Steve Tintweiss And The Purple Why

Live In Tompkins Square Park 1967

Inky Dot, 2025

9/10

Listen to Live In Tompkins Square Park 1967

The inimitable bassist Steve Tintweiss is back with a live recording from decades ago, where the sextet plus a guest transport us back to the ‘60s avant-garde jazz scene.

After the brief “Warm-Up Announcement”, “Water” recruits “Jacques Coursil’s animated trumpet and Laurence Cook’s spontaneous drums for the free jazz exploration.

Further into the experience, “Are You Lonely” benefits from a bit of cautiousness via Tintweiss’ strategic bass and Randy Kaye’s strategic drumming, while “Space Rocks” showcases Joel Peskin’s squealing sax and Perry Robinson’s frisky clarinet thanks to the controlled chaos.

Deeper yet, “D-Drone” meshes the dense winds and brass amid the wild drums and reserved bass, and “The Purple Why” exits with James DuBoise sitting in on trumpet for a busy and creative mashing of each player’s inimitable skills.

An effort that isn’t short on melodies or solos, Tintweiss and company were clearly ahead of their time, and this early recording is further proof of that.

Travels well with: Steve Tintweiss Spacelight Band- Live At NYU: 1980; Steve Tintweiss And The Purple Why- Markstown

Ron Thomas/John Swana

Serenity

Galtta, 2019

9/10

Listen to Serenity

This 3rd effort from jazz luminaries Ron Thomas and John Swana has Thomas handling keyboards while Swana holds down EVI duties (Electronic Valve Instrument) across 4 tunes that twist and turn with synth fueled maneuvering that rarely sounds like it originated on earth.

“Message” starts the listen with an ‘80s ambience that gets spacey and cinematic with a charming sense of mystery, where waves of synth and a dreamy setting make these 10 minutes soar by, and “Rainforest” follows with a sci-fi feeling where ambient noises resemble animals and the atmosphere turns darker.

The last 2 tunes keep the creativity high and the unclassifiable landscape even higher. While “Foundation” sounds it could soundtrack a space craft landing on another planet in another dimension with its artistic restraint, “Serenity” closes out the affair indeed with a calm offering of meditative, soothing electronica manipulation that few could replicate.

An amazing collaboration that was actually recorded in 2007, Thomas and Swana were and still are way ahead of their time, as their musical vision far exceeds just about anything else being made.

Travels well with: Herbie Hancock- Thrust; Ryan Kisor- The Sidewinder