For German readers: some thoughts and notes and quotes on the music I'm listening - to be found
on my new blog:
ubus-notizen.blogspot.com

Also check out the great new, independent magazine get happy!?, reporting on music, movies and more:
gethappymag.de

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Frank Lowe - 1978 double feature

Frank Lowe? Hell yeah! A free player that could do nearly all, from a soft murmur, old-fashioned big-toned blowouts, airy caressing... here he is with his quartet, in two shows recorded in France in 1978. I got all of these from dime and applied some fixing work. The Angoulême isn't up on dime yet, but I'll offer it there, too, as soon as I'll have a stable home connection again.

Some links:
- discography
- AAJ fireside chat (Fred Jung)
- and an obit by Todd S. Jenkins.

Look for the numbers to find the links...

: . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :

Frank Lowe
Angoulême (FR)
May 6, 1978


Olu Dara - trumpet
Frank Lowe - tenor sax
Fred Williams - bass
Phillip Wilson - drums

1. unknown (3:05)
2. unknown (23:56)
3. Frank's Love Theme (5:48)
4. Sweet Marion (8:45)
5. unknown (5:30)
6. Frank's Love Theme (5:25) [duplicate - different source]
7. Sweet Marion (8:41) [duplicate - different source]
8. Having Big Fun (7:58)

TT: 69:12

Sound: A-


::: #1-5 :::

Lineage: aud?>?>cdr>xact>flac8

ubu edits:
- tracked (#1-4 came sone long track)
- deleted silence at end of #4 and #5, added fade-outs
Additional lineage: FLAC > WAV > CoolEdit > FLAC (8,asb,verify)


note from seeder:

another seed courtesy of _tranetime_ ... thanks again!

this long set catches late tenor firebrand frank lowe spewing his inimitable mix of staccato phrasing, hoarse vocalizations, slaptonguing, and of course, molten skronk (much more restrained than, say, 'black beings' or the duo with rashied ali on survival), all focused through the horn as a palpable stream of beautifully scratchy and brawny old school tone ... in terms of chronology, this quartet falls halfway between sessions by the perhaps more focused quintet lineups in 'the flam,' and later, in 'exotic heartbreak.' here, the musicians play a medley of originals (please help identify) from their book, and, at the same time, stretch out as only possible in a concert setting (including shouted vocals and exchanges that sound strangely like someone - phillip wilson? - 'singing' "shut the **** up!"). not sure what the second track is (an encore? sounds like a different, better source), but regardless, it BURNS! the recording includes some audience ambience (someone apparently takes a snapshot at some point & murmurs) ...


::: #6-8 [22:05] :::

Lineage: fm > ? > 7" reels of unknown lineage > AKAI GX-4000-D > Numark EQ 2250 20 band equalizer > HHB CDR 830 > cdr > cdr > eac(secure mode) > flac(level 8)

ubu edits:
- deleted silence at beginning of #1
- fixed marks
- deleted silence at end of #3 & added fade-out
Additional lineage: FLAC > WAV > CoolEdit > FLAC (8 - with SBE's!)

boosted volume (+6dB):
Additional lineage: CDR > EAC (secure, log) > Cool Edit Pro > FLAC (8,asb,verify)


: . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :

Frank Lowe
Paris (France)
May 9, 1978


Frank Lowe - tenor sax
Olu Dara - trumpet
Fred Williams - bass
Phillip Wilson - drums

1. (11:31)
2. (20:56)
3. (12:03) [inc, cuts in]
4. (22:15)

TT: 66:47

Sound: A-/B+
Lineage: aud>?>cdr>eac(secure mode)>cdwave>flac(level 8)
Additional lineage: FLAC > WAV > Cool Edit Pro > FLAC (8,asb,verify)

12 comments:

wightdj said...

Much appreciated. Mr. Lowe was way under-recorded considering his talent. Good to have these sessions, recorded near the time as his Marge and Palm sessions.

celan2go said...

I agree, unfortunately way under recorded and bless you for posting these!

Arcturus said...

stunning offering, thanks! will be good to hear some more Philip Wilson as well

ubu said...

FLAC (tagged) + info:

Angoulême:

http://rapidshare.com/files/221148978/Frank_Lowe_1978-05-06_Angouleme__ubu-edit_.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/221147408/Frank_Lowe_1978-05-06_Angouleme__ubu-edit_.part2.rar


Paris:

http://rapidshare.com/files/215676302/Frank_Lowe_1978-05-09_Paris.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/215675722/Frank_Lowe_1978-05-09_Paris.part2.rar

carlo87 said...

Two gems. Thank you!!!!

paul w. said...

dear ubu, many thanks for this fantastic post. i already heard only part one - live at angouleme. i recognized two compositions - the longest track - almost 24 minute track 2 - it's "broadway rhumba" - composition of frank lowe, recorded also on "doctor too much", "exotic heartbreak" and phillip wilson quartet with frank lowe - "live at moers festival" (in fact recorded on may 15th, 1978, just 9 days after angouleme concert). and the last track 8 has different title - instead of "having big fun" it was recorded as "it's a party" on phillip wilson quartet - "live at moers festival" lp. by the way - as i hate vocal productions - i deleted small parts of angouleme concert and now have fully instrumental show, really great show. thanks.

ubu said...

Thanks a lot for the additional info, Paul! I honestly can't recall where I got the title for #8 from...

And of course, embarassingly, I do have that Philip Wilson Moers LP but didn't think of comparing the tunes.

paul w. said...

hi ubu, even more thanks for frank lowe - live in paris post. it's better concert in my opinion to angouleme one and it's better recorded - the sound is better.
here you have the full program :

1. broadway rhumba
2. this is for you
3. f & l
4. it's a party

all tracks were recorded almost in the same order with one more track "cha-cha" on philip wilson quartet lp "live at moers festival" 6 days later.
great music, frank lowe should definitely be better known in jazz circles. regards.

ubu said...

Thanks a lot, Paul!

hulaboy said...

beautiful sounds - thanks, ubu

MF9988 said...

wow, these sound amazing! but unfortunately the links are down...

would someone mind re-posting these in mp3 or whatever?


frank lowe is one of the many underrated geniuses of the music and a true original. no one sounds like him and he sounded like no one else but himself. a wonderful improvisor and composer.

jsynista said...

does anyone have new links for Lowe?
thanks!