drawn to instruments that you touch directly, without a mechanism in between. Therefore, I cannot say that I have ever loved the piano as much as the drums or guitar"

Yes, a lot of Zawinul and Weather Report on this blog. Inevitable. Couldn't resist. The amazing voice of Amit Chatterjee puts the shivers on the spine before the band breaks into an irresistible kind of dance groove.

Ronald Shannon Jackson, drummer extraordinaire, has left us. A sideman for Cecil Taylor, Ornette Coleman and Albert Ayler he became an icon for the free jazz movement in the sixties.

Later on he set out to explore further boundaries as the dominant force behind his own Decoding Society and with Sonny Sharrock, Bill Laswell and Peter Brötzmann in the heavy flavoured Last Exit quartet. I will remember Shannon Jackson playing an extended drumsolo, reciting the poem "Puttin' on Dog" by Sterling A. Brown on top. Imagine this on Belgian national television in prime time. Rarely seen ever since.

Photo taken at the Moers 2011 festival by Michael Hoefner

The Zawinul Legacy Band hits the road these days. Check out tour dates. Some notes and bios on the band here.

In addition to my latest post I stumbled upon this great video by mikedolbear.com. Copeland shows us around his amazing studio. Also he shoots jamsessions there which you can find on YouTube. Search for "Sacred Grove" (the name of the studio) or check stewartcopeland.net.

The Police broke up at the heigth of their succes. That's what we all want to do, no? Fact was that the members were fed up with the hassle of being rockstars, touring and most important couldn't stand each other anymore. So what to do with a lot of money and time on your hands. Leave for the exotic isle? No way, in Strange Things Happen drummer Stewart Copeland takes us on his journey trough music and life.

Divided into short sections, not in chronological order, Copeland travels back to Lebanon where he spends much of his youth as the son of a CIA spy. His father also happened to be a trumpet player in the Glen Miller band.  Copeland started to play drums early on and knew from the start that they would be part of his life from then on. Throughout the book we get first hand insights in the countless projects and travels he has been involved in.

What about a journey to Africa to jam with Pygmies and Masai? Next there's his career in film scoring leaving his kit behind only to pick them up teaming with bass players Stanley Clarke or Les Claypool. Masters in their own right. He gets invited to Italy for different projects and finally catch up with Sumner and Summers to play with his band of bands. Tensions are running high again.

Strange Things Happen is a fun read by one of the most influential players on the drums of the last 50 years. My copy looked liked it was an old book from the seventies: no great design or fancy paper. But don't let that scare you. Content rules.