The Field Guide

ECFA

Josh Ronsen’s Monk Mink Pink Punk strikes again with issue #15 including a review of ECFA’s Der Wald. Selected quote: “a living handshake”

Read more about “Der Wald” here and here

• Der Wald Review (1)
• ECFA: Der Wald (0)
• When It’s Bleepy-time Down South (0)
• Maps Breaks $1. Maps is Free. Long Live Maps. (0)
• Gates Ensemble on Austinnitus Audio Series (0)

The price for my Maps CD on amiestreet.com recently broke the $1.00 barrier (see below). To celebrate I’ve the posted the album in its entirety at grabrarearts.com. Go here for complete information or use the link below to get it all in one swell foop. This is part of my pledge to make more of my music available for download in 2008. I’ll have more coming up soon, so stay tuned.

Download the full album including artwork: hopson_maps.zip

• One 4 One on 8/4/8 (0)
• Year-end round-up let-down (0)
• Maps at amiestreet.com (0)
• Half Off at Amie Street (0)
• ECFA: Der Wald (0)

The Austin Chronicle has a review of Der Wald, the latest release from ECFA, calling it “[Carl Smith's] most substantive recording….” I couldn’t agree more. Get the CD here.

• ECFA: Der Wald in Monk Mink Pink Punk (0)
• ECFA: Der Wald (0)
• When It’s Bleepy-time Down South (0)
• Maps Breaks $1. Maps is Free. Long Live Maps. (0)
• Gates Ensemble on Austinnitus Audio Series (0)

ECFA has released their brand-new CD, Der Wald (2007, Pull The String Records).

The lineup for the CD is Carl Smith, tenor saxophone; Holland Hopson, soprano saxophone; and Jason Friederich, drums; with Alex Coke, soprano saxophone on one track. This release features more new music by tenor saxophonist Carl Smith including “Ergeben” and “Schygullaplatz,” both highlights of the recording. Steve Lacy’s tune “The Retreat” is also featured. A few trio improvisations and one solo tenor sax improvisation round out the disc. A nicely varied set of music, much of it with a chamber music feel, and a step up in audio quality from previous ECFA releases. You can get more info and order the CD here.

• Der Wald Review (1)
• Tele-Morphosis (0)
• One 4 One on 8/4/8 (0)
• Maps Breaks $1. Maps is Free. Long Live Maps. (0)
• ECFA: Der Wald in Monk Mink Pink Punk (0)

The New York Times has an interesting piece on Louis Armstrong’s strong reaction to the Little Rock, Arkansas desegregation saga. My favorite part is when Louis addresses President Eisenhower as “Daddy” in an appreciative telegram. If only Armstrong and Mingus had gotten together on Fables of Faubus.

• Maps Breaks $1. Maps is Free. Long Live Maps. (0)
• ECFA: Der Wald in Monk Mink Pink Punk (0)
• ECFA: Der Wald (0)
• Der Wald Review (1)
• Year-end round-up let-down (0)