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Music

Perlich’s Picks

Rating: NNNNN


Boffo Belgrade

Radio-Television Belgrade Jazz Orchestra conductor Vojislav Simic may have found inspiration in the forward-looking approach of Stan Kenton, but listening to Cosmic Sounds’ amazing new compilation, Jazz Orkestar Radio-televizije Beograd (1948-1978) , it’s clear that by the mid-70s the RTB Big Band were steamrolling their own modern path through the big band world closer to the work of Peter Herbolzheimer and Gustav Brom.

Despite the dates listed, this collection focuses on those bold, badass mid-70s jams highlighted by the spirited tenor sax and flute solos of Milan Stojanovic , soaring trumpet of Dusko Goykovic and the tough electric piano grooves of Bora Rokovic . This is roaringly great big band jazz, artfully conceived and played with verve. Go for the double vinyl edition – it sounds incredible. While you’re at it, check out the two stunning volumes of Cosmic Sounds’ Hungarian Jazz Anthology series, particularly the first disc compiled by Les Gammas Tom Wieland , which uncovers some amazing tracks from Qualiton’s Modern Jazz Anthology series and two swingers from bass boss Aladar Pege .

Simple twist of Fay

A sticker on the Eclectic label’s new 24-bit reissues of Bill Fay ‘s two sought-after folk-psych curios recorded for Deram claims that he’s the missing link between Nick Drake, Ray Davies and Bob Dylan. Well, not quite, but they probably wouldn’t sell nearly as many copies by dropping the names Billy Nicholls, Tim Rose and Paul Williams instead. In any case, the Brit cult fave’s ambitiously orchestrated self-titled debut and the delightfully doom-ridden follow-up, Time Of The Last Persecution, are both fabulously engrossing artifacts of twisted 70s outsider introspection. A treat for beard folk fans enamoured of Will Oldham and Jason Molina. Get both CDs while you can.

Cookin’ Houston-style

In Detroit there was Motown, Memphis had Stax, and Houston had regional R&B threat the Ovide operation, run by KCOH-AM radio jock Skipper Lee Frazier with money he got from the sale of Archie Bell’s recording contract to Atlantic when Tighten Up hit nationally. Tighten Up isn’t on the 17-track Funky Funky Houston (Funky Delicacies) CD comp of Ovide’s magnificent misses, which is a good thing because there’s more room for unknown thrillers like fuzz-tweaked instro Cha Cha by the Ovide All-Stars , Hunching Sticks by the Americans of 68, and the super-dope Football by the Acres of Grass . You should already know that the two TSU Toronados tracks are crazy tight.

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