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We Travel the Spaceways

Mark Corotto takes a look down the road less travelled.

WE TRAVEL THE SPACEWAYS January 28, 2014

Pete Mills: The Anatomy Of A Jazz Release

By MARK CORROTO

I'm here to tell you that everything you thought about the making of a modern jazz records is wrong. The notion that there are talent agents selling concepts to record companies--wrong. That bands work on tunes, perfecting them for months before entering the studio--wrong. That jazz musicians make money from records--again, wrong. I had the first-hand experience of observing how saxophonist Pete Mills put together his latest recording Sweet Shadow (Cellar Live, 2014) from conception to release. If ...

WE TRAVEL THE SPACEWAYS October 4, 2013

The Dude Abides

By MARK CORROTO

To paraphrase Jeffrey Lebowski, aka The Dude (or El Dudarino, if you are not into the brevity thing), “I've had a rough night, and I hate the fucking Grateful Dead, man." Actually, The Dude said the “Eagles" (and I guess I'm obliged to agree with him), but for me the Dead seem to always get under my skin. Someone is always saying to me, “you dig jazz, check out this Dead concert from..." and then they name some ...

WE TRAVEL THE SPACEWAYS July 20, 2013

Taking stock, a year half over

By MARK CORROTO

This month, at the halfway point in the year of music, we are taking stock, and there have been so many great discs released. Here is my list (in no particular order) of the best albums so far. I predict many of these will make final top ten 2013 lists. Sorry, I couldn't keep my list to ten.The Ex & Brass Unbound--Enormous Door (Ex Records) Federico Ughi--Federico Ughi Quartet (FMR) Rachel Musson/Mark Sanders/Steve Noble--Tatterdemalion (Babel) Matt Parker--Worlds Put ...

WE TRAVEL THE SPACEWAYS May 22, 2013

Art Strike!

By MARK CORROTO

"Would you support an art strike?" That's the question I've been asking musicians for the past few months. “Will you agree to stop writing and performing music for one year?" In 1990 the London artists Stewart Home and Mark Pawson proposed that all artists cease to “make, exhibit, distribute, sell, or discuss their work" for three years. They also called upon galleries, museums, alternative spaces, clubs, and concert halls to cease operations for that period. Their goal was ...

WE TRAVEL THE SPACEWAYS April 2, 2013

Jazz: A Blessed Obsession

By MARK CORROTO

Jazz listeners travel some strange and beautiful paths. It might have all begun with collectors trying to find a legendary Edison cylinder that New Orleans trumpeter Buddy Bolden--some believe to be the very first jazz musician--may (or may not) have recorded in 1904. Fast forward to modern times, a quick scan of eBay and the exorbitant prices bid for long out-of-print Free Music Production (FMP) LPs or alternative releases. $150 for Peter Brötzmann's first solo recording and $175, for the ...

WE TRAVEL THE SPACEWAYS January 25, 2013

Before We Say Goodbye To 2012

By MARK CORROTO

In consumer culture, where we are all guilty of looking for the next new thing, the emphasis is always on new releases, and what the next, best, super-improved product will be. It seems that even before this week's movie opens, we are being told about next week's blockbuster.Before we turn our attention fully to 2013, here are some 2012 releases that deserve a listen.Sam Newsome The Art of the Soprano, Vol. 1 Self Produced 2012

WE TRAVEL THE SPACEWAYS November 30, 2012

You say you're beat? You don't know Jack

By MARK CORROTO

..."the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars..." Jack Kerouac, On the Road (Viking Press, 1957)Bill LaswellMethod Of DeliveranceInnerhythmic2012The very essence of music, ...

WE TRAVEL THE SPACEWAYS October 18, 2012

Merzbow Brings The Noise

By MARK CORROTO

Merzbow MerzbientSoleilmoon Recordings 2012 Are you of the mind, that in the big scheme of things, the really big scheme of things, there are no accidents? That everything happens for a purpose? Call it synchronicity or a Shirley MacLaine cake recipe, and I'm sure Kevin Bacon would agree, that fate or destiny plays a role in everyone's life, even a music critic. What am I talking about? I'm talking about kismet. ...