Saturday, March 01, 2014

Album Review: Brad Mehldau and Mark Guiliana- Taming the Dragon


In the recollection of a dream that opens Taming the Dragon, a man is characterized as "a cross between Joe Walsh and Dennis Hopper."

In that spirit, I'll suggest that the collaboration between Brad Mehldau and Mark Guiliana is a cross between Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters and Tangerine Dream's Rubycon.

The collage of synths and percussion is less a response to EDM than an homage to the synth pioneers of the 1970s.   Taming the Dragon is a nice companion piece to Daft Punk's Random Access Memories.

Folks in nearby Atchison should note that one noodly track is titled "Elegy for Amelia E."  "The Dreamer" goes nowhere fast but I love the casual funk of "Sassysassed Sassafrass." A live version of "Hungry Ghost" is illuminating.   I understand why many Mehldau devotees are disappointed by the recording, but I like it.   

Taming the Dragon is a decidedly minor album by one of our time's most important musicians.


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I reviewed Thursday's concert by 2 Chainz, Pusha T and August Alsino.  Here's my analysis of Friday's performances by Black Joe Lewis and Pickwick.

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The Missouri Arts Council recently recognized There Stands the Glass and Plastic Sax.

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"Keep Me in the Dark" is the latest video from the Noise FM.

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Paco de Lucia has died.  A lot of people I knew played Friday Night in San Francisco constantly in 1981-82.

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The audio of Leonard Feather's legendary blindfold tests are available as free downloads.  (Incredible tip via Big Steve.)

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The lineup of Moogfest 2014 is amazing.

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I continue to root for Lisa Marie Presley, but the tone of her promotional material is all wrong.

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I'm calling it right now- this is the single worst pop hit of all time.  Watch and listen at your own risk. 

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It turns out that I liked the idea of Neneh Cherry's first proper solo album in 16 years more than the album itself.  Blank Project isn't nearly as good as her 2012 jazz-based album with the Thing.  RIYL: Portishead, feeling underwhelmed, Robyn.

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Amerigo Gazaway created a "conceptual collaboration" between Marvin Gaye and Mos Def.  RIYL:

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Kansas City Click: My official picks are published here.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

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