Singing Drums and the Drums

 

Nana Vasconcelos, Paul Motian, Fredy Studer, Pierre Favre 1984
On tour for ECM's 'Singing Drums' album Photo: ©Beat Bierl

Singing Drums	Metal Birds (Pierre Favre)	1984	ECM	Pierre Favre drums, gongs, crotales, cymbals; Paul Motian drums, gongs, crotales, calebasses, rodbrushes; Fredy Studer drums, gongs, cymbals; Nana Vasconcelos berimbau, voice, tympani, conga, water pot, shakers, bells
The Drums (different mix than Treasure Island)	Angles (Without Edges) (Keith Jarrett)	1974 Rec.1974	ABC Impulse	Paul Motian drums; Keith Jarrett piano; Dewey Redman tenor sax; Charlie Haden bass; Guilherme Franco & Danny Johnson percussion
Singing Drums	Frog Songs (Pierre Favre)	1984	ECM	Pierre Favre; Paul Motian; Fredy Studer; Nana Vasconcelos
The Drums (Crescent)	The Drum Thing (John Coltrane)	1974 Rec.1964	ABC Impulse	Elvin Jones drums; John Coltrane tenor sax; Jimmy Garrison bass
Singing Drums	Edge Of the Wing (Pierre Favre)	1984	ECM	Pierre Favre; Paul Motian; Fredy Studer; Nana Vasconcelos
The Drums (A Monastic Trio)	Gospel Trane (Alice Coltrane)	1974 Rec.1968	ABC Impulse	Rashied Ali drums; Alice Coltrane piano; Jimmy Garrison bass; unidentified tambourine & bells
Singing Drums	Rain Forest (Pierre Favre)	1984	ECM	Pierre Favre; Paul Motian; Fredy Studer; Nana Vasconcelos
The Drums (Love Cry)	Ghosts (Albert Ayler)	1974 Rec.1967	ABC Impulse	Milford Graves drums; Albert Ayler tenor sax; Donald Ayler trumpet; Alan Silva bass
Comin’ and Going	Water (Jim Pepper)	1983	Europa	Jim Pepper sax, vocals; Kenny Werner piano; Nana Vasconcelos percussion, vocals; Mark Helias bass
2nd Hour
Live at Essen, Germany Satiricon Theater	Drum Solo (Bley/Peacock/Motian )	March 15, 1999	unreleased Paul’s CD	Paul Bley piano; Gary Peacock double-bass; Paul Motian drums
The Drums (Talking & Drum Solos)	Spooky Drums (Baby Dodds)	1974 Rec.1946	ABC Impulse	Baby Dodds drums
Jack of Clubs	Drum Music (Paul Motian)	rec. March 1984/ 1985	Soul Note	Joe Lovano tenor sax; Jim Pepper tenor & soprano sax; Bill Frisell guitar; Ed Schuller bass; Paul Motian drums
Comin’ and Goin’	Lakota Song (traditional)	1983	Europa	Jim Pepper sax, vocals; Bill Frisell guitar; Nana Vasconcelos percussion, vocals; Ed Schuller bass; Jane Lind, Karen Knight vocals
Live At Ubersee Museum Bremen 12/7/1981	Pslam (Paul Motian)	1981	unreleased	Joe Lovano tenor sax; Billy Drewes tenor & alto sax; Bill Frisell guitar; Ed Schuller double bass; Paul Motian percussion
The Drums (Out of the Afternoon)	Snap, Crackle (Roy Haynes)	1974 Rec.1962	ABC Impulse	Roy Haynes drums; Roland Kirk manzello, strich, flute, nose flute; Tommy Flanagan piano & vocal intro; Henry Grimes bass
Jack of Clubs	Tanner Street (Paul Motian)	rec. March 1984/ 1985	Soul Note	Joe Lovano tenor sax; Jim Pepper tenor & soprano sax; Bill Frisell guitar; Ed Schuller bass; Paul Motian drums
Live At Ubersee Museum Bremen 12/7/1981	Boomerang (Paul Motian)	1981	unreleased	Joe Lovano tenor sax; Billy Drewes tenor & alto sax; Bill Frisell guitar; Ed Schuller double bass; Paul Motian drums

Chuck Braman: Motian Transcriptions & Interviews

 

The first two pages of Chuck Braman's transcription of Motian’s playing on 'Around Again' recorded with Paul Bley in 1964. Braman thinks this is one of the most important recordings of Motian because it’s the first recording where his mature style first became apparent. Motian's next recording after that was not until 1967's 'Life Between The Exit Signs'.

Drummer Chuck Braman recently posted his transcriptions of Paul Motian's playing (for free!) on his website. He recently has made his book 'Drumming Patterns' -which is dedicated to Paul Motian-available by download.

