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Keith Jarrett's masterful Testament

Keith Jarrett’s Paris/London: Testament (on the ECM label), a three-CD set consisting of two live solo concerts, is a stunning album, a career peak.

I’ve seen Jarrett play solo at Carnegie Hall twice in the past few years and my jaw dropped at both. (Both concerts were recorded; one was released as an album in 2006, which I listed as the second-best of that year, topped only by Ornette Coleman’s Sound Grammar.) But those New York dates were nothing compared to what Jarrett ekes from the keyboard here.

All of the music is totally improvised, not in the sense of typical jazz…

That Which Darkly Thrives

Espers (from left): Meg Baird, Helena Espvall, Greg Weeks, Brooke Sietinsons. Photo: Daniel Coston.

Espers: III

Right from the start&#151from the very first musical moment&#151it’s the gorgeous, spacious sound we’ve grown to love from Espers’ Greg Weeks and his Hexham Head Studio in Philadelphia. While III’s rather straightforward instrumentation (churning, scintillating acoustic guitars, appropriately warm, round bass, and steady, impactful drums) marks a subtle departure from the doumbek and dholak of II, the quality of sound is no less complex or stirring. We hear the sounds of wood and brass meeting with flesh and skin, of bow hair as it courses along cello strings, of cello moan…

Put the cowhorns back on the cadillac

It’s that kind of place. Despite it’s economic distress, the empty streets, the half–assed Bourbon Street mess that Beale Street has become (goddamned is it bad!), and what seems to be a full on crime wave in certain parts of town, in Memphis you cannot keep the music out of your head. It may be the wash over that comes from being so close to the Delta, but I couldn’t keep, “Walking in Memphis” by Marc Cohen or the words to one of John Hiatt’s greatest songs, (and that my friends is truly saying something because John Hiatt has written a shitload, okay, like 25 genuinely great songs) “Memphis…

Now on Newsstands: Stereophile, Vol.32 No.11

The November 2009 issue of Stereophile is now on newsstands. On the cover, you’ll see a close-up of the Aerial Acoustics Model 20T V2 loudspeaker, which John Atkinson praised for its silky treble and weighty, well-defined bass. An interview with Aerial’s designer, Michael Kelly, appears here, while Michael Fremer’s review of the original 20T can be found here.

Also in November, we have reviews of the Paradigm Reference Studio 60 v.5 loudspeaker (which seems a bargain at just $1998/pair; v.3 review here); Convergent Audio Technology SL1 Renaissance preamplifier ($9995 with phono…

Bring Your Hips to Me

This is what my life will be like starting this Thursday and ending next Tuesday. I should’ve been in this video, though. I mean, seriously: Thao, give me a call next time. What’s up?

Thao and The Get Down Stay Down with the video for “When We Swam” from their album, Know Better Learn Faster. Get it now from Kill Rock Stars. The beautiful vinyl comes with a free digital download and costs $1 less than the ordinary compact disc.

Makes no sense! Gotta love it!

Otis Lives!

Still on the road in Memphis. At the center of any music trip to Memphis is the odd but very telling juxtaposition of Graceland and the relatively new Stax museum. Elvis was always very up front about where his influences came from—black blues and R&B, along with gospel music, both white and black, and Tin Pan Alley&#151’ most of which is honored in the Stax museum. And for the record let me say that I will never understand how Memphis, THE big city for all the delta blues pioneers, not to mention the town’s subsequent musical history, B.B. King, Elvis, Alex Chilton, Ardent Studios,…

Verity Audio Finn

Look at this thing. It’s a Verity Audio Finn in seductive Norwegian Birch. Don’t you want to just squeeze it? Don’t you want to just bring it home with you?

I first heard the adorable little Finn at Montreal’s Salon Son & Image. Paired up with an Audio Research VSi60 integrated amplifier and CD8 disc player, the Finns produced some of the most exciting, detailed, and musical sounds I heard in Montreal (other than that divine music of high heels tapping and tinkling against marble floors).

A few weeks back, during Verity Audio Night at In Living Stereo, I had a…

When I'm Gone

The Vivian Girls (from left): Ali Koehler, Cassie Ramone, and Kickball Katy. Photo: Arnaud Bianquis.

I was sort of kicking myself for scheduling a trip to Puerto Rico while, back in New York City, friends and neighbors would be swimming in vinyl at the WFMU Record Fair and getting down and dirty at the CMJ Music Marathon.

WTF? Duh, dude. What was I thinking?

Tropical sun, beaches, empandas, ice-cold cans of Medalla…whatever.

But then, on one gray and rainy weekday afternoon, I just so happen to be visiting the Vivian Girls Myspace page, and, lo and behold,…

Effi Briest's "Mirror Rim"

Effi Briest sort of reminds me of Gang Gang Dance. And I like that. Check out this dizzying video for "Mirror Rim."

If you dig that, keep your tired eyes peeled for a full-length LP to come from Sacred Bones.