Surrealistic Swing: History of the Micros, Volume 2, by The Microscopic Septet

Surrealistic Swing: History of the Micros, Volume 2

by The Microscopic Septet

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Nick Bradey marvelous stuff!great jazz .check it out

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1.	Brooklyn in the Fifties 05:35	buy track
2.	Baghdad Blues 04:40
3.	Crepuscule with Nellie 05:13
4.	In the Mission 07:36
5.	March of the Video Reptiles 02:41
6.	I Saw You in Utah (Idaho) 05:09
7.	I Am the Police 03:58
8.	By You, Do You Mean You or Me? 06:57
9.	Kelly Grows Up 05:57
10.	Watching Television 00:55
11.	Off Color 01:25
12.	Come From Behind 03:57
13.	Rocky's Heart 07:16
14.	Infernal Garden Blues 05:16
15.	Waltz of the Recently Punished Catholic School Boys 03:46
16.	Little Bobby 04:05
17.	The Dream Detective 04:19
18.	Lobster in the Limelight 06:19
19.	The Visit 07:22
20.	Fool's Errand 05:39
21.	Dill Pickle Tango 02:59
22.	One Room Too Far Away 09:14
23.	You Know What You Know 03:59
24.	Fresh Air Theme (Gulf War) 01:00
25.	Fresh Air Theme (Happy Twin) 00:56

about

Active for a dozen years, the Microscopic Septet were widely recognized as "New York's Most Famous Unknown Band." The group started with a basic reeds-and-rhythm texture (soprano, alto, tenor and baritone sax, piano, bass and drums) that was sonically similar to the sound of the Swing Era. However, they employed these textures to address a widely eclectic range of styles, from free-form music to R&B, rhumbas and ragtime. The result was a brilliant blend of fresh-sounding orchestration and inspired soloing. Beloved in New York, where they generally drew capacity crowds, "The Micros" were one of the most celebrated of the many cutting-edge units associated with experimental music's best-known venue, the Knitting Factory, during the peak years of the "Downtown" music movement in the mid 1980s onward. This beautifully packaged and annotated set includes new cover artwork by Pulitzer-prize winning illustrator Art Spiegelman, new notes by leader Phillip Johnston, lots of great photographs and newly remastered versions of the last two albums by the band: "Off Beat Glory" and "Beauty Based on Science (The Visit)", as well as quite a lot of never-before released material, including two tracks with very early member John Zorn. The majority of this set has never appeared on CD and all of it has been unavailable for a number of years.

"The Microscopic Septet was one of the most distinctive jazz ensembles in New York during the '80s and early '90s. Combining a love for the big-band sound with a progressive approach to arrangement and composition, the Micros managed to be nostalgic and futuristic at the same time."
- All Music Guide

"...wildly inventive..."
- Wall Street Journal

“...the Micros were dedicated to jazz that swung and was endlessly fun and inventive...a goldmine of material that should delight and inspire...”
– Downbeat

credits

released October 10, 2006

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Cuneiform Records Washington, D.C.

Cuneiform Records is an independent record label releasing adventurous, boundary-bursting music by artists from around the world.

Founded in 1984.
Based in Washington D.C.

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