Here are a couple of podcasts where I read from Braman's interviews with Paul Motian and play the music that they talk about:

Escalator Over the Hill-Carla Bley

A slightly improved recording of a show first aired on June 6, 2014

Uncle Paul's Jazz Closet

Theme:
Escalator Over the Hill

Parts 1 & 2

"Anything not told, wasn't yet known."- Carla Bley

Carla Bley's website

Escalator Over the Hill Players: Roswell Rudd, Perry Robinson, Gato Barbieri, Charlie Haden, Michael Mantler, Enrico Rava, Bob Carlisle, Sharon Freeman, Sam Burtis, Jimmy Knepper, Jack Jeffers, John Buckingham, Jimmy Lyons, Chris Woods, Bill Morimando, Roger Dawson, Paul Motian, Linda Ronstadt, John McLaughlin, Carla Bley, Howard Johnson, Peggy Imig, Nancy Newton, Richard Youngstein, Jack Bruce, Don Cherry, Leroy Jenkins, Calo Scott, Ron McClure, Sam Brown, Souren Baronian
Escalator Over the Hill	Hotel Overture (Carla Bley/Paul Haines)	1971	JCOA Records	Orchestra
Fragments	Closer (Carla Bley)	1986	ECM	Paul Bley piano; John Surman saxophone; Bill Frisell guitar; Paul Motian drums
Tropic Appetities	Caucasian Bird Riffles (Carla Bley/Paul Haines)	1974	ECM	Gato Barbieri tenor sax; Carla Bley organ, piano, vocals, producer, engineer; Paul Haines − performer; Dave Holland − bass, cello; Howard Johnson − tuba, bass clarinet, baritone sax, soprano sax, vocals; Michael Mantler − trombone, trumpet, valve trombone, producer; Toni Marcus − violin, viola; Paul Motian − drums, percussion; Julie Tippetts − vocals; Karen Mantler - vocals
Escalator Over the Hill	Ginger & David Theme (Carla Bley/Paul Haines)	1971	JCOA Records	Orchestra
Escalator Over the Hill	Why  (Carla Bley/Paul Haines)	1971	JCOA Records	Orchestra
Escalator Over the Hill	It’s Not What You Do (Carla Bley/Paul Haines)	1971	JCOA Records	Original Hotel Amateur Band
Escalator Over the Hill	Detective Writer Daughter (Carla Bley/Paul Haines)	1971	JCOA Records	Orchestra
Escalator Over the Hill	Dr. Why (Carla Bley/Paul Haines)	1971	JCOA Records	Orchestra
Fragments	Seven (Carla Bley)	1986	ECM	Paul Bley piano; John Surman saxophone; Bill Frisell guitar; Paul Motian drums
2nd Hour
Into the Woodwork	Grisley Business (Steve Swallow)	2013	Xtra Watt/ ECM	Steve Swallow bass guitar; Carla Bley organ; Steve Cardenas guitar; Chris Cheek tenor sax; Jorge Rossy drums
Escalator Over the Hill	A.I.R. (All India Radio) (Carla Bley/Paul Haines)	1971	JCOA Records	Desert Band
Into the Woodwork	Into the Woodwork (Steve Swallow)	2013	Xtra Watt/ ECM	Steve Swallow bass guitar; Carla Bley organ; Steve Cardenas guitar; Chris Cheek tenor sax; Jorge Rossy drums
Escalator Over the Hill	End of Rawalpindi (Carla Bley/Paul Haines)	1971	JCOA Records	Jack’sTraveling Band Desert Band
Not In Our Name	Blue Anthem (Carla Bley)	2005	Universal Music France	Liberation Music Orchestra: Charlie Haden, Carla Bley, Michael Rodriguez, Seneca Black, Curtis Fowlkes, Arnee Sharon Freeman, Joe Daley, Miguel Zenon, Chris Cheek, Tony Malaby, Steve Cardenas, Matt Wilson
Escalator Over the Hill	Rawalpindi Blues (Carla Bley/Paul Haines)	1971	JCOA Records	Jack’sTraveling Band Desert Band
Escalator Over the Hill	Escalator Over the Hill (Carla Bley/Paul Haines)	1971	JCOA Records	Orchestra Hotel Lobby Band

1977 Office Gig and Rehearsals

 

Unreleased recordings of the first Paul Motian Trio with Charles Brackeen and David Izenzon. The best office party music ever. Also, readings from Paul Motian's autobiography- Chapter 1- 1940

Part 1 above, Part 2 below.

Club Pilori 1980

 

A show from 06_05_17 featuring JF Jenny-Clarke, Charles Brackeen and Paul Motian at Club Pilori Ecaussines, Belgium June 16, 1980. 

Paul Motian Gets a New Mike 1988

 From a rehearsal tape with Joe Lovano and Bill Frisell February 23, 1988

03_18_21 Happy Birthday Bill Frisell

 Last years interview with Frisell in which I play some old rehearsal tapes he made with Paul Motian.