“Dear John Cage” by Kenny Millions & Sergey Kuryokhin
“Dear John Cage” offers two long-form pieces. Opening song “Dear John” features simple piano and flute. It’s slow moving, with lots of open spaces. While there are some moments of slight dissonance, it’s overall a really beautiful piece. The other track, “Cage,” blends piano and prepared miniature guitar. While still overall slow moving, it is more abstract and offers a wider variety of sounds. It’s all quite captivating.
“Blaster Master” as Keshavan Maslak, with Charles Moffett
This is album was originally released on the legendary Black Saint label. It’s Kenny and amazing drummer Charles Moffett (who played with people like Ornette Coleman, Archie Shepp, and Sonny Rollins, to name just a few). Fans of any of those names will love this music, guaranteed. This is some amazing free jizz…err…jazz (check the song titles). It’s updated with a COVID-19-times related album cover/commentary; the music, however, needs no updating.
This is a live date in front of an appreciative audience, and it is spectacular. I have the whole album on repeat right now, but the highlight for me is the title track which starts out pretty straightforward with a great groove, stretches out as the sax slowly becomes more free, eventually works into a bit of a frenzy (until the drummer takes over for a bit of creative soloing), and ultimately resolves. This is really an exceptional release. You should stop reading and go get it now.
“Miami Shit” by Kenny Millions, Thurston Moore, and Rat Bastard
Wow…three noise legends together. Kenny Millions and Rat Bastard (who I’m guessing were the “hosts” since I believe both are based in or near Miami, Florida), along with some guy named Thurston Moore (he was in a band I’m trying to recall…Sonic something?…I’ll look it up later). This is one track (“Gig”) that sounds like it was recorded live as the name implies. It’s probably what you’d expect if you know the work of any of these gentlemen; lots of loud, distorted, squealing guitar and wild sax. It cuts off rather suddenly a little short of the 10 minute mark, like maybe they thought it was too powerful for us to take in larger quantities? Crank it up and get your hit of noise for the day.